Going Deeper

2010-02-25T16:00:00.001-08:00

As Each Day Ends

Day One:Listen to the following sermon called “A Biblical Understanding of Sleep”.

You’ll have to download it from this page.

http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/downloadFiles.aspx?key=Freed40591d8-7bee-46a1-b09d-c55138535e37

Whether you’re prone to enjoying too much sleep, or you have problems getting enough sleep, this sermon helped me in having a Biblical perspective on the subject. It’s a little longer, so you might want to listen to half of it today and half of it tomorrow.

Day Two:What do the following verses say about sleep?

Psalm 127:1-2
Psalm 3:5; 4:8
Proverbs 6:9-11, 20:13
Proverbs 3:19-24
Psalm 4:4

Spend time in prayer about how the Lord may be wanting you to change your sleeping habits.

Day Three: Read Chapter 6 in the Humility Book.

Spend twenty minutes in prayer. Tonight as you go to sleep, follow the suggestions given in this chapter.

Day Four: Pick a passage of scripture that speaks of God’s grace: saving grace, sanctifying grace, sustaining grace, serving grace, etc. Post on the Going Deeper blog what passage you chose. Then meditate on that passage today and as you’re falling asleep tonight.

Spend twenty minutes in prayer.

Day Five: Spend time memorizing the passage that you choose yesterday. Write down an application of this passage that you can share during our Tuesday morning breakfast at Denny’s.:) Spend more than twenty minutes in prayer today and be sure to pray for the other youth group and “Going Deeper” girls.

Grace and Truth

2010-02-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

Day one:
I know that you are studying the book of John. This study will go along with that.
Reread John chapter one and memorize John 1:14. Concentrate especially on the phrase “full of grace and truth”
Write the definition of grace:
Write the definition of truth:
John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Day two:
Reread John chapter one and concentrate on verse 17.
What does it mean that the law was given through Moses?
What does it mean that Jesus is full of grace and truth?
John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
What would a person be like who really loves and promotes the truth but doesn't show grace?
What would a person be like who really loves and promotes grace but doesn't value truth?

Day three:
Read 2 Cor. 4.
Concentrate on these verses:
2 Cor. 4:1,2 "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God."

This verse says that Paul was “Renouncing disgraceful ways”, what ways do you lack grace that you should work on?

Paul refused to “practice cunning or tamper with God's word” what ways have you sacrificed or softened the truth in order to be accepted by others?

Pray for opportunities to speak the truth of the Gospel to unbelievers without softening the truth, but also showing extreme grace and humility.

Day four:
Reread 2 Cor 4. Review the verse you memorized on day one.
Pray for opportunities to see evidences of grace and truth in other believers you know.
Praise God for those people and what God is doing in your life through them.
Ask God to help you grow in the area of demonstrating grace and truth to the believers around you.

Day five:
Read this excerpt from Thomas Watson's “The Beatitudes”
called: This perfume of free grace! Scroll down to find it.
pray for an hour.

Finish Strong!

2010-01-28T06:07:00.000-08:00

Day One:
The book of 2Timothy was written by Paul as he awaited execution. Read all four chapters of this book and make a list of things he is concerned about even while he is facing his own death.

In your prayer time today, ask God to give you an eternal mindset so that you could be more concerned about these things too.

Day Two:
Read 2Tim. 1 three times. Who is this letter written to? He warns against fear. Go through chapter one and write down all the ways to abolish fear.

In your prayer time today confess the sin of fear of man, or fear of circumstances, rejection, injury, death etc. And ask God to remind you to care more about the Gospel and God's glory than you do about your own self-protection.

Day three:
Read 2Tim. 2 three times. Paul is passing on his example of faithfulness in the face of suffering to someone younger who can do the same for others. How are you planning to do this?

What does he say about the soldier?

What does he say about the athlete?

What does he say about the farmer?

How can you apply these principles to your own experience?
In your prayer time commit to put aside something that has been a hindrance to what really matters, the Gospel.

Day Four:
Read 2Tim. 3 three times.
What are the last days like? Write out a list of things describing the last days.

What does Paul say is the only thing that is able to equip Timothy for every good work; it comes from the very breath of God?

Paul endured sufferings and persecutions to bring the truth of the Gospel to an evil world. This chapter tells us that it has only gotten worse since then. I believe the beginning of this chapter describes our world today. Are you willing to love these people and do you love God's glory enough to bring the truth to them no matter the cost to you?
Make this a focus of your prayer today.

Day Five:
Read 2Tim 4 three times.
What is the charge given to Timothy in the beginning of this chapter? He is to _____________________, being ready in season and out of season.

Paul is very sure about his life. He knows without a doubt that he lived it fully in obedience to his calling. (4:7,8) Can you say this about yourself?
Do you want to live the kind of life that brings you the assurance that Paul has here?

Make this a focus of your prayer today, that you want to be willing to be poured out completely for Jesus in this world, not holding back parts of your life for selfish, fleshly gain. Tell Him you want to finish strong!

My dream

2010-01-21T06:40:00.000-08:00

My dream is to take Amy P. and all you girls to California with me when it's winter here, and jump in the pool with our clothes on! Wanna plan it?

As Each Day Begins!

2010-01-20T14:40:00.001-08:00

Welcome back to a New Year!

Day One: Pray for an hour! I feel like this would be a good way to start off our lesson this week. Follow the previous “pray for an hour”(October 17th post) outline and be sure to include a time of heart examination before the Lord.

Day Two:Read chapter 5 in the Humility(true greatness) book. This is such a great chapter! It is filled with purposeful applications that will be helpful to all of us I’m sure.

-Write down the 6 Daily Practices that are listed in this chapter. Next to each daily practice write down a way/time/plan about how you will do these things.

-Spend time in prayer.

Day Three:Start off your day by reflecting on your purposeful application points above and be sure you follow through on them today!

-Let’s take the example of William Wilberforce by reading and meditating on Psalm 119 today. Read it in the morning before you start your day and then write down a section of verses that you can carry with you and meditate on throughout your day. At night, pray these verses back to the Lord.

Day Four:Apply purposeful application points!

-I was struck by the power of the words in the hymn that were mentioned in this chapter “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”. Read or sing through them now and really think about the words.

1. When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of Glory died;

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

save in the death of Christ, my God;

all the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to his blood.

3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far too small;

love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

“How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross?”-Carl Henry

“The cross never flatters us”-CJ Mahaney

-Read Psalm 119 through once more.

-Spend 20 minutes in prayer.

Day Five:Apply purposeful application points.

-How many times have we all read through 1 Peter this past year??? A lot! So, DO IT AGAIN!:)

-Memorize 1 Peter 5:6-7.

-Spend at least 20 minutes in prayer

-Please post a comment on the blog about how these purposeful application points have challenged you this past week! It will be an encouragement to all of us to hear from each other and it will cause us to pray for one another!

NEW POST

2010-01-15T13:38:00.000-08:00

Hey Girls! Amy P. here! GOING DEEPER will be up and running again next week. I pray that you all have been going just as deep in your devotional times even without this guide over your Christmas breaks. I also hope that you've been using the guide that was in the Fort booklet for follow-up devos since the retreat. Praying for you all and be sure to check out the blog on Wednesday for a NEW lesson!

The Humility of Christmas

2009-12-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

Day One:

Incarnation: Look this word up in the dictionary or click the link.

Write down the definition that describes what Christ did for us.

Read Philippians 2:1-11 three times.

Answer these questions:

1)Who wrote this book?

2)Who was he writing to?

3) How does he say that his joy will be made complete?

4)How does the word incarnation relate to this passage. List the verses and write the specific phrases that refer to this word, Incarnation.

Day two:

Read Phil. 2:1-11 again, three times. Memorize verse 3.

1) What did Christ leave behind when he took on the incarnation (verse6)?

2) What can you leave behind to take on your own humility?

3) What does verse 6 say Christ made himself?

4) What will be the outcome of Christ's acts of humility? (verse 9)

Day three:

Listen to this sermon excerpt from John Piper (very short).

What is the point of being born again?

What happens when you are born again?

Can you be born again without the incarnation of Christ?

Why is it so important to know about Christmas?

Day four: Read Phil. 2:1-11 and John chapter 1.

Listen to this sermon excerpt from John Piper (very short).

What should be the outcome of meditating on Philippians and John?

How are you going to demonstrate this to the people around you?

Pray and ask God to help you keep the magnificence of Christ's incarnation first in your heart today and at Christmas.

Have a Very Merry Christmas as you praise The Lord for the real reason Christ came.

2009-12-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

Day One: Read Chapter 4 in the Humility book.

-Memorize Mark 10:45 ad Matthew 20:28. if you haven’t already done that.

-”Consider your own life for just a moment. Where would you be today if He hadn’t ransomed you, if He hadn’t liberated you?” When you consider that, don’t you just want to praise Him?

-Spend 15 minutes JUST praising the Lord for His sacrifice, for saving you!

Day Two: Read Galatians chapters 1-2.

-Look at the questions in 1:10. “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man?”

-Answer the questions honestly. Is there an area of your life where you are not living for the glory of God alone but you’re trying to please yourself and others? The best thing you can do is to confess this to the Lord and seek accountability in this area. If that is your desire please e-mail “the Amys”(goingdeeper09@gmail.com) your response to these questions and a specific way that we can pray for you.

Day Three: Read Galatians chapter 2 again.

-Listen or Read this sermon by John Piper. I thought this was a good sermon to go along with all of the missionaries and Jesus lovers that we read about in last week’s lessons.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/sermons/byscripture/7/229_Gospel_to_the_Nations_Generosity_to_the_Poor/

-Comment on the Going Deeper blog about one thing that you learned from this sermon.

-Spend 20 minutes in prayer.

Day Four: Sorry, I know this is a lot of John Piper.:) READ the following sermon by John Piper. I handed you a copy of this on Wednesday, but here is the address in case you lost it.:) Please highlight and write notes in the margins where you feel needed to. If you have a question or a comment about something, write it on there! Underline points that stick out to you. MARK IT UP GOOD!:) Then, on Wednesday, bring it with you and give it to “the Amys”. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1989/672_Serving_the_Lord_with_Humility_Tears_and_Trials/

Stop at the line of asterisks. Below that it has more listings on how to serve the Lord as an elder, but you can just stop after the three points(humility, tears, trials). This sermon also reminded me of last weeks lessons and the great examples that we read about of people that showed awesome humility and still served the Lord until their death even through tears and trials.

-Spend 20 minutes in prayer.

Day Five:This is kind of a review day, but ask the Holy Spirit to make it fresh to you and to show you new things in God’s Word!

-Read again Galatians chapters 1 and 2.

-Reread and meditate your memorized verses(Mark 10:25 and Matthew 20:28)

-Do you still need prayer and accountability in some area? You can e-mail “the Amys”. Our desire is that you GROW! We want to pray for you, we want to hold you accountable!

-Read over the notes/comments/underlined areas that you wrote on your sermon from day four.

-Spend 20 minutes in prayer.

Missionary Short Biographies: humility and spreading the Gospel

2009-12-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

Day One:

Read this short biography on David Brainard
http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biobrain.html

How did he show humility?

What did you learn from his life? Find three things.

Post them in the comment section on Thursday.

Day two:

Read this short biography on William Carey
http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biocarey.html

How did he show humility?

List three things you learned from his life.

Post them in the comment section on Friday.

Day three: Read this short biography on Hudson Taylor
http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biotaylor.html

How did he show humility?

Post three things you learned from his life. Monday.

Day four: read this short biography on James Chalmers
http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/bchalmer2.html

How did he show humility?

Post three things you learned from his life. Tuesday.

Day five: Along with your regular Bible reading, pray for an hour.

Review what you learned from the biographies and pray for the Spirit of God to produce fruit in your life as you seek to follow their examples.

How Few There Are Who Die So Hard!

2009-11-19T18:26:00.000-08:00

Day One:Listen to this biography of Adoniram Judson given by John Piper. This is an hour and a half long, so it may take you more than just today to do it. If you’d rather read the story instead of listen, you can do that on the same web address below.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1528_How_Few_There_Are_Who_Die_So_Hard/

Pray for at least 20 minutes.

Day Two: Answer these questions.

-Is there an area in your life where the Lord might be calling you to fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ, to fall like a grain of wheat into some distant ground and die, to hate your life in this world and so to keep it forever and bear much fruit?

-What are you doing in your life right now that requires you to have faith? Make a list of these things.

Memorize John 12:24-25.

Pray for at least 20 minutes.

Day Three: Read chapter 3 in the Humility book. Have you seen any examples of true greatness recently? Are you pursuing true greatness?

Pray for at least 20 minutes.

Day Four: Pray for an hour using the outline that was given in the past. Continue memorizing and meditating on John 12:24-25.

Day Five: Read Mark 9 & 10 be reminded of what true greatness really is. Post on the Going Deeper blog how Adoniram Judson showed true greatness throughout his life.

Pray for at least 20 minutes about an area of your life where you seek greatness as the world defines it, and ask the Lord for humility if that is your desire.

Humility: learning to love correction.

2009-11-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Learning To Love Correction from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

Day One: Listen to the sermon above (By Josh Harris) and answer the questions. It's only 11 minutes long.

"The heart of a fool can always find an excuse for ignoring correction" How have you found excuses for ignoring instruction?

According to the sermon, list three things that the cross says about you: ____________, _____________, ______________.
Do you agree with God's assessment of yourself?

Day Two: If you are confronted on 10 things and only 1 of those things has a grain of truth, how do you respond humbly? Memorize Prov. 9:10

Fill this in. Responding rightly to correction means not responding to whom?___________ but responding to whom? __________.

"Humility bows before God and says, you are the perfect One, I am flawed." Take time to thank him now for the ways that he is correcting you, even though it is difficult.

Day three: Read Chapter 2 in Humility: true Greatness. Pray for 20 minutes for people that you dislike, disagree with or that rub you the wrong way. Ask God to give you humility in your interactions with them.

Day four: review what you underlined in chapter 2 and write down your favorite quote. Have you identified the most deeply rooted seed of pride in yourself? Find a scripture reference that deals with that area in your life. Take time to pray and confess it to the Lord and ask for His help.

Day five: Read Heb. 12:8-11; Rev. 3:19

What do these passages say about God's discipline in our lives?

Do you see trials, confrontations and difficulties from God as good?

Pray for an hour today (use the format from earlier if you want) Take time to make humility a central prayer for yourself and your family, friends and even enemies.

Going Deeper Greatest Hits: Take one thing you learned from every lesson so far and write it down. Let's come up with a time when we can all get together and discuss what we've learned.

Humility:True Greatness

2009-11-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

Day One:Listen to this sermon by C.J. Mahaney on Humilty: True Greatness.

He is the author of the book that we encouraged you to buy. This sermon goes right along with the book. Take notes! This is a bit of a longer sermon, but it’s SOOOO good!

http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=A1225-02-51

Day Two: Answer the questions:

1.Define true greatness?

2.Who do you admire and why? What/Who are you most passionate about? What do you spend most of your time doing? And who do you talk about the most in an admiring way?

3.In all your ventures, are you aware of your need for God’s grace to give your efforts lasing value?

4.Do you long for God’s providential help and blessing?

5.What activities are you involved in, or what things are you looking to that do not reflect an accurate definition of true greatness?

Memorize Matthew 20:26-28

Spend at least 25 minutes in prayer.

Day Three: In the book “Humility:True Greatness” by C.J. Mahaney- Read the Foreword, Introduction, and Chapter One(pages 9-24)

Circle, underline, or highlight things within these pages that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about! Share one of these things on the Going Deeper blog.

Spend at least 25 minutes in prayer.

Day Four: Let’s reflect a little bit on what C.J. Mahaney said in his sermon regarding our relationship with our parents.

1.Honor your father and mother

2.Make it your godly ambition between right now and the time when your parents will leave this world, to honor them, love them, obey them, and admire them. Express in many countless and creative ways that you love them.

3.Write down two ways that you can express your love to them in creative ways this week. DO IT! Act on the things that you just wrote down.

4.Examine your heart and confess to the Lord your arrogance.

Spend at least 25 minutes in prayer.

Day Five: What are you thoughts on what role the church plays in your life? It does not just exist to equip you, but you also exist to serve the church! Are you serving the church where the Lord has called you to? Spend time in prayer asking the Lord where or who He wants you to serve.

“True greatness is only attained through emulating the Savior’s example and made possible only by the Saviors sacrifice.” This quote reflects the idea from our memory verses for this week.

Spend time meditating on Matthew 20:26-28. You should have these verses memorized from early in the week.

Spend at least 25 minutes in prayer.

Jesus Christ laid down His life for us and we ought to live a life surrendered to Him!

Get it and Bring it.

2009-10-30T15:42:00.001-07:00

Bring your Books on Wednesday!

Humility: by C.J. Mahaney

Humility and the Long view

2009-10-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

Day One: Listen to this sermon by Dr. Russell Moore. The Long Way Around: Why It May Take a Couple Billion Years to Get to Your Best Life Now (Acts 5:27-42)

Take notes on this sermon as you go, so you can refer back to them.
What is the long view?
Who takes the long view in this passage?

Wisdom and humility sits back and takes a second look in situations where your pride could take over: Can you think of a situation in your life where you were short-sighted about the outcome? What was the effect of this response? Pray for wisdom and humility for you and four other people you know.

Day Two: Think back to the sermon. Read Acts 5:27-42. The apostles were beaten.
How did they respond (verse 41)?
How did they take the long view of the situation?
Which member of the Trinity was at work in their response?
Who is at work in you when you take a long view of trials and tribulation in your life and respond in ways that honor God?
Are you ready for this?
Pray for a steadfast heart of trust in God's long-term plan to make all things right in the difficulty you face.

Day Three: Reread Acts 5:27-42 twice.
How long do you hope to live?
Do you think about those years in terms of Gospel advancement?
What is God preparing you for in eternity?
Do you expect trials or do you hope to get through life without suffering?
What is King Jesus preparing you for, for His Name's sake? And do you consider the necessary suffering that it will take to get you there, a blessing?
Pray for courage to face each new circumstance of suffering, knowing that the exaltation of Christ is everything! Pray for God to give you the long view in coming hard circumstances you don't even know about now.

Day Four: What does God promise you?
list some of those promises here and back them up with Scripture.
Jesus promises suffering. What are some wrong responses?

According to Dr. Moore's sermon toward the end, what does he say is the one thing that makes suffering meaningless?

Pray that Christ will be everything to you and ask him to help you welcome sufferings knowing that it is for His glory and your own good.

Day Five: Christ suffered for the long view. Read Phil. 2:1-11. What does this say about how Christ held the long view of suffering?
How was Jesus rewarded?
Who else benefited?

Does God command you to make sense of your suffering in the here and now (refer to your sermon notes)?

What does He command you to do?

Pray for an hour today. Follow the format given two weeks ago. Come before God's throne with a longer view of His purposes for you, for your friends, family and the church around the world. Begin to pray "us" and not "me". Ask the Spirit of God to make you worthy of the sufferings of Christ and to open your eyes to His long term plans.

Day Six: (Optional) Pick one day this week and fast all day from something (meals, media, facebook, communication with friends, reading your novel). Use this time to pray and ask God to direct your life wherever He sees fit. Tell Him that you are willing to go anywhere He sends you. Pray for missionaries you know and ask if God might have a future in missions for you.

Being Humble in Speech, Conduct, and "Stress"

2009-10-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

“let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” -James 1:19

Day One:Listen to the following sermon by Francis Chan.

http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/special/media_player.html

Go to this site and select the sermon from 10/04/09 entitled “Slow Down and Show Grace”.

Take notes! Near the end of the sermon make sure you follow the instructions to JUST listen as he reads three passages of scripture. You will have time to read and reflect on these passages later in the week, but JUST listen as Francis reads them to you during the sermon. You will be so blessed by the hearing of God’s Word!

Take time to pray about your speech, conduct, and what you refer to as “stress” in your life. Stress is anxiety which is SIN! Repent in the areas where you are feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Then spend time praising the Lord!

Day Two:Read the three passages that Francis Chan read to you in the sermon. Read the each three times! Then spend time meditating on these passages. Choose a short section of maybe 3-5 verses that really challenged you or made your rejoice when you read them. Write those verse down and carry them with you this week. It would be great if you could memorize the the verses that wrote down!

Ephesians 2:1-7

Romans 5:1-11

1 Peter 5:6-11

Spend time REJOICING! Do this through prayer and even singing!

Day Three:Read James 1:19. Is there someone in your life that you have not reflected grace to through your speech and your ability to listen to them? Is there some issue between you and your parents(or friend or teacher, or sibling, etc) that you can’t talk to them about without getting angry, speaking quickly or trying to defend yourself? Maybe you need to ask for forgiveness for that right now! Pray about this issue in your life and ask the Lord to help you respond with love and grace and to be QUICK TO LISTEN. Don’t use your words to defend yourself, only defend Christ.

Spend time in prayer confessing and asking the Lord to help you reflect the words in James 1:19.

Day Four: Read the following passages.

Matthew 6:25-34

1 Peter 5:7

Philippians 4:4-9

Stress is a sign of pride. Stress shows that you are lacking in your prayer life. Stress shows a lack of rejoicing.

Read the following blog post by this FAMOUS youth pastor.

http://www.danmiller730.blogspot.com/2009/10/booze-worry-and-eternity.html

Day Five: Follow the same guideline from last week on praying for an hour. It will be the best hour of your day! Keep praying all day!

Do you remember the missionary that shared at the beginning of the sermon on day one? Spend time praying for the country of Iran and also for the people who are suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ. The woman that he talked about was willing to give up her own child for the sake of the gospel. That was so powerful for me to hear. Is there something in your life that you’re not willing to give up for Christ’s sake? Surely it’s not something so great as your own child. Whatever you are holding back, surrender it to the Lord.

Humility and Prayer

2009-10-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Day One:

Read this blog post by C.J. Mahaney on Self-sufficiency.

"But the very act of pausing in a busy day to pray is an act of weakening pride in my life, acknowledging that I am a dependent creature. I am not self-sufficient." ~C.J. Mahaney

How is growing in the frequency of prayer an act of humility?

How have you shown self-sufficiency today? This week? Over your lifetime?

What does it mean that God's Word is sufficient for us?

Day two:

Read this passage in 1 Peter. Reread it twice. This passage of Scripture starts out as an exhortation to elders of the church. It is very instructive to us for our own spiritual growth. Underline every reference to humility you find here.

Ask yourself questions about this passage. Make observations by writing your own questions to the author:

Who? What? When, Where, How and Why?

Post three of your questions and answers in the comment section of this blog.

Day Three:

Verse five of 1Peter 5 is directly addressing young Christians. Is there a command given? Is there a challenge? Is there a reward? Is there a warning? Memorize this verse. Put into practice the humble act of persistent prayer today, for God to reveal areas of your life that you need to honor more fully from verse more.

Day Four:

Read this passage from Eph. 4. Reread it twice. We serve one God and we are to be united under that God. What part does humility play in our unity? How does maintaining a practice of constant prayer help with unity? Pray for someone in the body of Christ that you find it very difficult to be around. Pray for your own humility in relation to them.

Day Five:

Pray for one hour today. You may follow the guideline below if it helps to keep you focused and directed. The model says to start at 6 a.m. but you can start and end at any time that works for you.

Pray for an hour:
6:00-6:05:
Praise the Lord for His attributes (list them)
praise Him for his good works in your life (list them)
praise Him for answered prayers (list them)
6:05-6:10:
Thank Him for gifts, physical and spiritual (be specific)
Thank Him for people in your life (specific people by name)
Thank Him for your church family (as a whole, by the ministries you are involved in, then by name)
6:10-6:15:
Confess sin, be specific, repent of it, denounce it. Promise to not do it again, ask for help and conviction ahead of time.
6:15-6:20:
Ask the Lord to help you put on new habits of obedience
be specific
6:20-6:25:
Ask for Him to develop your character in specific areas
be specific ie: humility, patience, flexibility w/ others, teachability, diligence, love, kindness, gentleness etc.
6:25-6:35: (ten minutes)
Pray for other believers: specific requests (prayer sheet or make your own list for every day)
Pray for spiritual growth for your friends (by name and area of growth)
pray for repentance for your enemies ask God to give you love for them
(if you have no enemies, pray for those in your life who are hard to love)
6:35-6:40: Pray through a psalm or two (discover God's ways)
6:40-6:45: Pray through a chapter in proverbs or two: ask for wisdom to see where you need to grow.
6:45-6:50:
Pray for the church to have unity around the world. (unity through obedience to His word and love)
pray for RBC to continue to grow in grace and truth and numbers of new believers
Pray for women to love their roles and men to love their roles, children to honor their parents: elderly to stay strong in the spiritual battle. Pray for new ways to give of your time and money.
6:50-6:55:
Pray for the lost in Racine
pray for specific missionaries
6:55-7:00:
Praise the Lord for who He is,
how He will answer your prayers
and ask Him to help you pray without ceasing today.

Humility in God revealing Himself to us

2009-10-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

"The smartest people in the world can't figure out who God is, unless He reveals Himself to them." ~ Wayne Grudem

Day One:
Listen to this sermon: Scroll down, looking on the left side until you see: Incommunicable attributes part 1, under Wayne Grudem. This sermon should open up in your itunes. You should take notes so you can refer back to them this week. (Be patient with this message. It is presented in a class format, so there is some stuff you won't need to hear)

Over all eternity we will be searching out who God is, and never know everything we could ever know about Him. He is far beyond what we could ever understand. How does this make you feel?

Take time to praise God for an eternity of getting to know Him.
Ask Him to give you a hunger to know Him more.

Day two:
The scripture is a product of an infinite mind. The more you study the Bible, the more you come to understand things that are infinite.
What does the word infinite mean?
What does the word finite mean?
How does this understanding effect our pride?

What is the difference between knowing facts about God and knowing God Himself?
Have you ever stopped to be amazed that God would even want you to know Him?

Pray and ask the Lord to give you a sense of amazement that an infinite God would want you to know Him personally?

Day three:
The same Holy Spirit who wrote Scripture through human vessels, also guides us to pray and understand the scriptures. Find a verse that talks about the Holy Spirit's role in helping us understand Scripture. Memorize it. Tell another RBC girl from our group this verse from memory by next week.

Day four:
What is the difference between incommunicable and communicable attributes of God?

Incommunicable: Some attributes of God are so different from us, He doesn't share them with us: Omnipresent, Omniscient etc. Name three more:

Communicable: Some attributes of God we can very imperfectly possess ourselves: Love, gentleness etc. Name three more:

In which of these attributes do you want to grow more like God in?

Day five:
God speaks to us in terms we can understand, proving He wants us to know Him.

Scripture points to creation to help us know God.
How is God like these things?
Rock: Deuteronomy 32:4
Lion: Hosea 5:14
Lamb:Revelation 13:8
Eagle:Exodus 19:4
Hen:Luke 13:34
Sun:Matthew 17:2
Light:Psalm 27:1
Torch:Genesis 15:17
Fountain:Psalm 36:9
A shadow:Psalm 36:7
Consuming fire: Hebrews 12:29

Scripture points to human relationships to reveal Himself to us.
How is God like these?
A Groom
A Husband
A Father
Judge
King
Man of War
Builder and Maker
Shepherd

God reveals Himself in human actions.
What do we learn about Him in these actions?
He...
Knows
Sees
Hears
Smells
Walking
Tastes

Look up the verses for the list above and explain How God is like those things.

If you want, find some verses for some of the other things on the lists.

Humility and the Body of Christ

2009-09-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

Going Deeper

Week Four

“Humility and the Body of Christ”

Day One:Listen to the following sermon by Thabiti Anyabwile: You’ll have to copy and paste this address into your finder.

http://sgm.edgeboss.net/download/sgm/teaching/worshipgod2009/wg09-session4.mp3

1.We need the church because it’s God’s workmanship(1 Cor. 12:18-21; Eph. 3:10)

2.We need the church because we need to be cared(shepherded, watched over, kept) for(vs 24-26)

3.We need to be equipped and matured for the Christian life.(Ephesians 4:11-16)

4.We need the church because we need God’s grace(1 Peter 4:10)

5.We need the church because we need God’s love(1 John 4:14-21; John 13:35)

Spend time in prayer about what you have just heard.

Day Two: Read 1 Corinthians 12. What gifts has God given you that you have been neglecting to use for His glory? Write down some practical ways that you can use these gifts to serve others. Are there ways that you should be serving at church? Are there ministry opportunities that God wants you to be involved in?

Spend time in prayer and seek God’s guidance about what your gifts are and how He wants you to use them.

Day Three: Review the five points above from the sermon that you listened to. Take each one and write down one way that it applies to your life.

Find two note cards. Use one to write a thank you note to someone who has showed God’s design in the body of Christ specifically to you by caring for you, shepherding you, and spiritually watching over over.

Use the second note card to obey God’s design for the body of Christ by writing an encouraging note to someone that God has placed on your heart to minister to as you have been ministered to.

Spend time in prayer thanking the Lord and praying for the people that you have just written to.

Day Four: Read these verses-1 Peter 4:10: Ephesians 4:1-16; Phil. 2:1-11)

Spend time in prayer. Ask the Lord to show you where you need to be humbled in reaching out to others at church. Do you wait for people to come and talk to you? Are you intentional in pursuing God honoring relationships with others around you. “Renounce self reliance and pride. Humble yourself and care for others.”(Thabiti Anyabwile). Ask the Lord how He wants you to do this.

Day Five: “Church is absolutely essential”.

“It is pride to think that the church is an optional extra”.

“ A man who loves God, loves the church”.

“To reject what God has designed for His glory and our good, is spiritual suicide. To reject the church is to take your own spiritual life”.

The Scripture that you have been reading and the quotes above are some that God has been using in my life to show me the importance of the body of Christ. What is something that God has shown you this week from the sermon and this study on “Humility and the Body of Christ”? Please share what you have learned by using the comment block on our blog.

Spend time in prayer.

Week Three on humility

2009-09-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

"It is pride that allows you to crawl up out of your own

hole and condemn others." ~John MacArthur

Day One: Listen to this sermon by John MacArthur. As you listen take notes. If you want, you can print the manuscript and highlight it.
Pray for God to make these truths a reality in your heart.

Day Two:
These four points summarize what true humility is. Read them and write below each one a specific area of your life that you need more humility in.

1) It is a sense of one's spiritual bankruptcy and utter unworthiness as manifested in the Beatitudes and in the sermon Jesus preached in Matthew 18 and in the book of James.

2) It is an attitude that continues after our salvation when we recognize that we are no more worthy now than we ever were in the past.

3) It is an attitude that realizes the suffering and pain that comes into our lives that cuts so deeply and buffets us...and that's a word from
2 Corinthians 12 that means fist, it's a blow to the face, the very same word used of the soldiers who punched Jesus in the face. And when we get punched around in life and falsely accused, we embrace that because we understand that through it God humbles us and the humbler we are the more powerful He is through us.

4) It's the kind of humility that is more concerned about our sins than the sins of everybody else or anybody else. It's the kind of humility that particularly looks on the interest of others demonstrated in the condescension of Jesus Christ...that's humility.

Day Three: Read Matthew chapter five. "theirs is the kingdom of heaven, for they shall be comforted, for they shall inherit the earth, for they shall be satisfied, for they shall receive mercy, for they shall see God" this is the language Jesus used to describe those who are truly saved. Who does this chapter say are the true believers? What is a sign that you belong to that kingdom, that you are a true believer?

If you are (vs. 3):___________in ______________.
If you (vs. 4):________________.
If you are (vs. 5):___________________.
If you (vs.6) ______________ and _____________ for
_____________.

According to the sermon, and the description of the believer in Matt. 5, the Kingdom belongs to the:_____________________. (hint)

Day four: Review the highlighted parts of your notes from Day One's sermon. Pray and ask God to reveal new areas of humility you need to grow in. Listen to this song: "High in the Heavens". Read the words along with the song. Make this last verse a prayer to Him.

Let us be found in your likeness,
learning to serve as you served,
filled with your Spirit, your fullness,
the fragrance of grace on the earth.
You love the heart that is humble,
you desire worship that’s true;
voices that sing for your glory
and lives that bring honour to you.

Day Five: Read Romans 7:21-8:1 (You might have memorized this for Fort this year) How does Paul's humility and ours relate to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives based on these verses? Write your answer to this in the comment box on this post.

Don't forget to buy your book:
Humility; true greatness.
by C.J. Mahaney

Words & Music © Judy Gresham / RESOUNDworship.org, Administered by The Jubilate Group 4 Thorne Park Road, Torquay TQ2 6RX, UK copyrightmanager@jubilate.co.uk

Don't forget to order your book

2009-09-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

We are going to be going through this book

Humility: True Greatness

by: C.J. Mahaney

Don't forget to order it.

check it out here for $9.99.

or here for $9.35

Week Two

2009-09-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

Going Deeper

Week Two

Day One: Listen to the following sermon by John Piper. Take time during your listening to write notes. Answer these questions.

1. Did He become the end or the means of the universe?

2.What’s the nature of my depravity?

3.What is John Piper’s definition of “Total Depravity”?

4.What are the two things that need to be remedied?(the internal problem and the external problem)

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByConference/40/2698_The_Origin_of_the_Unwasted_Life/

Pray for 20 minutes(if you already pray longer than this add 10 minutes)

Day Two: Listed below are the 6 parts of the Gospel that were mentioned in the sermon.

The Gospel Is...

A Plan(“In accordance with the Scriptures”)
An Event In History(“died and rose again”)
An Accomplishment Through the Event(“Christ died FOR our sins”)
The Gospel is a Free Offer to Faith, Not Works(belief)
An Application of What He Accomplished to my Personal Life(“by which you are being saved”)
An Eternal and Infinitely Happy Future Enjoying the Glory of God(“gospel”, “saved”, and sins bore by another)

Find three verses(besides the referenced 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 passage) on the Gospel. Write all three of them down and choose one to meditate on and memorize this week.

Consider these 6 points and the verses that you’ve just read and then spend 20 minutes in prayer with most of that time being spent praising God for His powerful Gospel that has redeemed you!

Day Three: Spend time working on your memory verse that you found yesterday.

Read John 14:15.

1.Consider how the Lord would have you to grow in your love for Him in your heart.

2.Consider how you can put your love for the Lord into action through obedience.

Spend at least 20 minutes in prayer confessing sin(specifically name areas in your life where you have fallen short in loving the Lord), telling the Lord of your love for Him, and commit to living your day(and life) out of love for Him.

Day Four: Read Romans 1. Verse 25 was mentioned in the sermon that you listened to on “day one”. While reading this passage, specifically verse 25, were there “creatures”(created things) that the Holy Spirit brought to your mind that you need to confess? Confess those now and repent.

Spend 20 more minutes in prayer.

Day Five:

“We are hellbound, enslaved, and freely loving our darkness”. ~John Piper

“The Gospel is our deliverence!”~John Piper

Spend at least 20 minutes in prayer acknowledging your need for Christ and then praising Him for the deliverance that He has provided through the Gospel.

“The nature of our problem is that we prefer the glory of created things over the glory of God the Creator and His Son.” Review your notes on last week’s “Going Deeper” study. Go to our blogspot(http://www.rbcgirlsgoingdeeper.blogspot.com/) and post the answer to the following question.

How does the lesson on “Humility” from last week correspond to our lesson this week?

Not everyone will have the same answer so don’t think that your answer is wrong. Be personal and transparent.

Continue meditating and memorizing your verse!

Divin' In!

2009-09-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Hey RBC girls!

Here it is! Our official "Going Deeper" blog. We're excited about your excitement to go deeper into God's Word by committing to these studies each week. This blog will be used for the purpose of encouraging, edifying, and challenging one another in our walk with Christ and the pursuit of His glory being made known.

G0inG DeEPer

wEEk 0Ne:
Humility

Mon: Sermon: Click link on Amy DeBurgh's facebook wall. Listen to the whole sermon.
Greatness, Humility, Servanthood :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library
Source: www.desiringgod.org
Pray: 20 minutes (if you already pray longer than this, add 10 minutes)
Tues:here is the summary of the message you listened to on Monday. Read through these and circle the one that you need to grow in and write down how you need to grow.
1. Humility is glad that God gets all the credit for choosing us so that we boast only in him and not man.
2. Humility happily admits that everything we have is a free gift from God, so that we can’t boast in it.
3. Humility is glad to affirm that God sovereignly governs our heartbeats and safe arrivals, or non-arrivals.
4. The root of Christian humility is the gospel that Christ died for our sins. That’s how sinful I was. That’s how dependent I am.
5. Humility gives itself away in serving everyone, rather than seeking to be served.
6. And humility is glad to affirm that this service is true greatness.
Pray 20 minutes (if you already pray longer than this, add 10 minutes)
Wed: Find three verses on humility: Use the concordance in your Bible or go to this site:
http://www.esv.org/

Memorize one of the verses you find
(Always be sure to understand the context of your verses)
Pray 20 minutes(if you already pray longer than this, add 10 minutes)
Thurs: Humility: Read this passage and make five observations of humility and five observations that show pride.
Mark 10:32-45
Pray 20 minutes (if you already pray longer than this, add 10 minutes)
Fri: Reread mark 10:32-45. Spend 5 minutes praying for God to reveal more from His Word to you about how you can grow in humility. Spend 5 minutes confessing prideful actions, words and attitudes. Spend 5 minutes thanking God for someone you know who is an example of humility. Go over your the verse you are memorizing and Review what you circled in the summary above and commit to grow.