Devotion for Saturday, August 27, 2011

Awesome Study in James starts tomorrow!
Make plans to be with us at church tomorrow as we start the book of James in Connectiong Group.  God is going to use His Word to GROW us through this book so make plans to be there.  Also, you’ll be introduced to your new table leaders and table groups at this time too.  If you need a ride, let me know!

Today’s Passage:

1. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 2. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:1-2

Pastor Ben’s Commentary:
Weekends mean extra time at home around family.  If your family is like mine, that means that at times there is more opportunity for us to disagree on things.  Today, the book of Proverbs is going to give us a pretty cool strategy on what to do when you get into these kind of conversations.

Many of the proverbs in the Bible use contrast.  They go like “Wise people do this, but foolish people do this.” It can be really helpful.  There are two examples given here in today’s verses.  Think through them by answering these questions…

Application Questions:
1.   What is a “soft answer”?  What does the verse say they do?  What does this mean?
2.  What are “grevious words”? What does the verse say they do?  What does this mean?
3.  What kind of speech comes out of “the wise” person?
4. What kind of speech comes from the fool?
5. Do you think that they way we use are words is important?  Why or why not?
6.  How can this strategy in verse 1 help you? (Be Specific)

Devotion for Friday, August 26, 2011

Prayer Request:
Today is Melana’s surgery.  If you guys could pray for her and us today we would be grateful!

Today’s Passage:

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs 6:6-11

Application Questions:

So it’s Friday.  It’s the last day of the week, and you’re feeling tired. You’re probably not motivated to do your best work today, ’cause it’s Friday.  Well, today we got a little motivation from Proverbs didn’t we?

1. Explain why the ant is a good illustration of not being lazy.   v.6-8
2. We are tempted to procrastinate (v.9-10).  How can procrastination hurt you this year at school?
3.  What do you think vs. 11 means?  How does that happen in people’s lives?

Devotion for Thursday, August 25, 2011

Amazing Night at H2O:
Last night was amazing!  Thanks for inviting your friends, and being faithful to the mission that God has set us on!  Some of you worked really hard on the “Grow” stage so that your friends/family could get to the “Know” stage.  So cool!

Today’s Passage:

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:23-27

Application Questions:
1. What does he mean when he says “keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”? v.23
2. Do you think what we say is important?  What does it mean to use froward or perverse language?  How is that harmful?  v.24
3. In Verse 25, the author says to think about the direction you are going?  How can this help you?
4. Once you’ve decided to go on the path that God has for you, the author says don’t go “to the right hand nor to the left”.  What do you think that means?  What are some things that can take you off track from the path that God has for you? v.26-27.

Devotion for Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Back to School: Spirit Night tonight!
It’s tonight! It will be awesome! Wear your school colors, bring a friend and expect God to show up!
Here is a preview of tonight’s message graphic…

Today’s Passage:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. (Proverbs 3:1-10)

Application Questions:
1. What does he mean when he says “let thine heart keep my commandments”?
2. How does law and commandments add length of days, long life and peace?
3. What does “leaning on your own understanding” look like? What does it look like to acknowledge God in all your ways?
4. “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”. What does this mean and how does it apply to you?