Tag: devotional

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 4, Tuesday Threats to Biblical Friendships

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READ: EPHESIANS 6:12, PROVERBS 11:9, PROVERBS 11:13: SOAP: EPHESIANS 6:12

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NLT

  • What’s your takeaway from today? I would love to know your thoughts, which can be shared in the reply bar

We can guard ourselves against false friends, but we also need to remember who our real enemy is.

Read the rest of today’s LGG devotional

With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. – A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Proverbs 11:9 and 13

Personal REFLECTION QUESTION: HOW DOES BAD COMPANY CORRUPT GOOD MORALS?
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 4, Monday Counterfeit Friendships

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READ PROVERBS 17:9, ROMANDS 16:17-18, 2 TIMOTHY 3:2-5; SOAP: ROMANS 16:17-18

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. PROVERBS 17:9 NLT

For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:2-5 NLT

Paul’s Final Instructions

And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words, they deceive innocent people. Romans 16:17-18 NLT

The early church and our current churches face a similar problem: people who are only interested in serving themselves.

Read the rest of the LGG devotional

–What’s your takeaway from today? Feel free to leave your response in the reply bar

Personal Reflection Question: How can you ensure you are not a friend who creates obstacles and conflict in your relationships?

You can also check out today’s blog

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Friendship: Week 3, Friday The Need for Forgiveness

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READ: COLOSSIANS 3:12-14, EPHESIANS 4:32, AND PROVERBS 17:17; SOAP COLOSSIANS 3:12-14
Colossians 3:12-14 New Living Translation

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Ephesians 4:32 New Living Translation

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Proverbs 17:17 New Living Translation

A friend is always loyal,
    and a brother is born to help in time of need.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE-AWAY?

All of our friendships will require forgiveness at some point or another. – 

Read the rest of the LGG devotional here

You can read today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post at Love God Greatly – Online Women’s Bible Study Blog

REFLECTION QUESTION: WHY IS FORGIVENESS IMPORTANT IN FRIENDSHIP?
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 3, Tuesday Speak the Truth in Love

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READ: PROV. 27:5-6 AND 28:23, AND EPHESIANS 4:15-16; SOAP: EPHESIANS 4:15-16

Proverbs 27:5-6 New Living Translation

An open rebuke
    is better than hidden love!

6 Wounds from a sincere friend
    are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 28:23 New Living Translation

In the end, people appreciate honest criticism
    far more than flattery.

Ephesians 4:15-16 New Living Translation

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

What’s Your Take Away?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the reply box

In today’s reading, Paul encouraged the Ephesian Christians to practice truth in love – find out more from the LGG Devotional

https://lovegodgreatly.com/devotional-friendship-w3d2/
REFLECTION QUESTION: WHAT BENEFITS DO YOU THINK CAN COME FROM CHRISTIANS LEARNING TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE? Share your answer in the reply box

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 3, Monday — The Golden Rule

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READ: LUKE 6:31-36; SOAP: LUKE 6:31

Luke 6:31-36 New Living Translation

Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE AWAY? (scroll down and leave a reply)

Don’t forget to read the Blog and Devotional from Love God Greatly

REFLECTION QUESTION: HOW DO YOU WANT OTHERS TO TREAT YOU?

Feel free to share your answer in the comment bar
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 2, Wednesday Thicker Than Blood

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Read: 1 Samuel 18:1-4 and 1 Samuel 20; SOAP: 1 Samuel 18:1-4
1 Samuel 18:1-4 New Living Translation

Saul Becomes Jealous of David

 After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

1 Samuel 20 New Living Translation

Jonathan Helps David

David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. “What have I done?” he exclaimed. “What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?”

2 “That’s not true!” Jonathan protested. “You’re not going to die. He always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know my father wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!”

3 Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the Lord and by your own soul!”

4 “Tell me what I can do to help you,” Jonathan exclaimed.

Read David’s plan and the rest of the story

David and Jonathan are good examples of how strong a friendship can be when it’s rooted in a mutual love for God.

Read the full devotional here

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Friendship: Week 2, Tuesday — The Purpose of Biblical Friendship

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READ: JOHN 17:20-24; SOAP: JOHN 17:22-23
John 17:20-24 New Living Translation

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

When our friendships are defined by sacrificial love, they point to God’s sacrificial love for the world.

Read the full devotional

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Friendship: Week 1, Wednesday Sin’s Impact on Friendship

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READ: GENESIS 3:8-13 AND 4:6-8; SOAP: GENESIS 3:8

Genesis 3:8-13 New Living Translation

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

Do you think this first sin impacted the relationship that Adam and Eve had with each other? What about with God? If so, how?

Check out today’s LGG Devotional

Genesis 4:6-8 New Living Translation

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

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Friendship: Week 1, Day 2 — Created for Community

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Read: Genesis 2:18, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, and Matthew 18:20; SOAP Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Genesis 2:18 New Living Translation

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New Living Translation

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

This section of Ecclesiastes is on friendship, and it summarizes some of the beautiful benefits of living in community.

Read the full LGG devotional

Matthew 18:20 New Living Translation

For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

My take on it … Feel free to share yours in the comment bar.

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Friendship: Week 1, Monday Designed for Friendship

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Watch my Welcome to Week One of “Friendship” video 

https://youtu.be/6p44q-b8kMY
WEEK 1: OUR NEED FOR FRIENDSHIP
READ: GENESIS 1:26-27 AND 1 JOHN 1:3; SOAP: GENESIS 1:27

Genesis 1:26-27 New Living Translation

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

So God created human beings in his own image.
    In the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

1 John 1:3 New Living Translation

We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

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Don’t forget to share your SOAP, thoughts, or ANY questions you have in the comments below🙂

Love to you all and let’s commit to starting & finishing this study STRONG – TOGETHER!!!