Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

Day 1 (Monday): Practice Lectio Divina with Psalm 104:24-25.

Day 2 (Tuesday): Practice Lectio Divina with Psalm 104:26-28.

Day 3 (Wednesday): Practice Lectio Divina with Acts 2:1-4.

Day 4 (Thursday): Practice Lectio Divina with Acts 2:5-12.

Day 5 (Friday): Practice Lectio Divina with Acts 2:13-15.

Day 6 (Saturday): Practice Lectio Divina with Acts 2:16-21.

Our annual theme for 2022/2023 is "DEVOTED" from Acts 2:42. 

Recent additional GO DEEPER reading opportunities available on Amazon Books (#ads):

• "Lutheranism 101 Baptism" by Charles Lehmann
• "The Soul Felt It's Worth: A 25-Day Devotional Journey Through the Music of Christmas" (The Trinity Project)
• "The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life" by Louie Giglio

Watch this week's sermon or read the entire message & GPS here.

Day 1 (Monday): Read Acts 2:1-4. The Holy Spirit gets in us so that we are one of His tools to transform the world. How have you sensed the Holy Spirit using you recently?

Day 2 (Tuesday): Read Acts 2:17-18. What is the difference you see in your life when you live empowered by the Spirit? On your own power?

Day 3 (Wednesday): Read Genesis 11:4-8. When do you sense the temptation to lift up your own name over God’s name? What lessons does the Tower of Babel teach you?

Day 4 (Thursday): Read Acts 2:5. What barriers do you pray God will break down between people? Where do you need Him to break barriers with others in your life?

Day 5 (Friday): Read Acts 2:21. Who are you praying for to know Jesus?

Day 6 (Saturday): Read John 14:26. What do you want the Holy Spirit to teach you?

Recent additional GO DEEPER reading opportunities available on Amazon Books (#ads):

• Martin Luther’s Small and Large Catechism
• "Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community" by Ruth Haley Barton
• "Life@Work: Marketplace Success for People of Faith" by John C. Maxwell, Stephen R. Graves, and Thomas G. Addington

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

This week we are completely focused on Matthew 28:19-20.

NOTE: As we transition to the summer we are adding Thursday night services in addition to our existing Saturday night and Sunday services.  So during the summer the GPS will be published on Thursday and can be used the 6 days after you attend worship as part of your daily devotional time.

Monday (Day 1): Pronounce it! Read Matthew 28:19-20 aloud more than once. How does emphasizing different words change the focus?

Tuesday (Day 2): Picture it! Imagine how you would feel in the situation described in Psalm 1. What would you do and say?

Wednesday (Day 3): Probe it! (SPACEPETS) In Matthew 28:19-20, does it suggest a:

• Sin to confess?
• Promise to claim?
• Attitude to change?
• Command to obey?
• Example to follow?
• Prayer to pray?
• Error to avoid?
• Truth to believe?
• Something to praise God for?

Thursday (Day 4): Paraphrase it! Put Matthew 28:19-20 into you own words. How do translations vary (e.g., word-for-word vs. paraphrase)?

Friday (Day 5): Pray it! Read and pray Matthew 28:19-20 aloud to God. What fresh insights do you receive?

Saturday (Day 6): Personalize it! Insert your name in place of any first-person pronouns in Matthew 28:19-20. What additional insights do you get?

You can GO DEEPER this week by:

• Read the book: They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations by Dan Kimball

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

Pastor Burkey outlined three images to visualize "What the Church Means for Life Today":

1. Wind & Fire
2. One Body 
3. Living Water 

Monday: Read Acts 2:12. When does the church amaze you showing its beauty? When does the church perplex you showing itself as a beast? How might God use you to bring out more “beauty” than “beast” in our church?

Tuesday: Read Acts 2:17, 21. Where have you seen God’s power working in the lives of people of all ages? How do you sense the Holy Spirit being poured out in your life and in our life together as Christ Lutheran Church?

Wednesday: Read 1 Corinthians 12:12. If the church is the body of Christ, who does Christ Lutheran Church look like to you? Why?

Thursday: Read 1 Corinthians 12:7. Do you know your spiritual gifts? (If not, go to this online tool version of the ELCA Spiritual Gifts assessment). If you know your gifts, how are you using them at this point in your life?

Friday: Read John 7:37. Where do you see our community “thirsting for God”? Where do you find yourself “thirsting for God”?

Saturday: Read John 7:38-39. Where do you see the Holy Spirit “making waves”? Where is the Holy Spirit inviting you to join Him in making the church beautiful? What holds you back from joining the Holy Spirit’s work? What draws you to the amazing work God wants to do through you and through us as Christ Lutheran Church Ministries?

You can GO DEEPER this week by:

• Read the book: They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations by Dan Kimball

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