THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. Membership is more than calling Ada Bible our church home. MEMBERSHIP allows us to formally align with what our church believes and how we strive to carry out God’s mission in the world. If you have been considering membership, take the first step and register for a membership class. In this class, you will become acquainted with our church’s story, learn more about what we believe, the process of becoming a member and other ways to get involved at Ada Bible Church. Find upcoming classes and register to attend HERE.
GROUP VALUES. This month, we focus on BIBLICAL TRUTH. Conversations around God’s Word are at the core of small groups. The mission of small groups at Ada Bible Church is to make disciples in relational environments. Reflect on the role of God’s Word in your group and whether there are any changes you need to make to how your group functions.
GROW AS A LEADER. Summer naturally creates more relaxed schedules and outdoor opportunities. Consider hosting a casual group gathering—a backyard BBQ, park picnic, or beach day—where group members can invite friends, neighbors, or family members who don’t normally attend church. Low-pressure social environments often open doors for meaningful conversations about faith.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to the second week of our sermon series, CONFIDENT. We will explore how to have assurance and confidence in our faith. This week, we explore how we can have confidence in our salvation through the character test found in 1 John.
ICEBREAKER
Have you ever fallen for a scam (phone, text, email, etc.)? What made it convincing, and how did you realize it wasn’t real?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read 1 John 1:5-10 and 1 John 2:3-6 aloud.
How would you explain the difference between “walking in the light” and “walking in darkness” to
someone who’s never heard these terms before?
What do you think John means when he says, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did”?
According to these verses, what role does obedience play in our relationship with God?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Aaron Buer continued the CONFIDENT sermon series by discussing the character test. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
Authentic faith means growing more and more like Jesus over time. Who is a good example of someone whose character has been transformed to be more Christlike? What stands out to you about them?
One way we see God’s transforming work is when areas of brokenness begin to look like the fruit of the Spirit. Impatience turns to patience. Anger turns to gentleness. Worry turns to peace, etc. What areas of brokenness have you seen God begin to transform in your life? How do you see that happening in each other’s lives?
We tend to hide our sin in many ways including from ourselves, God and each other. Which of these do you struggle with the most, and why?
How can we encourage each other to “walk in the light” rather than hide in darkness?
When we sin, Jesus serves as our advocate, saying, “I paid for that.” How does knowing Jesus advocates for you shape your approach to God after you’ve sinned?You cannot lose the salvation Jesus won for you, and a saved person will not continually live in disobedience. Battling against sin is evidence of authentic faith. How does this perspective shape how you understand your ongoing struggles with sin?
What is one area of your life where you sense God wants to transform you to be more like Jesus? What is a good first step to take this week?
WRAP UP
This week, we discussed the character test and how transformation into Christlikeness gives us confidence in our salvation. What from this conversation encouraged or challenged you the most and why?