Assignment for October 3, 2018

Psalm 1

vs. 1- the progression into evil:  walk.... stand.... sit

What can these words stand for in everyday life? 
What do they refer to in practical terms for you?

Notice the wording:  Blessed is the one who does NOT do this

vs. 2- delight. 
What does that word mean to you?  
What are some of the things that you really delight in?  
God wants to give us that same level of passion toward His Word.

meditate- to think about, ponder, chew on, reflect, consider, mull over. 

The goal of Christian meditation is not empty ourselves but to fill ourselves up with the truth of God's Word. Meditation goes beyond merely knowing facts about the Bible. It is where the Bible becomes real to us personally. General knowledge is transformed into specific truth just for you and me. This will bring about spiritual growth.

day and night- How do we do this?

 1.  Day: Ask the Lord to give you a small portion (a verse or less) of scripture to meditate on throughout the day. Keep using this same verse each day until you have "squeezed all the juice" out of it. Expect there to be "windows of pause" in your day. Times when you have a few seconds to spare. They are always there but we don't always see them as opportunities. When you find one, seize the opportunity and reflect on this verse. It doesn't take much to keep a verse rolling around in our hearts all day. 
 2.  Night: Make reflecting on that verse the last thing you do before you go to sleep. This not only sets the stage for a good nights' sleep with God in charge of your dreams, it will also help us to wake up with God clearly on our mind.

Joshua 1:6-9
Joshua was called to lead. To do so he had to be strong and courageous. How was he to do it? The key was to meditate on the Word day and night. Prosperity and success would naturally follow him if he did so.

It is the same with each of us. We have all been put here for a reason. The path to success is the same as Joshua's. If we meditate on the Word day and night, we will have the things we need to complete the work God gave us to do.

You don't have to be a monk to meditate "day and night." It is a mindset and a heart-set that God can help each of us obtain.

vs. 3- a fruitful tree planted by the water. This is God's desire for us.

Jeremiah 17:8

Assignment for September 19th

1.  We did not finish the last 2 points from the last lesson so we will begin with them. Look up the references and write down some thoughts.

How are we sanctified?

John 17:17

Ro. 15:16

Hebrews 13:12

Sanctification is both instantaneous and progressive. This will take some thought, prayer and reflection to understand but it is HUGELY important that we do understand it.

Hebrews 2:10-11

2.  As we continue to explore our identity in Christ, we will look at our position as priests.

Look in the dictionary, Bible, study Bible and find the definition and duties of priests.
Hint: we did this when we studied Ezra. 😉

3.  Lookup these scriptures and write down some thoughts:

1 Peter 2:4-10
Revelation 1:4-6

Assignment for September 5, 2018

My Identity in Christ

We will discuss the scriptures listed below. Please look them up and jot down some thoughts, ESPECIALLY if they speak personally to you.

It is very important for us as believers to have a clear understanding of who we are in Christ. We must see ourselves as God sees us.

Once I have received Christ as my personal Savior I am born-again. A great transformation has taken place. I was dead and now I am alive. I was blind but now I see. I was a sinner but now I am a saint.

2 Cor. 5:17

In the NIV Bible, the word “saints” is used 45 times.

“Saints” are sanctified ones

The Greek word for the noun “saints” is hagios- (#40 in Strong’s concordance): the core meaning is "different." The technical meaning is "different from the world because like the Lord." It means to be set apart by God or for God, holy, sacred. It means we have a "likeness of nature with the Lord."

Hagios is the word used in “Holy” Spirit

The verb form of hagios translated “sanctify” or “make holy”- hagiazo (#37 in Strong’s Concordance) means "to make holy, consecrate, sanctify; to dedicate, separate"

“Sanctify” is used 15 times in NIV and “made holy” 7 times.

All these English words come from the same Greek root word so we must look at them as a group.

The Bible calls every believer a saint:

Eph. 1:1

1 Cor 1:2

Being a saint involves 2 parts: 
Separation FROM something and dedication TO something else.

Eph. 2:1-5

What is the difference between transgressions and sins?

How are we sanctified?

John 17:17

Ro. 15:16

Hebrews 13:12

Sanctification is both instantaneous and progressive. This will take some thought, prayer and reflection to understand but it is HUGELY important that we do understand it.

Hebrews 2:10-11

Assignment for August 29, 2018

1.  We will continue with our study of the word "perseverance." Refer back to the Assignment for August 15th to get some scriptures to start with.

2. We looked at a "kernel of wheat" to help transition us from the Parable of the Sower to the study of perseverance. Once the seed of God's Word has been sown in us our ultimate call is to become a seed ourselves by dying to self.  We are following Jesus' example when we do this. 

John 12:23-26- Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.





There are 3 parts to a seed. After a seed is placed in the ground the germ begins to grow. It consumes the endosperm and eventually bursts through the outer bran shell.

We are like a seed in that we have 3 parts:
                                 germ = spirit
                       endosperm = soul
                                  bran = body

The process of Christian growth starts when we are born-again and God's Holy Spirit comes into our human spirit. As our spirit cooperates with God it begins to consume our soul (mind, will and emotions). Our thoughts change. Our feelings change. Our choices change. This is turn causes us to resist the temptations of the flesh so the life of God can burst forth from us.

3. Strong's Concordance can be used to look up the meanings of the original words in the Bible. An online Bible program that has Strong's Concordance is: https://biblehub.com/   You may need some help navigating the program but it is learn-able, more thorough and much quicker than using the book. Let me know if you need help.

4.  A simple English dictionary is helpful to gain insight. 
-perseverance:  steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
The translators of the Bible had a reason for choosing the particular English words they did. So, even if we don't know anything about the original languages, we can glean much by looking up the word in an English dictionary to gain different shades of meaning.

5. A "Prescription for Joy" was shared with us.  

Each day for 21 days write down 3 things:

1. Something you are thankful for
2. Something that makes you happy
3. Something you are looking forward to

Please note: You cannot repeat an item. Each one must be new.

Then pick someone to share your list with each day. They will be part of the prescription.

Assignment for August 15, 2018

1.  Reread the assignment for August 8th particularly focusing on the blue parts.
2.  Look up in your Bible references with the word "persevering." Also check other forms of this word: persevere, persevered.  Also check for words that would be similar: like endurance or steadfastness.
3.  Here are some examples to get you started:  
Romans 5:3-4, 2 Peter 1:6, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:3-4

Assignment for August 8th

1. Review the assignment from July 25 . Be sure to read the part in blue.
2. Go through the parable and write out the verses from each Gospel for both the story and the explanation of the "good soil."
3. Note the differences and similarities.
4. Do the amounts stated, 30, 60 & 100 fold, mean that only the "100 fold people" got it right?

Discoveries

The "Good Soil" part of the Parable:
1.  Matthew and Mark were very similar in the telling of the parable. Only difference was the order of the numbers: 30, 60, 100.
2. Luke's account was very brief and only used the number 100.

The explanation:
1.  Matthew states that the good soil represents a person who hears the Word, understands it and produces a crop.
2.  Mark uses the words, hear, accept and produces.
3.  Luke uses hear, retain, and by persevering produces a crop
     He also describes the person as one with a "noble and good heart."
4. Some conclusions made by combining all three: There is a progression of growth as we move from hearing the Word. First there is understanding, then accepting and finally retaining.
"Noble" in the Greek literally means "beautiful." Also means good- valuable or virtuous for appearance or use.
"Good" in the Greek is a primary word meaning "good."
So, "noble" refers to the outer appearance and "good" to the heart. 

As we discussed the germination of seeds and how they each reproduce after their own kind, God gave a us a gem:

The Word of God is the only seed that will produce many different kinds of fruit from the same seed. The same seed can bring salvation, healing, deliverance, meet financial needs, relational needs and much more. This can be illustrated during by what happens during a sermon. The exact same message is heard by all who listen, but each hearer is receiving what they need from God at that juncture in their lives.

We discussed what kind of a harvest or fruit are we supposed to bear. There are several kinds of fruit listed in the Bible.
1. The fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23
2.  Character development- John 15:1-11
3.  Leading someone to Christ- Psalms 126:6
4.  Moving in the gifts of the Spirit- John 14:12

Assignment for July 25, 2018

1. Review the assignment from July 17th. Be sure to read the part in blue.
2. Go through the parable and write out the verses from each Gospel for both the story and the explanation of the "soil with thorns."
3. Note the differences and similarities.
4. What are the basic categories of things that might be "thorns" in our heart?
5. Out of these basic categories can you list some specific examples of thorns from your own life? (You will not be required to share these but it is important that all Bible Study be applied to our personal life. This is the only way we will grow through the Word.)
6. What are some ways to get rid of thorns in our lives?
    What are some ways that we might be able to create an "early detection system" in our hearts to catch possible thorny symptoms before they get too big?

Discoveries

Parable:

Matt. 13:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 

Mark 4:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

Luke 8:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 

Common points:  seed fell among thorns, thorns grew up and choked the plants.
Differences: they did not bear grain
                  This is the goal of the choking: that we bear no fruit

Explanation:

Matt. 13:7- The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

Mark 4:18- Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Luke 8:14- The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

Common points: hears, worries of life, choked

Differences:  deceitfulness of wealth, desires for other things- riches and pleasures, making it unfruitful- they do not mature

Basic categories of thorns:

1. worries of life
2. deceitfulness of wealth
3. desires for other things- riches and pleasures

Early warning signs of thorniness in our hearts:
1. We worry more than we pray 
2. We make money our goal instead of God
3. We seek pleasures (we are referring to normal God-ordained pleasures not sinful pleasures) more than God. Even good things can choke us if they become out of balance.

Some practical things we can do when worry gets the upper hand:
1. Read the Bible outloud
2. Call a friend for prayer
3. Play praise music and sing along
4. Begin to give thanks

Phil. 4:6-7- "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."  Message Translation