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Reveal Day 4 Heartache’s Hope: 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 Heartache’s Hope!

The Questions

1) Who has been anointed and sent in these verses?

2) What needs rebuilding, restored and renewed in verse 4?

3) Who is Isaiah addressing in these verses?

Isaiah 61:1-4

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

Original Intent

1) Who has been anointed and sent in these verses?
There is speculation on who the speaker of these verses could be, but what is clear is their connection to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 6:1-8 paints the remarkable picture of Isaiah’s calling. He was willing to go and speak as the Lord’s mouthpiece to His people, Israel. God had anointed Isaiah to go and do the work of the Lord because Isaiah was willing. In the first half of Isaiah the prophet foretells the judgment to come against Israel, but this section of Isaiah provides flourishing hope. The prophecy proclaims a time yet to come when Israel would be taken captive by Babylon, but then delivered from their captivity. However, Isaiah’s good news does not end there; He is also telling of a time when Jesus would walk on earth and forever release God’s people as captives through His sacrifice on the cross as He would take the penalty of our sin on Himself. Centuries later, Jesus quoted Isaiah’s words in Luke 4:18-19 proclaiming that the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words had finally transpired. Regardless of whether the speaker is actually Isaiah, the hope-filled message declaring a coming Rescuer is certain. There is a promise of a future blessing for God’s people, and Jesus adds a new layer of promise to these verses when He comes in fullness as God and man.

2) What needs rebuilding, restored and renewed in verse 4?
Isaiah prophesied of the coming destruction of both the Northern and Southern Kingdom of Israel. The Assyrians would take Israel, the Northern Kingdom, captive in 722 BC and Babylon would conquer Judah, the Southern Kingdom, in 586 BC. Jerusalem would be destroyed, and God’s people would be dispersed. However, captivity and destruction were not the final destiny of God’s people. God had no intention of abandoning His promise to Abraham generations before, but instead uses the destruction and captivity to usher in a time of spiritual renew for His people. Isaiah tells of a time when Israel would be restored to glory both as a city and as His people. They would no longer be a place of ruin and destruction but a thriving people chosen for His purpose. Nehemiah tells the story of a portion of this rebuilding as he leads the re-building of Israel’s wall and the city begins to be reestablished. Later, the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell of the ultimate restoration when Jesus is born through the promised bloodline of Judah and King David.

3) Who is Isaiah addressing in these verses?
Isaiah was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom. He prophesied the punishment coming to Judah because of their sinful rebellion against God. The entire book, not just this section, is a call for Judah to return to God as His people while also telling of the coming Messiah through His people just as He had long ago promised to Abraham. These verses continue to be aimed at this audience who, yet again, strayed from their True Love, Yahweh, and would face destruction so God could lovingly regain their attention. God would use their redemption to continue moving history towards His ultimate purpose of redeeming all of Creation.

Everyday Application

1) Who has been anointed and sent in these verses?
Isaiah’s calling and anointing in Isaiah 6 has always been amazing to me. God gave him a vision and Isaiah was immediately willing to go and proclaim God’s words. God uses Isaiah to proclaim judgment Israel would soon face, but the promise of redemption was also included. Isaiah’s glimpse into the coming salvation of all people through the person of Jesus, the anointing of our Savior is astounding! We have the blessing of living on the side of history after both of these events, Israel’s captivity and Jesus’ coming to earth. Jesus fulfilled God’s promise through Isaiah to “set the captives free”, and it is now our calling to proclaim the same good news Isaiah so willingly declared. While the redemption work of Jesus was completed on the cross, there is still work to be done until He returns. Will we echo Isaiah’s words with a willing heart, “Here am I. Send me!”?  (Isaiah 6:8)

2) What needs rebuilding, restored and renewed in verse 4?
Jerusalem is in ruins from Babylon captivity and is no longer a place of prominence. The city, and the hearts of the people, are desperately in need of restoration to the One to Whom they belong. While Jesus was the fulfillment of the restoration for Israel, God’s plan did not end there. Jesus came to redeem and restore every human heart’s broken relationship with the God of the Universe because of our sinful choices. When our faith is in Jesus, and we accept Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, we are restored, and made righteous, in His sight. However, even this is not the end! There is still a coming renewal promised in the return of Jesus. He will come again in all His glory to rebuild, restore, and renew humanity. He will establish His Kingdom in the perfection it was intended to be from the beginning. Isaiah’s prophecy is a multi-layered-prophecy. Just as it has been fulfilled in part, we can trust the ultimate fulfillment is indeed coming. The destruction we see in our current world is not forever. There is the promise of a day when “every tear will be wiped away and death will be no more… and everything will be new” (Revelation 21:4-5); what a glorious day that will be!

3) Who is Isaiah addressing in these verses?
While Isaiah’s prophecy was originally addressed to the people of Judah, his message is just as important and relevant for us today. We are a people who, time and again, choose to live for ourselves instead of for Him. No matter how long I walk with Jesus, my heart is prone to stray. I am never immune to thinking I can do it on my own, and I need redemption just as much as ancient Israel did. Thankfully, God doesn’t leave me, or any of us, on our own or stuck forever in our sin without providing a way out. He offers each of us eternal redemption and forgiveness through Jesus and gifted us His Holy Spirit to empower us to walk this journey of life as beacons of Jesus’ hope for others. There will be consequences when we go astray, but Jesus always offers redemption and grace when we choose to trust Him.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Heartache’s Hope!

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 Reveal 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.

Pause 3, Day 9 Eternal Confidence

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Pause 3, Day 9

Because of the gracious sacrifice of Jesus as He offered His blood to cover our sins,
we are free to access the Holiest One!

Christ’s righteousness becomes our own as we surrender our sin and our self over to the One who lovingly crafted us, designing our hearts for a sweet relationship with Him.

The sweetest delight happens as we draw near in the intimacy of this tender relationship between adoring father and beloved child, we are made new.

Hearts renewed.
Lives restored.
Relationships made whole.
Hope given.

As we sit with the God of the Universe, choosing to be still and commune with Him through prayer and study of His Word, His love renews us with a radiance that cannot help but spill over into every other aspect of life. Nothing in the life of the believer is out of reach from the love of the Majestic King when we sit still with Him, looking intently upon His glory.

We cannot remove ourselves from His constant presence.
We cannot anger Him enough to cause Him to hurl us from His tender grasp of love.
We cannot disappoint Him and bring Him to turn away the gift of His open arms.
Rather, in eternal confidence, we are always welcome, forever loved, and hope is endlessly offered.

Today's Invitation

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down Hebrews 10:19-25 after you read through all of today’s passage in Hebrews 10:19-39. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, think of the incredible gift it is to be invited into God’s presence through His word!

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

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

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
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Hebrews 10:19-39

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— 20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who has said,
Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,
and again,
The Lord will judge his people.

31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. 34 For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. 35 So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.

37 For yet in a very little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 But my righteous one will live by faith;
and if he draws back,
I have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause 3 Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause 3!

Sketched VI Day 10 Denise

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 John 1:5-10
Luke 7:41-50
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Jeremiah 33:1-3

Sketched VI, Day 10

I sat there, on the seat while the pastor and my sister sat next to me and prayed over me. She was speaking in tongues, but what I heard from her were all my sins…one by one being laid at the cross to be cleansed and my soul renewed!! 

I was raised believing in God but not really practicing any faith. I had the opportunity to attend church as a child but lost the will to attend or even know God in my teen years. I was distracted in a world of sin and bad choices. I barely graduated high school, dabbled in drugs and alcohol, and had friends that, looking back now, I shouldn’t have called friends. I always knew God was there, but I didn’t seek Him out. Instead, I chased friends, parties, and selfishness.

When I was 20, I found myself pregnant out of wedlock and living far away from family. I was in a relationship with the father, but I was bound and determined not to get married just because I was pregnant. It was a hard season.

I worked in fast food, he worked in clothing. We lived in a TINY 1 bedroom apartment that was roach-infested and I witnessed child abuse across the courtyard. When my daughter was 3 weeks old my mother sent me the money for the marriage license and we wed. I thought it was the right thing to do for my daughter and for us. When she was 8 weeks old, I wasn’t working and he quit his job, which sent us home to my folks in Kansas City. He found a job and we moved into a 2-bedroom apartment. I soon found a job as well, and we attempted to do life.

Having my daughter, that sweet innocent gift, is what changed my mindset.
I knew I couldn’t do this on my own anymore. My husband was immature and we fought constantly. I was almost ready to leave when I found out I was pregnant with our second child. A Son. I tried to stick it out, surviving until our son was 18 months, before I moved out and embarked on the journey of being a single mom with two very tiny children.

Somewhere in the middle of all the chaos right before I left, was that morning I went to church with my sister and she prayed over me.

I am NOT a morning person…but I woke up early that day and phoned her.
“What time is church?”

She gave me the time, but said I could go to a later service if I wanted.
“No, I will be there.”

I hustled, got the kids ready, and ran out the door to church. I put the kids in the nursery classes and sat through that sermon. I cannot tell you what he taught on. The message itself didn’t pierce my heart…but God did.

I struggled to hold back tears through the entire service.
I was a mess!
I knew my marriage was ending and I knew I needed God!
At the end of the service when they invited anyone who needed prayer to come forward, I grabbed my sister’s hand and walked to the front. I couldn’t speak, but I wept.

My sister said, “I think she wants to accept Christ.” I could only nod.
The pastor began praying over and for me and my sister was speaking in tongues by my side. But, I heard and understood the words – it was not an inaudible language.
It was the Spirit speaking, and I heard every sin I’d ever committed spoken before God.
My sister didn’t hear that, the pastor didn’t hear it, but I did.

And with each sin spoken at His feet, my heart and soul became clean,
and the burden I had been carrying started to lift.

I would love to say, “I never struggled again and I was perfect from that day on!”
Yeah, that would be a lie.

But, I did have Christ within me, helping me, slowly and gently leading me.
He loved me even when I messed up.
He loved me even when church was not on my radar.
He loved me when I was unlovable. 

Since that day of finding Jesus, so many years ago, I got remarried and had another son and now, I even have three precious grandchildren.

I could tell so many stories from that day to now, but the bottom line is that God alone
is my strength, my Redeemer, my solid ground, and my safe place.
He is there when we ask.

He will show up if you ask Him to show you He is real.
He will!

Simply call, and then watch; He will answer!
I pray you feel His presence today through my story.
I pray He touches you in a new way and that you too are changed by His relentless love!

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
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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!

A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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 Sketched VI 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 Sketched VI

Sketched VI Day 9 Danielle: 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 Danielle!

The Questions

1) What does it mean that there is, “Now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”? (verse 1)

2) Two different laws are mentioned. What does each mean?

3) If there is no condemnation, why does Paul discuss the flesh in such detail in these verses?

Romans 8:1-11

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 What the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

Original Intent

1) What does it mean that there is, “Now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”? (verse 1)
Condemnation is a strong word. Paul wants his audience to understand the severity of what they deserve as a punishment from their sin. His audience is a group of sinners deserving of death. No matter how hard they have tried to do good, live a right life, and obey the rules, they have failed somewhere. Therefore, they deserve death. However, Paul is reminding them, as believers, they no longer face this condemnation of death, shame, and fear. More so, they never will! Jesus has paid the price and taken the full punishment on Himself. Once they are in Christ, they no longer need to fear condemnation or God’s wrath upon them.

2) Two different laws are mentioned. What does each mean?
These verses mention both the law of the Spirit and the law of sin and death. The law of the Spirit is the law under which Jesus reigns. Paul is reminding his audience of all Jesus accomplished by dying on the Cross where He defeated death and the grave once for all for those who call upon, and place their full trust in, His Name. This is the good news of the Gospel! The law of sin and death is a reference to our imperfections and our constant failure to measure up to the perfection for the Law. In the Old Testament, the law pointed the Israelites to the truth they could never be perfect or earn life on their own. The punishment for this sin in the Old Testament was death, typically the death of an animal in order for forgiveness. Paul is reminding his audience in order to be free of sin and death they must be covered by Jesus’ righteousness.

3) If there is no condemnation, why does Paul discuss the flesh in such detail in these verses?
Throughout Paul’s writings he discusses the flesh and the battle that takes place more than once. Although the believers Paul is writing to are free from condemnation, Paul still is led by God’s Spirit to discuss the flesh. Romans 7:14-25 is a description of the flesh, which Paul himself dealt with. Paul desires for his audience to understand although they are free in Christ, there is a constant battle waging within to choose surrender to Christ or to return to old pattern of sin. This is the battle of the flesh. Paul admits he does not always choose what he should or what he wants to choose, and that part of himself is in constant disagreement with the work of the Spirit in his life. He cannot ignore the flesh, and neither can his audience.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean that there is, “Now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”? (verse 1)
No matter how hard we try to live a sinless life and do good we will fall short. Paul is clear in Romans 3:23 when he tells his readers “all fall short”. The reality is we all deserve punishment and condemnation for our sins. Praise Jesus the story doesn’t end there! Romans 6:23 tells us of the “gift of God that is eternal life in Christ Jesus”. Paul is referencing this exact gift in these verses. We face no condemnation because Jesus’ gift is eternal life when we believe in Him. Did you catch that… we deserve death, but in Christ we are gifted life! There is nothing sweeter than this, and God uses Paul to remind us of that beautiful truth. The day we place our faith in Jesus and what He accomplished for us, we no longer fear condemnation, but can rest in the truth of our rescue!

2) Two different laws are mentioned. What does each mean?
These two laws seem to be confusing. The reality is we have all lived, or are still living, under sin and death. While living without Jesus, we were sinners and deserved death. Much like the Israelites in the Old Testament, we could never measure up and innocent blood must be spilled in order for forgiveness to be given. However, the good news is that Jesus has already come and paid the ultimate price for our sins and the sins of the world. It is now our choice whether we will accept the gift being offered and choose to live under the law of life in Christ Jesus. This is the law which sets us free!

3) If there is no condemnation, why does Paul discuss the flesh in such detail in these verses?
While we have no condemnation because we are in Christ, we live in the days before Jesus returns to set all things right. For believers, this creates a constant tension between the spirit and the flesh because we live here while our souls are renewed for eternity. Paul discusses this in Romans 7 when he admits he struggles with the desire of his flesh wanting to do what his spirit tells him not to do. If Paul, who experienced Jesus in such an incredible way on the road to Damascus, faced this struggle of sin vs life, so will we. However, Paul reminds us we can rest assured while we battle with the flesh that the war is won; we can have peace knowing we have been gifted eternal life! One day, the battle will be over and we walk freely in Life and Love without any pull to sin!

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sketched VI 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.

Captivating Day 11 Love For The Nations

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 28:18-20
Psalm 96:1-13
1 Kings 8:41-43
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

Captivating, Day 11

“Even for the foreigner who is not your people Israel, but has come from a distant land
because of Your name — for they will hear
of Your great name, strong hand, and outstretched arm,
and will come and pray towards this temple.
May You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all the foreigner asks.
Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name,
to fear You as Your people Israel do.”
1 Kings 8:41-43

King Solomon prayed these words at the dedication of the Temple. The words are nestled solidly in the Old Testament, many generations before Jesus spoke the words of the Great Commission. In the Great Commission, the Lord challenges us to “go and make disciples of all nations.”
King Solomon’s words prove that the concept of all nations knowing the Lord is not a new one.

However, as I read the words prayed by King Solomon, I sensed my “You Are Here” pin on my mental map shifting. Had I been living in the time of King Solomon, I would be the foreigner. I would be the one coming from afar to learn of the Lord. With that reality sinking in, I found a new humility washing my perspective on the Great Commission and my role within it. Instead of looking out my door and searching for people to tell the good news to (which is not a bad perspective to have in general), I sensed my heart shifting to focus on the Lord first. From that starting line, I simply engage those I encounter, trusting He is the one who has put them in my path. The entire process became far less about me and much more about Him.

It was with this renewed mindset I began reflecting on previous mission trip experiences and my interactions with the missionaries ministering in those locations. I have had the opportunity to travel to countries with extreme poverty and visiting homes for eight people made from cardboard. I’ve also walked the streets of first world countries where taxi after taxi were all high-end cars. In each scenario, the same truth proved true of those serving there. These missionaries had allowed themselves to be rooted in their respective ministries, and moved with the flow of the Lord in their land, because they had locked their eyes on the Lord first and followed where He led.

As you read the words of the Great Commission, may your gaze on the Lord guide you into all that He has prepared for you. If you feel the call to physically go abroad, keep your eyes on Him and obey with all you have. You will be astounded at the places He sets your feet. If you do not feel called right now to serve overseas, you are still vitally important to missions. Yes, you can help financially by sending others and have a tangible impact, however, there are other avenues as well.

For the last few years, the Lord has opened the door for me to travel to Estonia on short term mission trips. The team from my church visits the same location every year in effort to invest in and encourage those serving full-time. On our last trip, I asked what impact our trips and presence have. The lead pastor, who is originally from England, said our visits bring needed encouragement and support in a variety of ways. Sometimes that looks like manual help at the church or homes, other times it looks like a listening ear and prayer for those serving. Still other times, it is simply allowing those serving full-time to rest in the presence of other believers, especially in locations that aren’t open to the Gospel.

One of the most significant statements, however, came from a young Estonian woman who serves in the church. She explained that the team consistently returning and some members coming back year after year sent the message to everyone that they are significant and the investment is genuine. She noted how our consistency and intentionality conveyed that we care about her and her relationship with the Lord as our promises to return proved to be more than lip service.

You may not be called to leave your zip code to physically serve in another country or location; however, you can impact the nations regardless. Is there a missionary you know who could use consistent encouragement? Would a note, email, or care package remind them they are not forgotten and provide some empowerment to carry on? Why not ask how you can pray for them specifically?

The Lord’s heart is for the nations and the individuals within those nations to know Him. This concept is woven throughout the Word in both Old and New Testaments.
Lock your gaze on Him and tune your ears to His voice.
Through your obedience, you will help advance the Great Commission!

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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!

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Justice Day 2 For Life: 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

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Genesis 2:7 English Standard Version (ESV)

…then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

The Questions

1) What is the significance of “dust”?

2) What is important about God “breathing” into Adam?

3) What is significant about becoming a “living being”?

The Findings for Intention

1) What is the significance of “dust”?
One of the definitions given for “dust” in the Strong’s concordance is “rubbish”. It’s good for nothing, blows in the wind, is the meanest or lowest state of the earth as it is simply walked on by the rest of creation. It’s meaningless, as “dust in the wind”, and transient, being here one moment and gone the next.

2) What is important about God “breathing” into Adam?
Utterly unlike the insignificance of dust, which is entirely a product of the earth, God’s breath comes explicitly from His own Being straight into man’s nostrils. What is made from the earth’s elements, will one day pass away and return to the earth as dust (Ecclesiastes 12:7). But the soul, the living essence of God’s vitality, is His own and will one day return to Him (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The psalmist sings, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” The Hebrew word for “breath” in this psalm is exactly the same as the one here in our verse in Genesis 2:7. Its meaning is not a physical composition of oxygen and nitrogen, but of the very breath of the Living God. The psalmist is reiterating the solid truth that this “breath”, our “souls”, belong to their Maker, the Lord God. What we do with our souls, and how we steward that gift, is of utmost importance!

3) What is significant about becoming a “living being”?
The body would be lifeless without the soul. Before God breathed His breathe into the body formed from dust, it was undoubtedly a masterpiece, but still a lifeless shell nonetheless. The body is a temporary tent for the soul to dwell (2 Corinthians 5:1-10). As such, the soul utilizes the tent or body to accomplish works while in the body. When God breathed into Adam, He gave mankind the gift of life itself, just as He Himself is life. He gave humanity the ability to live, and move, and work, and create, and think. Paul, in 1 Corinthians, says that, “The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45) Meaning that while Adam was awakened to physical life, Christ (the second Adam), awakens our souls to real life as it was meant to be lived: for the glory and praise of God.

The Everyday Application

1) What is the significance of “dust”?
Even in this one verse, we see the actions of the Creating God to be already painting the glory of the gospel! We, taken from a state of meaninglessness and hopelessness by being enslaved to Sin, fills us with Himself, shapes us by His design, and gives us meaning and purpose and fulfillment. We have no purpose apart from God, we are simply, “but dust”. (Psalm 103:14) But with Him, we are indeed His workmanship! (Ephesians 2:10)

2) What is important about God “breathing” into Adam?
The gospel of Mark records Jesus as saying, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? For what can man give in return for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37) The significance of not only having a soul, but knowing who created the soul, and who owns the soul should change our perspective on what we do with our life. One day, when our bodies have returned to dust and we die, our souls will live on forever, just as God is an eternal Being. He has given over to us the care and keeping of our soul and permitted us the choice on how to steward such an incredible gift. How are you caring for your soul? Check here for great resources on what it means to have good soul care!

3) What is significant about becoming a “living being”?
It would be a serious mistake to live only for the fading, fleeting body and its desires and emotions and passions, when it is only the soul that will last forever. It’s like buying eggs, and throwing away the eggs so you can attempt to eat the carton. The carton will not come close to satisfying our need for food like an omelet would. Jesus came to renew our soul, to give us a new heart and passions that reflect His, as the author of the soul in the first place. We will only find satisfaction in both this life and the life to come, when we allow Him to remake us. Only He who has made the soul, has the ability to bring newness to it, which is why nothing we craft with our own hands or hearts will ever fill us up.
Only He who made the soul is able to re-new or re-make it.

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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 Justice 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 Justice!