prodigal

Gospel Day 5 The World

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 103:1-14
Matthew 5:43-45
Romans 8:37-39
1 John 4:8-10
Revelation 5:6-10

Gospel, Day 5

Shocking.
God’s love is shocking.

John 3:16 opens with the earth-shattering phrase, “God so loved the world.”
To those of us who have grown up in the church and can recite this verse by rote memory, the concept may have lost a bit of its punch. In a sermon entitled “God’s Shocking Love,” Pastor Steven Cole helps us reconnect with the power of this passage.

Cole explains that for the original devout Jewish audience, these words turned everything the Jews knew on end. Of course God loved them. After all, they obeyed the Law, made sacrifices to atone for their sins, and were generally as good as good could get.
But God so loved the world??!!

A world that included sinful Jews, those who had slipped in upholding religious minutiae, those who had missed a Sabbath or couldn’t quite afford that sacrifice . . . well, maybe. They were still God’s chosen people, even if they were a bit backslidden.

But a world that included Gentiles?!
Nope.
Absolutely not.
The Jews had spent generations being warned against intermingling with these dogs, failing to listen, and then bearing the punishment of their choices. And now God professed His love for the very people the Jews have been taught to shun?
Madness.

Let’s not forget those who openly opposed Jesus, condemned Him, and even participated in His death. Surely the love of God doesn’t extend quite that far.

And what about us?
Let’s leave our Jewish brethren to scratch their heads for a moment and turn our focus a little closer to home.

Have you ever felt unlovable?
Surveyed the last few months of your life and seen only efforts culminating in repeated failures?
Lost your temper with your kids, or your neighbors, or your co-workers
. . . for the tenth time
. . . since lunch?
Spoken or acted in a way that hurt those for whom you care the most?

At our prickliest, when it seems nothing we do is right or good, when we’re sick to death of being our miserable selves . . .

Does God love us then?

Yes.
Say it out loud with me if you have to.
God. loves. me.

The truth is that the shocking, incomprehensible love of God has nothing to do with our goodness, and everything to do with who He is: God is love.

And therefore He loves us, even at our ugliest.
Like the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32), He sprints to greet us, grinning ear to ear, wrapping His arms around us without giving the slightest thought to the pig poop with which we’re covered, or our past insolence, or the way we’ve done all the bad things.

Devout Jew or Gentile dog, the mostly good, the mostly not good, His sweet mother, the soldier who drove the nails into His flesh . . . He simply loves us.

But the story doesn’t end there.

John 3:16 continues, “that He sent His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

God is love. God is also completely holy and utterly just.
Into that tension slithered our sin.
And in the instant of a single choice,
God’s plan for perfect fellowship with His children was broken.

To uphold His holiness and justice, and to uphold the dignity of human responsibility, God must judge all sin.*

Some of us, as discussed above, are acutely aware of our sin and its resulting judgement.
But what about those who, like the prodigal’s older brother, have done the good things? Perhaps we’ve been in the church, faithfully, for as long as we can remember.
Steered clear of “big” sins.
Maintained a respectful attitude toward God.

Get ready for some serious truth:
the older brother was a BIG OLE HYPOCRITE.
We may have done some of the good things, but no one has done all the good things.
Romans 3:23 drives home that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Furthermore, the wages of sin are death. (Romans 6:23)

Devout Jew or Gentile dog, the mostly good, the mostly not good, His sweet mother, the soldier who drove the nails into His flesh . . . we are all perishing.

But because of His great love, He sent His only Son, who is eternal God in sinless human flesh, to bear the death penalty we all deserve.*

In the face of our sin, His holy justice required separation.
His love moved Him to make a way back.

It’s up to us prodigals to acknowledge our sins and recognize the futility of our own efforts to mitigate their eternal consequences, choosing instead to believe in God and entrust our eternity to the finished work of the cross.

The Father’s love is calling us home.
How will you respond?

*Steven Cole, “Lesson 17: God’s Shocking Love,” www.bible.org.

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Screenshot Day 7 It’s Not Fair: 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 It’s Not Fair!

The Questions

1) What is the context of this passage?

2) What are the sins of the younger son?  What is his attitude toward his father?

3) What are the sins of the older son?  What is his attitude toward his father?

4) What is the attitude of the father toward each of his sons?

Luke 15:20-32

So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’31 “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Original Intent

1) What is the context of this passage?
These verses are the conclusion to the parable of the Prodigal Son.  Jesus tells a story about a man with two sons, the younger of whom asks for his inheritance, then goes away and squanders all of it.  Once the son realizes he has made a huge mistake, he decides to return to his father to apologize and ask to be treated as one of his father’s servants.
There is also a broader context to this verse.  At the beginning of Luke 15, the Pharisees were grumbling against Jesus because they thought it was improper for him to “welcome sinners and eat with them” (verse 2).  In response, Jesus tells three parables about finding something that was lost: the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son.

2) What are the sins of the younger son?  What is his attitude toward his father?
The younger son was overt in his disobedience and selfishness.  He sinned by asking for his inheritance early, which is basically telling the father he valued his father’s stuff more than he valued his father.  He sinned by being foolish with his money and wasting all of it, which involved some sinful practices (v. 30).  In the beginning, his attitude toward the father was sinful and selfish.  But in the end, his attitude toward his father was humble and repentant.  He had decided he would rather work as a servant in the presence of his father than struggle to make his own life apart from him.

3) What are the sins of the older son?  What is his attitude toward his father?
At first, the younger son appears to be the “good” son, since he stayed and served his father when his brother went away.  But these verses give clues to the attitude of his heart.  In verses 29-30, we see that he, too, was more interested in his father’s stuff than his father’s heart.  He didn’t want the fattened calf to be given for his brother, because that calf was part of his inheritance.  He felt more deserving, since he obeyed his father and his brother didn’t.  If he really valued his father, he would have rejoiced with his father.  But since selfishness was in his heart, he could not rejoice at his brother’s return.

4) What is the attitude of the father toward each of his sons?
The father in this story shows great compassion to each of his sons, in different ways.  The younger son had overtly sinned, yet the father forgave him and celebrated his return.  He rejoiced that his son, who had not been a part of his life, had returned to him.  He also showed compassion to his older son.  The older son was also sinful, although less overtly, because of his attitude toward his brother and his father.  Yet the father did not withdraw from him, but gently reminded him of his value and inheritance, and ultimately, of the value of his brother.

Everyday Application

1) What is the context of this passage?
Jesus used this parable to show the Pharisees that we should rejoice when a sinner repents, when a lost person is found!  We can often have the attitude of the older brother, thinking it is unfair that the father’s riches are shared with the overtly sinful. In reality, it’s unfair of God to share His riches with any of us!  It’s good for us to remember that we don’t really want what we deserve, which is death.  We want, and need, God’s mercy and grace.

2) What are the sins of the younger son?  What is his attitude toward his father?
In the context of Chapter 15, the younger son represents the sinners that the Pharisees didn’t think Jesus should eat with.  They were guilty of the sin of licentiousness; that is, doing whatever they want without regard for God.  Do you tend toward the sin of licentiousness?  By your actions, do you tend to tell God you don’t believe His word?  Do you tend to believe you will find more satisfaction in going your own way, rather than loving God, listening to Him, and obeying Him?  Repent, sister, and be free!

3) What are the sins of the older son?  What is his attitude toward his father?
The older son in this parable represents the Pharisees, people who trusted in their rule-following to make them right with God.  This is the sin of legalism.  Do you tend toward the sin of legalism?  In what ways are you tempted to trust in your good-girl status to make you right with God?  Perhaps you add rules and standards, beyond what the Bible says, and look down on those who don’t follow them?  Repent, sister, and be free!

4) What is the attitude of the father toward each of his sons?
The father in this parable represents our Heavenly Father.  Oh praise You, God, for doing all the work of salvation for us, so that we can’t boast about our works!  Praise You for offering the same salvation and inheritance to all of us, whether we tend towards legalism or license.  Praise You for gently rebuking us and reminding us of our value and shared inheritance! Praise You for emphasizing relationship over performance!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with It’s Not Fair!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Tabernacle Day 2 All About Relationship: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

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

The Questions

1) What does it mean to “remain in love” (verse 16)?

2) How is “love made complete” in us
(verse 17)?

3) Why was John addressing a seeming confusion regarding a blend of fear and love (verse 18)?

1 John 4:13-21

This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God – God remains in Him and He in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. 19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.

Original Intent

1) What does it mean to “remain in love” (verse 16)?
Suppose a new home was purchased for you; you became the homeowner on paper, but until you are actually living in the house, you aren’t “dwelling” there. In John’s letter, to “remain” is to “dwell” or “abide”. More than just a title, it’s a way of everyday life. When we ask Jesus to be our Savior from sin, we are made new and “born again” into love. The Holy Spirit is deposited into us and we are the Lord’s and He is ours forever, nothing can take that away. (John 10:28) We are born into love, we are made new in love, we are saved because of love, and we were created to love. When we choose to “abide” or “dwell” or “remain” in love, it first and foremost looks like loving God, then is followed closely with loving others.

2) How is “love made complete” in us (verse 17)?
The Greek for “made complete” here carries the idea of reaching perfection. Whatever has been lacking, is now here in fulfilled perfection, not one piece is missing. John is describing true love here, helping his audience to see how several elements of love, coming in at different times, are all brought together and is made “perfect” or “complete”. God’s love itself is fully perfect; He does not need us to bring perfection to His own love, but He wanted to share His love with us and invite us to experience the perfection of His love. So, God brought love to us by sending Jesus as a sacrifice for our sin. (verse 9). Our receiving of this love is one aspect of experiencing His “perfect love”, but it isn’t until we “remain” in His love, rooting ourselves in it day-in-and-day-out, that we experience His love perfected in us. God’s love, already perfect outside of us, find perfection in us, when we submit to both loving Him and others.

3) Why was John addressing a seeming confusion regarding a blend of fear and love (verse 18)?
The Day of Judgement, a time of reckoning and final justice for all, was on the horizon for John and the churches of his day, just as it is for us. In Jesus’ culture, to please God, there were hundreds of laws to follow. Not obeying them resulted in needing to make sacrifices, be considered unclean, or even, if the offense was significant enough, be cast out from the community of faith and your family. God’s design was for these laws to help the people see their very obvious need for forgiveness because they would never be able to attain to righteousness by obeying laws. Paul says in Romans 9:31-32, “Israel, who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness, did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works.” Israel had missed the point. They missed that it was never about good works, but always about a relationship. John brings his readers back to this point when he ties having “confidence on the Day of Judgement” to the idea that “there is no fear in love.” Following Jesus isn’t about performance or a long list of expectations or a lofty measure of good appearances, but it is about love. Perfect love that casts out fear. Love that invites us into a relationship where we can find freedom from fear right alongside the deep satisfaction of experiencing perfect love!

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to “remain in love” (verse 16)?
What does loving God first and foremost look like? It means intentional and consistent time with Him, reading His Word, having a longing for more of Him, praying, fasting, serving the Body of Christ, and adjusting your life to His rhythms. When we choose to love God as He has loved us, the Holy Spirit awakens our hearts, which again, have been made new, to radically love others. Practically, it looks like living with open hands and open hearts towards others, ready to invest and give ourselves away because we too have been radically loved by the sacrificial Savior! Bottom line: when we choose to love God deeply and love others well, we are flinging wide the door to that home we have been given, which is new life in Christ. Confessing Jesus as Lord doesn’t stop when you finish a prayer, or walk the aisle of a church, it’s only the beginning of what will take eternity to discover….the incredible working out of what it means to ”remain in love”.

2) How is “love made complete” in us (verse 17)?
The rich theology packed into these brief verses in chapter 4 are loaded with priceless treasure. Do yourself a favor and read all of chapter 4 several times in 1 sitting, letting the words run deep into your heart. Write down your questions, allow yourself to be curious! The Lord is inviting you to know Him better! How are you rooting yourself in His love, allowing His Spirit to lead us deeper into what it means to live out a perfected love? When we are committing ourselves to consistently knowing God better and loving others, the Holy Spirit is free to move about in our lives. He teaches us in the little moments and the big ones of everyday life what it means to have complete, perfect love. The more we surrender to His leading on how to love, the more fulfilled and deeply satisfied like never before we will become!

3) Why was John addressing a seeming confusion regarding a blend of fear and love (verse 18)?
Do you wonder if you’ll ever be “good enough” for God? Have you ever considered if God was angry with you? It’s easy to fear something we don’t understand, and it’s even easier to fear judgement when we are already sure that we aren’t good enough to pass. John’s letter is clear, the perfectly loving God is inviting each of us to know Him better, and in that knowing, to discover that, through the sacrificial blood of Jesus that covers our sins when we cling to Him, and Him alone, to be our “good enough”, we are free from fear! Fear has no place in God’s economy of love. If you fear judgement from God, either 1 of 2 realities are at play. Either you haven’t explored enough of God’s character to know how deep and wide His unfathomable love is. Or, you have never truly and genuinely surrendered control of your life over to Him. If you’ve never claimed Him as your personal Savior, the Bible is replete with warnings that yes, you should indeed fear judgement, because it’s only through Jesus that we are free from condemnation. Have questions as we’ve studied these truths today? Explore those! Resist the urge to shove them down. Instead, reach out to a pastor or believing friend, or send us an email here, we’d love to encourage you to keep growing in truth and grace!

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Eve Day 2 Eve of Tomorrow: 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 Eve of Tomorrow!

Romans 8:17-25 English Standard Version (ESV)

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

The Questions

1) What is the significance of being an “heir”?

2) If we are heirs of God, then why do we have so much suffering?

3) How does “all of creation groan”?

The Findings for Intention

1) What is the significance of being an “heir”?
An heir in both Old and New Testament times had weighty implications. Only the firstborn son was eligible to receive the richest inheritance and the fullness of everything his father owned. The eldest would be the sole benefactor of the physical inheritance, not by merit or reputation, but simply by being born. In the same fashion, those who are in Christ are “born again” (John 3:5-6) as being from God with a new heart and a new Spirit, the Spirit of God Himself! Not by merit, not by our righteousness do we earn this standing, rather it is the gift of God (Romans 6:23)! Also unique, is the singular aspect of firstborn. In ancient times, there was one beneficiary. In God’s perspective though, there are countless individual believers, yet there is one Body, one Bride, His Beloved Church (Romans 12:5). This inheritance is ours as the Church!

2) If we are heirs of God, then why do we have so much suffering?
It’s a classic question, and one that no one loves to answer. The root answer is found at the very beginning of time in Genesis 3. Sin. Before sin entered the world, everything was perfect, all was flawless. Relationships. Bodies. Plants. Animals. No disease. No sickness. No death. From the smallest insect to the magnificent human body, no detail was corrupted or broken. But Sin. Sin’s destruction affected everything. All relationships. All bodies, plants, animals, and everything else in creation. When difficulties come barreling at us, it’s life-giving to remember that God did not create these hardships to harm us or break us or make us weep. His original intent was perfect beauty in all things. We cannot escape the effects of sin in our world. But God! Despite the impossible brokenness of our sin, God entered in. He not only suffered with us, but He suffered the eternal consequences of sin for us, that we might have an eternity free from suffering. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

3) How does “all of creation groan”?
As mentioned above, it was not only human relationships that were broken as a result of the original sin. “All of creation” began a steady, insidious decay as a result of Adam’s poor stewardship with creation. Adam, being charged with the care and taking of all creation (Genesis 1:28-30), had ushered it, along with all humanity (Romans 5:12), right into the consequences of sin, which is always death, destruction, and decay. (Romans 6:23) We see other references where “creation” cries out for restoration and redemption in places like Matthew 27:51 when Jesus breathes His last, the earth quakes and rocks split. In Habakkuk 2:11, the stones were said to cry out (figuratively) because of the sin of Israel. In Job 31:38, the land (figuratively) cries out. One glorious day, all will be made right. There will be “a new heaven and a new earth because the old heaven and the old earth (will pass) away.” (Revelation 21:1)

The Everyday Application

1) What is the significance of being an “heir”?
Backing up into the verses preceding this section, we see that those who choose to follow Christ, surrendering their heart to Him completely, God adopts as sons. The sign of this “sonship”, or adoption, (Galatians 3:26) is the very Spirit of the Living God coming to dwell within that person. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the “seal” of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13), marking forever that we belong to the Lord. The overflowing of the Spirit’s work in our lives is the fruit of righteousness that can only genuinely be attributed to the Holy Spirit’s work and not our own (Galatians 5:22-25). Having this Spirit will not only transform us, but will also both guarantee our eternal reward in glory with Christ Jesus as well as guarantee suffering in this life (John 16:33). Even though suffering is a guarantee, how does the knowledge of being a “firstborn heir” change your perspective on the trials in your life? Think about your everyday moments today, how does the truth of who you are and all that is yours through Jesus affect your heart attitude?

2) If we are heirs of God, then why do we have so much suffering?
How do you view suffering? The Lord knows that our suffering here is not even worth comparing to the glory awaiting us. The Lord knows that our suffering here will produce eternal character in our hearts, both drawing us closer to Him as well as allowing us to comfort others and reach them with the gospel. Take time to challenge your own view of suffering! Look up Romans 5:1-5 and read it slowly, taking in the fullness of its meaning and the supreme weight of the coming, eternal glory awaiting those who trust in the Lord! Suffering is not meaningless. Only a very good and sovereign God would be able to take an atrocity like suffering and mold our hearts as we walk through it in order to produce good things in us as a result!

3) How does “all of creation groan”?
The very sure and certain hope of an eternal glory that will neither fade nor pass away nor ever be touched by the death, destruction, and decay of sin is an unshakeable source of comfort and stability! Sin’s effects are inescapable, suffering is a guarantee, brokenness is a fact of life, but in the face of these earthly-bound trials, we must train our hearts to remember the eternal. Take to heart the fact that every single thing about this world will one day be completely gone, like a morning mist, and in its place will stand the immoveable, unshakeable, flawless and fully, beautifully redeemed creation, bodies, and relationship that God intended from the very beginning. It is for this blessed hope that we wait! (1 John 2:15-17)

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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
Eve 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 Eve!

Prodigal Day 11
The Father Who Chose Disgrace

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 15:11-32
John 3:16-21
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
attachment-1-29

The father in the Prodigal Story was wealthy beyond the local’s comprehension.
Think Bill Gates kind of wealthy.
He could have thrown a party worthy of royalty at any point in time, on any given day of the week. He was well-known, respected, and wanted for nothing.
The only thing he had to risk was his reputation. In his small community, where everyone knew everyone else (and their business), there were social lines he couldn’t cross if he wanted to maintain his influential standing.

To help us understand his culture, step with me behind the scenes and dig your toes into the farming community surrounding this tale. Stand shoulder to shoulder in the crowd of faithful, Torah following Jews, and be drawn in to Jesus’ story.

All those laws we read about in Leviticus? They were designed for honor. Honor for family and community. For a son, who was not a first-born, to request his inheritance while his father was alive, was unforgivable. The arrogant one would be brought before his community where the father would literally slap his son across the face, publicly disowning him. It was the absolute lowest a son could go. Furthermore, if the father acquiesced to his son’s arrogance, the father was seen as weak.

The Prodigal ran away to “a distant land” in our story. Which, to the Jews of that day, always meant a Gentile land. At this point in the story, the Jews are already shaking their heads and muttering their disgust, pulling at their beards in shock at the son’s lengths to disgrace his father. Running away to the Gentiles, on top of ignoring the 5th commandment to honor your father and mother? Horrifying. This boy had a villainous heart, prostituting himself to foreign ways and women along with disowning his family and his faith. Irredeemable!

Then, when the audience didn’t think it could get worse, Jesus pushes the envelope even father. The boy, so desperate for food, sinks even lower by working for a Gentile Pig Farmer. Pork was absolutely off-limits. Jews didn’t cook it, eat it, touch it, raise it, smell it. But this boy. He hired himself out to take care of pigs! Worse, because he was literally starving to death, he shared food with the pigs.
To the audience, the boy now became a pig himself. He embodied sin.

Jesus falls silent, allowing the scene He’d just described to take up space in their hearts.
The audience squirms in discomfort.
They are disgusted with the drama being portrayed by Jesus’ lips.
It’s like staring in the eyes of the murderer, the adulteress, the girl who had an abortion, the man trapped in homosexuality, the drunk on the street corner, the spouse caught up in pornography and seeing yourself.

They avert their eyes.
They know that in their hearts, they’ve become the sin-wrecked villain as well.
They know they haven’t kept the whole law.
They know they are greedy.
They know they’ve lusted.
They know they’ve lied.
They know they’ve dishonored the holy God.
The picture Jesus painted was meant to make his audience terribly uncomfortable.
He meant to make us uncomfortable too.

The prodigal’s sin.
Our sin.
It’s the same.
We have each turned away from holy.
Each shunned our Father God.
Each fallen short of God’s perfect standard.

Just as the silence became unbearable, Jesus does the unthinkable,
He describes a willingly disgraceful Father.

You can hear His voice, can’t you? Quivering with emotion, eyes moist at the thought of exactly WHO He was describing here, the heavy knowledge of His own looming sacrifice of love filling up his good Father’s heart.

Jesus deliberates over the details of His Father.
Culturally, a disgraced father would never meet his estranged son face-to-face.
The shame was too significant.
As is our sin in light of His righteousness. Unbearable.

The cultural consequence to disgracing a parent was death by stoning.
And so with us.
The wages of sin is death……

Are you there? Standing in his shoes? Those of the son? Those of the Father? Feeling the weight of sin? The weight of shame?

The story says the Father saw his son “a long ways off”, which, in a world without streetlights, meant broad daylight. The son came home, wrecked by shame, staggering in front of the community and the man he had so thoroughly disgraced. The village was bustling with buyers, sellers, bargaining, and suddenly the filthy son became center stage only to be overshadowed
by a father who ran, publicly, to welcome him with open arms.
Utterly disgraceful.

Again, culturally speaking, a wealthy man of influence would never be seen running anywhere for he would have servants do his bidding.
But God didn’t send a servant to sacrifice for Him, did He? He came HIMSELF.

On top if it, the same opulent dignity would keep the man from raising his robes to reveal bare legs.
But Jesus came, baring all, didn’t He?
Emptying Himself of His rights as God, born naked in a cave, dying naked on a tree of complete shame.
Disgraced.

Tears must have streamed down Christ’s face and His heart must have pounded with emotion as He finished up His story. He saw in His mind’s eye the richest gifts to be given freely to those who would call Him Savior, while putting into words the gifts given to the Prodigal.

Sandals, symbolizing full acceptance as a son because slaves went barefoot; only sons and masters had footwear.
God sent His Son….that we might receive adoption as sons.

A robe, meaning “first-ranking garment”.
The son was clothed in fine linen, which gave him honor while completely covering the filth of his life as a pig-herder.
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.

The ring of authority was as an official re-instatement into the family.
No one could argue with the authenticity of sonship, it was an official, irrevocable seal.
It is God….who has put His seal on us.

The gifts were luxurious.
The reinstatement complete.
The cost was the Father’s reputation….and he gladly paid full price.
Foolish?
To many, yes.
The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.

Weeping.
Embracing.
Rejoicing.
For the son who was once lost, once dead, has returned and is alive!

See the Father’s disgrace and know how great a price He paid for you.
Will you allow him to lavish you with His richest gifts?

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 Prodigal 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 Prodigal!

Prodigal Day 10
The Patient Father

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 15:11-32
Ephesians 3:14-19
1 John 3:1-3patientfather

“Now, just ease your left foot off the clutch and slowly push your right foot against the accelerator. Easy, easy…” my dad cautioned. The car bucked forward and my teeth snapped together across my tongue as the engine died…again. A metallic taste filled my mouth and I blinked back a couple of tears. An impatient-sounding car horn blared behind us and I glanced at my dad.

He smiled. “It’s okay, they’ll wait.  Try again.”

When you are sixteen and learning to drive, stoplights seem to last for an eternity. (Remember sixteen? Everything seems to last for an eternity at that age.) Eternity seems even longer when you are forced to stop while traveling uphill and proceed to kill the manual transmission over…and over…and over again.

I gritted my teeth and put the car back in first. I took a breath, checked to make sure my feet were in the correct position and turned the key. The engine hummed to life. The light turned green and I slowly raised my left foot while lowering my right. The heavy white car jolted forward and I grimaced, but the transmission didn’t falter and we sailed through the intersection.

My dad didn’t have to be patient or kind as I struggled to learn an uphill start in the old white Volvo. He had given me clear instructions numerous times. He had shown me how to slowly trade the clutch for the gas with his own feet. While teaching me to drive, he had risked his very life several times and spent countless hours riding shotgun with me as I drove us down every back road we could find.

He could have pointed out that I was just not getting the hang of the manual transmission… and likely never would.
He could have laughed at my mistake.
He could have humiliated me by angrily ordering me out of the car and taking my place behind the wheel.

But he didn’t.

We can all remember instances when we have messed up. We may have received pointed feedback or correction. We may have been on the receiving end of cutting words or actions. No one responds well to harsh criticism…even when it is deserved. My father could have responded in any number of negative ways.
Instead, he sat calmly beside me, waiting for me to realize what I was getting wrong and how to get it right.

Jesus once spoke of another patient father. A father with two sons.

One son was eager to shed the shackles of responsibility and throw caution to the wind.
The other was determined to follow the letter of the law and prove his loyalty through actions.
Neither was right.

The first son received his inheritance early. Upon receiving the money, he moved far away. He lived it up, partying and living recklessly. He spent money on frivolities and luxuries, never once giving thought to savings or even his own survival. Suddenly and not-so-suddenly, the son found himself completely destitute and scrounging for food among the filthiest livestock.
Desperate, he returned to his father, expecting to be treated as a servant.

The other son stayed behind, determined to earn his father’s love. He worked. He helped his father with the family land. He never squandered a dime of his portion of the inheritance. While his actions seem pure, his heart posture was lacking.

The father could have ignored the first son’s pleas.
He could have allowed his son a place among the servants while withholding his affection.
He could have responded to either son with indignation, anger or frustration.
He could have berated the second son for his pride, calling into question his motives.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he ran to his long-lost son. He embraced him joyfully and called for all to join in a huge celebration to welcome his son home. He was sincere in his jubilance that his long-lost son had returned!

Instead, he gently and lovingly corrected the son who remained behind. With a soft response, he steered his proud son toward humility.

In each picture, we see an incredible portrayal of God’s Father-love for His children. We have all sinned.
Not one of us is perfect.
We all mess up, but when we return to Him and ask forgiveness,
He joyously gives it! He doesn’t withhold His affections or blessings from us because of our sin. No!
He welcomes us with open arms.
Rejoicing, He calls us new.
Clean. Beautiful. Forgiven.

Through Jesus’s sacrifice, the filth that once clung to our robes is gone and we are free to dance and twirl in His presence.

We may not all share the memory of a patient father in the earthly realm, but in the parable of the prodigal son Jesus depicts the Father-heart of God for us.
We see that His heart is welcoming, giving, rejoicing and forgiving.
He does not wait with judging eyes and furrowed brow.
He waits for us with joy, love, compassion and forgiveness.
We have only to return to Him.

The patient Father is waiting for us, ready to sweep us off our feet and celebrate our return with wild abandon.

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
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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 Prodigal Week Two! 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 Prodigal!

Prodigal Day 9
The Gift of Inheritance: 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 Post? Check out The Gift of Inheritance!

Isaiah 64:4-9 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.
5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,
those who remember you in your ways.
Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;
in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
6 We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7 There is no one who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.
8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
9 Be not so terribly angry, O Lord,
and remember not iniquity forever.
Behold, please look, we are all your people.

The Questions

1) What does verse 4 tell us about how the God of Israel is different from other gods?

2) What does verse 5 tell us about the kind of heart God desires from his servants?

3) What do verses 6 and 7 tell us about our condition before God?

4) What do verses 8 and 9 tell us about God’s heart toward his people?

The Findings for Intention

1) What does verse 4 tell us about how the God of Israel is different from other gods?
In Isaiah’s day, the nations all around Israel worshipped many false gods. These gods were thanked for good things and blamed for bad things, but in reality, they had no power to do anything—good or bad. And these false gods certainly couldn’t come to the aid of their people. The true God of Israel was (and is) completely different from any other god—not only does He have the power to act, but He cares about His people and has the will to help them, more than they could know or imagine.

2) What does verse 5 tell us about the kind of heart God desires from his servants?
This verse says that God meets the person who does righteous works joyfully. He is not looking for people who serve Him out of heartless duty or obligation. He wants His servants to remember Him—to have hearts that love Him and act righteously out of that love. This verse also points to how God can only have a relationship with those who are righteous. The following verses remind us again that we are sin-filled beings and asks, “how can we be saved?” Without Christ’s sacrifice, sin separates us permanently from a relationship with the righteous God.

3) What do verses 6 and 7 tell us about our condition before God?
Isaiah prophesied to the Nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, who time and time again had fallen back into sin and failed to remember God’s goodness toward them. These verses talk about how everyone has sinned and turned away from God, and even their righteous deeds are polluted with sin. This applies to the ancient Israelites, and to us in our present day (Romans 3:23).

4) What do verses 8 and 9 tell us about God’s heart toward his people?
Isaiah lived during the time of the kings of Israel, most of whom didn’t serve God, and it was a time where Israel was experiencing judgment for their unrighteousness. Although this judgment was deserved, Isaiah was asking for mercy toward the people God had created and chosen. Isaiah uses the metaphor of a potter to show that the Israelites are God’s creation, the work of His hands, and to ask God to remember them. God is so faithful to the ones He has created and called.

The Everyday Application

1) What does verse 4 tell us about how the God of Israel is different from other gods?
Idolatry looks different today than it did in Isaiah’s day, but it is still very present. We no longer carve our gods from wood or stone, but we constantly seek to serve things that have no power to really help us with what we truly need. What is your idol of choice right now? Are you looking to money/relationships/status/etc. to alleviate your suffering or bring you happiness? Confess the sin of idolatry and turn back to the one true God who is the only one who can help you with what you really need. Ultimately, our biggest idol is self-sufficiency and pride as we believe that we are able to save ourselves for eternity or somehow earn righteous ranking with the Holy God of the universe. Here, Isaiah urges us to remember that the incredible God acts righteously for those who hide themselves in Him.

2) What does verse 5 tell us about the kind of heart God desires from his servants?
Like the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son, our faithful service to God can actually lack a heart of affection for the Father. We can get so caught up in duty and good works that we forget the One for whom we are working! Women, let’s pray for joyful hearts that serve God out of gladness—and let’s love the Father for who He is. His salvation frees us to live and love boldly. If loving others is burdensome, we have forgotten how deeply we have been loved. We need to remember the depths of our sin and how utterly impossible it is to be righteous without Christ.

3) What do verses 6 and 7 tell us about our condition before God?
Apart from Christ, we are lost in our sin, and even our good works are tainted. Verse 7 is especially descriptive as it says, “there is no one…who rouses himself to take hold of You”. We are totally and entirely incapable of attaining even a drop of righteousness. But praise God that He has not left us in this hopeless condition! He offers us salvation, the help of the Holy Spirit, and a promised inheritance to come. If you have not yet accepted this free gift from God, surrender to Him today!

4) What do verses 8 and 9 tell us about God’s heart toward his people?
God is our Creator, He knit us together in our mothers’ wombs (Psalm 139:13), and we are his workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). It breaks His heart to see His creation acting against Him. Although He is just and has wrath toward sin, He is eager to restore us to all we were originally designed to be. Will you let Him re-make you, sister in Christ? Will you yield control to His leading and allow yourself to be conformed to His likeness?

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 Prodigal 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 Prodigal!

Prodigal Day 8
The Gift of Inheritance

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 15:11-32
Ephesians 5:1-2
Romans 3:21-28
Isaiah 64:2-7 attachment-1-31

I’d heard the story of the Prodigal Son my whole life, but, honestly, I really didn’t like it. Sure, it was a nice story, but it was completely irrelevant to me.
I didn’t have a concrete example of what a father’s love looked like, at least not the kind represented by the tale Jesus told. My dad didn’t run to me, stand up for me, or go out on a limb for me….and in my mind, he didn’t need to, I was strong enough on my own.

I was the oldest son.
I was the hard worker behind the scenes, never getting noticed.
I was the over-achiever always hoping for a good word, but never receiving it.
I was the one giving 120%, but never being enough for “dad” going “all-out” for me.
And then, when the “prodigal” actually showed up, which in my case was anyone who caught my dad’s attention instead of me, I was the jealous one.
They got the party, but I was the one who worked hard.
They got the love, but I was the one who was deserving.
They had foolishly spent everything, while I carefully horded every cent, never asking for anything.
And grace was lavished on the Prodigal?!
Yeah, I wasn’t really a fan of the story.

Until, I understood that, yes, the story was about me….more than I realized.

The truth is that Jesus told the story of the prodigal son to a bunch of Pharisees, caught up in all that they had accomplished,
all they could boast about,
all they were deserving of,
all their pride from never asking for a thing, but rather depending on themselves.
I was the Pharisee.
This story was told for me.
To point me to True Love and show me how much I had been missing because I was too caught up in looking at all my work.

For the boy who returned home, freedom was found when fake came off.
Redemption and true relationship was available to both sons, but only one had the realization that he was dirt poor without the inheritance of love.

As Are We, Sisters!
Dirt poor without Jesus’ love.

No works.
No good deeds.
No mask of artificial awesomeness.
Just.
Simply.
Broken.

Standing in the middle of a pig field was as disgraceful as you could get for a good Jew who couldn’t touch pork, let alone stand in the same field as live bacon and feed them slop. But that’s exactly where that young man stood as he stared in the face of his own brokenness and utter disgrace against his father.
His body caked in mud.
His heart rotten with the cost of sin he could never repay.
He knew he was unworthy.
He knew he deserved nothing.

Can you see yourself standing with him?
Face to face with your own sin?
Lies.
Cheating.
Gossip.
Anger.
Pride.
Jealousy.
I know it’s uncomfortable.
I know it isn’t pretty.
But, like the boy in our story, unless we hold in our hands the ugliness of our sin and take in the magnitude of how far away we are from a holy God, we can’t see His forgiveness as the grand gift that it really is.
The rich inheritance God offers us isn’t valuable.
Again, like that wayward son, take your broken, take the knowledge of “not enough”, and
run home, Beloved, run home!

The Father’s inheritance awaits.
His grace awaits.
His wealthy goodness and richest love awaits.
HE waits, with arms open wide.

He hasn’t been holding out on you, but maybe, just maybe, you’ve been living without the inheritance and freedom He has already adopted you with because you haven’t been willing to accept it.

Stop trying to hold on to all you can do on your own because, let’s face it, it’s pig slop compared to what Jesus can do in you. Stop looking down at the grace given to others because you feel they don’t deserve it.
Remember that neither of you deserve it.

Instead, reach out for the inheritance that’s right in front of you.
The unconditional, unfathomable love of a Father God.
A love that forgives everything.
A love that allows you to love others the way you have been loved.
That’s true, lasting inheritance.
That’s worth running home for.

Yes, the story of the prodigal son was about me.
It’s about you too.
But it wasn’t for my shame or to feed my arrogance.
This story points to the heart of a good Daddy who loves deeper than I could possibly ever know. A love I want to remember to wrap myself up in every single day because my God has blessed me with an inheritance that can never be earned or lost.
It’s a gift!

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 Prodigal 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 Prodigal!

Prodigal Day 7
Below The Birthright: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

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 Post? Check out Below The Birthright!

Romans 8:12-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

The Questions

1) What is meant by the word “flesh” in this passage?

2) What is the evidence that we are children of God?

3) What are the results of having the Spirit of God in us?

4) What does it mean that we must suffer with Christ in order to be glorified?

The Findings for Intention

1) What is meant by the word “flesh” in this passage?
“Flesh” in this passage refers to our sin nature, the old self, bent towards sin, and opposing God. When Christ died for our sins, he saved us from the penalty of sin (eternal separation from God in a literal place called hell), but also from the power of sin. We are new creations, and we now have the power, through the Holy Spirit, to stop sinning and to walk in holiness.

2) What is the evidence that we are children of God?
Verse 14 says that those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. Verse 15 says that we have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, and verse 16 tells us that the Spirit bears witness that we are children of God. The presence of God’s Holy Spirit living in us is evidence that we are God’s children. For some examples of what this looks like, check out Galatians 5:22-23.

3) What are the results of having the Spirit of God in us?
According to these verses, if we have the Spirit, we will have confidence in our status before God as sons and heirs. This confidence keeps us from the fear that makes us slaves to our flesh (meaning sin). The Spirit gives us the power to put to death the deeds of the body (that is, our sin)!

4) What does it mean that we must suffer with Christ in order to be glorified?
“Glorified” means to be free from the presence of sin when we are with Christ in heaven. At first, this might seem like a condition to our salvation—you must suffer in order to earn glorification. But this can’t be the correct interpretation, because that would mean that our salvation was based on something we do instead of completely by grace. Suffering is not a condition of our salvation, but our willingness to endure and persevere through it is evidence that we are truly saved. A true Christian can fix their eyes on Christ and the glory that is promised and endure whatever sufferings may come on this earth.

The Everyday Application

1) What is meant by the word “flesh” in this passage?
After surrendering our wills to Christ and giving Him lordship instead of Satan, we are no longer debtors to the flesh, meaning we owe the Enemy nothing. We do not need to follow our sinful desires, because we are led by the Spirit. It is His work in us that frees us from fear that keeps us enslaved to sin!

2) What is the evidence that we are children of God?
Although the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life is evidence of our salvation, we don’t need to waste time trying to “feel” His presence in us as proof that He is there. Everyone who calls on Jesus Christ for salvation has the Holy Spirit living in them. Guaranteed! Sometimes, we “feel” the Spirit as He comforts us, convicts us, or leads us. But many times, His work is more subtle, developing fruit in us over time. (Galatians 5:22-23)

3) What are the results of having the Spirit of God in us?
Are you living in the freedom that Christ offers, freedom from fear and slavery to sin? If you have trusted Christ for salvation, then you are adopted into God’s family and you are given the power of the Holy Spirit to help you choose what pleases God. Ask God to help you be completely convinced of your security in Him!

4) What does it mean that we must suffer with Christ in order to be glorified?
Are you facing any suffering because you identify with Christ? Perhaps a relationship is broken or strained, you are facing hostility from co-workers, or something even more drastic? Take heart! God has the power to change our present situations, but even if He doesn’t, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

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