Truth Transforms

By SoulRio
Posted on April 14, 2005

This is a great study for any group. We should come back to this often and evaluate how we are doing with the Purpose of "truth transforms." New groups ask, "Can you picture this in our group? Groups with more time together need to ask "How are we doing with this?" "Is God's word transforming our lives?"
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Hand out the Truth Transforms list of values.
Within SoulRio RioLinks, Truth changes lives and…
o Belief in Christ as savior is caught by watching the lives of RioLink members.
o Daily prayer is essential to a RioLink Leader’s healthy growth.
o RioLink life is essential to spiritual growth.
o Bible study transforms people as it’s truth is caught and experienced.
o Bible study is effective because the Bible’s truths are experienced in community and lived out day-by-day.
o Members mentor new believers along a planned spiritual growth path.
o Group Servant/Leaders train mentors for new believers to ensure spiritual growth and accountability.
o Prayer is the cornerstone for truth discovery.
o Bible study and spiritual growth is based on the use of the “Teachable Moment” concept of learning.
o Each group member has a life changing personal Bible study and prayer time for which he/she is accountable.
o A true believer’s lifestyle is better caught than taught.
o People learn best by hearing and discussing life application scripture studies.
o Group Bible study is balanced with other essential elements of group life.

• What is most exciting about these values?
• Can you picture this happening in this group?
• Have group members share their thoughts on these values.

• Have four people share their life journey
Things to include may be:
o Where you were born.
o Your childhood (what was it like, parent’s livelihoods, where you lived, home environment, memories, salvation experience, etc.).
o Your high school years (what were they like, jobs you had, how would your friends describe you, most memorable times, dating life, heartaches, etc).
o Adult years (marriage, jobs, college, kids, trials, death of loved ones, where you see yourself in 10 years, etc.).

The Word of God transforms us into spiritually mature believers in Christ:

• Read Ephesians 4:13 (translation?), “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

• Read Romans 8:29 (translation?), “For those God foreknew HE also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.”

• Share thoughts about the Word’s transformation of its readers into spiritually mature believers.

Three points about Spiritual Maturity:
1. Spiritual Maturity is not automatic.
• Read Hebrews 5:12-13 (NASV), “You have been Christians for a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead…you need someone to teach you…When a person is still living on milk, it shows he isn’t very far along in the Christian life…He is still a baby Christian.”

2. Spiritual Maturity is a process.
• Read Proverbs 8:5 (NASV), “Learn to be mature.”
• Read 2 Peter 3:18 (NASV), “But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

3. Spiritual Maturity requires discipline.
• Read 1 Timothy 4:7(translation), “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”

Witness - Others Matter
• Who are the people that are lost in our lives that we are being intentional about reaching for the Lord?
• What are the ways we are being intentional about spending time with them?

Works - Everybody Serves
• How have you served the RioLink with your talents or gifts this week?
• How can you serve this coming week? (Champion some people you know who have served the RioLink this past week).

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