evangelism

Seeds Day 15 Outside The Lines

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 10:9-33
Acts 10:34-43
Acts 10:44-48
Romans 5:1-11

Seeds, Day 15

Parenting is all about navigating new territory on a continually shifting landscape.
Parenting teens is that description to the nth degree.
Nothing ever stays the same. (well, rarely every)
The moment you feel you have it figured out, everything is new. Throw in vocabulary that also changes by the day, making you feel like you’ve walked into a new culture by the minute, and parenting feels like a whirlwind.

Like….
Skirrrt those nasty pickles, but the fries are dope.
That dude’s party was lit, but I was so salty when no one liked my dessert.
There ya’ go, that’s the tea sis!
But I’ll stop now before ya’ll think I’m cringy. 🙂

One constant (at least mostly) for my oldest son has been his affinity for “good” music. While our definitions of “good” are pretty different most days, it’s a conversation we can have any time, any day. My son is a deep thinker, always looking at things from a unique perspective, which pairs well with my theological core as I love to slow down and think through the roots and implications of a small part connected to a bigger picture. He and I have spent countless conversations listening to lyrics, hitting pause, and then poking at the words for what they really mean instead of just drinking them in.
“Mom, I have a new song for you.”
“What about these words, Mom, what do you think he is thinking?”

Sometimes, he’s surprised that a favorite song of his actually has a meaning he didn’t expect, and sometimes, I’m surprised (and encouraged) by the songs he chooses to share.

Today was one of those surprises.
For me.

It was another daily drive to gymnastics, and another playlist. A couple of songs, a couple of thoughts, and then one he hadn’t shared before played, arresting my attention from the first note to the last.

I met Craig at a church called Redeeming Grace
It’s like he understood my “I don’t want to be here” face
I felt out of place and I smelled like beer
But he just shook my hand, said “I’m glad you’re here”
He says, “we’ll all be judged”
But he was never judgmental.

As Walker Hayes crooned on and the images he painted came to life in my mind, all I could see were all the “Craigs” I knew, all the times I’d seen my husband be “Craig”, how my own heart beat passionately to be “Craig”, and how Jesus calls each and every believer to be Craig.

I still ain’t figured out church yet
But Craig, I get
Nah he can’t walk on water, turn the Napa Valley red
But he just might be tight with a man that did
Now he’s not the light of the world
But I wish that mine was bright as his
Yeah, he just might be tight with a man that is.

Girls, Craig gets it!
He knows the truth of Jesus, he has been transformed and renewed by the deepest of graces found in the forgiving, sacrificial blood of Jesus spilled on his behalf.
Craig is indeed “tight with the man” who is The Redeemer.
And he knows redemption is meant for all.

Jesus is the Rescuer
for teenage boys who think they get it all, but are struggling to find themselves.

Jesus is the Rescuer
for teenage girls who change their friend groups like they change their clothes, wondering what they were made for.

Jesus is the Rescuer
for the one sitting on the edge of his bed, pills in hand, feeling he’s worthless and without value.

Jesus is the Rescue for….
the tattoo artist whose fingers smell like drugs,
the girl who vapes at the park so her parents won’t find out,
the husband who can’t stop looking at porn or justifying his glances,
the woman at the gym who goes home to a husband who “owns” her,
the mom who hides her food addiction, wondering if she will always feel shallow and ugly,
the guy who cusses loud and shamelessly as he makes your coffee,
the girl who writes this Journey with tears gathering because she knows
she’s just like all of them.

See, Jesus came to push us outside of our pretty little lines.
He gives us the permanent marker of His love, grace, and truth, and says, “go to all, exclude none.”

Go Outside The Lines

Peter had been redeemed years earlier.
He thought he had this Jesus-life pretty figured out. He’d learned first-hand what it looked like to live out love as he literally walked beside Jesus. He watched His Savior be crucified, and was breathless when he realized the tomb was now empty and Death was defeated. The Holy Spirit had indwelt him and given him powerful boldness to reach thousands with the gospel.
He knew all of that, but The Redeemer intended more.

The Lord gave Peter a vision, commanding him,
“Do not call common what God has made clean.” (Acts 10:15)
In essence, “Stop pushing others away and automatically excluding them from My redemption because of your predetermined judgment lines.

Sisters, let’s decide to live out our days asking, “what if we colored outside the lines?”.
Like Craig.
Like Peter.
Like Jesus, who died for us while we kept on loving our sin more than the Savior.

We don’t walk on water, but because we are tight with the One who did,
we can love beyond our lines!

“Did you like that one, Mom? I picked it just for you.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I liked that one, and I’m not even salty we listened to your music all the way here.”
“Salty?!”, with eyebrows raised. “Wow, Mom…well played!”.

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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 Seeds Week Three! 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 Seeds!

Chase Day 4 Say Yes: 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 Say Yes!

Matthew 28:16-20 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Questions

1) What is the context of these verses, and what is its significance?

2) What does the “therefore” in verse 19 point to?

3) What does “behold” mean?  How does that word add to our understanding of verse 20?

The Findings for Intention

1) What is the context of these verses, and what is its significance?
These verses are recorded at the very end of the book of Matthew.  Jesus has completed His earthly ministry, fulfilled His mission to die for our sins and rise from the grave, and has spent 40 days appearing to many witnesses.  He then gathered His disciples in one place and gave them this charge, right before ascending into heaven.  It is significant that these are the final words Jesus spoke while on earth—these are the last things He wanted His disciples to know and remember.

2) What does the “therefore” in verse 19 point to?
“Therefore” indicates that the previous statement gives a reason for the following statement.  So, because Jesus says, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me“ we are commanded to “go and make disciples.”  Jesus’s authority enables our disciple-making.

3) What does “behold” mean?  How does that word add to our understanding of verse 20?
“Behold” means “look, see.”  It emphasizes the point being made.  Jesus has just given us the Great Commission, and he wants us to pause and take note of the fact that He is with us always!  It makes obeying the Great Commission possible.

The Everyday Application

1) What is the context of these verses, and what is its significance?
Knowing that these are the last words Jesus spoke to His followers underscores their importance—and it should motivate our obedience.  Sister, are you concerned about making disciples?  Do you believe that all authority belongs to Christ, and that He is with you? How are you currently involved in making disciples? In what specific ways can you grow in this?

2) What does the “therefore” in verse 19 point to?
If Jesus has all authority on heaven and on earth, then He has authority even over peoples’ hearts!  It is not ultimately our presentation of the Gospel, or the persuasiveness of our apologetics, or the fervency of our prayers that win people to Christ (although those things are important to consider).  It is Christ Himself who works through us to reveal Himself to people.  That fact can take away our fear of sharing the gospel—someone’s heart response to the gospel ultimately doesn’t depend on me!

3) What does “behold” mean?  How does that word add to our understanding of verse 20?
When you feel fear creeping in, when you feel inadequate to share Christ, when you’re overwhelmed by the mountain of obstacles that seem to stand between people and Christ, behold.  Behold that Christ is with you always!  Pause and remind yourself, dear sister, that the One who created the world, who loved you enough to bear your sins on the cross, is with you, and let that truth chase your fears away.

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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
Chase 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 Chase!

Chase Day 3 Say Yes

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 28:18-20
Philippians 4:13
Jonah 1:1-3

Can I tell you a secret?

Let me warn you, sister, it’s not pretty.
But it’s real.
And I have a sneaking suspicion a few of you might share this particular secret.

Deep breath.

I’ve spent most of my walk with Jesus terrified.
Terrified of sharing Him with those who may not know Him.
Terrified that my lack of knowledge will keep me from adequately explaining or defending the gospel.
Terrified to make a spectacle of myself. Wearing sandwich boards and yelling from street corners isn’t for me . . . and surely, that’s what evangelism means, right?
Terrified of the judgement of others. “You’re too quiet,” I’ve been told. “Jesus can’t work through quiet, shy people.” I’ve been afraid that my words (or lack of the right ones) might even push someone away from Him.

My fears led me to believe that sharing Jesus was for other people.
Bible scholars.
Those with more courage.
Those with better words.

But His Word insists that the Great Commission isn’t just for other people.
It’s for me.

But the fear. It paralyzed me.
You too?

We’re not alone. If we take a peek at Jonah, we find a guy who really, REALLY gets it.

Most of us know how the story begins: God sends Jonah on a mission to deliver His word to the people of Nineveh.
No big deal, right?

Here’s where it gets interesting: Nineveh was a chief city of the Assyrians. Now the Assyrians were some seriously. bad. guys. If there was a way to live cruelly, immorally, and with basest savagery, the Assyrians perfected it. And if you were unlucky enough to find yourself in battle against them, you’d better hope you died in the fighting. I’m gonna’ do those of you like me, with an active imagination, a solid and spare you the graphic details; suffice it to say the Assyrians turned humiliation, torture, and death of their enemies into an art form.

With that in mind, let’s imagine:

“Hey, buddy,” God says, settling on the ground next to Jonah. “I have a job for you. Those Ninevites . . . yikes. I need you to head over there and tell them that they’re doing it all wrong. There are gonna’ be serious consequences unless they make big changes.”

Jonah blinks a few times, swallows, and rises to his feet as nonchalantly as possible. “Yeah, um, I’ll get right on that,” he mumbles, avoiding eye contact.

And then he takes off in the opposite direction, as fast as his sandals, and his terror, can carry him.

God watches Jonah disappear into the distance. “Kiddo,” He whispers to His fleeing child, “You can’t outrun my love. I’ll be with you always. We can do this.”

Days pass. Huddled in a corner on the lower deck of a boat in the center of an epic storm, Jonah shrinks from the enraged stares of the ship’s crewmen. “It’s . . .” he licks his dry lips and tries again. “It’s me. The storm is because of me. I’m running from God.”

Jonah hangs his head.
The death he sought to escape is upon him, what’s somehow worse is the ache in his gut from ignoring God’s call.

Resting a hand on Jonah’s slumped shoulder,
God leans in.
“I’m here, child. You can’t outrun my love. I’m with you always. We can do this.”

A few more hours find Jonah floating on partially-digested fish food, dodging jets of stomach acid, and trying to breathe through his mouth. Bobbing alongside him, God lifts a finger to Jonah’s chin, gently tips Jonah’s face up to meet His gaze. “I’m here, my precious one. You can’t outrun my love. I’m with you always. We can do this.”

And this time, His words break something inside of Jonah. Hope begins to build. Maybe he can carry out God’s purpose for him, after all. Maybe he isn’t wise enough, or brave enough, or enough of a wordsmith.
Maybe Jonah isn’t enough.

But God is!

So Jonah says yes.

What about us, sisters?

Jonah had every valid reason to fear the Assyrians.
The fears silencing us as first-worlders may look different from Jonah’s, but are no less real.
The fear of judgement.
The fear of failure, or disappointment.
The fear of not being wise enough, or brave enough, or well-spoken enough.
Of not being enough.

But God is enough.

And the same promise He made to Jonah, He has already made to us!
 “I’m here, my sweet girl. You can’t outrun my love. I am with you always. We can do this.”

A few years ago, I learned a new way to think about evangelism:
Share Jesus, generously and always.*
Those words broke something inside of me.
Hope began to build.
Maybe I could carry out God’s purposes for me, after all.

He’s not asking me to defend the gospel with academic precision.
He’s not asking me to make a spectacle of myself, or drag unwilling bystanders into repentance.
He’s not asking me to have exactly the right words, or change my quiet personality.
He’s not asking me to be enough.

He IS asking me to believe that He is enough,
and to say yes.

When I’m chatting with another mom and she shares the hard things she’s facing, instead of trotting out my usual “I’ll be thinking of you,” He might ask me to pray for her, right then and there.

When a friend loses a family member, instead of posting the requisite “Let me know if I can help” and then forgetting about it, He might nudge me to call her on the way to the grocery store and ask what I can grab for her.

When I encounter someone who looks or sounds or thinks differently than me, He might remind me to look her in the eye, smile, and offer a kind word or a hug.

And maybe, when I encounter a heart-broken mama, where I too have been heartbroken, I can tell her that I know how she feels, because I’ve felt that way too. And then I can tell her about my very sure and certain hope!
Because that’s generous.
That’s being always ready.
That’s biblical evangelism.

Say yes with me, Sisters!

*Concept taken from 3DM.

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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 Chase 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 Chase!

Flourishing Day 15
Speak Life

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Proverbs 18:21
Philippians 2:14
Colossians 4:6
Ephesians 4:25-32
2 Timothy 4  

Preach the gospel. Be ready, whether you are uncomfortable or at ease. Be patient in guiding, correcting and encouraging your people with sound truth from the Word.

I paraphrase, but Paul’s words to Timothy are clear. As we finish the book of II Timothy, a few points stand out to us. We know that Paul was writing to Timothy, a young leader in the church. While each of us may be involved in serving our own churches in various ways or functions, it is doubtful that every one of us would consider ourselves to be “church leaders.” However, if we have accepted Christ, did He not issue the Great Commission to us, too? “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” To quote a certain youth pastor I know, no matter my occupation, “I am a full-time minister of the gospel!” And if you have given your life to Jesus, so are you. Paul’s instruction to Timothy is with regard to how he should approach discipling those entrusted to his leadership, but his words ring true for us as well.

Preach the gospel. The reason this charge causes many of us to squirm is because our experience in seeing others “preach the gospel” outside the church building resembles the man on the corner with a sandwich board sign held high for all to see. Or the “holier-than-thou” acquaintance posting religion-charged political posts into the void that is Facebook. If we, who already love and know Jesus, are turned off by this, how much more alienated are our pre-believing friends and family? The gospel is first and foremost about inviting others into relationship, just as God invited us into relationship with Him through Jesus’ sacrifice.

As we examine our own lives, can we say that we are walking that out? Are we living a life of invitation to others? I’m not talking about other believers here. Are we finding ways to intentionally connect with and build relationship with those in the world around us who don’t yet know Christ so we might live out the gospel by being Christ to them? And once we find those ways…are we putting them into action?

Be ready, whether you are uncomfortable or at ease. Ya’ll, we will be uncomfortable. Jesus guaranteed it. Loving is not self-serving. It requires time, effort, intention, selflessness…all things that require us to drop the mindset of our culture, get out of our comfort zone and focus on putting the needs of others first.

Be patient in guiding, correcting and encouraging your people with sound truth from the Word. In this age of constant connectivity, instant gratification and endless knowledge only a Google search away, patience is quickly becoming a rarity. Aside from all that, every parent or teacher will agree that repeating the same thing over and over again can be exhausting. Frustration threatens to rush in when we repeat the same instruction or admonishment, only to find that those we thought were listening…weren’t really listening at all. Paul’s instruction shows us that we are not only to be patient with those we disciple, but we are also to encourage them with the solid Truth of the Word. Rather than grumbling or complaining, we are to speak the Word of life into those around us.

Did you catch that? Mouse over that link again.

Do everything without grumbling or complaining.

Dishes, laundry, cleaning the bathroom
Homework, chores, mowing the yard
Change dirty diapers,
answering endless toddler questions,
tripping over the 1000th Lego block,
responding to last minute inconveniences,
receiving unexpected guests,
or listening to our spouse’s long-winded story

E v e r y t h i n g.

Love inconveniences us because it isn’t about us. As we learn to flourish in love and how to speak life into those around us, we must also examine whether or not we are serving others without grumbling or complaining even in our own minds. Can we say that we willingly approach everything we do without grumbling or complaining? Does our inner dialogue reflect a servant’s heart…or a selfish one?

As we approach discipling with a new awareness of our heart posture, let’s take time this week to note the times when we begin to grumble or complain to ourselves. Rather than allow that to continue, let’s make a point to begin thanking God in place of those complaints. As we begin to choose an attitude of praise in the face of our discomfort, His heart for others will begin to flourish inside us.

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

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 Flourishing Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Passionate Day 12
It Is Finished: 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 It Is Finished!

John 19:30 & Genesis 3:15 English Standard Version (ESV)

John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Genesis 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”

The Questions

1) What is finished?

2) What is enmity and who is the “you” referencing?

3) Who is the “he” and what does it mean to “bruise your head”?

4) What does it mean to “bruise his heel”?

The Findings for Intention

1) What is finished?
Jesus had been sent for a specific purpose; to ransom Himself for our souls in order to restore a broken relationship caused by sin. This “sending” was a plan for redemption that had been promised since sin first entered the world with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Ever since that first promise of a coming Savior, God had used leaders, judges, kings, and prophets to continually remind His people that Redemption was indeed coming. Sin entered the human race, Death ruled, but with Jesus’s perfect, flawless sacrifice, He covered our sin making atonement for us. Something we could never do on our own. When Jesus died, the debt to sin was paid in full. The work was finished.

2) What is enmity and who is the “you” referencing?
“Enmity” is defined as hatred. We use the word “hate” for a lot of things in our culture. (“I hate beets”, for example) But that usage comes nowhere near this definition. Enmity is a chasm so expansive, it’s impossible to span because the hatred is incomprehensibly vast.
The “you” is referring to Satan, which we can tell if we back up a few verses. God is speaking directly to Satan here, and putting him under a curse for his deception.

3) Who is the “he” and what does it mean to “bruise your head”?
“He” refers to the offspring of Eve, who would one day be Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the victor, having the final word in this epic battle for righteousness and evil. He wins that battle by “bruising (or crushing)” the head of Satan. Just as we kill a physical serpent by crushing its head, so Jesus Christ would utterly defeat death by crushing the head of Satan with His own death and resurrection victory! Furthermore, one coming day, Jesus will banish Satan forever to Hell, or the Lake of Fire in Revelation 20:10, where He will remain for eternity!

4) What does it mean to “bruise his heel”?
In God’s cursing of Satan, is hidden this great and precious promise of One who would come to crush Satan’s head, but it carried a cost. Satan would bruise the Savior’s heel. The Enemy would bruise Christ’s heel at the cross with physical pain and unfathomable relational and spiritual anguish as He carried the burden for our sins on Himself.

The Everyday Application

1) What is finished?
In our society, we like to see things through to the finish line. Get ‘er done, and get ‘er done right. “Pull yourself up by your bootstrap” mentality provides a good work ethic, but terrible theology. Meaning that we simply cannot accomplish enough to be “good enough” for God’s standard, which is flawless perfection. On the cross, Jesus finished for us what we couldn’t even begin to do. For those who ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, we are free from all guilt and condemnation because of Christ’s finished work on the cross. Evaluate time when you are tempted to “strive to be good enough”. Remember that Jesus already has finished it! For a deeper look, read Romans 5:12-21.

2) What is enmity and who is the “you” referencing?
If “enmity” is hatred on steroids to the nth degree, what picture does it paint for you when you realize that “enmity” exists between every human being and God because of sin? You and I are impossibly lost without a Savior. In fact, Scripture says that God’s wrath is upon us because of our sin. There is only one remedy for this enmity, and that is peace with God through the precious blood of Christ! Have you surrendered your everything to Him? Are you watching for others who haven’t made that decision? Life and death hang in the balance for each of us, what will we do with Jesus?

3) Who is the “he” and what does it mean to “bruise your head”?
Just as Jesus held all victory over sin and death through His death and resurrection, so do we as Christ-followers hold that same victory over the Enemy in our everyday lives. Satan has no rule and reign in our hearts and lives! True, sometimes believers choose to fall into temptation and live like we don’t have victory, but it doesn’t change the reality of what is 100% ours in Christ. Revelation 12:11 victoriously proclaims, “And they (believers) have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” We conquer the Enemy by declaring the work of Jesus in our lives. We push back on Satan’s advances by boldly declaring our testimony, our story, our hope in Jesus Christ. Where do you need to take back ground that you’ve given over to the Enemy? Remember whose you are!

4) What does it mean to “bruise his heel”?
As Christ followers, we too have a cost to following Him. The wounds of Christ show up in our lives as persecution. Spurned or rejected by family members or friends, ridicule or mockery for “believing” or “going to church” or even for making lifestyle choices that look different because you’ve chosen Jesus. Just as the New Testament believers did, rejoice in your sufferings for following Christ, not because you’re glad for suffering, but because you’ve been counted worthy of suffering for and with Him! (2 Thessalonians 1:5)

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
Passionate 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.

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