Posted in Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Preview

A LOOK AHEAD TO WEEK Five

As we move into week five we will get to see the unfolding story of Joseph. We will see his own dream as a teenager become a reality and once again see his unusual but extraordinary reaction to his brothers. We will watch as they bow down to him. We will see them leave one brother behind in prison in order to bring Benjamin to Joseph – and we will listen as they try to convince their father to let his youngest son go back with them to Egypt. We will witness Joseph’s affection for his betrayers and see a sacrificial love that the brothers have for each other and their father. We will witness Joseph’s revelation that he is their brother and the reunion with his father. We will even get to see how Pharaoh reacts to learning that Joseph’s brothers had arrived. The fears and challenges are great and the lessons are inspiring as we see the battle with trust run deep with Jacob and his ten sons, and then there’s Joseph’s beautiful declaration that God had meant it all for good. I would encourage you to sneak away to a quiet place today for about 30-minutes to read these chapters, 42-46:30. It’s 5 chapters and not nearly as long as you would think but well worth the read as a whole before focusing on them individually in the study. I promise it will be time well spent and I know your heart will be glad.

The feature verse

This week’s feature verse comes from day 2, and is found in 1 Peter 3. If you watch carefully throughout the week you will see how well it applies to the reactions and actions of Joseph.

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9
Challenge

This week we will focus on Joseph’s process of testing his brothers, as well as their reconciliation. Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile? Take steps to forgive them first, and then if possible seek reconciliation. Record how God works in your life and how you see His faithfulness in the process.

Our Memory Verse
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Faithful Love: Week 2 Preview

Faithful Love started off with a bang. If you weren’t familiar with the book of Hosea, you may have been surprised by God’s call on Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute, and to have children with her. You may have also found it surprising or even disheartening to read that he would no longer show mercy to Israel – and perhaps like me, you found hope in our Friday’s SOAP verse to learn that edict would not last forever. Whatever your thoughts, I hope you’re ready to dive into week 2 tomorrow, and I really hope you will take a minute to share whether you were surprised, disheartened, encouraged, or left with questions – or your overall takeaway from week one. I’m dying to know! 

PRAYER FOCUS: LET’S SPEND TIME PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTRY EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.

Week 2 Challenge: Are there any areas of your life that you have not surrendered in obedience to God? Take some time in prayer, asking God to show you the reason you’re clinging to old ways and to help you relinquish control.

Memory/Focus Verse: Psalm 47:8

Posted in LGG Study

“Know Love”: Week 4 – Friday

Question of the day: Obviously, as believers, we are to imitate what is good, but how do we know the difference between good and evil? Check out Hebrews 5:14 for the answer. To encourage others and help us grow in our faith and understanding please be sure to read and/or share your comments about today’s question or passage in the reply bar at the bottom of the page. Let’s spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Today’s Scripture: 3 John 9-15 (S.O.A.P. 11)

I wrote something to the church but Diotrephes who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing—the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church! 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.

12 Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink. 14 But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. 15 Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.

Posted in LGG Study

“Know Love”: Week 4 – Monday

To encourage others and help us grow in our faith and understanding please be sure to read and/or share your comments about today’s passage in the reply bar at the bottom of the page. Let’s spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Today’s Scripture: 2 John 1:5-8 (S.O.A.P. 2 John 1:6)

Warning Against False TeachersBut now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another. (Now this is love: that we walk according to His commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.

NEW: Prayer Focus for this week – Spend time praying for your church.

Posted in LGG Study

“Know Love”: Week 3 – Friday

According to verse 4, why did John rejoice greatly? Share your answer or a comment on today’s reading in the reply box at the bottom of the page. Or, simply let me know you’re participating in the study so that I can rejoice over you and encourage you along the way.

Today’s Scripture: 2 John 1-4 (S.O.A.P. 4)

Introduction and Thanksgiving From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), because of the truth  that resides in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth just as the Father commanded us.

Posted in LGG Study

“Know Love”: Week 3 – Thursday

John wanted believers to be confident in coming before God. What reason does he give for this confidence? Share your answer or a comment on today’s reading in the reply box at the bottom of the page.

Today’s Scripture: 1 John 5:13-21 (S.O.A.P. 1 John 5 14-15)

That You May Know 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to his will He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Posted in LGG Study

“Know Love”: Week 3-Monday

To encourage others and help us grow in our faith and understanding please be sure to read and/or share your comments about today’s passage in the reply bar at the bottom of the page.

Challenge: This week think of someone in your life with whom you can share the testimony of Jesus (1 John 5:11-12). Who in your life needs to hear this truth? Ask God to give you a clear opportunity this week to share your faith with this person and ask Him for boldness to share when the time arises.

NEW: Prayer Focus for this week – Spend time praying for your friends

Today’s Scripture: 1 John 4:12-19 (S.O.A.P 1 John 4:16)

12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in Him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because He first loved us.

Posted in LGG Study

“Know Love”: Week 2 – Thursday

To encourage others and help us grow in our faith and understanding please be sure to read and/or share comments about today’s passage below.

Today’s Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6 (S.O.A.P 1 John 4:4-5)

1Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a propheta acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 3But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

4But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 5Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. 6But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

Posted in LGG Study

“Know Love”: Week 2-Monday

To encourage others and us grow in our faith and understanding please be sure to post/share your comments about today’s passage in the reply bar at the bottom of the page.

Challenge: Take extra time this week to observe and interpret 1 John 3:19-20. How does our conscience condemn us? What does Romans 8:1-4 say about this? How do these truths affect what you believe about grace?

Today’s Scripture: 1 John 2:28-3:10 (S.O.A.P 1 John 2:28-29)

228 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. 29 Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life[a] is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.