Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:4

Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:4

Carefully Think Read Matthew 5:4 Recall from last week what it does and does not mean to be “blessed.” How is this beatitude related to the first? How would it relate to the next one? Over what would a person mourn if they are to find this kind of blessing? Why? What is the result of mourning? When should you expect that result? To what degree? Can you think of any illustrations from the Bible of people who mourned in the way this beatitude commends? How so? Can you think of any illustrations from the Bible of people who mourned in a way contrary to what this beatitude commends? How so? Prayerfully Meditate How does this beatitude differ from general grief? What would produce this kind of mourning in a person? What is it that you find regularly moves you to this sort of mourning? If we are to be people who mourn, how can we be people who are comforted at the same time? When was the last time you found yourself mourning over your own sin, the sin around you and sin’s effects in our world? What have you found to bring the most satisfying comfort when you do mourn as this beatitude commends? How does the gospel create this beatitude in us? Intentionally Act What steps could you take to elevate your comprehension and meditation on the character of God so that you have a vision of Him that creates a greater sensitivity to sin? What sins have you become accustomed to rather than mourn over? Spend time confessing these sins with godly sorrow. Pray specifically...
Preparing for Sunday – Leviticus

Preparing for Sunday – Leviticus

Carefully Think Read through Leviticus 1-5 and make a list of the various offerings Israel was to give. What was the role of the priest? What did the one making the offering have to do? What was the overarching reason for all of the offerings? Read Leviticus 10. What was Nadab and Abihu”™s failure? What does this suggest about God? What does it suggest about people and their approach to God”™s commands? Read Leviticus 16. What is the main theme of this chapter? Who”™s sin was covered? How? What do you learn about how sin is atoned for in this chapter? Read Leviticus 18-20. What is the overarching motive mentioned over and over that should move the Israelites to obedience? Prayerfully Meditate According to Leviticus, how much of life was treated as worship? What does this suggest about how God”™s people should think about life? According to Leviticus how do you know that God took public worship so seriously? What does it suggest to us about our approach to worshiping God? Read Hebrews 8-10. In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of what you read in Leviticus? Read Matthew 5-6. In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of what you read in Leviticus? What should the most significant effect of Leviticus be on your approach to worship this Sunday? Intentionally Act What areas of sin have been brought to your mind in contemplating Leviticus and its affect on worship and life? Confess those specifically to God in prayer. Respond in prayer to God for what you have learned from Leviticus and Hebrews (mentioned above) and the role Jesus plays...
mid-Week Minutes 7.13.11

mid-Week Minutes 7.13.11

How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message In this week’s Mid-Week Minutes: This is VBS week – thank you to Stacy McCommon for the devoted leadership and to all who have given so much of their time and energy to teach Scripture to our kids. How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message: Re-read the passage Review the Main idea of the message Rehearse the main points that unfold the main idea Think through an application grid of questions on each point How seen in salvation history? Impact on the lost? Impact on the culture Impact on a Christian Impact on our Church Application Grids: Example filled out Blank...
Preparing for Sunday-How to Hear a Sermon

Preparing for Sunday-How to Hear a Sermon

Carefully Think Read through the following passages and think about what they about the importance of listening:  Matthew 11:5; 13:9, 15, 16, 43; 15:10; 17:5; Mark 7:14; Luke 9:44; 16:29; Acts 2:22; 7:57; 13:16; 15:13; 22:1; Romans 11:8; James 2:5 Read the parable of the soils in Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23. Circle every reference to hearing. What does a person”™s hearing indicate about their soul? Read James 1:19-25 and note what is important about our listening to God”™s word. Prayerfully Meditate What are the biggest barriers to how effectively you listen to a sermon? What do you do to prepare yourself to listen to a sermon on Sunday? Why? What do you do with the material you have heard in a sermon ? How could you spend your time on Saturday evening and Sunday morning to best prepare yourself to listen well on Sunday? Actively Respond Read again through Psalm 119:33-40 and think about the importance of hearing God’s Word and the role it actually plays in  your own life. Pray for those who will gather on Sunday to be effective listeners. Pray for those who will be leading the church in our corporate gathering on Sunday.  Pray that they will have a focused attention in leading the entire church in a biblical manner. Pray for all who will be involved in the service (instrumentalists, sound technicians, ushers, etc.).  Pray that we will help to enhance people”™s affections for God this week in how we serve the body. Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sin Sunday. Download the songs for this Sunday and listen to them so...