Learning on the Way
Which category of accusation do you relate to the most – The Enemy, your conscience, or the World? What do those accusations look like in your life? Do you often feel alone in struggling with accusations? Do you feel like you have to hide or deny your sin?
Do you confess and repent regularly? Or do you only confess the sins that bother you? When you get caught? Do you ever feel like you have a clean conscience before God?
We rarely win others to Christ by constantly rebuking, criticizing, and nagging them. However, we can win others to Christ by falling in love with Christ and reflecting His love. How do you find yourself approaching others (your spouse, children, friend, coworkers etc.)? Do you find yourself constantly rebuking and criticizing them or do you try to reflect the love of Christ through your life to them?*
We all need a firm foundation built on the finished work of Christ. What areas or things are you tempted to build your foundation on- your works, accomplishments, performance, generosity, intelligence/ reasoning’s, knowledge, etc.? What promises from God’s word do you rely on when life gets hard, and the accusations come?
*For those that struggle with all or nothing thinking in this question we are not trying to infer that there is never a place for rebuking. The Bible clearly tells us to rebuke one another but it tells us to do so much more. The Bible also tells us to Love one another (John 13:34 – This command occurs at least 16 times) Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10) Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10) Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16) Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5) Accept one another (Romans 15:7) Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16) Greet one another (Romans 16:16) Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25) Serve one another (Galatians 5:13) Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13) Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13) Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25) Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32) Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19) Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5) Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3) Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4) Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13) Teach one another (Colossians 3:16) Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18) Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13) Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9) Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10) Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5) Pray for one another (James 5:16) Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)