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    God's Story for You (Victory Series Book #1): Discover the Person God Created You to Be
    God's Story for You (Victory Series Book #1): Discover the Person God Created You to Be
    God's Story for You (Victory Series Book #1): Discover the Person God Created You to Be
    Ebook168 pages2 hours

    God's Story for You (Victory Series Book #1): Discover the Person God Created You to Be

    By Neil T. Anderson

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    Do You Know God's Purpose for Your Life?

    In the beginning, God created heaven and earth, but He wanted something more, so He designed someone--a person in His own image. Picture the Master Potter shaping that first human form, bending, molding, and stretching this being from a lump of earth, and then breathing life into his body so that he could walk beside God.

    Indeed, God had a plan for us--for you--from the very start.

    In God's Story for You, Dr. Neil Anderson delves deep into God's plan for all of creation, the effects of the Fall, and the Lord's ultimate desire for redemption and reconciliation with His people. This first of eight Victory Series studies reveals the breadth of the gospel message and how you can become firmly rooted in Christ and set apart for Him. This study, with six sessions, can be used individually or in a group, and includes a leader's guide, along with illustrations and questions for deeper reflection and practical applications.

    Discover who you were created to be in Christ, and how to live a liberated life . . . in Him.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateSep 2, 2014
    ISBN9781441265586
    God's Story for You (Victory Series Book #1): Discover the Person God Created You to Be
    Author

    Neil T. Anderson

    Dr. Neil T. Anderson is founder and president emeritus of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He was formerly chairman of the Practical Theology Department at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in the USA. He holds five degrees from Talbot, Pepperdine University and Arizona State University. A former aerospace engineer, Dr. Anderson has 20 years of experience as a pastor and has written several best-selling books on living free in Christ.

    Read more from Neil T. Anderson

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    God's Story for You (Victory Series Book #1) - Neil T. Anderson

    © 2014 by Neil T. Anderson

    Published by Bethany House Publishers

    11400 Hampshire Avenue South

    Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

    www.bethanyhouse.com

    Bethany House Publishers is a division of

    Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

    www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

    Ebook edition created 2014

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

    ISBN 978-1-4412-6558-6

    Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations identified NASB are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

    Scripture quotations identified NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations identified NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

    Cover design by Inside Out Design

    Contents

    Cover    1

    Title Page    3

    Copyright Page    4

    Introduction: The Victory Series    7

    Session One: The Story of Creation    11

    1. The Beginning (Genesis 1:1–31)    13

    2. The Nature of God (Psalm 19:1–14)    17

    3. The Nature of Humanity (Psalm 8:1–9)    21

    4. The Significance of Humanity (Genesis 2:1–25)    25

    5. The Way of Life (2 Samuel 22:1–51)    29

    Session Two: The Story of the Fall    33

    1. The Challenge in the Garden (Genesis 3:1–24)    35

    2. The Deception of Eve (1 Timothy 2:11–15)    39

    3. The Sin of Adam (Ezekiel 3:16–19)    43

    4. The Effects of the Fall (Genesis 4:1–26)    47

    5. Meaningless Living (Ecclesiastes 1:1–18)    51

    Session Three: The Story of Salvation    55

    1. The Good News (Philemon 1:1–25)    57

    2. Forgiveness of Sins (Hebrews 9:11–28)    61

    3. New Life in Christ (John 6:25–59)    65

    4. New Identity in Christ (John 1:1–14)    69

    5. The Defeat of Satan (1 John 3:7–15)    75

    Session Four: The Story of God’s Sanctification    81

    1. Sound Doctrine (2 Timothy 3:10–17)    83

    2. Justified by Faith (Romans 3:10–31)    87

    3. Becoming Like Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:1–12)    91

    4. Positional Sanctification (2 Peter 1:3–11)    95

    5. Progressive Sanctification (1 Peter 1:3–16)    99

    Session Five: The Story of God’s Transforming Power    103

    1. The Cleansing of Confession (1 John 1:1–11)    105

    2. The Renewing of Repentance (2 Chronicles 7:11–22)    109

    3. The Message of Reconciliation (Psalm 32:1–11)    113

    4. The Goal of Instruction (1 Timothy 1:1–11)    117

    5. Growing in Grace (Colossians 1:9–14)    121

    Session Six: The Story of God    127

    1. Knowing God (Philippians 3:1–14)    129

    2. The Glory of God (Psalm 99:1–9)    133

    3. The Omnipresent God (Psalm 139:3–12)    137

    4. The Omnipotent God (Revelation 19:1–16)    141

    5. The Omniscient God (1 Chronicles 28:1–10)    145

    Leader’s Tips    151

    Victory Series Scope and Sequence Overview    155

    Books and Resources    159

    Index    163

    About the Author    165

    Back Ad    169

    Back Cover    170

    Introduction

    The Victory Series

    It’s the beginning of another busy day. We want to look nice and make a good impression, so we spend some time showering, combing our hair, putting on makeup, and all the other grooming routines. Those who are more physically disciplined will find time to exercise. We have a quick bite to eat and it’s off to work, school, or play.

    Natural disciplines such as these are important. If we didn’t do these things, we would suffer the consequences—whether that would be getting in trouble with our boss, or being tardy for school, or angering a friend because we didn’t show up for an appointment. The same is true of spiritual disciplines, though it is easier for us to overlook their value, because we don’t always see the immediate benefits. Wondering what’s in it for us seems so unrighteous, but there are no sure commitments with no sure rewards.

    The apostle Paul addresses this issue when he instructs us, Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:7–8). In other words, spiritual disciplines are more profitable than physical disciplines. Our lives will be more fruitful if we spend time with the Lord and seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds to the truth of His Word.

    What you are holding in your hands is the first study in the VICTORY SERIES on how you can discover God’s story for you and uncover the person He created you to be. As you work through the six sessions in this study, you will learn the story of God’s creation, the effects of the Fall, God’s plan for redemption, and how you can reconcile with God and become all He created you to be. You will discover who you are in Christ, what it means to be a child of God, and how to live a responsible and liberated life in Him. There are seven more studies in the VICTORY SERIES that will provide a practical systematic theology by which to live. All eight studies cover the subjects listed in the following tables.

    As a believer in Christ, you must first be rooted in Him so you can be built up in Him. Just as you encounter challenges as you grow physically, you will encounter hurdles as you grow spiritually. The following chart illustrates what obstacles you need to overcome and lessons you need to learn at various stages of growth spiritually, rationally, emotionally, volitionally, and relationally.

    Levels of Conflict

    This VICTORY SERIES will address these obstacles and hurdles and help you understand what it means to be firmly rooted in Christ, grow in Christ, live free in Christ, and overcome in Christ. The goal of the course is to help you attain greater levels of spiritual growth, as the following diagram illustrates:

    Levels of Growth

    Before starting each daily reading, review the portion of Scripture listed for that day, then complete the questions at the end of each day’s reading. These questions have been written to allow you to reflect on the material and apply to your life the ideas presented in the reading. At the end of each study, I have included a quote from a Church father illustrating the continuity of the Christian faith. Featured articles will appear in the text throughout the series, which are for the edification of the reader and not necessarily meant for discussion.

    If you are part of a small group, be prepared to share your thoughts and insights with your group. You may also want to set up an accountability partnership with someone in your group to encourage you as you apply what you have learned in each session. For those of you who are leading a small group, there are leader tips at the end of this book that will help you guide your participants through the material.

    As with any spiritual discipline, you will be tempted at times not to finish this study. There is a sure reward for those who make a sure commitment. The VICTORY SERIES is far more than an intellectual exercise. The truth will not set you free if you only acknowledge it and discuss it on an intellectual level. For the truth to transform your life, you must believe it personally and allow it to sink deep into your heart. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth, and enable you to be the person God has created you to be. Decide to live what you have chosen to believe.

    Dr. Neil T. Anderson

    Session One

    The Story of Creation

    A long time ago, the infinite and eternal Creator sat down at His Potter’s wheel as He had done so many times before. Everything He had made so far was very good, but this time He had something else in mind. He wanted to create something in His image. Something—or, better, someone—who could personally relate to Him. The Potter had already fashioned living beings to inhabit the earth, but this new creation

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