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Bible study guide A Bible Study that coordinates with the chapters of Gwen Smith’s book Broken Into Beautiful. Great for either group or individual study. Broken into Beautiful Gwen Smith Broken Into Beautiful 5 Week Book and Bible Study by Gwen Smith WEEK ONE READ chapters 1 and 2 of Broken into Beautiful. Verse of the Week “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Psalm 34:5 “Our hope has never been about what we have done; it’s about what CHRIST has done.” CHAPTER 1 FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE: On page 15, I shared of my abortion, "God wasn’t consulted. He wasn’t invited into our decision." How often do you forget or neglect to seek God’s will when you make decisions? Are you prone to lean on your own understanding or His? It doesn't have to be a major situation. Do you seek His counsel when deciding where to spend your money? Your time? Your talents? Regardless of how we come upon our difficult circumstances, whether they are brought on by our sin, the sin of another, or simply a life challenge - if we start by turning to God for help in our everyday living, it becomes easier to turn to Him when we face the dire. Are there any areas in your life that God is not being consulted on? Any places you have been resistant to listening to His still small voice? What would it look like if you began to invite Him into those areas and decisions? 3 WEEK ONE The first step toward giving your circumstances and choices to God is through prayer. WRITE a prayer below and surrender your choices to Him. Jeremiah 33:3 reminds us that God will answer when we call on His Name. Psalm 23:3 assures us that He will lead us into the path of righteousness. {Write out Jeremiah 33:3 and Psalm 23:3, then pray through them.} Jeremiah 33:3 Psalm 23:3 4 WEEK ONE "The guilt, pain, and shame of our pasts tell us we are disqualified to move on,to serve G od, to be free, and to know peace... Though you may have gone through a season of hurt, rejection, or pain, G od can and will pick you up and place you back on track." FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE: On page 16 I wrote, "A secret kept because I mistakenly assumed that no one else could handle the ugly truth of my sinfulness with grace and forgiveness." It's true. There are many of our brothers and sisters in Christ {ourselves included} who are blinded by the judgment of this world. God has something else to say. His is a message of conviction, repentance, redemption, and grace, not one of con- demnation. It's the Father of Lies who convinces us that silence is the proper course and that if we were to air our dirty laundry we will be shunned not only by our Christian friends, but by God Himself. Romans 8:1, assures us that in Christ (once we confess our sin) there is NO con- demnation. If Jesus does not condemn someone who has confessed their sins, why in the world would we? Grab your journal and write out the full verse of Romans 8:1 in the ESV translation and The Message paraphrase. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1, ESV "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud." Romans 8:1, MSG 5 WEEK ONE Back when I was overwhelmed by that low-lying, black cloud of my biggest secret (and self-hatred for my choices) I struggled to think I could ever be free of the shame. I didn't want to forgive myself, and I surely didn't think alone anyone else could handle my mess. But GOD's plan is different. Full of GRACE for each heart that believes on Jesus and calls on Him for forgiveness. Where do you find yourself with the shame of your past? Are you FREE in Christ? Have you FORGIVEN yourself? If YES - pause to give Him thanks. If NO - are you ready for a fresh start with GOD? If so, write a prayer in the spaces below. Confess your sin. Talk to God and apologize. Ask Him to forgive you. Then believe that He will. He loves you and His grace is sufficient for you. No matter where you've been or what you've done. What would happen if we, as followers of Christ, listened with open hearts and responded with His love and compassion? Do you stand in judgment and condemnation of others? (Be honest with yourself.) For those who are restored in the grace of Christ - repentant and redeemed - should there be condemnation from any other believer for past failures? How should or could this affect you or someone you love? READ and reflect on Romans 8:31-39. 6 WEEK ONE CHAPTER 2 “G od wants every one of us to experience healing and have an appropriate sense of self-worth. Your worth has nothing to do with your feelings.” READ Ephesians 4. {Yes... the whole chapter.} WRITE out the verses from Ephesians 4 that challenge you most on the lines below. Consider how the LORD might want to move in and through you to impact others, then WRITE a PRAYER in response to the text of Ephesians 4. 7 WEEK ONE “Only G od has the right to define you, and when you are in Christ, you are perfectly beautiful in His righteousness… not broken.” FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE "God is inescapable. He loves you and He sees you. He is available to help you face trials with a courage that is firmly rooted in His strength and power so others might be drawn to Him and know His grace." (p. 28, Broken into Beautiful) READ Psalm 139. Underline or highlight any verses or phrases that you connect deeply with, then WRITE them in the space below. {Above & beyond challenge: tweet, post or Instagram them! #brokenintobeautiful} PERSONALIZE the following PRAYER that uses the request directives from Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, Oh God, and know my heart when it comes to _________________________________ . Test me and try me - and know my anxious thoughts concerning _________________________ . Lord, show me where there are offensive ways in me. I need direction with __________________________. Please lead me in the way I should go? In Jesus’ name, amen. 8 WEEK ONE WRITE and personalize a one-sentence summary that features your main takeaway from each of this week's chapters. CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY: CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY: FILL IN THE BLANKS on the Verse of the Week: “Those who ___________ to ____________ are _______________; their faces are ____________________ covered with _______________.” {Psalm ____:5} KEY VERSES “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9 "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1, NLT “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 Heavenly Father, Thank You for seeing me - even in the times when I feel forgotten and invisible. Your Word says that You know my name and consider me precious. Please speak that to my soul right now. (Pause here to listen…) I love You, Lord. Guide me in Your ways today and help me to live out Your grace. In J esus’ name, Amen. 9 WEEK TWO READ chapters 3 and 4 of Broken into Beautiful. Verse of the Week “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 "Subtle choices such as resentment, laziness, gossip, selfishness, unforgiveness, self-indulgence, pride, and uncontrolled anger (among other things) can diminish the shin on our souls and keep us from G od’s best." CHAPTER 3 FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE: "If you have confessed your sins to the Lord, I beg you: Do not be held captive by guilt and shame any longer!" {Broken into Beautiful, p. 44} As you read in chapter 3, my son Hunter and I had us a red-lipstick-situation when he was just a little. Ever have one of those? We went on to talk about the red lipsticks in our lives that we try to hide from God. You know - those choices, habits, relationships, addictions and rebellious ways that we try to pretend don't offend God or reject His holy ways. Consider what red lipstick you might be hiding behind your back. WRITE about it. 10 WEEK TWO CONFESS anything that needs to be confessed. {Take this seriously! Get with God about what you need to get with GOD about.} WRITE your red lipstick on an index card, if you are near a body of water use a stone instead. PRAY over the lipstick you try to hide, thanking God for His forgiveness. TEAR the card up and burn it (safely). If you used a stone, throw it into the water. Be FREE. Move forward in His grace. Don't be held captive by guilt and shame. That's what Jesus died for. For your forgiveness. Your FREEDOM.

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