Freedom Semester
February to May 2025

Download or print the free electronic version of the guide to follow along in this semester. A hard copy of the book is also available for purchase at the merch table in the lobby. It can also be purchased on Amazon.

PARTICIPANT GUIDE JOIN A GROUP
Week 2

OVERVIEW

  • Tree of Life
    Freedom, Grace, Eternal life, God is good, God is forgiving
  • Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
    Bondage, The Law, Leads to death, God is only a judge, We are condemned

After consuming the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and Eve hid, but God came looking for them. God is in love with sinful man and sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue people.

Truths about the Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil:

  • The fruit is knowledge. It is not wrong to have knowledge, but we must evaluate our motives to obtain it. Are we wanting to exalt ourselves or gain God’s wisdom and understanding? Using godly
    wisdom allows us to become more like God as we emulate Him. Worldly wisdom leads us to sin, which alienates us from God.
  • The fruit is deadly. The desire to know is in direct opposition to the desire to trust. Adam and Eve didn’t die physically but died spiritually upon consuming the fruit.
  • The fruit is consumed. Ideas are ingested in our minds and then sin is conceived. The first sin came about when Eve talked to Adam about it. Through a conversation, they consumed the idea and began to process it. This progression tells us that sin does not begin with the act, it begins in our minds.
  • The fruit causes separation. God didn’t separate Himself from Adam and Eve; instead, they hid from Him after consuming the fruit. God searched for them because He loved them. When we see His heart for us, we will run to Him instead of hiding from Him when we sin. We must get to the point where no matter what has happened in our lives, we take responsibility for our own lives. We can no longer blame anyone else for the quality of our relationship with God.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil produces shame and victimization. Shame causes us to separate ourselves from God. Victimization causes us to blame others, displacing our responsibility for the condition of our lives and souls.

DISCUSSION

Q. Application from Week 1: Share examples of ways you acted and reacted out of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil throughout the previous week.

Q. Are there things in your past that have caused you to want to hide from God?

Q. Have you used knowledge of God as a basis of your relationship with Him?

Q. What are some ways that you might have gotten caught up in religion and the Law versus the freedom and grace that result from a relationship with God?

Q. Have you ever been overcome by shame? The way to overcome shame is to start seeing ourselves the way God sees us. Throughout the semester, we will cover ways to align our perspectives with God’s and to let Him move in our hearts.

APPLICATION

The lesson for Week 3 goes more in depth on the Tree of Life. Over the next week, pay attention over how you might be acting and reacting based on Tree of Life thinking, and come prepared to share some examples next week.

PRAYER FOCUS

  • Pray that any incorrect views of God will be revealed and that you will be able to see Him as a loving Father who is searching for you.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in which you have operated out of shame and victimization.
Week 2 Guide Week 3 Guide

Freedom FAQ's

Freedom is a 2-part experience that utilizes a small group curriculum designed by Chris Hodges. This course is built on the foundation of your faith in Christ to help you embrace the truth of God’s Word as it relates to your worldview, your past, your sin, your personal value to God, and your purpose in His Kingdom. This group will help you remove every obstacle to intimacy with God and walk in true freedom.

Freedom serves as reset on how we view ourselves, God and others, and ultimately how we are to live our lives in Christ. To settle your yesterdays so you can fulfill all that God has for you.

Ending with the Freedom Conference is an integral part designed to build on the concepts of the group study through the Word, corporate worship, and one-on-one prayer to bring greater levels of revelation, healing, and abundant life.

We encourage everyone who calls BeLoved City Church home to participate in a City Group. No matter where you're at in your faith journey, whether new to faith or a long-time Christian, come grow in Freedom together.

Freedom is not to designed to address a specific issue such as substance abuse but helps affirm our identity in Christ. A Freedom City Group may be beneficial to someone in recovery but it would not replace a recovery group.

Next Steps

Our heart for you in taking a "Next Step" is to help you grow in becoming more and more like Jesus.

  • Invite. Everyone is only one invitation away from coming to church with you. We are here to reach 1% of our city. Take a step, be bold, bring someone to church with you Sunday.
  • Invest. Investing financially at BeLoved helps us to stay on mission. You can find the best way to give at belovedchurch.ca/give Take a step, start your faithful practice of tithes and offering.
  • Discover. Embark on the journey at belovedchurch.ca/grow Take a step and invest into your discipleship journey at BeLoved.
  • Serve. Jesus came to serve rather than to be served. Love on others like Jesus by jumping on a team and serving on the weekend at BeLoved. Help move God's great Church forward.
  • Get baptized. Congratulations! Take a step to "Go ALL IN for Jesus." Register online at belovedchurch.ca/baptism