Over the next 10 weeks we will be looking at a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It is my hope and prayer that by looking at what Francis has to say about our relationship with God, our lives will change.
Chapter 1: Stop Praying
Goal:
To fully understand the importance of prayer and its role in our relationship with God.
Lesson:
How often do things that we are so used to start to become mundane? School, chores, friendships even God. Some of us my have known God for a long time and our life with him has just become boring. It is the same old thing. I pray a little and I read my Bible a little.
"If your high view of God does not effect of how you think of him then he is just another word in the sand"
You see sometimes we forget who God really is. That we have the amazing opportunity to speak with Him. The creator of millions of stars and galaxies, He wants to talk to us!
It is time to shake things up......to stop praying.......and sit in awe of God.
Discussion Questions:
When you think of God what is the 1st thing that comes to mind?
What does being in God's presence mean?
What is the purpose of prayer? How should we pray?
If you are interested in a copy of Crazy Love we will be taking orders this week so that we can truly dive in over the next 10 weeks.
Questions:
collins@fpcb.org
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
When Words Cease
Obey.
That little word that gives us so much trouble.
The song my mother would so regularly sing;
“O-B-E-Y, obey your mom and dad
O-B-E-Y, it makes them very glad
Listen to the words they say
Obey your parents every day
O-B-E-Y, obey your mom and dad!"
From the time that we are young Children we are asked to obey, our parents, our teachers, and most importantly God. However obeying is so much more then an act. It is a state in which we submit our desires and our pride to that of a higher authority. This is not for their benefit, but instead for ours.
So where do we start?
“Begin where you are. Obey now. Use what little obedience you are capable of, even if it be like a grain of mustard seed. Begin where you are.” (Thomas Kelly 32)
It does not matter where it is that you are. Wherever life has brought you, just start there. Do not try to change where you are before you begin. Once you just start God will direct your steps.
Then what?
Pray. Be in prayer all day. Every moment that goes by during your day, pray. Just as Paul urges us to pray continually (1 Thes 5:17). This more about a state of mind then it is one long prayer, a verse or a phrase that you meditate on throughout the day. “Let your will be mine”, “I delight to do thy will Oh God” Ps 40:8.
The more time we spend in prayer the less it becomes about words.
“Words may cease and one stands and walks and sits and lies in wordless attitudes of adoration and submission and rejoicing and exultation and glory.” (Kelly 34)
How great would that be to sit in a room and not need word but just be overwhelmed by the creator of the universe. The Alpha and Omega, Yahweh himself. I believe this is what the apostle Paul was getting at in 1 Thessalonians 5. Communion with God that is beyond words, it is as much a part of you as breathing.
You see in practicing this Spiritual Discipline we are preparing the soil of our lives for God. The more we pray, and ask for God’s desires to be our own, the more fertile we become. Thus creating in us a lavish field ripe for growth. If we do not prepare the soil then we are in effect not allowing the Gardener to work. Our disobedience makes us spiritually barren.
What if I fail?
If you forget God for an hour or slip and fall, do not sit in regret. Instead pick yourself up and begin where you are. God loves you and will not leave you, no matter how big a slip up you have.
Resources:
A Testament of Devotion
Thomas R. Kelly
That little word that gives us so much trouble.
The song my mother would so regularly sing;
“O-B-E-Y, obey your mom and dad
O-B-E-Y, it makes them very glad
Listen to the words they say
Obey your parents every day
O-B-E-Y, obey your mom and dad!"
From the time that we are young Children we are asked to obey, our parents, our teachers, and most importantly God. However obeying is so much more then an act. It is a state in which we submit our desires and our pride to that of a higher authority. This is not for their benefit, but instead for ours.
So where do we start?
“Begin where you are. Obey now. Use what little obedience you are capable of, even if it be like a grain of mustard seed. Begin where you are.” (Thomas Kelly 32)
It does not matter where it is that you are. Wherever life has brought you, just start there. Do not try to change where you are before you begin. Once you just start God will direct your steps.
Then what?
Pray. Be in prayer all day. Every moment that goes by during your day, pray. Just as Paul urges us to pray continually (1 Thes 5:17). This more about a state of mind then it is one long prayer, a verse or a phrase that you meditate on throughout the day. “Let your will be mine”, “I delight to do thy will Oh God” Ps 40:8.
The more time we spend in prayer the less it becomes about words.
“Words may cease and one stands and walks and sits and lies in wordless attitudes of adoration and submission and rejoicing and exultation and glory.” (Kelly 34)
How great would that be to sit in a room and not need word but just be overwhelmed by the creator of the universe. The Alpha and Omega, Yahweh himself. I believe this is what the apostle Paul was getting at in 1 Thessalonians 5. Communion with God that is beyond words, it is as much a part of you as breathing.
You see in practicing this Spiritual Discipline we are preparing the soil of our lives for God. The more we pray, and ask for God’s desires to be our own, the more fertile we become. Thus creating in us a lavish field ripe for growth. If we do not prepare the soil then we are in effect not allowing the Gardener to work. Our disobedience makes us spiritually barren.
What if I fail?
If you forget God for an hour or slip and fall, do not sit in regret. Instead pick yourself up and begin where you are. God loves you and will not leave you, no matter how big a slip up you have.
Resources:
A Testament of Devotion
Thomas R. Kelly
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