This week is a get-acquainted study, which I will tweak for our online women. Next week we begin chapter and lesson 1, so you still have time to get your book if you have not. I got mine used from Walmart in less than a week for under $5! (I’d run out!) You won’t need your book this week, but you will next week!
If you are new, just make a comment and give your first name and and middle name or first letter of last. It will also ask for your e-mail, but that won’t show up. I will need to approve you the first time and it may take a day. Then please come back — use the exact same name and e-mail you used when you signed up, and it will recognize you so I won’t need to approve you. Sometimes I will comment on your comment, sometimes other will. It takes a little time to feel comfortable, but please give us a few weeks! If you prefer to do this alone or with a few others, that’s absolutely fine too. You can find this on my blog later if you choose to do it at another time — but I hope to see you NOW, keeping our eyes on Him through the holidays.
I know Jesus will surprise you during this study, for He loves to do that. To show up when you least expect Him, as He did for the two on the road to Emmaus, and for us when we were filming this curriculum. (You’ll see that amazing story next week.) You will be strengthened in your faith to spy Him in your life and throughout the Old Testament. Here are such a few of the many ways you might spy Him in your life.
Sunday:
- God is always at work in our lives, but we often fail to see Him. As you think back over last week, can you see a way He was? It can be as simple as His peace during a hard time, His wisdom, or help in finding your keys. Share here.
Monday: Getting Acquainted
2. We want to know if you are willing:
A. Your first name and where you are from
B. A way you absolutely love to serve the Lord
C. Something you do well and something you don’t do well
D. Why you have come to this study and what you hope to have happen
3. Take just one of the ways you might spy God in your life from the above pictures and share one story of your own.
Tuesday: All Through The Old Testament and In Our Lives
Go to this link: https://deebrestin.com/the-jesus-who-surprises/
and scroll down until you see this picture in the first small box and watch it (under two minutes)
4. The opening video of the kayakers on the Chattahoochee River will happen every time, with my saying “Only a proud fool will try to navigate the river without Jesus. It’s a good reminder on why we need to abide in Jesus all through the day. What do you learn about the fool in the following verses?
A. Proverbs 12:15
B. Proverbs 18:2
5. I was so grateful to Karen and David Mains for teaching us how to teach our children how to go on the God Hunt. We had a bulletin board over our dining table and we recorded many God hunts from them. It helped them so spiritually. If you have had a ministry with children, your own or others, how have you learned to help them grow in the Lord? What has worked well for you?
6. What are the three places Jesus specifically mentioned in Luke 24:44?
Wednesday: Six Minutes from Mike Reeves
Because there are some very advanced Bible students here, I am going to add more meat to this study. If you are new to Bible study, just get what you can today!
I absolutely know you are going to learn something new from this — you can listen and read the transcript at the same time if that helps you. I’m very eager to share what I learned, but first I want to hear what was new for you!
https://learn.ligonier.org/podcasts/ask-ligonier/did-the-old-testament-saints-know-god-as-trinity
The transcript: # 1 When Jesus Came Reeves Did OT Saints Know God as Trinity.
7.What did you learn that was new, if anything? Maybe you can make a list!
Thursday: The Surprising 1st Sermon and Surprising Zacchaeus
8. Read Luke 4:16-21
A. Look at the context of this incident. What has just happened and how early in Jesus’ ministry is He proclaiming this?
B. What 5 things does He say He has come to do? Meditate on each one and see if God shows you something fresh.
C. This is a quote from Isaiah 61, but Jesus stops before quoting this: “and the day of vengeance of our God.” Before you look at John Piper’s explanation, why do you think He does not say this?
John Piper says it is because Isaiah saw salvation and judgment together, while Jesus revealed that they would unfold in two stages.
9. Read Luke 19:1-10
A. What observations or comments do you have?
B. Why do you think Zaccheus is so surprised by what Jesus says? Have you ever felt that way? Explain.
C. What immediate changes do you see in Zacchaeus that suggest he is having a genuine conversion?
D. Share one dramatic change you have had in your life due to Jesus.
Friday: Jesus Surprises The Disciples
10. Read Mark 4:35-41.
A. What observations or comments do you have?
B. What do they accuse him of in verse 19? Do you ever feel that way? Why is that foolish in light of the cross?
C. What question do they ask in verse 41?
D. What similarities do you see in Jonah 4-6?
E. How did the pagan sailors have more faith than God’s prophet?
Saturday: God Shot
In the beginning of the week we’ll ask how you spied God. At the end, what you learned about God — His nature, His ways, His presence.
11. What is your God Shot?
2 comments
Sunday:
God is always at work in our lives, but we often fail to see Him. As you think back over last week, can you see a way He was? It can be as simple as His peace during a hard time, His wisdom, or help in finding your keys. Share here. – Hello everyone, so good to be back here. I’ve missed the wisdom and knowledge you all have. Two things that come to mind from last week are, I’m the head of the Benevolence team at our church and it’s hard to review a request/need and not be able to fill it at all or only partially. But I pray and listen to how God is leading my heart, and I sometimes have to say no. I see God working when I get confirmation from another member that agrees with what I’ve said. I know as the lead I need to be discerning as well as the whole team, and there are times that God will just say no. It’s hard to relay that back to someone who is in need, but he always gives the right words I need to say to them. The other one is the excitement of joining a group of people, digging into God’s Word and hearing from others what God has done for them. Coming back to this group, where strangers become friends and doing a Fall Fast into Gratitude in another group from the campground we go to where more strangers are becoming friends and ‘family’ make my heart happy. God has put so many amazing people in my path and from that, I know he loves me.
Monday: Getting Acquainted
2. We want to know if you are willing:
A. Your first name and where you are from – Julie from Church Hill TN in the NE corner
B. A way you absolutely love to serve the Lord – I’m more the behind-the-scenes type person. I love to help where the need is. Praying for people is becoming easier for me to do.
C. Something you do well and something you don’t do well – I can sense when someone is hurting, but I don’t always step out in faith to ask them about it.
D. Why you have come to this study and what you hope to have happen – I love the ladies here and have grown by the wisdom and knowledge they all have.
3. Take just one of the ways you might spy God in your life from the above pictures and share one story of your own. – The Word becoming radioactive in my life. I’ve been through some tough patches along the way once I became a Christian, but what helped me was growing in God’s Word. The more I dug in and studied, the more I knew I was going to be ok, because God’s Word said he would always be with me. I was able to stand on scripture, even though I was struggling and others wondered how I could be so at peace during those times. I was able to tell them and show them just how good God was to me and how he would be for them too. My struggles are not as hard now, but I still fall back on His Word to get me through each time.