This Week’s Personal Action Step
If you are not in a LifeGroup, get in one! You will love it! Are you becoming more like Jesus, and helping others do so? Pray and ask God to show you how to grow in His Son’s likeness, since He has made you part of His body. Find that group of others that can walk with you through life.
This Week’s Group Action Step
Answer this question next week in LifeGroup: “How can we better equip each other for every good work of ministry?”
JANUARY 18—WE HELP EACHOTHER GROW
Ephesians 4:11-13 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,”
We are here to help each other, as a part of the same body. In the mind of God, once we became a part of the body of Christ, He sees us together, unified as that body. We ‘are’ the body, but we are to ‘build up’ that body. We are the ones who must work to make unity a reality. What part do you play in the unity process? He made each of us different, with different gifts and abilities. Only a few are listed there. We all play a part in building up the body of Christ.
He desires unity…of the faith...and the knowledge of the Son. Unity is not just agreement. Unity is movement toward attaining the same things - faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Sometimes we get dis-unified when we want what we want, instead of asking ourselves, ‘What part am I playing to build up the body in faith and knowledge of Him?’ We may at times have those moments when, as adults, we still think or act like small children who want their way. When we do, we are dis-unifiers. We must do our part, desiring faith and knowledge in our Lord Jesus.
JANUARY 19—GROUPS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
Acts 5:42 “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”
This is the early churches’ version of our Worship Services and LifeGroups. Much has changed over the years, but it is still incredibly important to gather to worship, and also to gather in smaller groups to be able to be the body of Christ, and equip each other for good works...in both settings. All that we learn in scripture we can use to love each other, to care for each other, to genuinely help each other grow in our faith and knowledge of Him.
The difference between this verse back then and our lives now is this - they did this daily. We should be encouraged by this, not discouraged. We may not be able to meet daily, but we can call each other, text each other, meet for lunch or dinner together, have coffee or breakfast together in even smaller groups than our LifeGroup. LifeGroups are the great place to start and focus on our discipleship relationships, but they are not the only place. We can find ways to stay in touch during the week. Helping each other grow in Him. Caring for each other when the pains of life on this earth come.
JANUARY 20—GROUPS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
As a disciple of Jesus, if we are to follow Him well, we must find ways to constantly remind ourselves of who He is, and how He works. Committing scripture to memory is good. Writing sticky notes for the bathroom mirror is also good. Really, any way you can keep what He has said in front of you will help you live the life He desires for you. He ‘is’ your life. So, knowing Him more deeply, and knowing what He has said about how to live your life with Him and others, is imperative. Keeping ‘Who He is’ ever present in your eyes and ears and mind and helping others do the same, will keep us focused on Him.
Go back to the ‘Guide to Worship’ and use some of the suggested ways to create habits in your life to draw near to Him by reading, listening, and studying His word. Then tell others in your LifeGroup and family what you have found.
JANUARY 21—HIS WORD GUIDES US
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
All scripture, not just some scripture, is inspired by God. Our life as a disciple of Jesus must start and rely on what He has written. All of it. After all, He is the ‘author and perfecter’ of our faith. He is making us ‘more perfect’ every day. We are to look more like Him each day. But honestly, there are days we feel less like Him. Don’t worry…in every bit of scripture, you can find God and His ways. He can and will give you the peace and courage to grow in Him. Knowing God and understanding His ways will guide you through your whole life. On the good days and the bad days. Our great God has a personal and vested interest in you, and seeing you grow. He loves you and has written His word for you.
What He has written is good for teaching, to correct you and others in the ways we all are to live. His word will train you in how to live a ‘right life’. In doing so, you will be equipped for whatever work He has for you. Some of the time we may get scripture in our minds, but it has yet to come out in our actions.
JANUARY 22—SPECIFIC GOOD WORKS FOR YOU
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
God is writing a journal about who we are. A ‘poema’, the original Greek word for ‘workmanship’ God used. This is very personal. We were created in Christ to do the works He has planned. These works are some of the same ones listed in Ephesians 4:11-13. He has made you and gifted you for good works. He is with you to guide you into them. These works will involve others. Ask Him, ‘Father, what do you want me to do for you and for others?’ Then let Him show you and guide you in that work.
Christ is not only with us today, and the Spirit living in us to guide us today…but there are plans made by God for tomorrow. Plans for you to accomplish. Plans you may not think you can do, but through His strength, His gifting, and His guidance…you can. His plans are for good works that fit who He has made you to be.
Who you are today in Him, and how you change to be more like Him, will prepare you for the work tomorrow. The big question is this, are you looking for those works that you can do with Him as He guides you? He wants us to walk in them, as we walk with Him.