Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

THE EXAMEN PRAYER

1. Look back over today. For what do you want to thank God? What gifts have you received?
2. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything.” Ask God’s Spirit to guide your memory as you look back over today.
3. Look back peacefully over today and see what comes to mind. What is God trying to show you?
1. Look at places you’ve been, things you’ve done, and people you’ve been with.
2. Look for those moments where you’ve experienced light and life, where you’ve experienced love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trust, gentleness, self-control…
4. God is always present in our lives to bring about the greatest good and the good of others. Ask yourself, “When did you most fully connect with God? Where did I feel most alive?”
5. Become aware of the times where you felt out of tune with God. Ask yourself, “Where did you feel least alive?” Try not to be judgmental… but simply notice.
6. For what do you want to ask forgiveness? Where have you chosen distance over closeness with God?
1. Receive God’s forgiveness with confidence…
7. For what do you want to ask God? Where do you need to be strengthened in order to follow the way the Spirit is leading you? Ask God for whatever you need. Ask God to open your heart to whatever surprises may come. Ask God to open your eyes to notice Him in unexpected places, to open your ears to tune into His Almighty voice.

JOURNAL THROUGHOUT THE WEEK

Monday: ______________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday: ______________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday: ___________________________________________________________________________

Thursday: _____________________________________________________________________________

Friday: _______________________________________________________________________________

Saturday: _____________________________________________________________________________

Don't forget you can watch this week's sermon message or read the full PDF of the sermon message & GPS.

CREATE FOR COMMUNITY PRAYER REQUESTS: For patience with parking challenges during construction (currently estimated as 30% done). For safety and efficiency of our construction crews. For those who have given generously for these improvements.

Monday: Read Luke 24:6. G.K. Chesterton observed, "Jesus' resurrection is the ground and basis for all true love, hope, and joy; for if Jesus is still in the grave than all of humanity will remain in the grave too. But he is not in the grave, then this makes all the difference." What difference have you seen the resurrection of Jesus make in someone's life? Your own life?

Tuesday: Read Luke 24:7. At least three times Jesus had told His disciples what Luke records here in verse seven.  Why is it significant that Jesus knew what was coming, told His disciples, and then that is what happened?

Wednesday: Read Luke 24:8. What are some significant experiences in your life that you return to in memory and share about with others? Why have these experiences impacted you so?

Thursday: Read Luke 24:44-47. What circumstances helped you to come and see the empty tomb of Jesus with eyes of faith, or what is holding you back from knowing Jesus?

Friday: Read Luke 24:11-12. What one truth in these resurrection appearances stands out as personally significant to you? How have you seen this truth affecting your life already? How would you like it to affect what you do and think more than it does now?

Saturday: Read Luke 24:48. What are the easiest things in life for you to get excited about and want to share with others? What are some of the hardest? Why do think we so instinctively desire to share our experiences with others? Whom can you share the story of Easter with this week?

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading the book "Jesus: The Greatest Life Of All" by Chuck Swindoll.

Don't forget you can watch this week's sermon message or read the full PDF of the sermon message & GPS.

CREATE FOR COMMUNITY PRAYER REQUESTS: For patience with parking challenges during construction (currently estimated as 30% done). For safety and efficiency of our construction crews. For those who have given generously for these improvements.

Monday: Read Zechariah 9:9. Why is it important that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecy? What does riding in on a donkey signify about Jesus’ leadership?

Tuesday: Read Hebrews 13:7. Who have been the great leaders in your life? What principles from their leadership can you use in your own life?

Wednesday: Read James 4:10. Humility is something we should all be praying for. The donkey is naturally a humble animal. The donkey knows his place in the world, and is content with being a donkey. Where do you need to pray for humility and contentment in your own life?

Thursday: Read John 3:30. John the Baptist famously proclaimed “He must increase and I must decrease.” How does a humble spirit point to Christ?

Friday: Read John 13:13-17. Jesus led with a servant-like leadership that we don’t often see today. He came to serve, not to be served. In the leadership roles in your life, how can you be a servant leader?

Saturday: Read Luke 19:28-34. What do you need to be “untied” from? Consider fasting from these things in your life that tie you down. Ask God’s Spirit to help you.

You can GO DEEPER this week by listening to “Make Me A Servant (You Tube)."  Be sure to put in your calendar our upcoming worship opportunities:

• Maundy Thursday (April 18th): 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
• Good Friday Tres Ores (April 19th): 11:30-3 p.m. in the Sanctuary
• Good Friday Tenebrae (April 19th): 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary
• Easter (April 21st): 7 a.m., 9 a.m., and 11 a.m.

Don't forget you can watch this week's sermon message or read the full PDF of the sermon message & GPS.

CREATE FOR COMMUNITY PRAYER REQUESTS: For patience with parking challenges during construction (currently estimated as 30% done). For safety and efficiency of our construction crews. For those who have given generously for these improvements.

Join us during Lent for food, fellowship, and video series study!

Day 1: Read Luke 23:34. When Jesus speaks His first word, the good news is He is not only speaking to the crowd gathered in His day, He’s speaking to us today. Jesus is not merely pointing out sin, He is praying for God’s mercy for those who sin. Turns out, when Christianity speaks of sin, the aim is not to make us feel guilty, but to help us discover the grace and healing mercy of God that we so desperately need. Where do you need, today, to experience God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness?

Day 2: Read Matthew 18:21-22. Forgiving someone three times was the typical rabbi answer to how often do you need to forgive someone. Peter feels generous with seven times, until Jesus says 77 times or as some translations put it, 70x7 times. On the cross, Jesus’ first words demonstrate God’s willingness to forgive our sins, and they call us to become people who follow in His path – people who can pray, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” To whom do you need to extend God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness today?

Day 3: Read Luke 23:42-43. In the Bible, “remember” is a loaded word. In the Old Testament, when God remembers individuals, He delivers them. God remembers Noah and delivers him from the flood. God remembers Abraham and saves Abraham’s nephew, Lot. God remembers Rachel, Jacob’s wife, and she has a son. God remembers His covenant with Abraham and saves and delivers the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. And so, this convicted criminal, experiences amazing grace –Jesus will remember, and this criminal will get paradise. Where do you need to remember God’s amazing grace in your life today?

Day 4: Read Luke 19:10. In Luke’s Gospel account, this verse provides the theme for all that Luke writes: for Jesus’ mission to this tax collector, to the criminal on the cross, to each person then and now, Luke reminds us that He comes and dies for all people. His mission is to seek and to save those who are lost, to bring us to be with Him in Paradise. Who is someone God wants to seek and save, that you know? Pray, not only for that person to come to Jesus as their Lord and Savior; pray also God uses you as part of His rescue mission to seek and to save!

Day 5: Read Luke 23:46. Make Jesus’ prayer, your prayer today: Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.

Day 6: Read Psalm 31:1-5. How does this Psalm help you understand and pray again today: Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading the book No Wonder They Call Him Savior: Experience the Truth of the Cross by Max Lucado.

Don't forget you can watch this week's sermon message or read the full PDF of the sermon message & GPS.

CREATE FOR COMMUNITY PRAYER REQUESTS: For patience with parking challenges during construction (currently estimated as 30% done). For safety and efficiency of our construction crews. For those who have given generously for these improvements.