Nov. 01, 2020

Serves Joyfully

 Primary Text:  Ephesians 2:8-10      October 31 & November 1, 2020

 1)   That They May See

 Matthew 5:16:  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 

 DQ 1) Define “good deeds.”  Is it possible some things we 

           typically consider “good deeds” really have no eternal 

           value?  Why?

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 2)  Faith Not Works

 Romans 4:3-5:  What does the Scripture say?  "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."  Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.  However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 

DQ 2) How does faith serve as the means to receive righteousness?

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 3)  Created for Good Works

 Ephesians 2:8-10:   For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

DQ 3) How is it possible that we were created to do good works, 

           but we are not saved by good works?  What is the 

          distinction?

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 4)  Faith Without Works

 James 2:14-17:  What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

DQ 4) Why is faith without works dead?

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 5)  Encourage One Another

 Hebrews 10:23-25:  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

 DQ 5) How can we spur others on toward good deeds?

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