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This Week's Readings:

Upside Down Influence: Serving Our World

January 19, 2020

Week 3 Reading Plan

Day 1-

READ: Luke 19: 1-10  

REFLECT:  What does this story tell us about Jesus’ primary purpose during his time on earth?

PRAY/ PRACTICE:  Ask God to increase your love for the lost.  Seek out an opportunity today to engage in a conversation with someone who does not know Jesus - and share that love.

 

Day 2-

READ:  Matthew 28: 18-20  

REFLECT:  Jesus equipped and instructed his followers to make disciples of all nations.  This means sharing the good news with people groups beyond our communities of origin.  Why do you think this was important to him?  Is it important to you?

PRAY/ PRACTICE:  Ask God to align your heart with His in regards to reaching the nations with the good news.  Pray for specific revelation on your role in His plans.

TAKE IT FURTHER!

READ/ WATCH/ LISTEN:  Learn more about unreached people groups by visiting www.joshuaproject.net

REFLECT:  There are currently about 17,298 people groups in the world.  Of that number, 7,368 are considered unreached.  That means 42.6% of the world’s people groups have not yet received the good news of Jesus.

PRACTICE:  Select an unreached people group, print out a prayer card and pray for them each day this week.

 

Day 3-

READ:  Matthew 9: 35-38  

REFLECT:  Jesus did not wait for people to seek him out; he traveled throughout the region sharing His message.  What role did compassion have in this approach to ministry?   

PRAY/ PRACTICE:  Ask God where He wants you to take His message and then go!  Start moving in faith.  Maybe He’ll lead you to your neighbor’s house or around the corner to start.  Maybe He’ll lead you to join a short term mission trip.  Challenge yourself to be responsive to His leading. Pray for open eyes and a soft heart toward the people He brings you to. 

TAKE IT FURTHER!

PRACTICE: Visit the Global Missions page of the Grace Church website to find out more about global partners, missionaries, and more!

 

Day 4-

READ:  John 17: 13-19 and John 20: 21 

REFLECT: Who is Jesus praying for in John 17?  What is He praying for?  What is He NOT praying for?  Why is this significant?

PRAY/ PRACTICE:   Look up the definition of the word ‘sanctify’.  Ask God to help you fully live in His joy and truth.  Spend some time reflecting on what it means to be ‘sent into the world’ and pray for courage to go forth in peace.

 

Day 5-

READ:   Mark 10: 17-31  

REFLECT:  Why did the rich young ruler go away sorrowful?  If he kept all of the commandments, why was he not free to enter the kingdom of God?  It’s interesting to note that we know very little about the ruler other than he was rich.  This seems to be the thing that defines him as a person and his unwillingness to surrender it became his bondage. 

PRAY/ PRACTICE:   Spend some time thinking about the things that you allow to define you.  Ask God to show you any area of your life that you would be unwilling to leave behind for His sake and for the gospel.  Pray for freedom from the things that bind you.

Last Week's Readings:

 

UPSIDE-DOWN INFLUENCE: Serving Our Church

January 12, 2020

Week 2 Reading Plan

Day 1-

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

REFLECT:  What is the big idea of this chapter? Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Put yourself in their shoes- what concerns or questions do you think the church had?

PRAY/ PRACTICE:  Sketch a body (if you’re not super artistic, just draw a stick figure or a face). The image of the body is the image of the church. Pray and ask God to give you wisdom and discernment about which part of the body you are.

TAKE IT FURTHER!

WATCH: Get an overview of the book  of 1 Corinthians from the Bible Project’s Read Scripture series on RightNow Media. (Need a RNM account? You can register for FREE at www.whoisgrace.com/rightnowmedia)

 

Day 2-

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 28; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-16

REFLECT:  The Holy Spirit empowers each Christian with spiritual gifts. Is it hard for you to accept any part of that statement? Do you have a sense of how God has gifted you? What does it mean that “each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” How have others’ gifts brought good to your life?

PRAY/ PRACTICE:  Make a list of the gifts listed in these three passages. (*Note: the differences indicate the lists are representative the of the many gifts, not exhaustive lists.) Label the body you drew yesterday with the different gifts. Praise God for His wisdom in building His church and for His work in your life. Ask for Him to fill you and give you clarity on your place in His body.

 

Day 3-

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 2:8-10

REFLECT:  You are His masterpiece! What are the core truths of this passage in 1 Corinthians 12? What do you learn about yourself? About the church? About the Christians around you?

PRAY: Use Ephesians 2:8-10 to pray to the Lord-

God, I praise you for the gifts you so freely give. You have filled me with faith to believe that your grace is enough to save even me. Thank you, Jesus! I choose to believe that I am your workmanship, a masterpiece created to do good works. And I don’t have to figure it all out on my own, for you have a purpose already prepared for me. God, I want to walk with You. I want to do the good works you are calling me to do. Today, tomorrow, and every day of my life. Lead me, Jesus, and I will follow. Amen.

 

Day 4-

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:1-30

REFLECT:  What have you learned from 1 Corinthians 12 this week? What has God revealed to you about Himself? About His Church? What part of God’s truth is quietly, or loudly, echoing in your soul today? Resolve to listen to His voice and follow His leading.

PRAY:  Follow the ACTS Model and write your own prayer using these prompts-

Adoration: Praise God for who He is, for how He has blessed you with spiritual gifts, and for the opportunity to share those gifts with others.

Confession: Confess any sins of fear about using and sharing your gifts, knowing they are to be used for God’s glory and for the good of the Church.

Thanksgiving: Thank your Heavenly Father that the Holy Spirit has given you one, or more, spiritual gifts. Express your thanks through developing and using those gifts. 

Supplication: Pray that the Holy Spirit will nurture and guide each member of His church in the use of his/her spiritual gifts, and that each may have the opportunity to express those gifts in a manner that will best bless Kingdom work, both locally, and worldwide.

TAKE IT FURTHER!

READ: For more information on the different spiritual gifts, check out this article from Cru.org: “Our Spiritual Gifts”

 

Day 5-

READ: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

REFLECT:  1 Corinthians 12 ends with “And I will show you a still more excellent way…” On the heels of teaching about spiritual gifts and the body, Paul writes to the church about love. Chapter 13 is often used at weddings, but it is best read together with chapter 12. Imagine Paul standing before the church speaking these words. How does his message about love apply to the church as a body?

PRAY:  Discovering, developing and using spiritual gifts is a lifelong journey for Christians. Every day of that journey, we can choose to walk in Christ’s love. Today, ask God to fill you with His love and lead you to show His love to other Christians and to those outside the church. Now, go and show someone love!

TAKE IT FURTHER!

PRACTICE: If you have not yet taken the CORE class at Grace church, consider signing up when it launches again in March. A portion of the class is a discussion about spiritual gifts and finding your place in the local body of the church. Find more information HERE.

Upside Down Influence Leader guides

• Here is a handy guide on how to study the Bible that may help you!
• To view the sermons and the sermon notes, visit our sermon archives
• ACTS PRAYER MODEL PDF
• BIBLE HACKS STUDY RESOURCES
• SEVEN BIBLICAL GENRES (Bible Hacks Series)