Changed gears

The teaching plan for LifeWay’s Explore the Bible lesson “United with Christ” from Romans 6:1-14 aims to help learners serve God (and not serve sin) by examining their lives for evidence they are serving God and not serving sin. A Christian’s life should offer evidence of change that signals a new life in Christ (v 4). Agreed? Distribute the homework guide for this lesson from bible.org.

Paul gives overall instructions for exhibiting this new life in Ephesians 5:21-6:9. John tells us that Christians exhibit love, not fear. Some conversions resulted in dramatic exhibitions of changed lives, but generally, Christians hope to bear fruit to God. Here is an interesting changed life project that might offer some encouraging stories.

Lesson Introduction. Paul changes gears in Romans 6 to address sanctification. Hearing the evidence of the gear change in this video is tangible evidence that a change occurred. Similarly, “a person’s life changes after he/she becomes a Christian. What are some of the evidences of this life change?” Ask the class to recall Bible verses that speak to the changed life of a Christian? (e.g. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:20-31, Colossians 2:20-21, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:9). Staying in first gear too long promotes engine overheating because of the higher number of engine revolutions. Likewise, Christians that stay in the old life have a problem.