Week 14 – God’s Presence
23 “Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 (ESV)
Read through the passage of Scripture above several times and then reflect on it by answering the following three questions:
What?
What is something that stands out to you from this passage of Scripture? What is one truth that you can take from it and hold in your heart and mind this week?
How?
How should you respond to this text this week? What is a measurable step of obedience that you can take this week in response to what you have read?
Who?
Who is someone in your life who could benefit from what you have learned from this passage of Scripture? Who does this passage of Scripture encourage you to pray for or engage with the gospel?
*I am using a “52 Week Bible Memory” plan as our selection guide for each week’s passage. You can download it from this site.
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Week 13 – God’s Power
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Daniel 4:34-37 (ESV)
Read through the passage of Scripture above several times and then reflect on it by answering the following three questions:
What?
What is something that stands out to you from this passage of Scripture? What is one truth that you can take from it and hold in your heart and mind this week?
How?
How should you respond to this text this week? What is a measurable step of obedience that you can take this week in response to what you have read?
Who?
Who is someone in your life who could benefit from what you have learned from this passage of Scripture? Who does this passage of Scripture encourage you to pray for or engage with the gospel?
*I am using a “52 Week Bible Memory” plan as our selection guide for each week’s passage. You can download it from this site.
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March 22 – Sermon Discussion Guide
Faith in Anxious Times
Sunday, March 22, 2020
1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Dig Deeper
The Bible has much to say about anxiety. Spend some time searching out these other passages of Scripture related to fear and anxiety.
Psalm 37:3-7
Psalm 55:22
Proverbs 12:25; 14:30; 17:22
Matthew 6:25
Philippians 4:6-7
Psalm 55:22
Proverbs 12:25; 14:30; 17:22
Matthew 6:25
Philippians 4:6-7
Digesting the Text
- Where do you see and feel anxiety in the midst of this current crisis? Go deeper than the current crisis, what worries do you carry in your day-to-day life?
- Peter commands us to humble ourselves by casting our anxieties upon the Lord (vv. 6-7). From these verses, why is God worthy of our humility and our trust?
- What does casting your anxieties upon the Lord look like for you? How can you begin or continue to trust the Lord with your circumstances this week?
- Peter warns us about our enemy (v. 8). What is the devil’s intention for believers? How do you remain vigilant against the devil in your life? How should you begin to be vigilant moving forward?
- Where are you seeing the influence of the devil in your heart and our society due to this crisis? How can you resist his influence in your life and in our society?
- Peter calls believers to stand in faith with the knowledge that we are not alone? What responsibility do you feel for the faith of other believers? What strength do you draw from the fact that we are not experiencing these times of crisis alone? Who in your life needs the encouragement that these verses bring?
- Peter encourages us by reminding us that the God of grace himself is the powerful God who will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” us. How does the knowledge that God is not distant but intimately involved in our suffering encourage you in this time of crisis?
- Peter ends these verses in worship. Spend time in prayer praising God for his power and thanking him for his presence and the grace he has given you in Jesus Christ.
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Week 12 – God’s Freedom
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say,
Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
Psalm 115:1-11 (ESV)
Read through the passage of Scripture above several times and then reflect on it by answering the following three questions:
What?
What is something that stands out to you from this passage of Scripture? What is one truth that you can take from it and hold in your heart and mind this week?
How?
How should you respond to this text this week? What is a measurable step of obedience that you can take this week in response to what you have read?
Who?
Who is someone in your life who could benefit from what you have learned from this passage of Scripture? Who does this passage of Scripture encourage you to pray for or engage with the gospel?
*I am using a “52 Week Bible Memory” plan as our selection guide for each week’s passage. You can download it from this site.
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Week 11 – God’s Wrath
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Romans 1:18-23 (ESV)
Read through the passage of Scripture above several times and then reflect on it by answering the following three questions:
What?
What is something that stands out to you from this passage of Scripture? What is one truth that you can take from it and hold in your heart and mind this week?
How?
How should you respond to this text this week? What is a measurable step of obedience that you can take this week in response to what you have read?
Who?
Who is someone in your life who could benefit from what you have learned from this passage of Scripture? Who does this passage of Scripture encourage you to pray for or engage with the gospel?
*I am using a “52 Week Bible Memory” plan as our selection guide for each week’s passage. You can download it from this site.
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Week 10 – God’s Jealousy
9 “For my name’s sake I defer my anger,
for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,
that I may not cut you off.
10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another.
Isaiah 48:9-11 (ESV)
Read through the passage of Scripture above several times and then reflect on it by answering the following three questions:
What?
What is something that stands out to you from this passage of Scripture? What is one truth that you can take from it and hold in your heart and mind this week?
How?
How should you respond to this text this week? What is a measurable step of obedience that you can take this week in response to what you have read?
Who?
Who is someone in your life who could benefit from what you have learned from this passage of Scripture? Who does this passage of Scripture encourage you to pray for or engage with the gospel?
*I am using a “52 Week Bible Memory” plan as our selection guide for each week’s passage. You can download it from this site.
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