Walking With the Holy Spirit Seven Heavenly Virtues

Walking With the Holy Spirit – Seven Heavenly Virtues Study Schedule Session Date Deadly Sin Heavenly Virtue 1: Monday, February 15 Sloth Diligence 2: Monday, February 22 Gluttony Temperance 3: Monday, March 1 Anger Patience 4: Monday, March 8 Lust Purity 5: Monday, March 15 Greed Generosity 6: Monday, March 22 Envy Kindness 7: Monday, March 29 Pride Humility 1

2

Introduction • What is Lent all about? • Remembering Jesus’ 40 days of fasting and testing by Satan in the wilderness • A time of repentance, self-denial, and self-examination • Remembering Christ’s journey to the cross; dying with Him • Our focus for this study • Need to be prepared, as Jesus was, to resist Satan • Recognize and acknowledge our need for repentance • Clearly identify areas of vulnerability; seven deadly sins • Realize our need to partner with the Holy Spirit to grow in holiness • Focus on and emphasize the positive; seven heavenly virtues • Focus on TAKING ON the virtues rather than on GIVING UP the “habits” 3

Session One – Holiness Through Diligence Scripture Focus for the Study: Rom. 12: 2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will. ” Scripture for Session One: Eph. 5: 14 “Awake, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. ” • Sloth • Laziness, indolence, negligence, inaction • Apathy, complacency, aimlessness, hopelessness, despondency • Inattention to our relationship with God (Dr. David Long) • An offense against ourselves (Bishop Willimon) • Diligence • • • Action, industriousness, perseverance “Joyful obedience” Fruitfulness Abundance (of life) Spiritual Discipline Growing in faith 4

Two Examples from the Gospels (Both occasions are post-resurrection) • Luke 24: 13 -32 Jesus meets two disciples on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus • John 21 Jesus meets seven of his disciples who are fishing on the Sea of Galilee Scripture References for Diligence • Is. 6: 8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? ’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me. ’” • Rom. 13: 11 “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ” • James 2: 24 “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. ” • John 15: 2 “ He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce more. ” • Eph. 2: 10 “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. ” • John 10: 10 “I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly. ” Another Reference • UMH p. 8 Prayer of Confession and Pardon, “Free us for joyful obedience. ” 5