Day 27

One of my favorite movies growing up was Aladdin. I'm sure you know it but in case you don't, a street rat named Aladdin, despised by all, found a magic lamp with a genie inside. The genie snapped his fingers and all of a sudden, Aladdin's life was a lot better off (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd07uvkTeKo).

A lot of people think of the Living God as a genie. Sad but true. They make a request (or sometimes a demand) and expect the Living God to do their bidding. But there are a lot of times when the Living God doesn't do what we want him to or he waits. We act like terrorists saying, "God, you'd better do this or else I won't believe in you." But those moments are where our faith can really be tested- not when everything is going our way but rather when it seems like nothing is going our way- will we still cling to the fact that the Living God is good, all the time even if our circumstances are not or will we throw the Living God under the bus so to speak...

Spend 5 minutes thanking the Living God for some of his characteristics (Creator, Savior, loving, merciful, just, poweful, etc.). Ask him to soften your heart and to shape you through His Word...

Check out Psalm 27; Psalm 69; Psalm 107; Exodus 2:23-25

1. Have you ever experienced a time when you felt like the Living God was ignoring you or your suffering or that He was far away and couldn't see what was going on? What was happening that caused you to feel that way?
2. What are some common things you see in all 4 of today's passages? What was happening in all of them? What was the response of the people?
3. Ultimately, what was the Living God's response (especially in the case of the Exodus passage, check out Exodus 19:3-6)?
4. How can these passages help us in tough times, especially when we're doubting the Living God?
5. Is there something in your life right now that is tough for you to face? How are you responding to the Living God? How should you and could you respond according to these passages?
6. Check out Acts 16:19-34. What had happened to Paul and Silas? What was their response to their situation (v. 25)? What happened next? How did the jailer respond (or how did the Living God use Paul and Silas' response for his purposes)?
7. Read Romans 8:28. How does this play into this study on being patient with the Living God and what is happening? What does the Living God do with everything that happens to us, both the good and the bad?

Take some time and memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:18- "give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". Remember it next time you're feeling down because of what's happening in life. Take some time to give thanks to the Living God.

Peace.

Richard

Day 26

In the last entry, we read a passage that alluded to cleaning the outside of a cup and leaving the inside dirty. As we discussed, it's easy to focus on outward behavior and most religions emphasize outwards actions. But Jesus wants to get to the heart of the matter. As CS Lewis puts it in Mere Christianity:

The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says ‘Give me all. I
don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your
work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it.
No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a
branch there, I want to have the whole tree down…Hand over the natural self, all
the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the
whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you
Myself: my own will shall become yours

It's an inward heart thing that then flows out into everything else that we do. So let's look at that transformation a little closer today.

Ask the Living God to make your heart new. Spend 2 minutes just talking with the Living God and sharing what's going on in life. Then spend 5 minutes just listening to him.

Check out Hebrews 4:12; Proverbs 4:20-27; Matthew 12:33-37; 1 Peter 1:22-23; Philippians 4:4-9; Psalm 119 (yep the whole thing).

1. What is the word of God compared to? What does it do? This passage refers to both the written Scriptures and to Jesus (often referred to as the Word). How does reading Scripture help us encounter Christ and be transformed according to this? How deep inside us does it go?
2. What advice are we given in Proverbs 4:20-27? What are we instructed to do "above all else"?
3. How does Jesus echo that advice in Matthew 12:33-37? How can we be made into good trees? How can we have our hearts transformed?
4. How does 1 Peter 1:22-23 explain the way that we are purified?
5. What protects and guards our hearts and minds?
6. How can we gain the "peace of God" according to Philippians 4:4-9 (list at least 3, there are at least 4)?
7. Congratulations on making it through Psalm 199- the longest chapter in the English Bible. What is the psalmist's attitude towards the Scriptures, or the Law?
8. What does the psalmist recommend in verse 9-16 to keep ourselves pure and be purified?
9. Count how many times the Psalmist mentions the Law/Scriptures/Precepts of the Lord. Do you think it/they were a big deal to him?
10. Is Scripture a priority for you? Why or why not? What can you do to make Scripture more of a priority for you?

Take some time to thank the Living God for speaking to us and making us pure. Confess anything that needs confessing and ask Him to show you ways to obey Him today.

Peace

Richard

Day 25 (or Day 27)

As we develop self-control, goodness, love, etc. then we'll see some major changes in our hearts and in our lives. Others will notice the change too- especially when we start to get a handle on some of the things we'll look at today- our tempers, jealousy and the other ugly monsters we deal with...



Spend some time praying to the Living God and sharing any concerns or fears you have about following him or from stresses that you're facing.



Check out 1 Peter 1:13-2:3; Colossians 3:1-14; Genesis 4:3-8; Galatians 5:16-26.

1. 1 Peter 2:1 begins with a "Therefore." What is the motivation for us getting rid of the list in 2:1? (check out the verses preceding 2:1, namely 1 Peter 1:13-25)
2. Do you realize that you are made holy (set apart and purified)? How does knowing that change the way you approach your life?
3. What is the spiritual milk Peter is referring to in 1 Peter 2:3?
4. What comparisons do you see between new/young Christians and a newborn baby? How does that apply in your own spiritual journey/faith walk?
5. What advice does the Colossians passage offer for overcoming our sin?
6. Most people focus on outward things when it comes to being a Christian- the do's an don'ts. While the do's and don'ts have their place, the Living God is much more concerned with cleaning our hearts and minds (like cleaning the inside of a cup in Matthew 23:23-28) because he knows the actions [do's and don'ts] will get taken care of if they're flowing out of a pure heart. That's the challenge- how do we get our hearts and minds pure and keep them that way?
7. What can we learn about our anger from Genesis 4:3-8? Especially from verse 7. Do we have to choose sin or can we choose to resist sin? Is that an easy decision (or easy follow through on the decision)?
8. What the two ways of living in Galatians 5:16-26? We can either live by the ______ or live by the _______ ________. Which do you think you've been living by? Why did you answer that way?
9. Look at the lists in verse 19-21 and 22-23. Which list most closely resembles your daily life?
10. How do verses 24-25 offer us a way to live by the Spirit?

Take some time asking the Living God to crucify your sinful nature and keep it on the cross so that you can live by the Spirit. Ask him to show you some specific things you can do to crucify your sinful nature and live by the Spirit.

Peace.

Richard

Day 23 (on Day 26)

There are a lot of times when I hear young people (and older people) say that they wouldn't do "this" or "that" or say "this" or "that" (usually in reference to swearing) in a "church" or a "holy place". But when we remember from Day 22 that we, ourselves, are the Living God's Holy dwelling place that he is creating and forming that changes things. Now it's no longer, I can do certain things certain places but instead, I have to live a certain way everywhere and anytime. So with that, the next couple of days we are going to focus on the changes that need to take place in us if we're following Christ. Some of it will involve language, some of it will involve attitudes, some of it will involve actions- all of it will involve change.

Take some time to thank the Living God for what he's doing and ask him to reveal an area or two in your life that you need transformed in...

Check out 2 Peter 1:3-11; James 3-4; Titus 2:11-14

1. What are we promised in 2 Peter 1:3-4 (there are a couple of promises that are related to one another)?
2. Verse 5 begins with "For this very reason..." For what reason should we work on verses 5-11? (hint: check out the end of verse 4 for the two reasons).
3. What are the 8 things we are to add to our lives in this passage? How do you think we go about adding them?
4. If you begin to add and possess those qualities, what will happen according to verse 8? What might we do if we don't add those things? What could happen as a result of that according to verse 10?
5. So should we begin with just trying to love everyone? If not, where should we begin going off of this passage?
6. James 3-4 is a loaded passage. Read through it 2 more times.
7. What is the hardest thing for us to control? Do you struggle with controlling it? Do you know people that say they're followers of Jesus but they "praise our Lord and Father, and with it [they] curse men"? Do you struggle with that sometimes. (and cursing men doesn't just mean using swear words, it means cutting people down with your words).
8. What are we called to do in chapter 4:7-10? How can we do that? How can you do that today?
9. Have you ever submitted to the Living God? When was the last time you did? We should strive to live every moment in submission to the Living God because that's part of abiding in Him (remember John 15 and the vine analogy)...
10. What does the "grace of God" do for us/to us in this passage from Titus? It's more than just forgiveness right? What is it in addition to forgiveness?
11. What is he redeeming us and purifying us for according to verse 14?

Ask the Living God to give you more of his grace to purify and strengthen you to do "good" today to people. Think of some specific things you could do today and tomorrow before your parents, teachers, or friends ask you to...

Day 22

We have learned that we enter into a new community through our baptism. In this new community, we are called and expected to be a "Kingdom of priests." We also learned that our function as priests is to worship (the literal translation of worship from the Bible is "adoration")the Living God in our daily lives by the way we live and treat others. We are commissioned to live "such good lives" among unbelievers that they will praise the Living God. Today we're going to continue looking at this theme of continuous worship by looking at what happens in us as it compares to what happened in the Temple in Jerusalem prior to the crucifixion.

Take some time to adore ("worship") the Living God through praising what he does and what he has done in your life and in our world.

Check out Matthew 27:51; Acts 17:24; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Revelation 21:22.

1. What happened in Matthew 27:51? Why is this significant for us as we consider worshipping in spirit and truth?
2. Read Paul's speech in Acts 17:22-34. What does he have to say about the dwelling place of the Living God (the "unknown God" in this particular passage)? Does the Living God dwell in things crafted by men or women?
3. What are our bodies according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 and 6?
4. How does that change your view of your body?
5. How do those two passages impact your view of the Living God being present with you or not present?
6. How do these passages shift the debate about worship from something "in our hearts" to something in our whole being, including our bodies? (or another way to look at it- that worship isn't just in our minds or emotions but also in the physical realm)
7. How does that impact how and when you worship?
8. Where is the Temple in the city in Revelation 21:22? Why is there no temple?
9. Based on our work and reflection today, is there anything wrong with the statements, "I'm going to St. Peters First Community Church to worship," "Let's invite God to join us this morning," or "That was a great time of worship today." How would you rewrite these statements to bring them more in line with our reflection today?

Spend some more time adoring (worshipping) the Living God through your words. Then go and worship the Living God in the world by the way you treat others and through your actions today, tomorrow, and the next...

Peace.

Richard

Day 21 (on Day 22)

We looked at the type of new community that we are invited into by the Living God yesterday. One of the key words that Scripture uses to describe the people of the Living God is "priests." have you ever thought of yourself as a priest? Most people don't but as we discovered yesterday, if we follow the Living God, he expects us to be his priests in creation. One of the main roles of a priest is to lead people in true worship of the Living God. In the Old Testament, this involved sacrifices but Jesus took care of that for us (like we looked at on Day 15) so we don't do sacrifices anymore (animal or otherwise). So what do we do as priests? How do we lead others in worship and glorifying the Living God?

Spirit of the Living God, soften our hearts and teach us today. We come today to learn from you what it means to serve you as your Kingdom priests in your world today? Shape us into priests that worship and glorify you and help others to do the same...

Check out John 4:22-24; Romans 12 (whole chapter); Colossians 3:12-17

1. What kind of worshippers is the Living God looking for?
2. Based on Jesus' statement in John 4:22 that the Samaritans worship what they do not know, what do you think it means to worship in truth?
3. Let's speculate about what it means to worship in spirit. What is your spirit? Is your spirit connected to your body? How do you worship in spirit?
4. What "sacrifice" are we supposed to offer in Romans 12:1-2? What do you think it means to offer our lives as "living sacrifices"?
5. After reading the rest of Romans 12 (verses 3-21), do you think Paul (the guy who wrote it) is elaborating on what it means to offer our lives as "living sacrifices"? What are some of the ways he tells us to offer ourselves?
6. Revisit Colossians 3:12-17. What similar items do you see in Paul's list in Colossians as in Romans 12?
7. Based on those lists, what are some ways that you (yes you) can offer yourself as a "living sacrifice" today and tomorrow in your home or in your school? Be specific.
8. Check out 1 Peter 2:12 again. If we live in a way that honors the Living God, what will be "pagans" (or people that don't believe in Jesus) response to Jesus?

It's pretty amazing how the Living God equates the way we live with our worship of him. And how cool is it that the way we live is the greatest tool we have for introducing our family and friends to the Living God. Live in such a way today and tomorrow and the day after that others around you will praise the Living God for your impact in their life.

Ask the Living God to show you opportunities to offer your life as a living sacrifice in an act of Love to Him and to those around you.

Peace

Richard

Day 20 (on Day 21)

Continuing on. While baptism marks an important step (maybe even a starting point) for living in a way that honors Jesus, it's far from the last step. Baptism marks out an invitation for us from the Living God to join a new community that he is establishing to carry out his plans and purposes on earth.

Take a moment to spend some time asking the Living God to continue working out his plan for you and for our community.

Check out Exodus 19:3-6; 1 Peter 2:1-12; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-35; Galatians 6:1-2.

1. What kind of terms are used to describe the Living God's people in the Exodus and 1 Peter passages?
2. What is the function of a priest? Are these passages written to every Christian or just "fulltime ministers" (people like me that work for churches)?
3. If it's written for all Christians, how do you think you could be used as a "priest"?
4. What are we chosen to do as "priests" according to 1 Peter 2:10?
5. Rewrite verses 11 and 12 in your own words. Insert your name for "Dear friends."
6. Describe the early Christian gatherings that are recorded in Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35. What are things that they did together?
7. Where do you see those things do you see in your Christian gathering times (church, youth group, or campus life)?
8. Which of them are missing?
9. Revisit Galatians 6:1-2. Was everyone in the early church gatherings the same (were they all rich or all poor, Jewish or not, white or otherwise)?
10. How do you see that in your Christian gathering times (church, youth group, or campus life)?
11. What unified the early church to cause such a diverse (lots of differences) group to come together in such a tight knit way that they would care for each other like they did in Acts 2 and Acts 4?
12. What happened to the size of their groups as a result of their life together?(Acts 2:47)

Take time to ask the Living God to teach you more about the kind of community he is inviting you to be a part of. Ask him to show you how you can help form that kind of community in your faith routine. Thank him for those in your life who are working for the same kind of community.

Peace.

Richard