Deep Walk
It's funny how much some things stay the same. More than 2,000 years ago, people wondered and debated about who Jesus is. They were confused by people who claimed to follow Him but didn't look much like Him, and their confidence was shaken as to whether the life of a Christ-follower could really be known, experienced, and depended on. As the first century was coming to a close, the Apostle John penned a letter to affirm the truth of the Gospel and the way it can transform our lives, relationships, and faith!
5. For Sure
FEB 3--The longer you live, the more profoundly aware we become of the fact that we really aren't in control of our lives. Sure, we all try to minimize risk and manage outcomes, but in truth there is not much we can do. If you let that run away with your thoughts, it would be easy to lose focus and hope. But God is in the hope business and the "for sure" business. What are those anchor points in our life that we know will hold for sure?
- Where do you place your hope?
- Describe how you integrate God’s will with your prayers. How can we make them align more closely?
- Describe the ways your life has been transformed in the past year? Where do you see God at work in your life?
- What is God saying to you about how you can trust him and not be afraid?
4. Square Faith
JAN 27--As he closes out his letter, John returns to the importance of true belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Our understanding of who Jesus is and what He did is central to our faith. It's the foundation that everything else rests upon. If our beliefs about Jesus aren't in line with the truth, everything else can end up off-center.
3. Inside Out
JAN 20--Almost nobody likes tests! The risk and fear of being "evaluated" is stressful. When John outlines tests by which we can measure whether we belong to God, how can we be anything but stressed?
- What is your DNA? How do you know?
- What would you say best describes what you abide in?
- How has your life, attitudes or beliefs been shaped by where you abide?
- Describe what it would mean for you to embrace the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
2. What Kind of Love?
JAN 12--In 1965, Jackie DeShannon released the blockbuster hit, "What the World Needs Now." It was recorded in the midst of a time of unrest and confusion. The truth is, the world is still desperately in need of love. We all feel it, we sense it, we long for it. But what kind of love do we really need?
- In what ways has the Gospel moved into a central place in your life?
- What are some of the ways that experiences have been more important to you than truth?
- What is the danger of clinging to truth without experiencing Christ?
- What is God saying to you about what you heard today? What will you do about it?
1. Testing
JAN 5--All of us are pretty experiential people. When it comes to faith, we are looking for something that engages more than just our minds. We want to see it, touch it, feel it. We want to really know it. That is good and authentic. But when experiences begin to define our reality entirely, how do we decide what is true and good? There are all kinds of teachers, truths, and spiritual experiences going on out there; learning to know the power behind them is critical!
- In what ways has the Gospel moved into a central place in your life?
- What are some of the ways that experiences have been more important to you than truth?
- What is the danger of clinging to truth without experiencing Christ?
- What is God saying to you about what you heard today? What will you do about it?
