Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

1. Commit to take the challenge. You can pickup a workbook in the Fireside Room on Sunday morning. 
2. Worship with us every week of the challenge. Our message series will follow each week of the challenge. 
3. Join a Life Group (or lead one). Life is better when you’re with others. 

Photo by Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash

You are invited to our Christmas Services!!

Day 1: Read Luke 1:31-33. What do you learn about Jesus in these verses? Which of the phrases and statements made by the angel stands out for you? 

Day 2: Read Luke 1:34. Zechariah asks the same question (Luke 1:18) Mary does. Zechariah’s question comes out of his weakness and doubt, Mary’s from her heart and faith. Why the difference? What draws you to doubt in your response to God? What draws out your faith in God? 

Day 3: Read Luke 1:35. What do you learn about Jesus in this verse?  

Day 4: Read Luke 1:37. We do not have a problem discovering what seems impossible in life, whether it be in our family, at our work, or in our daily existence. What we discover with the angel's words are that, the impossible begins to become possible when God's grace is given. Where do you need to remind yourself that God makes all things possible in your life today? 

Day 5: Read Luke 1:38. Mary didn’t just choose to serve. She chose to be a servant. What have you done in the last 24 hours that nobody but a Christian would do? What keeps you from being all-in with God? Are you ready to make “I am the Lord’s Servant” your automatic response to what you face in the day ahead? 

Day 6: Read Luke 1:38. Mary prays, “Thy will be done” instead of “Thy will be changed”. Where are you tempted to pray to God, “Thy will be changed”? Where is God calling you to pray, “Thy will be done”?  

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading the book The Real Mary by Scot McKnight.

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 estimating completion by the end of January 2020). For safety and efficiency of our construction crews. For those who have given generously for these improvements.

Photo by Vladislav Babienko on Unsplash

You are invited to our Christmas Services!!

Monday – Read Matthew 1:19. Even as Joseph considers divorcing Mary, he wants to do so quietly so as not to ruin her reputation. This, as odd as it sounds, is a compassion. Where do you need to find more compassion in your life?

Tuesday – Read Matthew 1:20. Angels seem to say “do not fear” a lot throughout Scripture. How do those words of God speak to you and what you’re fearing right now? What fear do you need to let go of?

Wednesday – Read Matthew 1:24. Joseph heard the urging of God and obeyed. Where are you disobeying God’s Word right now? Pray for the Holy Spirit to grant you the gift of obedience in those areas of your life. 

Thursday – Read Isaiah 11:1. A branch will come up from a stump. Life will come from death. This is what is foretold to us about Jesus. Jesus rises from death and gives life. What relationships do you regard as dead in your life right now? How can new life come from those relationships?  

Friday – Read Isaiah 11:5. In Scripture we hear that “no one is righteous”. But Jesus is. Jesus imparts to you His righteousness. Take time to thank Him for this today. 

Saturday – Read Isaiah 11:6-9. We are pointed to the day when all things will be made well again - when peace will come. Where does peace need to come in your life right now?  

You can GO DEEPER this week with these two suggestions:

1. 90 Seconds Challenge -- Every day from now until Christmas, Pastor Burkey is inviting us to sit silent before God for 90 seconds. Amid the chaos of the Christmas season, find His calming voice to prepare you. Each day before you sit in silence for 90 seconds simply pray: “Lord, Your work is greater than my perspective. Open my heart to leave room for You to work. In these 90 seconds of silence, realign the chaos in my life to the calm and peace you bring.”
2. Need to make a decision? Use Pastor Travis OODA Loop suggestion!

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 estimating completion by the end of December 2019). For safety and efficiency of our construction crews. For those who have given generously for these improvements.

Pastor Travis introduced this tip on using USAF Col. Boyd's OODA Loop from a spiritual perspective in this week's message:

1. Pray. 
2. Seek the will of God. 
3. Know that in any decision, Jesus will be with you.