Have you ever sensed that there was more to the Christian life than you are experiencing, but aren’t sure how to get there?

During the following dates in July and August 7/26, 8/2, 8/9 and 8/16 there will be a 4-week study going through the book “Journey to the Inner Chamber”.  This is a study on increasing our understanding of the reality that God is calling us deeper into our faith.  Through this allegory/ story we have the opportunity to identify where we are in our own faith walks and to begin to engage in some  opportunities to take our understanding of the depths that God calls us to and to take our faith deeper.  We will address these types of questions:

• Who am I?
• What is my purpose?
• What is my life all about?

If you feel the tug and pull to go deeper then join us for this short 4-week study to see if the Lord is calling you deeper in your journey.  Please contact Orange Crush or Chicken Hawk for a book for this study.

For More details – https://f3thefort.com/2019/05/31/pre-blast-deepening-your-relationship-with-christ/

Weekly questions:

Week 1:- Chapters 1 -5 (pgs. 3-21)

• Read Romans 8: 19-23
  • In chapter 2, The refugee camp is presented as The World hidden from our view.  Call it the spirit world and the inner condition of man.  What are people starving for? Why would God allow this to happen?  What is He hoping will Happen?  How does this relate to Romans 8: 19-23
  • What is the hope that emerges from the futility and frustration in the world?
• From chapter 3, discuss the importance of the influencer on the refugees faith journey
  • When does an influencer have their highest potential impact ( when times are good or bad)?  How can an influencer serving another person in need communicate the love of Christ?   How can you demonstrate Christ’s love to others?

• Christianity should never be identified as a RELIGON for what is offered is a right relationship with God through His grace it is not a result of mankind’s works or religions behavior.  What do religions bring that is so appetizing?  Legalistic rules that give a false sense of security?  Programs that attempt to box God in by trying to make Him something they can understand, rather than considering that He is unimaginable and inestimable?
  1. How do you differentiate Religion vs. Relationship?  What has your Christian walk looked like and how has it changed in terms of something that resembles a relationship over time?
  2. Describe your level of understanding of God and His ways.

• Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” –
  1. How does God’s grace open the door to a relationship with Him?
  2. How does your FAITH in what Jesus did for you help walk you into that open door?

• Jesus is our bridge crossing the impossible separation that exists between sinful man and Holy God.  Note that after Refugee crosses the Bridge, the maturity of this transformed life does not occur immediately, which is the challenge most Christians face.  At this point, we see only a “baby in Christ” being born.  The process after his decision will either lead to his maturity as a believer, or he will remind retarded in his spiritual growth and fail to become the man God intends for him to be.
  1. What did your first years look like after becoming a Christian?
  2. Why do you think God would required a well-thought-out decision to accept His offer of a relationship with Him, rather than a blanket coverage of forgiveness for everyone?
  3. Have you accepted the gift of salvation and the relationship with God the Father wants you to have with Him?  Have you “crossed the bridge”?  The invitation is always open and the gift is waiting to be accepted.

Week 2:  Chapters 6 – 10 (pgs. 23-46)

The study guide is broken up by major theme in different sections (see below).  Once we understand the different illustration represented in the allegory/story, we will assess where we are in our faith walks.

• The table of sweets – Contrast with 2 Timothy 3:16 and the scriptures being breathed out of God compared to what many churches are doing to sweeten the message for the congregations (to put butts in seats and dollars in offering plates).  How do you digest the difficult messages?  Have you ever debated/rationalized the Word?  What value do you see in having a more mature follower help challenge us to look deeper into the Word?
• The Banquet Table – Theology:  Ephesians 4:15-16 speaking to the different parts working together to make the body function/grow/love.   How have you experienced people that have served you to help you grow in your faith?  Do you see spiritual gifts in people around you, do you see your own gifts?  How have you seen these gifts used as the body serving the head (Christ)?
• The Feast in the Inner Chamber – How do you feel about the requirements for entering the inner chamber?  The requirement of personal abandonment and absolute trust.  Is this a serious challenge for you to trust in Christ at this level?  What has this looked like in your life?
• Words from murdered Jim Elliot – “He is no fool who give what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”
  • What is he referencing about what he could not keep or could not lose?
  • If Jim couldn’t keep his life safe from those who murdered him, did God have the power and right to do so?  Do you think Jim was willing to entrust his life to God, no matter the cost, because God did have control of it?
  • Was Jim’s life wasted or was his life invested as God would choose?
• Where do you see yourself in the allegory you have just read, where would you say you are in Learner’s journey?  What do you think you need to do to mature and progress? What would other say about you? See below:
  • Outside the walls
  • At the bridge
  • Crossed the bridge and eating at the table of sweets
  • Eating at the banquet table (Baby food, soft, all foods)
  • Feasting in the inner chamber
  • Are you an influencer or teaching others to feed?

Week 3: Chapters 12 – 14  (pgs. 55-75)

• Going Deeper – “The objective of this group was to find that which was missing in their relationship with Christ and to become the men He wanted to make them”
  • Do you feel there is something more to knowing Christ and serving His purpose than you are currently experiencing?  What is missing?  What could you be doing different?
  • In your life where are you today with prioritizing your life toward seeking Christ more Deeply?  How far have you come over the years?  How far do you have to go? What will help you move your life more in that direction?
• Trials – Three main components of getting stronger and physically mature:  nutrition (God’s word), exercise (trials), and rest (God’s peace).  “The trials in the life of the believer are as necessary to spiritual growth as exercise is to physical growth.”  Respond.
  • 1 Corinthian 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” How have you applied this truth to your life or do you keep it in the theory state?
  • Have you ever been in a trial or challenging situation that seemed impossible and even unlikely that it would end good, only to see God move in a very special way and create a rescue?  Discuss.
• Finding Peace by Trusting God –
  • Scriptures – What are your thoughts on these scriptures that speak about trusting in God?  Do you believe that they apply to your life?
    • Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
    • Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
    • Daniel 6:23 – The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
  • What situation are you dealing with right now where you are seeking peace but you haven’t given it to God?  A situation where you aren’t finding peace because you aren’t trusting in God.  Let’s pray about these situations and how they can be used by God to help your spiritual maturity and relationship with him.

Week 4:  Chapters 15 – 20  (pgs. 77-109)

• Character of Game:
  • What characteristics in Gabe do you see that you admire the most? Why?
  • Have you ever known a Gabe?  What trials (if you know) helped shape/sharpen them?  How did they influence you?

• Overcoming Fear… finding courage:
  • Gabe had to abandon his fears and trust in God to invite the stranger into his home.  Have you ever taken a risk by getting close to someone that you didn’t know or did you invite them into your personal space?  How did it feel to abandon your fears? Did God provide?
    •  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18
  • How does God’s love and our abiding in it take away our fear and make us courageous like Gabe?
  • Gabe lived with a sense of gratitude toward God that made him more willing to serve, how do you live with this same gratitude?

• Wisdom:
  • We see wisdom that comes from experiences, even trials in a life that had to be overcome, but results in an insight that could be found in no other way.  Why is this?
  • We sense that Christ within Game is working through him.  How does the example of Gabe’s humble faithfulness teach you to live your life?

• Loving our Neighbor/Enemy:
  • In the story, an arsonist tries to burn down his Barn out of jealousy but Gabe quenches the fire and finds the neighbor lame during his escape but carries him Home and feeds and provides for his family.  React to this story. How would you have responded?  If you take a step back why did God allow the fire to be started?
  • Discuss the legacy of the single act on the work that God did years after with the farmer’s son

• Bearing Fruit:
  • Galatians 5:22-23  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
  • Discuss the idea of self-made vs. spirit lead fruit.  What happens when you try to produce spirit out of your will?  What happens when you allow the spirit to produce the fruit?
  • What are the outcomes from producing fruit?  What does the Fruit produced reflect?

• Gabe’s Principles of Influence: What are practical ways of living out these principles?
  • Be a God seeker
  • Be a God Abider
  • Live it out in the home and outside the home