Our Savior's Church - Lafayette
Discussion Guide

The Testing of Testing

Pastor Joseph Aranza
|
May 18, 2025

Main Idea

The central theme of Pastor Joseph's sermon was the transformative power of Jesus' resurrection. He conveyed to us that our spiritual death, a consequence of original sin, has been overcome by Jesus' sinless life and resurrection. This victory allows us to be reborn and live a life free from the bondage of sin, fear, guilt, and shame. Pastor Joseph stressed that accepting Jesus into our hearts brings about a spiritual resurrection, enabling us to fulfill our true purpose and live in communion with God. He also highlighted that this transformation is not just historical but continues to happen in the lives of individuals today.

Scripture References

Romans 5, Luke 24

How does understanding our spiritual death through Adam and Eve's sin change our perspective on the need for Jesus' resurrection?

When we sin, fear, guilt, and shame serve as internal alarms, reminding us that we are not living in the fullness of our creation.

In what ways have you experienced freedom from fear, guilt, and shame since inviting Jesus into your life?

Discussion Questions:

How can we practically live out the victory over sin that Jesus' resurrection provides us?

What does being 'spiritually reborn' mean to you, and how has it impacted your daily life?

How can we use personal stories of transformation to encourage others to seek a relationship with Jesus?

Jesus' resurrection is not just a historical event; it's a present reality that continues to raise us from spiritual death to life.

Summary

Pastor Joseph shared a powerful message with us at Our Savior's Church - Lafayette, titled 'The Testing of Testing.' He reminded us that since the fall of man, we've been plagued by fear, guilt, and shame, signaling that we're not living as we were meant to. He explained that through Adam and Eve's sin, we died spiritually, but Jesus' perfect life and sacrificial death broke the power of sin, offering us a chance to be spiritually reborn. Pastor Joseph emphasized that Jesus' resurrection means we can live free from the fear of death and have eternal life through faith in Christ. He also shared personal stories of transformation, illustrating the ongoing impact of Jesus' resurrection in our lives today.

Call to Action

Some next steps to take this week:

Reflect on areas of your life where fear, guilt, or shame may be holding you back, and invite Jesus to bring healing and freedom.

Share your own story of transformation with someone who might be struggling, to offer hope and demonstrate the power of faith in Jesus.

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