Spectator or Participant

Scriptures

Luke 9:1-17

Thought

While Jesus was working in his ministry here on earth the disciples where spectators at least for the first year or so. They witnessed him preaching, teaching, healing the sick, raising the dead, and much more. At some point Jesus looked at them all and told them their training was done and they must go out and further the kingdom.

There is a point in every Christian’s life when we have to stop sitting on the sidelines and start actually playing the game. Sadly there are many that never make it to that point. For whatever the reason it’s hard for us to allow Jesus to lead us into roles where we help further God’s kingdom.

Questions

Provide scriptures along with your answers

Today we are told to go out and heal the sick to do God’s work, we are simply asked to what?

What does it mean to you to depend on Jesus as he depended on God?

What experiences have you had when you involve yourself in someone that needs God in their life?

How do you start getting involved in God’s ministry?

Challenge

Come up with some way you and your family can become more involved in what is happening at Franklin Church of Christ. What is that you can do in order to help bring more people to God’s kingdom? 

Returning To God

Scriptures

Luke 15:11-32

Thought

Apologizing isn’t easy for most of us. Saying I was wrong is often humiliating and a something we try our best not to do.

What does apologizing have to do with returning to God? Apologizing is a lot like repentance. We realize we have been going the wrong way and need to turn around, but repentance is much deeper. It’s between you and God. 

Questions

Provide scriptures along with your answers

What is your definition of repentance?

We all know that confession of sin is important part of being a Christian. What is the best way to repent? Is there a need for public confession of sin?

What does repentance do for us?

What is our motivation to ask for repentance from God?

Challenge

Take the next week and work on yourself. Look at the temptations in your life and how you battle those. Look at when you fall short to living up to what God has asked of you. Work on breaking down any barriers that are between you and God. At the end of the week ask yourself how are you doing?

Counting The Cost

Scriptures

Luke 14:28-34

Thought

Read Luke 14:28-34

Here Jesus is asking us to count the cost before we start the project. To count the cost we have to prepare ourselves for all the trials that a Christian will face. Christ told us on many occasions that a life as a true Christian will bring many hardships. 

Questions

What would you say it cost you personally to follow Jesus?

Can you actually identify something YOU have had to give up in order to follow Jesus? How has that changed your life?

What has your family given up to follow Christ?

Challenge

Make a list of what you sacrifice daily, weekly, and yearly for your service to the Lord. Then ask yourself how you doing? 

Friendship Helps Shape Faith

Scriptures

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

1 Samuel 18:1-4

Thought

We can acknowledge it or not but we have been designed by God to need others. Our friendships that we have can have a deep impact on our faith. We have so many examples in the bible of friendship Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, Paul and Philemon, and many more. We need to discover for ourselves spiritual friendship, what it looks like, and how to rely on each other. 

Questions

Do you have a friend in your life that you can call out to for help when you’re in a dark place?

How important is it for us to get to know each other as a Christian family?

Acts 2:42 – The bible places importance on church family unit because of these reasons:

-          We study God’s word together

-          We worship God together

-          We find accountability in one another

-          We find support in trials

-          We gain opportunities for service

-          We learn to teach others together

Have you ever been challenged by a Christian friend and it help bring you back to God?

Challenge

Sometimes God uses a friend to transform us seemingly overnight. A friend speaks a word of challenge that, if responded to favorably, has the potential to help us grow exponentially.

Reach out to your Christian friends this week and let them know you are here for them. 

What Path Do I Take

Scriptures

Proverbs 3:5-6

Romans 12:1-2

Thought

We all know that God’s will for us as our father and creator is to ultimately be with him in heaven. He has laid out instructions for us through his word and given us an example through his son. Sometimes still it’s hard to know exactly the direction we need to go in our lives. 

Questions

How do you determine the path here on this earth to take that God has laid out for you and your family? 

How do we hear God’s voice? 

Will he make me do something I completely hate? 

How do I know it’s him and not something else?

Challenge

Take the next week and pray that God’s will be shown to you. Ask him for direction for your life and the life of your family.