Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

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Monday: Read Philippians 3:7-9. Once he knew Jesus Christ and His free salvation, Paul threw away those accomplishments, confessed his sin and guilt, and depended on Jesus’ gift of righteousness alone. Why does Paul consider his accomplishment in the flesh “loss” and “rubbish” instead of something he can add to Jesus’ merits? Why do you think we are so inclined to put the focus on ourselves and our works rather than focus on Jesus and His works for us?

Tuesday: Read Matthew 28:20. From a Law point of view, what are the times you wish God wasn’t looking? From a Gospel point of view, what are times you’re glad He is always there? How is your perception of God affected by the good events in your life? The bad ones?

Wednesday: A few years after visiting Rome, Martin Luther was in the process of studying the original texts of the Bible, when God truly transformed his life of faith. Looking back, what events has God used to transform your faith life? Would you describe your coming to faith as being an extended process like Luther’s or more like a transformative moment?

Thursday: Read Romans 8:35-39. Reflect on the knowledge that there is NOTHING that will be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. How is this freeing?

Friday: As you rise and get your day started, pray Luther’s morning prayer --

I thank you, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

As you end your day and prepare for sleep, pray Luther’s evening prayer --

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

“Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.” - Martin Luther

Saturday: Consider starting to read "Through Faith Alone - 365 Devotional Reading" (Amazon Kindle) from Martin Luther or "Luther’s Small Catechism" (Amazon Kindle). You can also watch the 2003 move "Luther" directed by Eric Till and Marco Canosa.

Recent additional GO DEEPER reading opportunities:

• "The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath" by Mark Buchanan (Amazon Kindle)
• “Lead Like It Matters to God: Values Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World“ by Richard Stearns (Amazon Kindle)
• “Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural“ by Ronald C. White Jr. (Amazon Kindle) (YouTube Video)

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

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The following is from Ruth Haley Barton's book Sacred Rhythms - Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation (Amazon Kindle) from pages 59-61:

Preparation/Silencio: With your eyes closed, let your body relax, and allow yourself to become consciously aware of God’s presence with you. Express your willingness to hear from God in these moments by using a brief prayer such as “Come Lord Jesus” or “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Read/Lectio: Listen for the word or phrase that is addressed to you. Turn to the passage and begin to read slowly, pausing between phrases and sentences. As you read, listen for a word or phrase that strikes you or catches your attention. Allow a moment of silence, repeating that word or phrase softly to yourself, pondering it and savoring it as though pondering the word of a loved one.

Passage to be read is: __________________

The word/phrase is: __________________

Reflect/Meditatio: How is my life touched by this word?

What is it in my life right now that needs to hear this word?

If the passage is a story, perhaps ask yourself: Where am I in this scene? What do I hear as I imagine myself in the story or hear these words addressed specifically to me? How do the dynamics of this story connect with my own life experience?

Respond/Oratio: What is my response to God based on what I have read and encountered?  Consider the S.P.A.C.E. questions?

• Sins to Confess?
• Promises to Claim?
• Actions to Avoid (or Attitude to Adapt)?
• Commands to Obey?
• Examples to Follow?

Read the passage one more time, listening for your own deepest and truest response. In silence after the reading, allow your prayer to flow spontaneously from your heart as you enter a personal dialogue with God.

Rest/Contemplatio: Rest in the Word of God. In this final reading you are invited to release and return to a place of rest in God.

Resolve/Incarnatio: Incarnate (live out) the Word of God. As you emerge from this place of personal encounter with God to life in the company of others, resolve to carry this word with you and to live it out in the context of daily life and activity.

Practice Lectio Divina this week with the following scriptures (steps outlined above):

Day 1: Mark 10:46-52. 

Day 2: Joshua 1:5-9. 

Day 3: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. 

Day 4: Psalm 23:1-6.

Day 5: Psalm 46:1-6.

Day 6: Psalm 46:7-11. 

Recent additional GO DEEPER reading opportunities:

• "The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath" by Mark Buchanan (Amazon Kindle)
• “Lead Like It Matters to God: Values Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World“ by Richard Stearns (Amazon Kindle)
• “Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural“ by Ronald C. White Jr. (Amazon Kindle) (YouTube Video)

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

Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

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Day 1: Read Exodus 20:10. What do you need to put in “the box” each Sabbath?  Each night?

Day 2: Read Exodus 20:11. Why did God rest? What does that mean for our need to rest? To spend time with Him?

Day 3: Read Exodus 20:8. Mark Buchanan, in his book "The Rest of God" (Amazon Kindle) writes, “To remember is to literally put broken pieces back together, to re-member. It is to create an original out of what has become scattered fragments.” Where do you need to have God put broken pieces back together? Where do you need Jesus’ forgiveness this day?

Day 4: Read Matthew 11:28. What burdens have you been carrying that you need to let go and give to Jesus? Why have you been holding them? Take time to give each one to Jesus in prayer.

Day 5: Read Mark 2:23-24. As you plan your sabbath time this weekend, how do you answer these 3 questions?

1. Does it cause you to feel calm?
2. Does it bring delight?
3. Does it inspire wonder?

Day 6: Read Matthew 11:29-30. To take upon us the yoke of Christ is to enter His school, become his disciple, bringing every part of our life under His control.  And the lesson of life Jesus teaches? Love! Love God, love others, love yourself. What are you learning about loving God, others and yourself?

Recent additional GO DEEPER reading opportunities:

• "The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath" by Mark Buchanan (Amazon Kindle)
• “Lead Like It Matters to God: Values Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World“ by Richard Stearns (Amazon Kindle)
• “Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural“ by Ronald C. White Jr. (Amazon Kindle) (YouTube Video)

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

“With malice toward none, with charity toward all.” - President Abraham Lincoln (2nd Inaugural Address)

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In addition to the standard daily G.P.S. scripture reading and reflection, Pastor Burkey invites us to start each day this week reading the “I” paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

"I am patient, I am kind, I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I do not dishonor others, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere."

Day 1: Read Mark 3:25. Where have you sensed a “house divided” in your life? How do you believe Jesus can heal the division and unite that “house”?

Day 2: Read 1 Timothy 2:1-2. From now until the end of the year we are praying for God to raise up Christlike servant leaders in godly character and godly principles. Paul reminds us today of the need to pray for all leaders to lead wisely among us. Today take time to pray for all leaders to know Jesus so that we live peaceful and quiet lives.

Day 3: Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. What do you learn about love in these verses? How about when you use the Jesus paraphrase? Or the “I” paraphrase each day?

Day 4: Read Ephesians 4:29. How are you doing with the “talk” that comes out of your mouth? Where do you need to ask for forgiveness? Where do you need to pray to use “helpful” words? When are such helpful words easy or hard?

Day 5: Read Matthew 5:43-45. Where is a relationship strained in your life? How can you pray for God to bless that person today??

Day 6: Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. As you have read the “I” paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13, what do you sense God saying to you? How has love become more challenging? Easier? Drawn you closer to God?

“Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray.” - President Abraham Lincoln (2nd Inaugural Address)

Recent additional GO DEEPER reading opportunities:

• “Lead Like It Matters to God: Values Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World“ by Richard Stearns (Amazon Kindle)
• “Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural“ by Ronald C. White Jr. (Amazon Kindle) (YouTube Video)
• “Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise” by Horst Schulze (Amazon Kindle)

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