1. What's the only way for a "chamber pot" to be cleansed and transformed? What Scripture verses has God used in your life that speak of the work He has done in cleaning up your filthy character traits?
According to the author, the only way for a "chamber pot" to be cleansed and transformed is through what he calls "divine grace." In other words, God is all powerful and can do what he wills, and that includes transforming "chamber pots" into cookie jars. This is what makes it divine. What makes it grace is that there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to affect this transformation.
[Col 3:1-10 KJV] 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
[Psa 51:10-12 KJV] 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.
[Psa 1:1-5 KJV] 1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
2. What are some of your "chamber pot" character traits? What "chamber pot" character traits would others say you have? Consider going to someone that you can be accountable to and ask them what "chamber pot" character traits they see in you. Now don't be easily offended when they answer you.
See Colosians 3. Others might see me as lazy, a glutton, impatient, rude, inconsiderate, unreliable, and a whole host more of things. One of my biggest "chamber pot" characteristics is that I don't handle criticism well. I'm not about to ask someone "What flaws do you see in me" because it will take me weeks to get over feeling hurt. I TRY not to get offended, I really do. BUT I have always been extremely sensitive. I have a thin skin.
3. In what ways have your "chamber pot" character traits affected those closest to you? What "chamber pot" character traits have changed?
My children suffer from my impatience. I'm certain they see me as the mama who always yells. My husband hides things from me for fear that I will have a nervous break down. My selfishness has hurt my mother to a point where, while our relationship is fairly good, it's been damaged in ways that will never fully heal.
I know that God is working in me, but it's not easy to list traits that have changed as I haven't been keeping track. God has humbled me and freed me from a pride I didn't know I had.
Group Questions
1. Can non-Christians have a Godly character? Discuss various verses that relate to the question.
[Job 15:14-16 KJV] 14 What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 16 How much more abominable and filthy [is] man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
[Isa 64:5-7 KJV] 5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7 And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
[Jhn 8:44 KJV] 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
[Rom 8:6-8 KJV] 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[Gal 5:19-21 KJV] 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[Eph 2:1-3 KJV] 1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
[1Pe 1:14-16 KJV] 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Non-Christians can not have Godly character.
2. What is the difference between a Godly character and a noble character that non-Christians can have?
Godly character lasts, but noble character is temporary or only on the surface.
3. Discuss why "positive thinking, self-help teaching and motivational preaching" is powerless to change the spiritual condition of a person. Discuss some of the verses in God's word that address how we are saved and how our character is transformed.
Positive thinking, self-help teaching and motivational preaching only treat the symptoms, not the disease. Unless sin is addressed and routed up, the things that kill joy, peace, and the other fruits of the spirit will spring up in other forms to kill spirit fruit full force.
[Act 18:27 KJV] 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
[Rom 11:5-6 KJV] 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
[Eph 2:4-10 KJV] 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[2Pe 1:2, 4-11 KJV] 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ... 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
According to the author, the only way for a "chamber pot" to be cleansed and transformed is through what he calls "divine grace." In other words, God is all powerful and can do what he wills, and that includes transforming "chamber pots" into cookie jars. This is what makes it divine. What makes it grace is that there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to affect this transformation.
[Col 3:1-10 KJV] 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
[Psa 51:10-12 KJV] 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.
[Psa 1:1-5 KJV] 1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
2. What are some of your "chamber pot" character traits? What "chamber pot" character traits would others say you have? Consider going to someone that you can be accountable to and ask them what "chamber pot" character traits they see in you. Now don't be easily offended when they answer you.
See Colosians 3. Others might see me as lazy, a glutton, impatient, rude, inconsiderate, unreliable, and a whole host more of things. One of my biggest "chamber pot" characteristics is that I don't handle criticism well. I'm not about to ask someone "What flaws do you see in me" because it will take me weeks to get over feeling hurt. I TRY not to get offended, I really do. BUT I have always been extremely sensitive. I have a thin skin.
3. In what ways have your "chamber pot" character traits affected those closest to you? What "chamber pot" character traits have changed?
My children suffer from my impatience. I'm certain they see me as the mama who always yells. My husband hides things from me for fear that I will have a nervous break down. My selfishness has hurt my mother to a point where, while our relationship is fairly good, it's been damaged in ways that will never fully heal.
I know that God is working in me, but it's not easy to list traits that have changed as I haven't been keeping track. God has humbled me and freed me from a pride I didn't know I had.
Group Questions
1. Can non-Christians have a Godly character? Discuss various verses that relate to the question.
[Job 15:14-16 KJV] 14 What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 16 How much more abominable and filthy [is] man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
[Isa 64:5-7 KJV] 5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7 And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
[Jhn 8:44 KJV] 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
[Rom 8:6-8 KJV] 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[Gal 5:19-21 KJV] 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[Eph 2:1-3 KJV] 1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
[1Pe 1:14-16 KJV] 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Non-Christians can not have Godly character.
2. What is the difference between a Godly character and a noble character that non-Christians can have?
Godly character lasts, but noble character is temporary or only on the surface.
3. Discuss why "positive thinking, self-help teaching and motivational preaching" is powerless to change the spiritual condition of a person. Discuss some of the verses in God's word that address how we are saved and how our character is transformed.
Positive thinking, self-help teaching and motivational preaching only treat the symptoms, not the disease. Unless sin is addressed and routed up, the things that kill joy, peace, and the other fruits of the spirit will spring up in other forms to kill spirit fruit full force.
[Act 18:27 KJV] 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
[Rom 11:5-6 KJV] 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
[Eph 2:4-10 KJV] 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[2Pe 1:2, 4-11 KJV] 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ... 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
