SESSION 3
TIME WITH JESUS
You were created to know God in a deep and personal way.
GET STARTED
REFLECT
We saw in the previous session that Jesus is the central figure in human history and
the most important person who ever lived. Jesus is both fully human and fully
God, which is why He alone can provide salvation for all people. We also saw
that living as a disciple of Jesus means making Him central in all that we are
and central in everything we do.
Which of the assignments did you explore this week? How did it go?
What did you learn or experience while reading the Bible?
What questions would you like to ask?
PRAY
Begin the session by connecting with God through prayer. Use the following guidelines
as you speak with Him:
·
Thank God for His presence in your life this week.
·
Ask Him to help you set aside any distractions you’re
experiencing now so that you can focus on His Word.
·
Ask Him to speak with you as you study the Bible today.
INTRODUCTION
We live in a celebrity-obsessed culture. From supermarket magazines to gossip
websites to social media, people today are desperate to know what celebrities
are up to. We want to know what celebrities are wearing. We want to know which
celebrities are dating other celebrities. We want to know where celebrities are
dining, shopping, and watching sports. And, more often than not, we’ve been
given round-the-clock access to all of those details and more.
The root of our obsession with celebrities is a desire to connect with something
larger than ourselves. In fact, the root of our obsession with celebrities is a
desire to connect with God. As created beings, we’re born with an instinctive
need to know and be known by our Creator. All of us were created to know God in
a deep and personal way.
Don’t let that truth slip away: you were created to know God in a deep and personal
way.
And here’s the wonderful news: you can! You may never have a meaningful connection
with a cultural celebrity, but as a disciple of Jesus you have access to
something immeasurably better—a daily relationship with the Creator.
God wants to connect with you. He wants you to know Him, come close to Him, hear
His voice, and follow His lead.
How do you respond to the truth that you were created to know God in a deep and
personal way?
THE STORY
KNOW THE STORY
The following story is about two women who knew Jesus personally. Their names were
Mary and Martha, and they were the sisters of a man named Lazarus. According to
the Gospel of John, “Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus” (John 11:5).
Jesus’ love for Mary and Martha wasn’t a general, unspecific love. It’s true that God
loves all people, but this was more. Jesus felt a genuine, human fondness for
Mary, Martha, and their brother.
One day when Jesus was ministering and teaching near their community, He decided to
stop off at His friends’ house for dinner. Let’s pick up the story there:
38 While they were traveling, [Jesus] entered a village, and a woman named Martha
welcomed Him into her home. 39 She
had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to
what He said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her
many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has
left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”
41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many
things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary
has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”
LUKE 10:38-42
What do you find interesting from this story? Why?
What can we learn about Jesus from His interactions with Mary and Martha?
Both Mary and Martha were confronted with a choice between doing what felt necessary and spending time with Jesus. Don’t miss the fact that Jesus decided which
sister made the “right choice.”
UNPACK THE STORY
TALK TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER
As a disciple of Jesus, you have an opportunity to spend time with Him each day.
Therefore, like Mary and Martha, you need to make a choice. You can choose to
dive headlong into the fast-moving current of your life with all its demands
and frustrations—or you can choose to pull back and spend some time
communicating with God.
You may be thinking, How do I communicate with God? Notice what
Mary did to draw close to Jesus: she sat at His feet and listened to Him.
That’s it. That’s all you need. Regularly drawing near to God and listening
when He speaks to you are the keys to cultivating a deep and personal
relationship with Him.
What are some potential obstacles that can hinder you from spending time with Jesus each day?
Prayer is one of the primary ways to talk with God and listen for His voice. People
often feel confused about prayer—what it is, what it means, and what it accomplishes.
At the core, however, prayer is simply communication with God. It involves
speaking to God from your heart and actively listening when He speaks to you.
Notice
that prayer isn’t a method for approaching God as a genie or divine vending
machine. Prayer isn’t a way we get God to do what we want. Instead, prayer is
the way we draw close to God to find out what He wants.
God
draws us close to Himself when we spend time with Him in prayer. For that
reason, saturating your life with prayer each day is the beginning step to
knowing God and experiencing Him in a meaningful way.
What
do you look forward to most when you think about prayer?
What
questions would you like to ask about the process and purpose of prayer?
HEAR FROM GOD THROUGH HIS WORD
The
more we draw close to God through prayer, the more open we become to hearing
and receiving God’s guidance in our lives. That’s why the Bible is so
important—because one of the primary ways God speaks to us today is through His
Word.
When
you read the Bible or hear teaching from the Scriptures, you are hearing from
God. The Bible is unchanging, unwavering, unalterable, and always true. Though
written thousands of years ago, it has remained both relevant and revolutionary
literally for thousands of years.
In
other words, the Bible is God’s Word for you today!
What
have you heard or been taught about the Bible?
What
questions would you like to ask about God’s Word?
The
Scriptures offer clear principles and practical instructions for life. They are
easily understood when studied seriously, and they are applicable for every
disciple.
With
that in mind, the most important tool you’ll need for studying God’s Word isn’t
a commentary or Bible dictionary—it’s humility. Just as Mary submitted herself
to Jesus by sitting at His feet, you must submit yourself to God’s Word by
choosing to believe and obey what it says.
As you
hear from God through the pages of Scripture and begin to put His truth into
practice, you’ll continue to develop a deep love and close relationship with
Him. In the same way that young children recognize their father’s voice, you
will begin to recognize and know your heavenly Father’s voice as you study His
Word.
What
do you hope to experience as you study the Bible?
ENGAGE
Conclude
this session by spending time praying together as a group. Use the acrostic
PRAY as you follow the steps below. This method of prayer is based on the way
Jesus taught His disciples to pray. (See Personal Study 2, “How to
Pray,” for a deeper exploration of the PRAY method.)
Note: groups with more than six
participants may want to split into smaller subgroups so that everyone can
participate.
·
Praise: Begin
by praising God. Acknowledge how He has worked for your benefit in recent
weeks; express your desire to know Him and experience Him.
·
Repent: Ask
God to reveal any habits or life patterns that keep you from knowing Him more
deeply. Confess the mistakes you’ve made and ask for God’s forgiveness.
·
Ask: Actively ask God
to meet your needs and to draw you closer to Him in the coming week. Also pray
for the others in your group.
·
Yield: Conclude
by yielding your whole self to God. Offer your life to Him this week, and
affirm your desire to know Him and be used by Him.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
WEEKLY
ACTIVITIES
In
addition to studying God’s Word, work with your group leader to create a plan
for personal study, worship, and application between now and the next session.
Select from the following optional activities to match your personal
preferences and available time.
Worship
·
Read your Bible. Complete the reading
plan for this session.
·
Spend time with God. Follow the Investing
Time devotional instructions.
·
Connect with God each day. Select a time and place to spend
time with God every day this week—preferably the same time and place in order
to begin building a routine. In addition to reading God’s Word (see the reading
plan above), pray about what you encounter.
Personal
Study
·
Read and interact with Personal Study 1, “How to
Study the Bible.”
·
Read and interact with Personal Study 2, “How to
Pray.”
Application
·
Connect with your church. Attend a church worship service
and take notes as the pastor teaches from the Bible.
·
Connect with others. Ask a friend or family member to join
you this week in reading the Bible and connecting with God through prayer.
·
Memorize John 10:14. “I am the good shepherd. I
know My own sheep, and they know Me.”
·
Express yourself. Respond to what you’re learning from God
and His Word by creating something—a painting, a poem, a song, etc.
·
Other:
WORSHIP
READING PLAN
Continue
reading through the Gospel of Mark this week. Record your thoughts and
responses.
Day 1
Mark 7:1-13
Day 2
Mark 7:14-37
Day 3
Mark 8:1-21
Day 4
Mark 8:22-38
Day 5
Mark 9:1-29
Day 6
Mark 9:30-50
Day 7
Mark 10:1-16
INVESTING TIME
If you
want to get to know someone better, you have to invest time with that person.
The more time you spend together, the more you get to know each other and the
deeper your relationship grows. Relationships require time in order to function
well.
The
same is true for your relationship with God. You were created to know Him in a
deep and personal way, but doing so requires an investment on your end.
For
that reason, set aside at least 30 minutes to spend with God—and only with
God—within the next few days. Choose an environment that feels comfortable for
you. This may be in your room with all your devices turned off, or it may be
out in the woods with the sun on your face. Either way, intentionally limit
this time to praying, studying God’s Word, and actively listening for His
guidance and direction.
When will I do this? ___________________
MY THOUGHTS:
PERSONAL STUDY
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
Along
with prayer, reading the Bible is an essential element for disciples of Christ.
The Bible is a miraculous work of literature that has changed the course of
human history. It’s actually a collection of 66 books written by 40 different
authors over a period of more than 1,500 years—yet it tells a single, cohesive
story about God and His work in the world. The Bible is the inspired Word of
God entrusted to us as a precious gift.
For
these reasons and more, the Bible is worthy of our study and attention.
Maybe
you’re wondering: How do I go about studying the Bible? That’s
a good question, and we can begin finding answers in the Bible itself.
Read
the following passages of Scripture and write down what they teach about
saturating your life with God’s Word.
Psalm
119:9-16
1 John
2:3-6
One of
the more difficult concepts to understand about the Bible is how different it
is from other books. The Bible is not a spiritual textbook that provides
information for living the way Christians are supposed to live. Therefore,
reading the Bible should be more than merely an informational experience.
Instead,
reading the Bible should be a transformational experience. The more you study
God’s Word, the more you should change and grow as a disciple of Jesus. That’s
what the Bible says:
For
the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged
sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and
marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.
HEBREWS 4:12
16 All
Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking,
for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17
On a
similar note, we need to recognize that the Bible was not written the same way
other books are written. It’s not the product of one person’s imagination and
experience. Rather, the Bible was written by men who were directly inspired by
God’s Holy Spirit:
20 First
of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own
interpretation, 21 because no
prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 PETER 1:20-21
In
your own words, describe how the Bible is different from other books
you’ve experienced.
For
these reasons, one of the keys to studying the Bible is understanding from the
beginning that the Bible is literally the Word of God—it’s a supernatural book
that ultimately comes from God, not from people.
Because
of these realities, you should approach the Bible in a posture of humility and
expectation. Use the following questions to help you focus on transformation
and application as you study:
·
What principles and truths does this text communicate?
·
What commands and promises does this text contain?
·
What are the implications of this text for my life today
and in the days to come?
Finally,
remember the words of Jesus as you seek to study His Word:
31 So
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you
really are My disciples. 32 You
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
JOHN 8:31-32
How
will you change your approach to studying the Bible based on what you’ve
learned in this study?
PERSONAL STUDY
HOW TO PRAY
You’ve
seen that prayer is an essential practice for those who follow Jesus and want
to connect with Him on a regular basis. In fact, prayer is the primary way
Christians communicate with God. It’s also one of the primary ways we hear Him
speak back to us.
In
other words, prayer is the foundation of our personal relationship with God.
But
what does it mean to pray? And how do we actually go about the process of
prayer? These aren’t questions we should take lightly. Thankfully, we can learn
from Jesus’ example. While teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus included a
model prayer that includes the basic elements we should remember when
communicating with God.
Take a
look at Jesus’ model prayer from the Gospel of Matthew:
9 Therefore,
you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Your name be honored as holy.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us into
temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
[For Yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.]
MATTHEW 6:9-13
What
stands out to you about Jesus’ example of how to pray?
How
would you describe your experiences with prayer in the past?
You
used the simple acrostic PRAY earlier in this
session. This is an easy way of remembering the different elements Jesus
included in His model prayer.
·
P stands for praise. Jesus
began by praising his Father: “Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as
holy” (v. 9). When you pray, don’t rush into your requests and problems.
First, praise God for who He is and recognize the positive ways He has worked
in your life.
·
R stands for repent. To
repent means to turn from the direction you were going and follow Jesus,
instead. Jesus prayed: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is
in heaven” (v. 10). Ask God to show you any area of your life where you’ve
ignored or abandoned His will. Confess that to God and turn from it to follow
Jesus wholeheartedly.
·
A stands for ask. Jesus
moved into asking for His daily needs in verses 11-13: “Give us … forgive us …
deliver us” and more. When you pray, ask God to meet your needs and the needs of
others.
·
Y stands for yield. Some
of the later manuscripts of God’s Word include the phrase, “For Yours is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever” (v. 13). Jesus was saying:
“Father, it’s all about Your kingdom, Your power, and Your glory. It’s all
about You, not about me.” Therefore, close your prayer time by yielding your
life to be used as God wants.
It’s
also important to remember that prayer includes both talking and listening.
Even as we open up to God about our thoughts, desires, and fears, we must also
listen for His voice in answer. This kind of listening is intentional. It
involves setting aside distractions—both internal and external—in order to
actively hear what God chooses to speak to our hearts.
How
confident do you feel in your ability to listen for God and hear His voice?
Spend
a few moments in prayer using the PRAY method described above. How did it go?
TIME WITH JESUS
You were created to know God in a deep and personal way.
GET STARTED
REFLECT
We saw in the previous session that Jesus is the central figure in human history and
the most important person who ever lived. Jesus is both fully human and fully
God, which is why He alone can provide salvation for all people. We also saw
that living as a disciple of Jesus means making Him central in all that we are
and central in everything we do.
Which of the assignments did you explore this week? How did it go?
What did you learn or experience while reading the Bible?
What questions would you like to ask?
PRAY
Begin the session by connecting with God through prayer. Use the following guidelines
as you speak with Him:
·
Thank God for His presence in your life this week.
·
Ask Him to help you set aside any distractions you’re
experiencing now so that you can focus on His Word.
·
Ask Him to speak with you as you study the Bible today.
INTRODUCTION
We live in a celebrity-obsessed culture. From supermarket magazines to gossip
websites to social media, people today are desperate to know what celebrities
are up to. We want to know what celebrities are wearing. We want to know which
celebrities are dating other celebrities. We want to know where celebrities are
dining, shopping, and watching sports. And, more often than not, we’ve been
given round-the-clock access to all of those details and more.
The root of our obsession with celebrities is a desire to connect with something
larger than ourselves. In fact, the root of our obsession with celebrities is a
desire to connect with God. As created beings, we’re born with an instinctive
need to know and be known by our Creator. All of us were created to know God in
a deep and personal way.
Don’t let that truth slip away: you were created to know God in a deep and personal
way.
And here’s the wonderful news: you can! You may never have a meaningful connection
with a cultural celebrity, but as a disciple of Jesus you have access to
something immeasurably better—a daily relationship with the Creator.
God wants to connect with you. He wants you to know Him, come close to Him, hear
His voice, and follow His lead.
How do you respond to the truth that you were created to know God in a deep and
personal way?
THE STORY
KNOW THE STORY
The following story is about two women who knew Jesus personally. Their names were
Mary and Martha, and they were the sisters of a man named Lazarus. According to
the Gospel of John, “Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus” (John 11:5).
Jesus’ love for Mary and Martha wasn’t a general, unspecific love. It’s true that God
loves all people, but this was more. Jesus felt a genuine, human fondness for
Mary, Martha, and their brother.
One day when Jesus was ministering and teaching near their community, He decided to
stop off at His friends’ house for dinner. Let’s pick up the story there:
38 While they were traveling, [Jesus] entered a village, and a woman named Martha
welcomed Him into her home. 39 She
had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to
what He said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her
many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has
left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”
41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many
things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary
has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”
LUKE 10:38-42
What do you find interesting from this story? Why?
What can we learn about Jesus from His interactions with Mary and Martha?
Both Mary and Martha were confronted with a choice between doing what felt necessary and spending time with Jesus. Don’t miss the fact that Jesus decided which
sister made the “right choice.”
UNPACK THE STORY
TALK TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER
As a disciple of Jesus, you have an opportunity to spend time with Him each day.
Therefore, like Mary and Martha, you need to make a choice. You can choose to
dive headlong into the fast-moving current of your life with all its demands
and frustrations—or you can choose to pull back and spend some time
communicating with God.
You may be thinking, How do I communicate with God? Notice what
Mary did to draw close to Jesus: she sat at His feet and listened to Him.
That’s it. That’s all you need. Regularly drawing near to God and listening
when He speaks to you are the keys to cultivating a deep and personal
relationship with Him.
What are some potential obstacles that can hinder you from spending time with Jesus each day?
Prayer is one of the primary ways to talk with God and listen for His voice. People
often feel confused about prayer—what it is, what it means, and what it accomplishes.
At the core, however, prayer is simply communication with God. It involves
speaking to God from your heart and actively listening when He speaks to you.
Notice
that prayer isn’t a method for approaching God as a genie or divine vending
machine. Prayer isn’t a way we get God to do what we want. Instead, prayer is
the way we draw close to God to find out what He wants.
God
draws us close to Himself when we spend time with Him in prayer. For that
reason, saturating your life with prayer each day is the beginning step to
knowing God and experiencing Him in a meaningful way.
What
do you look forward to most when you think about prayer?
What
questions would you like to ask about the process and purpose of prayer?
HEAR FROM GOD THROUGH HIS WORD
The
more we draw close to God through prayer, the more open we become to hearing
and receiving God’s guidance in our lives. That’s why the Bible is so
important—because one of the primary ways God speaks to us today is through His
Word.
When
you read the Bible or hear teaching from the Scriptures, you are hearing from
God. The Bible is unchanging, unwavering, unalterable, and always true. Though
written thousands of years ago, it has remained both relevant and revolutionary
literally for thousands of years.
In
other words, the Bible is God’s Word for you today!
What
have you heard or been taught about the Bible?
What
questions would you like to ask about God’s Word?
The
Scriptures offer clear principles and practical instructions for life. They are
easily understood when studied seriously, and they are applicable for every
disciple.
With
that in mind, the most important tool you’ll need for studying God’s Word isn’t
a commentary or Bible dictionary—it’s humility. Just as Mary submitted herself
to Jesus by sitting at His feet, you must submit yourself to God’s Word by
choosing to believe and obey what it says.
As you
hear from God through the pages of Scripture and begin to put His truth into
practice, you’ll continue to develop a deep love and close relationship with
Him. In the same way that young children recognize their father’s voice, you
will begin to recognize and know your heavenly Father’s voice as you study His
Word.
What
do you hope to experience as you study the Bible?
ENGAGE
Conclude
this session by spending time praying together as a group. Use the acrostic
PRAY as you follow the steps below. This method of prayer is based on the way
Jesus taught His disciples to pray. (See Personal Study 2, “How to
Pray,” for a deeper exploration of the PRAY method.)
Note: groups with more than six
participants may want to split into smaller subgroups so that everyone can
participate.
·
Praise: Begin
by praising God. Acknowledge how He has worked for your benefit in recent
weeks; express your desire to know Him and experience Him.
·
Repent: Ask
God to reveal any habits or life patterns that keep you from knowing Him more
deeply. Confess the mistakes you’ve made and ask for God’s forgiveness.
·
Ask: Actively ask God
to meet your needs and to draw you closer to Him in the coming week. Also pray
for the others in your group.
·
Yield: Conclude
by yielding your whole self to God. Offer your life to Him this week, and
affirm your desire to know Him and be used by Him.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
WEEKLY
ACTIVITIES
In
addition to studying God’s Word, work with your group leader to create a plan
for personal study, worship, and application between now and the next session.
Select from the following optional activities to match your personal
preferences and available time.
Worship
·
Read your Bible. Complete the reading
plan for this session.
·
Spend time with God. Follow the Investing
Time devotional instructions.
·
Connect with God each day. Select a time and place to spend
time with God every day this week—preferably the same time and place in order
to begin building a routine. In addition to reading God’s Word (see the reading
plan above), pray about what you encounter.
Personal
Study
·
Read and interact with Personal Study 1, “How to
Study the Bible.”
·
Read and interact with Personal Study 2, “How to
Pray.”
Application
·
Connect with your church. Attend a church worship service
and take notes as the pastor teaches from the Bible.
·
Connect with others. Ask a friend or family member to join
you this week in reading the Bible and connecting with God through prayer.
·
Memorize John 10:14. “I am the good shepherd. I
know My own sheep, and they know Me.”
·
Express yourself. Respond to what you’re learning from God
and His Word by creating something—a painting, a poem, a song, etc.
·
Other:
WORSHIP
READING PLAN
Continue
reading through the Gospel of Mark this week. Record your thoughts and
responses.
Day 1
Mark 7:1-13
Day 2
Mark 7:14-37
Day 3
Mark 8:1-21
Day 4
Mark 8:22-38
Day 5
Mark 9:1-29
Day 6
Mark 9:30-50
Day 7
Mark 10:1-16
INVESTING TIME
If you
want to get to know someone better, you have to invest time with that person.
The more time you spend together, the more you get to know each other and the
deeper your relationship grows. Relationships require time in order to function
well.
The
same is true for your relationship with God. You were created to know Him in a
deep and personal way, but doing so requires an investment on your end.
For
that reason, set aside at least 30 minutes to spend with God—and only with
God—within the next few days. Choose an environment that feels comfortable for
you. This may be in your room with all your devices turned off, or it may be
out in the woods with the sun on your face. Either way, intentionally limit
this time to praying, studying God’s Word, and actively listening for His
guidance and direction.
When will I do this? ___________________
MY THOUGHTS:
PERSONAL STUDY
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
Along
with prayer, reading the Bible is an essential element for disciples of Christ.
The Bible is a miraculous work of literature that has changed the course of
human history. It’s actually a collection of 66 books written by 40 different
authors over a period of more than 1,500 years—yet it tells a single, cohesive
story about God and His work in the world. The Bible is the inspired Word of
God entrusted to us as a precious gift.
For
these reasons and more, the Bible is worthy of our study and attention.
Maybe
you’re wondering: How do I go about studying the Bible? That’s
a good question, and we can begin finding answers in the Bible itself.
Read
the following passages of Scripture and write down what they teach about
saturating your life with God’s Word.
Psalm
119:9-16
1 John
2:3-6
One of
the more difficult concepts to understand about the Bible is how different it
is from other books. The Bible is not a spiritual textbook that provides
information for living the way Christians are supposed to live. Therefore,
reading the Bible should be more than merely an informational experience.
Instead,
reading the Bible should be a transformational experience. The more you study
God’s Word, the more you should change and grow as a disciple of Jesus. That’s
what the Bible says:
For
the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged
sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and
marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.
HEBREWS 4:12
16 All
Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking,
for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17
On a
similar note, we need to recognize that the Bible was not written the same way
other books are written. It’s not the product of one person’s imagination and
experience. Rather, the Bible was written by men who were directly inspired by
God’s Holy Spirit:
20 First
of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own
interpretation, 21 because no
prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 PETER 1:20-21
In
your own words, describe how the Bible is different from other books
you’ve experienced.
For
these reasons, one of the keys to studying the Bible is understanding from the
beginning that the Bible is literally the Word of God—it’s a supernatural book
that ultimately comes from God, not from people.
Because
of these realities, you should approach the Bible in a posture of humility and
expectation. Use the following questions to help you focus on transformation
and application as you study:
·
What principles and truths does this text communicate?
·
What commands and promises does this text contain?
·
What are the implications of this text for my life today
and in the days to come?
Finally,
remember the words of Jesus as you seek to study His Word:
31 So
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you
really are My disciples. 32 You
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
JOHN 8:31-32
How
will you change your approach to studying the Bible based on what you’ve
learned in this study?
PERSONAL STUDY
HOW TO PRAY
You’ve
seen that prayer is an essential practice for those who follow Jesus and want
to connect with Him on a regular basis. In fact, prayer is the primary way
Christians communicate with God. It’s also one of the primary ways we hear Him
speak back to us.
In
other words, prayer is the foundation of our personal relationship with God.
But
what does it mean to pray? And how do we actually go about the process of
prayer? These aren’t questions we should take lightly. Thankfully, we can learn
from Jesus’ example. While teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus included a
model prayer that includes the basic elements we should remember when
communicating with God.
Take a
look at Jesus’ model prayer from the Gospel of Matthew:
9 Therefore,
you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Your name be honored as holy.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us into
temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
[For Yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.]
MATTHEW 6:9-13
What
stands out to you about Jesus’ example of how to pray?
How
would you describe your experiences with prayer in the past?
You
used the simple acrostic PRAY earlier in this
session. This is an easy way of remembering the different elements Jesus
included in His model prayer.
·
P stands for praise. Jesus
began by praising his Father: “Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as
holy” (v. 9). When you pray, don’t rush into your requests and problems.
First, praise God for who He is and recognize the positive ways He has worked
in your life.
·
R stands for repent. To
repent means to turn from the direction you were going and follow Jesus,
instead. Jesus prayed: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is
in heaven” (v. 10). Ask God to show you any area of your life where you’ve
ignored or abandoned His will. Confess that to God and turn from it to follow
Jesus wholeheartedly.
·
A stands for ask. Jesus
moved into asking for His daily needs in verses 11-13: “Give us … forgive us …
deliver us” and more. When you pray, ask God to meet your needs and the needs of
others.
·
Y stands for yield. Some
of the later manuscripts of God’s Word include the phrase, “For Yours is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever” (v. 13). Jesus was saying:
“Father, it’s all about Your kingdom, Your power, and Your glory. It’s all
about You, not about me.” Therefore, close your prayer time by yielding your
life to be used as God wants.
It’s
also important to remember that prayer includes both talking and listening.
Even as we open up to God about our thoughts, desires, and fears, we must also
listen for His voice in answer. This kind of listening is intentional. It
involves setting aside distractions—both internal and external—in order to
actively hear what God chooses to speak to our hearts.
How
confident do you feel in your ability to listen for God and hear His voice?
Spend
a few moments in prayer using the PRAY method described above. How did it go?