Author: Shannon Vicker

Eden Day 12 The Blame Game: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out The Blame Game!

The Questions

1) Why are Adam and Eve hiding? Do they actually believe they can hide from God? (verse 8)
2) What did God ask, “Where are you?” if He already knew the answer? (verse 9)
3) Once God “found” Adam and Eve, were there consequences for their sin and hiding?

Genesis 3:8-10

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

Original Intent

1) Why are Adam and Eve hiding? Do they actually believe they can hide from God? (verse 8)
When God created Adam, He placed him in the Garden of Eden to “work it and watch over it.” (Genesis 2:15) God gave him the entire garden but told him, “You are free to eat of any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) The Lord knew Adam needed a “suitable partner” for himself, someone like him, so God created Eve. (Genesis 2:18) They were both designed to live in the perfect place God had created, but they needed to obey the one command God had given. However, Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent and disobeyed God’s command. (Genesis 3:1-6) Immediately, they had knowledge of good and evil and became aware they were naked; in flustered panic and shame, they covered themselves in fig leaves. (Genesis 3:7) Adam and Eve were fully aware of their guilt and disobedience and when they heard God and their natural response was to hide in their shame. They thought they could cover up with leaves and hide from the all-knowing God, but as we read further, we discover they couldn’t really hide.

2) What did God ask, “Where are you?” if He already knew the answer? (verse 9)
God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were in the Garden. His question isn’t about looking for them but rather the relationship between them. God’s intention was to have a relationship with those He had created in His image. (Genesis 1:26-27) This moment is the moment where mankind’s relationship with God was broken. God, in all His perfection, desired a relationship, but their choice damaged that perfect intimacy. God calls out to them, and in that moment, Adam and Eve must admit their sin and face the God who lovingly created them. After answering and coming out of hiding, God asks them to admit their wrong. (Genesis 3:11) This is the beginning of their consequences, but before those were enacted, they needed to admit to their sin.

3) Once God “found” Adam and Eve, were there consequences for their sin and hiding?
God did not seek Adam and Eve with the intention of letting them off the hook. God is a holy God and, because of His justice, was obligated to respond as such. In order for their relationship to have any chance of restoration, they must first admit their sin (Genesis 3:11-13) followed by facing the fall out of their rebellion. As the narrative of Genesis continues, God lays out the consequences of sin for each sinner. (Genesis 3:14-24) God began with the instigator, Satan, for his role in the deception of Adam and Eve. Then Adam and Eve are both given individual consequences. Ultimately, Adam and Eve were forced out of the Garden of Eden and access to the Tree of Life was revoked. This meant they would eventually face physical death, along with spiritual death, as consequences for their sin. God used the skin of an animal to clothe Adam and Eve, this was the first sacrifice of an animal and is a direct result of sin. Blood must be shed to cover sin. While this was the first instance of bloodshed, it wasn’t the last. The Old Testament provides several references to bloodshed to pay for sin like Genesis 8:20-21, Exodus 29:10-14, Leviticus 1, Leviticus 17:11, and Numbers 6:14 to name a few. All of these point forward in God’s redemption plan to the final bloodshed of Jesus, who paid the ultimate price for sin on the cross, where He would bear the punishment for us all. God promised this redemption would come, even as He gave the first consequence to Satan in Genesis 3:15. One (Jesus) would come who would crush Satan’s head, defeating death and sin forever. The rest of the story begins unfolding from this moment in the Garden to be fulfilled in Matthew 26-28 (also found in Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, and John 18-19).

Everyday Application

1) Why are Adam and Eve hiding? Do they actually believe they can hide from God? (verse 8)
Adam and Eve attempted to hide their sin and cover their shame from God when they heard Him coming. We read this and may think them foolish for even considering they could even try this tactic. We know God is all-knowing and, from our perspective, we also know they would never be successful in their clandestine escape. However, how often do you and I make the same attempt? God is still the same all-knowing God from the Garden of Eden, but when we make sinful choices and are ashamed of our thoughts or actions, we make the same attempt to hide our sin and our thoughts from God just like Adam and Eve. In reality, we will never be any more successful than they were. God still knows all, and we are incapable of hiding.

2) What did God ask, “Where are you?” if He already knew the answer? (verse 9)
God knows the sins we commit before we ever admit them. Much like He did with Adam and Eve, He invites us to come to Him (where are you?) and confess what we have done. Forgiveness cannot be received without admittance of the sin committed. Unless we face our God, we can never enjoy the sweetness of restoration. You and I are blessed to live on the other side of the cross, a process God began in the Garden of Eden as He intentionally set in motion His plan to redeem His creation and offer forgiveness and restoration to every sinner. If we live in hiding and denial we will never experience the freedom found only in Christ who gave His life to pay the price for our sin and bring us back to Himself.

3) Once God “found” Adam and Eve, were there consequences for their sin and hiding?
Adam and Eve chose sin and could not escape the consequences for their rejection of God, but we are also affected today as we continue reaping the fallout of their sin which infected us all. We are each born sinful and continue sinning, bringing separation between us and God. (Romans 3:23) Remembering that God is just, all sin carries a price tag of offense against a Holy God and the debt must be paid. (Romans 6:23) This price is death and the payment requires bloodshed. (Hebrews 9:22) Expositor’s Bible Commentary says, “To us life is cheap and death familiar, but Adam recognised death as the punishment of sin. Death was to early man a sign of God’s anger. And he had to learn that sin could be covered not by a bunch of leaves snatched from a bush as he passed by and that would grow again next year, but only by pain and blood. From the first sin to the last, the track of the sinner is marked with blood.” The good news is God began His plan of redemption for us from the deadly clutches of sin in the very beginning of Genesis and came to fulfillment in Jesus. Christ shed His perfect blood as payment for our sin and when we personally choose to accept His sacrifice, His blood covers us our own personal sin. When we accept Him in total surrender of ourselves, we receive forgiveness for every sin, past, present, and future, and our relationship with the Holy God is restored forever. This is such good news!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with The Blame Game!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Eden Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Eden Day 9 Temptation Tactics: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Temptation Tactics!

The Questions

1) What does Paul mean by his questions in verse 1 and what is his motivation in asking?

2) What does “buried with Christ by baptism into death” and “raised from the dead” mean in verse 4?

3) Does Paul mean that once a person is in Christ they will never sin again? (verses 6-11)

Romans 6:1-15

What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.

15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not!

Original Intent

1) What does Paul mean by his questions in verse 1 and what is his motivation in asking?
In the preceding chapter, Paul reminded his audience of the consequences of sin through Adam’s rebellion and the gift of redemption in Jesus’ sacrifice. (Romans 5:12-21) He then shifted to asking his readers if they should continue to sin in order that grace may multiply to them in forgiveness through Christ. Paul wants his readers to reflect carefully on their everyday choices. Does Christ’s sacrifice allow them a free pass to continue sinning? Paul quickly answers his own question with a definitive, “Absolutely Not!”. (verse 2) He continued by reminding them that once they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the believer is “dead to sin” and alive to Christ. Jesus died an excruciatingly painful death to pay the penalty of death and separation from God, which all of us deserve; this radical sacrifice speaks to the seriousness of sin. His resurrection does not minimize the gravity of sin and its deadly consequences. Paul’s intention is to remind them of this.

2) What does “buried with Christ by baptism into death” and “raised from the dead” mean in verse 4?
In Paul’s day, baptism meant immersion in water as was instituted by John the Baptizer. This meant they were completely covered, or buried, in water resembling Christ’s death and burial. Just as Jesus died for the consequence of sin, those who are baptized are symbolically buried along with Christ. Rather than burial in the ground, it’s a burial using water. The Roman believers to whom Paul was writing knew this meant their old, sinful ways were dead and buried with Christ and a new creation was now born through the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. When they were raised out of the water, it symbolized freedom from the penalty of death for their sin. They were now rebirthed (John 3:3-6), having moved from death to life, raised with Christ to walk in the newness of His resurrected life by the power of His Spirit alive inside every believer. While baptism doesn’t save us, it’s generally the first act of obedience for a new Christ-follower who has given themselves to Him. Baptism is the outward symbol of an internal reality; it publicly declares Jesus’ blood now covers all sin and the new believer no longer looks like their former selves. (Galatians 3:27)

3) Does Paul mean that once a person is in Christ they will never sin again? (verses 6-11)
Paul speaks a great deal about believers being dead to sin, especially in the first several chapters of Romans. However, he is not saying that once a person is in Christ they will never sin again. Verse 14 provides clarity when he writes, “sin will not rule” meaning it doesn’t have the final say and we aren’t owned by it as believers in Jesus, but learning to submit our new selves to the rule of Christ is practiced and learned over an entire lifetime. Paul alludes to this “training to be like Christ” in verses 12-13 when using language like “do not let sin” and “do not offer any part [of your mortal body] to sin”. (emphasis mine) Our flesh will still desire to sin when we are lured away from Christ by temptation, and at times, we will decide to choose sin and offer ourselves to sin instead of to Christ. Paul passionately reminded his readers they are not controlled by their sinful selves and former pattern of living. Christ lives in them through His Holy Spirit who helps them discern what is sinful and what is not and leads them to make choices that honor the new life we have been given in Jesus!

Everyday Application

1) What does Paul mean by his questions in verse 1 and what is his motivation in asking?
Paul’s question regarding sin and grace should cause us to stop and contemplate our own approach to sin. The obvious answer is no, we should not sin more so Christ’s grace can be poured out on us. Justifying our sin proves a callous understanding of the offensiveness of sin and the immense sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. Charles Spurgeon speaks of this when he said, “If Christ has died for my sin, I cannot rifle with the evil that killed my best friend.” We deserved death for our sin, but Jesus paid the price with His life. The reward of redemption back to God is a gift we could never earn on our own for God, in all His holiness, cannot be in the presence of sin. The NLT Study Bible says, “The availability of God’s mercy must not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxness.” We do not earn the right to sin more in order to gain more grace. There is no excuse for sin for the believer. On the contrary, when we accept Jesus as our Savior from sin, we become a new creation and our old self is dead along with our old desires to keep on sinning. (Colossians 3:3-4). As we grow in our relationship with Christ, His Spirit shapes us to look more like Him and less like our sinful selves. We will never be free from the pull of sin’s alluring temptation until the day we are finally with Jesus in eternity, but our desire to give into sin lessens as we grow closer to God.

2) What does “buried with Christ by baptism into death” and “raised from the dead” mean in verse 4?
Just as the early believers’ sin nature became spiritually dead and was buried and then were raised from the dead with a new Christ-nature, so are we! The moment we accept Jesus, we become a new creation, one that belongs to Him. Our sin is paid for and our lives are covered by the blood of Jesus. He has paid the price for our sin and we no longer live bound by a sin nature that desires to follow cravings that oppose God and His character. Jesus broke the chains of bondage and freed all who believe in Him. Early believers practiced full immersion baptism which follows the example of Jesus’ baptism by John. (Matthew 3:13-17) Many believers today still practice full immersion baptism as a symbol of their faith in Jesus. When we choose to do so, we are following the model of Christ, and putting on display that we have surrendered to Jesus. Our lives are no longer ruled by Sin for we have been buried with Christ in the grave, and been raised with Him from the dead to live the rest of our days as a new creation. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me! The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” When we know our old sinful self has been put to death, we are motivated to resist sin and allow our lives to be transformed through the Holy Spirit.

3) Does Paul mean that once a person is in Christ they will never sin again? (verses 6-11)
By no means do these verses mean we will never sin again, even as devoted Christ-followers! But when we do choose sin, the Spirit blessedly convicts us, and we are grieved for how we’ve rebelled against God who sacrificially saved us. John’s letters remind us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) As Paul adamantly penned, “you are not under law but under grace.” (verse 14) As we wait for the return of Christ, we’re surrounded by a sinful, fallen world; temptation to sin abounds and sometimes we sin. However, we can be encouraged that with the Holy Spirit living in us, He will grow us to look less like our old sinful selves and more like Christ. Consider keeping a prayer journal as a way of marking where you are now spiritually; as you grow over time with Jesus, you will be able to look back and see how He has continued to shape you to be like Him! As believers we will sin less the closer to walk with Christ, but the battle against sin remains. Paul addresses this in Romans 7:14-25 where he writes of the inner struggle against sin, “For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” Sisters, we will sin after accepting Jesus until the day we die or He returns, but resist the urge to use His forgiveness as an excuse to sin! Instead, let’s allow Jesus to change our heart desires to long for Him more than our sin. When we do sin, let’s be quick to accept the conviction of the Spirit, ask forgiveness, and be restored in our relationship with God!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Temptation Tactics!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Eden Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Sacrifice Day 9 Singular Love: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Singular Love!

The Questions

1) What does “after these things” refer to in verse 1?

2) Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son? (verse 2)

3) Why did God stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and instead provide a ram? (verses 12-13)

Genesis 22:1-13

22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

2 “Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together.

7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.”

And he replied, “Here I am, my son.”

Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.

9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

He replied, “Here I am.”

12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” 13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

Original Intent

1) What does “after these things” refer to in verse 1?
In order to understand this narrative in full we must first understand the events leading up to this moment. In Genesis 12, God called 75-year-old Abraham (called Abram until Genesis 17) out of his homeland and into a relationship with Him and Abraham obeys. He marries Sarah (called Sarai until Genesis 17) and, as they travel, God promises to provide land to Abraham. (Genesis 12:7) Time continued and Abraham and Sarah remained barren. God promised to give Abraham a son and promised his descendants would outnumber the stars. (Genesis 15:5) Abraham and Sarah grow impatient and Abraham had a son with his wife’s servant, Hagar. Eventually, when they were both quite old and long past childbearing ages, God visited again and promised Sarah a son within the year. True to His word, the long-awaited son, Isaac, was born. These events are important because they provide context to the relationship between Abraham and Isaac as well as Abraham’s long-standing relationship of growing faith with God. When we study the backstory, we can better understand the depth of this particular narrative between God and Abraham.

2) Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son? (verse 2)
God chose Abraham for a reason (Genesis 12:2-3), with plans to use his surrendered life for eternal purposes. God had invited Abraham into an inheritance that would reach far beyond his imaginings but joining with God always requires active faith. Often, until we face a testing of our faith, we don’t even know our own heart position before the Lord. Do we really trust Him? God tested the quality of Abraham’s faith to see if he would choose God as his sole love or if his affections were divided. Through the testing, God was at work to continue molding Abraham into the man of mature faith He desired. Abraham’s faith failings in the past had proven he would place his desires above God’s, but this test was about obedience. Abraham had waited so long for a son, would Abraham love God or Isaac most? Had he made an idol out of his son? Only a test of obedience would prove the depth of his faith and love for God.

3) Why did God stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and instead provide a ram? (verses 12-13)
God’s intent was never for Abraham to shed Isaac’s blood; He is absolutely set against child sacrifice as He repeats often in Scripture. (Jeremiah 19:5) The Lord who knows all things, tested Abraham’s free-will decision to choose Him or choose his selfish desires. Heart passions are laid bare in the place of hardship and testing. The Lord brought Abraham to the point of no return in his obedience. With knife held high, Abraham proved with his actions that his first (and only) love was focused on the Lord God. Here, the Lord stopped the sacrifice and set Isaac free. However, there was still need for bloodshed in order to come before the Lord, which was a practice that began in the Garden of Eden when God spilled the blood of an innocent animal to provide covering for Adam and Eve’s bodies in the wake of their sin. (Genesis 3:21) Therefore, God provided His own sacrifice, a ram for Abraham and Isaac to offer together on the altar built for Isaac. This practice of bloodshed for sins remained in place until Jesus’ death on the cross hundreds of years later. God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac because this moment wasn’t about the death of a son, but the heart of a man. Later, when it was Jesus’ body on the altar of the cross for the sins of the world, it would be about the death of the Son redeeming the hearts of man. And God would do the slaying of His only Son that we might forever be free when we, like Abraham, surrender our hearts to love Him first.

Everyday Application

1) What does “after these things” refer to in verse 1?
In studying Abraham’s life, we begin to understand how his relationship with God had grown and deepened over time into mature, solid faith willing to obey God even in what seemed an impossible command. We also glimpse a sneak peek into his sin. Though Abraham grew in his faith, it wasn’t a straight line “up and to the right”. Abraham tried to take matters into his own hands instead of waiting on God on more than one occasion. Likewise, there are times in our lives when we are tempted to take control, forging our own path according to our vantage point, instead of patiently waiting on God to move, act, and fulfill His promises in His timing. We also gain a much better perspective on why Abraham would have loved Isaac so much and we are able to put ourselves in Abraham’s shoes. Any parent can see how easy it would have been to disobey God’s command instead of follow through in obedience, but we appreciate Abraham’s faith all the more when we understand how many decades he had waited for this only son.

2) Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son? (verse 2)
God’s request would have been extremely difficult for Abraham to obey. He was asked to sacrifice his one and only son whom he loved. It’s never easy to be asked to give up what we dearly love. However, our understanding of God’s call to follow Him isn’t necessary, our obedience is the required component. God simply desires for us to put Him first in our lives just as Abraham did, for He knows that any lesser focus of our lives will lead us into sin and suffering. God will ask us to surrender what we hold dear in order to ensure He is our only love. This is painful! His purposes are not to wound us, but to refine our hearts, clear out our idols, and teach our hearts to settle for no lesser love than the best, Himself. He calls us to trust Him and obediently follow Him where He leads even when it increases our suffering. It’s in these moments our relationship with God deepens and matures into a steadfast faith that supports real, everyday life.

3) Why did God stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and instead provide a ram? (verses 12-13)
God saw Abraham’s heart and stopped his sacrifice, providing a ram in Isaac’s place instead. This event foreshadowed an event to come hundreds of years later when God would send His One and Only Son, Jesus, to earth to live a perfect life for us. Every human being has failed to live perfectly, which is the requirement to be in relationship with God. Jesus would end His life as a sacrifice on a cross, paying the debt we each owe. However, when Jesus hung on the Cross there was no “replacement sacrifice” for the Son. Jesus was the intended sacrifice. Jesus came to accomplish what only He could because He, as God, was perfectly righteous. Only the blameless One could pay the penalty for sin, which is death, and purchase the price of righteousness for everyone who would put their faith in Him. This time, God would not call it off at the last second to spare His Son. Instead, He would look on, knowing His Son was finishing the work we never could. (Isaiah 53:10-11) Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, God’s relationship with mankind, which was ruined in the Garden as a result of sin, was forever restored. The debt owed became the debt paid. The Lord offers the credit of bill, which is righteousness, to each of us if we will acknowledge our sinfulness and His willingness to take our sin on Himself. In His death, we find life, for He rose from His own grave, defeating sin and death forever! If that isn’t enough reason for us to have the same heart of worship as Abraham that solely belongs to God, nothing will ever be enough. God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac because he wasn’t the son who needed to be sacrificed for the redemption of mankind, Jesus was.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Singular Love!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sacrifice Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Wilderness Day 14 Bitter Places: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Bitter Places!

The Questions

1) What is the new heaven and the new earth? (verse 1)

2) How is God dwelling with humanity? (verse 3)

3) Why is God making everything new? (verse 5)

Revelation 21:1-5

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”

Original Intent

1) What is the new heaven and the new earth? (verse 1)
The idea of a “new heaven and a new earth” sounds like a foreign concept to our ears. However, John’s readers would have had context for these words from Jesus. In 2 Peter 3:7-13, Peter presents a very clear description that the currently known world will someday come to an end. The Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven, returning to His place at the right hand of Father God, but He promised to return (Matthew 16:27, Acts 1:11) and Peter likens His return to a “thief in the night” telling his readers the return will be when least expected. John points to good news; when the earth as we know it ends, there is the promise of a new one! God has promised to deliver this perfection of things to come to His bride, the Church. (1 Corinthians 15:52-55) The letter of John’s Revelation provides details about this new heaven and new earth using the best words and imagery John could possibly use to convey what the Lord Jesus revealed to him in a vision of what would one day become reality.

2) How is God dwelling with humanity? (verse 3)
God created Adam and Eve in His image (Genesis 1:27), and ultimately, the rest of mankind are created as image bearers of the Almighty God. While we do not know the extent of Adam and Eve’s dwelling together in the Garden of Eden, we do know God came to them and they hid from Him in shame of their sin. (Genesis 3:8) Genesis also makes it clear that Adam and God spent time together in some fashion as Adam named all the animals and God told Adam He would make a “helper suitable for him” while on earth. (Genesis 2:15-23) The Bible is also clear that Jesus, the Son of God, came and dwelt on earth as God in the flesh. (John 1:14) The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) detail Jesus’ time dwelling with humanity as a human. John’s audience would have been familiar with Jesus’ dwelling on earth, some had likely even been a first-hand eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry. However, John now tells of a new kind of dwelling. John sees God physically dwelling with humanity for eternity. Up until this point, this has always been impossible due to sin. There are times in the Bible where God talks to His creation but doesn’t dwell with them. God is now able to live among His creation still as God, but now in a perfected relationship.

3) Why is God making everything new? (verse 5)
John is writing his Revelation letter to churches who were being persecuted for their faith. It wasn’t an easy time to be alive and follow Jesus; believers faced harsh penalties for believing in Jesus. However, these believers knew the promises of God and knew that someday all things would be made new. Jesus would return and establish a new heaven and a new earth and what they knew as reality would cease, even if they never saw the fruition of the promise while they lived earthly lives. Because of Jesus, their coming Hope of all things being made new, was incorruptible. God provided John with the exact words of hope and promise that Christ’s followers needed to hear in the midst of deadly persecution. Someday, all would be made new and the present sufferings wouldn’t even compare to the coming glory! (Romans 8:18) Just as when a person is in Christ, leaving their old way of sinful living behind, they become a new creation for the old has passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17), so God will do the same with all of creation when Jesus returns. God is providing a hope for these believers, and all believers, to hold on to in the midst of trial.

Everyday Application

1) What is the new heaven and the new earth? (verse 1)
This world can be difficult to live in with its brokenness and grief. If I have learned anything over the last two years of facing the pandemic of Covid, it’s that life isn’t perfect or easy and challenges will come. Sin runs rampant and we are faced with the consequences of it everywhere we turn. However, as believers in Jesus, we hold a promise that this is not how things will be forever. You and I live in a world that will someday end. One day, Jesus will return and we will all face judgment. (Matthew 25:31-46) For those who have trusted their lives and souls to Jesus, we are assured we will forever be safe with the Lord, welcomed home to be with Him. (1 Peter 1:3-4) We cling to the hope that God will fulfill His promise of newness, and when He does, He will establish a new heaven and a new earth. This newness will be more than we can imagine; its perfection guarantees God will dwell with us and nothing will remain in the former brokenness. God has proven Himself trustworthy over and over again throughout the Bible. (2 Timothy 2:13) We can rest assured that God will fulfill this promise right along with every other one. (2 Corinthians 1:20) Jesus will return, defeating sin and Satan once and for all and establishing a new earth without even a hint of sin’s destruction or our enemy, Satan. (1 Corinthians 15:54-56)

2) How is God dwelling with humanity? (verse 3)
Though we have a “down payment”, a mere inkling of what is to come, through the Holy Spirit living within us (Ephesians 1:14), God dwelling with His people is something we have only read about. We know Jesus walked on earth as a man with humanity and was God’s Son in the flesh. However, we have no concept of what the coming glory will be like to experience the full glory of the triune God dwelling with us. (1 Corinthians 2:9) We were born thousands of years after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. However, Jesus came to rescue you and I from the consequences of our sin, which is death (Romans 6:23), just as He came to rescue those who physically walked beside him while He was on earth. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was as much for my sins and yours as they were for those who watched Him suffer. The best news is His resurrection and defeat of death is also mine to share when I accept His sacrifice. The good news doesn’t end! Jesus promised to return and defeat Satan once and for all, and when that happens, sin will be no more. Jesus’ blood has paid the penalty for sin and we will be able to dwell in the holy presence of God. What a joyful day that will be!

3) Why is God making everything new? (verse 5)
The earth is full of sin, death, pain, grief, and so much more. There are days when all hope seems lost and the pains of this world seem more than we can bear. We have all experienced some of this by living through a global pandemic, some of us bearing the toll in deeper ways than others. All true believers experience persecution for their faith in varying degrees, for many around the world this means their very lives and families are constantly threatened for their faith. This persecution we experience, like our brothers and sisters to whom John’s letter was written, is not unexpected, but this is not the experience God originally intended. The Garden of Eden was perfect before Adam and Eve chose sin and, just as the Bible starts with a perfect creation in Genesis, it ends with a perfect creation in Revelation. God absolutely will make all things new in ways that are beyond our wildest imaginings. (Isaiah 64:4) He will establish His perfect creation where we can dwell with Him and all the pains of this world will cease. (2 Corinthians 6:16) John closes these verses with a promise from God that His words are “faithful and true”. (verse 5) We don’t need to doubt or wonder in insecurity because we can KNOW God will do what He has promised and we have the promise of perfection in eternity with our perfect Creator. I don’t know about you, but that brings joy that can’t be stolen even in the midst of sorrow!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Bitter Places!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Wilderness Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Build Day 4 Building Plans: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Building Plans!

The Questions

1) What is Nehemiah’s goal?

2) Who are Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem?

3) Why are they accusing Nehemiah of rebelling against the king and how does Nehemiah respond?

Nehemiah 2:19

19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

Original Intent

1) What is Nehemiah’s goal?
God fulfilled His promise of land to Abraham and the Israelite descendants (Genesis 12:1-3)during the time of Joshua. (Joshua 3-4) However, the Israelites lived in a constant cycle of obeying God, being led astray by an event, disobeying God, and finally God calling them back to Himself. This cycle went on for generations. In 597 B.C., God allowed the Israelites to be captured and taken into Babylonian captivity and the city was utterly destroyed. (Jeremiah 52) Nehemiah hears of the devastation of the remnant left in Judah (Nehemiah 1) and it breaks his heart. He has a desire to return to his people in Judah and rebuild Jerusalem’s wall so he makes a request of the king. (Nehemiah 2:4-5) The king allows for Nehemiah’s return and once arriving in Jerusalem, sets upon on a mission to accomplish the incredible feat of rebuilding the city walls.

2) Who are Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem?
These three men were not Israelites. They were from the people groups God had driven out of the Promised Land when He first gave it to the Israelites. While the Israelites had been in captivity their city had been left in ruins for over 100 years. These three men represented nations around Jerusalem who wanted the city to remain in ruins, for it was rendered impotent and without threat. They did not want the work Nehemiah and the Israelites were trying to accomplish to be completed. Their end goal was to prevent the Israelites and, as shown throughout the rest of Nehemiah’s story, they would stop at nothing to accomplish their goal.

3) Why are they accusing Nehemiah of rebelling against the king and how does Nehemiah respond?
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, along with others of the surrounding nations, accused Nehemiah of rebelling against the king in order to prevent him from his work. They acted in self-protection for, if Babylon’s king came on the scene, their own nations could also be at risk for being overthrown. The city wall Nehemiah was working to rebuild was extremely important in Nehemiah’s day. Cities were fortified for safety, and a city without a wall was open to the attacks of the enemy. These men knew if they could deter Nehemiah from his work, the city would never return to the glory it once had before being conquered. At the same time, their own cities would not experience threat from Jerusalem or Babylon. Nehemiah had been sent with letters of permission from Babylon’s king, yet these men still attempted to attack the Israelite workers as if they were rebels. Instead of collapsing under pressure, Nehemiah responded by informing his attackers that God Himself would see them to success. (Nehemiah 2:20) Nehemiah knew Who was truly in control; God’s power was supreme over the naysayers, Babylon, and even Israel itself. Only with this foundational mindset, could the building project reach its successful completion.

Everyday Application

1) What is Nehemiah’s goal?
Once Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem from Babylon he discovered firsthand the devastating ruins of the city and its wall. He immediately set out on a task to rebuild the city wall, thus restoring the city. God called Nehemiah to this work (Nehemiah 2:12), a work which seemed a major undertaking. However, Nehemiah knew God was with him. He had been praying since he first heard the news of the destruction in Judah. (Nehemiah 1:4) Just like God placed a burden on Nehemiah’s heart to restore the wall, there will be times where God burdens our heart with a task which seems larger than our abilities. It may even seem impossible. However, just as Nehemiah knew God was with him from the beginning, we must cling to the truth that God is with us. If God is calling us to something we can rest knowing He is going to work through us to complete it. We simply need to trust Him and step out in obedience just as Nehemiah did; what is impossible with man, is possible with God. (Matthew 19:26)

2) Who are Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem?
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem were enemies of Israel. They attempted to prevent Nehemiah and the Israelites utilizing several different tactics in their plot to sideline the work. One strategy was verbal attacks. Had the Israelites listened to these men, they likely would have been unsuccessful in what God was calling them to finish. In our lives there will always be naysayers, those the enemy is attempting to use to prevent us from being successful for God’s Kingdom work. If we listen to the wrong voices, or give in to enemy tactics from Satan, we will begin to see the world through their eyes of deception. Our focus will no longer be on God and our actions will no longer be building the mission God has called us to finish. As believers, we are called to love others; when we listen to the wrong voices and the taunts of deception we stop loving others as we are loved by God. We are rendered ineffective for kingdom work. (Titus 1:16)

3) Why are they accusing Nehemiah of rebelling against the king and how does Nehemiah respond?
This accusation is thrown at Nehemiah in hopes of preventing him from rebuilding the wall. If his building project could be proven illegal, it wouldn’t be accomplished. However, Nehemiah had the authoritative and financial support of Babylon, so he could move forward against these accusations with confidence. More so, Nehemiah knew he was doing the work of the One True King. Success was guaranteed, and Nehemiah refused to be deterred so easily. Instead, he responded by pointing to the One who would bring success, not Babylon’s king, but God, the King of All. When we face the false accusations of the world as we strive to follow the calling of our Heavenly King, we too must remember Who will bring about success and Who is truly in control, the Lord God. No matter what He calls us to, the work belongs to Him and He will see it through to a successful finish. (Philippians 1:6) What a blessing and a joy we are invited into when He calls us to follow Him and build His kingdom! Paul writes that all believers in Jesus are “co-laborers” with God (1 Corinthians 3:9); what incredible work we are given as we journey with the King of Glory!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Building Plans!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Build Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Training Day 7 Filled With Him: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Filled With Him!

The Questions

1) Who is writing this psalm and what type of psalm is this?

2) What does it mean to “meditate on Your precepts”?

3) What does it mean to “not forget Your word”?

Psalm 119:15-16

15 I will meditate on Your precepts
and think about Your ways.
16 I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

Original Intent

1) Who is writing this psalm and what type of psalm is this?
Unlike other books in the Bible, Psalms doesn’t have a single author. Instead, it is composed by different authors and compiled together as a type of hymn book the Israelites used for worship, meditative reflection, and a guidebook for confessing sin. This psalm is not attributed to a particular author, however, it is believed by many to be written by David due to its similar linguistic style and flow to his other psalms. It is written in an acrostic type fashion, utilizing every letter of the Hebrew alphabet to begin the line of each stanza. This psalm is also repetitive in mentioning the Word of God. This repetition, mixed with the acrostic style, would have made for easy memorization which was important since physical copies would have been limited and the psalms were shared orally.

2) What does it mean to “meditate on your precepts”?
Meditation by definition is “to engage in contemplation or reflection” and precepts are “a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action” (Merriam-Webster). The Israelites would not only have read or recited these words, but also would have spent time thinking about them and storing them in their hearts. There was a diligence placed upon the word of God which was commanded of the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:5-7 and Deuteronomy 11:18. They were familiar with the concept of not simply saying the words but meditating on them and storing them within their hearts, allowing the words to impact the way they lived. The author understands the greatness of the word of God and is reminding the Israelites of this truth through his words.

3) What does it mean to “not forget your word”?
Matthew Henry writes, “When the law is written in the heart, duty becomes a delight. He will never forget what he has learned of the things of God: ‘I will not forget Thy word, not only I will not quite forget it, but I will be mindful of it when I have occasion to use it.’’ Those who meditate in God’s word, and delight in it, are in no great danger of forgetting it.” The psalmist knows this to be true and understands the importance of God’s word. He is making sure the Israelites know the importance of remembering God’s words and storing them in their hearts. He understands that it is only when God’s word is not forgotten that it is useful when it is needed. It is good to remember that the psalmist did not see this as a burden, but as something to be delighted in which is seen in the line immediately before the reminder to not forget.

 

Everyday Application

1) Who is writing this psalm and what type of psalm is this?
While we do not know for certain who wrote this psalm we can clearly see a focus on the word of God throughout it. The writer’s words place a heavy importance on the instructional true words of God; we shouldn’t miss this! It would also make sense that in a chapter so focused on God’s Word, it would be written in a way the Israelites could easily memorize and recall. The lesson for us can be seen in the importance placed on God’s Word and the reminder we should not take for granted access to Scripture or the value of it in our lives. Practical tips for memorization aren’t limited to ancient oral cultures. Pick a passage to memorize this week and make it a habit to practice it each day. Try putting the verses to a simple melody, writing it multiple times in your journal, placing sticky notes throughout your house, or taking a picture of the passage on your phone and using it as your lock screen. The methods for memorizing are many, but the emphasis of meditating on God’s Word is singular in focus. When we give ourselves to this, the rewards are limitless!

2) What does it mean to “meditate on your precepts”?
Just as the Israelites stored the word of God in their hearts so should you and I. When we take time to go beyond merely reading the words in our Bibles to actively, prayerfully think about the words, we discover God’s rich calling on our lives. When we meditate on God’s words, we are taught by His Spirit as He shapes our hearts and lives to look more like Jesus and less like our sinful selves. Remaking our lives from the inside out is something only God’s Spirit can do, and if we rush through Scripture meditation or lack consistency in reading His Word, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to grow up in Christ. (Colossians 1:28-29) When we choose to prayerfully sit under the instruction of God’s Words, checking off a to-do list item isn’t our goal, rather, we want to surrender to the Spirit at work in us through God’s living and active word. (Hebrews 4:12)

3)What does it mean to “not forget your word”?
It’s easy to sit down with our Bibles and simply read the words before us, and then walk away unchanged, forgetting the words we just read. (James 1:23-24) We can then say we spent our time with the Lord for the day. However, we must ask ourselves what fruit is evidenced in our lives as a result of this cursory “reading” of God’s Word. Have we truly allowed the Spirit of God to transform us, allowing His glory to be reflected in us because of His living Word cutting through our sin and defenses? Do the words we read change the way we live? If we are simply reading to read, the likely answer is no. We must store God’s word in our hearts, ponder its truth, and speak with the Author of those words that we might be changed. Practically, this means taking time to memorize Scripture so we remember truth. When we train ourselves in memorization and meditation, the Lord is able to bring to the forefront of our minds the exact words we need in our daily lives. In our regular, everyday need, His words impact our lives by His Spirit and He sustains us through His word. When I memorize His words, I do not forget them, and my life is forever changed by the living word of God. I challenge you, sisters, to store God’s word in your heart.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Filled With Him!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Training Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Kneel Day 14 Surprising Answers: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Surprising Answers!

The Questions

1) Why does James list so many different reasons to pray? (verses 13-14)

2) Why does James refer to the prayer of faith in verse 15?

3) Why does James provide the example of Elijah in verses 17-18?

James 5:13-18

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.17 Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.

Original Intent

1) Why does James list so many different reasons to pray? (verses 13-14)
Prayer is not something to be picked up, dropped again, and made to fit our schedules and whims. Rather, prayer is a communication tool between God and His people and He wants His people to pray to him regarding everything. He cares about all things (1 Peter 5:7), and He most desires a deep relationship with us. (Jeremiah 32:38) The best way to cultivate depth is by authentically sharing about all things and learning to trust Him as Sovereign over all things. Prayer is for happy times, hard times, sad times, sickness, confession, forgiveness, praise, and everything else. Nothing is meant to be excluded as Paul writes, “Pray constantly.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) James is reminding his audience of all the purposes for prayer and encouraging them to utilize prayer and all of its power.

2) Why does James refer to the prayer of faith in verse 15?
This doesn’t refer to the faith of the person being prayed for but rather the faith of the person praying. To those who pray, says James, it’s the one who believes the God of the Bible and trusts Him at His Word whose prayers prove effective. Believers should have faith in the mighty hand of God who brings about miracles (Mark 9:28-29), ordains the ordinary (Jonah 4:7), and uses all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). James was writing to Christians who were persecuted for their faith and dispersed from their homes and people. (James 1:1) James turns their attention to “the prayer of faith” to remind them to keep on practicing genuine faith despite persecution, and to put that faith into action through effective, authentic-faith praying. James urges them to keep trusting the same God for whom they were willing to be persecuted, believing Him to be faithful to His own Word and move as a result of their faith-filled prayers. However, James is not asking them to pray with this faith-filled tenacity alone in isolation. Instead, he reminds them that prayer is also a job for the collective Body of Believers; praying together in clear trust of God at His Word is something they should do together. (Matthew 18:19-20)

3) Why does James provide the example of Elijah in verses 17-18?
The Jewish Christians James was writing to would have been very familiar with the prophet Elijah, his powerful ministry of effective prayer, and how God worked through him as a result of his bold prayers. They would have also known Elijah was simply a human like them. While he was a prophet who accomplished much, he was not God, just a man. James is providing his audience with a real-life reminder they can relate with; a modern-to-them example of what faith-filled prayer looks like as evidence for the effectiveness of prayer. Elijah prayed and trusted God to do what seemed utterly impossible and God worked. Check out 1 Kings 18 for an amazing account of Elijah’s faith-filled prayer! James uses Elijah’s model of faith to deeply encourage the Jewish Christians to follow his example in all circumstances and put their faith into real action.

Everyday Application

1) Why does James list so many different reasons to pray? (verses 13-14)
Prayer is a powerful tool. One that can be used in all circumstances. We are to bring our joy, worry, fear, sadness, gratitude, and so much more to Him. Prayer is the means through which we communicate with the God of the universe and James wants us to be fully aware of all its power. It is through prayer we spend time with our Creator both sharing with Him and listening for Him. We should never take prayer for granted or dismiss prayer as a simple, meaningless task. James shows us its complexity and power by including different reasons for praying. Take a few minutes to reflect on your recent prayers. What do they include and exclude? Do you ever find yourself deciding “not” to pray about something as it seems “too small”, or perhaps “too big”?  Challenge yourself to practice an on-going, flowing conversation with God about “all things”. If you get stuck, focus on thankfulness. Air, water, a smile, a ribbon of light, a touch, nothing is too small to praise the Lord for!

2) Why does James refer to the prayer of faith in verse 15?
Effective prayer requires faith. When we pray we shouldn’t simply throw out our wants expecting God to answer in the way we desire. Instead, we are to pray about all situations in all circumstances, yes even the ones that seem like big, difficult requests or mundanely common. The key is to pray expecting God to answer; this is faith, believing God at His Word that He will answer even though we cannot see Him with our physical eyes. We pray in faith knowing God can do anything according to His will. A pastor of mine frequently says “prayer is the work then God works”. Through faith-filled prayer, God accomplishes greater acts than we could ever dream or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) We are invited into God’s activity through the prayer of faith. God is greater and more powerful than our human ability, and He desires us to fully rely on and trust in Him to work in the best way possible, even if that “best” doesn’t fit within our short-sighted human definition. Because God is both infinitely wise and good, His answers will not always match our “most-desired” outcome, however, we can confidently know He will always move in our best interest. We don’t need to worry about the outcome, we are simply called to have faith, pray, and trust God to work His will in us and our circumstances.

3) Why does James provide the example of Elijah in verses 17-18?
Bible student, Matthew Henry, says, “Prayer itself must be a fervent, in-wrought, well-wrought prayer. It must be a pouring out of the heart to God; and it must proceed from a faith unfeigned. Such prayer avails much.” This is precisely the description of Elijah’s prayer. God desires for us to pour our hearts out to Him (Psalm 62:8) and trust God will mightily work on our behalf. Even His answer doesn’t look as we expect, our confidence in His movement for us can remain. James provides us with the example of Elijah as a visual of our calling in prayer. Who do you know in your everyday life who models this kind of fervency in prayer? Matthew Henry goes on to write, “Only in this we should copy after Elijah, that he prayed earnestly, or, as it is in the original, in prayer he prayed. It is not enough to say a prayer, but we must pray in prayer. Our thoughts must be fixed, our desires firm and ardent, and our graces in exercise.” I ask you, sisters, when was the last time you prayed like this? What an incredible example and challenge which will revolutionize our prayer life!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Surprising Answers!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Kneel Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Kneel Day 2 Restored Relationship: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Restored Relationship!

The Questions

1) Where is Ezra traveling to and who is going with him?

2) What prompted Ezra to pray for a “safe journey”?

3) Why did Ezra fast and pray?

Ezra 8:21-23

21 I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions. 22 I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his fierce anger is against all who abandon him.” 23 So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he was receptive to our prayer.

Original Intent

1) Where is Ezra traveling to and who is going with him?
This passage is full of plural pronouns which tell us there are more travelers than Ezra alone. If we back up to Ezra 7:11-26, it is clear these verses are referring to any Israelites in captivity in Persia who desire to return to Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes declared, “Any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who want to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.” (Ezra 7:13) The Israelites were being released from captivity to travel back to their homeland of Jerusalem. The Israelites, who choose to return, are headed back to the Promised Land, their inheritance from God as His chosen people. An inheritance they had been removed from because of their rebellion against the Lord God 70+ years prior.

2) What prompted Ezra to pray for a “safe journey”?
The journey the Israelites are embarking on is 900 miles as it stretches from ancient Babylon to Jerusalem. The trek would largely be made on foot, making it incredibly long with plenty of danger along the way. Ezra is fully aware of the risks he and his fellow Israelites will face, but, interestingly enough, he chooses not to ask the king for armed protection. (verse 22) Instead, he turns to the Almighty God, seeking protection for their journey. Ezra confidently knows God is more than able to provide exactly what they need and the challenges they will face.

3) Why did Ezra fast and pray?
Ezra knows God is the One allowing Israel’s return to their homeland of Jerusalem. God’s sovereignty supersedes all human rule and authority. He also is confident God will protect His people, but through his action of humble prayer and fasting, he also demonstrates his understanding that God desires His people to ask for their needs to be supplied through faith. As a result of Ezra’s leadership, the Israelites commit to fasting and prayer. This time of setting aside their physical desires through fasting allows them to spend uninterrupted time petitioning God to accomplish what only He can for His people. Through this act of intentional humility, the Israelites demonstrate faith in the God who provides, and they acknowledge God for Who He is and His all-powerful ability. Then, they choose to actively trust God to fulfill their requests.

Everyday Application

1) Where is Ezra traveling to and who is going with him?
The Israelites were provided the opportunity to go back home, but first, they must accept the invitation the king was offering. If they decided not to return with Ezra, they were actively choosing to remain in the same circumstances of exile they had been living in for most, if not all, of their lives. While our circumstances are much different than those of the Israelites, we are given a similar invitation. Jesus came to earth, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the tomb, taking our punishment so we could have the opportunity to go Home with Him for eternity. However, we must choose to either accept the invitation provided in Jesus’ sacrifice or reject it. Rejection of Christ relegates us to the same status we already live with, active rebellion against God whose wrath we rightly incur because of our sin. Acceptance of His offer to forgive our sin completely and give us new life through His Spirit opens the door for us to go Home with Him just as Israel was free to go home to Jerusalem. Acceptance of this gift necessitates our true repentance and turning away from our sin.

2) What prompted Ezra to pray for a “safe journey”?
Ezra prays publicly for a safe journey after he makes the choice not to ask King Artaxerxes for armed protection. Verse 22 tells us he was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry because he had already told the king God would provide for them. Ezra’s confidence in God’s provision was sure and certain. We each face our own set of challenging journeys throughout our lives, and while ours likely won’t look anything like Ezra’s, we should look with confidence to the same God Ezra did. Only the One True God can provide safety for us along the journey we are walking. The dangers and temptations of this world bombard us on a daily basis and we have access to the One who can provide the safety we so desperately need; all we need to do is ask!

3)Why did Ezra fast and pray?
We face difficult times and situations in life just as the Israelites. When we do we should turn to the Creator of the Universe who holds everything in His sovereign hands. One effective way we can demonstrate this is through fasting and prayer. Jesus Himself spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness and praying to His Father. (Matthew 4) As there is no better example to follow than Jesus’, surely, we would not be so arrogant as to think we have no need for the humble disciplines of prayer and fasting. As Jesus fasted, He was tempted by Satan and His tactic for combatting temptation and fleeing sin was to wisely wield the truth of Scripture. When we fast, we are actively demonstrating a complete dependence on God and are provided with time and space to fill with prayer and meditating on His Word. We can follow Jesus’ example and use this time in Scripture and prayer to fight against the schemes of Satan. Instead of taking time to eat, we can spend those minutes in the presence of the Lord, denying ourselves physically and instead feasting on His Word and asking Him to accomplish what only He is able to do. As we face difficult times, sisters, let’s be challenged to turn to the God of the Universe through fasting and prayer, bringing our needs before the Only One able to provide all we will ever need.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Restored Relationship!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Kneel Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Waiting Day 14 Not Yet, Not Now, No: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Not Yet, Not Now, No!

The Questions

1) Who is Theophilus and what is the first narrative referred to in verse 1?

2) Why were the apostles told to wait in Jerusalem? (verse 4)

3) What do the men in verse 11 mean in saying, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven”?

Acts 1:1-14

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Original Intent

1) Who is Theophilus and what is the first narrative referred to in verse 1?
Luke, the author of Acts, addresses his letter to Theophilus. The first narrative referred to is the Gospel of Luke, which was also addressed to Theophilus. (Luke 1:1-4) Luke’s purpose was to provide Theophilus with a brief summary of what Jesus did when He came to earth (verses 1-3) before beginning the account of what happened following Jesus’ death and resurrection. Luke wants his friend to bring to mind all he had written in his first gospel account, which had been thoroughly investigated (Luke 1:3), in order to provide a background for all that comes next as the Holy Spirit fueled the early believers with His power and the Church was birthed!

2) Why were the apostles told to wait in Jerusalem? (verse 4)
The apostles, or disciples, had been with Jesus in Jerusalem at the end of His life when He was crucified just outside of the city. They celebrated the Passover with Jesus in Jerusalem (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-22) and watched as Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested, tried, and sentenced to crucifixion (Matthew 26:47-27:26, Mark 14:43-15:15, Luke 22:47-23:25, John 18:1-19:16). While many of them were not present at His crucifixion they knew He had died, been buried, and physically seen Him after His resurrection. (Matthew 27:32-28:8, Mark 15:20-16:8, Luke 23:26-24:49, John 19:16-21:19) Jerusalem was not a friendly environment for the followers of Jesus and they likely were afraid of meeting a similar fate to Jesus, yet He told them to wait in Jerusalem. Jesus knew the Holy Spirit was coming, and He knew God’s plan was for the disciples to spread the Good News of the Gospel beginning right at the epicenter of Jerusalem where He had been crucified and risen. (Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8) Jesus knew the gift of the Holy Spirit was coming soon and the disciples needed to stay together in Jerusalem so God’s plan would be fulfilled.

3) What do the men in verse 11 mean in saying, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven”?
This is the second time Luke records the ascension of Jesus back to Heaven. (Luke 24:50-53) However, this time Luke provides more detail to Theophilus about what occurred after Jesus’ ascension. Luke tells of the disciples standing on the mountain and looking into Heaven, waiting for Jesus to return. Suddenly, men appear, wondering why they are still standing around staring into heaven. They inform the disciples that Jesus will return just as He left them. These angelic men assure the disciples He will return, but they don’t give a specific time of return. They are, in their own way, encouraging the disciples to not stand around waiting doing nothing, instead they motivate them to action, reminding them to return to Jerusalem and wait as Jesus had instructed. Only when they were obedient to wait would they receive the Holy Spirit and begin the work of sharing the Good News. 

Everyday Application

1) Who is Theophilus and what is the first narrative referred to in verse 1?
Just as Theophilus needed to be reminded of Luke’s first narrative, the Gospel of Luke, we need the same reminder. What Luke recorded in Acts happened after Jesus’ time on earth and after His death and resurrection. Without understanding all that had taken place while Jesus was on earth, it’s difficult to understand Acts. We can only begin to understand the decisions of the apostles throughout the book of Acts when we understand the relationship and time they spent with Jesus as first-hand eye witnesses to His life. Remembering that Scripture was originally written with varying timelines and purposes is important for us to keep in mind as we read and study. What we read in the pages of God’s Word isn’t a letter written directly to us, rather it is God’s Word revealing Who He is, who we are as sinful humans, and what great Hope we have because of His lavish love for us. Reading Scripture through the proper lens is imperative to proper understanding and good application to our everyday lives. If you’re new to studying the Bible like this, there are many excellent study tools available for free online to help us understand passages in their original context and language. Check out www.studylight.org or www.blueletterbible.org for great resources!

2) Why were the apostles told to wait in Jerusalem? (verse 4)
Jerusalem would have been hostile territory to the disciples. They had just seen their Rabbi teacher, whom they had closely followed, be arrested, beaten, tried, crucified, and buried within a matter of hours. They knew Jesus was no longer dead and had seen Him resurrected, yet they knew those who had killed Jesus would likely be after His followers as well. Yet, Jesus instructs them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to be given. God had a plan, and the disciples trusted it, even when they were likely terrified. As believers today, God still has a plan to continue building His kingdom through us. It doesn’t mean the plan will always make sense when God calls us to action. However, just as the disciples trusted Jesus and waited, we need to be just as obedient when God calls us. God has proven over and again He is trustworthy; our job as believers is to obey just as the first disciples did. We can rest in the knowledge that God’s plan is best, and He will use us as we surrender to Him just as He used the men who had physically walked with Jesus.

3) What do the men in verse 11 mean in saying, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven”?
The words in verse 11 that guarantee Jesus’ return in the same way He left seem cryptic. They don’t provide a time frame, or answer any other questions, instead they point to a singular assurance, He will return. Today, more than 2,000 years later, we still wait for the fulfillment of those long-ago words. However, we are blessed with the entirety of Scripture the original disciples didn’t have the benefit of accessing as a whole. We can read of the promise of Jesus’ return in Revelation 19:11-16 and can read of the guarantee of a New Creation in Revelation 21. We can see the faithfulness of God from Genesis to Revelation and we can note His plan to rescue us from our sin woven into the fabric of Scripture from beginning to end. We rest in the assurance that while we still wait for the fulfillment of the promise of Christ’s return, He is indeed coming, and when He does, it will be more than worth the wait. “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) In the meantime, there is work to be done as the Gospel still needs to be shared to the ends of the earth. We each play a role in the ongoing work of the Lord while we await His glorious return.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Not Yet, Not Now, No!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Waiting Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.