Weekly Reading PDF
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This Week's Readings:
THE PROBLEM OF GOD: Hypocrisy
September 16th, 2018
Reading Plan
Day 1-
READ: Proverbs 3:5-8
REFLECT: Physical health is an important part of our life in this modern world. On any given day, you’re likely to hear about the latest and greatest way to enhance your physical health. What does this scripture say brings about true health? How might you live differently if you viewed your spiritual health as important and life giving as your physical health?
PRACTICE: Pray that your desire for spiritual health would be as important as your desire for physical health. Ask God to show you where you might be lacking. Ask Him to show you the way toward spiritual health.
TAKE IT FURTHER!
READ: “5 Ways to Live the God-Centered Life” from The Gospel Coalition- https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-ways-to-live-the-god-centered-life/
REFLECT: What are the five ways to live a God centered life according to this article?
PRACTICE: Pick one of the suggestions and make a plan to implement it into your life.
Day 2-
READ: 1 John 2:3-6
REFLECT: The biggest defense we have in avoiding hypocrisy and being in judgment of others; is to know the word of God. It’s only there that we’ll find the true Jesus and his true teaching. What does verse 6 say we need to do if we claim to follow Jesus?
PRACTICE: Write out verse 6 somewhere that you’ll see it daily. Make it your prayer to know Jesus well enough and deep enough that you continue to be more and more like Him.
TAKE IT FURTHER!
READ: “Treasure, Freedom, and Knowing Jesus Better: Praying Philippians 3:7-10” from The Gospel Coalition- https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scotty-smith/treasure-freedom-and-knowing-jesus-better-praying-phil-37-10/
REFLECT: Knowing Jesus brings true freedom and joy! The more we know him, the more we’ll become like him.
PRACTICE: Print this prayer (or write it out in your journal), and refer back to it as often as you need a reminder.
Day 3-
READ: Psalm 25:4-5
REFLECT: King David acknowledges that God is the only one with the answers on how to live a God-honoring life. What are the action words that David uses in this passage?
PRACTICE: Pray the same prayer over your life that King David prays over his. As you pray, ask that your heart be open to the plans God has for your life.
TAKE IT FURTHER!
WATCH: “Tell the Truth”, a training from Right Now Media (for a FREE RNM account, visit https://whoisgrace.com/rightnowmedia/) - https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Training/Post/Preview/188260
REFLECT: Why is speaking the truth so important?
PRACTICE: What is something you can do today in order to speak the truth in a more loving and compassionate way?
Day 4-
READ: Romans 5:6-8
REFLECT: In his sermon, Pastor Derek reminds us that the church is made up of broken people – people who have messed up, screwed up, and sinned against God. Time and time again, throughout scripture, Jesus interacts with the worst of sinners. Those are the people he came for. What do you think is the significance of the word “still” in this passage? How does it change your view on who is the sinner?
PRACTICE: Pray and ask God to reveal to you those you might have placed judgment on, those who you might consider “not good enough.” Pray for them. Ask God to become real in their life. Ask God to remove the judgments you may place on other people. Ask Him to help you recognize the areas of sin in your life that need dealt with.
TAKE IT FURTHER!
LISTEN: “New Wine”, a worship song from Hillsong- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ozGKlOzEVc
REFLECT: What “old flames” do you need to lay down at the feet of Jesus?
PRACTICE: Pray and ask God to make a “new fire” out of your life. Have a moment of reflective repentance – where are the areas in your life that you need to lay before Jesus. Ask him to take those things and turn them into something for his glory.
Day 5
READ: John 8:2-11
REFLECT: In this passage, as the people are pouring judgment on the woman, Jesus asks the people to reflect on their own lives and their own sin. What does he reveal to everyone at the courts? What would happen if every time you started to think less of someone, or judge them for their behavior, you asked yourself “am I without sin?” (*adapted from Connexus Church).
PRACTICE: Is there someone in your life whom you have wrongly judged? Find a way to apologize to that person – whether in person, or in a moment of prayer to God.
TAKE IT FURTHER!
READ: “The Making of a Modern Pharisee” from Desiring God- https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-making-of-a-modern-pharisee
REFLECT: This is a heavy article about the dangers of hypocrisy in the modern world. What is your biggest takeaway?
PRACTICE: If you recognize any of the symptoms in your life, repent to God and ask for his forgiveness and healing.
Last Week's Readings:
THE PROBLEM OF GOD: God’s Existence
September 9, 2018
Reading Plan
Day 1-
READ: Romans 2:14-16
REFLECT: “…the law is written on their hearts.”—What does this mean? Think of some ways you see this moral law in action around you. How does this point to God’s existence?
PRACTICE: If you have honest questions about God’s existence take a step in faith and ask Him to show you the truth. If you are absolutely sure of God’s existence thank Him for that assurance and pray for someone you know who has doubts.
TAKE IT FURTHER!
READ: Hebrews 11:1-6; Romans 10:17
REFLECT: In addition to logical proofs for God’s existence how do we get faith to believe?
PRACTICE: Watch this short video about Albert Einstein’s search for faith on Right Now Media- https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Illustration/105385 (For a FREE RNM account, register here- https://whoisgrace.com/rightnowmedia/)
Day 2-
READ: John 1:1-5; Genesis 1:1
REFLECT: These verses talk about the beginning of the earth and how the triune God was there creating. Derek said the prominent theory in science right now is the earth originated from ‘nothing’. Think for a minute about the difficulty of believing this as opposed to believing in intelligent design by a creator.
PRACTICE: Watch Louie Giglio talk about our Indescribable God’s creation in this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVsqCLyoU3o
TAKE IT FURTHER!
READ: Colossians 1:15-17; 1 John 1:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6
REFLECT: A foundational question in life is who is behind it and where did it begin? How does Christianity answer this? How do those with no belief in God answer this?
PRACTICE: Listen to Chris Tomlin’s song “Indescribable” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IlVfkY5q54 and thank God for revealing Himself to us.
Day 3-
READ: Psalm 19:1-6
REFLECT: Think of some ways you see God revealed in the design of creation. How do the heavens declare the glory of God? How do you declare the glory of God?
PRACTICE: Block out at least a few minutes tonight to look at the night sky and make it a time to worship God for the majesty you see there.
TAKE IT FURTHER!
READ: Romans 1:18-20
REFLECT: How has God revealed Himself through what He has made? What does creation tell us about Him and how should we respond to that?
PRACTICE: Atheist Antony Flew came to realize that recognizing an intelligent creator was his only rational choice. Learn how in this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzquXKkV2k0
Day 4-
READ: Psalm 139:13-16
REFLECT: As you take some deep, slow breaths think about the millions of things that are happening inside your well-designed body in the space of a breath—and all without any effort or thought on your part. What would it be like if you had to remember to take each breath or cue your heart to beat?
PRACTICE: We seem to take the functioning of our bodies for granted until one part is not working. Take some time to thank God for the health of your body—part by part. If you are still struggling with the existence of God, spend some time just considering the design of the human body.
TAKE IT FURTHER!
READ: Job 38:1-11
REFLECT: Just consider: if not God, who and how?
PRACTICE: Watch this short video about how we are “Fearfully and wonderfully made” -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00RlokVPoh0
Day 5-
READ: John 1:1-5; Genesis 1:1
REFLECT: “To continue in atheism, I needed to believe that nothing produces everything, non-life produces life, randomness produces fine-tuning, chaos produces information, unconsciousness produces consciousness, and non-reason produces reason.” – Lee Stroebel˜ -- Derek said we need to follow the evidence where It leads. Where do you think the evidence leads?
PRACTICE: Listen to “My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C. Mullen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRW-jr_PnbQ and thank God for His work
TAKE IT FURTHER!
READ: Hebrews 11:6
REFLECT: What two things do we need to believe to come close to God? How does faith correlate with intelligence, logic, and rationality? What does this verse say God will do for those who honestly seek Him?
PRACTICE: If you have faith to believe in God that comes by His grace. Thank Him for that and pray for those who still struggle to believe. And if you honestly don’t believe in God’s existence but want to know the truth, you have nothing to lose by just asking Him to prove Himself to you.
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