We all make bad decisions and choices in life, and sometimes our problems can be connected in some way to those decisions. David was not exempt. His son Absalom had rebelled against him and wanted to take his throne before he was even dead!
Blog: Psalms-Planted By Streams of Water
St. Athanasius famously said: “Most of Scripture speaks to us; the Psalms speak for us.”
We are all on a journey just trying to find our way and on that journey, there are a lot of ups and downs.
John Calvin said, “Any emotion a human being has ever felt can be found in the Psalms.”
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]. AMP
We live in this space where two realms are colliding as the flesh and the spirit battle against each other.
Psalms 1:4 The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so, But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away. AMP
The paths of the righteous and the unrighteous both have connection (relationships), direction (pathway) and a destination. You have a choice, and your decisions determine your destiny.
Psalms engages the whole person. They engage with our minds through instruction and understanding, sharing deep truths about who God is. They engage with our bodies through movement and expression (e.g. kneeling, lying prostrate, raising hands, walking, speaking, listening), inviting us to love God with all our strength. They engage with our souls, connecting with our emotions. They engage with our imaginations, calling us to picture or visualize what God is like and what life in the kingdom can be. They engage with our relationships, both with God and one another as we speak to, with, for, and about him.
I’m convinced that one of the reasons so many people find prayer boring is they don’t really pray, they perform! They hold back from God all the ugly stuff.
But prayer isn’t a place to be good, it’s a place to be real.
Two-thirds of the Psalms are what scholars call lament!
Lament is different than complaining. Complaining is just griping about your life, and just makes a bad problem worse. Lament is bearing your soul to God going down into your pain, but then offering it up to God.
It takes practice to keep God in the forefront of our minds as we face various circumstances of this life.
About 3 centuries after Christ men and women known as the Desert Fathers and Mothers went out into the Egyptian desert to pray and meditate on God’s Word. This was after the years of intense persecution when many Christians were martyred. These monks and nuns were separating themselves from the worldliness in the church, which was increasingly adapting to and being accepted by Roman culture.
The Desert Fathers and Mothers lived in cells or huts made of reeds and practiced rigorous spiritual disciplines like silence, solitude, simplicity, fasting, penance, and obedience to an elder. Their “internal martyrdom” purged their souls of sin and worldliness and led them into lives of intimacy with the Lord and ministry to others. Their testimony to the transforming life of Christ was so powerful that thousands of people traveled to visit them in the desert to receive spiritual direction or healing.
One of the beautiful things that emerged from the disciplined life of the Desert Fathers and Mothers was their practice of Breath Prayers. They contemplated Christ’s presence in quiet solitude, meditating on short, one breath prayers. Often, they did this while sitting outside their cells and weaving baskets from reeds.
They breathed in God’s Word slowly and deeply. Gently, they repeated their prayer, over and over, letting it descend with their minds into their hearts, to form their will in the image of Christ. They would breathe their prayer before going to sleep at night until it prayed itself within their souls while they slept. Then when they awoke in the morning the prayer was still on their lips!
Prayer is relaxing into God's goodness as you practice abiding in Him.
I’d like to encourage you to begin exploring these breath prayers as a way to more habitually meditate on God’s Word day and night.
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]. AMP
GP2RL: Read two chapters a day in Psalms. As you read pause to give voice to the emotions you identify with in prayer before the Lord.
Planted by Streams of Water
DISCUSSION GUIDE
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Psalms unveils the authenticity of humanity in the, sometimes painful, but always beautiful pursuit of God. The beauty is that God never wastes a single hurt if we are willing to give it to Him.
We can judge God according to our circumstances or we can judge our circumstances according to our God. God is good even in our times of pain and desperation. We live in a fallen world, but we look to a Risen King.
Two thirds of the Psalms are what scholars call lament. So often, our greatest purpose is born from our deepest pain. May we press in and go deeper in our authentic pursuit of the heart of God as we explore the treasures of Psalms.
It is a good thing to hear what God is revealing in the hearts of those around us. Feel free to use this question however you feel it fits in your time together as a group.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: to help develop a context for a greater understanding of the verses for today. Psalms opens with beautiful imagery of God’s people being like fruitful trees planted by streams of water.
2. Share an example of a season when you felt like you were thriving spiritually and what you believe were key contributors to that season.
3. The various themes found throughout the Book of Psalms are praise, thanksgiving, lament, trust, and wisdom. Which themes resonate with you the most, and why?
Psalm 1:1-4 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]. 4 The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so, But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away. AMP
4. What stands out to you about these verses?
5. What are some practical steps we can take to align ourselves with the principles out lined in Psalm 1 and experience spiritual fruitfulness?
6. How will you be intentional about our action point this week?
Everywhere we go, we bring...
GP2RL: Read two chapters a day in Psalms. As you read pause to give voice to the emotions you identify with in prayer before the Lord.
Blog: Spiritually Mature
Nobody can grow spiritually for you. This is your personal responsibility before the Lord. Those leading and teaching in church are called to equip you to be able to explore the pursuit of spiritual maturity. It is easier to gather and grow, but growing a crowd isn’t the same as maturing the church.
Blog: Knowing and Living
Blog: The Spirit of the Practices
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ESV
Luke 6:6-11 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. nd the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. ESV
GP2RL: Create a plan to engage in a few different practices paying attention to how God is meeting you in each!
Blog: Effective Discipling Practices
Blog: Consistently Submitting Practices
Consistently submitting to God’s desires is such an interesting part of the central ideas that shape who we are as a church family. In our pursuit to become all God desires for us to become we are discovering that God is doing a deep work within us. This has become our prayer for each other:
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT
Don’t just try to be a loving expression of Christ to your world. Train to be a loving expression of Christ to your world. We are learning how to convert principles into practices as we look to the lifestyle of Jesus as the goal for our lives.
The two practices that are connected to this idea of consistently submitting to God’s desires involve solitude and community. Solitude is where we simply purpose to be alone with God and free from all other sources of input.
If I’m in the constant presence of people, I am overstimulated and underdeveloped. Solitude awakens the non-anxious disposition to love others well.
Community involves a deeper connection with God as you connect with others focusing on spiritual growth. This releases something powerful within you that you cannot discover alone.
This idea of pairing the practices of solitude and community is a little like breathing in and breathing out. Jesus modeled a healthy balance for us to put into practice ourselves. Don’t just always be giving out to others. You not only have permission to take care of yourself it is essential! Any flight you ever take will remind you that you must put your oxygen mask on first before helping others or you’ll slip into unconsciousness yourself.
The practices of look different in every stage and season of your life but do whatever it takes to discover a healthy rhythm of these breath-like life-sustaining behaviors no matter what season of life you’re in!
There is a strong relationship in the life of Jesus between his devotion to solitude and his connection to power
Luke 4:1 Now Jesus, full of [and in perfect communication with] the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. AMP
Jesus modeled purposeful solitude that produced powerful community.
Luke 5:15 But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. AMP
Everyone everywhere was screaming for his attention. What did Jesus do?
Luke 5:16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]. AMP
In our day, it is completely possible to banish solitude altogether. Even when we are alone, we don’t have to be alone and this robs us of this beautiful practice of solitude.
The Father won’t compete with your busy, noisy life. He’s patiently waiting in the quiet for your attention.
Luke 4:1 Now Jesus, full of [and in perfect communication with] the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. AMP
Mark 1:28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere throughout the district surrounding Galilee. AMP
Mark 1:35-37 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him, 37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!” AMP
The more we interact with strangers, the more we present ourselves, rather than being authentically known and at rest with who we are. This is why true community is so vital in your life.
You can be with people, but not actually in community if you never move beyond surface relationships where you know and are known.
The practices we see modeled in the life of Jesus are the practices we should embrace in our own lives today. In doing so we find ourselves on a similar journey of training to become more like Him. This is our mandate in Scripture and the results are clearly revealed.
1 John 2:6 Anyone who claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. NIV
2 Corinthians 13:14 …may the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. NIV
We were designed by God to be in deep fellowship with God and in deep fellowship with God’s family. It is so interesting that the number one thing people love to hear in every nation of the world is, “I love you.” We were designed by God to first and foremost know his love. The second more common phrase people love to hear is, “You’re forgiven.” We are designed by God to live our lives with a clear conscience.
What really fascinated me about this study I read about the most common phrases people love to hear is the third phrase, “Let’s eat!” For God so loved the world (I love you) that he sent his only Son Jesus to forgive us (you’re forgiven). Then in Revelation 3:20 we read, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” NIV
I love you. You’re forgiven. Let’s eat! What a beautiful expression of God’s loving ways in our lives.
GP2RL: Explore purposeful solitude this week and engage in authentic community.
Consistently Submitting Practices
DISCUSSION GUIDE
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Every year we devote the first 40 days to focusing on foundational truths that speak to our identity, as a church family. We are OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
2 Peter 1:12-15 endorses the idea of rehearsing foundational things with the intention of leaving them firmly planted in the heart of the next generation.
As we journey through 2024 year together our desire is to become more spiritually AWAKE and more fully ENGAGED in the practices we see modeled in the life of Christ. As we are awakened to the principles of God’s Kingdom, we must choose to become more engaged in the practices. Our practices reveal our priorities.
It is God’s plan for us to develop the rhythm of drawing close to His heart and hearing His voice together as a spiritual family. This explains the first question we start with in our groups:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: to help develop a context for a greater understanding of the verses for today.
2. What does solitude mean to you, and can you share a positive experience from practicing solitude in your life?
3. What does community mean to you, and what has been a positive experience from be ing involved in meaningful community?
Mark 1:28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere throughout the district surrounding Galilee. AMP
Mark 1:35-37 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him, 37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!” AMP
Luke 5:15-16 But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]. AMP
4. What stands out to you about these verses and what are your observations about the way Jesus modeled solitude and community.
5. How specifically will you purpose to practice solitude and community this week?
Everywhere we go, we bring...
GP2RL: Explore the idea of true solitude this week and engage in authentic community.
Blog: Irrationally Giving Practices
Don’t just try to live more fully in Christ. Train to live more fully in Christ! This involves practice! As we journey through 2024 year together our desire is to become more spiritually AWAKE and more fully ENGAGED in the practices we see modeled in the life of Christ. Our practices reveal our priorities.
Blog: Passionately Pursuing Practices
In this season we continue to sense very strongly that God is working in us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases him. This verse has become our prayer!
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT
Saying something is one thing but doing it is another. For years we have focused on the idea of being outrageously loving people as a church community.
We are OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
As we journey into the 2024 year together our desire is to become more spiritually AWAKE and more fully ENGAGED in the practices we see modeled in the life of Christ. As we are awakened to the principles of God’s Kingdom, we must choose to become more engaged in the practices.
This is the basis of not just trying to be outrageously loving people but training to become more outrageously loving people We aren’t merely trying to passionately pursue the Lord we are training to passionately pursue his heart more effectively!
We are asking the Holy Spirit to help us understand the core practices that align with our core values. In doing so we have concluded that two deeper practices of passionately pursuing the Lord involves exploring a greater understanding of FASTING and a greater understanding of SCRIPTURE.
Matthew 16:24-26 Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? ESV
As you are crucifying the flesh strengthening the spirit to be awakened.
John 12:24–25 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. (NASB)
Unless the seed dies there can be no life. Not a question of if there is life in seed. The question is will it die? If it dies life comes forth. In this fallen world, we all contend with the chronically, dissatisfied desire. Thomas Aquinas was asked, “what would it take to satisfy human desire” and his answer was, “Everything.”
Chasing everything is futility so we must learn to embrace healthy restraint as the key that unlocks a fulfilling life. When we die, then we live. Loving this life will cost you your life but surrendering this life will give you eternal life.
Solitude is how we go to war not only with the busy world around us, but also with the busy soul that exists within us.
If a sermon on practicing peace could remove your anxiety, then that would have happened a long time ago. Be anxious for nothing! There! Don’t you feel better since you heard that? Actually, hearing that I’m not supposed to be stressed out really stresses me out! Your message only made me see I’m getting this wrong.
THAT’S THE POINT OF REPENTANCE! Come forward for prayer. Sit with the truths God has revealed allowing them ot have a deeper more meaningful work in the attitude of your mind.
“Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. ... We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside some time to be with God and listen to him.” Henri Nouwen
Peace doesn’t come from the absence of problems. Peace comes from the presence of God. We can learn to practice peace as we learn to practice his presence. This is why we believe it is so important to understand how everywhere we go we bring God’s presence to real life.
In the pursuit of more we are looking forward to hosting a statewide worship night at Destiny Sunday, February 4th. The next month we will come together for March 1-2 Fuel the Fire with Steve Uppal from England.
GP2RL: This week’s practices involve a deeper interaction with God in his Word and in fasting and prayer. What will this look like for you this week?
Passionately Pursuing Practices
DISCUSSION GUIDE
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Every year we devote the first 40 days to focusing on foundational truths that speak to our identity, as a church family. We are OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
2 Peter 1:12-15 endorses the idea of rehearsing foundational things with the intention of leaving them firmly planted in the heart of the next generation.
As we journey through 2024 year together our desire is to become more spiritually AWAKE and more fully ENGAGED in the practices we see modeled in the life of Christ. As we are awakened to the principles of God’s Kingdom, we must choose to become more engaged in the practices. Our practices reveal our priorities.
It is God’s plan is for us to develop the rhythm of drawing close to His heart and hearing His voice together as a spiritual family. This explains the first question we start with in our groups:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses.
Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? ESV
John 12:24–25 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. (NASB)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. DISCOVER: Have each person give a simple 60 second summary of what these verses are saying, Encourage people to try not to add insights or application yet. Just simply summarize.
3. DEVELOP: What do you sense God may be speaking to you personally as we focus on these verses?
4. DEPLOY: We are to be doers and not hearers only. What will you do this week in re sponse to what you sense God is revealing in this time together?
Everywhere we go, we bring...
GP2RL: This week’s practices involve a deeper interaction with God in his Word and in fasting and prayer. What will this look like for you this week?
Blog: Outrageously Loving Practices
Saying something is one thing but doing it is another. For years we have focused on the idea of being outrageously loving people as a church community.
We are OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
As we journey into the 2024 year together our desire is to become more spiritually AWAKE and more fully ENGAGED in the practices we see modeled in the life of Christ. As we are awakened to the principles of God’s Kingdom, we must choose to become more engaged in the practices.
Please purpose to pray Philippians 2:13 over your heart, your home and over all of us to be more responsive to the work God is doing in our hearts as he is giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT
Legacy isn’t born from what we believe alone. There must be a consistent rhythm of behavior to model for the next generation the things we say are important. The church has grown weary with sitting still and listening to principles. Jesus commissions us “to obey” or to put the principles we believe into action!
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” NIV
One of the practices we must devote ourselves to growing in is the practice of Sabbath. There is not one way to do this but each person in each season of life with each set of circumstances must discover how to honor God and God’s Word by embracing God’s command to rest. This is extremely counter cultural and the common reaction to the conversation is to resist the idea all together. After all we are just to busy to do that. But in essence this is saying you’re too busy to obey God.
You can’t go deep if you don’t slow down.
There is such an interesting verse found in Job in reference to the “busyness” of life.
Job 9:25 My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. NIV
This Hebrew word that translates “without a glimpse of joy” also translates in other Bible translations as “without a glimpse of happiness” or “seeing no good”. You can dive deeper in the Word of God by exploring the original languages and learning what the literal meaning of words used in the translation. This isn’t as complicated and difficult as you might think. A great resource I use online is biblehub.com and I suggest you slow your pace of life enough to dig deeper in the Bible.
Anthropologists are now studying how hurried lifestyles are having an impact on the human race.
Hurry decreases joy.
The faster you move the less you enjoy your surroundings. The experience of driving by a park isn’t the same as walking through the park.
Hurry lessens productivity.
Hurry increases stress.
Hurry keeps me from hearing God.
“Lord I have five minutes here I need you to tell me the plan for my life. If you don’t have quiet space devoted to your relationship with the Lord you are simply not a person who will learn to hear God.”
An experiment took place at Princeton Theological Seminary. Students were informed that they would be recorded when speaking on an assigned topic in another building. On the pathway they would walk the students encountered a "victim" slumped in a doorway. Half of the students were assigned to talk on the Good Samaritan Parable. Some were told they were late and should hurry; some were told they had just enough time to get to the recording room; and some were told they would arrive early.
The variable that made a difference was how much of a hurry they were in. 63% of those who were in no hurry stopped to help, 45% of those in a moderate hurry stopped, and 10% of those that were in a great hurry stopped.
It made no difference whether the students were assigned to talk on the Good Samaritan Parable. The way we structure our schedules has a profound impact on how we translate beliefs into behavior.
Hurry is an enemy to love.
This is why we must start with the PRACTICE OF SABBATH to grow and become more OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING PEOPLE. Once we learn to slow down the practice of anonymous service will come easier as there will be more room for compassion.
Sabbath isn’t a legalistic requirement but it is part of the 10 Commandments just like we shouldn’t lie we shouldn’t keep an unhealthy pace of life. It’s simply a law that has been built into all creation. You can resist the Law of Gravity but it won’t serve you well.
Sabbath is a way to live more deeply in God. You don’t have to buy it or order it online. All you have to do is stop and enjoy a rhythm of rest.
1. Lighting candles
2. Blessing children
3. Eating a Sabbath meal
4. Gratitude
5. Singing
6. Worshipping with your community
7. Walking
8. Napping
9. Making love to your spouse
10. Reading scripture
11. Spending time alone with God
12. Spending time with family and friends.
This is not a to do list but a description of patterns that are commonly included in Sabbath. Making room for Sabbath will help us slow down and be more mindful of God and others. This leads us to the second practice of OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING PEOPLE, ANONYMOUS SERVICE. This is about sacrificing or even suffering with or for someone in your five-foot circle by selflessly serving them as unto the Lord.
The more God reiterates a word or idea in Scripture the more we should pay attention:
Pray = 371 times (more than one a day)
Love = 714
Give = 2,152
The Bible mentions “Give” three times for every one mention of “Love”, emphasizing the importance of an actionable practice. For God so loved that He gave! (How’s your giving?) Let’s purpose to live generous lives like never before in 2024. Tithing breaks that spirit of materialism in our lives and that unlocks something of a greater degree of generosity in the way we love others well. Let’s tip generously out of a heart of loving others. Studies show how those who give generously are happier, healthier, and experience more fruitful lives.
How are you going to slow down and serve others?
May the God of rest fill you with his peace as you slow down to pursue his heart and discover the joy of serving others!
Everywhere we go....
We Bring GP2RL: Do something to begin exploring the idea of Sabbath. Serve someone sacrificially and anonymously this week.
Outrageously Loving Practices
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Every year we devote the first 40 days to focusing on foundational truths that speak to our identity, as a church family. We are OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
Peter endorses the idea of rehearsing foundational things with the intention of leaving them firmly planted in the heart of the next generation.
2 Peter 1:12-15 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in (them), I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live…and I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. NIV
Great encouragement comes from rehearsing God’s Word. It is God’s plan is for us to spend time drawing close to his heart and hearing his voice together as a family. This is why we start each meeting with this question first:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses. Realize there is great power in just reading the Bible together and allowing the Holy Spirit to awaken his conversational nature in the group.
1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all. AMP
• Good News Translation says, “If I have no love, it does me no good.”
• The Message says, “I’m bankrupt without love.”
1 Corinthians 13:3-8 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. ESV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Have each person give a 60 second summary of what these verses are saying, in their own words.
3. What do these verses teach us about God?
4. What do these verses teach us about people?
5. What should you do this week in response to what we are reading and what God is revealing?
6. Who comes to mind when considering a person you might share this with this week?
Everywhere we go....
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Slow down and make room to love God and to love others this week.
Blog: Awake and Engaged
Blog: Light In Darkness
Everything about the birth of Jesus was this incredible prophetic picture of The One who is Light being born into darkness to rescue us from our separation from God. In the midst of the frustration and pain we discover the beauty of God’s plans.
Jesus was born in a barn where animals are born as God declared the Lamb of God has come to the earth as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus, the bread of life, came down from heaven and on the day of his birth his mother placed him in a feeding trough where animals had been fed grain!
John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” NIV
Jesus came bringing spiritual food to give life to those in darkness.
John 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ESV
The life Jesus shares with those who follow him gives them light.
John 8:12 “…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ESV
Seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah spoke of this:
Isaiah 9:1-2 Darkness and despair will not go on forever… 2 The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light; For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. NLT
That light is the child Isaiah tells us about in that same chapter:
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given… NKJV
Jesus has come. Lighting Advent candles for four weeks has become a practice for us as a church as an effort to bring our focus to the deeper reality of Christ during this season.
The candles represent Jesus coming as the light in darkness. We light one candle each week for four weeks until all four candles are lit. As Christmas draws nearer, each candle brings a little more light into the darkness. Our hope is that those living in darkness will be awakened to his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)
When we receive Christ his divine light streams into our hearts and suddenly, we are awakened to have a living spirit. This light gives sight to the blind soul giving us eternal life providing eternal sight. We become equipped to live in light of eternity.
Jesus is the Light of the world and Christmas is about light that brings hope, peace, joy and love into our fallen, broken world!
The Museum of Childhood is in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is filled with childhood treasures, many more than 500 years old. There are fascinating dolls, teddy bears and puppets that largely belonged to very affluent families that have been preserved and are now displayed in glass case after glass case awakening the imagination of each item’s unique story.
In one corner of this museum there is an individual case with only one doll. The sign says, “Doll belonging to London slum child from 1905.”
An old shoe turned into a dreary doll that can bring tears to your eyes because it is so very pitiful – while somehow being so very beautiful - because some child living in horrendous conditions loved it so much.
A worthless doll loved into beauty. We are that doll. Look at us. Who are we that God should love us so much? There is nothing to validate us in our broken, darkened state. Nothing but the light of God’s love - taking us from the darkness of hopelessness into the presence of God’s love. Jesus is here bringing his light to our hearts, our homes, our lives and our world.
Everywhere we go....
We Bring GP2RL: Create a meaningful memory by lighting a candle tonight in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.