978-0-8024-1550-9
AVAILABLE FEB 2018

What you’re holding is a small sample of a growing line of rich, deep Bible studies from Moody Publishers. Explore all our studies at moodypublisherswomen.com

I AM FOUND | 978-0-8024-1468-7

AN UNEXPLAINABLE LIFE (ACTS 1–12) | 978-0-8024-1473-1

THE UNEXPLAINABLE CHURCH (ACTS 13–28) | 978-0-8024-1742-8

HIS LAST WORDS (JOHN 13–17) | 978-0-8024-1467-0

INCLUDED IN CHRIST (EPHESIANS) | 978-0-8024-1591-2

THIS I KNOW AVAILABLE JAN 2018 | 978-0-8024-1596-7

HE IS ENOUGH (COLOSSIANS) AVAILABLE JUNE 2018 | 978-0-8024-1686-5

© 2018 by
BECKY HARLING

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Edited by Amanda Cleary Eastep
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ISBN: 978-0-8024-1550-9

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ANSWERING THE I AM

I lay on the family room floor with my Bible open and praise music playing as I prayed, “Lord Jesus, show me who you really are! I feel like I don’t know you anymore. My life feels like it’s falling apart, and I’m not sure what I believe anymore!”

It was a crisis of faith. Ever had one? I had asked Jesus to be my Savior as a little girl. I grew up loving Him. As an adult, I served Him. But a series of traumatic events, including cancer, sexual abuse memories, a major move across the country, and the loss of my husband’s job left me with doubts. Not just a few. Many.

Where was this Jesus I said I served? Why couldn’t I feel Him? Who was He anyway, and why wasn’t He behaving like the God I used to know?

Here’s the thing: The chaos of life tests the strength of our spiritual levees. Do you remember Hurricane Katrina in 2005? The wicked winds and storm surge tested the strength of the levees in New Orleans, and the levees cracked under pressure. As a result, lives were lost, and New Orleans suffered billions of dollars in damage.

The chaos and trauma in my life had tested my spiritual “levees,” and my faith was buckling under pressure. My questions sent me on a desperate quest. I needed deeper faith, but it had to be authentic. I was tired of pious platitudes! Real answers were crucial. As I thought through a plan, I decided I would throw out my preconceived ideas and start over by reading through the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with fresh eyes and an unbiased mind to discover once again the truth of who Jesus is.

As I read and re-read these books, one of my first realizations was that Jesus asked profound questions. Somehow in all my reading of the Gospels before I had missed that! These were not questions that could be answered easily with pat or simplistic answers. No, they were questions that required a person to think, analyze the evidence, and at times, dig deep into Scripture and—within themselves—for the answers.

Jesus asked one of His most profound questions while He and His disciples were walking through Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea Philippi had been greatly influenced by Greek and Roman culture, and as a result, most people worshiped the Greek gods and primarily the Greek god Pan. As Jesus and His disciples walked through town, Jesus asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matt. 16:13).

Earlier, the Pharisees and Sadducees had challenged Jesus and asked Him for a sign to prove that He had the authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, teach in the temple, and call Himself the Son of God. The Pharisees and the Sadducees didn’t recognized Jesus for who He was in spite of all their religious training in the Old Testament prophecies.

After leaving the religious leaders, Jesus and His disciples entered the city of Caesarea Philippi where there was more false teaching. This time it was the false teaching of the Romans and Greeks who believed in a host of gods. It was in this setting that Jesus asked about the word on the street concerning His identity. The disciples answered that some thought Jesus was John the Baptist and others thought He was a prophet.

If you were to ask that same question today, I think you would receive similar answers. Some agree that Jesus was a great teacher. Many feel He was a profound historical figure, and others think He might have been a prophet. But the crux of the matter is, who do you say He is? After Jesus asked what others thought of Him, He then narrowed the question and pointed it at the disciples:

“Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15–16, emphasis added).

In response, Peter declared in triumphant faith, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Just as Peter answered Jesus’ question, you must answer His question as well. How you answer shapes the trajectory of your life.

• Was He a great prophet?

• Was He simply a profound teacher?

• Was He a political figure?

• Was He one of many ways to peace with God the Father?

• Or was He who He said He was—the great I Am, God Himself?

Or perhaps you are solid in your faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, but you are struggling to believe He is faithful and good because of the trials you are facing in your life right now.

Or you may be closer to Jesus than you have ever been, but you are curious about the questions He asked in the Gospels and want to know more about the I Am statements He made.

I wrote this Bible study for those of you who want to know, love, and trust Jesus more deeply—and for those of you who have questions about who Jesus really is and are asking, “Is He really who He says He is?”

Our culture, and even many of our churches, are confused about the identity and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. If you’ve experienced a crisis of faith you might be confused as well. Many in our culture believe that everyone eventually arrives at peace with God, so it really doesn’t matter what you decide about Jesus. Others say, “Jesus works for me, just find what works for you!”

The decision you reach about who Jesus is will be the most profound decision of your life, and it has extreme ramifications. But I’m getting ahead of myself. For now, I want to challenge you to enter this Bible study with an open mind and heart. Take a look at the questions Jesus asked and examine the claims Jesus made about Himself. Look at the evidence, and then answer, “Who do I say He is?”

Nothing describes Jesus’ identity as profoundly as His I Am statements. In my journey toward deeper faith, I began to study the I Am statements as the answer to the questions Jesus was asking. As I studied, I fell head over heels in love with Jesus all over again!

The more I discovered, the more I wanted to know. A little bit of Jesus was not enough. I wanted all of Him, and I wanted Him to have all of me. My life circumstances didn’t change, but I sure did. I became confident in Christ. My doubts settled down. My fears quieted, and my faith flourished.

Friend, this study is the result of those years when I buried myself in the Gospels, answered His questions personally, and deepened the roots of my faith.

Maybe you’re just wondering. What is so intriguing about Jesus Christ anyway? Why bother answering the questions He asked? Maybe it has felt to you that Christians are judgmental. What makes them think they have the corner on truth?

Maybe you are a believer who is struggling to believe He is really who He says He is. Or maybe you aren’t experiencing a crisis of faith, and you are excited to hear His answers and understand Him in a new way.

Do you want to deepen and strengthen your faith so that when the winds of chaos blow, you stand steady and strong? Come with me on a journey—a journey to discover the claims that Jesus made about Himself and how those claims can change your life.

Jesus’ questions are worthy of your consideration. If He is God as He says He is, then you, like me, need a divine encounter with Him, an encounter that revitalizes your faith and transforms your life!

But first, let me warn you. When we come face to face with Christ, He invites us to an exciting adventure. It may rock our world and shake us to the core, but it’s worth it because there is no one like Jesus. He is the Lord of the universe, the great “I Am.”

So are you in? Are you up for an exciting and life-changing encounter?

Think about it:

What if you could walk away from this study with deeper faith that Jesus is exactly who He said He was?

What if the next time a crisis hits your life, your faith is strong and rock solid?

What if you decided to follow Jesus and passionately live your life for Him? How would your life be different?

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THE REST OF THIS STUDY

As you begin this journey to answer Jesus’ questions and consider His I Am statements, I want you to know how excited I am for you. Whenever I start a new adventure, I like to know what to expect. I bet you feel similarly.

Each week will begin with a question Jesus asked. We’ll examine the passage where He asked the question and the setting of the question, then we’ll move to an I Am statement that answers that question.

Each week you’ll have five days of homework. I can hear you groaning. Homework? Don’t worry. The homework is simply a guide to help you delve more deeply into Scripture and discover the wonder of each statement. If you miss a day, don’t panic. Simply catch up as you go through the study. Similarly, if a day’s homework impacts you deeply, and you feel you need another day to absorb that particular truth, take the extra time. Make the workbook work for you!

Each day’s homework will include a short passage or several short passages of Scripture to help you gain a deeper understanding of the truth behind Jesus’ identity, as well as several questions for you to answer. Some of the questions will be inductive in nature and some will be reflective. Before you begin each day’s homework, pause, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you absorb the truth you are studying.

Each week, your workbook will include the following sections:

• EXPLORE This section will include a guided study of the passage or passages of Scripture related to an I Am statement made by Jesus. You’ll have the opportunity to peruse Scripture and answer questions to help you explore the statement further. You’ll notice that throughout the study there will be references to words in their original language. Next to these words you’ll see (Strong’s #______) with a specific number. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is a very accessible tool to help you understand the meaning behind words used in the Bible. It’s a great idea for you to become acquainted with this concordance and comfortable using it as a resource for diving deeper into a passage. Whenever you see a word with a reference to Strong’s after it, look the word up online and check it out.

• REFLECT In this section you’ll answer a few questions designed for reflection on your own personal growth. There are no right or wrong answers in this section, so be honest with yourself. This section is designed to help you process what you’re experiencing.

• PRAISE Each day I’ll encourage you to praise Christ for some element of His character. Many days, I’ll include a song for you to listen to in order to prompt your praise. Scripture teaches us that God inhabits the praises of His people. As we become intentional about praising God each day, I believe our faith grows deeper.

• MEMORIZE Every week there will be a suggested passage of Scripture for you to memorize. Memorizing increases the Holy Spirit’s vocabulary in our lives and cements His truth in our hearts. I’m praying for you as we journey through this Bible study together. Let’s get started!

Becky

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

MATTHEW 16:15

I AM HE

Then Jesus declared,

“I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

JOHN 4:26

WEEK ONE 

Day 1: Who Do You Say That I AM?

Day 2: In Need of a Messiah

Day 3: The Messiah Who Takes Away Your Guilt

Day 4: How to Shut Up Your Accuser

Day 5: Changed!

WEEK 1 | DAY 1 

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? 

MATTHEW 15:16 

Good questions inform; great questions transform.

—John Maxwell

If I were to ask you what’s the most transformational question you’ve been asked, how would you answer?

• Will you marry me?

• What do you want out of your life?

• Do you want this job?

• Do you want to have a baby?

• Do you want to move across the country?

• Do you want to buy a house?

If you had asked Jesus’ disciples the most transformational question they had been asked, their minds likely would have traveled back to a conversation they had with Jesus while walking through Caesarea Philippi. The conversation began with the question Jesus asked about what others thought of Him and ended with Jesus asking the most pivotal question the disciples had been asked,

Who do you say that I Am? 

EXPLORE 

Read Matthew 16:13–20. Write your observations.

Write out Jesus’ question to the disciples in the space below, and then highlight the phrase “I am.”

In order to understand how important that phrase “I am” is, let’s take a look at the first time God introduced Himself as I Am.

Read Exodus 3:1–14.

Centuries before Christ, Moses was stuck out in the Midian Desert taking care of his father-in-law’s sheep. Moses had discovered that though he was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, his birth mom was an Israelite slave who had lived in bondage in Egypt. Seeing God’s people suffer such great oppression, Moses felt irate, and in a moment of pure rage, killed an Egyptian taskmaster. Knowing he could face death, Moses fled to the desert, married, and took care of his father-in-law’s sheep. But the questions that rattled in his mind over the plight of God’s people tortured him. Talk about a crisis of faith. Moses definitely had one!

There in the wilderness wrestling with great questions of faith, Moses encountered a burning bush. The intriguing thing about the bush was that though it was on fire, it was not being consumed.

Describe Moses’s reaction to the burning bush.

God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and gave him instructions. Describe the instructions God gave to Moses.

How did God introduce Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:6?

Read Exodus 3:13–14. How did God respond when Moses asked, “What should I say to the Israelites when they ask your name?”

Every Jewish child growing up at the time of Jesus would have heard this story. So when Jesus asked the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt: 16:15 ESV), what was the implication?

JOHN’S RECORD OF THE I AM STATEMENTS OF JESUS

One of Jesus’ best friends recorded His I Am statements. His name was John, and he would have been with Jesus when Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15 ESV). He was one of the disciples and identified himself often throughout his writings as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). Many biblical scholars believe he was Jesus’ best earthly friend.

But, he didn’t start out that way. When Jesus first met John, He nicknamed him (and his brother James) “Son of Thunder.” John was a hothead who easily exploded.

One time when Jesus was criticized by some Samaritans, John wanted Jesus to call down fire from heaven to destroy the whole town (Luke 9:52–56). Jesus explained to John that vengeance wasn’t the way He did things.

Not only did John lose his temper, but he was also a bit self-centered and arrogant. In one instance, he asked Jesus to do for him whatever he asked because he wanted a seat of prominence, power, and authority in Christ’s kingdom. The other followers of Jesus who overheard this conversation were not very happy about John’s request (Mark 10:35–44). Hotheaded, arrogant, craving power and authority—not exactly the type you’d imagine Jesus being best friends with, right?

But as Jesus loved, accepted, affirmed, and challenged John, he changed. Being with Jesus completely transformed him. John was an eyewitness to the miracles of Jesus and was the only one of His friends standing at the foot of the cross when Jesus died.

John was one of the first people to witness the resurrected Christ and eventually became one of the founding leaders of the early church. He authored the gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John; and the book of Revelation. His relationship with Jesus was transformational.

When John wrote his gospel, he said his desired intent was for his readers to believe that Jesus was exactly who He said He was, the great I Am. “… but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31 ESV).

John is the only gospel writer who recorded all of Jesus’ I Am statements.

To give you an overview of the I Am statements of Jesus that we’ll be considering throughout this study, look up the following verses and write the I Am statement next to each one.

THE I AM STATEMENTS OF JESUS

John 4:26

John 6:35

John 8:12

John 10:11

John 11:25

John 14:6

John 15:1

Revelation 1:17

Let’s return to the scene where Jesus was asking the disciples His identity.

Read Matthew 16:15–16. Notice Peter’s response to Jesus Christ’s question and write it in the space below.

The Greek word for Christ that’s used here is from the Hebrew word meaning Messiah. Peter was acknowledging that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. Keep that in mind for tomorrow when we’ll look at another person who recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah!

REFLECT 

In your life, have you ever had a crisis of faith? If so describe that crisis below.

How can a crisis of faith be transformed into a catalyst for deeper faith?

What are you hoping for out of this study?

MEMORIZE 

This week, memorize Romans 8:1–2.

PRAISE 

Listen to the worship song “I Am” by Influence Music & Melody Noel featuring William Matthews. As you listen—even if you are in a season of doubt—intentionally praise God that He is the great I Am. Praise awakens deeper faith in our hearts.

WEEK 1 | DAY 2 

IN NEED OF A MESSIAH 

If there is anything that can create a crisis of faith, it’s guilt! Often when someone feels guilty they back up from God rather than running toward God. In their prison of shame they cry out, “Why would God want me? He can’t forgive me; I’m such a mess!”

This was the case for Jade. After experiencing the horror of rape, Jade entered the porn industry. Because she felt God hadn’t protected her, she thought—why not give up and enter an industry where she could make money with her body? When a friend invited her to come to God, Jade’s response spoke volumes about the shame she felt, “Why would He want me now?”

The irony is that Jesus always pursues the sinner! In Jade’s case, God continually placed concerned Christians in her path who loved her and prayed for her. Eventually, Jade found the courage to come to Jesus and allow Him to cleanse her shame with His living water. Jade now speaks all over the country, helping others to find Jesus.

Jesus once had a conversation with a woman who, like Jade, had a shameful history and desperately needed a Messiah.

Who do you say that I Am?
I Am He

EXPLORE 

Read John 4:1–26. Write your observations in the space below.

I believe that Jesus’ choice to travel through Samaria was intentional. Many Jews avoided the region of Samaria like the plague. To help you understand why the Jews and Samaritans hated each other, here’s a little history.

Under Solomon’s son Rehoboam, Israel split in two (1 Kings 12). The northern part of Israel was led by Jeroboam, and the southern part of Israel, which was called Judah, was ruled by Rehoboam. Jeroboam was afraid that the two kingdoms would once again unite and that he would not be the new king of the northern kingdom, so he established his own pagan religion rather than encouraging his people to worship Jehovah. He constructed two golden calves and told his people to worship those (1 Kings 12:25–33). (Steve and I recently visited that exact spot in Israel. What a reminder to never let idolatry in any form into our lives!)

Later, a wicked king named Omri built the city of Samaria, which became synonymous with the entire northern kingdom. He also built a temple and created an altar to Baal (1 Kings 16:24–34).

When the Assyrians defeated Israel, many Israelites intermarried with the heathen nations, resulting in a nation of mixed races and pagan beliefs (2 Kings 17:23). Israel’s religion intermingled with idolatry, and the Samaritans developed their own kind of religion. Although they professed to believe in the God of Israel and the coming Messiah (see John 4:25), they accepted only the first five books of the Law and rejected the rest of the Old Testament.¹

I love that Jesus stepped past cultural norms and racial prejudice to seek out the Samaritan woman. In a culture that devalued women, Jesus makes His first I Am statement to a woman! While religious systems often devalue women, Jesus honors women.

It was noon when Jesus sat by the well. Most women traveled to the well in groups early in the morning or late in the evening in order to avoid heat, but the Samaritan woman made the trek alone in the heat of the day.

Read John 4:6. Why do you think the Samaritan woman came in the heat of the day to draw water?

Read John 4:7–9. Describe the woman’s attitude when Jesus asked her for a drink of water.

Read John 4:10–14. What is the meaning behind the “living water” that Jesus spoke of?

Read John 4:15–18. How did Jesus respond when the woman asked for living water?

Read John 4:19–20. Describe the Samaritan woman’s response to Jesus.

Read John 4:21–24. How did Jesus describe true worship?

What do you think it means to worship in spirit and in truth?

Read John 4:25–26. When the woman said she knew the Messiah was coming, how did Jesus respond? Write His I Am statement here:

REFLECT 

Are there people groups you feel prejudice toward? How does your prejudice manifest?

If you were to describe “living water” to a friend, how would you describe it?

When someone confronts you with a fault, how do you usually respond?

What generally triggers your guilt? Thoughts about your past, your present, or your relationships?

Write out Romans 8:1–2. What does it mean to you to be “in Christ”?

PRAISE 

Listen to “Into the Deep” by Citipointe Live. As you listen, praise God that His living water is always available and accessible.

WEEK 1 | DAY 3 

THE MESSIAH WHO TAKES AWAY YOUR GUILT 

The Samaritan woman said she knew the Messiah would come. The word messiah in the Greek means literally, “anointed one” (Strong’s #3323).² As the Messiah, Jesus came as the anointed one to heal our guilt and shame.

The truth is, we are all guilty because none of us are perfect (Rom. 3:23). Our guilt separates us from God, and according to God’s Word, sin must be punished. The great news is that as the Messiah, Jesus came and took the punishment by dying on the cross so that we wouldn’t have to be punished for our sin. He offers us forgiveness and freedom from shame.

When we receive Christ’s forgiveness, we are forever set free from guilt and shame. However, we often still ask the question: “Why do I still feel guilty?” Today, let’s talk about guilt, conviction, and repentance.

EXPLORE 

Read Romans 3:23. What does this Scripture teach you about sin?

Read Romans 6:23. According to this verse, what is the penalty for sin?

Read John 3:16. How did God take care of this problem for us?

Read James 2:10. Write your own personal definition of guilt. According to this passage, why do you personally need a Messiah?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GUILT AND CONVICTION

Guilt felt before repentance is the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but guilt felt after repentance is condemnation and does not come from God. After we have received Jesus Christ as our Savior, condemnation is never God’s plan for us. Conviction about sin as a believer is part of His plan, because God’s primary goal in our lives is to transform us into the image of Jesus.

Read Romans 8:1–2. Write it out in the space below.

What do these verses teach you about being set free from guilt?

Read John 16:8.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. The word “convict” is a translation of the Greek word elencho, which means “to convince someone of the truth.”³

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we come to realize the truth about our wrongdoing, and we experience godly sorrow that leads to repentance. We turn from our sin and move toward obedience to God’s commands.

When the Spirit of God brings conviction, we can respond in several ways:

• Defensiveness

• Denial

• Regret that we got caught

• Godly sorrow

• Diverting attention from our sinfulness

• Shame and depression

Read John 4:16–20. Which of the responses listed above do you see in how the Samaritan woman responded to Jesus?

Which of those responses is most often the way you respond?

Read 2 Corinthians 7:10. Describe godly sorrow in your own words.

Read 1 John 1:9.

The word for confess in this verse carries the idea of “agreeing with.” When we confess our sins, we agree with God that what we’ve done is wrong. It’s the idea behind the ability to say, “I was wrong.”

According to this verse, what happens when we agree with God that what we’ve done is wrong?

REFLECT 

Is it hard for you to say, “I was wrong”? If so, how do you most often respond when someone points out wrongdoing in your life?

Is there an area of your life where the Spirit of God has convicted you recently? Conviction prompts confession. Write a prayer of confession below about the area where the Holy Spirit has most recently convicted you.

PRAISE 

Listen to “Lord You Know” by Riana Nel. As you listen, thank Jesus that though He knows everything you’ve ever done, He loves you deeply and died for you!

WEEK 1 | DAY 4 

HOW TO SHUT UP THE ACCUSER 

I felt upset, confused, and angry. I was in California getting ready to speak at a women’s conference but had just received an extremely critical email. The person writing the email had lashed out with many accusations over the fact that I was sharing my story. My head was spinning. I felt Satan hurling every insult and accusation at me as I closed my computer. His messages went something like this, “You’re emotionally unstable! You shouldn’t be out there speaking and at the very least not telling your story. You’re unfit to speak.”

I cried, “Lord, how can I speak tomorrow? I’ve got nothing!” Instantly, the Holy Spirit reminded me of how to shut up Satan. I turned on some praise music and grabbed my Bible. Thankfully, no one was home in the house where I was staying. I began praising God and quoting Scripture.

If anyone had been looking through the window, they would have thought I was nuts! There I was, with praise music blaring, marching around the house with my Bible in hand praising my way through the alphabet at the top of my lungs …

“Lord, I praise you because you have all authority, and Satan can’t thwart your plans! I praise you because you’re the Blessed Controller of all things. I praise you because you promise to deliver me from evil, and God, this feels evil. I praise you that you’re in control!”

I continued until I literally felt a breakthrough. I finally relaxed, praised God that He would speak the next day, and took some time to rest.

Here’s what I know: Even though a person has received Christ as her Messiah and asked for forgiveness of sins, Satan will try to attack with feelings of guilt and shame.

Today, we’re going to take a look at shame and false guilt. And, I’m going to teach you how to tell the enemy loud and clear to “Shut up!” Are you ready? You must learn this skill to help protect yourself from the taunts and torments of Satan.

EXPLORE 

Read Revelation 12:10–11. What is Satan called in these verses?

As the accuser, Satan lives his life around one single purpose: accusing you. Sad, huh? But he loves nothing more than to get you twisted into fits of self-doubt and shame so that he renders you useless at proclaiming what God has done in your life. How does he do this? He has several strategies, and here are just a few:

Guilt over sin you’ve already confessed. I’ve seen this strategy employed time after time as I’ve spoken at women’s conferences, particularly in the realm of sexuality and abortion. Friend, may I speak directly to you? No matter what you’ve done, no matter how horrible the act, if you’ve confessed your sin, Christ has forgiven you. God no longer dwells on your sin, so neither should you! When Satan hurls accusations at you, you must stand tall and slap him with Scripture! You might say, “Satan, shut up! In the name and power of Jesus Christ, you have no place here. I’m under the authority of Jesus Christ. My sin has been covered by the blood of the Lamb. I’ve confessed my sin, and Jesus has been faithful and just to forgive my sin and to cleanse me completely (1 John 1:9). I am chosen, holy, and dearly loved” (Col. 3:12).

Read Psalm 103:12. What does this verse teach us about God removing our sin from us?

Guilt over unmet or unrealistic expectations. No matter how hard you try, you will not keep everyone happy. Some people will have expectations of you that you simply cannot live up to. When you disappoint them, they manipulate you, and you end up feeling guilty. Here are a few examples:

• Your schedule is very busy right now. Time is at a premium, and you’re trying to prioritize your husband and children. A friend feels hurt because you haven’t spent enough time with her. You feel guilty because you’re afraid you’re not being a good friend.

• Your definition of being a “good mother” means always baking homemade cookies like your neighbor, but you hate baking, and every time you try, you burn the cookies. When you see what’s packed in your neighbor’s kids’ lunch boxes, you feel guilty.

• Your mother feels you need to prioritize spending time with her over the Bible study you’re attending at your church. She brings it up every week informing you that she’s getting old, and if you were a “good Christian,” you would spend time with her instead. You hang up the phone as feelings of guilt wash over you.

What you’ll notice about each of those examples is that none of them contradict a biblical principle. False guilt has nothing to do with truth or what the Word of God says is sin. False guilt often challenges our personal boundaries. But it’s godly to set boundaries.

Read Mark 1:35–39. What does this story about Jesus teach you about setting boundaries?

Guilt over evil done to you. As a child, I was sexually abused. Evil was done to me. As an adult, I struggled with a pervasive sense of being unclean. What I was struggling with was a profound sense of shame. I felt guilty and embarrassed about what had been done to me. As a result of the shame I felt, I took on guilt that was not my own. It wasn’t until I worked with a counselor and pursued Christ as my Healer that God set me free from shame.

Read Ezekiel 18:20. What does this verse teach you about taking responsibility for another person’s sin?

How does this verse release you from shame about evil committed against you?

When you feel guilty, ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I disobeyed God in some area of my life?

• Is Satan bringing up my past and something that I’ve already confessed?

• Am I feeling guilty because I don’t measure up to someone’s expectations for me?

• Am I feeling guilty because of evil done against me?

If your answer is yes to the first question, become a fast confessor. Turn from your sin, and get on board with God’s desires for you. If it’s any of the other three, remind yourself that you are holy and blameless.

REFLECT 

The two best weapons I know for fighting Satan when he tries to throw guilt and shame at you are: Praise and Scripture.

Read Psalm 149:6. Write this verse in the space below.

CREATE AN EMERGENCY FAITH KIT

Every home I know has an emergency kit for when family members get hurt or need first aid. Similarly in our spiritual walks, we need an emergency kit of Scripture verses and praise songs that we can go to instinctively when Satan is attacking or we’re facing a crisis.

In the space below, write out five verses of your choice that you will keep in your emergency kit, and write down the name of five praise songs that you will either sing or play when Satan starts with his “blah, blah, blah.” I will get you started with the first Scripture verse, and the rest you can choose on your own.

Scripture Verses

1. Philippians 2:9–11. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

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Praise Songs

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MEMORIZE 

Review Romans 8:1. Write it out on an index card, and tape the card where you will see it often.

PRAISE 

In the space below, write out a prayer of praise thanking Jesus that He is the victor over Satan.

Listen to “Blameless” by Dara Maclean. As you listen, praise God that He came as the Messiah to offer you freedom from guilt and shame and that He calls you blameless, holy, and chosen!

WEEK 1 | DAY 5 

CHANGED! 

The life of the Samaritan woman was forever changed when she met Jesus. In fact, Scripture tells us she went and told all her friends to come meet the man who had told her everything she had ever done. As a result of her encounter with Jesus, many other Samaritans came to faith in Him as their Messiah.

Read John 4:27–42. As you read, write your observations in the space below.

Read John 4:27. Why do you think the disciples were surprised that Jesus was talking to a woman?

Read John 4:28–29. Circle the word “leaving” in the passage.

When we meet Jesus and recognize Him as our Messiah, we leave behind our old way of thinking and doing things. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” When someone puts her faith and trust in Jesus Christ, everything changes and she now has a new life agenda—God’s agenda!

EXPLORE 

How is this illustrated by the Samaritan woman in John 4:29–30?

Read John 4:35. Circle the phrase “open your eyes.”

What do you think Jesus meant when He said the fields were ripe and ready for harvest?

How do you think it might help you to “open your eyes” to see the people who are ready to hear about Jesus?

Read John 4:39–42. What was the response from the people in town to the Samaritan woman’s story?

Read John 4:42. Once the people from town heard Jesus, what did they believe about Him?

REFLECT 

The Samaritan woman’s life changed drastically after she met Jesus.

How has your life changed since you put your faith and trust in Jesus?

As soon as the Samaritan woman met Jesus, she wanted to bring her friends to introduce them to Him. She simply told them her story. When was the last time you told one of your friends about Jesus?

Think about the highlights of your story. In the space below write down 4–5 bullet points of your story that you could use to tell other people about Jesus.

As you reflect back on this week, what principle has stuck out to you most as far as dumping your bucket of guilt?

What is one action step you will take as a result of this week’s study?

MEMORIZE 

Review Romans 8:1–2.

PRAISE 

That God would send His own Son to take the punishment for our sin is nothing short of incredible grace. As we close out this week, listen to “How Can It Be” by Lauren Daigle. As you listen, praise God for His incredible grace and forgiveness. You are free from guilt and shame. Celebrate!

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