LESSON TWO
Appraising Your Spiritual Life
The two circles in the diagram below represent two kinds of lives: the self directed life and the Christ-directed life.
The one on the left illustrates a life with self in control, and depicts a stressful, chaotic life.
The circle on the right represents a life with Jesus Christ in control, balanced and orderly, with the potential for rich, productive experiences.
Which circle best represents you?
Which circle would you like to have represent your life?
Meditate on each question in this lesson as well as on the answer. Make this a personal appraisal of your spiritual condition.
Lesson Objective: To evaluate your relationship with Christ
BIBLE STUDY
Read John 4-6
Before you consider the many verses below, be sure to read the Bible passage listed above.
If you click on the verses in the study below you can see the entire verse! If you are not on-the-go, consider opening a physical Bible and looking up the passages.
Types of Soil
Read the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1–23; Mark 4:3–20; Luke 8:4–15.
- To what does the seed refer (Mark 4:14)?
- What are the four kinds of soil referred to in Matthew 13:4–8?
Making Soil Productive
- What does each kind of soil represent? Compare Matthew 13:4 with 18, 19.
Compare verses 5, 6 with 20, 21.
Compare verse 7 with 22.
Compare verse 8 with 23. - What must happen for the roadside soil to be changed (Hebrews 3:15)?
- How can unproductive, rocky ground be made productive (1 Corinthians 10:13 and Proverbs 29:25)?
- How can individuals described as thorny soil become vital and effective Christians (1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:19–21)?
Result of Dwelling in Good Soil
- What condition in a Christian results in abundance of fruit (Mark 4:20; Luke 8:15)?
- What type of soil do most of the professing Christians you know represent?
- What type of soil would you say your life now represents?
- What type of soil do you want your life to represent?
LIFE APPLICATION
Questions
- How must the soil of your life be changed to become good ground or to increase in its fruitfulness?
- List several problem areas that need changing.
- Have you evaluated your relationship with Christ?
- What must you trust Christ to do?
Memory Verse: “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” (Galatians 6:7 NLT)