Entries by tag: example
Scripture reading for December 14th: Hebrews 12,13; Jude
Read it online here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012,13;%20Jude
S:
Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
O:
The author is giving many instructions and warnings to believing Hebrews regarding living for God. This verse seems to give two related instructions. First, make sure people experience God's grace. Second, make sure you don't give people cause to get bitter, which might turn them and others from faith.
A:
This command caused me to ask myself a couple of questions. First, "How can I ensure that people experience the grace of Jesus when they interact with me?" Second, "What are ways I am tempted to behave that might cause others to become bitter, especially about God?" The answers to each are related. My example matters. If I am bitter or angry, if I act as though I'm not being treated fairly (by God), if I live as though He is not Lord of my life, then those around me will not experience God's grace through me. They will instead experience my bitterness and sin and be tempted to treat God and others with the same contempt.
God is reminding me that my actions and attitudes matter, not just for me in my personal relationship with God, but for others' relationship with God. I need to be diligent to ensure I can say to others (with my life, not just my words), "Follow me as I follow Christ." This is especially true with my family, because it is in the home that I am most tempted to be selfish or angry or bitter, yet my family needs to see the grace of Jesus in me all the time. That's a tall order.
P:
Holy Spirit of God, I want to share God's grace and not my brokenness with my family and others, but too often my own sinful nature rears its ugly head. Please keep changing me into the image of Christ. Help me to rely on Your Spirit and not myself so that those around me can receive Your grace through me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Read it online here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012,13;%20Jude
S:
Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
O:
The author is giving many instructions and warnings to believing Hebrews regarding living for God. This verse seems to give two related instructions. First, make sure people experience God's grace. Second, make sure you don't give people cause to get bitter, which might turn them and others from faith.
A:
This command caused me to ask myself a couple of questions. First, "How can I ensure that people experience the grace of Jesus when they interact with me?" Second, "What are ways I am tempted to behave that might cause others to become bitter, especially about God?" The answers to each are related. My example matters. If I am bitter or angry, if I act as though I'm not being treated fairly (by God), if I live as though He is not Lord of my life, then those around me will not experience God's grace through me. They will instead experience my bitterness and sin and be tempted to treat God and others with the same contempt.
God is reminding me that my actions and attitudes matter, not just for me in my personal relationship with God, but for others' relationship with God. I need to be diligent to ensure I can say to others (with my life, not just my words), "Follow me as I follow Christ." This is especially true with my family, because it is in the home that I am most tempted to be selfish or angry or bitter, yet my family needs to see the grace of Jesus in me all the time. That's a tall order.
P:
Holy Spirit of God, I want to share God's grace and not my brokenness with my family and others, but too often my own sinful nature rears its ugly head. Please keep changing me into the image of Christ. Help me to rely on Your Spirit and not myself so that those around me can receive Your grace through me. In Jesus' name, amen.
For Today's Bible reading, click the link.
S: Scripture: Choose one thing that stood out.
O: Observation: What does it say (context, audience, meaning, etc.)?
A: Application: What principles apply to me? How should my life be different moving forward?
P: Prayer: Speak to God about what He showed you.
Scripture reading for November 26th: Matthew 23-25
Read it online here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023,24,25
S:
Matthew 23:15 (NIV) Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
O:
This is one of many criticisms Jesus levels against the religious leaders of his time. They work hard to get converts and then turn them into people who are an offense to God and others. What a harsh criticism!
A:
One of the questions I think people consider as they consider the legitimacy of Christianity is this question: "Will becoming a Christian make me a better person?" They don't look at the life of Jesus to answer that question. (Nobody I know thinks Jesus was a jerk.) They look at my life and the lives of others who claim to follow Jesus Christ. The testimony of my life matters. Am I the kind of person who represents Jesus well? Does my life represent the kind of life Jesus intends for his people - one of humility, compassion, love, forgiveness, and sacrifice? If not, why should I ask others to consider the way of Jesus? Why would they consider Jesus if they look at my life and see selfishness, jealousy, and un-forgiveness? They shouldn't.
P:
Lord, I need your help every day to make me more and more like Jesus. Help others to see, through my life, and Jesus' life that His way is the best way to live. Amen.
Read it online here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023,24,25
S:
Matthew 23:15 (NIV) Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
O:
This is one of many criticisms Jesus levels against the religious leaders of his time. They work hard to get converts and then turn them into people who are an offense to God and others. What a harsh criticism!
A:
One of the questions I think people consider as they consider the legitimacy of Christianity is this question: "Will becoming a Christian make me a better person?" They don't look at the life of Jesus to answer that question. (Nobody I know thinks Jesus was a jerk.) They look at my life and the lives of others who claim to follow Jesus Christ. The testimony of my life matters. Am I the kind of person who represents Jesus well? Does my life represent the kind of life Jesus intends for his people - one of humility, compassion, love, forgiveness, and sacrifice? If not, why should I ask others to consider the way of Jesus? Why would they consider Jesus if they look at my life and see selfishness, jealousy, and un-forgiveness? They shouldn't.
P:
Lord, I need your help every day to make me more and more like Jesus. Help others to see, through my life, and Jesus' life that His way is the best way to live. Amen.
For Today's Bible reading, click the link.
S: Scripture: Choose one thing that stood out.
O: Observation: What does it say (context, audience, meaning, etc.)?
A: Application: What principles apply to me? How should my life be different moving forward?
P: Prayer: Speak to God about what He showed you.
Scripture reading for November 16th 2 Corinthians 2-6
Read it online here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%203,4,5,6
S:
2 Corinthians 3:2b,3 (NLT) Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
O:
Paul argues that he does not need to prove to anyone that his ministry is legitimate before God. The fact that there is a church in Corinth that knows and tries to follow Jesus Christ is evidence enough. What more could Paul do?!
A:
At first I was very frightened by this passage. I thought, "My church is my letter. Am I prepared for that? Have I done a good enough job of pointing them to Christ?" After my moment of panic, I got a grip. First of all, any transformation, positive changes, etc. were done by the Holy Spirit, not me. Secondly, I am very proud of the depth of character and spiritual maturity of our church family. I think of Paul's own words later in this passage 5:12b (NLT) No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. We may not have a flashy ministry at PRC but we have a lot of folks who have a sincere heart - both for God and for others. Finally, I remembered all the problems that existed in the church in Corinth - sexual immorality, favoritism, greed, idolatry, and so on. Yet, Paul still pointed to them as evidence of God using him (Paul) to build His (God's) kingdom. God sees and judges the heart. He knows where we are, individually and corporately. He knows where we've surrendered to the transforming work of His Spirit and where we've held on stubbornly to our old lives. The mere fact that we're engaged in that struggle within ourselves, with each other, and with God means we are His and He is doing a good work in us. That alone serves as our "credentials." And I rejoice too that He promised He will complete the good work he has begun in us (Philippians 1:6).
P:
I know my whole life is a testimony. The life of my church family is a testimony. I want it to be a clear testimony of the transforming work of God. I want it to reflect the glory of Christ unambiguously. I confess there are places in my life where I'm being stubborn. Please don't give up on me. Help me to model a life that is an open letter from God to others, inviting them to receive all that God has to offer through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read it online here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%203,4,5,6
S:
2 Corinthians 3:2b,3 (NLT) Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
O:
Paul argues that he does not need to prove to anyone that his ministry is legitimate before God. The fact that there is a church in Corinth that knows and tries to follow Jesus Christ is evidence enough. What more could Paul do?!
A:
At first I was very frightened by this passage. I thought, "My church is my letter. Am I prepared for that? Have I done a good enough job of pointing them to Christ?" After my moment of panic, I got a grip. First of all, any transformation, positive changes, etc. were done by the Holy Spirit, not me. Secondly, I am very proud of the depth of character and spiritual maturity of our church family. I think of Paul's own words later in this passage 5:12b (NLT) No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. We may not have a flashy ministry at PRC but we have a lot of folks who have a sincere heart - both for God and for others. Finally, I remembered all the problems that existed in the church in Corinth - sexual immorality, favoritism, greed, idolatry, and so on. Yet, Paul still pointed to them as evidence of God using him (Paul) to build His (God's) kingdom. God sees and judges the heart. He knows where we are, individually and corporately. He knows where we've surrendered to the transforming work of His Spirit and where we've held on stubbornly to our old lives. The mere fact that we're engaged in that struggle within ourselves, with each other, and with God means we are His and He is doing a good work in us. That alone serves as our "credentials." And I rejoice too that He promised He will complete the good work he has begun in us (Philippians 1:6).
P:
I know my whole life is a testimony. The life of my church family is a testimony. I want it to be a clear testimony of the transforming work of God. I want it to reflect the glory of Christ unambiguously. I confess there are places in my life where I'm being stubborn. Please don't give up on me. Help me to model a life that is an open letter from God to others, inviting them to receive all that God has to offer through Jesus Christ. Amen.
For Today's Bible reading, click the link.
S: Scripture: Choose one thing that stood out.
O: Observation: What does it say (context, audience, meaning, etc.)?
A: Application: What principles apply to me? How should my life be different moving forward?
P: Prayer: Speak to God about what He showed you.
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We just recently started attending PRC regularly and one of the things that we most appreciate and resonate with is the openness and authenticity of the leadership. The fact that you posted…