Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

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The countdown to Christmas 2020 has started!  The theme will be "God With Us!"

Please participate this month with the daily Advent materials that you can download from: christlamesa.org/christmas.

Each day starting on November 29th through Christmas (December 25th) has a customized devotional (written by staff members), questions to consider, and then daily reflection prompts.

Download Advent Devotional (PDF)

Recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• "The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Our World" by Richard Stearns (Amazon Kindle)
• "Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It" by Robert D. Lupton (Amazon Kindle)
• Read the book"Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World" by Max Lucado (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Hard-copy)

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash

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Day 1: Read Matthew 25:40. As you look at your life right now, do you feel a greater sense of compassion fatigue or compassionate faith? What’s your “least of these” story about how God sent someone to help you in a time of your need?

Day 2: Read Matthew 25:34-36. How can you define “your job” by the good you do? How is God using you to meet the needs of others?

Day 3: Read Matthew 10:42. Boy Scouts teach more than doing a good deed every day, but doing a good turn at every opportunity. What opportunities did you catch to either do or receive good yesterday? What opportunities did you miss? Why?

Day 4: Read Matthew 25:44-45. Jesus in this story in Matthew 25 not only shows the road of compassionate faith, He also speaks of the indicators of compassion fatigue. Which ones does He identify in these verses? What are the signs of compassion fatigue you see as warning lights in your life? Why is it so important we deal with compassion fatigue and learn to start caring again?

Day 5: Read Matthew 25:37-40. When I think of these words form Matthew 25, I think of the life of Mother Teresa in reaching out to the poor and dying in Calcutta, India who observed, “When I look at the face of a needy person, I see Jesus.” Where have you seen the face of Jesus in the life of another? When have others seen the face of Jesus in you?

Day 6: Read Matthew 25:40. If you're battling compassion fatigue, then I challenge you to give this a try. When you first wake up, instead of thinking about all the trials and tribulations you must endure, ask this instead, "Lord, who can I bless today?"

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading:

• "The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Our World" by Richard Stearns (Amazon Kindle)
• "Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It" by Robert D. Lupton (Amazon Kindle)

Recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Read the book"Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World" by Max Lucado (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Hard-copy)
• Read the book “Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Hard-copy)
• Read the book "October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the World" by Martin Marty (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Paperback, Audible)

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

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This week Pastor Travis invites us to use “Lectio Divina” (Spiritual Reading) to help develop gratitude & contentment.

Paul expresses gratitude to the church in Philippi for their provision, and that leads him to teach about contentment. When Christians trust in God to provide for all their needs, that trust leads to contentment, even in times of need. “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Here are the guidelines that they use:

• Read/Lectio
• Reflect/Meditatio
• Respond/Oratio
• Rest/Contemplatio
• Resolve/Incarnatio

Below is the list of the next six days of passages for this week:

Day 1: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:10; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 2: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:11; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 3: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:12-13; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 4: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:14; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 5: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:16-20; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 6: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:21-23; Phrase: _________________________________________

You can also listen to this guided audio example:

• Lectio Divina from 2013 (MP3).

Recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Read the book"Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World" by Max Lucado (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Hard-copy)
• Read the book “Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Hard-copy)
• Read the book "October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the World" by Martin Marty (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Paperback, Audible)
• Read the book* Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture by Larry Osborne.
• Read the book* Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude V. King.

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

*Kindle book links are provided by Amazon Associate Links.

Photo by Jacqueline Munguía on Unsplash

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This week Pastor Burkey invites us to use “Lectio Divina” (Spiritual Reading) to help develop positive attitudes and actions as Paul describes in Philippians 4:8-9. 

Here are the guidelines that they use:

• Read/Lectio
• Reflect/Meditatio
• Respond/Oratio
• Rest/Contemplatio
• Resolve/Incarnatio

Below is the list of the next six days of passages for this week:

Day 1: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:1-3; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 2: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:4-5; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 3: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:6; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 4: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:7; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 5: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:8; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 6: Read/Lectio: Philippians 4:9; Phrase: _________________________________________

You can also listen to this guided audio example:

• Lectio Divina from 2013 (MP3).

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading "Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World" by Max Lucado (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Hard-copy)

Recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Read the book “Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Hard-copy)
• Read the book "October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the World" by Martin Marty (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Paperback, Audible)
• Read the book* Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture by Larry Osborne.
• Read the book* Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude V. King.
• Read the book* Laugh Again: Experience Outrageous Joy by Charles Swindoll.

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

*Kindle book links are provided by Amazon Associate Links.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

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This week Pastor Travis invites us to use “Lectio Divina” (Spiritual Reading) in reading the verses from Philippians 3:12-21 to let the Holy Spirit use God’s Word to give us real confidence in living life this week and in the days ahead.

An African Proverbs says "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Here are the guidelines that they use:

• Read/Lectio
• Reflect/Meditatio
• Respond/Oratio
• Rest/Contemplatio
• Resolve/Incarnatio

Below is the list of the next six days of passages for this week:

Day 1: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:12; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 2: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:13; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 3: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:14; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 4: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:17; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 5: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:18-19; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 6: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:19-21; Phrase: _________________________________________

You can also listen to this guided audio example:

• Lectio Divina from 2013 (MP3).

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading “Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Hard-copy)

Previous recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Read the book October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the World by Martin Marty (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Paperback, Audible)
• Read the book* Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture by Larry Osborne.
• Read the book* Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude V. King.
• Read the book* Laugh Again: Experience Outrageous Joy by Charles Swindoll.
• Read the book* Philippians: The Eight Places Joy Is Won or Lost by Tom Holladay.
• Read the book* The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim Keller
• Read the book* The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
• Read the book* Restoring Civility: Lessons from the Master – Your Path to Rediscover Respect by Kent R. Hunter with Tracee J. Swank
• Read the book* Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are by Craig Groeschel
• Reading Martin Luther's Lectures on Romans.
• Read the book* The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

*Kindle book links are provided by Amazon Associate Links.

Photo by 30daysreplay Marketingberatung on Unsplash

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This week Pastor Burkey invites us to use “Lectio Divina” (Spiritual Reading) in reading the verses from Philippians 3:1-11 to let the Holy Spirit use God’s Word to give us real confidence in living life this week and in the days ahead. Here are the guidelines that they use:

• Read/Lectio
• Reflect/Meditatio
• Respond/Oratio
• Rest/Contemplatio
• Resolve/Incarnatio

Below is the list of the next six days of passages for this week:

Day 1: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:10; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 2: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:1; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 3: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:2-3; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 4: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:4-6; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 5: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:7-9; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 6: Read/Lectio: Philippians 3:10-11; Phrase: _________________________________________

You can also listen to this guided audio example:

• Lectio Divina from 2013 (MP3).

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the World by Martin Marty (Amazon Kindle, Amazon Paperback, Audible)

Previous recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Read the book* Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture by Larry Osborne.
• Read the book* Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude V. King.
• Read the book* Laugh Again: Experience Outrageous Joy by Charles Swindoll.
• Read the book* Philippians: The Eight Places Joy Is Won or Lost by Tom Holladay.
• Read the book* The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim Keller
• Read the book* The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
• Read the book* Restoring Civility: Lessons from the Master – Your Path to Rediscover Respect by Kent R. Hunter with Tracee J. Swank
• Read the book* Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are by Craig Groeschel
• Reading Martin Luther's Lectures on Romans.
• Read the book* The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

*Kindle book links are provided by Amazon Associate Links.

The Travis Ferguson Pastoral Dictionary of Opinions, Thoughts, and Meanderings defines the “Gospel of Me” as:

gos·pel · of · me |’gäspəl əv mē

noun/verb

1. A gimme gimme Gospel that wants all the good God has to offer without any of the sacrifice.

2. A gotta gotta Gospel where an individual looks to his or her own self for salvation, rather than to Jesus.

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This week we to continue to develop a spiritual habit called “Lectio Divina” (Spiritual Reading):

• Reflect/Meditatio
• Respond/Oratio
• Rest/Contemplatio
• Resolve/Incarnatio

Pastor Burkey & Pastor Travis have found Lectio Divina to be a powerful tool for them to hear God speaking into their daily life as each of them engages in His Word. Here are the guidelines that they use, and the following are six days of passages for this week:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON LECTIO DIVINA.

Day 1: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:12; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 2: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:13; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 3: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:14; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 4: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:15-16; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 5: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:17-18; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 6: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:19-20; Phrase: _________________________________________

You can also listen to this guided audio example:

• Lectio Divina from 2013 (MP3).

Previous recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Read the book* Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture by Larry Osborne.
• Read the book* Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude V. King.
• Read the book* Laugh Again: Experience Outrageous Joy by Charles Swindoll.
• Read the book* Philippians: The Eight Places Joy Is Won or Lost by Tom Holladay.
• Read the book* The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim Keller
• Read the book* The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
• Read the book* Restoring Civility: Lessons from the Master – Your Path to Rediscover Respect by Kent R. Hunter with Tracee J. Swank
• Read the book* Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are by Craig Groeschel
• Reading Martin Luther's Lectures on Romans.
• Read the book* The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

*Kindle book links are provided by Amazon Associate Links.

Photo by Madalena Veloso on Unsplash

This week Pastor Burkey invites us to pursue the power of life in the third chair as Paul lays out in Philippians 2:1-11:

1st Chair -- Put God in first place in your life. 

2nd Chair -- Place the needs of others before my own.

3rd Chair -- Seek to respond with a humble heart.

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This week we to continue to develop a spiritual habit called “Lectio Divina” (Spiritual Reading):

• Reflect/Meditatio
• Respond/Oratio
• Rest/Contemplatio
• Resolve/Incarnatio

Pastor Burkey & Pastor Travis have found Lectio Divina to be a powerful tool for them to hear God speaking into their daily life as each of them engages in His Word. Here are the guidelines that they use, and the following are six days of passages for this week:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON LECTIO DIVINA.

Day 1: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:1-2; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 2: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:3-4; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 3: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:5; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 4: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:6-8; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 5: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:9-10; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 6: Read/Lectio: Philippians 2:11; Phrase: _________________________________________

You can also listen to this guided audio example:

• Lectio Divina from 2013 (MP3).

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading* - Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture by Larry Osborne.

Previous recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Read the book* Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude V. King.
• Read the book* Laugh Again: Experience Outrageous Joy by Charles Swindoll.
• Read the book* Philippians: The Eight Places Joy Is Won or Lost by Tom Holladay.
• Read the book* The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim Keller
• Read the book* The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
• Read the book* Restoring Civility: Lessons from the Master – Your Path to Rediscover Respect by Kent R. Hunter with Tracee J. Swank
• Read the book* Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are by Craig Groeschel
• Reading Martin Luther's Lectures on Romans.
• Read the book* The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

*Kindle book links are provided by Amazon Associate Links.

This week's Message from Pastor Burkey was centered on "Is Christ's Will greater (>) than my questions (?s) related to: feelings, fear, and/or pain."  This week's GPS will help us to address our questions.

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This week we to continue to develop a spiritual habit called “Lectio Divina” (Spiritual Reading):

• Reflect/Meditatio
• Respond/Oratio
• Rest/Contemplatio
• Resolve/Incarnatio

Pastor Burkey & Pastor Travis have found Lectio Divina to be a powerful tool for them to hear God speaking into their daily life as each of them engages in His Word. Here are the guidelines that they use, and the following are six days of passages for this week:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON LECTIO DIVINA.

Day 1: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:20; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 2: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:21; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 3: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:22-24; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 4: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:25-26; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 5: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:27-28; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 6: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:29-30; Phrase: _________________________________________

You can also listen to this guided audio example:

• Lectio Divina from 2013 (MP3).

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading -- Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude V. King.

Previous recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Read the book Laugh Again: Experience Outrageous Joy by Charles Swindoll.
• Read the book Philippians: The Eight Places Joy Is Won or Lost by Tom Holladay.
• Read the book The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim Keller
• Read the book The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
• Read the book Restoring Civility: Lessons from the Master – Your Path to Rediscover Respect by Kent R. Hunter with Tracee J. Swank
• Read the book Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are by Craig Groeschel
• Reading Martin Luther's Lectures on Romans.
• Read the book The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Reservations | Church@Home | Give | Keep Calm and Quarantine On

When life turns to the bad, there are three opportunities you can experience:

1. See God at work
2. Influence others.
3. Experience a closer walk with Jesus.

This week we to continue to develop a spiritual habit called “Lectio Divina” (Spiritual Reading):

• Reflect/Meditatio
• Respond/Oratio
• Rest/Contemplatio
• Resolve/Incarnatio

Pastor Burkey & Pastor Travis have found Lectio Divina to be a powerful tool for them to hear God speaking into their daily life as each of them engages in His Word. Here are the guidelines that they use, and the following are six days of passages for this week:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON LECTIO DIVINA.

Day 1: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:12-19; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 2: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:12; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 3: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:13-14; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 4: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:15-17; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 5: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:18; Phrase: ________________________________________

Day 6: Read/Lectio: Philippians 1:19; Phrase: _________________________________________

You can also listen to this guided audio example:

• Lectio Divina from 2013 (MP3).

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading -- Laugh Again: Experience Outrageous Joy by Charles Swindoll.

Previous recent GO DEEPER opportunities:

• Reading the book Philippians: The Eight Places Joy Is Won or Lost by Tom Holladay.
• Reading the book The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim Keller
• Reading the book The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
• Reading the book Restoring Civility: Lessons from the Master – Your Path to Rediscover Respect by Kent R. Hunter with Tracee J. Swank
• Reading the book Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are by Craig Groeschel
• Reading Martin Luther's Lectures on Romans.
• Reading the book The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

You can also watch this week's sermon or read the full message & GPS here.