Bgroup Lesson Apr 27
Big Idea: Last week, we celebrated Easter. Easter reminds us how Jesus not only died, but rose with all power in His hand. This power is power over the enemy and power for us to have a new life in Christ. You see the Resurrection isn’t where the story ends, in fact it’s just the beginning. It was the start of the Unstoppable New Testament Church. The Church is Unstoppable; it always has been. It was meant to spread the Gospel and multiply. It grew from 120 believers to 3,120 in one day! How do we capture that same fervor of the early church?
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 (ESV).... And on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The bedrock of the unstoppable church was converted people. These people were converted both in thought and in nature. They were converted to the idea that Jesus was the son of God, and they experienced a miracle in their very nature. When someone is truly converted, there is a firm conviction about what they believe. When someone is converted, they are ready to abandon it all and follow Christ. Let’s look at some of the key components of Conversion.
Acts 2:38-41 (NLT) - Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.’ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation!’ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”
It’s incredible the transforming power of Jesus Christ. His followers were radically different after He entered their lives. Ask the Maniac of Gadara, Mary Magdalene, the sons of thunder - everybody He came into contact with who received Him became a different person.
Transformation means - to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of. Think of the process of Metamorphosis - a caterpillar is transformed into a new creation, a butterfly. The message of Christ is not one of better behavior; it’s one of complete transformation!
In Biblical times, it wasn’t uncommon to find great personalities, leaders, and prophets surrounded by a following of their own disciples. Many followed for various external reasons, such as association, privilege, or personal gain. It was important that there be a clear distinction between those followers and Christians. In the establishment of the New Testament church, the apostles laid a clear foundation of what the criteria would be for those belonging to the church and identified Believers/Christians. What made followers of Jesus and New Testament Believers different? They all had a True Encounter with Jesus that resulted in a True Transformation and a True Confession of their faith in Christ. They all knew, as we all do, that when you truly encounter Jesus, you are forever changed. The power of Jesus changes us from the inside out!
Romans 12:2 (NLT) - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Discussion Questions: When did you first encounter Jesus? What were some of the signs you had been transformed? When did you first confess your faith in Christ? (Water baptism, sharing your testimony, taking a stand for righteousness, etc.)
We are saved in a moment, but being transformed into a holy disciple of Jesus takes time. It is through the process of sanctification and discipleship that we begin to display the attributes of Christ.
Sanctification - The action of making something holy.
Discipleship - The training process of becoming like Jesus.
The conversion process begins with an encounter with God and culminates in a name change. God not only wants to change you, but wants to change your identity. Think of the beloved Christmas classic “The Grinch”. We witness an inner change of heart that results in the outward change of identity. Or we can look to Simon whose name meant reed, Jesus changed to Peter, which means rock. Jacob means “heel-grasper,” and Israel means “one who fights with God.” Saul killed Christians; Paul wrote ⅔ of the New Testament.
The good news for us, is that no longer will you be called a drug addict, but a child of God. No longer will you be called a hypocrite, but a child of God. No longer will you be called dishonest and disloyal, but a child of God. Before any of the men listed above launched into their ultimate purpose, they needed some time to be developed. We all need to go through a process. This is a journey. Don’t do it alone, be part of a Bgroup and walk alongside others!
Discussion Questions: Have you begun the process of sanctification? What about your thought life, speech, or actions confirm Christ is working to make you holy? What steps are you taking to ensure you’re being formed into a disciple of Christ? (Daily Bible reading, regular church attendance, participating in a Bgroup, etc.)
When we truly encounter Jesus we experience deep repentance and sorrow over our sin. When someone has been truly converted, a noticeable difference is evident. John the Baptist said to prove, by the way you live, that you’ve truly repented. (Luke 3:8) Conversion doesn’t mean we have a flawless record, but a changed heart. Peter told people, Be baptized, then he gave a slight teaching on baptism. Baptism is a public declaration and proof that the old self is gone and the new creation has arrived. (2 Corinthians 5:17) It’s a statement of your new identity! Similar to a wedding band - it’s a reminder to you and others that you belong to someone else. Baptism is also an act of obedience (Acts 2:38). Jesus himself was baptized (Matthew 3:13-17).
Discussion Questions: Think back to when you got saved. Did you experience that deep repentance or godly sorrow over your sin? Maybe watching the Passion of the Christ and seeing the magnitude of suffering Jesus endured on the Cross so you could be forgiven caused you to feel the weight and severity of your sin. Can you briefly describe what you felt? Have you been water baptized? If so, briefly share your experience. If not, what is keeping you from taking that next step?
In Acts 2:39, Peter said, “This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away - all who have been called by the Lord our God.” This is the reception of the Holy Spirit. It also means that if you follow Jesus, a generational blessing will be upon your life. If you allow this transformation to occur, you will become a new person, and you will also notice that your children and grandchildren are transformed as well. We often say that we want our children to have better than we did. A better education, better chances in sports or extracurriculars, or more financial stability. But the very best thing we can give our children is Jesus!
Discussion Questions: The promise of the Holy Spirit is pivotal in the life of a believer. He is the one that enables us to live holy lives that honor God and create a legacy in our family. Did you have family members who knew Jesus and lived for Him as you were growing up? If so, can you see the generational blessing of their choice to follow Christ? If you didn’t have a family who modeled Christ, can you see the effects of YOUR choice to follow Christ creating generational blessing in your family? You are changing the course of your family line with your obedience and submission to Christ. How incredible! Now that is transformation!
True conversion is the key to being an Unstoppable believer. Never forget where you were when you encountered Jesus for the first time and the way He transformed you from the inside out. We have all been transformed through the power of conversion! Never fall for the lie that says you’ve achieved perfection. We are all being transformed day by day into the image of Christ Jesus through the process of conversion. This process is creating notable proof of conversion in our lives for others to see. It is a witness to them of what God can do when we surrender to Him. And the very promise of the Holy Spirit and the generational blessing is a gift to those who believe.