Sola Gratia #3 - Converted by Grace
2 Corinthians 5:17
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Part of Sola Gratia—March 2 - April 13, 2025
March 13, 2025

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Message Notes and Group Study Guide

Date: March 15-16, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Series: Sola Gratia
Message: #3 - Converted by Grace

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Scripture

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! —2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. —John 3:14-15 (NIV)

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. —Acts 20:21 (NIV)

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. —Luke 8:11-15 (NIV)

Notes

Study Guide

Step One: Icebreaker (Optional)
What’s something that you’ve changed your mind about? What led to that change?

Step Two: Prayer and Scripture Reading
Ask someone in your group to pray to open your time together. Ask another person to read 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Step Three: Discuss

  1. Weekend Message: What was most challenging, encouraging, confusing, or stood out most to you?

  2. Series Recap: For those that have had the opportunity to watch previous weeks, what is something that has stuck with you through this series? Considering last week, how might you describe what it means to be regenerated?

  3. Conversion Evidence: What might be some initial signs that someone has been converted to Christ? What should be the long-term signs that someone has been converted to Christ?

  4. Personal Experience: For those who consider themselves Christ followers, what changed when you converted? For those who struggle with faith, what might be some common hurdles for conversion?

  5. New Creation: In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul refers to Christian converts as a “new creation.” What might it mean to be a new creation? How might/should that impact a person’s identity and purpose?

  6. Relating With Others: How does this topic impact your relationship toward others? What might it look like to try and convert someone in a way that demonstrates love?

Step Four: Close in Prayer
Ask someone in your group to close in prayer, focusing on specific requests for people to find and follow Jesus.