1. Read Luke 24.13-53 incarnationally. Where do you find yourself in the story?
2. Describe the most recent time when your heart “burned.” What was the outcome of that season?
3. The disciples on the road to Emmaus received this great revelation. What was their immediate response?
4. How does the community in Jerusalem encourage the experience of these disciples?
5. How is your personal relationship with Jesus affirmed by your relationship with other believers? Describe recent experience.
6. Whom was the primary sower of seeds in your life? How did God use that person to begin producing spiritual fruit in you?
7. Read 2 Corinthians 5.17-21. How do you see yourself as a new creation in Christ? What’s new about you?
8. In what way do you see yourself as an ambassador for Christ? How does that calling encourage you?
9. What’s the ultimate purpose of transformation? How does your transformational journey effect those around you? Describe.
10. 2 Peter 1.3-4, Ephesians 3.17-19 describe the believer as participating in the “Divine nature.” What does that mean to you? How does the divine nature get lived out in you? What does it mean to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God?”
11. How are you learning to embrace the truth that you are a partaker of the Divine Nature? Be specific.
12. Read and reflect on words of Teresa of Avila and then answer the questions below.
“Christ has no body now by yours, no hand, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which He looks with compassion on the world, yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the ands with which He blesses the world…Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
How does this truth translate into your everyday ordinary life?
13. Read 1 John 4.13-17. It concludes with this phrase, “In this world we are like Jesus.” What does that phrase mean to you? Name any hesitation you have regarding the implication of God’s Word.
14. Read Acts 1.8, and 1 John 1.-4. Where is your “Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth?” How is your joy being made complete as you share His story with those around you?
15. Read Luke 24.45-53. How does this passage encourage you to be a “real Christian” in your home, with your neighbor and the nations?
Your beginnings will seem humble,
so prosperous will your future be. (Job 8:7)
Job’s friends each gave him advice. Eliphaz was gentle and indirect; Bildad, the speaker here, was impatient and insensitive. While Bildad’s words are true, it appears that Bildad’s theology was far more important to him than Job himself.
God’s invitation to transformation is at the heart of all that we desire to do and be as a Faith Family. The ministry expansion at Sanctuary allows us each the opportunity to be reminded that hearts and souls and lives are at the heart of the Great Commission—not our comfort or preferences.
We have been given the high honor of being entrusted with being stewards and sowers of The Great Story of God. In that posture, what small, humble step can you take toward one of His children today?
Prayer Focus: Children’s Ministry Sowers
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Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33–36)
In this chapter, Paul expresses the sovereignty of God, arguing that the Lord did not reject His people, Israel. The close of the chapter is an expression of adoration to God for His mercies, which are far beyond our understanding.
Our God has no counselor. He is the one above all things. He knows our every thought. We often try to give back to God what cost us nothing. We can be free from our self-sufficiency and self-idolization and live freely, trusting in the Creator of and over all.
Praise God today for already knowing the path ahead of you. Praise God for His wisdom and knowledge and for His sovereignty, which is beyond our comprehension. Ask God to give you a greater understanding of His character. Ask God to give you an understanding of the things He wants you to know and a peace to surrender the things that are not for you to know today.
Prayer Focus: Global Team
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Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4–9)
Paul’s exhortation to the church at Philippi was to communicate the need to live in unity and in a posture of joy and truth. He closed his remarks to the church with thanksgiving and prayer for their people, expressing gratitude for their prayers and support while he was on his journey.
No matter your circumstances on earth, they are incomparable to heaven. Seek God for help to place your mind today on what is right, pure, noble, and praiseworthy. Each time you are tempted to start to focus on the things around you set your thoughts on the hope before you. Rejoice today, and rest in the unending peace of our Sovereign God.
Prayer Focus: Divorce Care
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