Word Analysis and Overview (John 17:1-26)
Only Jesus has authority to give eternal life.
What do you suppose the difference in your life would be if every action and attitude were a response of faith? A response of submission to God's will?
What gifts has Jesus given you as one of his own?
How much time do you spend thinking about what you have in Christ?
When was the last time you thanked Jesus for specific gifts He's given to you?
Jesus' Prayer Concerning Himself (John 16:17-33)
God is glorified when we complete the work He gives us.
How much time do you spend talking to God each day?
What is the main focus of you conversation? Is it more about Him and His glory or more about you?
How much time do you spend each day listening to God through His word?
What has God given to you that you need to get busy doing?
What have you seen God do though you that has brought Him glory?
How is your life giving glory to God?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
From Grief to Joy (John 16:5-33)
Optimism In Spite of The Obvious (John 16:5-16)
Jesus is more 'visible' now than when he walked the earth.
What advantages have you experienced because Jesus is not physically here on earth?
How have you experienced the Holy Spirit's conviction and what are the results?
Confusion to Confidence (John 16:17-33)
With Jesus, peace is possible in the midst of imperfect circumstances.
How has God been answering your prayers lately, or has He?
If He hasn't, is it because you haven't been asking?
What should you be praying for that you currently are not?
When was the last time you experienced joy?
What does the fact that “Jesus overcame the world” mean to you? And how does it effect your peace?
Jesus is more 'visible' now than when he walked the earth.
What advantages have you experienced because Jesus is not physically here on earth?
How have you experienced the Holy Spirit's conviction and what are the results?
Confusion to Confidence (John 16:17-33)
With Jesus, peace is possible in the midst of imperfect circumstances.
How has God been answering your prayers lately, or has He?
If He hasn't, is it because you haven't been asking?
What should you be praying for that you currently are not?
When was the last time you experienced joy?
What does the fact that “Jesus overcame the world” mean to you? And how does it effect your peace?
Fellowship With God (1 John 1:1-5:12)
Light and Darkness (1 John 1:1-2:27)
Light and dark don't mix.
How do you deal with sin in your life?
How is your fellowship with God?
Would you consider yourself to have overcome the world or has it overcome you?
The Life of Righteousness (1 John 2:28-4:6)
Righteousness is received through faith in Jesus and lived out in practical obedience..
What assurance do you have of being saved?
Which part of this two-fold command, believe and love, are you lacking?
How prepared are you for Jesus return? What is it that makes you prepared?
What teachings are you holding onto that cannot be backed up with Scripture? Will you ask God to give you discernment?
Love Perfected in Us (1 John 4:7-5:12)
True love can only be experience in relation to God..
Do you have life, if so, how did you receive it?
Do you love God, if so, how is that reflected in the way you treat others?
Light and dark don't mix.
How do you deal with sin in your life?
How is your fellowship with God?
Would you consider yourself to have overcome the world or has it overcome you?
The Life of Righteousness (1 John 2:28-4:6)
Righteousness is received through faith in Jesus and lived out in practical obedience..
What assurance do you have of being saved?
Which part of this two-fold command, believe and love, are you lacking?
How prepared are you for Jesus return? What is it that makes you prepared?
What teachings are you holding onto that cannot be backed up with Scripture? Will you ask God to give you discernment?
Love Perfected in Us (1 John 4:7-5:12)
True love can only be experience in relation to God..
Do you have life, if so, how did you receive it?
Do you love God, if so, how is that reflected in the way you treat others?
Connected to the Vine (John 15:1-16:4)
Persistent and Productive (John 15:1-8)
Authentic fruit cannot be fabricated or faked.
Fresh fruit is the only positive indicator of the condition of the branch.
Can you name times in the past when your life was more fruitful than it is today? Why is that? Have you strayed from the vine?
What areas of “remaining in Christ” do you struggle with most? Bible study? Prayer? Dependence on him? A combination of all these?
A Legacy of Love (John 15:9-17)
Nothing models Jesus better than a life of love.
What kind of a legacy of love are you leaving? What can you do, starting now, to make that legacy better?
Persecution and Proclamation (John 15:18-16:4)
Persecution is a mark of identity with Christ.
What are you doing to prepare for persecution?
Are you insulating yourself from the possibility?
Or are you accepting the inevitability and trying to draw strength from the vine?
How would you rate yourself at testifying for Jesus?
When was the last time you were rejected or put down because of Jesus?
If never, why not? Is it because nobody knows? Do you fit in too much with the world? Do you need to broaden your circle of friends? Or do you not even belong to Jesus?
Authentic fruit cannot be fabricated or faked.
Fresh fruit is the only positive indicator of the condition of the branch.
Can you name times in the past when your life was more fruitful than it is today? Why is that? Have you strayed from the vine?
What areas of “remaining in Christ” do you struggle with most? Bible study? Prayer? Dependence on him? A combination of all these?
A Legacy of Love (John 15:9-17)
Nothing models Jesus better than a life of love.
What kind of a legacy of love are you leaving? What can you do, starting now, to make that legacy better?
Persecution and Proclamation (John 15:18-16:4)
Persecution is a mark of identity with Christ.
What are you doing to prepare for persecution?
Are you insulating yourself from the possibility?
Or are you accepting the inevitability and trying to draw strength from the vine?
How would you rate yourself at testifying for Jesus?
When was the last time you were rejected or put down because of Jesus?
If never, why not? Is it because nobody knows? Do you fit in too much with the world? Do you need to broaden your circle of friends? Or do you not even belong to Jesus?
Love & Peace (John 14:15-31)
Love (John 14:15-26)
Love without obedience is an oxymoron.
Obedience requires understanding and direction from the Holy Spirit.
How well are you doing in the area of obedience in the things you know you should do?
How well are you doing at discovering new areas of obedience?
How are you doing at seeking God's wisdom, guidance, and endurance in the power of the Holy Spirit?
Peace (John 14:27-31)
Peace from God is dependent on peace with God.
What do you think when you read things in the Bible that are promised but you haven't personally experienced yet?
Do you measure their reliability on the nature of the One whose word you're reading?
Do you have peace with God or are you still trying to find peace with God?
When was the last time you experienced peace in the middle of chaotic circumstances?
Love without obedience is an oxymoron.
Obedience requires understanding and direction from the Holy Spirit.
How well are you doing in the area of obedience in the things you know you should do?
How well are you doing at discovering new areas of obedience?
How are you doing at seeking God's wisdom, guidance, and endurance in the power of the Holy Spirit?
Peace (John 14:27-31)
Peace from God is dependent on peace with God.
What do you think when you read things in the Bible that are promised but you haven't personally experienced yet?
Do you measure their reliability on the nature of the One whose word you're reading?
Do you have peace with God or are you still trying to find peace with God?
When was the last time you experienced peace in the middle of chaotic circumstances?
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Solution to a Weak Prayer Life
One of the most challenging spiritual disciplines for many Christians is prayer. I know it's one of my weak points. I often catch myself working harder, running faster, studying more and forgetting all about prayer. Or maybe it's not forgetting, maybe it's conveniently putting aside the discipline I find most challenging.
No spiritual discipline comes without some effort. Effort against the flesh, which is in opposition to genuine spiritual pursuits. But like any other Christian activity, the less you do it, the less you want to do it. And the more you make it a priority, the more you crave it. I find the same principle true with studying the Bible. When I am not studying Scripture for a time, it is much easier to justify my neglect -- I don't crave the Word quite as much. I think the same is true with prayer. When I get busy doing what God wants me to be doing, but don't take time to pray, I become ineffective in my efforts, and my desires are not aligned like they should be, with the will of God.
I need to pray in order to solve my weak prayer life. And the more I spend in quiet prayer with God, the more I am in tune with the mind of God and the more I desire that prayer time with God.
Now why don't I just do that and stop writing on this blog?! I will!
No spiritual discipline comes without some effort. Effort against the flesh, which is in opposition to genuine spiritual pursuits. But like any other Christian activity, the less you do it, the less you want to do it. And the more you make it a priority, the more you crave it. I find the same principle true with studying the Bible. When I am not studying Scripture for a time, it is much easier to justify my neglect -- I don't crave the Word quite as much. I think the same is true with prayer. When I get busy doing what God wants me to be doing, but don't take time to pray, I become ineffective in my efforts, and my desires are not aligned like they should be, with the will of God.
I need to pray in order to solve my weak prayer life. And the more I spend in quiet prayer with God, the more I am in tune with the mind of God and the more I desire that prayer time with God.
Now why don't I just do that and stop writing on this blog?! I will!
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