Who You Are Now
Introduction
In Christ, we are no longer defined by our past, our failures, or the things of this world. This message from 2 Corinthians 5 reminds us that through Jesus we are given a new identity, a new purpose, and a place to belong in God’s family. As we learn to fully embrace who we are in Him, we discover the abundant life He created us to live.
Discussion Questions
Outline
I. A New Allegiance. Romans 6:20-22
· God expects us to leave behind the habits of our dead old nature and live actively as citizens of His kingdom.
II. A New Identity. John 1:12
· When your identity is in Christ, the expectation is for you to live as if you belong to Christ.
III. A New Purpose. Ephesians 2:9-10
· We are all God’s custom-designed masterpieces, deliberately saved by grace and equipped to accomplish a specific purpose that God planned for us long ago.
Study Questions
1. If you’re a die-hard sports fan of a specific team, how hard would it be for you to change allegiance? With that in mind, why is it so difficult to change our spiritual allegiance?
2. Read Romans 6:20-22. How does the illustration of Roman servanthood (working off an unpayable debt) help us understand what it means to be "enslaved to God"? How does this challenge the cultural idea of what true "freedom" looks like?
3. In the sermon, it was said that our allegiance to the Kingdom of God comes before our citizenship, our jobs, our marriages, and even our local church. Why is this a hard truth to hear? What does it look like practically to prioritize God's Kingdom over healthy allegiances?
4. Read John 1:12. We often excuse our behavior by saying, "That's just the way I am, but God loves me anyway." How does that show a lack of willingness to embrace God’s identity for us? How does reframing our thinking affect behavior change?
5. Read Galatians 4:4-7. How does Paul describe our transition from slaves to heirs and what’s the difference between this and Romans 6:20-22? If we are heirs to the King, why do we so often still live with the mindset of a spiritual orphan or slave?
6. Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Why is it important that we keep verses 8-9 connected directly to verse 10? What happens to our concept of purpose when we emphasize one of these truths but ignore the other?
7. Memorize Ephesians 2:10. Share and discuss with friend one area where your allegiance is currently divided. Look for someone who is currently going through or experiencing something you’ve already walked through. Share with them part of your story.