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Ignite Day 1 The Wick

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 43:1-4
Acts 4:29-31
Acts 2:42-47
Luke 11:31-36
James 3:1-12

Ignite, Day 1

“My heart is the wick, Your love is the flame. And I wanna burn for Your Name.”

Merriam-Webster defines ignite as “To set afire. To cause to burn. To subject to fire or intense heat. To heat up. To set in motion.”

Have you ever built a campfire from scratch? In order for your fire to catch and grow, you need everything set up in exactly the right order. First, you gather lots of small, dry branches and twigs, leaves, paper and anything else that will catch fire quickly. This is called kindling. You’ll have more success if you pile the dry twigs and branches on top of the kindling. Next, you position larger logs over your kindling, being sure to leave space for air to flow under the logs.

Then, you strike your match and set the kindling on fire. As the flames grow and start to spread to the smaller twigs and branches, you might blow on the flame, or poke it with a long stick, to stir it up more. The flame grows and burns hotter, and as it does, the larger branches and logs grow hotter until they begin to catch fire, too.

Love, I have to be honest with you. When I picked up the assignment to write this Journey about Polycarp and Ignatius, I had literally never heard of them in my life. In fact, as I sat in our writer’s meeting and scanned the list of upcoming Journeys, I felt…

Uneducated.
Lacking.
Ill-equipped.

Ouch. And to add insult to injury? The truth is that I didn’t feel any real desire or curiosity to dig deeper into the lives of any of these historical fathers of the faith.

So, I did what any self-respecting fringe millennial would do. I picked the ones with names I could not really pronounce, pseudo-affectionately dubbed them, “Iggy & Poly” in my mind, threw my inexperience to the wind and dived in deep.

And here we are. But before I can fully introduce you to Ignatius and Polycarp, we have to go back a little further. In order to do that, we’ll stick with the campfire picture we just processed together.

Stay with me, this is important.

The Kindling
Before Jesus arrived as the promised Emmanuel, God With Us, we need to visualize the spiritual climate in Israel. God’s people were effectively trapped in a religious box of their own making. Where He had set out His law to protect and free them, they instead chose to chain themselves to religion and more. They created their own laws and rules in addition to His, and rather than trusting God to justify them through sacrifice and the atonement of sins, they adopted a religious spirit. They thought they could justify themselves. This resulted in a prideful people group who were desperate for truth, purpose and relationship, yet still rigidly clung to the very things that held them captive.
They were empty. Dry.

Spiritually dead.

The Spark
Enter Jesus.

When the Son of God slipped quietly onto the Bethlehem scene in the form of an infant… the Jewish people were confused.

They had asked for a king.
Someone who would fulfill the Law.
Someone who could rescue them.
And God answered, because that was His plan all along.

But He didn’t answer in the way they wanted, or the way they expected. Instead, He sent Jesus to fulfill the Law in the way that only Jesus ever could. And because the people who prayed for rescue didn’t see it coming in the way they expected, the majority missed the message the Son of Man brought to life.

However, there were those positioned closest to Jesus who recognized the Truth and began to smolder from His heat. These apostles were disciples in word and deed. They spent time with Jesus in His everyday life and ministry.

They saw Him perform miracle after miracle, healing after healing.
They witnessed Jesus in life, in death,
and then in life again.
They got it.

More importantly, they caught it. And when He told them to go, they went.

They began to walk out their faith in boldness, preaching the gospel to all who would listen. They healed the sick, and cast out demons. They taught others about the life of Jesus, what His death and resurrection meant, and why it mattered. They devoted themselves to studying the Scriptures, to praying, and fellowship.

And their numbers grew exponentially.

And Love? The ones Jesus chose to draw into His closest circle?
The ones He trusted to catch fire first – and to fan the flame?
They were unquestionably the last people anyone would expect to fulfill that weighty calling. In fact, you or I might have even called them….

Uneducated.
Lacking.
Ill-equipped.

But God saw them differently.

The early church began to grow against all odds in the face of extreme opposition.
In the weakness and humanity of the ordinary men and women who spread the message and ministry of Jesus, God was shown strong.
Whole families began to receive the message of Jesus,
and though persecution was commonplace, Christianity caught fire.

The church continued to grow until one day, as Saul of Tarsus walked the road to Damascus, the resurrected Christ Himself appeared to him. Prior to this face-to-face, Saul had been instrumental in persecuting countless followers of Christ, with the full support of the Jewish leaders. Saul’s resulting sudden and whole-heart, whole-life, jaw-dropping conversion fanned the flickering flame to a roar. Saul became known as Paul, and he adopted the lifestyle of the other apostles, discipling others, encouraging young leaders in the church, and delivering truth and challenge in love to all he encountered.

And the flame began to grow.

As for my friends, Poly and Iggy, I’ll introduce you on Wednesday of this week. 🙂

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Ignite Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Ignite!

Pause Day 4 Teach My Heart To love

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Learning more about God and His Word is a gift
and it moves us into more as we journey with Christ. But, if all we do is hoard the knowledge without applying it to our everyday lives,
true transformation will never happen.

Jesus didn’t call the 12 disciples just so they could return to life as they had known it before Jesus, but now with plenty of incredible knowledge and experiences with God in the flesh. The abundant life God calls us to is wrapped up in the oxymoron principle of giving ourselves away and boldly living love out loud. The more we lean into knowing Jesus, the more He purposes our steps, giving us more opportunities to engage people around us with His radical love. The more we love Him, the more we want to bring others along.

As we’ve read these two psalms this week, we’ve reveled in the deep love of our Father God for us. May the prayer of our hearts be, “Teach my heart to love like Yours, Lord!”

Today’s challenges may feel a little uncomfortable, that’s okay!
God has invited you into so much, don’t miss it!

Today's Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down all of Psalm 143 today. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, think of the incredible gift it is to be invited into God’s presence through His word!

2) Choose one of these options to walk into more with Jesus as you boldly live out Christ’s love!
a) Pitch in to do something extra at church. Whether it’s helping with cleanup, opening doors, trimming weeds, or offering to help in a child’s classroom, step up to loving deeper by serving in a new way.
b) October is Pastor Appreciation Month and a note of genuine kindness goes a long ways in showing love and giving encouragement. Consider sending your pastor an email or card!
c) Check out some local ministries in your area and make plans to serve with them for an afternoon. Maybe it’s organizing school donations, serving soup, or stuffing backpacks for kids. Even better, get some friends to join you!
d) Prayer walking is a simple way to begin shifting the eyes of your heart to truly see others. Walk around your neighborhood, some city streets, the aisles of your grocery store, or intentionally sit at a local coffee shop and pray, pray, pray. Pray for the people around you, pray for hearts to turn towards Jesus, pray for your own heart to be ready to share the full gospel if given the chance. Don’t worry about seeing results, that’s God’s job!
e) Strike up a conversation with a random stranger. It may move to spiritual topics, it may not, but showing love to those outside our immediate circles always begins with a simple conversation. “What have you been doing today?” “Do you live nearby?” “Where do you go to church?” “What are your favorite local restaurants?” “I love your top! Where did you get it?” These open-ended questions work well!

3) Share the exciting, bold ways you shared love today with the rest of the GT Community! Our Facebook community page is always open! Or snap a photo and tag us on Instagram @gracefully_truthful

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Psalm 142

With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
    with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.

3 When my spirit faints within me,
    you know my way!
In the path where I walk
    they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
    there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.

5 I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry,
    for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 143

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    give ear to my pleas for mercy!
    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
    My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
    I have fled to you for refuge.[a]
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
    on level ground!

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your servant.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause!

Palette Day 13 Expanding My World

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 3:11-17
Revelation 7:9-10
Acts 8:26-40  

When I went to college in Alabama, I had friends of all shapes, colors, and sizes, and was even invited to join the African American Sorority, although I am Caucasian myself. But now I live in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. I attend a church that is mostly Caucasian. I go to story time at the library with many other moms who are mostly Caucasian, and I shop with people who are mostly Caucasian. I never thought much of it… until I was asked to interview someone for this incredible Journey series we are on.

I have no one in my immediate circle of friends who are of a different race than I am.
My world is so small.

So, I reached out to someone who I’d met once or twice, through a mutual friend.

Meet Victoria.

Victoria is a beautiful mama with two little boys and sweet baby girl due in just a few weeks. She moved to Georgia from Nigeria in 2000 to attend college, and there she met her husband. His job moved him to Kansas City in 2015, and they’ve been here ever since. I was honored to sit with Victoria and ask her questions about her experience, both in Nigeria, Southern America, and the Midwest.

Do you prefer to be called black or African American?
African American.

When you first moved to Georgia, did you ever feel like you were treated differently because of your race?
Not really. I moved when I was much younger. I moved for college. My first four or five years I lived in a really small town. It was mixed with Caucasians, but this particular school was a very good school and there were a lot of international students. It was very well mixed and I was very involved with the international students. I found myself, hanging out with Africans there, a lot. The first year I lived in a dorm and I never noticed anything. I came straight from Nigeria, so my accent was much thicker, it took people a little while to understand me when I spoke, or people would ask me to repeat myself. I had a few friends who would ask weird questions, but I never took it as if they were asking from a racial standpoint. More that they were asking from an ignorant standpoint. Britney Spears was popular when I came a couple of Nigerian friends and I would sing and people were like, “Hm? You know that song?” or “They do that in Africa?” They were genuinely surprised that I would know these things coming from Nigeria. Some of my [African] friends probably took offense to it, but to be honest, I just never did. The advantage I had was that, before I moved here, since I was maybe ten years old, for eight or nine years, my family had been coming to Orlando for vacations in the summers. My parents owned a timeshare. So, I kind of knew what to expect when I moved here.

Do you know anything specific that separates the culture of Nigeria and surrounding countries?
Not specifically, but the first thing would be language, and then clothing, and then food. We eat a lot of rice. Back at home in a takeout box, the rice goes in the big portion and the meat goes in the smaller portion, but here I picked up my box and they put the rice in the little area and the whole half a chicken in the big section and I was like, “Where’s my rice?!” Another traditional cultural difference is not announcing our baby’s name until the seventh day. Maybe I will announce it to close family and friends. We call the baby, “Baby (last name)” until we announce her name. Then the mom doesn’t really go out, so our Bible Study won’t see much of me, until the baby has been dedicated to God around 12 weeks after delivery.

When you moved to Kansas City from Atlanta, did you notice a difference?
A very big difference. Not in the way we were treated, but in racial diversity. We are less diverse in Kansas City. I remember announcing to a few of my friends in Atlanta that I was moving and when I said Kansas City, many were like, “Oh, good luck!” Some people even tried to scare me. I came here not expecting good, as far as being treated well by people. We were concerned about our little one going to school and being the only African American. But I’ve been surprised. It has not been what we thought. Me and my husband try to get our kids very involved in many activities, and we do find that in most activities we take our kids to, we typically are the only African Americans in the group. My husband is especially conscious of this. I typically don’t notice or care about those things, but it’s hard not to notice it because it is very obvious. What I’ve been surprised about, is that people have been very friendly, to my amusement. Of course, the first people we met were church folks, and they’re very friendly, as can be expected. But even people that we don’t know from church, even taking a walk in my subdivision, people are just very friendly. That was a good surprise for me.

I struggle sometimes because I feel like all Caucasians get grouped into one category. What’s your take on that?
That’s where I struggle, too, and my opinions differ from my black American friends because, to me, it’s a one-on-one thing. Black Americans weren’t always as friendly to African Americans that I hung out with, they had their own cliques, but I never took it personally. That was their choice and I hung out mostly with Africans. Subconsciously, we all gravitate towards our own people.

Were there times that you were treated differently because of the color of your skin?
Maybe. But I’m oblivious to it. I’ve never really found myself being offended by a situation like that in my life. Not that it didn’t happen, maybe it did, but I’m oblivious to it because it isn’t something that I go out and look for. For example. Maybe me and another African American parent have a child who gets a “red grade”, the first African American parent might say, “Oh, he’s getting a red because he’s African American?” I just don’t think like that. I think, “What did he do to deserve this?” And I would try to find out what he did.  And I think I like that, because I don’t want to walk around being angry. There’s just no reason to be. Sometimes I ask if I’m protective of my child enough? But that’s just the way I am, and I think I like the way I am. I am fearfully and wonderfully made! My experience might not be the average. I consider myself favored.

I went into this interview expecting to gain a new perspective about how someone of a different race really feels about “hot topics” in the United States today.

But I got something completely different…

I learned that by keeping my world small, even though it wasn’t intentional,
I am hindering myself from the beauty of knowing other cultures.
I miss out on the incredible wisdom I can be taught by members of the Church who are from other parts of the globe.

Our interview was so much longer, because it naturally flowed into pleasant conversation about being mamas and carrying babies.
We met for an hour longer than we planned because we just talked.
I listened.
I gained a friend.
My world grew.

I may not have learned everything I imagined learning when I talked with Victoria, because God had something much different in mind. He wanted to tenderly whisper to me, “Kendra, friendships can be richer,
our love can be deeper,
your world can be more flavorful,
if you work to expand your world.

At the very end of our time together, Victoria said, “Kendra, you mentioned that you are wanting to expand your world even more, and I do hope I’m a part of that.”

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Palette!

Palette Day 12 One Step Of Bravery: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

Looking for yesterday’s
Journey Study?
Check out One Step Of Bravery!

1 John 4:13-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

The Questions

1) By what do we know that we abide in Him?

2) What does the word confess mean in v. 15?

3) What do we learn about love from this passage?

4) What commandment are we given in this passage?

The Findings for Intention

1) By what do we know that we abide in Him?
In order to answer this question, we have to go back to the previous verses where John describes God’s love and how He first loved us. We know that we abide in Him when we look like Him and our love looks like His love. (1 John 4:7-12) It also tells us in this passage, when we live through His Spirit that resides in us, we are abiding in Him.

2) What does the word confess mean in v. 15?
Using tools like Studylight (www.studylight.org), we can define words in the original language. This helps us to have a better understanding of the word. The word “confess” in this passage means to “profess, declare openly, speak out freely, to profess one’s self the worshipper of one, to praise, celebrate.”

 

3) What do we learn about love from this passage?
The first thing we understand is that God is love. We can have confidence in the day of judgement because of God’s love for us. There is no fear in love. Our ability to love comes from God. Hate for our brothers/sisters cannot co-exist with love for God.

4) What commandment are we given in this passage?
“Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” All throughout Scripture, we are called into this love relationship with God, and by God’s gracious design, that love and worship for Him naturally overflows into love for others. A genuine, transformational love. A love that refuses to ignore, but reaches across dividing lines to act with authentic love!

The Everyday Application

1) By what do we know that we abide in Him?
The world cannot see our heart, but it can see our actions that flow from the heart. When we are abiding in Christ, we look like Him. We seek Him first, and out of that pursuit, we show Him to the world. When we confess, when we believe, and we live in and through Christ, we love as He loves and act as He acts.

2) What does the word confess mean in v. 15?
Profess openly, worship, and celebrate Christ. Confession goes hand in hand with action. Confession in word alone is no confession at all, but confession with action is true abiding in Christ. “..because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

3) What do we learn about love from this passage?
God is love and there is no fear in perfect love. In moments of fear and doubt, we need only remember that He loves us, and because of that we can love others. We need not be bound up in fear of condemnation from God, of not performing well enough, or always doing “the right thing”, we are freed to both receive and give His love!

4) What commandment are we given in this passage?
Hate for my brother cannot exist in the same heart that confesses Jesus as Lord. We are called to love beyond borders, beyond boundaries, across races, and despite circumstances. As His Spirit moves and works in us, we have the ability to rise above to act and move as His ambassadors despite fear, despite hate, and despite man-made cultural or racial divides.

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I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
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!

The Community!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

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. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? 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 :-))

The Why!

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.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Palette!

Palette Day 10 Breaking The Silence

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 17:26
Romans 10:12-13
Malachi 2:10 

Jessica and I have been friends for the better part of six years and my life has been forever changed because of her joy, wisdom, and laughter. I can talk to her when I have tough questions about race that I don’t understand; she’s patient with me, and shares her heart as I listen. I’ve been silent for too long, for fear of saying the wrong thing. So for today’s Journey, we’ve got a Q & A dialogue between the two of us, breaking the silence.

1. Were there any instances growing up where you felt you were treated differently or unfairly because of the color of your skin?
Growing up I went to predominantly Caucasian schools, so to me, it was normal to be a “minority.” I grew up in California so racism wasn’t something that I even thought about until I moved to the south and began traveling overseas. Once I moved, color was instantly shoved in my face. I felt like I constantly had to make an effort to have at least one black friend to ensure I wasn’t offending anyone. When I was closer to a white girl than a black girl, my skin color was automatically questioned. When I acted a certain way, or liked certain things that weren’t deemed “black,” I was instantly a white girl. I was told my white friends were more “black” than me. I was presumably a good dancer because of the color of my skin (don’t get me wrong, your girl CAN get down), or not ghetto enough because I didn’t smoke or choose rap music as my favorite.
I didn’t fit the mold of a stereotypical black person, so people told me I wasn’t.

2. As an African-American living in the south, what are some of the biggest differences you see in our culture today?
Honestly, I think one of the biggest differences is that most African Americans from my generation are more worried about their life than they’ve ever been. They worry about their kids, family, and friends who are African American more now, than they did growing up. I’ve travelled to over twenty-five countries and I fear more for my life living in the south than I did traveling the world. Driving by a police officer I pray I don’t get pulled over, and if I do, that I’m met with a nice officer. If I see an African American pulled over, I say a prayer for them, hoping that they make it home to their family. I’ve grown accustomed to being met with racism, where I’ve grown up expecting kindness.

3. You’re currently the nanny for twin Caucasian two year olds. Tell me what it’s like and any adversity you face as an African American taking care of them.
I’ve been watching kids since I was eleven, and I’d say over 90% of the kids I’ve babysat for have been Caucasian so taking the job as the twins’ nanny was normal to me. I started when they were just three months, so when they got bigger and the weather got nice, we ventured outside and everyone marveled over the twins. I honestly don’t think they even noticed the color of my skin.

I do remember one day when we were out for lunch; as the twins have a double stroller, navigating through doors can be a task. We were leaving Moe’s and this nice Caucasian lady held the door open. As we were walking away she looked at me and said, “Congratulations!” I stopped and paused for a second, confused. I then stuttered and said ‘thanks’ with an awkward smile on my face.

She thought the twins were mine.  She had a clear view of them, and me. While I was confused in the moment, walking back to their house, I couldn’t help but smile and laugh. In my head I thought, this is how it should be. When people see a lady with kids who aren’t the same color, instead of assuming they’re “the help,” they assume she’s the mother. I think it’s a beautiful and a hopeful picture of the future. The worst thing I’ve encountered have been questioning looks that I either ignore, or meet with a smile and tell the twins to say hi to them.

4. How can we, as a church body, better support each other’s differences? I know many people, including myself, fear saying the wrong thing so we stay silent.
To be honest, one of the biggest things is acknowledgement. You may not understand, or be able to relate, but saying something is better than saying nothing. Saying the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ doesn’t mean we’re saying yours don’t, we simply want you to know we matter too. Acknowledge that we want you to stand with us, and value us as an important part of your congregation, especially when it is a predominately Caucasian church.

We see what you share, post, and comment on social media platforms, especially when it contradicts conversations we’ve had face to face.
We want to feel safe and united with the congregation, and by you acknowledging that things take place in the world that affect us differently because of the color of our skin, it helps begin to bridge the gap of understanding. Acknowledge that when you’re silent as racism occurs, it says you don’t care, and while you may not understand, sympathy goes a long way. Ultimately, it’s time to stop using ‘I don’t understand’ as an excuse, and allow these injustices to break your heart like they do the Lord’s.

When President Trump was elected, my pastor sent a group text to all the African Americans in our church. I’ll never forget his kindness, as it was such an example of loving those different than you. The end of his text read: “I’m so honored to be your pastor. I want you to know that I need your voice in my life, and when something matters to you, it matters to me. If I can serve you in any way, just let me know.” This is what it’s about.

I’m so grateful for my friend, Jessica. My life has been uniquely blessed by her.
Link arms with us by giving voice to reality, and bridging a gap that feels unsafe in so many ways.
Together, let’s break the silence!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Palette!

Palette Day 7 All The Colors: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

Looking for yesterday’s
Journey Study?
Check out All The Colors!

Matthew 28:16-20 English Standard Version (ESV)

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Questions

1) Why are some doubting? What has happened previously to make them doubt or believe?

2) What commands are given to the disciples in this passage?

3) In whose power, do we go? And how long do we have that power?

The Findings for Intention

1) Why are some doubting? What has happened previously to make them doubt or believe?
In reading all of chapter twenty-eight, the scene is set for this passage that falls at the end of the chapter. Jesus has just been resurrected and there are those who simply cannot, or choose not to believe, His resurrection. The chief priest pays the soldiers to say that Jesus’ disciples have stolen His body rather than affirm the resurrection. (28:13)

2) What commands are given to the disciples in this passage?
Throughout this passage, Jesus gives four commands. He tells them to GO, MAKE DISCIPLES, BAPTIZE THEM, and TEACH THEM MY WORD.

3) In whose power, do we go? And how long do we have that power?
Jesus is very clear the power is from God the Father, through the Spirit, and He will be with us until the end of the age.

The Everyday Application

1) Why are some doubting? What has happened previously to make them doubt or believe?
The evidence of Jesus’ resurrection was right in front of them in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no reason to doubt. I read a passage like this and I think how could they not see? It is only a mirrored reflection of my own disbelief at times. God clearly works in my life, clearly moves, and clearly shows me who He is, yet I still question just as they did. It is in these moments that God gently nudges me closer to Him. He shows me my own heart of disbelief to push me and convict me of my desperate need for Him.

2) What commands are given to the disciples in this passage?
GO, MAKE DISCIPLES, BAPTIZE THEM, and TEACH MY WORD. It could not be simpler than that. This passage iterates the simplicity of the gospel. God desires His people to teach others about Him. He desires us to move beyond our borders, our personal boundaries, to places unknown, places of discomfort, and sometimes places that we simply just don’t want to go. It doesn’t mean you leave this country or even this city. What it does mean is that you have eyes that see as Jesus sees paired with a heart’s desire to tell others about Him.          

3) In whose power, do we go? And how long do we have that power?
As we go, we do not go alone. “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” This is the promise we have from our Savior. He doesn’t leave us, He empowers us! He doesn’t expect us to go of our volition but rather as His power transforms us, we move forward out of worship for Him. This power is not fleeting, but rather eternal. It does not run out or fade away, rather it grows in us, drawing us closer to Him. In that strength, we begin to look and act a whole lot more like Him. We love because He first loved us!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
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!

The Community!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

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. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? 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 :-))

The Why!

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.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Palette!

Palette Day 6 All The Colors

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 67:1-6
Matthew 28:16-20
Revelation 22:1-5

“Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

This sweet little Sunday School song was something I grew up singing. It’s a beautifully simplistic view of God’s design for His people.
He loves all man-kind.
The end.
No exceptions.
No one unlovable.
We are all deeply and passionately loved by Him.

Similarly, the Psalmist pens these glorious lyrics:
“May God be gracious to us and bless us…that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.”
The Lord desires the free gift of salvation to be received by all.

A natural response to receiving the gift of salvation; praise.
“May the peoples praise you oh God; may all the peoples praise you.”
Not only does God long to be reconciled with everyone,
He longs to hear us praise Him collectively.

As humans, we have plenty of trouble loving people,
particularly those who don’t look quite like us.
This is something I’m guilty of as well.
It’s much more comfortable for me to walk up to someone who looks more similar to myself ethnically than someone that I might have very little in common with outwardly.

My husband is Korean, born in Korea and has lived in the States for 5 years this fall. We have two biracial children, one born in Korea, one born in the States.
For as much as we stay on top of racial issues in our family,
can I be real for a moment too?
Last week, I was returning my cart at Aldi, and I specifically did not offer it to the black lady that was walking towards the carts.
Ouch.
I always offer my cart to the next person and that day, I didn’t offer it.
I got in my car and cried, wishing I could go back and at least make eye contact.
Sadly, I couldn’t.

Having married outside my race, I observe people and situations with a different lens than before. I’ve noticed that when a new person meets my husband Joonseok and I, more often than not, they will not hold eye contact with my hubby. They will look to me as the leader of the conversation and start talking to me first. When Joonseok is out with the kids, they are often ignored. Nobody tries to make unnecessary conversation, nobody looks at them, in fact it’s as though people often look through them not even noticing them at all. Those subtle undertones are taxing for people outside of the ethnic majority to interact with on a daily basis.

Our family’s ethnic design has really pushed me to find ways for my children to use their “white privilege” for someone else’s benefit. In a group of other white children, I want my kids to be prepared to stand up for people teasing another child. We role-play these situations. We read books with girls in hijabs being made fun of, children of color feeling left out, or the Asian kids being mocked for their smelly foods.

Our favorite place to come back to in regard to racial teachings is the Great Commission. The disciples have just witnessed Jesus being crucified, buried, resurrected and walking among them in the flesh.
The emotions, questions and musings must’ve been plentiful!

Moments before Jesus would physically leave them, He declared His authority and then commissioned his disciples,
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
There’s no mistaking that, as believers, we are to share the love of the Father with all people, whether they look like us or not. Having these conversations with our kids isn’t fun or really all that easy.
The cost of not having them, and sweeping the issue under the rug, is just too high.

One of the easiest ways to start being intentional with people outside your ethnicity is to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to move in your heart about making genuine relationships with people you don’t naturally gravitate toward. It’s easy to view this as a project instead of a friendship, but just do normal, everyday life together – go for coffee or share a meal.

Our family partners with a local ministry that loves on international students. This sub-group of college students are ready to experience all that Americans are doing. Since our faith, intentionality and love flow from our family-life, it’s natural to have students along to share in that. The Lord has literally brought the Nations to us in this ministry! It also provides the exposure of “weird foods”, people speaking different languages and unusual customs to our kids. Whatever you choose to do, I’m confident that Lord will bless both you and your new friends for intentionally choosing love over fear!

That situation with the shopping cart in the Aldi parking lot was a great reminder to be on guard for the little places the enemy is whispering lies.
I’m ready to fight those out of my heart, will you join me?

Lord, let my eyes see people as You do, created in Your perfect image. Give us a taste of the River of Life and the healing that will come to all nations. Embolden me to stand on the side of loving people, even when it’s not popular. For Your Glory, Lord.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Palette!

Palette Day 4 Image Bearers: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

Looking for yesterday’s
Journey Study?
Check out Image Bearers!

Psalm 139:13-16 English Standard Version (ESV)

13 For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

The Questions

1) Who is the “you” being referenced in verse 13?

2) What does verse 15 tell us about how we are made?

3) What do we learn about God and about humanity from this passage?

The Findings for Intention

1) Who is the “you” being referenced in verse 13?
David started this Psalm by calling upon the name of the Lord. As he continues throughout this Psalm his focus is on praising God for who He is and what He has done. His focus throughout the song is the might, power, and sovereignty of God as the Creator and Sustainer of Life.

2) What does verse 15 tell us about how we are made?
We learn as we read verse 15 just how intricately God ordered and detailed every aspect of our created life. We learn that before we were ever born, God knew us and wove us together. Our bodies, skin color, minds, and creativity reflect God’s incredible design!

3) What do we learn about God and about humanity from this passage?
Psalm 139 gives us insight into God’s ability as creator to understand life. We learn that God makes no mistakes with His creation. Rather, He is precise in His creation. Once He has created, we learn from previous verses within Psalm 139, that He does not leave His creation alone to chance, rather He is omnipresent (everywhere), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipotent (all powerful).

The Everyday Application

1) Who is the you being referenced in verse 13?
It is important to read the entire chapter so we know who we are talking about. As we do, it is obvious that David is talking about God. He is the master craftsman molding, shaping, and “knitting” us together. God does not make mistakes, rather we can praise Him for how “fearfully and wonderfully” we are made. All mankind…made in His image for His purpose.

2) What does verse 15 tell us about how we are made?
From the beginning of our time, God saw us, not as a distant creative force, but personally weaving the details of our life. When we read something like Psalm 139:15, it is clear that David was speaking directly to God about himself, but on a larger scale, we can see just how intricate God was with humanity. The detail—the care—the purpose that God used (uses) in creating all of mankind. If we really believe this, we are compelled to see as He sees. We are compelled to see through the Image of God lens. This lens that defines the unique connection between God and man, the only part of creation made in His image.

3) What do we learn about God and about humanity from this passage?
There is no place we can go that God is not! From the very beginning, He formed us and knew us. God tasked us with purpose and meaning that falls short apart from Him. God is the creator of all humanity and in His image we were formed. There is nothing that is hidden from Him.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
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!

The Community!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

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. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? 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 :-))

The Why!

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.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Palette!

Palette Day 3 Image Bearers

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:26-31
James 3:1-12
Psalm 139:13-16
1 John 4:14-16  

A couple of years ago, our community group was challenged to go beyond our comfort zone and engage with those who lived on the streets of Kansas City. Those who made their dwelling places under bridges, behind abandoned warehouses, and in the hidden corners of forgotten parks. As children usually are known for doing, our kids went “all in”. We prepared meals together as a group and piled into the car, eager to find a lonely friend who needed a hot meal. From the backseat, the kids begged to be “next” to pass a bag of food, new gloves, or a warm blanket through the car window.

We coached our kids to not label those we would meet as “homeless”, but rather to see them as people, just like us, who needed love. We practiced looking into a person’s eyes when we talked to them and encouraged our kids to ask the other person’s name.
The experience was profound for each of us.
Our children led the way in their excitement and the way they had conversations in reaching out to these people who looked and lived nothing like them.
They were each thrilled to hold out their hand to another.

The impact was so far-reaching that even now, 2 years removed, they will still randomly ask to buy extra “day old bread” at a local sandwich shop so we can trek downtown and give someone lunch. They do the same with water bottles, extra blankets they find, cookies they bake, or even portions of their meals. The transformation was more than I’d hoped for and was deeply convicting for me and my own view of people.

Superiority is ugly.
But it shows up, slithering in, when we least expect it.
And it’s rooted in our hearts when we choose to ignore the truth that
we are each created in the image of God.
That solid truth levels the playing field when it comes to how we see people.

I remember sitting on a counselor’s couch painfully recounting how I couldn’t bear to see myself on the same playing field as my father, at whose hands I had suffered so much emotional damage. She responded with words I’ll never forget,
“I would put to you that, before the Lord God, we are all on the same playing field.”
She was so right.

The girl dying in Zambia for lack of clean water.
We are equal.

The man who has lived his entire life on the streets.
We are equal.

The aging woman who still holds the scars in her heart of the child she aborted.
We are equal.

The white mama raising bi-racial children in a society that doesn’t favor them.
We are equal.

The grown boy whose mental deficiencies make most turn their heads away.
We are equal.

These are the ones, we are the ones, created in the image of God.
And we mirror Him best when we love others
Just As We Are Loved!

I’m reminded of James’ words in James 3:10-11.
Can both fresh and salt water flow from the same spring?
He was speaking of our tongue.
How we cannot, with integrity, curse our brother and worship our Savior with the same mouth.
With the same heart that loves Jesus and the same lips that teaches salvation, we cannot only use those arms to reach out in friendship to those whose skin color matches our own.
Equality and Inequality cannot both reside in the heart of the believer!
A Greater and Lesser view when it comes to how we see people cannot co-exist!
It short-changes the God who sent His only Son to be the Savior of the world.

When we choose to stay quiet about racism, ignore other races, or be engaged only with those who act like, look like, and live like us,
we intentionally step out of sync with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When we choose fear of others over compassion for their souls, we’ve placed our judgement of ourselves higher than the Lord’s.
We’ve superseded another human being who was crafted from the same God who knit us together by His own hands.

See the color, my friends.
See the diversity.
See the Korean, the Japanese, the African, the Latino, the Indian, the Caucasian….
and link arms in praise to a creative God who has crafted each of us in His own image!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Palette!