Week 1

GUARD YOUR GLORY (Part 1)

By Sandra Clifton, D.Min.

 

Begin your study by reading, “Guard your Glory” by Kay Arthur (SpiritLed Woman magazine, Dec/Jan 2008).

 

Introduction

One of the awesome privileges of being a believer in Jesus Christ is that you carry His glorious presence within you. As a carrier of His glory, you must ask yourself, “Am I protecting His glory?” Let God’s Word guide you as to how to protect the glory of Christ that you, as His believer, carry. Let His Word empower you to do it daily!

 

What God Says

Read: Genesis 1:26.

 

Deeper Insight

Read the following Scriptures (in New King James Version, as the exercises to follow will be based on that). Make brief notes of how each passage conveys a message of guarding the glory of Christ within you in keeping to His ways and not the ways of the world.

 

 

John 15:5-7: ________________________________________________

 

Rom. 12:1-2: __________________________________________________

 

Rom. 12: 9: ____________________________________________________

 

1 Cor. 10:21: ____________________________________________________

Application

Fill in the blanks of the Scriptures (or portions of Scriptures) below (which are in NKJV), taken from the previous Deeper Insight section. Afterward, check to see how you did by looking up the Scriptures. Put them on 3x5 cards or enter them into your computer (perhaps as a screen saver). Get empowered to protect the glory of Jesus Christ within you as you go about your day, no matter what or whom you encounter or face!

 

John 15:5:  “I am the _____, you are the ______. He who _____ in Me, and I in ____, bears much ____; for without ___ you can do ______.”

 

Rom. 12:1: I beseech you _____, brethren, by the _____ of God, that you _____ your bodies a living _______, ___, ______ to God, which is your reasonable _____.”

 

Rom. 12:2: And do not be ________ to this _____, but be ________ by the __________ of your mind, that you may _____ what is that _____ and _________ will of God.”

 

Rom. 12:9: “Let love be without ________. Abhor what is _____. Cling to what is ____.”

 

For Group Study

Begin your group time by reading aloud Romans 12:1-2. Discuss and share the significance of these Scripture verses and how they can be applied to life today. Divide the group into two’s and each pair create a short skit that dramatizes the theme of “offering your body a living sacrifice to God in today’s world.”

Encourage group members to get creative—and perhaps one person can take the role of a Christian who is ministering to someone who is lost. Have ‘the Christian’ show the love of Christ, not scolding while ministering. After everyone has presented a skit, discuss the good points made in each.

These skits are ministry tools, not Broadway productions, so encourage members to enjoy themselves and not to be stressed. Those watching them are not critics, but fellow ministers!

            Close the meeting with prayer, thanking the Lord that He empowers each group member to yield to Him, so that they can be continual carriers of His glory and very presence to the world about them.

 

Prayer

Memorize Romans 12:1-2. Read it aloud as part of your prayer, thanking the Lord that His glory is carried within you. Thank Him that wherever you go, during the course of your day, those you encounter will see His glory reflected in you. Also, thank Him that He gives you power, day by day, moment by moment, to carry His glory fully, and purely, and powerfully.