CSMN > Resources > Bible studies > Freedom in Christ

Freedom in Christ Course

The course was designed for Christians.
Here are the history and the materials of the Freedom in Christ Course.
This is the 2017 version of the course, which is not yet available in Chinese. However, here is the 2009 version of the participants guide in Chinese.
If you are a Bible teacher that wants to present the course without the DVD's you can download the Leader's Guides and PowerPoints here.
Notice here how to prepare for the course as a participant.
Sometimes participants are not able to install the FiC Course app on their smartphone. Then they are not able to read the Daily Nuggets and the Devotions. Here are the  Daily Nuggets and the Devotions that we provide for those participants.
Introduction - Why believe the Bible 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
  • Group introduction (if necessary).
  • Read out loud John 8: 32-36 (NIV). Jesus speaks about setting us free. Discuss the questions: 1) Free from what? 2) What is the opposite of "freedom"? 
  • Watch from DVD 1 "Introducing the presenters" (also available on the app), 15 minutes.
  • Watch from DVD 1 "Introduction: Why believe the Bible", 5 minutes
  • Split in smaller groups (breakout rooms) for discussion, 6 questions
  • Sing Come closer (lyrics), music through iTunes.
  • Participants Guide in English (pdf below)
  • FIC Course app
    • App settings
    • Devotionals
    • Daily nuggets of truth. Absorb every day one of the seven daily nuggets of truth. Make this a good habit. 
  • Breakout Room for reflection and group prayer.
Part A - Key truths Jesus said that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free! In the first two sessions we look at some of the truths we need to know about what it means to be a Christian.
Session 1: Who am I? 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
  • Sing Who am I
  • Prepare for today's session by opening the FIC app, go in the menu to the Truth Encounter Lists, and hit "Who I AM in Christ". We'll use that list in this session.
  • Watch session 1 "Who am I?" from DVD 1
  • Worship That's who I am (part 1 of 4) (lyrics), music through iTunes.
  • Reflection as a group. Read the Truth Encounter List "Who am I in Christ" from the app to each other. Identify any lies that you might have believed in. Pray to renounce any lies and adopt God's truth instead.
  • Worship You say (lyrics and music) by Lauren Daigle
  • This week: read every day a nugget of truth and a devotion in the FIC app
  • Read every day in the coming week, out loud, from the FIC App the Truth Encounter List: Who I am in Christ, including the three pages: 
Session 2: Choosing to believe the truth 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
  • How did it go in the past week? 
    • Read the nuggets and devotions from the app? 
    • Have you declared out-loud: I am accepted, I am secure, and I am significant? 
    • Any answers to your prayers?
  • God's love and our worship and song Hope of the nations
  • Watch session 2 from DVD 2
  • Worship That's who I am (part 2 of 4) (lyrics), music through iTunes.
  • Work through the 20 cans of success.
  • This week: 
    • read every day a nugget of truth from the FIC app
    • read every day a devotion from the FIC app
    • repeat reading out-loud the 20 cans of success
Part B - The world, the flesh, and the devil Every day we struggle against three things that conspire to push us away from truth. Understanding how the world, the flesh, and the devil work will discourage us to renew our minds and to stand firm.
Session 3: The world's view of truth 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
  • How was your week?
  • Worship We choose life (lyrics), music through iTunes.
  • Watch session 3 from DVD 2
  • After third dvd-teaching, worship That's who I am (part 3 of 4) (lyrics), music through iTunes.
  • Do the reflection part of the discussion questions and prayer time in your group
  • This week: read every day a nugget of truth and a devotion in the FIC app
Session 4: Our daily choice 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
  • How was your week?
  • Worship Speak O Lord
  • Watch session 4 from DVD 2 
  • After third dvd-teaching, worship That's who I am (part 4 of 4) (lyrics), music through iTunes. 
  • Time of reflection and prayer in your group
  • If there is time: watch and listen to the 16-minute extra teaching by Steve Goss in the FIC app section Extra Films, called "Taking Personal Responsibility".
  • This week: 
    • read every day a nugget of truth 
    • and a devotion in the FIC app
Session 5: The battle for our minds 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
  • How was your week?
  • Sing Come to Jesus
  • Read out loud 1 John 5 verses 1-5, 10-13. Are you sure about your salvation?
  • Introduction to the video
    In the video, the expression tug of war is mentioned. This is a game in which two (groups of) people pull on either ends of a rope.
For carnal Christians the battle for our minds can be serious. 
Therefore we need to make sure that we know the truth and remain in Jesus, who is the truth (John14:6). 
Satan wants us to believe that he is equally powerful to God, which is a lie. 
In the first talk of the video, many Bible verses are quoted about Satan (which are also in the participant's guide):
  • Jesus came to destroy the devil's work, 1 John 3:8
  • Jesus called Satan the ruler of this world, John 12:31
  • Satan is also called the ruler of the kingdom of the air, Ephesians 2:2
  • The whole unbelieving world lies in Satan's power, 1 John 5:19, but we (believers) are children of God.
  • Satan cannot be at all places at the same time (not omnipresent as God is). Therefore he works with a network of evil spirits, Ephesians 6:12
  • At the cross Jesus completely disarmed Satan, Colossians 2:15, and demons are to be judged, Jude 1:6
  • We can be deceived by Satan, such as Ananias was to lie to the Holy Spirit, about selling land, Acts 5:3
  • Watch session 5 from DVD 3
  • After third dvd-teaching, worship Standing stronger (lyrics), music through iTunes. 
  • Time of reflection and prayer in your group
  • This week: read every day a nugget of truth and a devotion in the FIC app
Part C - Breaking the hold of the past God does not change our past but by His grace He enables us to walk free of it. In this section of the course we look at how we can take hold of what Christ has done for us in order to do just that. This section includes going through The Steps to Freedom in Christ.
Session 6: Handling emotions well 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
Session 7: Forgiving from the heart 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
Leading people through "Steps to forgiveness" and "The steps to freedom in Christ"
Session 8: Renewing the mind 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
  • How was your week?
  • Sing You say
  • Watch session 8 from DVD 4; after second speech (Daryl) show the Extra Film on the FIC app titled "Overcoming Temptation".
  • After third dvd-teaching, worship Butterfly (lyrics), music through iTunes.
  • Teacher: show your personal Stronghold-Buster, set in the app.
  • Reflection and prayer.
  • This week: read every day a nugget of truth and a devotion in the FIC app
Part D - Growing as disciples Haven taken hold of our freedom in Christ, we now need to concentrate on growing to maturity. In this final section we will learn the critical importance of relating well to others, and how to ensure that we stay on the path of becoming more and more like Jesus.
Session 9: Relating to others 
discussion questions English English/Chinese
Session 10: What next? 
discussion questions English English/Chinese