Date: January 17-18, 2009
Text: John 1:43-51; Psalm
9:1-2
Theme: Seasons of Discipleship
Planting Seeds
Day 1: Monday, January 19,
2009—Consider Again What It Means to Abide
Last week we talked about
abiding in Jesus. We listened to Jesus explain
that we can bear fruit only by remaining in him.
We saw the fruit of the Spirit as the character
of Jesus reflected in our lives
(Galatians 5:22-23). Consider these
thoughts again as you read John 15:1-17, 26-27.
Did you hear the words about the Father’s glory,
Jesus’ joy in us, obedience, prayer, love, true
friendship, the gift of the Spirit, and the call
to testify about Jesus? This week’s theme is
about planting seeds, sharing Jesus with others.
How do the truths about abiding and bearing
fruit relate to our call to witness? Ponder
these things as you read John 15:26-27 and
17:18, 26. Pray.
Day 2: Tuesday, January 20,
2009—Glorious News and Overflowing Love
Ponder the simplicity of and
great truths in Smith and Townsend’s lyrics:
"For God so loved the world, He gave His only
Son, to die on Calvary’s tree, from sin to set
me free. Some day He’s coming back, what glory
that will be; wonderful His love to me"
(1938, New Spring). We have glorious,
good news to share, news of God’s amazing,
overflowing, abundant love, but do we share it?
Read John 1:35-51, noticing the various ways the
invitation to follow Jesus is offered. Consider
the simplicity of the invitations. Is it really
so hard to tell others about Jesus? How is
sharing Jesus a reflection of our love for God
and others? Read 1 John 4:7-16 and pray.
Day 3: Wednesday, January 21,
2009—An Invitation
Have you experienced the
thrill of opening an invitation to a special
event? Have you considered that the invitation
to be in relationship with our glorious and
eternal God is a gift of unsurpassed worth? Does
it humble you to know that you are called to be
an invitation bearer for the King of kings and
Lord of lords? From Genesis to Revelation we see
God’s invitation to relationship
(Genesis 3:8-9; 15:1; 16:13; Exodus 3:14-15;
Revelation 22:17—the bride is the church).
Read John 1:35-51, noticing how people are
invited. Did those inviting share theology and
doctrine, or did they simply invite people to
meet Jesus? Pray about what this means in your
life.
Day 4: Thursday, January 22,
2009—Where Do We Begin?
Evangelism: does the word
excite you or create terror in your heart? In
regard to witnessing, what does it mean to
"plant seeds"? Does
planting seeds, inviting
others to meet Jesus, and sharing the faith
always look the same? Ponder the different
"faces" of evangelism as you read Matthew
28:18-20; John 1:40-46; Acts 1:8; 2:14, 22-24,
32-41; 8:26-40. We all are called to share
Jesus, but most of us will not be sharing our
faith with large crowds in huge auditoriums. We
do not have to know everything about Jesus or be
great orators to tell others about Jesus. Read
John 1:40-46 again; pray the Spirit will open
the door for you to invite someone to meet Jesus
today.
Day 5: Friday, January 23,
2009—Is It Really Our Story?
It’s important to be able to
tell others about the difference Jesus makes in
our lives, but is the focus really to be on us
and our stories? The purpose of planting
seeds/sharing our faith is to introduce others
to Jesus! How is this validated in John 1:40-49;
20:30-31 and Acts 26:1-23? Whether speaking only
a few words to encourage another to come meet
the One whom we have met, or when sharing a
detailed story of our faith journey, the goal is
to invite others to meet Jesus. How do we see a
similar heart and focus in David’s words in
Psalm 9:1-2? Pray!
Day 6: Saturday, January 24,
2009—The Spirit’s Activity in Our Lives and
Witness
Read Acts 1:8; Galatians
5:22-23; and Ephesians 1:17-19a. Notice that
it’s the Spirit who empowers us to witness,
manifests Jesus’ character in us, and prepares
hearts to believe and receive the good news of
Jesus. We are called to be faithful in telling
others about Jesus; the "success" of our witness
is not our responsibility. Why is the fruit of
the Spirit important in our witness? Are our
very lives an even greater witness than our
words? Consider that each aspect of the fruit of
the Spirit is a reflection of Jesus’ life in us
(Matthew 11:29; John 6:38; 14:27; 15:11;
17:13, 26; Romans 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:13). In
prayer, open your heart to Jesus. Go share
Jesus.
Day 7: Sunday, January 25,
2009—There Is Something Winsome about Gratitude
and Joy
Are you drawn to joyful people who have
attitudes of gratitude? As followers of Jesus,
we have everything we need to fill our hearts
and lives with joy and thankfulness. Read John
15:11 and Colossians 1:9-14; embrace the promise
and gift of joy. Hear it in David’s words as you
read Psalm 9:1-2; 36:5-9; and 63:3-4. Consider
memorizing one of these Scriptures. Talk to
Jesus about your desire to radiate such
overflowing joy and gratitude that your words
and life become an invitation to others to come
and meet the One who loves without measure.
Day 1: Monday,
January 26, 2009—"Rooted and Established in
Love"
Read Paul’s prayer for the
Ephesians (3:14-19); what is he longing
for the Lord to do in their lives? Do you long
for these same things in your life and the lives
of those for whom you pray? Make Paul’s prayer
yours, first as you pray it for yourself and
then as you pray it for others. Kneel, if you
are able, and pray, "Father, from your glorious
riches, please strengthen me with power through
your Spirit…" The first chapters of Ephesians
are about the vastness of God’s love and grace;
the last chapters speak of our response to what
God has done for us in Jesus. Why is Paul’s
prayer an appropriate transition between the two
parts of the letter? Pray with thanksgiving.
Day 2: Tuesday, January 27,
2009—"Immeasurably More" or "Abundantly Far
More"
Read Ephesians 3:14-20,
considering just what it is for which Paul
prays. Did you notice that he prays we will know
love that surpasses knowledge and experience far
more of God’s presence and power than we can
even imagine? Now read and reflect on Jesus’
words in John 14:11-21, 23 and 15:4-13. How do
Jesus’ words help us understand Paul’s prayer?
Ponder the words, "filled with all the fullness
of God" (Ephesians 3:19); how does this
relate to Jesus’ teaching on abiding? Do you
ache for more of this fullness, more of Jesus’
abiding presence? Read Paul’s testimony in
Galatians 2:20; then use Paul’s prayer in
Ephesians 1:15-19 to guide your prayer.
Day 3: Wednesday, January 28,
2009—Taking Root…Growing Deep
Picture a majestic tree with
a huge canopy, a tree that has endured the
assault of storms and the seasons’ extremes; its
roots are vast and deep. Read Psalm 1:1-3;
92:12-15; Jeremiah 17:7-8; and Ephesians
3:14-21. When we speak of spiritual roots
growing deep, isn’t it really about abiding in
Jesus and allowing him to abide in us? Do Jesus’
words (John 15:4-5) and Paul’s
proclamation (Galatians 2:20) bear this
out? Pray Lowden/Chisholm’s lyrics: "O Jesus
Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, for Thou
in Thy atonement didst give Thyself for me. I
own no other master; my heart shall be Thy
throne; my life I give, henceforth to live, O
Christ, for Thee alone."
Day 4: Thursday, January 29,
2009—To Bless Others and Glorify God
In Ephesians 1-3, Paul speaks
of the riches of God’s love for us in Jesus;
then he shares his prayers, his desires, that
those reading his letter will be strengthened
through the Spirit to grow deep spiritually and
be rooted and established in love (3:14-19).
In Chapters 4-6, he challenges believers to
respond to God’s love and urges them to live
lives worthy of their calling (4:1). How
is our response related to bearing fruit, the
fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
and the sweetness of that fruit which manifests
itself in loving service and willing sacrifice?
Who gets the glory (Ephesians 3:20-21; 1
Peter 4:10-11)? Think about these things and
spend time in prayer.
Day 5: Friday, January 30,
2009—Remember When We Were Children?
Remember how as children we
were so eager to grow up, to be 12 or 16 or 21?
But do we long to mature spiritually? Do we
really want to know Jesus better and love him
more? Do we want to serve him ever-more
wholeheartedly and yield more and more of our
lives to the Spirit’s control? Or do we find it
easier and more comfortable to be spiritually
immature followers of Jesus? Read Colossians
1:24-2:3, 6-7 and Hebrews 5:11-6:3. Are you
feasting on solid food or do you settle for
milk? Read Psalm 19:7-14; 27:8 and Jeremiah
15:16. Pray.
Day 6: Saturday, January 31,
2009—Elementary Truths: Maturity
Carefully read Hebrews
5:11-6:3. The writer is trying to awaken his
readers spiritually; it seems they have become
complacent or lazy; he longs for them to mature
spiritually and urges them to examine their
lives of faith. Glance back in Hebrews and
notice what the writer has been trying to teach
the people. Read 4:12-13; ask yourself if your
heart is captive to the full counsel of the
Word. Read 4:14-16 and 5:7; do you regularly
come before God’s throne of grace in fervent
prayer? Are you obedient and submissive to the
Lord in all things? The basics of faith are
vital (6:1-3)! But God offers us much
more in our lives with Christ (Ephesians
3:16-19). Pray.
Day 7: Sunday, February 1,
2009—A Divine Paradox
We cannot generate spiritual growth; we
cannot tell our roots to grow deep or somehow
manufacture spiritual maturity; our spiritual
development is a work of the Spirit. But can we,
as the writer to the Hebrews implies, impede our
growth (5:11-6:3; see also 1 Thessalonians
5:16-24)? Do we come to the Lord yielded,
willing, eager, obedient, and open to the
avenues through which the Spirit will work in
our lives? What do the epistle writers teach us
about this in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5; 1 Peter
1:13-25 and 1 John 3:16-24 (read 3:22 with
5:14)? Pray.
