Follow-Up Study Guide To:

Why Live Differently?
Part 3 of 5 in the series “Why?”

February 15, 2009 Pastor Scott Oldenburgh

This week’s reading assignment is the Book of James. As you read the book this week (it’s short, don’t worry!), make special notes or write down every time the writer speaks directly about how to live the Christian life

As you read Chapter 1, ask yourself this question:

I Is there an expectation on the Christian life?

I What is that expectation?

I Looking back at the notes from this weekend, can you think of times when you have experienced the decision-making tension as a Christian?

I What were the specifics that were pulling you on either side?

I Why do you think that as Christians we feel this tension?

I What is our responsibility to this tension?

I Is it ignorable? Dismissible? Something to worry about constantly?

I Have you ever asked yourself the question Why do I live the Christian lifestyle?

I Have you ever wondered if there should be a difference in how you live your life after you have trusted Christ?

I What should be different? Why? Why not?

I Can you think back to a time in your life when you were forced to do something that you didn’t want to do?

I Something where you didn’t know why you were doing it?

I What happens when you do something or live a certain way and you don’t know why?

I What do the results tend to be?

I How long does it tend to last?

I Is there any difference with why we live the way we do in following Christ?

This week your main assignment is to build a personal statement about Why you live the way you do

ü You can utilize the sermon notes from Sunday as a starting point, but in this list, you should be specific to your story and your life.

ü Use your concordance of your Bible to find scriptures that support your decisions.

ü Write down some personal stories that are the foundational events that have impacted the way you live today.

In your Life Group, take time to share this with some of the other group members. You may wonder why this is important. The importance of the body is for support and encouragement. Having shared why you live your life the way you do, now gives those around you some background and setting as to why you think, act, and live the way you do.

As a group, share with one another about these types of things, and your group will have a better understanding of the DNA of each member