Solid Foundations- Study 1 Problem Solved

Solid Foundations ~Leaders notes

Welcome on your journey of building a solid foundation in your life journey with God.

When building a house, or any building for that matter, there is one thing that will help establish how
long the building will survive- foundations. The Bible gives a parable about the wise and the foolish
builder (you can READ the story in Matthew chapter 7 verses 24-29). The foolish builder built on sand,
his house collapsed. The wise builder is the one who had a solid foundation. When the winds and floods
came, his house stood.

It is the same with your life. You need to spend time on the foundations so that you can have what it
takes to continue to stand, even when floods of adversity and winds of trouble come against you.

The problem
If you were flying across one of the great oceans of this earth, and someone came up to you and said, “I
know you have a long flight, but you should wear this back pack during the whole flight.”
Now you may put it on. But after little while the pack will seem heavy, even uncomfortable. You will be
tempted to take it off so that you can get comfortable and get some rest.

However, if the flight assistant says, “This plane is in trouble and very soon
everyone is going to need to use this parachute to jump out of the plane to safety.
There is a boat below & rescuers are on their way. Wait for the signal and we will
call you to come and jump.”
You would not be thinking how heavy the pack is! You would know it is the answer
to your problem. You just want to be ready.

It is only as you recognise your problem with sin and its consequence, that you can truly appreciate the
solution Jesus provides.

The problem of sin

The problem of sin is understood as we recognise something about God.

1. What does 1 Peter 1:15,16 say about God? 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also
be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

God is a holy God and can have no relationship with sin. The problem is that ever since Adam & Eve
sinned (sin entered humanity), humans have had a problem with sin.

To have a relationship with God, we need to be right with him. The problem is that we fall short of God’s
standard. In short, God’s standard is his 10 Commandments. Measuring yourself up against the
standard of his law (his Commandments) brings us to a place of realising that we have broken God’s law,
his standards. We are found guilty before God.

2. What does the Bible say about sin? Romans 3:23 For all have sinned; all fall short of
God’s glorious standard
 Solid Foundations- Study 1 Problem Solved

The penalty

3. What is the penalty (or wage) of sin? Roman 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free
gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
*SEE LEADERS NOTES A

Sin is ugly

God hates sin. People try all kinds of things

Sin separates us from God To try to reach/ please God.

S
work
s S
I I
N N

The Bible says we have a sinful nature

Gal 5:19-21 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil
results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in
demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the
feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties,
and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not
inherit the Kingdom of God. NLT

4. What does Gal 5:19-21 say about our sinful nature? Anyone living that sort of
life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

The Bible says that Jesus is our judge and legally we are found guilty of sin.

Judged
You will be judged before God
God will judge every person one day. We have all fallen short of God’s standard. We have all broken his
Law and will be found guilty. The guilty must pay a penalty, that is eternity in Hell. BUT Jesus stepped
in and paid your penalty for you. (Now that statement alone should produce a loud cheer as we let that
reality sink in).
 Solid Foundations- Study 1 Problem Solved

Judge paid penalty!

Jesus, the Judge, decided He did not want humanity to die and be separated from God. He said, “I don’t
want ( insert YOUR name! ) to die and spend eternity in hell. I will pay the penalty for their sin. I will
die as ( insert YOUR name!) so that he / she will not have to pay the penalty for their sin.”

5. What does Gal 1:3-5 say that Jesus did? (see Vs 4)

Gal 1: 3-5
He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, 3
Grace and peace to you from
in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself
live. That is why all glory belongs to God through
for our sins to rescue us from
all the ages of eternity. Amen. NLT the present evil age, according to
the will of our God and Father, 5to
whom be glory for ever and ever.
Repentance & Dealing with the ugly
Amen.
Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose again!
He paid the penalty for our sin

We each need to REPENT of our sinful Jesus FORGIVES us. We receive freedom
nature. Acknowledge your sin and ask from the penalty. We can now be in
for forgiveness. relationship with him.

REPENTANCE **SEE LEADERS NOTES B

When you repent, you turn around from one direction to the opposite direction. Repentance involves
your thoughts, your mouth and your actions.

Repentance IS something that changes you. It is realising that you’ve missed the mark- God’s mark.
Your sin makes you think in a way, and live in a way, that is short of God’s standard. Repentance needs
to happen as part of any person’s salvation experience. Jesus died for your sin past, present and future.
Repentance is you being repositioned to the place God intended you to live at. You become a clean and
forgiven child of the King.

6. What does Jesus offer all who turn to him? Luke 24: 46, 47 Forgiveness
 Solid Foundations- Study 1 Problem Solved

Jesus Christ PAID As we recognise sin in our life, we can continue to walk
YOUR PENALTY in forgiveness and a clean heart as part of our daily life.
Now you wear There needs to be a combination of things that
HIS righteousness happen as a result of repenting of your sin.

Luke 24:46 –47 He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead
on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem TNIV

7. What changes in our life, as an outworking of repentance?

(a) What does Romans 12:2 say should happen to your mind: be transformed
by the renewing of your mind -Change the way you think-

Your Thoughts
Change your mind - We realise how filthy we are against God, and that we need God to help us. We
allow God to help us think in a new way. A way that pleases him and that helps us have a healthier
mind.

(b) What happens when you confess your sin? 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Confess your Sins

Name your sins. Renounce (to give up) your sinful acts and words. Confession of sins to
another person is a very powerful thing in a life. Confession brings forgiveness & cleansing

(c) How do you prove that you’ve repented? Acts 26:(19&) 20 I preached that they should repent
and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. -Changing your behaviour.

Change your deeds There is an exciting life that awaits us

Fruit worthy of repentance. We change our actions to as we step out as a follower
line up with our words of repentance. (or disciple) of Jesus Christ.

The problem solved

As you recognise the problem of sin, and that Jesus paid your penalty of death, you are positioned to
receive the new life Jesus Christ offers to each of us. Jesus did not stay dead! He rose from the dead,
conquering death and hell. His death enables us to become born again- children of God. There is an
exciting life that awaits us as we step out as a follower (or disciple) of Jesus Christ. God loves each of us
so much. He gave his only son Jesus so that YOU would experience eternal life with Him.

(READ John 3:16) God longs for you to know His forgiveness and amazing love.

Our next study looks more at what this new relationship with Jesus looks like.
 Solid Foundations- Study 1 Problem Solved

LEADERS NOTES:
This first lesson covers the first core issue of being born again. Recognizing the problem of our sin.
Understanding that Jesus paid our penalty for us so that we could experience salvation from the penalty
of sin. Although this can seem like a heavy way to start with people, it’s just so important in the birthing
process. You cannot take it for granted that the individual you’re disciplining understands or has gone
through this step.

Many people make an emotional response towards God. Even coming to a point where they now
believe that Jesus is God and that He died on the cross. But for them to be well birthed, they need to
understand the problem and the solution.

I suggest that you ask them at the end of this study if they have actually gone through this process or
would they like to do so. Even if they prayed “the prayer” somewhere, it can be helpful for them to pray
again, acknowledging their sin and the fact that Jesus died in their place, was buried and now has risen
from the dead.

Encourage them to go through this process in their own words so that you can gage their understanding.
** Leaders notes A

Leader’s Notes It can be helpful to show people that they have fallen short of God standards. The 10
Commandments can help by showing people that they have not kept God’s standard (his Law), so they
will be found guilty before God on the Day of Judgment. (1 John 3:4)
Ask… “Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything, lusted after a woman/man in your heart
(that’s adultery)- The LAW leaves us GUILTY of sin. The is a penalty for our sin…

** Leaders notes B

Note about REPENTANCE What it’s NOT:

 Regret (wishing you had not done it) or
 Remorse (sorrow). Being sorry that you got caught out!
2 Cor 7:10 For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation.
We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results
in death- New Living Translation
When you repent, you may also experience regret and remorse. Don’ t confuse
repentance with these feelings.
** Leaders notes C

As an addition to this study, there is an activity on forgiving & forgiveness. The Bible says that
we must forgive others so that we can receive forgiveness. Mat 6:14 & 15

This study is designed to do alongside the Forgiveness activity.