From Believers to Disciples
Monday, January 22, 2007
From Believers to Disciples Calendar
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A note about online study
“Study to show yourself approved by God …” 2 Timothy 2:15a KJV
Prayer Focus for Today
Pray for God to pour out His Holy Spirit in us that we may worship Him in Spirit and in truth not only on Sundays during 2007, but every day throughout the year!
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being worthy of our worship and praise! Thank You for being the one, true and living God who shows us in Spirit and in truth not only what it means to worship, but that worship is to be the central reality of our lives. I pray that today and every day throughout 2007, I will put you first in my life. Help my worship to be consistent and committed that You may be glorified in it. All this I pray in the most holy name of Jesus. Amen.
God’s Word Today: John 4:19-24
19“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
21Jesus replied, “Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. 24For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
From Today’s Reading, a Believer …
Sometimes we learn more from questions than we do from answers. What does the woman’s question to Jesus in John 4:19-20 tell us about her understanding of worship?
What impact does location have to do with our worship of Jesus? What impact ought it have?
Let’s Go Deeper in Our Walk with Jesus
After reading today’s Scripture, what do you see as one necessity for moving from believers to disciples?
From Today’s Reading, a Disciple of Jesus Will …
The woman at the well shows us that misinformation leads to faulty conclusions and actions. What actions will you take to make certain that your walk with Jesus is not based on faulty information? Be specific:
Ministry, Mission, Outreach, Service Opportunities to Consider
The Homework Connection at the Bridge resumes next week! This is a practical mission opportunity available to anyone who loves children, and can help with school work. Homework helpers work in teams of two, and your commitment is one hour each week. For more information contact Mission Facilitator Karen Schiebel at the Bridge: 724-586-2241.
My Journal
Note any thoughts from Through the Bible or the Daily Reading here:
Questions Open Doors…
The woman at the well perceived that Jesus was a prophet, but she didn’t know at the moment that He was the Messiah—God’s chosen deliverer, who would one day die on the cross to deliver us from sin and death. She asked a question of Jesus regarding worship that revealed her own misunderstandings about worship. Yet Jesus used the misunderstanding to draw the woman to the truth. When we ask questions, if we are open to truth in seeking the answers, we will invariably draw closer to God, because God is Spirit and truth, and those who seek the truth – honestly seek the truth – end up finding God! May we live in such a way today that our lives reveal the truth of God to others, and that they may be challenged to ask us questions about how and why our lives are so different!