The Seek God Challenge Day 21

January 21, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

THE WORD EQUIPS US

READ

“17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

-2 Timothy 3:17

“11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:11-13

THINK

Paul tells us multiple places that the Word of God equips us, that is it gives us the tools necessary to live like Christ. What are some ways that your life is different than Jesus’?

To get a good picture of equipping think of football. In order to play the game successfully you have to have the right equipment; a helmet, pads, a ball. Without the tools required to play you cannot succeed at football. Likewise without the Word of God you cannot succeed in knowing God and or sharing God. What are some examples you can think of for where the Bible equips? What are the benefits of being equipped?

The Ephesians passage tells us that Jesus “gave the apostles, the prophets”… etc. “to equip his people for works of service” this is describing areas of Christian leadership and how they may aid in the equipping of followers of Christ. Knowing that the Word of God must be central in equipping Christians what must these leaders be centered on in their instruction and leadership? That being the case what becomes in important in who and what we allow to teach us? How do you protect yourself from those who do not hold the Bible as central and important?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray

Pray that God will give you a desire to become an equipped follower of Christ

Pray that God will help you devote yourself to the Word of God so that you may become equipped and be able to equip others

DO

Knowing that we need to be equipped by the Word and then aid in the equipping of other believers, find a Christian friend and talk to them about the importance of being equipped by the Word of God.

Download the guide here

Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: bible, Christ, Christian, Epistle to the Ephesians, God, Jesus, matt rothacher, Second Epistle to Timothy, Seek God Challenge, Word of God

The Seek God Challenge Day 20

January 20, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

embedded by Embedded Video

THE WORD TRANSFORMS US

READ

“16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” -2 Timothy 3:16-17

“2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” -Romans 12:2

THINK

We see that Paul is telling Timothy of the many things that the Word of God will do (2 Tim. 3:16), and training in righteousness is a phrase that may not make immediate sense to us. What do you believe that it means?

Matt mentions that “God’s Word is not just given to us for information. It’s given us for transformation.” How does this kind of transformation take place in our lives?

Paul warns the church at Rome (Romans 12:2) against becoming like “the pattern of this world, “ and then tells them to be transformed by the renewing of your mind” How can you renew your mind? If we begin to gain the mind of Jesus how will that transform our lives?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Pray that you can renew your mind today to become more like Christ

Pray that you will devote yourself to the Word of God so that it will begin to transform you into the image of God

DO

Renewing your mind starts with letting go of the things that consume us in this world. Spend a few moments sitting with your hands closed in front of you, and as you sit there imagine putting all your stress, and hurts, and even goals and desires into your closed hands. Then talk with God and ask Him to help you let go of these things and begin to renew your mind and focus on Him then open them and imagine God taking all of that from you.

Begin to memorize Philippians 4:8 so that you can bring that to your mind when you are tempted to or find yourself picking those worldly things back up.

“8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” –Philippians 4:8

Download the guide here

Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: bible, Christ, Christianity, Epistle to the Philippians, God, Jesus, matt rothacher, Paul, Religion and Spirituality, Seek God Challenge, Timothy

The Seek God Challenge Day 18

January 18, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

embedded by Embedded Video

THE WORD LEADS TO DEEP COMMITMENT

READ

“32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.”

-2 Chronicles 34:32-33

THINK

We see Josiah take a kingdom from the worst condition possible, and through his seeking of God and the discovery of the word he leads them to this place of commitment. What is the difference between hearing the word and being committed to the word?

What lasting effect did the commitment of Josiah have on the people around him?

The disciplined pursuit of God that was introduced lasted “all his days”, what do you think was different than generations before?

Why do you think the people willingly pledged to serve the Lord under Josiah’s leadership? What lessons can we apply to our own lives in regards to our influence on those we encounter throughout the day?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Pray that the message of the Lord will ignite our hearts to passionately commit to following God wherever He may send us.

Pray that our deep commitment to Christ will not be something that is quick lived and fleeting, but will be something that will not only transform us but those around us.

DO

Rank your commitment level in response to the following questions:

My walk with God is a priority….

1 2 3 4 5

Not Committed at all Very Committed

My Desire to follow God is…

1 2 3 4 5

Not Committed at all Very Committed

When I read the Bible I apply it to my life…

1 2 3 4 5

Not Committed at all Very Committed

Download the guide here

Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: bible, Books of Chronicles, Challenge, Christ, God, Israel, Jerusalem, Josiah, Lord, matt rothacher, Seek God Challenge

The Seek God Challenge Day 14

January 14, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

embedded by Embedded Video

IMITATE ME?

READ

“4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

-Philippians 4:4-9

THINK

We see Paul give us a guideline to have a holy mind in this passage. He tells us to “think about these things” or to meditate on them. Who is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable? Does dwelling on the things of God change your perspective? How so?

In verse 9 Paul makes what seems like a crazy statement, he says “what you have learned and received and heard in seen in me- practice these things”. He’s telling the Philippian church to watch how he lives and what he does and live like that, do that. We jump to the accusation of arrogance and or self-righteousness when we see statements like that, but Paul is living a life of integrity passionately pursuing God and so he can say in humility imitate me. If we want to see God use us to change our generation we will need to live with this kind of integrity. Where is your life at in comparison to being able to say “imitate me as I imitate Christ”?

What changes in your life need to happen to be able to say that?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

“Think about these things”

Ask God to help you allow His peace to guard your hearts and minds

“What you have seen in me…do these things”

Pray that God will walk you into a life of integrity so that your life may reflect Christ to those you come in contact with.

DO

To begin to dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable…” memorize verse eight over the next week.

Download the guide here

Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: Challenge, Christ, Christ Jesus, Epistle to the Philippians, God, Jesus, matt rothacher, OT, Paul, Philippi, Rejoice in the Lord, Seek

The Seek God Challenge Day 13

January 13, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

embedded by Embedded Video

PURITY IS NECESSARY FOR

TRUE WORSHIP

READ

“8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.9 They came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.10 And they gave it to the workmen who were working in the house of the Lord. And the workmen who were working in the house of the Lord gave it for repairing and restoring the house.11 They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone, and timber for binders and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let go to ruin.12 And the men did the work faithfully. Over them were set Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to have oversight. The Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music,13 were over the burden-bearers and directed all who did work in every kind of service, and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.”

-2 Chronicles 34:8-13

THINK

Matthew Henry points out that “Orders are given by the king for the repair of the temple, v. 8. When he had purged the house of the corruptions of it he began to fit it up for the services that were to be performed in it. Thus we must do by the spiritual temple of the heart, get it cleansed from the pollutions of sin, and then renewed, so as to be transformed into the image of God.” How will having a pure heart affect your worship?

Seeking God throughout the week will have a definite impact on your worship on Sundays/Wednesdays. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

God moves in the churches/lives that are marked by repentance and holiness. This is because holiness matters to God. Knowing this truth, how should we seek to see God move in our life/church?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

These people were avid worshippers; they had just missed the point and began to worship other gods. Revival happens when the people inside the church get serious about their own purity

Pray that we will be more concerned about worshipping God with our lives all the time rather than just on Sundays.

Pray that we will be more concerned with worshipping God with our lives than the kind of music

DO

Taking the truth of revival starting in our churches rather than with people outside the world, take a look at how you worship in the church setting. What needs to change/stay the same?

Download the guide here