Mark 5:21-40 Devotional: Jairus

If you would like to see or hear Craig Groeschel speak on this subject, please CLICK HERE.

OPEN

• What are some common fears that people have?

• What are some fears that you struggle with?

READ

• Mark 5:21-40

EXPLORE

• Who was Jairus, and why did he want to see Jesus? (5:22-23)

• What was Jairus’ attitude toward Jesus? (5:23)

• Whom did Jesus tell not to be afraid and to “just believe’? Why? (5:35-36)

• Who were the only people that went with Jesus to Jairus’ home? Why? (5:37-38)

• How did people react when Jesus expressed confidence that the dead girl would be all right? (5:40)

REFLECT

• How does Jesus’ treatment of Jairus offer comfort to us today?

• In what situation in your life do you need to heed Jesus’ words, “Don’t be afraid, just believe?”

APPLY

• What is one fear that you can ask the Lord to help you face this week?

• With what concrete action can you show your faith in the Jesus this week?

Saturday Night Reflections

• We had a GREAT time at A2 tonight.
• Sarah-Irene, John’s wife, was able to get off work early, and attend her first A2 Gathering!
• The reason she got off work early was because her Step-Mom and Dad were visiting!  So in the last month and 1/2, A2 has had all of John and Sid’s parents visit…Wow, can you say Red Roof Inn?
• Acts 2 was talking about Control and Fears and letting God have COMPLETE control.
• We had really great discussions and God spoke through all of the group – really a good conversation.
• A2 also spent some time worshiping, and Dave Ness, as usual, did an outstanding job accompanying our singing.
• Of course there was food, lots of it, and it was all GREAT!!

Next Week -

We’ll be asking the question: Which is bigger: your problems or God?

Visit the website often, we’ll be adding new content, daily AND on Monday and Wednesday we will be sharing a devotional.

Check our our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/acts2church!

Psalm 22 Truth

Psalm 22 (via LeadingSmart)

Are You Simple?

“How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?   How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?”

Proverbs 1:22

It’s seems a very straight-forward question, but it raises much deeper thoughts.  You might say that you are not a simple person, you’re very smart, well educated, and in regards to God, you spend a lot of time IN Scripture and Bible Study.  And that’s a good thing.  But as James points out, we shouldn’t be ONLY hearers of the Word, but DOERS. (James 1:22)

How many of us THINK ourselves better/holier/wiser /more righteous than others?  How many of us refuse to give up on our little habits that we KNOW keep up from living COMPLETELY  sold out for God, yet STILL call ourselves His children?

Proverbs 1:22 reminds us that we are just being stupid (simple) and we need to seek God’s knowledge.  We need to give up OUR wisdom and substitute GOD’S.  Our wisdom tells us that we’re too busy for quiet time.  Our wisdom tells us that as long as we’re doing stuff for God, that’s good enough for Him.  Our wisdom tells us that our little “pet sins” are being looked over by God because of everything else we do in His name.

Our wisdom will lead us to Hell.  God’s wisdom will lead us to brokeness, humility, and ultimately salvation.

So, who’s wisdom are YOU following, yours or God’s?

Saturday Night Reflections

• Tonight was great – small in number, but LARGE in Jesus.
• We talked about who were were pleasing: Jesus, Others, or Ourselves.
• We asked some pretty hard questions of each other and sought God to direct us and guide us.
• We had a wonderful meal (as usual) and spent some quality time just hanging out.

Please pray for the Acts 2 church.  We’re wrestling with some ideas about exactly how we fit into God’s plan for Wesley Chapel.  It’s going to be amazing, and we can’t wait to see what God does, but we need some direction from Him, so some prayers would be VERY appreciated.

Re-Post – Philippians 3:7-11 Devotional

If you would like to hear Craig Groeschel’s teaching, visit LifeChurch.tv.

OPEN

• If you were to update your resume today, what recent accomplishment would you want to include?

• What do you feel are your most valuable gifts or skills?

READ

• Philippians 3:7-11

EXPLORE

• In what sense was Paul not boasting, even though he was calling attentions to his accomplishments? (3:7-9)

• Why did Paul consider his past accomplishments as “rubbish”? (3:8)

• What was Paul’s status with Jesus Christ? (3:9)

• What longings did admit to the Philippians? (3:10-11)

REFLECT

• Why do we tend to base our worth as Christians based on our performance?

• Why should our identity and confidence only be in Christ Jesus?

APPLY

• What do you need to start counting as “rubbish” for the sake of Christ?

RePost – Ephesians 2:4-9 Devotional

If you would like to hear Craig Groeschel’s teaching, visit LifeChurch.tv.

OPEN

• What is the best gift you have received?

READ

• Ephesians 2:4-9

EXPLORE

• Why did God make those who were dead alive in Christ? (2:4-5)

• What describes God’s actions in making us alive? (2:5)

• What position has God given Christians in Christ by His divine power? (2:6)

• How do we receive salvation? (2:8)

• Where does salvation come from? (2:8)

• Why can no one boast in their own salvation? (2:8-9)

REFLECT

• How would you describe God’s grace towards you?

• Why doesn’t anyone deserve God’s grace, riches, or mercy?

APPLY

• Who can you share the news of God’s mercy with TODAY?  How?

You Don’t Have What it Takes – Week 2

We’re continuing our series, You Don’t Have What It Takes.  If you would like to hear Craig Craig Groeschel’s sermon on this subject, please visit HERE.

BIG QUESTION:

Do you live for God by choosing to find your acceptance in God, rather than people?

Quick, think about the people in your life…which of them do you really feel pressured to please?  Why?  The Bible says that our purpose is to please God, and not people.  God is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.

The reality is that God will give us all we need every day ONLY IF we live for Him and make the Kingdom of God our primary concern.  Instead of pleasing others, we MUST please God.

PRAYER

God, help us to believe you will give us all we need from day to day. Help us choose to live only for you and make your Kingdom our primary concern.

What are YOU focussing on?

“We make it our aim…to be well pleasing to Him.”

(2 Corinthians 5:9)

It’s usually not a lack of spiritual experience that  leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused on the proper goal: pleasing God.  That must be our primary responsibility, not winning souls, establishing churches, or having revivals.  It must be to please, and be acceptable ONLY to God.

Anything that diverts us even to the slightest degree from the central goal of being “approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection from further service for Him.  It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep out minds and bodies under control.  Paul spoke of  the importance of controlling his own body so that it wouldn’t take him in the wrong direction.  (1 Corinthians 9:27)

We MUST learn to relate everything that we do/say/think to the primary goal, pleasing God.  Our worth to God publicly is measured by who we really are in our private lives.  Is your primary goal in life to please God and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how ‘Godly’ it may sound?

NO GATHERING on March 14

Due to the wedding (Valinda Zerbe’s daughter, Lynn), we will NOT be having a Gathering this week.  Most of the A2 Crew is busy during either the wedding or the reception, so we couldn’t have a Gathering if we wanted to.

So I encourage you, please pray for Lynn and Chris as they embark on matrimonial bliss, and for the Acts 2 church!

We WILL be having our regular Gathering on March 21 – and you do NOT want to miss it.

- John Donahue