Men's Bible Study · aligned to Baptist
Pressing On: Entire Sanctification and the Pursuit of Holiness
God calls every believer to relentlessly pursue holiness, but Scripture pictures this as a Spirit-empowered, lifelong process we never fully complete on our own before glory—so we press on with both hope and humility.
Review & safety checks
This is a well-structured, theologically sound lesson plan for an evangelical Baptist men's group. The big idea is biblical; Scripture references are accurate and well-chosen; and the discussion/application segments are concrete and spiritually healthy. The main item to address: ensure the Wesleyan/Holiness view is presented as a charitable, external reference point rather than as a live Baptist option. The lesson already does this fairly well, but a small clarifying edit in the opening or closing would make your Baptist framework unmistakable. No plagiarism or sensitive-material concerns detected. Ready to use with that minor framing adjustment.
- Caution · TheologyTeaching segment, movement (2): 'The Holiness/Wesleyan tradition teaches...'The lesson fairly presents the Wesleyan view of entire sanctification but should clarify that this doctrine is NOT part of evangelical Baptist distinctives (per your doctrinal basis). Confirm you want this framed as 'a view some sincere Christians hold' rather than as a live option within Baptist theology, to avoid implicit endorsement of a non-Baptist view.
- Note · TheologyTeaching segment, movement (3): closing statementThe phrase 'whatever our view on timing' risks appearing to treat progressive vs. entire sanctification as equally valid Baptist positions. Your doctrinal basis (biblical authority, grace-alone salvation) aligns with progressive sanctification completed in glory. You may want to add one sentence making clear the Baptist/evangelical conviction is the primary framework for this room, while honoring other traditions.
Lesson plan
Gather the men and briefly frame the night: 'Tonight we're tackling a big question that Christians have debated for centuries—can a believer become entirely sanctified, or 'perfect,' in this life? Our goal isn't to win an argument but to take God's call to holiness seriously.' Open in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to give humility and a hunger for holiness. Acknowledge up front that godly, Bible-believing Christians have landed in different places on the timing of sanctification, and that we'll handle one another's views with charity.
Walk through three movements. (1) THE CALL IS REAL: God genuinely commands holiness—Matthew 5:48 ('Be perfect, therefore') and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (God sanctifies us through and through). Don't soften the call; God is serious about making us holy. (2) WHAT 'PERFECTION' MEANS: The Holiness/Wesleyan tradition teaches 'entire sanctification'—a work of grace, often subsequent to conversion, where love for God and neighbor fills the heart so completely that willful sin is overcome. Explain it charitably and fairly; many sincere believers find biblical warrant here, emphasizing 'perfect' as maturity and wholehearted love rather than flawless sinlessness. (3) THE BAPTIST/REFORMED-EVANGELICAL CONCERN: Scripture also presses a sober realism. Paul himself says in Philippians 3:12, 'Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on.' John warns in 1 John 1:8, 'If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.' From our Baptist convictions—biblical authority and salvation by grace—we hold that sanctification is a real, Spirit-empowered, lifelong growth that is completed only in glory, never something we finally master here. Yet 1 John 1:9 and 2 Corinthians 7:1 show God daily cleanses us and calls us to 'perfecting holiness in the fear of God.' Land the plane: whatever our view on timing, every man here is commanded to grow, given grace to grow, and warned against both complacency ('I'll always sin, so why try') and pride ('I've arrived'). The pursuit is real, the power is the Spirit's, and the finish line is Christ.
Move through the tagged discussion questions, starting with the warm-up and pushing toward application. In a medium group, consider splitting into pairs or threes for the 'dig' questions, then regathering for the 'apply' question so every man speaks.
Hand each man an index card. Ask: 'Name ONE specific area where the Spirit is calling you to grow in holiness this week—not vague self-improvement, but a concrete next step (a sin to confess, a relationship to repair, a habit to start).' Have them write it down privately, then pair up to share as much as they're comfortable with and commit to praying for each other this week. The point: holiness isn't an abstract debate but a daily, dependent, Spirit-empowered step forward.
Close by reading Philippians 3:13-14 aloud. Pray, thanking God for the grace that both saves and sanctifies, asking the Spirit to make each man holy, and committing the written cards to God. Encourage the men to text their prayer partner mid-week.
Discussion questions
- warmupWhen you hear the word 'holiness,' what's the first image or feeling that comes to mind—and is it positive or intimidating?
- digHow do you make sense of Jesus commanding us to 'be perfect' (Matthew 5:48) while Paul says he himself has not 'already obtained this' (Philippians 3:12)? What is each teaching us?
- digWhat are the dangers on both extremes—claiming we've already 'arrived' at sinless perfection, versus using 'I'm just a sinner' as an excuse to stop pressing forward?
- applyWhere in your life right now are you tempted toward spiritual complacency, and what would 'pressing on' actually look like this week?
- applyWho is one man in your life you could invite to keep you accountable in the pursuit of holiness, and what's your first step toward asking him?
Scripture
Philippians 3:12-14 (BSB) — Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 5:48 (BSB) — Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (BSB) — Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:8 (BSB) — If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:9 (BSB) — If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (BSB) — Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Hebrews 6:1 (BSB) — Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God,
Leader notes
Prep checklist
- Read Philippians 3:1-14, 1 John 1, and 1 Thessalonians 5 in full before the session so you can field questions in context.
- Familiarize yourself fairly with both the Wesleyan/Holiness view of entire sanctification AND the Baptist/Reformed-evangelical view of progressive sanctification, so you can represent each charitably.
- Decide in advance how you'll handle disagreement in the room—affirm that this is an area where godly believers differ, and keep the tone gracious, not combative.
- Pre-write the three teaching movements on a whiteboard or notecard so you stay near the 25-minute mark.
- Plan how you'll split the group for the 'dig' questions (pairs or threes) given your group's size.
- Pray for each man by name beforehand, asking God to make this a night of conviction and hope, not guilt.
- Prepare a brief, honest personal example of an area where you yourself are still 'pressing on'—men respond to authenticity from the leader.
Materials
- Bibles (or printed copies of the seven scripture references) for each man
- Index cards—one per man—for the application activity
- Pens or pencils
- Whiteboard or flip chart with markers (optional, for the three teaching points)
- A watch, phone, or timer to keep segments on track
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