discipleship

Sketched X Day 14 Dinner & Identity: 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 Dinner & Identity!

The Questions

1) Why would Jesus wash Judas’ feet even though He knew Judas would soon betray Him? Why not just send him away immediately? (verses 2-3)

2) Why was Peter hesitant to allow Jesus to wash his feet? (verses 6-9)

3) When Jesus talks about following His example, does He intend us to literally wash feet? (verses 12-17)

John 13:1-17

Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. 4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

8 “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Original Intent

1) Why would Jesus wash Judas’ feet even though He knew Judas would soon betray Him? Why not just send him away immediately? (verses 2-3)
It is impossible for man to fully understand God’s timing. While that seems like a “churchy” answer, this is simply the truth. However, we can draw some insights based on what else we know from Scripture about Jesus, this scene, and the revealed heart of God. The disciples never really understood who Jesus fully was or His plan to redeem mankind until post resurrection, which we see in part as this story unfolds. While they said they believed Jesus was the long-awaited Promised Messiah, they only knew part of the story, and their actions proved their understanding. Jesus, as God incarnate, perfectly represents God as love (1 John 4:16); there is no one God does not love, including Judas. Jesus Himself said, “I have come to serve, not be served.” (Mark 10:45) Every single word and action of Jesus carried deeper meaning and purpose than these twelve men realized. The plan written before the beginning of time needed to play out fully in order for Jesus to beat death and pay the penalty once and for all for ALL sin. Additionally, Jesus knew of Judas’ future betrayal even as He called him to be a disciple. He is God after all, which means He is all knowing. Perhaps the best explanation comes from Jesus who said, “I only do what the Father tells me”. (John 5:19) Jesus was obedient to the Father at every point, which included loving Judas.

2) Why was Peter hesitant to allow Jesus to wash his feet? (verses 6-9)
Peter didn’t understand Jesus’ often shocking actions and words. As a result, his pride often got the best of him and Peter was offended by Jesus. In this passage, Peter thought someone “lower” in rank than Jesus should be washing feet, which would have been culturally appropriate. It was the norm to have slaves do the unsightly task of foot washing, certainly not the Promised Messiah. It’s important to notice that Peter never once said, “Hey Jesus, I got this; why don’t you sit down while I wash your feet.” Peter did not yet understand true servanthood and humility. Offended, he balked at Jesus’ willingness to perform such a menial task. His limited understanding is even more evident by his next words after Jesus tries to gently lead him into understanding. Peter rashly responds, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” (verse 9) In Peter’s mind, he was raising his hand shouting, “I get it Jesus! I’m gonna’ let you wash all of me!” While Peter expressed a willingness to do whatever it took in that moment to be close to Jesus, he still didn’t fully understand what it cost to be a humble servant and do whatever God asked. This is evidenced later in Peter’s story by his anger at Jesus’ arrest and subsequent three denials. 

3) When Jesus talks about following His example, does He intend us to literally wash feet? (verses 12-17)
Yes and no. For the original audience this passage could be taken quite literally, given their culture. It was common practice for a slave to wash your feet when you came into a home, as most travel was by foot. However, there is always a deeper meaning to Jesus’ recorded words. In this scene, Jesus emphasized that His disciples have been called to a lifestyle of humble servitude to others, regardless of who the “others” or the situation. Numerous times, Jesus instructs these twelve men to follow His example in other teachings. He has invested time, energy, and countless hours training them to be His hands and feet. Now the time had come for them to “step up” and humbly serve others by getting low, just as Jesus modeled. In a way, Jesus was saying, “I don’t care how messy, how dirty, how sinful, how different people are; I’m calling you to humbly serve each and every one of them. So that you can then tell them about Me and the salvation I bring.”

Everyday Application

1) Why would Jesus wash Judas’ feet even though He knew Judas would soon betray Him? Why not just send him away immediately? (verses 2-3)
Questioning God’s plans and His timing are an age-old issue. How many of us have said, “I just don’t understand what God is doing” or “I know this is God’s plan, but why is it taking so long?” or “Why wouldn’t God intervene?”. Like the disciples, we suffer from perpetual tunnel vision. We often focus only on what is right in front of us. We miss the big picture because we stubbornly refuse to see God working in hard things. Thank God, Jesus washed Judas’ feet! Consider for a minute if He hadn’t. What would it mean for us? It would mean there would come a point where we have sinned one too many times or our sin was too big to forgive. Jesus washed the feet of a man He knew would betray Him, just like He died for you and me, all the while knowing we too would betray Him. (Romans 5:8) Yes, those are hard words to hear, but each and every time we sin, we are choosing to betray Jesus. More so, sin is sin, from a white lie to murder each sin separates us for eternity from a perfectly loving God. (Romans 3:23) BUT Jesus died for it ALL! (Romans 8:37-39) We don’t need to understand His timing or His purpose, that desire to understand comes from our worldly thinking! We only need to understand, and fully place our faith, on the truth Scripture teaches over and over, Jesus willingly came to save each and every one of us. (1 John 2:2) He chose to be obedient to the Father’s call and submit to death, so that He could pay the penalty for our sin! “See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children!” (1 John 3:1)

2) Why was Peter hesitant to allow Jesus to wash his feet? (verses 6-9)
I love Peter! I am thankful he was so dense at times! His story gives me so much hope for my wayward self! If you’ve done much reading of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) at all you know Peter had a huge pride issue. This interaction over foot washing with Jesus is one of several in which Peter, thinking he had it all figured out, put his foot in his mouth and had to be gently, and sometimes firmly, corrected by his loving Savior. How many times have we done the same thing?! For me, too many to count. We are all guilty of it and some of us (not naming names, but me, Lori!) have a huge struggle with pride. Pride is one of those things that sneaks up on me, even though I know it’s an issue and try to be aware of its luring temptation. It’s deceptive and seems to sneak in under the radar until it gets fed and continues to grow and grow, pulling me deeper into sin and farther from Jesus. Then, just like with Peter, Jesus graciously points out my sin and gently allows me to see and understand its tragic depth. It’s not so much that Peter was hesitant to let Jesus wash his feet, he was hesitant to accept Jesus’ attitude of humility and servanthood and wear it himself. Let’s be honest, it’s hard to live with the same attitude as Jesus in our broken and messed up world, especially when we allow pride to trip us up.

3) When Jesus talks about following His example, does He intend us to literally wash feet? (verses 12-17)
Today’s application hasn’t really changed. We too are called to follow the example of Jesus by being His hands and feet. Hebrews 13:1-2 tells us “Let brotherly love continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.” The truth of the matter is people and relationships are messy and hard; being humble requires full reliance on the Spirit of God at work within us. Look at Jesus’ life on earth and how many times He showed up in messy and hard situations to love others! We need not worry about how to love like Him, because it’s not us, but Jesus working in us as long as we are surrendered to Him! Our responsibility is to be willing and obedient to go where He leads, help those He puts in front of us, and even wash the feet of our enemies. (Romans 12:20) I can’t help but think about the passage in Isaiah 6, when the prophet is confronted with God’s holiness and it absolutely wrecks him. Isaiah’s response is exactly what ours should be today as we encounter the radical holy humility of Jesus, “Here am I, send me”. Jesus wasn’t forced to die to save us, He chose to obey His Father, which meant humbling himself to the point of death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8) The same is true for us, we aren’t forced to obey God’s call on our lives, but once we are truly confronted with the holiness of God and the depths of our sin, how can we not kneel and say, “Here I am, an absolute wreck, but send me, I’ll willing to go.”

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Dinner & Identity!

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 Sketched X Week Three!
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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!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Focus Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1)  Brianna noted on Monday, “God’s wisdom, while promoting His peace, does not promote a pain free life.” So we are left with the lingering question over our hearts, “do we really want to follow Jesus?”. This isn’t a one-time answer and finished for life. When the relationships get complicated and messy, will we follow? When it’s much easier to twist the truth and save ourselves, will we still follow? What are you walking through right now where you are need to ask, “Do I really want to follow Jesus?”. Remember, Sister, what’s at stake is for eternity. There is only One sure-footed place to walk the ups and downs of this life, and that’s following Jesus! Saying yes to Him will always be worth it, guaranteed.

2)  Quick, Slow, Slow. Three wise words waving like a white flag on repeat in my mind when I find myself in a scenario where my relational temperature is quickly on the rise. God’s wisdom, intended for everyday life application in big ways and small ones, will always bring life that causes flourishing. Quick to listen. Slow to speak. Slow to become angry. Listening brings life. Speaking should be only a small percentage of our relationships and anger…well, James says our anger does not accomplish the righteous purposes of God. Plain. Simple. Straight up wisdom. Practice raising the white flag in your relationships with those three words. Quick. Slow. Slow. Begin this weekend! As you slow, take those seconds, or minutes, to pray for the one you’re in conflict with.

3) We all have difficult seasons of our lives where we feel like the ground beneath us is swaying, shaking, and we aren’t sure we will make it to the other side. Pause for a few minutes and recall one or two of those times for you. What were the feelings you wrestled with?  What sustained you? When we feel like we are drowning, we need an anchor we can trust, no matter what. Relationships are amazing gifts, but they will always let us down in one fashion or another. What are your anchors? How do you know they will sustain you in your storms?

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from James 1:22-25 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Prayer Journal
Lord, Your presence is everywhere at every moment, just as You are incessantly pursuing each of us that we might turn to You and discover the love we’ve longed for. In the same way, Your wisdom never ceases, and You urgently desire for us to walk in it. Not because You’re a dictator, but because You are love and You know we will have the richest, most fulfilling life when we walk wisely.
As we study You, Lord, make us wise. May we not just accumulate good sayings and nice thoughts, but teach us to live out Your wisdom daily. Spirit, this is impossible without Your power. May we surrender more of ourselves to You every day!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Bride Day 4 Empty Identity: 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 Empty Identity!

Matthew 16:24-26 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 26 For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?

The Questions

1) In what ways are we called to “deny ourselves”?

2) How do we “lose” our lives because of Jesus?

3) What point is Jesus making with His questions in verse 26?

The Findings for Intention

1) In what ways are we called to “deny ourselves”?
To be a disciple in Jesus’ day, was to be an apprentice. Young Jewish boys, whose fathers wanted them to become religious leaders, would spend their days following specific rabbis, copying what they did and learning from them. Over time, their entire identities would become shaped by the teachings and lifestyles of these rabbinic leaders. They had to be willing to give up everything about themselves in order to be molded and shaped in this apprenticing relationship. With Jesus, the disciples did not come to Him, rather He chose them. And in His choosing, He chose fishermen and tax collectors, those least likely to become religious leaders. He was turning the world upside down. The then-current idea of apprenticeship would take on a deeper meaning as Jesus drew His disciples out of their current lives to give them all new ones, lives they didn’t even know they wanted. He was inviting them to drop their old life for an entirely new one that required full commitment.

2) How do we “lose” our lives because of Jesus?
James and John and other disciples were fishermen by trade before Jesus called them. They owned the family business with their father and likely would be handed down the business when their father passed. They had dreams. Lives. Goals. Matthew (or Levi) was a tax collector. He had education, wealth, a reputation, and was seemingly doing quite well with his course in life. But Jesus’ invitation to become His disciple came, and everything changed as their lives were turned upside down. James and John immediately left their nets, the huge cash flow of fish they had just caught, their father, and the business they were to inherit. Matthew also immediately left his money changing tables, his profitable business, and his reputation to follow Jesus. These men were “losing their lives” for Christ. They were giving up their ideas for how their lives should go as they surrendered their plans to Jesus.

3) What point is Jesus making with His questions in verse 26?”
We only have one and if we do not care for it, no one else will, no one else even has the ability to do so. We are the stewards of our souls. The essence inside of us, that makes us…”us”. Our will, emotions, hopes, dreams, fears, all of it is wrapped up in our soul. To lose the soul is to lose everything, it is to lose “life” as the word is translated in the passage above. All would be meaningless without a soul, so it would seem of utmost importance to both care for the soul now on earth and for eternity. Jesus’ words imply that our souls can indeed be in danger of being lost. “For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life (soul)?” None can buy back their own soul after having lost it, it’s simply gone forever. With this weighty understanding, the supreme importance of following Jesus is brought into perspective. Choosing Jesus isn’t a matter of planning for retirement or whether we like attending church or have an aversion to moral decay, rather the eternal destiny of our souls hangs on the balance of what we do with our lives. Will we lose them for Christ or hold onto them for ourselves, finding in the end that we really couldn’t grasp them anyways?

The Everyday Application

1) In what ways are we called to “deny ourselves”?
Jesus’ offer for discipleship extends far beyond the first century to our own. He is still choosing disciples; He has extended His offer for new life to each one of us! But there is a cost we must consider. Luke recounts Jesus teaching, “whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27). This “cross” signifies the crucifixion of one’s self, our desires and the way of life that was common to us before coming to Christ. When Jesus, the great Rabbi, or disciple-maker, extends His invitation, He brings newness of life that will overrun the former way of living. The old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) If you’re a disciple of Jesus, what “old ways” of thinking and living are you still holding onto? Where are you clinging to the safety of familiarity rather than surrendering your ways to the Master? The cost seems great indeed, but the reward is infinitely greater than the sacrifice! For Gomer, in yesterday’s Journey Study, “denying herself” would have meant exchanging the empty identities she carried for the love and acceptance she was being offered in Hosea.

2) How do we “lose” our lives because of Jesus?
Luke’s gospel tells of Jesus inviting some to follow Him, but they replied with excuses. Family matters, other relationships, other priorities, these were their excuses and Jesus responded by warning them that unless they were “all in” for becoming a disciple of Jesus, then they had no place in His kingdom. Following Jesus will cost us our lives, but He gives His own in exchange. You will never find a genuine Christ-follower who, after choosing to “lose their life” for Jesus is met with regret. The fullness that Jesus brings satisfies every desire we have in ways that we never dreamed possible the more that we choose to surrender to Him. Whatever your passions, your dreams, your talents, your job, or your social status, Christ is inviting you to lose your life and find full satisfaction in what He will bring! Does it mean all will become pastors and teachers? Not at all, but it does mean He will shift your focus to amplify His glory and as He brings you good. Losing your life for Christ results in truly finding it!

3) What point is Jesus making with His questions in verse 26?
In yesterday’s Journey Study we see that Israel “chose to be her own savior and lost everything.” This is exactly the picture portrayed here in Matthew by Christ’s words and it should motivate us to consider what we are chasing, why we are chasing it, and if the investment of our lives is worth the price of our souls. What we give our lives to, the manner we do it in, and the motivation of our doing, is the proof of who the Master of our souls is. Have we lost our lives for Christ or are we trying to hold onto control while still trying to make our lives appear Christian-like? Only if our lives, our very souls, are turned over to Jesus, allowing Him to bring us real life and guide us with how to steward our lives, will the things we do in this life even matter.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
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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
Bride 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 Bride!

Shepherd Day 8 Sheep Life

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 23:1-6
Hebrews 12:1-12
Zephaniah 3:14-20

Shepherd, Day 8

The shepherd walked with sure footing down the rocky path. To the left, a drop-off reminded him of the descent he and the sheep had traversed in their journey to reach the green grass and still waters found in the valley before them. He projected a sense of calm, one that seemed to blanket the sheep as they clopped along the path. In the midst of that calm, the sheep remained unaware of the depth to which the shepherd was attuned to the world around them.

His ears listened to the sounds filling the air. The bleating of the sheep and the sound of their hooves were constant companions on the journey, and he knew his sheep’s voices. A cry from any one of them would cause him to spring into action.

Not only were his ears focused on the sounds rising from the flock, they were filtering the noises found beyond the sheep. Predators threatened, and if one attacked, the shepherd stood as the only safeguard between it and the sheep.

His eyes scanned the flock to ensure not one ran astray or was left behind, while also looking to the horizon towards their destination. His hands gripped his rod and staff with a relaxed firmness, the mark of a seasoned shepherd. This allowed him the mobility of using them for walking support, and simultaneously maintaining the ability to react quickly.  At a moment’s notice, his rod and staff may need to become a weapon to battle an enemy or a safeguard in his hand. A sheep getting too close to the edge and needing a nudge back? A threat to the flock? The rod and staff were tools in the well-trained hand of the shepherd.

One of the most well-known shepherds in the Old Testament is David. Long before he ascended the throne, David tended his father’s flock. This became his training ground and preparation in many ways for all the Lord had prepared for him. David explains this best when telling Saul why he would face Goliath:
“Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

David knew how to be an effective shepherd for sheep and God grew him to shepherd His people with a heart like His own, but even David falls short compared to the Lord as He shepherds His children.

The shepherd above is one the sheep are blessed to have leading them.
He is trustworthy and brave,
strong and gentle,
intentional and caring.
If I were a sheep, I would choose his leadership. However, I am not a sheep.
I choose the Lord as my shepherd,
yet how often I find myself second guessing Him,
or failing to see how He fights for me.

“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Late on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Hebrews 12:11 is one of the verses that I am grateful is in the Word,
but sometimes wish I could skip that part of the Christian reality.
When I apply it to the analogy of a shepherd and ponder my history, I see moments where the discipline of the Lord, and His telling me “no,” firmly yet lovingly, was the staff that kept me from tripping over the edge. The times that He held me back were not to smother me, but to protect me. He has the vantage point that I do not, and His shepherding skills have proven the test of time.

While I reflect, and cringe, at those times I responded to the Lord with levels of pre-teen angst, I also see times where He fought for me. Those times where He picked up His rod and went swinging for the fences at the lions and bears that threatened my existence. Those moments when He gave me a way out from a temptation or the times when hopelessness or doubt threatened to overwhelm me and He spoke to me through His Word or brought encouragement through another person.
Sometimes He calmly spoke with authority to the winds that blew and the storm stilled.

He has proven Himself as a warrior who saves me over and over.
His rod and His staff truly do comfort me.
Lead me on, dear Lord, my Shepherd, lead me on.

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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 Shepherd 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 Shepherd!

Pause Day 9 Making Him Known

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Here in Colossians, Paul details the complete fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the second person of the triune God.
Fully God, fully human, present before creation, and co-equal with God the Father and God the Spirit in all ways.
The very fullness of God.
One can’t help but sit back and marvel when we take the time to slow, to pause, and really read what Paul is teaching here.

But it gets even better as that indescribable fullness of the Almighty is offered through a glorious mystery revealed in the gospel straight to our hearts!

Even more delightful still, this fullness overflows into the relationships around us, drawing others closer to God Himself through us!
Incredible Beauty!
The God of the universe using human agents to invite the lost into a relationship of peace with Himself!

Don’t take my word for it, read His!

Today's Invitation

1) It’s Scribe Day 2 for this week! Enjoy pausing to copy down Scripture word for word from Colossians 1:15-29. Don’t forget to 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).

2) Choose one of these options to walk into more with Jesus as you boldly live out Christ’s love!
a) Buy someone’s lunch or coffee anonymously.
b) Pick up a shoebox and pack it for a child in another country to receive as a gift and to hear about the gospel!
c) Engage a stranger in conversation, looking for a way to encourage them before you part ways.
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) Reach out to someone and ask how you can pray for them specifically

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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Colossians 1:15-29

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one 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 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 Pause!

Flourishing Day 7
Truth Holders: 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 Truth Holders!

Mark 10:29-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

The Questions

1) Do I have to leave my children to follow Jesus?

2) What does “now in this time” and “receive a hundredfold” refer to?

3) Will believers be persecuted in the age to come also?

The Findings for Intention

1) Do I have to leave my children to follow Jesus?
Isolating these verses would certainly make it seem that Jesus is teaching us to abandon all relationships and possessions, but we know from the context of this chapter that, Jesus had just reinforced the extreme importance of relationships between parents, spouses, and children. Context is key to understanding, but cross-references can also help us dig deeper into tough passages. These verses are similarly spoken in Luke 14:24-27, where Jesus is talking about the cost of being His disciple. The emphasis in both Mark and Luke is the gospel. In essence, Jesus is asking, “what will you do for the gospel?” What will come first?

2) What does “now in this time” and “receive a hundredfold” refer to?
Jesus is teaching that whatever will be lost per the cost of following Him, will be more than made up for in what is to be gained. Deeper relationships are found in Christ, fuller abundance in life is received when Jesus is first and the gospel is our center. Committing our lives to Jesus will cost us, but the return is not even worth comparing, both in this life and in the one to come. True, we may lose material possessions or even relationships because we are choosing Jesus, but the pure sweetness of knowing Christ fuller and deeper and walking in community with other believers is worth much more than our losses.

3) Will believers be persecuted in the age to come also?
Definitely not! The phrase, “and in the age to come eternal life” refers to what the disciple will continue receiving. Inheritance and abundance that outweigh our loss begins in this life, but is brought to full fruition “in the age to come” (i.e. “eternal life”).

The Everyday Application

1) Do I have to leave my children to follow Jesus?
While Jesus does call us to live bravely for the gospel, not fearing people or trying to satisfy our pleasures before loving Jesus, these words are not a blank check to put “ministry” above relationships. “Ministry” is not the gospel. The gospel calls us to die to ourselves every day, allowing the Spirit to make us alive for His purposes, which is the crux of this teaching. If we are putting anything before our relationship with Jesus Christ, like parents, possessions, spouses, children, emotions, or relationships, then we have usurped God’s position and crafted an idol that we are now willing to worship in place of the Lord God! Only when Jesus is our everything can true balance and a life of fruitful richness be enjoyed. Hold onto the truth of who God is first, then everything else will fall into place. (seek first verse)

2) What does “now in this time” and “receive a hundredfold” refer to?
True discipleship costs something. Pause and consider….what has following Jesus cost you? Time? Money? Relationships? Career? Position? Friends? Or perhaps your decision to choose Christ hasn’t cost you anything, or very little. Maybe those around you don’t even know you’ve committed your everything to Christ. Does your life look that much different than your unbelieving neighbors? Does your Facebook page reflect beliefs that align with the Bible? Do your words and your actions mirror Jesus’ love, even when it costs you something? If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough true evidence to convict you? What “wealth” are you holding onto, like the Rich Young Ruler in the passage, that you feel isn’t worth the cost of following the Lord?

3) Will believers be persecuted in the age to come also?
For me, who had a difficult childhood, I automatically think that this life will be wrought with difficulty after difficulty for following Jesus and I often miss out on recognizing all the sweetness that is granted because I’ve chosen Jesus as my Savior. Paul speaks in Ephesians of the deep comfort and encouragement that comes from being sealed by the Spirit and walking in fellowship with other believers. Their truly is rich abundance in being found in Christ today and now! I challenge you, as I have myself, to go through your day and make an actual numbered list of the wonders and treasures that are yours because of Jesus! Opening our eyes to see the riches around ushers us into deeper intimacy with the Lord because we see Him more clearly as the very good Father that He is! Plus, it’s a really great way to hold onto truth instead of the sway of our emotions!

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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 Flourishing 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 Flourishing!