Kingdom Tension Part 12 with Discussion Guide

Kingdom Tension Part 12 Discussion Guide

Summary

In this sermon, Pastor Steve continues the ‘Kingdom Tension’ series, focusing on what it means to be a new creation in Christ. He explores Galatians 6:12-15, where Paul emphasizes that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters – what counts is being a new creation. The pastor explains that as believers, we often try to add rules or formulas to our faith instead of embracing our new identity in Christ and developing a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss what it means to be a new creation in You, we ask that Your Holy Spirit would guide our conversation. Help us to set aside our old ways of thinking and embrace the new life You’ve given us. Open our hearts to understand how we can live as new creations even in the midst of life’s tensions and difficulties. May this time together draw us closer to You and to one another. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Ice Breaker

What’s something in your life that has dramatically changed or improved over time that you’re grateful for?

Key Verses

Galatians 6:15
2 Corinthians 5:17
Romans 12:2
Ephesians 4:22-24
1 Corinthians 2:11-12

Questions

What does it mean to you personally to be a ‘new creation’ in Christ?
The pastor mentioned that we often try to add things to the cross or reduce our faith to a formula. Have you noticed this tendency in your own life? How so?
How do you understand the tension between being already made new in Christ while still being in the process of transformation?
In the story of Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16), they praised God despite their difficult circumstances. How have you seen God work through challenging situations in your life?
The sermon emphasized that Christianity isn’t about following rules but about a relationship with Jesus. How has this understanding changed your approach to faith?
What are some practical ways you can cooperate with the Holy Spirit in renewing your mind this week?
Pastor Steve suggested we ‘choose grace when we would usually choose frustration.’ In what specific situation could you apply this in your life right now?
How might anchoring your identity in Christ rather than in your performance change how you approach challenges or failures?

Life Application

This week, commit to intentionally cooperating with the Holy Spirit each day. Choose one specific action daily that represents yielding to God rather than following your default response. This might be spending time in prayer before checking your phone, praying before a stressful meeting, or choosing grace in a situation where you’d normally feel frustrated. At the end of each day, reflect on how you lived as a new creation and how your intentional cooperation with the Spirit affected your day.

Key Takeaways

As believers in Christ, we are new creations – the old has gone and the new has come, even when we don’t feel like it.
Christianity isn’t about following a formula or rules but about a relationship with Jesus and being transformed through that relationship.
The Holy Spirit helps renew our minds so we can think more like God and live out our new identity in Christ.
Even in difficult circumstances, like Paul and Silas in prison, we can trust God is working and choose to praise Him.
We need to anchor our identity in Christ and what He has done, not in our performance or ability to follow rules.

Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for making us new creations through Your finished work on the cross. We’re grateful that our relationship with You isn’t based on formulas or performance but on Your grace and love. Help us this week to intentionally yield to Your Spirit, to take those moments to breathe and listen before responding in our old ways. Renew our minds daily and help us to anchor our identity firmly in You. May we choose grace when we would normally choose frustration, and may others see the evidence of our new creation life in how we live. In Your powerful name we pray, amen.

This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.