Saturday, March 31, 2007

Today's Reading:
Romans 12

PrayerPoint:
Ask God for a humble heart.

Growing Together
@NewLifeLakeview
April 2007

April 1: Romans 13-14
PrayerPoint: Thank God for your salvation.

April 2: Romans 15-16
Pray for each member of your small group by name.

April 3: Jude
Pray for the Easter services, opportunities for outreach.

April 4: 2 Peter 1-3
Pray for another small group leader today.

April 5: 1 Peter 1-2
Pray for Pastor’s Mark and Kevin.

April 6: 1 Peter 3-4
Ask God to give you strength to serve Him.

April 7: 1 Peter 5
Pray that the presence of God would be real and evident to all who attend our church this weekend.

April 8: Hebrews 1-2
Pray for your growth partner today.

April 9: Hebrews 3-4
Pray for each member of your family by name.

April 10: Hebrews 5-6
Ask the Lord to search your soul and bring to light anything that you need to change.

April 11: Hebrews 7-8
Pray for the unsaved who attend our church.

April 12: Hebrews 9-10
Pray for the sick in our church.

April 13: Hebrews 11-12
Pray for each member of your ministry by name.

Growth Partner Questions:

Is your life balanced between personal study, prayer, ministry, family, rest and recreation?
What have you learned from your personal Bible reading/study this week?
What area of your life do you feel God most wants you to change?
Did you struggle with any area of sin this past week that you should confess? Have you confessed this to God?
Do you need to make right any relationship in your life?
How have you sensed God’s presence in your life this past week?
Did you pray for your family, small group, growth partner and church this week?
What trials have you experienced this week because of ministry?
How have you lived sacrificially this week?
What do you need to stop and thank God for right now?

GOD: The Ultimate Promise Keeper

Today's Reading:
Romans 10-11

I hope you have been enjoying your study of Romans. I pray you have been keeping up with your reading and being blessed as a result. Every time I read Romans I come away with something new or a fresh reminder of the strength of God's grace. In today's reading there are a few things I would like to point out to you:

Ever struggle with knowing which Scriptures to use when bringing another to faith in Jesus Christ ? Romans is perhaps the best of Paul's letters to use. Try using Romans 10:9-11.

Ever doubt God's promises for your life? Perhaps you've messed up bad and feel as though God could never use you again? Perhaps you have someone in your group who is beaten up with discouragement. Read chapter 11 over slowly, carefully. Now focus on verses 29-32. Meditate on verse 29. Pray a response back to God as you come to a deeper understanding of this truth.

Now thank the Lord for his faithfulness. Share this truth with someone in your life who is in need of encouragement today.

PrayerPoint:
Pray for your growth partner today.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Today's Reading:
Romans 8-9

PrayerPoint:
Please pray for Women with a Purpose.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Today's Reading:
Romans 6-7

PrayerPoint:
Pray for the widows of our church.

Justification, Part 2

Today's Reading:
Romans 4-5

The benefits of justification:
We have peace with God (5:1)
We are credited with righteousness (4:3, 6)
We have hope (5:5)
We have been reconciled to God (5:11)
We are saved from God's wrath (5:9)
We have received grace (5:2, 15, 17)
"...the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were" (4:17).

PrayerPoint:
Ask God for wisdom.

Justification

Today's Reading:
Romans 2-3

If someone were to ask you what Justification meant, how would you answer?
The theme of justification is spelled out by Paul in today's reading. Justification means that upon trusting in Christ, we are declared righteous by God. He cancels the guilt of our sin and credits righteousness to us. The only way that a person can be made right with God is through Christ. Not by living a good clean life, not by obeying the 10 commandments, not by not sinning (because we all sin - 3:23), not by doing alot of ministry or wearing a fancy ministry title or going to the mission field or praying long prayers or looking righteous. No. It's all through Jesus Christ. That's why I worship Him (Rom. 12:1-2). How about you?

PrayerPoint:
Please pray for the Tech team.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Today's Reading:
Romans 1

PrayerPoint:
Please pray for the singles of our church.
Please pray for Mike Greenwood and crew today as they finish loading the container bound for Africa. Help will be needed after church today.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Today's Reading:
2 Corinthians 13

PrayerPoint:
Thank God that He is All-Powerful.
Please continue to pray for the men on the encounter retreat.
Please pray for Mike Greenwood and crew as they load the container bound to Africa today.

Ever feel Weak?

Today's Reading:
2 Corinthians 11-12

What I love about 2 Corinthians is Paul's vulnerability. Paul the Apostle: Powerfully used of God, confident in his identity with Jesus Christ, endured immense hardships and suffering for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom of God and yet this very same Paul, boasts in his weaknesses (11:30; 12:5, 9). Ever feel weak? Paul did (11:29; 12:8-9). Ever struggle with something deep in your life, perhaps a sin issue? Paul inwardly burned (11:29). Yet Paul kept on going. He kept on serving his Lord because one day in his life, he encountered Jesus on a road and he was never the same (Acts 9). Ever feel weak? Why not look back to a time when you encountered Jesus. What did he say to you? Was His grace sufficient for you at that moment? Guess what? His grace is still sufficient for you...He still cares...He still wants to use you and He will...He still has wonderful plans for your life.

Sometimes we feel weak in the race of life and ministry that God has called us to, but we only lose the race if we lay down and never get up.

PrayerPoint:
Please pray for the Men's Encounter retreat.
The GATHERING has been cancelled for this month.

Lessons on Giving

Today's Reading:
2 Corinthians 9-10

In chapter 9 of today's reading, Paul gives us some valuable, yet practical tips to consider when giving to others and especially the ministry of God Himself on this earth:

1) We are to give generously and not grudgingly (9:5, 6).
2) We are not to give under compulsion (9:7).
3) We are to decide ourselves, how much we will give (9:7).
4) We are to give cheerfully (9:7).
5) We are to not worry about what we might go without as a result of our giving, but rather
trust in God's grace to provide for our needs (9:8-10).

What observations have you made on the subject of giving that could be added to this list (please post in comments)?

PrayerPoint:
Please pray for the marriages of our church.

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

Today's Reading:
2 Corinthians 7-8

One can learn from today's reading that Godly sorrow far outweighs worldly sorrow.
What is Godly sorrow? I'll let you answer that question. Do a little digging in the Scriptures and see what you come up with. Do a word study on the word "sorrow." That's one way to begin.
Regardless of what Godly sorrow is or is not, according to Paul the benefits of Godly sorrow are many:

Repentance (7:10)
Salvation (7: 10)
No regret (7: 10)
Earnestness and eagerness to make things that were wrong, right (7:11)
A concern for justice (7:11)
A passion to live right (7:11)

What are the benefits of worldly sorrow (feeling bad you got caught or feeling bad about the consequences of your sin):

None.

Instead:
Guilt
Fear
Shame
Death (7:10)

Despite the contrast of the two types of sorrow mentioned in chapter 7, I believe the real message of this chapter is Paul's response: Beautiful, wonderful, encouraging, GRACE!
Despite how others respond to the sorrow they feel over sin, our response should always be the same as Paul's: GRACE!


PrayerPoint:
Please pray for the leadership of our church.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Today's Reading:
2 Corinthians 5-6

In today's reading, Paul reminds us of one of the greatest benefits of being Christians: The Ministry of Reconciliation. "And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Cor. 5:15). God has reconciled us back to himself. The Ministry of Reconciliation is God's gift to us through Christ, making our relationship right with him once again, not by what we have done, but by what he has done through his son Jesus Christ. The benefits of the Ministry of Reconciliation are numerous: We are a new creation (vs. 17), we are now ministers of reconciliation (vs. 18), meaning that through our lives, our ministry and our message, we are used of God to bring people back into a right relationship with God. Are sins are no longer counted against us (vs. 19). We are free to approach the throne of God and call out to Him at any time through prayer (Heb. 4:16) and we are free to boldly speak the Ministry of Reconciliation into the lives of others (2 Tim.1:7). It's through the Ministry of Reconciliation that feelings of condemnation, worthlessness and guilt are crushed and we are set free to walk with Christ and live for Him!
May the Lord remind you today of how much He loves you and has made everything possible for you to walk with Him and minister the Ministry of Reconciliation to others.

PrayerPoint:
Pray for each member of your family by name.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Today's Reading:
2 Corinthians 3-4

PrayerPoint:
Ask God to protect the unity of our church.

Additional Needs within our Body:

Please pray for Erin Sander's newborn nephew Brody who was recently found to have fluid in his brain. Please also pray for the parents (Erin's cousin Nicole and her husband Eric) as they have had a difficult year. Here is Erin's e-mail if you want to send her a note of encouragement: emsanders@hotmail.com

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Today's Reading:
2 Corinthians 1-2

PrayerPoint:
Please pray for our missionaries in Spain.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Today's Reading:
2 Timothy 3-4

PrayerPoint:
Ask God to bless your ministry.

Please continue to pray for Pastor's Kevin, Dwayne and Josh as they minister in Uganda and Kenya. Please epecially pray for Pastor Josh as he is in need of physical strength.

Paul and Timothy

Today's Reading:
2 Timothy 1-2

In Paul's second letter to Timothy, we learn more about the unique relationship these two men had. Paul longed to see Timothy so much that he believed that if he were to see him, he would be filled with joy (1:4). Although Paul writes this letter during a lonely time in his life, he continues to speak into the life of Timothy and mentor him through this letter. Paul was like a father to Timothy, a spiritual father that is. This is one element of human relationships that set Christians far apart from others. How many of you have had a spiritual mother or father, someone who either introduced you to Christ or discipled you and nurtured you in becoming mature in the faith? I have had a few. These were men and women who taught me how to share my faith not by handing me a book, but by taking me to the train station every Saturday morning to hand out tracks. Mind you, this is not my prefered method for evangelizing others, but it was another man's way of passing onto me what he had learned the only way he knew how. There was also the first time I participated in an all night prayer meeting at the home of Carole Smith-Torres, a powerful woman of God who saw countless numbers of men saved out of drug addictions into the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What about you? Who is your Timothy? Who are you nurturing in the faith and who is your Paul, the one who nurtures you? I believe it is spiritually healthy to be in these types of Christian relationships. Are you missing out? Why not begin to make this a daily prayer request of yours...ask God to send you a Timothy and a Paul. Your walk with God will become very different and perhaps your relationships with others will cause you to be "filled with joy."

PrayerPoint:
Thank God that He is forgiving.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Today's Reading:
Galatians 5-6

PrayerPoint:
Pray for the children's ministry and the children of our church.

March 12-14, 2007

March 12-14 Readings and PrayerPoints:

March 12: 1 Timothy 4-6
Pray for Pastor Kevin as he travels to Africa.

March 13: Galatians 1-2
Pray for each member of your ministry by name.

March 14: Galatians 3-4
Pray for the worship team.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Today's Reading:
1 Timothy 1-3

PrayerPoint:
Pray for the people of Chicago to experience and know God. Ask the Lord to set captives free and to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Ministry of Epaphras

Today's Reading:
Colossians 3-4

Although we don't hear of Epaphras outside of Paul's letter to the Colossians, it would benefit us to pay close attention to the ministry he had to others as noted in just two verses of chapter 4. Epaphras was a servant (4:12), but even more than that, he regularly came before the throne of God on behalf of those God had entrusted to him. You see, Epaphras took the ministry of discipleship so seriously that he not only prayed for these other believers, but he wrestled in prayer for them. Epaphras anguished in prayer and on his knees as he struggled against the spiritual forces of evil that were keeping these other believers from moving forward spiritually. Epaphras did this with one goal in mind: that the believers in Colosse would be able to stand firm in the will of God and that they would become mature in their assurance of who they were in Christ. Epaphras was modeling the ministry that Jesus Christ has devoted himself to for the last 2,000 years: PRAYER (Heb. 7:25). Have you ever wrestled in prayer for another believer?
When we enter into eternity, we will not be bringing with us the hours of television watched, the countless hours of working to acquire material possessions, or the time we wasted stressing about all that God has already promised to provide for us. What we will bring into eternity with us is the men and women that we have wrestled for, the brothers and sisters that we cried out to God for day and night and by doing so, joined forces with the one who lives to intercede, Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of God is not built upon the foundation of following church growth and modern pop culture trends, but rather by the men and women who abandon all, fall on their knees and cry out to God on behalf of others. May the Spirit of God enlighten your minds to understand the depth of Epaphras' ministry to the church at Colosse.

PrayerPoint:
Ask the Lord to search your soul and bring to light anything that you need to change.

ActionPoint:
Which member of your small group is in the greatest need of someone standing in the gap for him or her and wrestling with God on his or her behalf? Why don't you be the one to do that?
Write down the name of that individual on an index card and carry that card with you all day as a reminder to pray for that individual.

Who is Jesus Christ?

Today's Reading:
Colossians 1-2

In today's reading Paul gives one of the best descriptions of Christ's deity. He did this to refute the false teachings that were present at that time in Colosse. Match Colossians 1 up with Isaiah 53 and you will have a very detailed description of our Lord, Savior, God, King and Redeemer: JESUS CHRIST.

He is the image of the invisible God (1:15)
He is the firstborn over all creation (1:15)
He created all things (1:16)
All things were created for Him (1:16)
He is before all things (1:17)
He holds all things together (1:17)
He is the head of the church (1:18)
He is the firstborn from among the dead (1:18)
He has supremacy over all things (1:18)
He is filled with the fullness of God (1:19)
He has reconciled all things to himself (1:20, 22)
He is the one who makes peace (1:20)
He is the mystery that dwells in you (1:27)
He is the embodiment of all wisdom and knowledge (2:4)
He is the fullness of Deity in bodily form (2:9)

May the Lord encourage your heart, strengthen your faith and enlighten you to the power of God who lives in you as you meditate on the truth of who Jesus Christ is.

PrayerPoint:
Pray for each member of your family by name.

ActionPoint:
Get alone in a quiet place and read these statements about Christ over and over again several times. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your soul to the truth's you have just read. Read these statements over again. Meditate on them again for a few minutes. Respond to God in prayer.
Write down what you have learned.

Paul's Defense

Today's Reading:
Acts 19:23 through chapter 22

In chapter 22 of today's reading we are reminded of Paul's testimony as he speaks to the crowds in Jerusalem. It was a common occurrence in the lives of early believers to tell their story - who they were and how they encountered Jesus Christ. As many of you know, the worship team at New Life Lakeview also functions as a small group. Currently, each of us are taking turns sharing our testimony. Each week two different people tell of how they encountered Jesus Christ. The entire team prays daily for the two individuals who will share their testimonies leading up to that coming Wednesday evening. Mike and Jenny shared their story last night. I feel like I know them alot better. I trust them more too because of their vulnerability.

Our testimony is our defense. It is our story and a good reminder of our true identity. When was the last time you shared your story as a defense of who you really are? How well do you know the story of the lives of indivuals in your group? I would encourage you to find out. You might just find a hidden jewel within the life of another brother or sister!

PrayerPoint:
Pray for your growth partner today.

ActionPoint:
Give your testimony to your small group at one of your meetings.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Today's Reading:
Philippians 3-4

PrayerPoint:
Thank God that He is Sovereign.

Every Good Thing...

Today's Reading:
Philemon; Philippians 1-2

In Paul's letter to Philemon, we have one of my all time favorite verses, "I pray that you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ Jesus" (vs. 6). The reason why this is one of my favorite verses is not because I love going out and telling others about Christ. I wish I did. I've anguished over this area of my life for most of my walk with God. You see, I find it difficult approaching people I don't know well. I'm not even that good at pursuing my friends (so if I'm pursing you, consider it a God thing). But what I love about this verse is the mark I have written next to it in one of my older Bibles, "(7/88). " When something jumps out at me in the Bible and I work through that issue, I write the date next to that passage in my Bible to act as a constant reminder to me of what I was dealing with at that time in my life. "7/88" stands for July, 1988 when I was on my first missions trip to Japan with Campus Crusade for Christ, and that is why this verse means so much to me. During that summer in Japan, we shared our faith to people who did not know Christ the entire summer. Talk about living out of your comfort zone! I can honestly say that when I returned I was completely fulfilled as a human. I was satisfied. Why? I had learned the secret of, "every good thing we have in Christ Jesus," by sharing my faith all summer long.

Today after work, I stopped to get gas. A homeless man approached me and asked for money. We talked for a while as I learned about his life. After he finished talking I shared my faith with him and asked if I could pray for him. He agreed. We prayed. As I drove away down Chicago Ave. I waived to him and he returned the greeting. I felt rather good inside. I was reminded of how blessed I am to know Jesus Christ and to be able to share him with another person. I was able to love and respect someone else I did not know. Do you want to have a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment in your life? Go tell others about Jesus Christ. In time, your life will feel much different.

PrayerPoint:
Ask God to give you strength to serve Him.

Monday, March 5, 2007

Today's Reading:
Ephesians 5-6

PrayerPoint:
Ask God to bring inner healing to those in need.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Today's Reading:
Ephesians 3-4

PrayerPoint:
Please pray for another small group leader today.

Our Identity in Christ

Today's Reading:
Ephesians 1-2

In today's reading Paul makes several statements that support one's position in Christ. I have found that when we grow in our identity in Christ, we begin to gain a clearer understanding of His overall purpose for our lives while on this earth. A strong understanding of one's identity in Christ will also enable a follower of Christ to walk more securely in victory, calling, encouragement and peace.

Who we are in Christ:
We are saints (1:1).
We are blessed with every spiritul blessing (1:3).
We were chosen by God (1:4).
We are holy and blameless in God's sight (1:4).
We are adopted by God (1:5).
We are sons and daughters of God (1:5).
We are under God's grace (1:6).
We are redeemed (1:7).
We are forgiven (1:7).
We are able to understand the mystery of what He accomplished through Christ (1:9).
We are chosen (1:11).
We are sealed with God's Spirit for all eternity (1:13-14; 2:22).
We have power (1:19).
We are alive with Christ (2:5).
We are saved by grace (2:5, 8).
We are raised with Christ (2:6).
We are seated with Christ (2:6).
We are God's workmanship (2:10).
We are called to do good works (2:10).
We are near to Christ (2:13).
We have access to the Father through Christ (2:18).
We are fellow citizens with God's people (2:19).

PrayerPoint:
Please pray for the youth leaders.

The Ministry of Encouragement

Today's Reading:
1 Thessalonians 4-5

What I really loved about today's reading was Paul's command to encourage (4:18; 5:11). In the first reference, he asks the Thessalonian believers to encourage each other concerning the return of the Lord. When was the last time you encouraged another believer by reminding him or her that Christ is indeed coming back? In the second reference, Paul reminds the believers to encourage one another as a means to building one another up. I find Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians very "encouraging!" He goes on to write, "be joyful always" (5:16). When was the last time you were around another believer that was always joyful? Doesn't that person's joy encourage you? I know that a mark of my own spiritual maturity is when I have come to the place when I am outwardly joyful all the time!

So...why not encourage someone today? You might just get a dose of encouragement yourself!

PrayerPoint:
Ask God to give you a thankful heart. If you have a thankful heart, ask Him to help you to be more thankful.

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Today's Reading:
1 Thessalonians 1-3

PrayerPoint:
Ask the Lord to forgive you of any known and any unknown sin in your life.