Memorize:

Matt. 6:19-20 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Background:

God is very interested in our hearts and our motives behind our actions. We must guard against legalism and laziness. Pure devotion to God is what is expected of us. Study the diagram below. Focus on the portion titled “devotion”.

Overview:

1. What does it mean to be devoted to Christ?
2. How important is it that we die to self and life for God?

1. What do the following passages say about what we become in Christ as His disciples?

• Eph. 4:13: "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Note: There are five main areas that need to be kept in balance as we attain “mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Rank yourself from strongest to weakest as you read the passages that deal with each of the five areas. (1 = strongest, 5 = weakest)

2. In light of the passage below, how would you rank your thoughts, knowledge and wisdom as compared with the other 4 areas?

• Phil. 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
• James 3:17-18: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

3. In light of the passage below, how would you rank your attitude and heart’s desire as compared with the other 4 areas?

• Phil.2:4-5: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”

4. In light of the passage below, how would you rank your love for God as compared with the other 4 areas? Would relationship with Him be characterized by being loving and intimate?

• Mark 12:30: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

5. In light of the passage below, how would you rank your love for others as compared with the other 4 areas?

• Mark 12:31: “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

6. In light of the passage below, how would you rank your obedience and actions as compared with the other 4 areas?

• John 14:21: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Which “area” in the lesson did you rank the weakest? What practical steps do you plan to take in the next week to improve in this area?

1. Draw a diagram of yourself that shows the proportions as you have listed them. (i.e. if you ranked weakest in the “head” and strongest in the “feet”, then you would draw yourself with a small head, but big feet in relation to your head…)

2. Share your diagram with everyone and explain why you drew yourself the way that you did.

3. Bring this lesson with you to the next meeting so that you can share how you did in each of these areas. '