The Pastor’s Blog
Home Study for June 24 through 29, 2013
Home Study
Monday – Read I Samuel 16:7
Why does God have a different standard than men?
How can we have more of the attitude of God as we look at people and situations?
Why is this important?
What is Jesus saying to you? What will you do?
Tuesday – Read Ephesians 4:26-27
How can we keep from sinning in our anger?
Why is this important?
How does this passage challenge you?
What will you do?
Wednesday – Read James 1:19-21
How do you feel about the direction given in verse 19?
Have you found it to be true in your life?
How can we put this truth into practice?
What will you do?
Thursday – Read Romans 12:18
Can we ever be at peace with all people?
Why or why not?
What is our role in trying to maintain peace?
How does this verse challenge you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Romans 12:1-2
What does it mean to be a “living sacrifice?”
Why are we to not conform to the pattern of this world?
How can our minds be transformed?
How does living as a living sacrificed with a transformed mind help us to better know God’s will?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 5:27-30
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Home Study for June 17 through 22, 2013
Monday – Read John 1:1-18
What does this passage teach us about Jesus?
Why is it important to understand these things?
Tuesday – Read Romans 8:1-4
What has set us free from the law of sin and death?
By what means do we fulfill the righteous requirements of the law?
Why is the law powerless to do?
Why is it important to understand this?
How is God challenging you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Deuteronomy 10:12-13
What does God desire for His followers to do?
How does knowing the Law help us to do that?
Why has the Law been given to us?
How are they for our good?
How is God challenging you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Matthew 22:34-40
How are all of the words of the Law and the Prophets fulfilled by Jesus’ reply in verse 37?
Do you think His answer surprised the religious leader(s)?
Why?
How does it surprise you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Micah 6:8
How does treating others as we read here allow us to fulfill God’s desire for His people?
How does it bring glory and honor to God?
Why is humility before God important to living for Him?
How does this verse challenge you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 5:21-26
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Home Study for June 10 through 15, 2013
Monday – Read Colossians 4:2-6
From this context, what are some things we can to do better be salt for Jesus in the world?
How do these things make us more effective for Jesus?
How does not doing them compromise our ability to show Jesus to the world?
How is the Holy Spirit challenging you with this passage?
How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read Luke 14:34-35
How can we lose our saltiness for Jesus?
Why does that make us ineffective to Him?
We can’t regain our saltiness on our own, but who can restore it for us?
What is the Spirit saying to you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read John 3:16-21
Why do humans love darkness rather than light?
What is the result of staying in darkness?
How can we step into and live in the light of Jesus?
In whose life can you shine the light of Jesus?
Thursday – Read John 8:12
What does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world?
If we live in the light of Jesus what can we avoid?
How can we have the light of life?
How can you reveal the light of life to others?
Friday – Read II Corinthians 4:1-6
Who has blinded people from seeing the light of the gospel?
How did Jesus win the battle against Satan?
How does Jesus give us victory in our battles?
What hope does that give you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 5:17-20
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Recently I’ve been reading a book entitled “Greater” by Steven Furtick. It will soon be placed in the church library. Furtick’s premise is that “Most of us aren’t in danger of ruining our lives. We’re in danger of wasting them.” Using events from the life of Elisha the prophet Furtick shares how we can quit being satisfied with good enough and discover the greater things that God has for us. By Furtick’s definition, greater is, “The life-altering understanding that God is ready to accomplish a greatness in your life that is entirely out of human reach – beyond anything you see in yourself on your best day, but exactly what God has seen in you all along.”
Those greater things God wants to do in us aren’t necessarily just the big or public things, it can be as simple as being the best spouse, parent, or whatever else, God created and called us to be. And those greater things won’t happen if we spend our time lamenting over what we don’t have or what we can’t do, the greater things of God only happen as we seek God and His plan for our lives, as we grab hold of Him and never let go.
It’s my hope and prayer that all of us at Medford Friends, individually and corporately, will seek and experience the greater that God has for us so that we may be and do all that He has in mind for us.
God’s Grace and Peace,
Mark
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