A new relationship for God's people

Study Guide

The following may help you reflect further on the message
(the points could also be used as a discussion guide at fellowship groups)

  1. How do the following words relate to your present relationship with God: “O for a closer walk with God…where is the blessedness I knew when first I met the Lord?” What can we do about this experience? How does Genesis 17 help?
  2. Discuss the differences between physical and spiritual circumcision. You could use Genesis 17; Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:25-29; Galatians 5:1-6; Galatians 6:12-15; Philippians 3:1-6; Colossians 2:9-14 as starting points for your discussion.
  3. How does the above discussion relate to what Jesus said in John 3:6 and what David said in Psalm 51:5?
  4. Discuss the following statement: “Being a Christian is more than believing some facts about the gospel. Being a Christian means entering a real experience of God by the Spirit. Can 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 help in your discussion? How does this relate to circumcision in the Old Testa-ment?
  5. In the New Testament, the new covenant sign is baptism. How significant is this today? How does it differ from circumcision? See Romans 6:1-7.
  6. How would you answer the question in Romans 3:1, “What advantage is there in being a Jew or what value is there in circumcision?” (Check the context for Paul’s answer to the question). How does this relate to being raised in a Christian home?
  7. Discuss the following: God’s ultimate blessing does not come through physical descent, but through spiritual rebirth. How does this relate to Galatians 3:26-29?
  8. In response to the initiative of Baroness Warsi, how can our faith be more relevant and less marginalised?
  9. Abraham’s response in Genesis 17:23-27 was obedience and ongoing commitment. How does this compare with our response? (See Psalm 119:60, Hebrews 4:7, and 1 Peter 1:14-16).