Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

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Day 1: Read Psalm 90:1-6. What perspective does Moses take of time in this passage? How does this perspective inform your understanding of time compared to God's time?

Day 2: Read Colossians 3:1-4. Where should our attention be focused? What are some ways that we can attain that focus?

Day 3: Read Luke 2:22-40. How would you describe the actions and attitude of the family? From where does this attitude come from?

Day 4: Read Colossians 3:18-22. What kind of attitude is expected of us as believers? How is this different from a worldly attitude? How is it the same?

Day 5: Read Colossians 3:5-11. List those things that are to be "put to death." What does "put to death" mean to you?

Day 6: Read Colossians 3:12-17. What character traits are listed here? Which of these are a regular part of your walk with Jesus? With which ones do you struggle?

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

 AS PRAY THIS WEEK FOR CREATE FOR COMMUNITY: For patience with parking challenges during construction. For safety and efficiency of our construction crews. For those who have given generously for these improvements.

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Day 1: Read 2 Peter 3:18. In the past 12 months, how have you grown in your prayer life? Blessing others? Making your mark by serving others? What have your answers to the first three questions taught you about Complete Love?

Day 2: Read Philippians 4:6. Paul says do not be anxious about anything. What anxieties do you tend to hold tightly? From what Paul writes, what might help you let go of your anxiety?

Day 3: Read Galatians 5:22-23. When you think of the fruit of the Spirit, what comes to mind? Why? Take some time today to pray the excerpt from John Stott’s prayer: Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Day 4: Read John 15:5. When do your spiritual habits move from “routine” to “rut-ine”? What helps get you out of the rut or dry places in your spiritual life? How does God’s Word help you to grow on a daily basis and to live life each day?

Day 5: Read Luke 24:44-45. What Bible verses do you think Jesus used to explain who He is to the disciples? What Bible verses are guiding lights for your faith?

Day 6: Read 2 Peter 3:18. Who is discipling you? Whom are you discipling?

You can Go Deeper this week by reading the book: Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado.

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

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 from 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, whom can I bless today?"

You can GO DEEPER this week by reading the books: 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 and Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It by Robert D. Lupton.

You can also listen to this week's message or read the full PDF of the message & GPS.

Monday: Read 1 John 3:1. If you are God’s child and He is the Father of all, what does this tell you about your relationship to other believers?

Tuesday: Read 1 John 4:11, 21, Galatians 6:2, 6, James 5:16. For each of the passages answer these two questions. What are we to share? How can we share this?

Wednesday: Read Proverbs 27:17 and Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. After reading these passages, if there is someone else in the room with you, explain to that person why fellowship/Christian community is important.

Thursday: Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-27. Who gave the members their various parts? (V. 18) What is the Spirit’s desire? (V. 25) What attitudes can lead to disharmony in the Body? (Vv. 15, 16, 21) Are there any unnecessary functions (members) in the Body? (Vv. 20-22). Think of what happens when you hit your finger with a hammer. How does this affect the entire body?

Friday: Read 1 Peter 5:1-5. This passage gives direction to pastors and church members. In doing so, it also gives good leadership principles for us to follow as we lead within the church. Looking specifically at verses 2-3, develop a list of right ways to lead and another list of wrong ways to lead.

Saturday: Read Ephesians 4:2-3. According to this passage, what will preserve unity in the Body? How do these behaviors help preserve unity? Examine your attitudes toward other Christians. Is there another member of Christ’s Body you find difficult to relate to in love? Why?

You can GO DEEPER this week by:

• Start the The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan (PDF).
• Download the YouVersion Bible Application on your smartphone or tablet.
• Read the book The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst
• Check out this online store Artisan Connect (ministry story from The Village)

 You can also listen to this week's message or read the full PDF of the message & GPS.

Read 1 Timothy 2:5-6. This passage describes Jesus as our mediator. What is the job of a mediator?

How does Jesus mediate for us?

Filled with gratitude, say a prayer thanking Jesus for being your mediator.

Who can you pray for who does not know Jesus as their mediator? Pray for that person.

Read Leviticus 25:35 and Deuteronomy 15:7. The Bible is filled with stories and passages that lift up the honorable characteristic of generosity.

Generosity is one of those honorable characteristics that God blesses us with as He strengthens our faith.

Pray for God to strengthen your faith so that your generosity overflows into many lives.

Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see a life that was perfectly led by the Other-First GPS. How does this passage illustrate how Jesus live sacrificially for the good of others?

Cite two other people in the Bible who lived for others.

Today, guided by the Other-First GPS, what can you do to put others first?

Read Ezekiel 34:17-24. In this passage the LORD condemns selfish lifestyles; lifestyles that are guided by the Me-First GPS.

What images and metaphors are used in this passage to describe selfish actions?

What are the consequences of these actions?

How does God respond to the selfish actions?

Read Acts 9:1-19. In this story from the Book of Acts we see the GPS’s of two people being radically changed.

Describe the change in Saul’s GPS, then describe the surprising change in Ananias’ GPS.

Describe a time in your life when your GPS was changed.

 Read 2 Peter 1:19. How does the passage of Scripture describe God’s Word?

What is it compared to and why?

How does the passage exhort us to handle God’s Word?

These images of God’s Word reminds us that the Word is there to guide and direct us as we make small and large decisions in life. How does the Word of God guide your decision-making?