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December 11, 2020

Tips from Tony Evans on Finding Peace

2020 has seemed synonymous with hardship and heartache. But, our year has not been devoid of hope. In the midst of our struggle and pain, how do we endure? How do we tangibly find peace knowing we’ve faced challenges before even as we prepare to face them again?

Trusted pastor and leader Dr. Tony Evans shares about pain and loss as he gives us practical steps to find peace:

The past three years have been the most challenging I’ve ever faced. Our family has experienced a disheartening amount of loss. I lost my brother, sister, brother-in-law, niece, father, and my precious wife all within a span of roughly two years. I know what it is like not to have the energy to walk out the door in the morning. But I also have come to know firsthand the power of peace.

When the walls of loss and uncertainty caved in around me, I discovered what it meant to say the name of Jesus and be filled with His peace. It’s that peace and presence that got me through the days I could not get through in my own strength.

But peace only comes through choosing to align your heart, mind, and actions under the rule of God in obedience to Him. Peace grows out of the choices we make based on faith. It is nurtured and cultivated in a spirit of total dependence upon God and required surrender to His will. God gives us three principles inProverbs 3:5-6 that will help us live in the favor of His peace.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
PROVERBS 3:5-6

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

What would happen if you only trusted in the chair or couch you are sitting on, or will sit on later, with a half heart? What if you really didn’t think it would hold you up? How would that change your behavior? Would you sit down gently and hold onto something else, in case it were to give way, and you were to fall? Or would you only sit for a short period of time? If you knew the chair or couch might collapse beneath you at any moment, you wouldn’t flop down on it with all of your weight. Nor would you sprawl out and read a book or take a nap. Trust affects our choices. God wants you to trust Him with your whole heart so that your choices are influenced by that trust.

2. Lean not on your own understanding.

I don’t cook, but I have boiled an egg before. Once. I did it only once because I forgot about what I was doing, and walked away. The pan boiled dry and nearly caught on fire after being left on for so long. But anyone who cooks, or even just boils eggs, knows that in order for a meal, dessert, or snack to turn out—the cook needs to follow the instructions. Leaning on your own understanding, especially if you have limited understanding about ingredients like I do, can be disastrous at worst and tasteless at best. God made this world. He knows how it works. He knows what each of us must do in order to experience the abundant life. To make choices based on our own finite understanding while neglecting the instructions of the Master Chef is disastrous at worst and empty at best.

3. In all your ways acknowledge him.

To acknowledge God in all you do doesn’t mean to reference Him or give Him a holy “shout-out.” To acknowledge Him means to look to Him, to set your eyes on Christ and His way in order to know which way you are to move forward. It’s all about where you choose to focus. Are you making your choices based on an eternal, kingdom perspective or on a limited, worldly perspective? Where you look determines where you’ll wind up.

When you make the choice to trust in the Lord with all of your heart, to let go of your own way of understanding things and to look to God in everything you do, He will make your path straight. He will set you on the right road, headed in the right direction. He will give you peace.

How are you trusting God, right now, in this very moment for all you need?

We pray that you (and your small group members) can continue trusting in the Lord and leaning on His peace as you wrap up your 2020.

This post was excerpted from Dr. Tony Evans’ new Bible study release – U-Turns: Reversing the Consequences in Your Life. For more information about the study, to join the online Bible study, or to find out about a Tony Evans’ Bible study bundle sale (including U-Turns), see more here!

Group Answers Podcast

December 9, 2020

Group Answers Episode 182: The Future of Sunday School with Ken Braddy

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris, Brian, and Ken discuss what Sunday School might look like in 2021 and beyond.

Ken Braddy is LifeWay’s Director of Sunday School and manager of adult ongoing Bible studies. He blogs regularly about Sunday school and groups at kenbraddy.com.

Questions Discussed

What are some of the trends that you are seeing?
What will be the major obstacles?
What are some tools churches can use to help groups start strong in 2021?
Will we ever be back to “normal”?

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Leading Small Groups.

Group Leadership

December 7, 2020

Five Steps and Ways to Engage in Holiday Outreach

By Group Ministry

By Reid Smith

The holidays present a great opportunity for believers to step out together in sharing their faith. This time of year is busy for many people so the temptation is to press pause on meeting together and not resume until well after the holidays are over. However, with a little advanced planning, you can help your group members take steps to grow in their personal evangelism and show lost ones the way home. You can encourage your group members to share their faith over the holidays by taking these steps:

Challenge and pray. Start out by saying something like: “Hey everyone, what do you think about reaching out, as a group, sometime over the next month? I think it would be great for us to talk about ways we could show God’s love to people beyond our group this Christmas season. What do you think?” Then pray and ask for God’s wisdom and direction in your brainstorming.
Share a story of how the Lord impacted you through personal evangelism. Be candid while telling a story about how you shared your faith and what God did in your life as a result. Were you nervous or did you have doubts? What did the Lord do in your life as a result?
Talk about who, specifically, you want to impact with God’s love and pick a date. Think of a group of people who share something in common that you can reach out to in person. Questions that might help:

Who do you sense God placing on your heart while praying?
What groups of people would be most encouraged by a visit or help? (Hospital patients, prisoners, widows, single parents, senior care facilities, homeless people, etc.)

How can we express God’s love in personal and tangible ways?
What is realistic for us to do? (Consider the people in your group, schedules, etc.)
What date can we mark on our calendars now to do this?

Take the pulse of your small group and invite each member to take a role. Get a sense of people’s level of excitement and nervousness and offer multiple opportunities for them to be involved:

Communications (scheduling, sending info/reminders, etc.)
Supplies (purchasing and bringing whatever is necessary)
Transportation (arranging a way everyone can meet and travel together)
Prayer (covering each person and the outreach in prayer—updating everyone on how God is answering prayer)
Storyteller (take notes during the outreach and write a story of the lives impacted that you can share with your church’s leadership)
Childcare (somebody to look after the kids during the outreach)
Food (prepare and bring food for the outreach or coordinate a celebratory debrief back at the host home immediately following the outreach)

Let your church’s small group ministry leadership know about it. This is good because (a) others can be covering you in prayer that your outreach will make more of an impact and (b) it encourages storytelling so people in your church can be encouraged by one another’s faith (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:25).

Sometimes it helps to jump-start your small group’s brainstorming of what you’ll do together by sharing a few ideas, so here are five ways to consider:

Visit those who are hurting or lonely! Arranging a visit to a senior care facility or hospital is easier than one might think and most places are very open to visitors. Call ahead to arrange a day. Make cards in advance or bring some to create with the patients (since they may not be able to do this themselves). Sit with them, listen, read to them, pray with them. Patients/residents are often grateful somebody would think of them and take time with them.
Throw a Christmas Party! Have small group members invite their friends for a fun night together with your group. Play Christmas music or a movie in the background, have something creative for the kids to do together, play a game and have dinner together. God can use this mixer in natural ways to create conversations that result in your guests wanting to learn more about your small group and church. For example, you could ask guests what they did to celebrate Christmas when they were children (e.g. traditions) and what they do now.
Free Christmas Gift Wrapping! Call a local store and speak with the store manager, letting them know you’d like to set up a table that simply has a sign saying, “Free Gift Wrapping.” Clarify that it’s a no strings attached act of kindness. You’ll find that a number of people will come by and take you up on this without probing—pray for them. Others will inquire, enabling you to share how your small group wanted to show God’s love to your community in a practical way. This will open the door to invite people to “come and see!”
Serve your community in Jesus’ Name! Check out servantevangelism.com for ideas and identify needs in your community that touch your group’s heart where serve together, e.g. provide school supplies for underprivileged kids, food delivery, helping the homeless, etc.
Serve your church! Your small group can actually extend the evangelistic impact of your church this Christmas simply by asking leadership where the most help is needed. Encourage your small group members to invite friends along to help out and share on social media.

Of course, any of these ideas create opportunities to invite people to Christmas services that they might be impacted by the love and message of Jesus Christ! The expected outcomes of engaging in holiday outreach is that believers will grow in their personal evangelism, groups will forge a closer bond as a result of this faith-stretching experience, and those who have yet to believe will be exposed to the life-changing message of the gospel!

Reid Smith has been equipping leaders in churches of all sizes and stages of growth for effective disciple-making since 1996. He lives in Wellington, Florida where he serves as a Groups Pastor at Christ Fellowship. You can find more of his helpful resources at www.reidsmith.org.

Online Bible Study

December 4, 2020

Join our Online Bible Studies for the New Year!

By Deborah Spooner

In a few short days, we head into 2021. No matter what 2020 brought for you (expected and unexpected), we all could use some hope, community, and solid biblical truth in the new year.

To help bring this, we’re so excited to announce our next online Bible studies! In the first week of January, we’re launching not just one but two OBS experiences. We’re just that excited.

When do they start?

On Tuesday, January 5th Battle Plan for Prayer by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick will begin. On Wednesday, January 6th U-Turns by Dr. Tony Evans starts.

What are the studies about?

Battle Plan for Prayer is an 8 week video-based Bible study that helps you develop a deeper walk with God as you seek the Lord for your battles first. Through this study, you’ll be equipped to create their own prayer strategy and be specific and strategic in prayer. This study features teaching by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick on the topics of: what prayer is and is not, why God wants us to pray, specific areas of prayer, specific strategies for prayer, and more.

U-Turns is a 6 week video-based Bible study about God’s direction over your life. Dr. Tony Evans shows you the reality of human freedom, the consequences that come from bad choices, and the way to reverse the consequences. By aligning your life choices under God’s Word and pursuing an intimate relationship with Him, you can experience the abundant life Jesus has for you. You get to choose whether or not you want that. And sometimes, you get to witness God change the direction of your life.

How does an online Bible study work?

It’s simple, really, to join this free experience.

Sign up for one (or both!) of the Online Bible studies simply through using your LifeWay Account or by creating one. Click here to register for U-Turns and click here to register for Battle Plan for Prayer!
Purchase a copy of the U-Turns Bible Study or Battle Plan for Prayer Bible Study. Please note that while a Bible Study Book is not required, we do recommend one to enhance your experience going through this Online Bible study.
Join the conversation! Every week, a new teaching session will be posted. Along with the video, you’ll find four discussion questions and a comment section. Pick one or more of the questions to respond to each week and also engage with others from across the nation!
Once you sign up for the study, you will receive an email each week with a link to the session so you can participate! If you have notifications on for this group, you will also receive a notification when we post the next session.

We’re so excited to kick off the New Year with such rich and practical biblical teaching. Can’t wait for you to join!

Group Answers Podcast

December 2, 2020

Group Answers Episode 181: Barnabas Piper on Hoping for Happiness

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to Barnabas Piper about his new book, Hoping for Happiness, where he offers a biblical framework for living a grounded, hopeful, and genuinely happy life.

Barnabas Piper is on staff at Immanuel Nashville. He is also an author and speaker and the father of two daughters. He cohosts the Happy Rant podcast and blogs at BarnabasPiper.com.

Questions:

In what ways does happiness look different for everybody?
Is it wrong to want to be happy?
What’s the difference between happiness and joy? Is one holier?
How are we to experience happiness in this life while setting our minds on things above?
How do we avoid expecting too much of earthly things and being disappointed, or expecting too little and becoming cynics?
What kinds of unrealistic expectations do we have of happiness?
Why do Christians feel guilty about happiness? How do we address that Biblically?
How can we share our happiness with those who are hurting without making it worse?

Group Leadership

December 1, 2020

Bible Studies for the Christmas Season

By Group Ministry

It’s Christmas, the best time of the year. Even as we walk through a season where “best” looks a little different, our firm reason for the season remains unchanged.

Christ is born. He is Immanuel, God with us.

As you prepare for the weeks leading up to Christmas with the new year around the corner, your Bible study (as a group or individuals) doesn’t need to halt. By choosing from several unique Bible study options created to meet various needs, you can find the perfect fit for your group as a whole and your specific members.

Bible Study Resources for Personal Study

Foundations or Foundations New Testament (Robby & Kandi Gallaty)

With Foundations, you can read through the foundational passages of the Bible in one year, while having the flexibility of reading 5 days per week. In Foundations: New Testament, you’ll do the same through the 27 books of the New Testament. Along with supplementary devotional content each day, you’ll use the H.E.A.R. journaling method: Highlighting, Explaining, Applying, and Responding.

Pray Like This: A 52-Week Prayer Journal

This journal will help you know God more intimately and invigorate your prayer life by applying the Lord’s Prayer every week for a year through daily Scripture reading and journaling exercises.

10-Minute Audio Devotions

Brief but powerful, these audio devotions will help you navigate through fear, stress, and anxiety. Each CD features approximately 10 minute devotions from some of today’s best Christian communicators such as Tony Evans, David Jeremiah, Matt Chandler, and more.

Bible Studies about the Life of Jesus

Characters: Jesus

What if you could spend six weeks studying the life of our Savior and Lord? In this Bible study, a part of the Characters Bible study series, you’ll dive into learning about Jesus as the Son of God, Master Teacher, Miracle Workers, Crucified Savior, Risen Lord, and Fulfilment of Prophecy.

Gospel Foundations: God With Us

The Bible is not a collection of scattered stories and books. From cover to cover, the Bible is the story of God’s plan to redeem sinners through Jesus—the gospel. In this Bible study, you’ll dive into the life of Jesus by studying His birth, preparation, miracles, teaching, crucifixion, resurrection, commission, and more. A part of a larger collection of Gospel Foundations study, this will help you see Christ throughout the storyline of Scripture.

Bible Studies Relevant Now

Onward (Russell Moore)

In shifting times, we need a church that speaks to social and political issues with a bigger vision in mind: that of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As Christianity seems increasingly strange and even subversive to our culture, we have the opportunity to embrace the distinctiveness of the Christian faith and to be marginalized for the sake of the gospel.

The Church & The Racial Divide (Trevor Atwood)

In light of racial tension in America, many Christian leaders are talking earnestly about racial reconciliation. The average Christian may not fully understand why racial reconciliation is a gospel imperative. And the average pastor may not know how to pursue it. This Bible study features a multi-voice video series from evangelical leaders that sheds light on issues of race, culture, and the gospel, and equips small groups to take action.

Counter Culture (David Platt)

How does truth affect how we respond to the social issues of our day—realities such as poverty, slavery, abortion, sexual immorality, the degradation of marriage, the neglect of orphans and widows, racism, and persecution? David Platt believes that the truths of the gospel should compel us to a contrite, compassionate, and courageous personal response to social issues in the culture. Using biblical foundations, practical illustrations, and personal exhortations, this study is a pointed yet winsome call for readers to faithfully follow Christ in counter cultural ways.

Bible Studies from Best-Selling Dr. Tony Evans

No More Excuses

Tony Evans urges men to stop looking at their circumstances as excuses and instead to see them as challenges and opportunities for success.

Exploring examples of men of God throughout the Bible, this study will challenge you to lay down your excuses, stop compromising, and fight to be a man of character and commitment. Despite your setbacks, failures, and pressures, you can still find purpose, meaning, and direction in life and become the man God has called you to be.

No More Excuses: A 90-Day Devotional for Men

No More Excuses: A 90-Day Devotional for Men will challenge you to lay down your excuses, stop compromising, and fight to be a man of character and commitment. Each day, you’ll find a Scripture verse, short devotion, and thought-provoking question to help you find purpose, meaning, and direction in life and become the man God has called you to be.

U-Turns

In U-Turns, Tony Evans shows the reality of human freedom, the consequences that come from bad choices, and the way to reverse those consequences. By aligning your life choices under God’s Word and pursuing an intimate relationship with Him, you can experience the abundant life Jesus has for you. You get to choose whether or not you want that. If you do, you will see how God can work to redeem the negative consequences of decisions you’ve made.

Pathways

The story of Esther appears to be a series of coincidences that deliver the Jews from certain death. However, God selected Esther for a particular purpose at a particular time in the history of His chosen people. Pathways will help you discover the power of God’s providence in the midst of your personal pain, fear, gain, loss, and love. You’ll see that God has a purpose for your life, and He uses every action and event that occurs in it to make that purpose a reality.

Detours

It’s easy to wonder why God would allow calamity to happen or if He’s in control at all. Whether through uncontrollable circumstances or the pain of personal relationships, everyone has experienced unforeseen changes in life. By walking through the life of Joseph, this study helps believers navigate detours that may take you through trials, injustice, and even betrayal. You will be comforted and encouraged when you learn to rest in God’s redemptive plan and the hope found in God’s sovereign will.

Group Answers Podcast, Uncategorized

November 25, 2020

Group Answers Episode 180: Monthly Check-In with Jared Musgrove

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian check in with Jared Musgrove. Dr. Jared Steven Musgrove is Groups Pastor at The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX and co-founder and Executive Director of communityleadership.org. He is married to Jenny and father to Jordan and Joshua.

Questions:

We have been talking a lot on this podcast about potential drift in discipleship and spiritual disciplines. What are some things you do personally to keep fit spiritually?
How are you helping your groups and group leaders be healthy during this season?
Do you give your leaders specific training or encouragement for caring for their group members?
How are your online groups going? Will that be an ongoing strategy?
What are your priorities as you plan for groups in 2021?

Group Leadership

November 23, 2020

Small Group Leader Self-Care

By Group Ministry

By Reid Smith

Spiritual leaders must take decisive action to be healthy in order to be prepared to confront the inevitable temptations, personal attacks, potential burnout and other hazards of ministry. These ten recommendations are relevant for all small group leaders and coaches who want to be healthy and effective in ministry for the long-haul.

Read & Reflect on God’s Word Daily

Contend for a daily devotional life. Not only will this secure your healthy growth, but it will ensure the healthy development of biblical community in your group (Psalm 119:105). A small group’s life together will likely only go as deep as the life of its leader. If you do not already have an ongoing devotional life, start small and develop it incrementally. Here’s an interesting fact: Sheep feed on dew that collects on grass very early in the morning and the water these creatures slurp up at dawn satisfies them through the whole sun-scorching day (Psalm 5:3). Give God the first fruit of your time, and find your strength in Him (Psalm 119:114, 147).

Pray Daily

Talk with God and listen for His guidance each day. The more you cultivate a closeness with your Creator, the healthier you will be for your own well-being, your family, and everyone you influence in life. Be mindful of how He is always with you and will never leave you (Deuteronomy 31:8). This will help you to be more conscientious and inclined to communicate with God repeatedly throughout the day rather than it being a ritual that happens just once a day (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is key to having a growing relationship with the Lord, which is what God wants from us more than anything else.

Invite a Few Trusted Friends to Pray for You

You and your group are a target of the enemy and prayer coverage is an absolute must. Ask a few trusted friends to pray for you and your family regularly, especially those you know are faithful to intercede in prayer for others. Make a point to give them an update and share specific things to pray about at the beginning, middle, and end of each season of your group’s life together. There’s no season in ministry where we don’t need someone to stand in the gap for us.

Replenish Yourself Regularly

Take refuge in Jesus. When you feel like your energy level is beginning to wane, let your co-leader or a friend in your group know. If you’ve already met as a small group for a few seasons, you might let your whole group know. Invite them to pray for you and carry responsibilities that have begun to be taxing on you. Don’t make the small group “your ministry.” Ministry should be mutual and happening among all group members. If it isn’t, instigate change! Get away at times, find rest, and be sure you’re regularly participating in the worship and teaching offered in your weekend service. Honoring the Sabbath each week is just the beginning.

Recognize God’s Work

Remembering what the Lord has done and is doing builds your faith and the faith of those around you. Continually remind yourself of who God is and His promises to stay strong. For example, you can plant and water, but God is the one who makes things grow (1 Cor 3:5-7). You can use my gifts and abilities to build up the Church, but God is the one who is actually building it in such a way that hell itself won’t triumph over it (1 Cor 12:7; Mt 16:18). It is also helpful to recall that God’s Word is fully inspired, living and active and does its work in people as they engage with it (2 Tim 3:16; Heb 4:12). Recognizing how God is already at work within your group is worshipful and helps to develop a more spiritually mature perspective in those around you.

Resist Premature Involvement in Conflict

If someone comes to you with a complaint about another, find out right away if they’ve spoken with the other person first (Matthew 18:15). If they haven’t, redirect them to talk with the person they’re having tension with. If the first condition has been met, do not entertain an accusation made about another individual unless it is brought to you by at least one other, independent source (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1b).

Draw Appropriate Boundaries

Be available to your group members, but lovingly draw boundaries when necessary. God wants you to be whole just as much as He does others and ultimately self-care is obedience to Him. It’s also okay to set time limits on phone conversations or one-on-one meetings you have with group members; let them know at the outset of your conversation that you have up until a certain time that you’re able to connect with them.

Don’t Meet Alone with the Opposite Sex

Spiritual leaders must avoid every appearance of evil for their sake and for the sake of others (Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 10:24, 32-33; 1 Thessalonians 5:22). Wisdom is not putting yourself in a situation where you could stumble (1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim 2:22) so if someone of the opposite sex wants to meet outside your group time, let them know your spouse, co-leader or a trusted group member will join you too. This is not about being religious or legalistic—it’s being prudent (Proverbs 27:12).

Don’t Try to Do Everything Yourself

Empower others in your group to help carry the responsibilities that come with leading a small group. Identify a co-leader who can team up with you sooner than later. Begin by giving small tasks that align with their areas of gifting or interest.

Don’t Try to Please Everyone

You’ve undoubtedly heard it said before, and it’s absolutely true: You can’t please everyone! You will become depleted and discouraged if you try. If somebody is not happy with your leadership or the group, talk directly with them about it, pray together, and trust the Holy Spirit with the outcome. Release the person, letting them know it’s okay to agree to disagree and for them to go a different direction. Keep your coach informed of any challenges like this so they can support you and help mediate next steps. Your concern needs to be for the whole group; don’t let one person derail the vision God has given you.

Remember: You’re serving God on behalf of the small group (not the other way around). The Lord wants to grow you through your experience as a leader…not use you up and leave you on empty. Be sure to take care of yourself! Your life and small group leadership will be stronger as a result.

Group Leadership

November 20, 2020

Jesus: The Servant in a Time of Suffering

By Deborah Spooner

Jesus. We know He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the King of kings and Lord of lords (Hebrews 12:2; 1 Timothy 6:15). But we can easily lose sight of this awe-striking reality as we go about our daily tasks. This is only increased as we experience seasons of upheaval, uncertainty, waiting, or suffering—a lot like what many are presently experiencing.

How do we remember the profound reality that Christ is the Suffering Servant, obedient to the Father above all else? How can we personally experience this reality and then share this life-giving truth with our groups in transformative ways?

We can start by studying and letting ourselves think more deeply on these realities of Jesus. Then, we can pose questions to ourselves and others.

As a starting point, consider this timely Bible study selection:

The Father declares His pleasure with the Son.

Read Mark 1:9-11.

John the Baptist came preparing the people for the arrival of Jesus. But Jesus would not be the conquering king the people expected; God had sent the Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah. The people of Israel needed to understand the humility of their king, but they needed to understand His greatness as well. John confessed that he was not even worthy to untie the sandals of the One coming.

Jesus’ hometown was nothing to brag about, consistent with the circumstances of His birth. Nazareth was a backwater village, the wrong side of the tracks which nothing of notoriety ever came from. Jesus left this remote village of no reputation and was baptized by John to begin His earthly ministry.

But why? We know from John’s message that he was calling everyone everywhere to repentance, and that the sign of repentance was baptism. But Jesus was—and is—the perfect Son of God. He had no need to repent of sin because He was not a sinner. So why be baptized by John?

Jesus’ baptism was, first of all, an issue of obedience to the Father. In the Book of Matthew, we see that John did not want to baptize Jesus because of His greatness. Who was he, John—the forerunner, to baptize Jesus the Messiah? If anyone was baptizing anyone, it should be the other way around. But Jesus explained that His baptism was not for sin, but rather to obey the commands of the prophets. Even from the beginning of His ministry, we see Jesus’ priority was to do exactly what God had sent Him to do.

But there was another reason for Jesus’ baptism. He was baptized to identify with sinners. Though Jesus was not a sinner, He was to be counted among the sinners. By being baptized as sinners were baptized, Jesus associated with those who needed to repent and believe. A few years after this, He would identify in a deeper, more profound way, when He would take the sins of the world on Himself at the cross. He who knew no sin would become sin so that we might be given His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).

So Jesus, the perfect Son of God, went down into the water and came back up. It was a shadow of what was to come. Jesus would go down into death as the sacrifice for sin and come back up, raised to new life never again to die.

Jesus identified with sinners in obedience to the will and plan of His Father, and His Father expressed His pleasure. The text tells us that immediately the heavens were torn open and the Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. And the Father pronounced His approval: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased” (Mark 1:11).

This same pronouncement that was given to Jesus because of His perfect obedience is credited to us because of that same obedience. When we believe in Jesus, His perfect righteousness is credited to our account, and we are positioned as the children of God.

How amazing to hear this from on high. How amazing to be adopted into God’s family, co-heirs with Christ. How amazing to be counted righteous in Christ. How amazing to know that God has not made a mistake when He formed us and when He called us into His family. How amazing to hear, because of the gospel, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!”

Why is it important to remember that Jesus’ priority was obedience to the Father, especially as you walk through seasons of suffering?

What practical difference does it make to you, as a Christian, to know that your Father in heaven is pleased with you?

The above content is excerpted and added to from the Gospel Foundations series, Volume 5: God With Us – The Gospels. Find out more about this Bible study which studies the life of Jesus here or learn more about the entire series here.

Group Answers Podcast

November 18, 2020

Tips from Tony Evans on Finding Peace

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

2. Lean not on your own understanding.

3. In all your ways acknowledge him.

Five Steps and Ways to Engage in Holiday Outreach

Join our Online Bible Studies for the New Year!

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What are the studies about?

How does an online Bible study work?

Bible Studies for the Christmas Season

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