I USED TO BE PERFECT READER’S GUIDE
WELCOME
Welcome
Welcome to 6 Weeks of Discovery. Over the next few weeks your experience of the
plan of salvation will explode with clarification and new understanding. In addition, your
Bible reading will take on new meaning as familiar terms brighten with relevant
definitions.
The 6 Weeks of Discovery is a time of focus for the entire church family. The weekly
Sabbath messages compliment and expand upon the topics discussed in each of the small
groups. The small groups meet weekly to worship, pray, study and plan an outreach
event. Each individual is encouraged to read the chapter of the week using the Reader’s
Guide as an aid and source of discussion in the small group sessions.
In the last days of earth’s history, people around the world and in our communities will
be hungry to hear the words of God. The Lord will use the same means of spreading the
“good news” at the end of time as he did at the beginning—believers sharing God’s word
with others. In Acts 2 we find the early church organized into meeting together in large
groups in the temple courts and small groups in homes to share God’s words. As a result
“the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They
broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47
(NIV)
We pray your time spent in personal devotions, small group interaction and attending
Sabbath services will ignite a flame of anticipation of the Lord’s Second Coming and the
necessity to share the “good news” with your friends, family and neighbors.
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INTRODUCTION
Introduction
The book we’re reading is titled I Used to Be Perfect: A study of Sin and Salvation by
George Knight. George Knight is professor of church history at the Seventh-day
Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He has faithfully served the
church for over 40 years.
The following is a short list of some of the topics we’ll share over the next 6 weeks.
 What does it mean to sin?
 What is temptation?
 What is the law?
 What does it mean to “be saved”?
 What does it mean to “be perfect”?
What I like about Knight’s book is his ability to get to the point of “theology” though
clear and short sentences. His book is actual his personal experience of growing in Jesus.
Chapter 6 is essentially George Knight’s God-story of how he came to a personal
relationship with Jesus and stopped trying to earn his salvation. His desire to be “perfect”
leads him along pathways filled with deceptive pitfalls that some of us have visited in our
own faith-journeys. Knight’s conversion is thrilling when he trades-in his “self-centered”
perfection for the gift of Christ’s love and his perfection. As you read, you’ll realize that
Chapter 6 is an illustration of the previous 5 chapters of I Used to Be Perfect.
George Knight quotes from the Revised Standard Version (RSV) which was the Bible
version we used in college. However, be aware that many of the scriptures in his book
are quoted from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. He does this to assist those
still reading their KJV as their primary Bible with a better translation and hence a more
accurate translation. The newer translations of the Bible are more accurate than the KJV
because the KJV was translated in 1611 and word usage and definitions have changed.
As you’re reading his book, keep your New International Version (NIV) of the Bible or
any other modern translation handy as a comparison to the KJV.
Reader’s Guides
Reader’s Guides are provided as an aid to emphasize the central points in each chapter.
The questions and answers come directly from the book. The idea is to fill-in the
answers in your Reader’s Guide as you read. The answers are taken directly from the
text of your book. This way you’ll immediately know the answer to the question.
There are six chapters in your book I Used to Be Perfect. Take time to reflect upon your
faith-journey as you accompany George Knight through his ruckus experience of coming
to trust Jesus as his Savior.
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INTRODUCTION
You’re embarking on a very exciting adventure. May God open your heart to receive all
that he has in store for you.
Reading Schedule
Reading Schedule
Meeting
for the week beginning
Pre-Week
October 1
#1
October 8
#2
October 15
#3
October 22
#4
October 29
#5
November 6
#6
November 12
November 19
Readings
Meet and handout books and Reader’s
Guides
Sin is Love
Adventists Neglect the Law
Justification the Work of a Lifetime
Sanctification the Work of a Moment
Temptation is not Temptation
Perfect but Not Yet Perfect
Sinless but Not Yet Sinless
I Used to Be Perfect
Celebration Sabbath
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SMALL GROUPS
Helpful Hints
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Begin your groups on time to honor those who are there and establish the
habit of beginning and ending on time.
Be certain everyone is introduced each meeting.
As people are gathering, talk about answered prayers, God’s miracles,
spiritual experiences and needs.
What is talked about in the groups stays in the groups.
Use the calendar to share the responsibility of refreshments.
List the prayer needs of those in your group.
There are four sections of the small groups:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Welcome and Worship: 15 minutes
Prayer: 15 minutes
Steps to Christ Lesson Guides’ discussion: 30 minutes
Outreach: 30 minutes
Invite members of your group to help facilitate one of the four sections. Never ask a
person to pray or facilitate unless you’ve cleared it with him/her in advance.
Welcome and Worship
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Greet one another in love and be sure everyone is introduced at each
meeting.
Sing with the iworship@home DVD one or two selections.
Prayer
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On the first night the small group leader leads in the prayers.
Reassure the group no one will be asked to pray spontaneously.
Before the prayer ask if there are any prayer needs.
Invite a brief discussion about prayer. Many are shy or unsure how to
pray. Remind the group that prayer is like talking with a friend.
Talk about other ways to pray beside just one person. Pair-up for prayer
or try praying a conversational prayer a group.
Make a prayer list of people the group is praying to give their hearts to the
Lord. The list might include friend, neighbors and relatives. People who
live in the local area. No one is beyond God’s loving compassion.
I Used to Be Perfect Reader’s Guides Discussion
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Use the Reader’s Guides to promote discussion.
Compare modern translations of the scriptures with the King James
Version of the Bible quoted in I Used to Be Perfect.
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SMALL GROUPS
Outreach: Plan an outreach project to put into practice what you’re learning.
Outreach Ideas
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Outreach Ideas
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I USED TO BE PERFECT READER’S GUIDE
SMALL GROUPS
Week 1 Outreach:
There are two goals to meet. First ask the group to think of an outreach project and be
prepared to share their ideas at the next meeting. Examples of outreach projects include
finding an inactive family in the church directory and visit them. Or discover the needs
of a neighbor, friend or family member the group could collectively help. Take food or
other helpful items to a family. Help a family with a chore around the house. Start
tutoring kids in the neighborhood who need help in reading? Provide a ride to church for
a person who no longer can dive. At the Sabbath service invite a new person to your
group who is not a part of the 6 Weeks to Discovery. Take tapes of the weekly sermons
to those who cannot attend. Write cards and letters of encouragement to those who
cannot attend.
If you have already made contact with a new family from pervious small group
outreaches, move ahead and take the next step to invite them to dinner or lunch or a
social outing with your small group.
God-stories
Secondly, share your God-story. We worked on this during our last small group
experience. The God-story focus is what God is currently doing in your life. What is
God teaching you? How does God communicate with you? How does God speak to
your heart while reading the Bible? How are you changed from knowing the Lord?
You’re God-story should be within 5 minutes or “water cooler” time frame. Allow the
small group time to read this section and think about his/her God-story. Ask the group to
divide up into pairs and share their stories. Allow the group about 15 minutes to share
with their partners. Finally, ask for volunteers to share their God-stories with the larger
group.
When do you share your God-story? God initiates the opportunity to share your Godstory with others. When the time comes you’ll be prepared to share. There are three
components of a God-story.
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Before You Knew God: Plan to use less than 1 minute to tell this part of
your story. I might say, “Before I knew God I was wasting my life with
harmful and dangerous decisions. I didn’t have a direction for my life.”
This part of your God-story is short because without the Lord we’re on a
pathway to sure destruction and there is no good news.
Now You Know God: This is the largest section of your God-story lasting
3-4 minutes. In this section you simply answer the question, “What is
God doing in your life right now?” Or “Why are you excited about having
God in your life?” Or “How is life different for you now?” I might
answer, “I’m a new person. I have a definite direction for my life. I’m a
better person to everyone. I might fall down but I know God is there to
pick me up, dust me off, give me a hug and say ‘sin no more and come
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SMALL GROUPS
and follow me.’” Also, I would give specific examples of answered
prayers and God’s miracles in your life. Make your stories current, right
up to now.
What Is Your Life’s Outlook: This is good stuff but only take one minute.
What are you looking forward to now that God is in your life? I might
say, “I’m looking forward to heaven and being with my dad who died in
2000. I’m looking forward to talking with my Lord and asking him to
answer my questions. I’m not afraid of life or comparing my life to
worldly standards of success or failure. I know I’m a success because my
God has given me a reason to live. He is my reason.
Week 2 Outreach
Allow everyone to share their ideas for an outreach project. This part of the small
group experience is vital. How important it is to reach out to others in Christ’s name for
their salvation?
Practice sharing your God-stories.
Week 3 Outreach
Finalize your outreach project. Divide the outreach up among the small group
members. Discuss the specifics of you plan along with time and dates.
Practice sharing your God-stories.
Week 4 Outreach
By now your group should have your outreach plan underway. What details are
left to consider? Have you set a date for your outreach? If you’re having problems go
back to the first outreach lesson and carefully consider your options.
Practice sharing your God-stories.
Week 5 Outreach
Call the church office and let Denise know what your outreach plans are and how
they are progressing.
Practice sharing your God-stories.
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Week 6 Outreach
Celebration Sabbath is November 19. Is it possible to invite those you’ve assisted
to attend the celebration service? Share ideas how to take the next step to invite your
new friends to your small group or to a social outing.
Practice sharing your God-stories
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SMALL GROUPS
I USED TO BE PERFECT READER’S GUIDE
WEEK ONE
Sin is Love
1. Open your Bible and read Genesis 3:1-7.
2. What are Satan’s three points of attack? p.14.
a. To __________ God’s word—to get us to doubt whether God said
it.
b. To get us to __________ that God means what He says.
c. To __________ God’s good intentions toward us.
3. If one listens to the tempter, the natural conclusion is that __________
can’t be __________.
True or False? p. 14.
2. Underline the answer to the question “where does SIN begin?” SIN in
the heart leads to __________ in terms of __________. Something
happens in the __________ first. First, there is SIN in the heart. That
SIN in the heart then gives __________ to sinful actions. p. 15.
3. What do “fig leaves” in Genesis 3 signify? p. 16.
a. Humans seeking to __________ their own __________ through
their own __________.
b. Adam and Eve trying to __________ their own __________
problem.
c. Fig leaves represent __________ by __________.
4. Unfortunately, a broken __________ with __________ lead to
__________ relationships with other __________.
True or False? p 16.
5. Open your Bible to Genesis 3:11-12 and read about the broken
relationship between Adam and Eve.
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WEEK ONE
6. Another consequence of sin is a broken relationship with one’s self.
That is reflected in Eve’s inability to confess her part in the fall. Who
did Eve blame for her wrong action? see Genesis 3:13
_________________________.
7. Open your Bible and read Genesis 1:26-27 and compare it with
Genesis 5:3. Adam was created in __________ image but the sons of
Adam were in his own __________. How does the apostle Paul say
SIN came into the world? See Romans 5:12: SIN came into the world
through __________ man.
8. “SIN is __________ focused on the wrong object. SIN is to love the
object __________ than the __________ of the object.” p. 18.
9. SIN is __________ rather than impersonal. “Against you, you only,
have I sinned.” (Ps 51:4) SIN is a personal attack against God’s
__________. p. 19.
10. The crucial point to recognize is that SIN is . . . a state of
__________ and __________. p. 19.
11. Can we overcome SIN through overcoming sins “a,” “b” or
“c?” Yes or No p. 20.
12. “Being saved is both accepting the death of Christ as our
__________ and having our hearts __________ (this is,
having our agape love refocused from our self back to God
and others).” p. 22. See Romans 12:1-2.
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WEEK TWO
Adventist Neglect the LAW
1. Yes, Adventists have loved God’s __________ and His rules and His
laws and His regulations, but too often we have neglected His
__________ in both rhetoric and practice. True or False? p 26.
2. The Ten Commandments are the real LAW? True or False?
p 26.
3. One doesn’t have to think too long or too hard to come to the
conclusion that the law expressed in the __________ __________ is
neither __________ nor universal when we think in galactic terms.
Why is the statement above true? p 26.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. Chapter 1 dealt with __________. This one covers __________.
They are related, like heads and tails of the __________ coin. True or
False? p 27.
5. Open you Bible to Hebrews 8:10; 2 Corinthians 3:3. Where does God
promise to write his laws? p 28.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. The Old Testament has at least three laws. What are they?
p 28.
a. __________________ ____________________
b. __________________ ____________________
c. __________________ ____________________
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WEEK TWO
7. Open you Bible to Matthew 22:37-40. What is the nature of LAW
behind the laws? p 28-29.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
8. What is the fulfillment of the LAW? Romans 13:10 says that
“__________ is the fulfillment of the law.” p 29.
9. Remember, the LAW is a reflection of God’ __________, and God’s
character centers upon the characteristics of __________ about and
loving __________, even when they __________ deserve it. p 29.
10. The point to remember is that the real scene of action in the
great controversy is __________ at the level of __________,
__________, or __________ acts. Rather, the action in the
__________ __________ is at the level of SIN, LAW and
RIGHTEOUSNESS. p 30.
11. Give one example of “negative religion” and one example of
the “positive nature of biblical law.” p 31-33.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
12. Open your Bible and read Matthew 18:21. In actuality Peter
was not asking “How much can I love my neighbor?” but
“When can I __________ loving my neighbor?”
True or False? p 33.
13. Negative religion is setting up artificial parameters of sins
and righteousness. “So we want to know the limits of
__________ and Christian __________, so that we can
know when we have arrived.” p 34.
14. We can be quite zealous in keeping God’s __________
while utterly and totally failing in keeping God’s (LAW).
True or False? p 36.
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WEEK TWO
15. What are laws and LAW? God’s plea is for us to get our
priorities right. He wants us to keep His __________ so that
we can truly keep His __________. p 37.
a. LAW means ______________________________________.
b. “laws” are ______________________________________.
16. According to John 13:35 the identifying activity of the
Lord’s disciples is: p 38
Circle the correct answer.
a. The way they keep Sabbath?
b. The amount of tithe they return?
c. Their dietary choices?
d. Love for one another.
17. __________ to God and neighbor is the centerpiece of
Christianity. It reflects the __________ that __________ the
laws. p 39
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WEEK TWO
I USED TO BE PERFECT READER’S GUIDE
WEEK THREE
Justification the Work of a Lifetime
Sanctification the Work of a Moment
Before you read the chapter:
“Justification” appears in Romans 4:25: “He was delivered over to death for
our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (NIV). We also find the
word “justification” used in Romans 5:16, 18. In addition, we find various
forms of the same word in the New Testament. For example: “For we
maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law” (Rom
3:28, NIV).
While the word “sanctification” doesn’t appear in the Bible, it does appear in
other forms like “sanctify” or “sanctified” as found in 1 Corinthians 6:11
“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were
sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the
Spirit of our God.”(NIV):
Our reading this week will help us appreciate God’s loving work of
“justification” and “sanctification” for us and in us. Also, we’ll begin to
grasp the transforming work the Holy Spirit in our lives.
1. What does “justification” mean? Justification is God’s legal
declaration that those who have __________ the sacrifice of
__________ as their __________ are no longer under the __________
of the broken law. . . justification is __________ __________
undeserved. p 42.
2. How are people justified? People are totally justified by __________,
defined as God’s __________ favor. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. p 43.
3. What part does our faith play in the justification process? Faith is
__________ hold of __________, God’s unmerited forgiveness in
Christ. p 43.
4. We only need justification once. True or False. p 43.
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WEEK THREE
5. Open your Bible to read Matthew 16:24-25. What does “deny
himself” and “loses his life for my sake” mean? “Crucifixion is a
brutal term that implies the death of __________-__________
living—living that has __________-__________ or SIN at its very
core.” p 44.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. Find the four events that take place in a person’s life when he/she is
justified?
a. __________-__________ or death to the old way of life. p 44.
b. Justified Christians are also __________, born from above,
resurrected to a new way of thinking and living based on God’s
LAW. p 44.
c. A third event pictured as taking place at the time of initial
justification is __________. p 45.
d. A fourth event that takes place simultaneously with initial
justification is __________—__________ into the family of
God. p 45.
7. What does sanctification mean? . . . the very meaning of
sanctification is “to be set __________ for __________ use.” p 46.
8. Getting instantaneously set apart for holy use makes us
instantaneously holy or totally sanctified? True or False p 47.
9. What is the three fold process of sanctification?
a. . . . we become part of the __________ people and a
__________ priesthood. p 47.
b. . . . “progressive” sanctification is what the Bible writers refer
to as __________ __________ __________. p 48.
c. The third level of sanctification might be thought of as “final”
sanctification or __________ . . . at the second coming of
Christ. p 48.
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WEEK THREE
10. Explain what “a trivialization of righteousness through a
breaking up of the righteous life into manageable blocks of
behavior” means? p 49.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
11. What’s the main problem with “trivialization” and negative
approaches to sanctification? p 49.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
12. Fill-in the blanks: Sanctification is nothing less than the
__________ by which Christians become progressively
more __________. p 49.
13. The New Testament is set against three types of works.
What are they? p 50.
a.________________________________________________
b.________________________________________________
c.________________________________________________
14. What types of works would Jesus and the Apostle Paul
approve of doing? p 50.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
15. A saved person produces good works because he or she is
alive in Christ. True or False? p 51.
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WEEK THREE
16. How does human effort fit into sanctification? p 51.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
17. Both are the work of the moment. Both are the work of a
lifetime. Both are by God’s grace. What are we talking
about? p 52.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
18. God’s purpose in the judgment is the vindication of
believers through confirmation that they are “in Christ.”
True or False? p 54.
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WEEK FOUR
Temptation Is Not TEMPTATION
1. What is the source of all individual or itemized temptations? “There is
a central __________ that stands at the very __________ of the
Christian life. That __________ is the source of all __________ or
__________ temptations.” p 57.
2. What is the essence of TEMPTATION? “Avoiding the __________.”
p 58.
3. What was Jesus’ TEMPTATION? “That TEMPTATION was for
Jesus to do His __________ thing, to live His __________ life, to
__________ His __________.” p 58.
4. Read Philippians 2:5-8. Philippians says Jesus “emptied himself” of
something. What was it he “emptied?” “. . . . part of what Jesus did
in becoming human was to strip Himself voluntarily—and
‘voluntarily’ is the key word—of the __________ and __________ of
Deity.” p 58.
5. What is implied by he [Jesus] “emptied himself?” He “. . . remained
God but voluntarily chose not to use His __________ powers on His
own __________.” p 58.
6. Read Matthew 4:3. What was really at issue for Jesus? “The real
__________ was to __________ the self-emptying of Philippians 2 by
using His divine power to __________ His __________ needs.” p 59.
7. What did “all” of Christ’s temptations center on? “All Christ’s
temptations were centered on having Him __________ up His on the
Father—to take __________ of His own __________ by becoming
‘unemptied.’” p 60.
8. What was also related to Christ’s temptations? “Closely related to
that issue was the __________ to follow His own __________ rather
than following the __________ of the __________, especially as
God’s will led to humbling Himself and becoming ‘obedient unto
__________, even death on a __________’ (Phil. 2:8).” p 60.
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WEEK FOUR
9. What where the two aspects of Jesus’ TEMPTATION on the cross?
“On the cross itself, Jesus faced the combined force of the two aspects
of His TEMPTATION: to do His own __________ by coming down
from the __________ and to use His __________ for His __________
benefit.” p 61.
10. What is our core TEMPTATION? “The crucifixion of
the __________-__________, __________ self stands at the
very __________ of Christianity.” p 63.
11. What is the gospel call for the self-centered life? “The
gospel call is for __________ and __________ rather than a
__________ improvement of the self-centered life (Rom.
12:1, 2).” p 64.
12. Do Christians give up their wills and become automatons in
the hands of God?
“. . . Christians do __________ give up their __________. They do
__________ become __________ putty in the hands of an omnipotent
God. Rather, they __________ over their __________ to the
__________ power of God.” p 65.
13. If coming to Jesus for __________ and regeneration can be
viewed as initial crucifixion, then the __________ life
should be seen as living the __________ of the cross. True
or False? p 65.
14. Like Jesus in His TEMPTATION, we also have __________ will
and the power of __________. Just as Jesus could have chosen to
__________ the plan of salvation by __________ going to the
__________, so __________ we. True or False? p 66.
15. The basic human problem is __________—to avoid the __________,
to avoid the Christ __________, to avoid being __________ in Jesus,
to choose the life of __________-__________ rebellion over the life
of __________. True or False? p 67.
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WEEK FIVE
Perfect but Not Yet PERFECT
Sinless but Not Yet SINLESS
1. The only thing one can conclude from the __________ is that
__________ must be __________, or its writers would not have urged
it upon believers. True or False? p 69.
2. Does “Perfection” have more than one meaning? “Marvin Moore
correctly notes that ‘in one sense, we are perfect in Jesus the
__________ we __________ Him as our Saviour, because His
righteousness covers our sins.’ In addition, however, ‘__________
perfection __________ during one’s __________.’” p 69-70.
3. It is crucial to note that __________ as it relates to justification is
__________ what the Bible is talking about in such texts as Matthew
5:48, Hebrews 6:1, and Ephesians 4:12, 13 . . . True or False? p 70.
4. “In seeking to determine the __________ meaning of perfection, we
need to let the __________ of the passage using the word be the
__________ of it s meaning.
p 72-73.
a. Read Matthew 5:43-48. What is Jesus asking us to do in v 44?
Why [see v 45]?
____________________________________________________.
b. Read the parallel passage found in Luke 6:27-36.
Jesus commands us to:
“Be __________, just as your __________ is merciful. Luke
6:36. “Merciful” means to see how another person sees and to
feel what he/she is experiencing. Then we are to act on their
behalf just as our Lord did for us. See Romans 5:6, 8, 10. p 73.
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WEEK FIVE
c. In the parable of the rich young ruler, what pathway did Jesus
say to take if he really desired to be perfect? Read Matthew
19:21. p 73-74.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
5. What is perfection and what is it not? “The __________ of perfection
is __________ refraining from certain things and actions but of
performing loving actions while in relationship to Christ. Perfection is
reflected in daily living that demonstrates Christ-like love toward both
other people and God.” p 74.
Write your own definition of “perfection?”
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________.
6. What does the Greek word “teleios,” which is translated “perfection,”
mean? “The meaning of teleios is not ‘sinless’ but ‘__________.’
Christ could therefore say to the rich young ruler that if he wanted to
be perfect __________, he must be totally __________ to God
(Matthew 19:21). p 75.
7. Read Hebrews 5:13-6:1. Who is “solid food” for in verse 14? “. . .
solid food is for the __________ [teleios] . . .” p 75.
8. The picture in 1 John is the contrast between those who have an
attitude of __________ toward God and live in __________ SIN as a
way of life (i.e., have a SIN orientation rather that a FAITH
orientation) and those who commit sins that they __________ of as
they turn to the Mediator for __________ and cleansing. True or
False? p 78.
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WEEK FIVE
9. Those in this second group [of the question above] are defined by
John as being __________, even though they still __________ acts of
sin for which they need to be forgiven. True or False? p 79.
10. What’s the difference between the “already-perfect” and the
“not-yet-perfect” status? “The ‘already-perfect’ state refers
to the Philippians’ __________ of __________ and
___________ to Christ, while the ‘not-yet-perfect’ status
suggests that Paul and his church were in a __________ of
__________ and __________ in their perfection.” p 79.
11. Absolute sinlessness, when one begins to think about it, is a
rather far-reaching state of being. Those who so glibly
__________ it of themselves and others usually __________
sin as merely avoiding __________ acts of rebellion against
God. But sin also includes __________ acts of acts of
__________. True or False? p 80.
12. Paul’s dichotomy between being __________ perfect but
__________ __________ __________ (Phil. 3:9-15) and
John’s division between being __________ but __________
__________ __________ (1 John 3:9; 1:8-2:1; compare
Rom. 6, 7) must be seen in terms of perfection of
__________ versus perfection of __________. True or
False? p 81.
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WEEK FIVE
I USED TO BE PERFECT READER’S GUIDE
WEEK SIX
I Used to Be Perfect
Before you read the chapter:
Chapter 6 is essentially George Knight’s God-story of how he came to a
personal relationship with Jesus. His desire to be “perfect” leads him along
pathways filled with deceptive pitfalls that some of us have visited in our
own faith-journeys. Knight’s conversion is thrilling when he trades-in his
“self-centered” perfection for the gift of Christ’s love and his perfection. As
you read, you’ll realize that Chapter 6 is an illustration of the previous 5
chapters. Take time to reflect upon your faith-journey as you accompany
George Knight through his ruckus experience of coming to trust Jesus as his
Savior.
1. The Adventist approach to being __________ really starts in the book
of Revelation in the great texts in which __________ have seen
themselves and their movement pictured. p 86.
a. Revelation 12:17: “. . . those who obey God’s __________ . . .”
(NIV)
b. Revelation 14:12: “. . . who __________ God’s commandments
. . .” (NIV)
2. As a result, Adventists became the “__________ commandment”
people, focusing not only on __________ commandments but on the
commandments of __________ as well. True or False? p 87.
3. Describe the perfect people George Knight has known?
a. The lady who is very satisfied with herself because she has gotten
the victory over __________. p 89.
b. The local elder who takes communion to shut-ins but will not
partake with them because that would be __________ between
meals. p 89.
c. The saint who was injured but wouldn’t heal properly after six
weeks because of her dietary __________ of “health reform.”
“Ellen White labeled such dedication in her day as ‘health
__________.’ p 90.
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WEEK SIX
4. What is the “paradox of my perfection” Knight writes about? “The
paradox of my perfection was that the more I thought
about my __________, the more __________-__________ I
became.” p 91.
5. Why does Knight says, “In my route to perfectly reproducing
the character of Christ, I had more closely mirrored the
character of the devil.”? p 91.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. Unfortunately, there is a way of perfection that leads to the very
__________-__________ of __________ itself. True or False? p 92.
7. Fill-in the blanks of God’s message to Knight. “George, you’ve been
an __________, but you haven’t been a __________. You’ve known
all the __________, but you haven’t known __________.” p 92.
8. Too often, we’ve done violence to both the writings of Ellen White
and the Bible. One way we do this is by not reading statements in
context. True or False? p 93.
9. What does, “When the character of Christ shall be perfectly
reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His
own.” mean? “Perfectly reproducing the __________ of Christ is
reflecting His __________. The character of Christ centers in the
caring relationship.” p 94.
10. True Christianity is a religion that frees us from
preoccupation with __________ and __________ to earn
our salvation so that we can truly __________ our
neighbor, our God, our brother, our wife, our husband, our
children, and so on. True or False? p 94.
11. Read Matthew 5:48. “Jesus is telling us that we are to be
perfect or __________ in __________ to others even as our
‘heavenly Father is perfect’ in His __________ to us. p 94.
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WEEK SIX
12. Christianity is not what we don’t do. No one will ever be
saved by what he or she avoided. Read Matthew 25:31-46.
Those who “go away to eternal punishment” are surprised
claiming never to have seen the Lord in need (v 44). “The
expression of __________ love to those whom __________
loves is the great criteria in the great final __________.” p
96.
13. __________ is not only the one point on which the
judgment turns; it is also the point by which Jesus
__________ His disciples. (John 13:35) p 97.
14. When Adventists have both __________ in their
__________ and __________ of __________, they will not
only have the truth with a small t (that is, doctrinal truth),
but they’ll have __________ with a capital T (the Lord of
Truth). True or False? p 98.
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WEEK SIX
I USED TO BE PERFECT READER’S GUIDE
Date
Person
Prayer Request
a
PRAYER & PRAISE
Praise Report
I USED TO BE PERFECT READER’S GUIDE
Date
Person
Prayer Request
b
PRAYER & PRAISE
Praise Report
I USED TO BE PERFECT READER’S GUIDE
CALENDAR
Healthy groups share responsibilities and group ownership. It might take some time for
this develop. Shared ownership ensures that no one person or couple has to bear all the
responsibilities for the group. Use the calendar to keep track of social events, mission
projects, birthdays or days off. Complete the calendar at your first or second meeting.
Planning ahead will increase attendance and shared ownership.
Date
Session
Location
c
Facilitator
Snack or meal