Beyond | Wk 3: Old Self vs. New Self

Life is full of unseen next steps and seasons of uncertainty. Beyond helps students move toward the future God is inviting them into through Scripture and practical rhythms. Drawing from James, Romans, 1 Peter, John, and Jeremiah, the series shows that hardship refines faith and produces hope. Each session pairs honest theology with simple practices like prayer and community, forming steady, forward-looking faith rooted in God’s work today and his promises for tomorrow.

BOTTOM LINE
Old Self vs. New Self

SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 5:16-19 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

• Small Group Questions

  TAKE ATTENDANCE & INTRODUCE YOURSELF (If anyone is new)

  FOR FUN: Take some time to catch up. Ask your students – Given the choice, would you prefer the reliability of a new car or the charm of a classic car?
  
  DISCUSS THIS:
  
  1. (2 Cor. 5:16) When we live only for the "flesh" (what we want right now), we stop seeing Jesus clearly. In what ways does focusing only on what you want right now make it easier to justify or "be okay" with your sin?
  
  2. (2 Cor. 5:17) The "Great Exchange" means Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. Even though this is true, our brains sometimes struggle to believe it. What are the biggest things that make it hard for you to actually live like a "new creation" instead of falling back into old habits?
  
  3. (2 Cor. 5:18) v.18 teaches us that with being made a new creation is not just about us being saved to live however we please. (By saying “however we please”, I am not just talking about sin. I am also talking about good things as well, like who to marry, what careers and passion projects we chose. Those are good things, but that is not why God saved us and made us new creations). God made us new creations to be in the ministry of reconciliation. Reconciliation can be very hard because it requires forgiveness. Let’s try and have an honest discussion about why reconciliation and forgiveness are hard for us as humans.
  
  4. (2 Cor. 5:19) God chose not to count our sins against us, and then He handed us the job of telling others. Could you truly explain God's forgiveness to someone else if you hadn’t felt it yourself? How does being forgiven by God change the way you look at people who hurt you?
  
  5. "Behavior modification" is just acting "good" on the outside to hide a messy heart. What are some ways you see people (or yourself) using "good behavior" to mask what is actually going on in your heart?
  
  FOLLOW UP / PRAY REQUESTS