ray choi

Christian husband, father of 3 and bi-vocational pastor

Cain and Abel: Overcoming Sin Before It Overcomes You (1 John 3)

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Preacher: Pastor Ray

Cain is mentioned in 1 John 3 and is used as a case study in darkness. Apostle John makes the shocking claim that the heart of someone who sees a brother in financial need and deliberately closes his heart to him is the same heart that hates a brother enough to murder him. Going a bit deeper, we need to ask, why did God reject both Cain and his offering in Genesis 4? The answer to this question highlights the one and only thing that Cain needed in order to overcome sin in his life. Sadly, instead of overcoming and mastering sin, he ended up being ruled by sin.

John 15-16: The Dual Ministry of the Holy Spirit

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Preacher: Pastor Ray

The Holy Spirit is the least familiar Person of the Trinity. Why was the Holy Spirit sent and what did He accomplish? Does the Holy Spirit minister in the same way to the believer and to the non-believer (i.e. the “world”)? Listen as we attempt to answer these questions.

Rom 8: Our Father is Sovereign and Good

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Preacher: Pastor Ray

The sovereignty of God has become like a spam bucket to catch all of our junk and in the process God’s goodness is put in question. At worst, we blame God for everything that goes wrong.

Discussion Questions

The sovereignty of God is a tricky subject. We have to factor in human free will, the reality of spiritual battle as well as the principle of reaping what we sow, among other truths.
– Do you agree or disagree that it’s possible to blame God for all the things that go wrong in your life because of a wrong understanding of God’s sovereignty?
– Explain the sovereignty of God in your own words.

Read Rom 8:28-30.
– What is the promise in v28?
– What is the only thing God requires of us?
– What is God’s penultimate purpose in your life and what is God’s ultimate purpose?
– Is being conformed to the image of Christ optional for the Christian?
– Who is doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to foreknowledge, predestination, sanctification, calling, justification and glorification?

Read Rom 8:38-39. Paul includes the present and the future.
– Do you find it significant that the past is left off this list?
– Why do you think that’s the case?
– Is there a danger in living in the past?
– Why is God seem to be interested only in our present and our future?

Rom 6: The Presence of Sin, The Potential to Sin and The Powerlessness of Sin

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Preacher: Pastor Ray

We live in the presence of sin, which means all of us, Christians included, have the potential to sin. However, for the believer, the power of sin has been broken and sin is therefore powerless over us.

Discussion Questions

I understand doctrinally that I am dead to sin and free in Christ but I don’t live this out experientially.

– Can you identify with this?

Read Rom 6:4. There is an expectation in this verse.

– In light of the gospel, what is the expectation?

Recall the example of the adult unable to walk, strapped to a baby car seat.

– What was the point of this analogy?

Read Rom 6:11. “Consider” is based on the root word for logic. The literal translation of this verse is “in light of the evidence, you are to reach the logical conclusion that you are dead to sin and alive to God.”

– Do you believe this? If not, ask to receive this renewed mindset.
– What is the literal meaning for “dead?” What is the literal meaning for “alive?”
– How does this verse help you to walk in the newness of life?

If you don’t believe that Jesus destroyed the power of sin and death and you don’t believe you can change and you don’t believe you are free, then it’s likely that you will live out your belief system. Recall the example of Steph Curry demonstrating the power of a renewed mindset.

– If you are alive to sin and you fall into sin, how does your failure strengthen your belief system?
– From Rom 6:11, what are 2 things we are to “consider?”

Read Rom 6:12.

– How does this verse address the person who says that Romans 7 is the Christian’s reality?

Read Rom 6:13. This verse further unpacks what it means to be alive to God.

– What is the literal translation of “present?”
– What is the literal translation of “member?”
– To whom are we presenting ourselves and our members? Why is this significant? What are some wrong places/people to whom we present ourselves for evaluation?
– What is the literal translation of “instruments?”
– What is the literal translation of “unrighteousness” and “righteousness?”
– As an instrument of righteousness, sometimes we are fierce and other times we are precise and gentle. Explain.

Read Rom 6:22.

– Why does a wrong belief system (i.e. I am still a slave of sin) short-circuit the process of sanctification at the outset?

Read Rom 6:13.

– How are we to present ourselves and our members to God? With what attitude?

Application: Spend time bringing your body, soul, spirit, mind, will, emotion, your broken thought patterns (strongholds), your broken emotions (anger, bitterness, irritability), your broken actions (willful sins) before God.