Spiritual Growth - Week 2 - Reading Your Bible

The Bible…it’s a hard read…almost 2000 pages, tiny print, and let’s be honest, piece by piece it’s not very exciting. Even more, it’s a story we know. Most of us have been told the same stories over and over again…why? 

• Why read the Bible?
• When you think about the Bible, about studying it, and about reading it, what are some thoughts that come to mind?
• What keeps us from knowing the Bible as well as we should?

It's daunting. We don't understand the words or the big picture. It was written a long time ago. Is it still relevant? Read the following passages. What do they say about the importance of God’s word? 

John 6:63

John 14:23-24

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We don’t read scripture just because we are supposed to or just because it draws us closer to God (although it will), but we read because it gives us life, it shows God our love for him, it reveals the truth, and God uses it to prepare us for what he has in store in each of us. God has been writing this We are all a part of his story.

Watch the Thread

The Bible, although not written in chronological order exactly is one big story. It’s God’s story, but it’s our story. Think of an author who writes a book and you are the character in that book. The Author knows the beginning, the end and everything in between. Generally, in the end of a book, things turn out ok for the main characters. As a character, we only know what’s happening to us right now. That’s kind of what it’s like with God. God is the author of our story. He knows the path we will take, the beginning and the end for each of us. God knows us better than we know us and getting to know him will help us understand us better.

Small Groups

Read Psalm 119:172-174.

·         When we talked about our thoughts toward Scripture earlier, did any one mention singing about the Bible? What does this say about the way the psalmist feels about God’s Word?

·         But what does this passage say about God’s commands?

·         Do you delight in God’s Word? If not why not? What needs to happen for you to begin to “delight” in it? 

·         God has given the Bible to us so that we could know Him and His ways. What changes do you need to make in your life to begin to read the Bible more?

So, we have a choice: we can choose to continue to be in the dark about what we believe (which is really no way to believe at all), or we can choose to truly embrace knowing God’s Word. Check out the current Bible reading plan we are doing as a church and considering joining us on the journey to know God's word better. 

Spiritual Growth - Week 1 - HS/MS

Over the next few weeks, our high school and middle school youth groups will be discussing how we grow spiritually. Just like we grow physically as we get older, we grow spiritually as we draw near to God and He reveals himself to us. We are all familiar with the passage from Jeremiah 29:11 – “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The Lord goes on to say – “’Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (vv.12-13) We know that we can’t be in relationship with someone if we don't spend time with them. It’s the same in our relationship with God. We have to spend time with him in order to get to know who He is and his plan for our lives. There are a few ways scripture suggests we get to know him. The first one we are going to talk about is prayer.

·         What is the purpose of prayer?

While the Bible doesn't give direct answers to everything we face, there are some questions that have pretty clear answers. One of those is why we ought to prayer pray and for those of us who don't think we know how to pray - Jesus gives us an example in Matthew 6:9-13:

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

·         What pattern does Jesus use here? Find where he praises, gives thanks, and where he requests.

·         What are some ways we can pray?

o   Silence – listening instead of talking

o   Singing -

o   Arrow Prayers

o   Psalms

o   ACTS

§  Adoration

§  Confession

§  Thanksgiving

§  Supplication (requests)

Matthew 6:5-13

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Questions to Consider:

• If God knows what we need, why do we pray?
• 1 Thessalonians 5 :17-18 - 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
• James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
• How does prayer change the way you think about God? What impact does prayer have on your faith?
• Have you ever seen God change a situation after you prayed about it? How did it affect your desire to pray about other things?

We closed our time with three different prayer stations for Thanksgiving, Confession, and Supplication.