FRESHMENB I B L E S T U D I E S

- Student Guides -

Content originally published in a free e-book by Chad Logan & Hanna Turnerat the BCM at Arkansas State University. October 2012.

Content revised by Ashley Jackson | SFA Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship.

Design created by Ashley Jackson.

Second Edition - May 2014, Nacogdoches, TX.

Balancing Your College Life .......................................................................7

College Relationships .................................................................................9

The Taboos ................................................................................................ 11

A Guide to Freshmen Dating ................................................................. 13

If Jesus Wasn’t God, He Deserved an Oscar ...................................... 15

Is it OK to Doubt? ..................................................................................... 17

God’s Will & Hard Decisions .................................................................. 19

A Growing Faith ......................................................................................... 21

Spiritual Gifts... What’s the Point? ......................................................... 23

Christian Leadership ............................................................................... 25

Table of Contents

Balancing Your College Life

Introduction

Time is our core commodity. You can always run out of money, opportunities, and luck: you can’t run out of time. When you run out of time, your life is over. The reality is that many of us look back on our high school lives and see alot of time wasted on marginal activities such as: Facebook, video games, shopping, hanging out, etc... and not enough balancing what really matters. Our goal in college is to balance the time God has given us to glorify Christ and pursue our future hopes and dreams. The success of your college career will be largely due to how you spend your time. Time can be your worst enemy or closest ally. Don’t waste it. You choose.

Think About It > Finding the Right Balance

Read the Luke 10:27 Prescription1. Love the Lord your God with all of your ___________________ and ___________________.2. Love the Lord your God with all of your ___________________.3. Love the Lord your God with all of your ___________________.4. Love your ___________________ as yourself.

Read Colossians 3:17 and discuss how it would impact your daily activities such as waking up, eating, driving, hanging out with friends, watching TV, studying, and choosing a career.

Changing Your Mind

Draw a pie chart in Figure 1 of the way you allocate your time now and then draw a pie chart in Figure 2 of how you would like to allocate your time. Use these categories: Spiritual activity, Physical activity, Mental activity, Social activity.

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Wrapping It Up

Spend time praying God would give you the wisdom to understand the cumulative value of investing time in what is most important and that He would give you the courage to spend your time wisely in all four

areas of your life.

Figure 1 Figure 2

You can’t make up for lost

time

Ephesians 5:16

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College Relationships

Introduction

Relationship problems will happen because it is a natural part of relationships and a result of sin. However, Scripture is clear about taking specific measures that can both keep us from having as many conflicts and resolve conflicts we have already encountered. Before we find out Biblical resolutions, let’s get to the root of the problem.

Think About It > 4 Destructive Areas That Crush Relationships

___________________ Says “I owe ___________________” 1 John 1:9

___________________ Says “You owe ___________________” James 1:19-20

___________________ Says “I owe ___________________” Proverbs 27:20

___________________ Says “God owes ___________________” Proverbs 27:4

Even Bible Heroes DisagreedRead Acts 15:35-40

“Good people can ___________________”

Sometimes disagreements stem from different ___________________ or priorities. Different ___________________ styles may create conflict, as well.

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Changing Your Mind > Handling Your Conflicts

Wrapping It Up

Pray that you would have the courage to ask for or extend forgiveness for past conflict because Scripture is clear that God doesn’t forgive us until we forgive others.

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The Taboos

Introduction

Students are bombarded with making decisions on the college campus that challenge the deepest part of our morality. There are many areas of morality that are considered “grey areas” that are great for Biblical discussion. The two taboos we will be dealing with tonight are drinking alcohol and academic faithfulness because you already have or will most certainly deal with these issues. Our hope is that you will begin living out what you truly believe.

Think About It > Drinking: Right? Wrong? Grey?

Questions Open the Word

Can I drink ___________________? Romans 13:1-2

What do ___________________ think? Colossians 3:20

How should I ___________________ my body? 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Proverbs 23:29-35

What will ___________________ think? Romans 14:1-21

Can I drink without getting ___________________? Ephesians 5:18

The ___________________ repeatedly warns against the dangers of ___________________ in excess.

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CheatingRead Proverbs 6:16-19

Cheating is ___________________, but what is cheating? “This doesn’t ___________________ Christ” Cheating defined: “Any form of ___________________ or ___________________”

Changing Your Mind

Discuss reasons drunkeness is a sin

Discuss reasons cheating is a sin

Wrapping It Up

Pray that God would give you the courage to always make the wise desicion.

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A Guide to Freshmen Dating

Introduction

We all have questions about the opposite sex and want to know what they are really thinking. This is why teen magazines and books on dating are flying off the shelves. Now that we are in college, we must find the real answers. Each one of us have a decision to make to either choose to date our way and live in regret or find love God’s way and live regret-free.

Think About It > The 3 Keys to Relationships

The Key Open the Word

Understanding your ___________________ is key

Healthy ___________________ is key Ephesians 4:29

___________________ is key Proverbs 12:19

Changing Your Mind

What is the purpose of dating?

“In order to ___________________ the ___________________ for you, you have to ___________________ the ___________________ for them.”

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5 Ways to be the One:1. Seek relational ___________________ in ___________________ (Matthew 6:33, Psalm 34:8)2. ___________________ out with people who show ___________________ character (Proverbs 13:20)3. Pay more attention to ___________________ beauty than ___________________ beauty (1 Peter 3:3-5)4. Flee ___________________ immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18)5. Treat the other gender just as ___________________ gave His life for you (Philippians 2:1-8)

Wrapping It Up

Pray as a group that you may live now in purity so that you would prepare for and please your future wife / husband.

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If Jesus Wasn’t God, He Deserved an Oscar

Introduction

Just about everyone in America has heard of Jesus and formed an opinion about Him. He is not only the most famous person in history, but also the most controversial. Scripture invites us to examine Jesus for ourselves and conclude for ourselves His significance. What we must focus on to decide is His identity from the perspective of the Old Testament, New Testament, and other eye-witnesses of Jesus. Jesus made claims that made Him look crazy, so either Jesus was a Liar, a Lunatic, or the Son of God.

Think About It > Liar, Lunatic, or Lord: Who was Jesus?

What ___________________ Said

Over ___________________ Fulfilled Prophecies

Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53:5-7

What ___________________ Said

Jesus is ___________________, Sav-ior, God

John 20:28, Philippians 2:6-11

What ___________________ Said

Over ___________________ Post-Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Jesus ___________________ Himself

___________________ & Forgiveness

Mark 2:9-12

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“It would take more than a ___________________ Jesus to make such a historical impact.”

Ephesians 2:1-10 > Do you ___________________ or ___________________ who Jesus really is?

Changing Your Mind > If Jesus is our ___________________, Then We Should Take Him Seriously

Pray for the ___________________ 2 Chronicles 7:14

Get to know Him through the ___________________

2 Timothy 3:16

Give ___________________ Romans 12:1-2

Make ___________________ Matthew 28:19-20

“If Jesus is who He says He is, then He ___________________ more than Sunday morning; He deserves radical ___________________.”

Wrapping It Up

Pray that God would give you the faith to make Him the most valuable gift in your life.

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Is it OK to Doubt?

Introduction

As a college student, you will encounter many situations on campus that will cause you to doubt God. For instance, friends and professors may ask questions about your faith that you can’t answer. However, the most prevalent reason to doubt is creating a disconnection between what you believe and how you act. Oftentimes, as Christians, we feel like we are not supposed to doubt because it signifies a weak faith. However, when we look at Scripture, we see that doubting is a natural part of the Christian experience. Doubting may even strengthen our faith if we approach it correctly.

Think About It > Bible Heroes Doubted

“We all have times when we ask, ‘___________________ are you, God’?”“God is our only ___________________ when life brings us trouble.”

Changing Your Mind > Revamping Our View of God

Through the Cross of Christ, Jesus ___________________ all sin, including doubt.

“God is ___________________ and certain, not ___________________ and worried.”“Evil is ___________________ and active, but not ___________________ and final!”“God is ___________________ than any evil that can come our way... even when it doesn’t feel that way.”The greatest thing that can come from our doubt is ___________________ Christ as Savior and Lord regardless of having convincing answers to our questions.

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Wrapping It Up

Pray that God would grant you help to overcome your unbelief in times of trouble, pain and questioning.

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God’s Will & Hard Decisions

Introduction

No matter how spiritual and knowledgeable you are, there will always be situations where your judgement is either impaired or inadequate. Oftentimes, as decision makers, we are confused because the situation is emotionally-charged (i.e. dating). Other times, such decisions are beyond our area of expertise. At any rate, we lack judgement to make many life decisions. The big question is - “What do you do when Scripture, prayer, and other modes of understanding don’t provide you with an adequate answer?”

Think About It > Eat Some ___________________ Pie

Proverbs 15:22Wise people ___________________ when they don’t ___________________

Proverbs 13:22The people you hang out with will ___________________ your life’s direction

Proverbs 3:6 To know God is to ___________________ His will for your life

“Your life is the ___________________ total of all of your life’s decisions.”

___________________% of all we need to know about God’s will for our lives is found in His Word!

Changing Your Mind > God’s Will

Providential WillThe plans God has in store no matter what happens (i.e. Sending Christ, end of the world, etc.)

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Moral WillThe commands of God that we be ___________________ (1 Peter 3:15-16, i.e. 10 Commandments, Fruit of the Spirit, etc.)

Personal WillThe questions Scripture doesn’t ___________________ for your specific needs (i.e. “Who should I marry?” “What should I major in?”)

“The more you understand God’s ___________________ Will and obey His ___________________ Will, the more He will expose His ___________________ Will for your life.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Wrapping It Up

Pray that God would grant you wisdom and place a wise person in your life to provide wisdom.

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A Growing Faith

Introduction

Faith is the centerpiece of every relationship and we can’t have a healthy relationships with God without a growing faith. In fact, the very first thing God requires of us is faith and He desires for us to grow in our faith over the span of our lifetime. Without nourishing our faith, it will become stagnant and lose its value. However, there are a number of different ways to keep our faith growing in vibrance and beauty! We will discuss only a handful of ways to keep pursuing the heart of God.

Think About It > It’s All About Relationship

Genesis 3:2-5 The fall of man is a result of a lack of ___________________

2 Thessalonions 1:3-4What 2 things does Paul see as most important for the church? 1. Growing faith, 2. Loving each other

James 1:22 You only believe the parts of the Bible you live

Psalm 119:9-19 To know God is to know His Word

We are commanded to ___________________!

“A relationship with Christ is more ___________________ and ___________________ than any relationship you will ever have.”

A growing faith is ___________________ for a relationship with God!

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Changing Your Mind > Fertilizers of Faith

Planting ___________________Use the Lord’s Prayer as a prayer model: 1. ___________________ 2. ___________________ 3. ___________________ 4. ___________________

Dig into the ___________________1. Choose a specific ___________________ & place 2. Find ___________________ 3. Use a ___________________ method

Spreading the seed of the ___________________

1. Share ___________________ with a friend 2. Go on a ___________________ trip

Finding nourishment in the ___________________

1. Join a ___________________ 2. ___________________ in the church

“Real Christianity is about loving obedience, not ___________________ checklists.”

Wrapping It Up

Pray that you would daily pursue God so that you will grow in your faith.

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Spiritual Gifts... What’s the Point?

Think About It > What’s the difference between ___________________ and spiritual gifts?

Talents Spiritual Gifts

Given at ___________________ Birth

Given at ___________________ Birth

Talents are ___________________

Holy Spirit ___________________

“God is more interested in your ___________________ than your ___________________”

“Every ___________________ God has given is meant to be shared within the life of His people.”

1 Corinthians 12 > Write out the spiritual gifts found in this passage

Knowing your spiritual gifts will enable you to:1. Find your place in ___________________2. Determine ___________________ ___________________3. Discern ___________________ ___________________

Changing Your Mind

Take the Spiritual Gifts Inventory - http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/adult

Wrapping It Up

Pray that God would help you fine tune your spiritual gift in a way that you can use towards the Great Commandment and Great Commission.

Christian Leadership

Introduction

Whether you realize it or not, people are looking to you for leadership and we need to make sure we are making an intentional effort to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ just as we are called. The single most impressive leader in the history of the world was Jesus of Nazareth. The challenge for us is to lead like Jesus because He was the best leader ever, and, as Christ-followers, we are commanded to model Him.

Think About It > Lead Like Jesus

Leadership Lesson John 13:12-17

Jesus got ___________________He served, not ___________________

We are never too good for ___________________ ___________________

He set an ___________________How did Jesus set an example?

How are you setting an example?

He submitted to ___________________

The Creator placed Himself under the ___________________ of the created

How much more should we ___________________?

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Leadership Lesson John 13:12-17

He ___________________ what He knows

Jesus follows through with ___________________

What are ways we ___________________ follow through?

Changing Your Mind > Create a Plan of Action

1. Which Leadership Lesson from above do you best relate to and why?

2. What step do you need to take in order to be a more effective leader?

Polishing Your PlanExodus 18:13-26 > What are some leadership principles in this passage?

1. Wise leaders know their ___________________ and ___________________2. Wise leaders place themselves around other wise ___________________3. Wise leaders are ___________________ before critics4. You don’t have to be given a ___________________ ___________________ to lead or serve

Wrapping It Up

Pray that you would begin showing an example of leadership just as Christ gave us in Scripture.

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