www.HeartoftheProblem.com

Table of Contents

Leader’s Guide iv
How This Material is Organized v
Tips for Leading Group Discussions viii
Intro Session 1
Unit 1 - The Myth of Complexity 5
Unit 2 - Peace and Satisfaction in This World 10
Unit 3 - Most of Us Had a Poor Start in Life 16
Unit 4 - God’s Sharpest Tools, My Biggest Problems 21
Unit 5 - Why Don’t You Just Concentrate on the Positive? 29
Unit 6 - Why Is It Difficult to Walk by a Mirror Without Looking at Yourself? 35
Unit 7 - At What Age Is It Acceptable to Sulk When You Can’t Have What You Want? 40
Unit 8 - I Need to Forgive Those Soldiers 45
Unit 9 - Anger is One Letter Away From Danger 53
Unit 10 - Your Wife Has Inoperable Cancer 61
Unit 11 - I Prayed, But I Still Don’t Feel Right. 66
Unit 12 - If You Don’t Want To, You Aren’t Going To 72

 

Leader's Guide Overview

Welcome Leaders!

You are about to embark on a life changing journey…a journey which will take you through the Heart of the Problem workbook. As you take this journey, you can take a group of people with you – and they too can experience the peace and joy Jesus has promised us. I have written this new Leader’s Guide to help make your job as a leader easier. As you lead your group through this life-changing material, you can use the tips and outside resources that I’ve used to help your groups reach their full potential. My prayer is that this Leader’s Guide will give you tools that will enhance your teaching without requiring a lot of extra work for you. My desire is to help you shine as you bring glory to God in your teaching.

For the last 12 years, I have taught the Heart of the Problem workbook to hundreds of people. The size of the groups has ranged from one-on-one all the way up to a large group in the hundreds. The ages of the group members varied from teenagers to people in their seventies. In all of my years of teaching I have never had one person say that they did not learn something that changed their life. I have watched God use Dr. Brandt’s workbook to open up hearts, heal marriages, and repair relationships. I have had the privilege of sitting under Dr. Brandt’s teaching and owe my own healed marriage to his wise words. As people have had their lives changed, they have asked me to train them to teach the Heart of the Problem workbook. The result is the Leader’s Guide you now have in your hands.

It is extremely important that you take a few minutes to read through the next few sections of this Introduction. Not only will you find options on how to plan the time for each session, there are also important instructions on how to maximize the time you have each time you gather with your group.

May God bless you as you lead in faith, walking fully empowered by His Spirit. I would love to hear how God blesses you and your group as you proceed through this material, or ways we can make this guide more helpful to leaders. Please email your stories and comments and stories to me.

Sincerely,

Terry Rossello
Heart of the Problem Small Groups Director
Grace community Church, Tempe, Arizona

How This Material is Organized

The course is divided into 13 Sessions: 1 Introduction Session and 1 Session for each Unit. It will be extremely beneficial to your group if you are able to incorporate the Introduction into your overall plan.

Throughout each Unit Session, along the left-hand side of the page, you will find the Workbook page numbers referenced. The numbers also include a letter – “T”, “M”, or “B” – signifying “Top”, “Middle”, or “Bottom”. This is for your ease in referring back to the Workbook material.

Information is included in 2 different fonts:

The regular font is material that you can read verbatim, or state in your own words, to your group.

The smaller italicized font indicates instructions and ideas for you as the leader.

Each Unit Session contains the following sections:

Begin Session

Opening Remarks
Announcements
Opening Prayer

Review of Days 1 – 5

Each Day incorporates the following elements (the amount of time you have will determine how much of this material you are able to include – see “Format” below):

Overview: The Overview provides a summary of what was covered in the reading provided in the Workbook. You may find it helpful to read it out loud to the class or simply summarize it in your own words. This “review” will help bring back to everyone’s mind what they are about to discuss and will give focus to the discussion.

Points to Emphasize: In addition to the Overview, this section highlights the specific points that need to be reiterated in this section. I have listed one or more for each day and there is space for you to add an additional point if you find something particularly useful for your group. You can emphasize these points by reading them verbatim or simply bringing the group’s attention to them. For example, you might say, “On the bottom of page 9, Dr. Brandt makes the point that nursing a grudge hurts no one else but you. You are a slave to the person you hate.”

Share: This is the “facilitation” part of the class! It is important to let members of the group share their reactions and ideas. For each day, 1 or 2 people should share their thoughts.

Bonus Material: Throughout each session, there are places where I have included outside information which is pertinent to the study. These resources include stories, analogies, illustrations, quotes, or object lessons. Use these materials as needed and as time allows.

Format

Here are 2 different options for getting through the material. Choose the format that best suits your setting. In the 45-Minute Format you will have time for the Overview, Points to Emphasize, and Share sections for each day. The 90-Minute Format will allow you to bring in the Bonus Material and have more time for sharing each day.

45-Minute Format

5 minutes - Opening Remarks /    Announcements / Opening Prayer
7 minutes - Day 1
7 minutes - Day 2 7 minutes - Day 3
7 minutes - Day 4
7 minutes - Day 5
5 minutes – Wrap-Up / Closing    Prayer

90-Minute Group Format

5 minutes – Opening Remarks /    Announcements / Opening Prayer
15 minutes - Day 1
15 minutes - Day 2
15 minutes - Day 3
15 minutes - Day 4
15 minutes - Day 5
10 minutes – Wrap-Up / Closing    Prayer or Prayer Partners

Use your time wisely and watch your time carefully! In each session you’ll find a line with the word “START” by each major section. This is provided as a tool for you – before the class begins you should write in the time of when you should be starting that section. For example: If you are using the 45-Minute Format and your class begins at 9:00a.m., by the time you start the “Review of Day 1” it should be 9:05a.m., by the time you start the “Review of Day 2” – 9:12a.m., on Day 3 – 9:19a.m., etc. This will serve as a check point to help you get through the entire session.

Failure to keep track of your time will be frustrating for members who had something really important to share on Day 5, but they were unable to contribute to the discussion because you ran out of class time. It is your job as the leader to keep the group moving through the lesson and at the same time be sensitive to a member who is sharing something important. Keep track of the time and flex within days as necessary to get all the way to the end.

Tips for Leading Group Discussion

Emphasize from the very beginning that what is shared in the group, stays in the group. Trust is an important component of small group sharing. Nothing will shut your group down quicker than group members feeling as though what they share might be shared with others outside of the group or used against them.

If you have more than 12 members in your group, you should divide into smaller groups of 6-8 members. This will allow for more individual sharing and can help shy individuals from being intimidated by the larger number of faces in the group. Assign a leader to facilitate discussion for each small group.

Ask questions with interest and warmth. Listen carefully to individual answers. Keep in mind that no answer is insignificant; affirm each person’s participation

Be sensitive to who is doing the talking in your group. Is one person monopolizing the time? Is another person talking about irrelevant information to the topic at hand? Is someone only listening and never offering a thought or idea? As tactfully as you know how, keep the discussion on track and draw out everyone’s ideas. This can be very difficult! Pray for wisdom and courage to keep the group focused and sensitive to all members.

Although it would be helpful if Prayer Partners stay the same throughout the course, the configuration of your groups can change each time you meet. Encourage couples to split up in order to achieve better group diversion. Use a different way of assigning groups each time so that members don’t “figure out” what you are doing and “work” the system. Here are a couple of ideas for getting people into groups each time:

Intro Session

Begin Session

Opening Remarks
Announcements
Opening Prayer

Distribute the Heart of the Problem Workbooks

Explain how the Workbook is laid out

There are 12 Units to be covered, 1 Unit each time we meet.

Each Unit has 5 Daily Sections (Unit 1 is the exception; Day 5 is divided into 2 parts).

Each Daily Section will take approximately 20-30- minutes to complete depending on the individual’s depth of study.

Each Daily Section ends with the same four learning activities. This part of the study is very important! Each activity has a specific purpose.

At the end of each Unit is an “Optional – But Recommended!” exercise (see page 25) where you are given the opportunity to list all of your answers together for each question in the Unit. This can really help you to see a repeated thought. Sometimes God is bringing a specific idea to our minds over and over again, but we don’t really realize it. One woman commented that when she actually wrote all of her answers together, she saw how often she had the same thought throughout the week. She realized she really needed to do something about that particular issue.

Practical Advice

Write the date at the beginning of each Day. As you answer the questions and God shows you breakthroughs in your life, the Workbook will serve as a journal and can help you to see the progress you’ve made and also the areas in your life that you still need to work on.

As you read, use a highlighter to mark meaningful statements. This will make it easier for you to go back and choose your most meaningful thought.

Do not wait until the end of the week to work through all of the Days at once! You will not benefit throughout your week with the truth that you are learning, and you will miss out on the opportunity o apply it each day.

The Heart of the Problem Personal Evaluation

(page xv)

The Personal Evaluation found at the front of the Workbook on page xv is a helpful tool in evaluating your growth during the study. You are encouraged to complete the evaluation this week as a “pretest” and then revisit the evaluation at the end of the course as a “posttest”. This is an individual exercise and will not be shared with the group.

It may be helpful for you to make additional copies for group members to use in the “posttest”.

Weekly Memory Verse

At the beginning of each Unit, there is a “Memory Verse for the Week.” You should memorize this verse or another verse from the Unit that is helpful to you.

If your group is using Prayer Partners, they can recite the verses to each other at the beginning or end of each Session.

Prayer Partners

A helpful part of the process of growing can be for your members to pair up as “Prayer Partners”. It is often helpful for Prayer Partners to stay the same throughout the entire course. If this is possible, Prayer Partners should agree to pray for each other throughout each week and touch base weekly for updates. Allow group members to choose a Prayer Partner. Encourage them to pray for:

Introduce Material in Unit 1 (If Time Allows)

Since Unit 1 has an extra section of material in it, your group can work through Day 1 (Unit 1 begins on page 1, Day 1 on page 2). Ask a volunteer to read through the Thought Starter and the Memory Verse.

The Thought Started may seem a little confusing as we start out, but Dr. Brandt will explain this idea in more detail as we proceed through this Unit. For now, let’s continue on to Page 2.

Conclude Session

You now have all of the information you need to get started! We’ve had the opportunity to work through one day of the material. We will finish discussing Unit 1 next week. Your assignment is to complete all 5 Days and be ready to discuss it when we return. Don’t forget to memorize the verse for this week!

Closing Prayer / Prayer Partners

Unit 1

The Myth of Complexity

Begin Session

Opening Remarks
Announcements
Opening Prayer

This is the only Unit that includes an extra day. In the Introduction you went through Day 1. Begin today’s session with the Review of Day 2.

Review Day 2: God Is Able

Overview:

Day 2 presented the two different perspectives on where the dark side of human nature comes from. All people believe one perspective or the other. The choices people make are determined by what they believe.  Your belief about God influences how you resolve the difficulties in your life.

Points To Emphasize:

Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Illustration – “The Baseball Team”

Use the following illustration to support the principle presented on page 7: "God does not bring Scripture to mind that has never been studied or memorized."

When preparing for games, a baseball team practices every day all the skills that they will need. They pitch, catch, run, and bat over and over so that when the pressure of the game is on they don't have to think about what is required, they just do it. So it is with scripture memorization. We memorize so that when we are in the pressure of the moment we are able to pull from a well-practiced reservoir of truth to apply wisdom and make a decision.

Bonus Material:  Activity – Memorization Cards

To help your group members memorize scripture, you may want to provide them with note card sets. Go to an office supply store and purchase spiral bound note card sets (one for each group member). The sets are available in 3x5 or 4x6 and come bound in cards of 50. The spiral bound format is helpful in keeping the cards together and protected so that they can be reviewed over and over each week. They are also easy to carry in the car or briefcase and can be easily propped up anywhere for quick study. Cards can also be used long after this study ends.

Review Day 3: The Spirit's Life Is the Best Life!

Overview:

On Day 3 we read the story of a young couple who had lost two children and a business relationship within the same year. They had come to Dr. Brandt for some help at a conference. We are to forgive others whether they ask for forgiveness or not. If we do not, we are nursing a grudge and do not really understand the grace that was shown to us by God when He forgave us. This forgiveness is possible when the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Illustration – “Who Is In Control?”

Use the following illustration to help explain the idea of being filled, or controlled, by the Spirit. Put an empty chair in front of the group before you begin.

Imagine that your life is represented by a chair that we will call the "throne” of your life. Who is sitting on the throne and in control? There are really only two options to choose from:  Either your sinful nature is in control or the Holy Spirit is in control.

The differences between each nature are described in Galatians 5:19-23: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (NIV).

The influence of the sinful nature or the Holy Spirit is easily seen by those around us.

Review Day 4: God's Cleansing Power

Overview:

Here we heard the story of Joe and Martha and their rebellious son, Mike. This story is a common example of what is going on in many homes today. Unfortunately, many parents are being trained by their children and their children’s attitudes. If a child gets what he wants, he rewards the parents with a good attitude. If he does not get what he wants, he punishes them with a bad attitude. Joe and Martha’s story is a great example of how to get parents back in the leadership position in the home.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Review Day 5 (Part 1): A Listener with an Open Heart

Overview:

Here is another story of a rebellious child. Duke’s parents are a great example of people who learned to trust the Lord, stay unified as a couple, and did whatever was necessary to save their son and enforce righteousness.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it. 

Review Day 5 (Part 2): Give Simplicity a Chance

Overview:

In today’s section we were reminded that it doesn't matter how many years a problem between two people has existed. If you accept the responsibility for your part in the conflict by confessing to God, and do your part to repair the relationship, you can have a changed heart and experience God’s peace.

Points to Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Conclude Session

Wrap-Up
Closing Prayer / Prayer Partners

Unit 2:

Peace and Satisfaction in This World?

Begin Session

Opening Remarks
Announcements
Opening Prayer

Review Day 1: Peace and Places

Overview:

On page 27 we have our memory verse for the week. John 16:33 gives us 2 promises: The first promise is "you will have tribulation in the world", and the second promise is "I have overcome the world." We also see in this verse one command: "Be of good cheer." This verse also tells us, "In Me you may have peace." In Day 1 we see that one of the ways miss out on experiencing peace is because we choose to try to find our peace in a particular place in the world rather than in Christ.

Points to Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Unit 2 - Day 2: Peace and Activities

Overview:

Many people look for peace in their activities thinking that if they just do enough, they will find serenity in the final accomplishment. On this day, we met a lawyer who had gone all the way up the ladder and found himself sadly disappointed that there was no peace in the successes he had experienced along the way. He found his true peace in the resources that only God can give.

Points to Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Review Day 3: Peace and Things

Overview:

We live in a very materialistic society. We are surrounded by advertisements in many mediums that offer happiness in a car, diamond, a beverage, or an article of clothing. Day 3 introduced us to a man who had everything that money could buy, but his family was falling apart. What he couldn’t buy was what God offered for free:  The spirit of love, joy, and peace.

Points to Emphasize:

Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Story

A man and wife brought a prayer request to their church. “God help us sell our house.” The wife had pushed the husband into buying beyond their financial means and the husband felt so much pressure from the financial burden that it had caused a strain on their relationship. Realizing that she had been wrong, the wife surrendered the “dream house” she had wanted to God. She realized her marriage was more important, and the house she had thought would bring her happiness had caused a lot of problems. After the prayer requests were taken, an older couple approached the young couple asking if they were selling their house because of financial reasons. They confessed that they were and the older couple then asked if they would be willing to meet with them to look over the younger couple’s budget. The older couple did financial planning for a living and would be happy to offer their services. The two couples met and found enough money being spent on eating out to allow the younger couple to stay in their house comfortably and stay out of debt. By releasing control of her dream house the young wife found that God allowed her to keep it, and her husband was no longer burdened and stressed. By giving up what she thought would give her peace she found a real peace.

Bonus Material:  Question

If money can make a person happy, why are there so many unhappy people in Hollywood where money is in abundance?

 Review Day 4: Peace and People

Overview:

We all have people in our lives that we go to for comfort and support. The list of support groups on page 36 all provide opportunities for people to regularly get support and help to keep them going when they become weary. Anyone can join a group like this and find some relief without ever giving God a thought.

Point to Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Reflection

Think of the people in your life who have moved away, passed away, failed to be there for you, betrayed you, or disappointed you. If we put our peace in a human being, it can easily be taken away from us.

Review Day 5: Peace and Jesus

Overview:

The humanist believes, “This world contains ample resources that coupled with the best efforts of caring people, should result in a world full of satisfied, happy people.” In today’s text we find the flaw that is in that kind of thinking. On page 39, John 16:33 presents a problem with that perspective. Jesus says we will have tribulation in the world. The true source of our peace is in that same verse. “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Points to Emphasize:

Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Activity – “Peace Mini-Retreat“

At the end of this Session you’ll find a Bible Study on peace. It’s called a “Min-Retreat” because it requires individual study and reflection. Make enough copies for your group and either give it out to those who want to dig deeper on this subject or incorporate the reflection time into your Session.

Conclude Session

Wrap-Up
Closing Prayer / Prayer Partners

Unit 3:

Most of Us Had a Poor Start in Life!

Begin Session

Opening Remarks
Announcements
Opening Prayer

Review Day 1: Real Life

Overview:

This week we took a look at the troubled marriage of Malcom and Dorothy.  On Day 1 we were introduced to them and got a glimpse of their struggles. Today we heard both sides of their stories. .Where they turn to for help will definitely affect the outcome of their counseling. On page 45 Dr. Brandt included Webster’s definition of humanism: “A doctrine, set of attitudes, a way of life centered upon human interests or values, a philosophy that rejects supernaturalism, regards man as a natural object, and asserts the essential dignity and worth of man and his capacity to achieve self-realization through the use of reason and scientific method.”

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Review Day 2: Blame Your Background

Overview:

In today’s text, the humanist viewpoint, “growing up in a bad environment will cause people to grow into hostile adults,” was well explained. we also saw on page 47 how we can sometimes find relief in this world without giving God a thought.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Review Day 3: Understand Relief Versus Healing

Overview:
In today’s lesson, Dr. Brandt presented the difference between relief and healing. The dental analogy explained the difference between the relief we get from a pain pill for a dry socket versus the healing we get over time. On page 50 this difference was applied to Malcom and Dorothy’s marriage.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Review Day 4: Blame Your Sin

Overview:

On this day, we continued to examine the difference between relief and healing. Dr. Brandt included another good analogy to help us understand how we need the right diagnosis to get the proper treatment. Just like Dr. Brandt’s wife with her misdiagnosed malaria, each one of us can miss the diagnosis and apply the wrong treatment. However, there is a real cure for sin.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1or 2 people share their most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Quote

“The circumstances of life do not make you who you are…they reveal who you are!” -Dr. Sam Peeples

Bonus Material:  “Check-Point”

Ask the group members if they answered the questions in the italicized paragraph on page 52. This is an important opportunity for them to deal with their hearts concerning unconfessed sin. This question is not an opportunity to discuss or reveal individual sin. It is to draw attention to the material and encourage group members to work through the exercise.

Review Day 5: The Miracle of a Cleansed Life

Overview:

We close this Unit with the end of the story of Malcom and Dorothy. They had tried three other counselors before they finally came to “last-resort Brandt.” They had come away from other counselors with the conclusion that they had irreconcilable differences and divorce was the only solution. Dr. Brandt pointed out that they each had sin issues. When they turned to God for their solution they started behaving like honeymooners.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Object Lesson – “Put Off and Put On”

Use this illustration with props to drive home the point of Colossians 2:8 and 2:12. Colossians 3:8 is the “put off” verse. It is a picture of all the sin that we want to get rid of. Use a black sweater or coat with the words in the verse attached to it (anger, rage, malice, etc). Colossians 3:12 is the “put on” verse. It is a picture of the character qualities God wants us to clothe ourselves with. Use a white sweater or coat with the words in the verse attached to it (compassion, kindness, humility, etc.).

First put on the black sweater and let everyone see the words of sin.
Would you want to approach anyone who exhibited these qualities?

Then try to put  the white sweater on top of the black one.
Does this really work? Is it possible to just cover up these sins? There is a struggle between the two natures when you have them both on. We are only able to exhibit godly character qualities when we allow ourselves to be controlled by God’s Spirit.

Take both sweaters off and put on the white one.
When you put off your sins by confessing to them to God then God can give you godly qualities to clothe yourself with.

Think about it:  Which person would you want to approach? Which person do you want to be remembered as?

Conclude Session

Wrap-Up
Closing Prayer / Prayer Partners

Unit 4:

God’s Sharpest Tools; My Biggest Problems

Begin Session

Opening Remarks
Announcements
Opening Prayer

Review Day 1: Born Again

Overview:

In this session Dr. Brandt introduced us to the person he was before he accepted Jesus Christ. He grew up in a church environment, but didn’t want a bunch of rules to keep him from having fun, and felt like it was his “mission” to entice young people away from church. Three of his drinking buddies died in a car accident, one friend committed suicide, and then Dr. Brandt lost his job for showing up to work drunk.

One day his best drinking buddy became a Christian and changed overnight. Dr. Brandt had to accept him and his new way of life if he was going to keep his friend.

Some time later a stove salesman shared the plan of salvation with Dr. Brandt as he was lying drunk on the sofa. In his drunken stupor Dr. Brandt asked the Lord to come into his heart…and then rolled over and went back to sleep. When he woke up, he didn’t remember what he had done but found that nothing in his old life gave him any joy any more. He longed for his Christian buddy’s way of life, and he started living differently.

Point To Emphasize:
Share:

Have several people share (2-3 minutes each) their story of how they became a Christian.

Bonus Material:  Activity – “Writing Your Testimony”

Some of your group members may have never shared their testimony with anyone.  Some may not even know how to begin. At the end of this session is a worksheet that will be helpful for those who don’t know what to share. They don’t need to fill in the entire worksheet, and may use it as a guideline. Make as many copies as necessary.

Review Day 2: Sin’s Grasp

Overview:

Certain behaviors in Dr. Brandt’s life fell away, like swearing and drinking. By he found over time that there were other problems that he needed to deal with, like his anger, hostility, and pride. His boss often made him angry and he found that same anger creeping into his other relationships. He tried to justify his actions by blaming others for his negative reactions. Finally, after reading his Bible, he concluded that he needed to stop being hateful and angry. However, he quickly found out that he couldn’t stop.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Amplification

On page 64 Dr. Brandt has included another “put off and put on” passage. In Ephesians 4:31-32 we are told to stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry. Instead we are to be kind to each other. Why should we do this? The answer is in the last five words of verse 32: “because you belong to Christ.”

The last paragraph on page 64 presents a perfect example of how someone can use the phrase “Yes, but…” to justify their sin. Dr. Brandt felt as though he had every reason to be angry. Whenever we agree that we were wronged and then use the words “Yes, but…” we will always give an excuse as to why we sinned. This only means that we are still blaming the other person for our sin.

Review Day 3: Your Resources Are Not Enough

Overview:

Dr. Brandt set his mind on living a good Christian life only to find out that he was not able to do it very long. He could certainly act kind and forgiving, but inside he was still raging. The Christian life was not about developing his acting skills. The Christian life was about God’s Spirit living in him. He found that his sin made God seem distant. His boss and family didn’t cause him to sin; they only revealed sin in him. The turning point came when he admitted to God that he was helpless and asked God to give him love for his boss. The very next day Dr. Brandt experienced God’s answer to that prayer when his boss yelled at him and he didn’t get angry.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  Object Lesson – “The Glove Analogy”

To help illustrate the idea of Christ being the power source inside of us, use a glove as you share this information.

Gal 2:20 — “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”

I may say to a glove, “Glove, pick up this Bible,” and yet, somehow, the glove cannot do it. It has a thumb and finger, the shape and form of a hand, and yet it is unable to do the thing I command it to do.

You may say, “Well, of course not. You didn’t tell the glove how to pick up the Bible.” However, I can instruct, and teach, and coach that glove until my patience is exhausted, but the glove, try as it will, still will not pick up that Bible.

Yet I have a glove at home that has picked up my Bible dozens of times…but never once before I put my hand into it! As soon, as my hand comes into that glove, the glove becomes as strong as my hand. Everything possible to my hand becomes possible to that glove—but only to the measure in which the glove is prepared to clothe the activity of my hand.

That is what it is to have Christ, by His Spirit, dwelling within you. You are the glove, Christ is the Hand! Everything that is possible to Him becomes possible to you, and with Paul you may say, “I have strength for all things in Christ Who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).

(Illustration from The Saving Life of Christ by Maj. Ian Thomas)

Bonus Material:  Object Lesson – “The Airplane Analogy”

To help illustrate the idea of what it means to be “in Christ” use a paper airplane to keep your listener’s attention.

I am currently in (name your city), but wish to fly to Europe.. Ever since I was born, I have been bound to this earth by a law that I have never been able to break; the law of gravity. No matter how hard I try, I cannot break away from the law of gravity. I am told, however, that there is another law, a higher law than the law of gravity, and that is the law of aerodynamics. If only I will be willing to commit myself in total trust to this new law, then the new law will set me free from the old law. By faith I step into the plane. By faith I sit back in my seat, and as those mighty engines roar into life, I discover that the law of aerodynamics sets me free from the law of gravity.

So long as I maintain by faith that position of total dependence, I do not have to try to be free from the law of gravity—I am set free by the operation of a new and a higher law. Of course, if I am stupid enough, way out across the Atlantic I can decide that the cabin of the plane is too stuffy and can step out through the emergency window. But the moment I discard my position of faith in the new and higher law that is setting me free, I discover that the old law is still fully in operation, and I am caught again by the pull of gravity and plunged into the water. I must maintain my attitude of dependence if I am to remain airborne!

So it is for you and me. We must walk by faith in the Spirit. We know that sin is not dead. Our flesh is very much alive. That is the old law. But a new law is in place; the law of our life in Christ and His Spirit. As long as I maintain my position of total dependence on Christ I am be set free from the old law of sin. Sin is not dead but I have a new power that is stronger than the old power. I need to trust in Christ not try harder.

(Illustration from The Saving Life of Christ by Maj. Ian Thomas)

Review Day 4: The Work of the Spirit

Overview:

 When God changes a heart it is a miracle and people begin to notice a change. That is what happened to Dr. Brandt. One of his coworkers noticed that he was a lot happier and asked if Dr. Brandt could help him and his wife. They met together and Dr. Brandt explained what God had done in his life. He and his wife, Eva, had the sweet privilege of watching Al and Goldie accept Jesus into their lives. These were the first of many that Dr. Brandt would lead to the Lord. This experience showed Dr. Brandt that he needed to fill in the gaps in his biblical knowledge, particularly in his understanding of sin.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Review Day 5: The Nature of Sin

Overview:

Dr. Brandt set out to understand sin. As he studied sin in the Bible, he found he could put the various sins committed against God into four different categories: sins of the mind, sinful emotions, sins of the mouth, and sins of behavior. When you look at the list on page 73 you will probably think of others and even yourself who have exhibited these sins recently. It is important to keep in mind that we want to use these lists as a mirror to see what is reflected in us. If we see something from the list that is in us, we need to remember that Jesus died so that we no longer have to be in bondage to that sin. We can confess it and be free from it. If we call sin by another name and get a wrong diagnosis, we will not get a real cure.

Points To Emphasize:
Share:

Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.

Bonus Material:  “Check-Point”

On page 74 there is a very good “heart check” question at the top of the page. Ask group members ft hey took the time to really reflect upon this question. Do not ask them to share unless someone volunteers. There are several of these types of questions throughout the book. The purpose of going through this Workbook is to achieve a changed life, not just gain knowledge.

Conclude Session

Wrap-Up
Closing Prayer / Prayer Partners