The Wheel (2)

Step Fourteen “The Wheel.” Opposite this is the spoke that represents Prayer. Through prayer you can talk with your Hea...

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Step Fourteen “The Wheel.”

Opposite this is the spoke that represents Prayer. Through prayer you can talk with your Heavenly Father and receive God’s answer to your needs. As you pray, you show your hope and trust in Him (Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6-7; John 15:7). “The Wheel” picture shows six important parts of a “balanced” and successful Christian life. Jesus Christ is in the center. Just as the driving force in a wheel comes from the hub, or center, so the power for a believer comes from Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, whose purpose is to praise Christ, lives in you (Galatians 2:20; John 15:5; Colossians 1:27).

The horizontal spokes are about your connections with people—believers, through Christian fellowship; and unbelievers, through witnessing. Fellowship centered around Jesus as Lord provides the mutual support, challenge, and love everyone needs (Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 1:3).

The rim shows the Obedient Christian in Action. When Jesus is really at the center of your life, you will love and obey Him everyday (John 14:21; Romans 12:1-2; Luke 6:46).

The first three spokes prepare you for passing on to others all that you have received from the Lord. This is done through Witnessing. Witnessing is sharing Jesus, telling about your own life with Christ, and explaining the Gospel, God’s “good news” of how Jesus saved us from our sins (Matthew 4:19; Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 3:15).

The spokes show the means by which Christ’s power becomes active in your life. We maintain our personal connection with God through the vertical spokes—the Word and prayer. The Word is your spiritual food, as well as your sword for spiritual battle. It is the main spoke for successful living in Christ (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Joshua 1:8).

© 2002 Operation Starting Line. All rights reserved.

Keep Growing By: Reviewing “The Wheel” picture. Reading daily in the Gospel of Mark. Memorizing John 15:5 (Growth from Christ as Center).

© 2002 Operation Starting Line. All rights reserved.

Step Fourteen “The Wheel” Illustration A. The Goal To summarize some of the important aspects of Christian living, using “The Wheel” illustration. B. Materials Needed • “The Wheel” illustration • John 15:5 verse cards • Pencils or pens • Bibles C. Key Verse John 15:5 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.” (Growth from Christ as Center) D. Tips and Suggestions During the last session, you worked on writing your personal stories of how each person decided to follow Jesus. After “catching up” with one another for a few minutes, take some time to listen to one another’s story. Do you have any suggestions for each other? Did anyone have the opportunity to tell their story with anyone? If so, what was the response? You may want to pray together for a few minutes, thanking God for opportunities to tell the stories to others, praying by name for the people who have heard the stories, and asking God to give new opportunities to share Jesus with those who don’t yet know Him. Possible Opener: “Now, let’s look at an illustration that has been used for more than 60 years to explain some of the important aspects of living a ‘balanced’ and effective life as a follower of Jesus.” 1. The Wheel Illustration Give a copy of “The Wheel” illustration to each person. (As always, have pencils or pen on hand.) You will notice that the front side of the page does not show the parts of “The Wheel” filled in. As you read through each paragraph, stop and let the group members fill in the appropriate item. Three Bible references are given for each part of “The Wheel.” Look up the verses and read them as you continue through the illustration. Jesus Christ the Center: Galatians 2:20; John 15: 5; and Colossians 1:27 The Obedient Christian in Action: John 14:21; Romans 12:1–2; and Luke 6:46 The Word: 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; and Joshua 1:8 Prayer: Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6–7; and John 15:7 Fellowship: Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:24–25; and 1 John 1:3 Witnessing: Matthew 4:19; Romans 1:16; and 1 Peter 3:15 Continue to fill out the remainder of “The Wheel” illustration. As you read the paragraphs and turn the page over, the group members will see the completed illustration. Ask the group if they have any other ideas about how the Christian life is

© 2002 Operation Starting Line. All rights reserved.

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similar to a wheel. Some possible ideas that may come up: • “ To be useful, a wheel should be in motion.” • “Many vehicles have a number of wheels that turn together.” • “Wheels should be connected with one another at the center.” • “As a wheel turns, the rim makes contact with the ground and makes an impression on the surface it travels on.” • “When the wheel is turning, people don’t see the individual spokes, only the center (the hub) and the rim.” 2. An imbalanced wheel Draw a wheel that has different-length spokes (similar to the picture at the right). If the spokes are not balanced, what kind of impression will this wheel make as it travels? Is it possible for Christians to have some of their “spokes” out of balance? What would they be like? 3. A wheel with a missing spoke Draw a wheel with a missing spoke (similar to the diagram at the left). If a spoke is missing, what will happen to the wheel as it travels? Is it possible for Christians to have a “missing spoke?” What would they be like? You may not want to go into such detail about the imbalanced wheel or the wheel with the missing spoke. What is important, however, is to give each member of your group the opportunity to evaluate their “hubs,” “rims,” and “spokes.” Each person can ask questions, such as: • “Is Jesus really the center of my life?” • “Am I being obedient to God?” • “Am I talking with God regularly about my concerns?” • “Am I spending time with God in His Word?” • “Am I meeting regularly with other Christians?” • “Am I sharing my faith with those who don’t know God personally?” They might try to draw a wheel that represents their own life. 4. The “Keep Growing By” section Ask the group to review “The Wheel” illustration during the coming week. The reading continues in the Gospel of Mark. If they have finished Mark, they can continue in Matthew, Luke, or John. The memory verse is John 15:5 (Growth from Christ as Center).

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© 2002 Operation Starting Line. All rights reserved.

14A Growth from Christ as Center

CEV

Growth from Christ as Center

CEV

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

Growth from Christ as Center

Growth from Christ as Center

CEV

CEV

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

Growth from Christ as Center

Growth from Christ as Center

CEV

CEV

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

Growth from Christ as Center

Growth from Christ as Center

CEV

CEV

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

Growth from Christ as Center

Growth from Christ as Center

CEV

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

CEV

John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. —John 15:5

14B Growth from Christ as Center

NIV

Growth from Christ as Center

NIV

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

Growth from Christ as Center

Growth from Christ as Center

NIV

NIV

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

Growth from Christ as Center

Growth from Christ as Center

NIV

NIV

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

Growth from Christ as Center

Growth from Christ as Center

NIV

NIV

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

Growth from Christ as Center

Growth from Christ as Center

NIV

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

NIV

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5