Devotional Guide 2013

7/30/2019 Devotional Guide 2013

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GOSPELA GUIDE FOR DEVOTIONAL TIME


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A GUIDE FOR

DEVOTIONAL TIME.

Te ollowing is intended to help guide you through spending time with

God. Te elements o preparation, prayer, and bible study are set up to

create a fow that will help you engage God and his word. Remember, the

goal o your devotional time is not simply knowledge increase, but to meet

with and worship God.

Preparation:

Identiy and prioritize time in your daily schedule to develop your personal

relationship with God. Start small (10 min.) to build the habit, but dont

be surprised when this expands to 30 minutes or an hour. Grab your bible

and something to take notes with and head to a quiet location where you

can ocus. As you get settled, take on an attitude o expectation and humil-ity. Know that you will receive something o value rom the Lord, and be

ready to have his wisdom change your lie.

Opening Prayer:

Begin by meditating on God and the gospel. Tink about how great it isthat he has provided a way or you to be in relationship with him. Tink

about the act that you are meeting with your Creator and are going to

speak to him as a riend. Tink about his wisdom, love, power, and other

attributes that have allowed this moment to happen. Pray along the lines

o these verses:


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Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxiousthoughts. See i there is any oensive way in me, and lead me in the wayeverlasting.Psalm 139:23-24

Open my eyes that I may see wonderul things in Your law.Psalm 119:18

Bible Reading:

Now open up the Bible and listen to the words God has communicated tohis people or all time. It is all God-breathed and useul or your lie, so

it doesnt matter where you start. In conjunction with this sermon series,let me recommend the Gospel o John. From August 22-October 2nd,reading a chapter a day, you can read John twice. Here is a list o questions

that will be useul to answer in your notes as you hear rom Gods word:

1. What happens beore and ater this passage that will help us understandit better?

2. Were there any repeated words and phrases in this passage?

3. What do you learn about God rom this passage?

4. What do you think is the main point that the author is trying to com-municate in this passage?

5. What issues in your lie, or in the world, do you think this passage ap-plies to? How so?

*Write these things down and keep a record of them! You will no doubt be able tolook back and see Gods goodness and faithfulness in your life. Also, pick phrases

from the passage or your summary to dwell on throughout the day.

Closing Prayer:

Now that youve heard rom Gods voice, its your time to interact with himabout it. Pray that you would come to embody his words, as Jesus did. Tisis also your time to bring your requests beore God and ask or guidance


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and wisdom to do the things that he has called you to do (James 1:5). In-clude the Gospel Prayer as part o your devotional time during this series:

1. In Christ, there is nothing I could do to make you love me more; and

nothing I have done that makes you love me less.

2. You are all I need today or everlasting joy.

3. As you have been to me, so I will be to others.

4. As I pray, Ill measure Your compassion by the cross and your power bythe resurrection.

Example: John 13:1-38

1. What happens beore and ater this passage that will help us understandit better?

Tis passage reminded me o another verse in John- Greater love has no

one than this, that someone lay down his lie or his riends. John 15:13.Its hard not to think o Jesus serving his disciples in love without thinkingo the ultimate service that he provided or them on the cross. It is alsostriking in the narrative here that Jesus is serving the disciples who had attimes quibbled about who would sit at Jesus right hand and some o whom

were about to betray and deny him. Jesus knew that, and he still servedthem amazing. Also, Jesus is about to die, and these chapters (12-17)

include his nal statements to the disciples.

2. Were there any repeated words and phrases in this passage?

Love is ound throughout, primarily in verse 1 which is a commentaryrom the narrator, and verse 34-35 which seems to be a theme statemento Jesus teaching. Being washed or clean seems to be a central theme.

Jesus says here that I I do not wash you, you have no share with me. I

will pray that Jesus washes me, so that I can be a part o him and what heis doing in the world. Tis adds a degree o meaning to baptism, I think.


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3. What do you learn about God rom this passage?

Jesus is God in the fesh, and he stoops to the lowest o the low, doingslave work. I hes not too good or that kind o service, then neither am I.

Verse 1 harkens back to my point in answer number 1, that Jesus also hada covenant love with the disciples. Tey ailed him a ton, but he lovedthem to the end.

4. What do you think is the main point that the author is trying to com-municate in this passage?

I think the main point is pretty well summed up in John 13:34-35 which

basically says, love others as I have loved you. Tats the part o the Gospelprayer that says As you have been to me, so I will be to others. Love andservice are keys to Christian community as taught and demonstrated by

Jesus.

5. What issues in your lie, or in the world, do you think this passage ap-plies to? How so?

I denitely think this is a challenge to me (and really anyone) when think-ing about co-workers, roommates, and spouses. Te cornerstone ethic oservice that ollowers o Christ need to display cuts against our nature andour culture. Living like this will be a struggle, but I can envision the beautyo a community that lives this way. Lord, give me the strength to startliving this way in my home, that I would choose a Christ-like posture oservice with my wie and amily. Lord, help me nd ways to embody this

ethic at my job, to be creative in how I can serve my co-workers.

Documents

Devotional Guide 2013