From Believers to Disciples
Tuesday, January 23, 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 the worship team of New Life to be equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit in their planning and leading worship this year!
Heavenly Father, I pray for the regular members of our worship team by name: Patti, Evan, Nate, Gabe, Emmy, and Bob. I pray that You will bless them and uphold them in 2007. I pray that You will give each of them a deeper heart in and for worship! I pray that as they live and move and have their beings in You that You will be glorified. Give them wisdom and grace for their task of leading New Life in Worship on Sunday mornings, and strengthen their personal worship of You each day. This I pray in Jesus’ name. 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 …
Jesus’ reply tells us a number of things about worship. First, it tells us that a believer will worship God --- ANYWHERE.
Name some “unconventional” places that you have worshiped God. Why did you worship there, and how did it impact your life?
Let’s Go Deeper in Our Walk with Jesus
What is one, specific action or change of mind that will be necessary for you to be able to worship God ANYWHERE?
From Today’s Reading, a Disciple of Jesus Will …
If Jesus told you that you weren’t to worry about WHERE you worshiped, and that’s all He told you, then what would you do with regard to where you worshipped?
Consider this: there are many folks who cannot worship God in a church building (or a high school auditorium.) They have challenges of health or age that make it difficult or impossible to participate. What can you do as a member of the body of Jesus Christ, to give such people the opportunity to worship as part of the body of Jesus?
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:
Location, Location, Location!
There’s an old saying that the three most important things in selling real estate are: location, location, location! If we’re selling real estate then the saying may be true, but in Jesus’ response to the Samaritan woman at the well, He made it clear that location makes no difference when it comes to the matter of our central reality as disciples of Jesus: worship. We may worship in a church building, or at home, or in a car, or at school or work or ANYWHERE! The key as we will see in tomorrow’s study is not WHERE, or HOW, or WHEN we worship, but in WHO it is that we worship. Jesus alone is worthy of our worship and praise, and he’s worthy of it 24/7! That means that instead of becoming focused on where we worship, we must focus on Jesus! Let’s put Jesus FIRST in our lives right now, and we’ll find that wherever we is a great place to worship!