Making a Masterpiece 2
Icebreaker: In your childhood, what were your best or good friends like?
Introduction: Making a Masterpiece 1, was about our identity as a Child of God. Making a Masterpiece 2 is about our identity as a friend with God. When we become a Christ-follower, we make our friendship with Jesus our first priority. We were first and foremost created for friendship with God. Out of it, we can help make all our other friendships work. All friendships are founded on love.
Discussion:
The Christ-following Life is a Relational Life
When Jesus was asked what is the most important of all commands,
Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT) 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
I Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) 4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1.Why do you think all the commands, and the whole story of following God is driven by love – loving God and then loving people?
2. What is love as God intended? (I Corinthians 13:4-7)
History of Friendship with God
Genesis 1:27 (NLT) So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them male and female he created them.
3. For what purpose do you think God created Adam and Eve in His own image?
Romans 5:12-13 (NLT) 12When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break.
4. What was broken and how was it broken?
5. How is this brokenness manifested in us today?
Jesus Changed Everything
Romans 5:6-11 (NLT) 6When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Matthew 27:50-51 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Access to God)
John 15:14-15 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
Note: And the word for “friend” in the original language is not just a casual acquaintance. It’s the word used for a best man at a wedding. or a king’s inner circle.
6. How did God restore what was broken?
7. What are the benefits of friendship with Jesus Christ?
8. How is being a friend of Christ more significant than just being his servant? (John 15:14-15)
9. How is our friendship with Christ different from other world views?
10. How do we develop and maintain friendship with Jesus Christ? (John 15:9-10)
John 15:9–10 (NLT) 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
What Kind of Friend Do We Have in Jesus?
- Forgiving friend
Ephesians 1:7 (NLT) He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins
11. How has Christ’s forgiveness of you transformed your life? What is an appropriate response? (Refer to hymn below)
- Loyal Friend
Romans 5:9-10 (NLT) “And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”
John 13:34-35 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
12. How has Christ’s loyal friendship strengthened your friendships with others?
- Eternal Friend
Romans 5:18, 21(NLT) “Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone… now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
13. What fear can you cast out knowing Christ is your eternal friend? How does knowing Christ as our eternal friend help us to deal with the uncertainties of life?
Read and Reflect
What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Hymn)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzYqRgh06_k
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer