WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS
The Descent Into Depravity
Living in a Fallen World – Unit 1
Begin
Begin memorizing the books of the Old Testament
Leader Resources
Exercises
- Review the memory verse of the week and talk about how it relates to the Truth section.
- Review the Pentateuch.
Suggested Discussion
- TRUTH – The content of the Truth section for this week is quite complex in comparison to other units of The Journey. Because of this, it is suggested that you concentrate your discussion on the five points on the next page that were presented in the to Summarize section. Your goal is to explain the Scripture references in order to help your JG understand and embrace these ideas.
- People are morally inclined to do evil and resist God’s righteous will. (Romans 1:29)
- People are blind to their true moral and spiritual condition. (Romans 1:21; Luke 5:30)
- Every person is morally evil. (Romans 3:11-12)
- People are spiritually dead and unable to free themselves from sin. (Ephesians 2:1)
- People are in a hopeless state of separation from God. (Ephesians 2:12) This discussion may raise some difficult theological questions. If you don’t feel equipped to answer these questions, write them down and promise your JG that you will make a good effort to find the answer. Your coach or the Discipleship staff will be able to help you. During the meeting, be sure to emphasize that the doctrine of total depravity means that every part of human nature suffers from the effects of sin, leaving people unable to save themselves. However, total depravity does not mean that people are as wicked as they could possibly be.
- TRUTH – Devote the last several minutes of discussion to how the truth for this week relates to the gospel. Try to impress upon your JG the idea that total depravity makes us incapable of doing anything to assist God in our salvation. As one person said, “The only thing that I contributed to my own salvation, was the sin that made it necessary.” This thought should magnify their awe at the love and grace of God has bestowed upon them.
- EQUIPPING – Allow your JG to discuss any of the three equipping questions. Encourage them to respond to each other’s comments, and to go beyond simple pat answers.
- ACCOUNTABILITY – Allow time for smaller groups of 2 or 3 to ask accountability questions and pray for one another.
- MISSION – Discuss how your JG group feels about witnessing. What thoughts come to mind? Make sure to connect witnessing with missional living – making the gospel known through word and deed.
