“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.” –  1 John 4:9. 

God the Father can be intimidating. He can be seen as creator, ruler, and enforcer. He can be seen as a stern dad who warns about making too much noise, obeying the rules, and going through the proper channels. He gets angry. But what do I do with verses like  Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8) We can’t talk about God the father without talking about love. 

We know He’s a Father because He’s always had a Son. Long before the earth was created or any rules had been set, God was Father. God the Father is not simply a creator, because there was a time before He made creation.  And He’s not just a lawgiver, because there was a time when He hadn’t made any laws. But He has always been a Father and He’s always been loving His Son. [Jesus prayed] “Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!” (John 17:24)

The Father loves us as Jesus reminds us in John 16 “Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.’ (John 16:26-27) 

Our view of God the Father should not be a distant distributor of blessings and curses, rather He should be seen as a Father, looking on His beloved children, with open arms. Think of some loving parents that you know.  Do they let their children do exactly as they please? Of course not. If their child crawls towards the fire, they’ll warn him and pull him away. They will hold him and look after him and set limits for him too. In the same way, (but without any flaws) the Father disciplines us because He loves us and wants to keep us safe. He’s loving; because He’s just. And He’s just; because He’s loving.

The unconditional love of an earthly father gives us a wonderful start. But the unconditional love of a heavenly Father changes everything.

There is no better father than God. He formed us and knows us. He provides for us, loves us unconditionally, and longs for a real, life-giving relationship with us. He runs out to meet us in our sin, clothes us with a new identity, and restores to us the abundant life He has always planned for us.

Discussion Questions:

1. How have you recognized God’s love in these areas over the last few weeks?  
2. We return the Father’s love with the knowledge that our Heavenly Father already loves us. How does this understanding change how we approach our walk with God?

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” – 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27. 

Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time. His greatness, however, didn’t result from his elite, God-given athletic talent alone. He kept his body in peak condition through an extremely disciplined and rigorous workout and diet regimen. His self-discipline enabled him to work harder than everyone else. 

The power of self-discipline is not a secret as 2 Corinthians 9:34-27 tells us.  In a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize so you have to run if you want to receive the prize. Here’s the point: elite athletes don’t live disciplined lives because they think disciplined lives are virtuous. They live disciplined lives and endure all kinds of self-denial because they want the pleasures of the prize. They believe the pleasures of the “wreath” (or money, medals, trophies, rings, and records) are worth the effort. 

Paul doesn’t call their pursuit of reward wrong. Far from it. Paul shamelessly states that the pursuit of a reward also fuels his self-discipline and should fuel ours. The only difference — and it’s a big one — is that the reward he pursued was an “imperishable” reward, which he describes here: “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8) Gaining Christ through the gospel was the reward that gave Paul his laser-like focus and fueled his self-discipline.

We often chalk up our discipline failures to a lack of will power. We look at a Michael Jordan and think if we just had some of his iron will, we could stick with it. But will power is not our problem — at least not in the way we usually think. The problem is we lose sight of the reward. What typically happens is we imagine what experiencing the benefits of attaining some goal might feel like — perhaps a fit body, or reading the Bible in a year, or some kind of career advancement, or a financial savings goal. We want to think our inspiration stems from a new conviction that the reward we imagine will make us happy.

But once the initial enthusiasm wears off, we soon come to the conclusion that the goal no longer seems worth it, so we give it up. We failed because the reward itself wasn’t real enough to fuel our discipline. That’s why Paul said, “ I run with purpose in every step” (1 Corinthians 9:26). Like Michael Jordan or the ancient Olympians, Paul “ran” with his eyes on the prize he really wanted — the prize he believed would yield him the most happiness which is an eternity with his Lord and Savior.

That is the key to self-discipline: our real belief that the pleasures of a reward will be worth the effort to reach the reward.  The more we set our eyes on the prize the more we’ll view self-discipline, not as a drudgery to be avoided, but as a means to the joy we really want.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the definition of self-discipline?
2. Why is self-discipline needed?
3. In order to have discipline, what else must we have that goes hand-in-hand? 

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  – Galatians 6:9. 

What keeps us from doing good? Sometimes it’s our busyness. Other times it may be that doing something good is not convenient. Or perhaps we just don’t want to go against social norms, so we hold back. Whatever the reason, at one time or another, most of us have passed up an opportunity to do something good for someone.

Should anything stop us from doing good for each other? No. Nothing stood in Jesus’ way. We are His treasured possessions. He wants to rescue us and make us whole. Healing, deliverance, salvation, care—none of these things is beyond reason for God to act. So nothing should stand in our way either. When doing good gets tough — and it will — Paul says, “As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.”

In Luke 6, The Pharisees presented Jesus with a difficult situation. Their laws said it was a violation to do work on the Sabbath, unless it meant saving a life. But here in the temple was a man with a withered hand. His life was not in danger, though. Should he be healed on the Sabbath? Jesus didn’t even hesitate. He asked the religious leaders, Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” This man with a deformed hand was precious to God. Jesus healed the man.

God does not rescue us from sin and death to then do nothing. He means for His people to give our lives, the limited time we have, to “doing good.” “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:10). That kind of doing doesn’t simply “overflow” or happen effortlessly. It takes intentionality and practice and planning. “Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.” (Titus 3:14)

“Doing good” is not just for peaceful, convenient times in our life, but just as much for seasons of suffering and conflict. “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” (1 Peter 4:19) Are we excused from “doing good” when wronged? “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Discussion Questions: 

1. How often do you look to do good on a daily basis? 
2. What can we do this week to do more good?

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.” – John 10:27-28.

There are times when the TV is so loud you can’t hear somebody asking you a question. When the radio in the car is loudly rocking a song it is difficult to carry on a conversation with another person in the car. And when two other people are talking at the same time it is difficult to discern what each is saying. It seems like we can only really listen to one thing at a time.  There are so many voices fighting for my attention, how do I choose?  There are voices on TV, radio, podcasts, online and in person.  How do you and I turn down those voices so we can hear the voice of God. He wants you to silence the other voices of influence, so you can listen to Him.

We need to listen to a teacher’s instructions, or listening to our parents or maybe a friend sharing something they want to make sure we hear. But in the midst of all that is going on around us, we can forget that God wants us to listen because He wants to speak to us. God spoke to Daniel through visions, Balaam through a donkey, Peter through a rooster, and of all things, he spoke to Moses out of a shrub. He is a God who says in Isaiah 28:23, “Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech.” And Proverbs 3:6 (MSG) adds, “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

God wants to commune with us directly. He desires to speak into our hearts; encouraging us, shaping us, convicting us, inspiring us…are we listening? The first step in hearing God speak is to intentionally quiet ourselves and listen. We need to create uninterrupted space in our life to simply be still and quiet before God, listening for His voice speaking into our hearts. We build intimate connection with God by spending time in personal worship to Him – and through that connection He speaks.

We must train our hearts to hear our Father’s voice, just as a child can discern their parent’s voice out of a crowd of other voices. “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.“ (John 10:3-4) 

You will not hear an “audible voice” as Moses did. God speaks to us internally through his Holy Spirit; using a feeling, an impression, an image, a prompting, a single word or thought. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” (John 16:13) 

The more you seek God’s voice, the more easily you will recognize it when he speaks.

Discussion Questions: 

1. How often should you talk to God? 
2. Friends don’t talk the same way and same time every day. How will you refresh your prayer routine this week?

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” – Jesus, The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:13)

It is a passage that we have seen or heard so many times, but when we think about it we realize that it contains much more truth than we give it credit for at first glance. It is one of those passages in the New Testament that makes it so clear that praying and living are two sides of the same coin. Jesus is giving fundamental teaching about prayer; but, He is also giving us fundamental teaching on how we are to live. 

Prayer is so important. Praying strengthens our bond with God. There are times however when prayers seem to end up in limbo. If you feel that way periodically, you’re not alone. Most Christians understand the struggles with praying. But usually the struggles revolve around our perceptions and our expectations when we pray. We feel entitled. We want a response from God and it doesn’t come or it is not the answer we hoped for,  it creates uncertainty. So what’s the solution?  

The answer is praying with the mindset that God is always working in our life. Praying with complete trust in Him, because He always knows what is best for us. The greatest example of how to pray is Christ. In Matthew (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus answered the disciple’s question on how to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is the blueprint for praying. The final part of the prayer heightens God’s power to lead us away from temptation and protect us from evil. This provides us the strength to live in a wicked world.

Matthew 6:13 puts a prayer on our lips that acknowledges our vulnerability to sin. This verse acknowledges that if left to our own devices, we are prone to become ensnared and—most humiliating of all—to ensnare ourselves?  Christ is reminding us that we need to call on God’s help in the face of temptation. But it’s also a plea for God to help us make the wise decisions that keep us out of vulnerable situations and to ask for the wisdom to develop a lifestyle that limits temptations. “Evil” in this verse refers to “the evil one.” The evil one is smarter and stronger than we are. Not smarter and stronger than God, but smarter and stronger than we are.

So, we need to call on God to give us the power to resist temptation and deliver us from the evil one. He wants to destroy our lives, but God wants us to live and live life to the fullest. It just makes sense to trust God and resist temptation and believe God will deliver us from evil.

The evil one exists and is active in this world. Still, we should never give more time to thinking about the reality of evil than we do the reality of God’s victory over that evil.  Whenever the trial is too painful, the temptation too irresistible, ask the Lord to lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 

Discussion Questions:

1. The last half of Matthew 6:13 says, “…but deliver us from the evil one.” Two other passages in Scripture also refer to the evil one. Read Jesus’ prayer in John 17:13-19 and Paul’s request in 2 Thessalonians 3:2-5. How do we resist the evil one?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13: does this passage provide hope in the face of temptation? 

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges: he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” –  Philippians 2:5-8. 

We live in an era when might is right—we admire those who seem to be self-sufficient and don’t need anyone. Humility has had a lot of bad press as a virtue. It’s seen as groveling and a sign of weakness. But not so with Jesus.  Listen to what Jesus said: “…Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48). He turned the view of that day upside down. Think for a moment how Jesus showed humility. God, His Father, chose the humblest of circumstances for His birth. He was born of Mary and Joseph, two average people without wealth, social standing, or prominence of any kind. They had to find room to stay the night so Mary could give birth, as there was no room for them in Bethlehem.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus called people to follow Him. They were ordinary people without much in the way of achievements or social status either. He called a group of ordinary people around Him and concentrated on teaching and equipping them. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

A servant had virtually no rights. A servant was a person with no privileges, and Jesus stepped down into that position. Remarkable, isn’t it? He accepted hospitality from people throughout His life. Even so, listen to what Jesus often told His disciples: “…For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14). Jesus turned our idea of greatness on its head. Jesus came into our world to introduce humility. He was humility incarnate.

We read that one night at the Passover Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with a towel. Peter had some difficulty with this experience. So Jesus said, “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master.” (John 13: 14-16). Humility is mentioned frequently in scripture. “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” (Isaiah 57:15).

To be humble means to recognize we are not self-sufficient, rather that we depend on God for all we need.  We should be humbly thankful for our salvation, our hope, our strengths and abilities.  

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Philippians 2:3-4 . How do these verses describe humility? (not being selfish or trying to impress, thinking of others, taking an interest in others) Why is it hard for us not to think about ourselves first?
2. What can we do this week to be thankful for what God is doing in our lives?   

“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” – Judges 6:13-14

Our perspective — the way we interpret what’s happening around us — can make or break us in any given situation. Our perspectives shape us, how we think, how we engage with people, and our daily actions. It steers the way we live.  God sometimes has a totally different perspective than us.

The challenge for us is for us to align our perspective with God to see things from His vantage point. That often requires us to change the way we think. We need to change our perspective on who we are.  In Judges 6, God turns a worrier into a warrior. Gideon was a man that was challenged several times to look at things through a different lens, to have faith in God, and to say yes to all that God wanted to do through his life. God took Gideon, an ordinary person, and used him to do some extraordinary things. After being called a mighty warrior, Gideon questions God: “Sir, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” (Judges 6:13) Gideon’s conclusion was that the Lord had abandoned them.

Verse 14 records something that must have caught Gideon off guard. It says that “the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” Gideon still isn’t doing the math in this divine equation, so he notes just how unimpressive his resume is. He is the weakest link in his clan, the youngest in his family. He doesn’t have any authority to call out the cavalry from his own tribe, let alone from others. But God confirms His priorities with His presence in v. 16,   “…I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Gideon is given a task, told the remarkable results in advance, and promised the partnership of God Himself. In verse 22, the pieces fell into place for Gideon: “ When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

Gideon needed a personal encounter with God and his outlook, his perspective changed. When we live with our own narrow negative perception we restrict how God can flow through us. We want no obstacles and no boundaries to what God can do. Just like Gideon, God wants to take ordinary us and do something extraordinary. God has a plan for all of us. Make the most of the opportunities the Lord gives you. Be faithful, be focused, and follow Him.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does this story on Gideon tell us about how God looks at us?
2. What are some perceptions that you need to address in your relationship with God? 

“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.” ~ Psalm 50:14

Thanksgiving is the origin point for all worship. In fact, without gratitude, your heart will not connect with the Lord in worship because worship is, first and foremost, a heart condition. In Psalm 50:23 the Lord said, “But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” A heart that is filled with thanks for what the Lord has done is ready to enter into His presence because praise is what paves the way into His courts. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4)

We need to practice gratitude as often as we can. When you make up your mind to see the blessings in your life, no matter how small, something will shift in your thinking and emotions.  You will experience more peace, more contentment when you choose to see what you have versus what you don’t have and seeing God’s hand behind the blessings in your life. You will know how to recognize God’s presence through gratitude.  

We have so much to be grateful for in our lives. We serve a good and loving God who knows how to give good things to His children: “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:11)  Practicing gratitude to God becomes a powerful way for us to live. Our hearts become glad when we are grateful to God. We affirm the good in our lives and recognize that the source of this goodness is from God.

We should count our blessings each day. Set aside time regularly to be quiet, to reflect and thank God for what He has done. From the moment we awake to the moment we fall into bed, we often go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule some time every day in which we can be quiet and reflect, we will allow ourselves a break from our fast-paced lives. In the first moments of the day, when we feel most focused, before the work of the day takes over, take some time to think about what God has done for you, and thank Him and to seek His presence. 

When the apostle Paul describes what being filled with the Spirit looks like, he doesn’t point to ecstatic experiences or miraculous spiritual gifts — he points to thankfulness. He says:“be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18–20, NIV)

Practicing gratitude to God becomes a powerful way for us to live. Our hearts become glad when we are grateful to God. We affirm the good in our lives and recognize that the source of this goodness is from God.

Discussion Questions:

1. How is your dependence on God connected to gratitude? 
2. Why is thankfulness an important part of the Christian life? In what ways do you give thanks on a regular basis in your life?

“Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” – Psalm 107:8-9. 

Are you thankful no matter what? Perhaps you have lost your job recently, as the economy has continued to struggle. Or you may have lost your health or a loved one. Such circumstances can be tremendously difficult. But even so, can we find joy and be thankful for all we have been given by God. Paul is an example of somebody who could be discouraged, even bitter.

Put yourself in Paul’s shoes: The next footsteps in the corridor might be those of the guards taking him away to his execution. His only bed was the hard, cold stone floor of his prison cell. The irritation and the pain of his chains were his constant companion. Isolated, unjustly accused, brutally treated—if ever a person had a right to complain, it was Paul, languishing almost forgotten in a harsh Roman prison. But instead of complaints, his words spoke of praise and thanksgiving. Earlier, when he had been imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote, “ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Thanksgiving for the Apostle Paul was not a once-a-year celebration, but a daily reality that changed his life enabling him to find joy in every circumstance. Being grateful to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ, especially in times of trial.  Even when facing negative circumstances, we can thank God, because we know that He has promised to be with us and that He will help us. We know that He can use times of suffering to draw us closer to Himself: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” (James 1:2-3)

When the prophet Daniel learned that evil men were plotting against him to destroy him, “he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” (Daniel 6:10)  Paul declared, “always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.” (Colossians 1:12)

God has given us the greatest Gift of all—His Son, who died on the cross and rose again so that we can know Him personally and spend eternity with Him in heaven. “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV).

 Discussion Questions:

1. How does one be thankful for all God has done on a daily basis? 
2. What can we do this week to have an attitude of gratitude to God? 

“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”– Psalm 146:3-5. 

These words from Psalms are always a good reminder, but appear especially relevant in the heated and divisive political environment of today. Just as the people of Israel were tempted to put their trust in the king’s sons, the next generation of potential leaders – the “princes” – so we are tempted to place our hope in the president and the next generation of political leaders. 

The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you are on. This political system is not our hope. This government is not our hope. This president is not our hope. God is our hope. 

Psalm 27 simplifies this subject to a great degree. In verses 10-11 we read, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.”  So even if you are forsaken by your father and mother, attacked by foes, and by greedy enemies, you have hope in God. We’ve all at one time or another put on confidence in people and things other than God but loves us anyway. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 says: “I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.”

 Don’t put your trust in “princes” or political candidates.  Rather, hope in the Lord.  “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”  It is the God of the Bible who “… made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.” (Psalm 146:6-9). 

We do, however, need to pray for our leaders. 1 Timothy 2: 1-4 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” If you want God to work in other people’s lives pray for them. Even when you don’t agree with the policies they put in place, pray for them.

Proverbs 21:1 tells us that “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.” And Romans 13:1 reminds us that “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” God is in control, and He’s still on His throne. Trust Him with your future and the future of our nation.

Discussion Questions:

1. Where is your confidence today?
2. What can we do this week to increase our confidence in God?