Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

Read Matthew 16:15 using the spiritual habit known as “lectio divina” or divine reading.

• Read/Lectio: Listen for the word or phrase that is addressed to you. 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?
• Respond/Oratio: What is my response to God based on what I have read and encountered? 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.

Read Matthew 16:19-23. Jesus’ command not to tell anyone (vs. 20) seems a bit confusing until you realize Peter had Jesus in the right job but with the wrong job description.

Where have you found yourself a bit off track in understanding who Jesus is in your life?

What keeps you on track in following who Jesus says He is and not just who you want Him to be?

Read Matthew 16:18 and Ephesians 2:10. This is the first time the word “church” is used in the New Testament.

The Greek word for church means “called out ones.” Where is God calling you to take His name?

What are the good works He prepared you for yesterday? Today?

Read Matthew 16:17 and Ephesians 2:8-10.

How do these verses connect truth with each other?

What do they say about how we come to know who Jesus is?

Read Matthew 16:15-16.

When and how did you recognize Jesus as the Christ/the Messiah/the promised one of God?

What does Jesus being the Christ mean for your life?

Read Matthew 16:13-14. The question of Christ's true identity is still hotly debated around the world.

What answers have you heard people give about Christ's identity?

How have you responded to these answers?

Read 1 Kings 19:15 and 1 Kings 19:18.  

How do you renew yourself and ensure that your keeping in line with God's purpose and plan?  

What do you need to do differently?

Read 1 Kings 19:13.  

If God were to ask you today "What are you doing here?" - what's your response?

Read 1 Kings 19:5-6. How are you doing in the caring for the body, the mind, and the soul God has given you?

Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 ( 1 being on empty, 10 being fully provided):

Read 1 Kings 19:1-5. Elijah's life has gone out of bounds.  

He has gone from busy to burdened to burned out.

Do you see warning signs of being busy, burdened, or burned out starting to flicker in your life?