40 Days of Discipline

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2020 Posts


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 11 – Prayer

13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  (2 Chronicles 7:13 – 14)

 

Thanks to all the commentators last week who added so much to our review of the Disciplines of Bible Study and Spiritual Warfare.  Today we begin our reflections on the Discipline of Prayer as we consider the theme A World in Need.  A quick pause though, to make an announcement.  On Thursday and Friday of this week we will turn our attention to the Discipline of Fasting.  As we have done in prior years, on Friday we encourage all who can to fast.  We’ll say more about this on Thursday, but I want you to be aware of the day of fasting with sufficient notice.

Does the world need our prayers?  It might seem odd to even ask such a question.  However, from two perspectives it is a relevant question to ask.  First, many in the world don’t believe in prayer; and second, Christians don’t spend a lot of time praying for the world.  A 2018 survey performed by the Guardian newspaper in the UK found that non-believers typically only turn to prayer in a crisis, and Christians spend less than 25 percent of praying time focussed on topics other than themselves, family and friends.  It begs the question, who is praying for the needs of the world?

Please prayerfully read the passage above and consider the questions below.

 

Question

How much time do you spend praying for the world and how do you decide what/who to pray for?

 

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 10 – Review

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22 – 25)

 

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days.  In our reviews of the Disciplines of Bible Study and Spiritual Warfare, we saw the tremendous impact we can have on A World in Need.  Think about what you have learned, and if you have missed any of the days, you can use today to catch up.

Please consider the question and suggestion below and ask God to help you to apply the lessons from His word to your life.

Question/Suggestion

Can you think of someone you really care about who could benefit from some Biblical wisdom?  Prayerfully think about how you might be able to share something relevant from God’s word with them.

 

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 9 – Spiritual Warfare

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  (1 Peter 5:8 – 10)

 

As Christians, every day we have the tremendous opportunity to demonstrate spiritual victory through the power of God in our lives.  The enemy is on the prowl and we must be ready for the battle.  In this war, neutrality is not a Biblically proposed option.  People around us are crying out for evidence of victorious living, and if we are obedient to God’s word, we can demonstrate who is really victorious (God) and who is vanquished (Satan).  A victorious Christian is a potent witness to A World in Need.

Please prayerfully read the passage above and answer the following question.

Question

The admonition to “Be alert” in verse 8 above comes from a Greek phrase that means “with the waist of your mind being girded.”  This speaks to being prepared.  Why is this so important in Spiritual Warfare?

 

 

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 8 – Spiritual Warfare

1By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!  2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.  3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:1 – 6)

 

Over the last three days, we have certainly seen how the Discipline of Bible Study is key to providing what the world desperately needs – God.  Today, we switch our focus to the Discipline of Spiritual Warfare.  Will the relevance of this Discipline to A World in Need be as obvious?  Let’s consider this over the next two days.

When we speak of a world in need we are, of course, referring to people in need.  However, the world can also be defined as the kingdom ruled by Satan.  As Christians in Satan’s domain, we are by definition at war, whether we acknowledge it or not.

Please prayerfully read the passage above, and note the presumption that we are at war.  Also, note the power God provides and what it is capable of doing.

Questions

  • How conscious are you of the spiritual battles around you?
  • In what ways might unbelievers benefit from Christians practicing spiritual warfare?

 

 

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 7 – Bible Study

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1 – 5)

 

Does the world need the Bible?  Do we have a responsibility to study it and share it?   Since the Bible is the only inspired book that reveals God, the answer to both questions must be a resounding YES.  Therefore, if we are to truly help the world, Bible study is essential, but it must be coupled with transformation and dissemination.

Please prayerfully read the passage above and answer the following questions.

Questions

  1. Do you see the following points in the passage above? (Just identify the verses.)
    • The world needs God’s word (A world in need)
    • We must prepare ourselves to share God’s word (Bible study)
    • We must share God’s word
  2. Are you a kind student of the Bible – do you liberally share what you learn?

 

 

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 6 – Bible Study

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14 – 17)

 

Yesterday, we looked at the vast variety of places people go to for answers to life’s questions.  Some of the answers emanate from powerful narratives that compete with a Biblical world view.  We would easily recognize religious and political movements as the sources for many of narratives, but we might miss less obvious sources such as consumerism and individualism.  What these narratives all have in common is a promise to provide what the world needs.  To counter these powerful world views, we need to prayerfully study the Bible in such a way that we understand God’s world view.  If all we do is haphazard Bible reading, that won’t be enough to satisfy a world in need.

Please read the passage above and answer the following question.

Question

How do you ensure that your method of Bible Study adequately equips you with a comprehensive Biblical world view?

 

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 5 – Bible Study

16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.  17 Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.  18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:16 – 21)

 

As a reminder, the theme for our 40 days journey this year is A World in Need.  We kicked things off last week with a Group Study considering the role we should play as salt and light. Starting today, we turn our attention to the Spiritual Disciplines, and Bible Study will be the first Discipline we focus on. Over the next three days, we will focus on the relationship between Bible Study and a world in need.

With advancements in technology, there is an answer offered for almost every conceivable question on YouTube, Facebook, podcasts, Wikipedia or other platforms. Who needs the Bible when you have those resources plus Google, Alexa or Siri?  I would argue that because of the ease of access to a multitude of often competing voices, the world has never needed Bible studying Christians more.

Please read the passage above and answer the question below.

Question

Note the powerful commands in verses 18 – 20 of the passage above. What methods of Bible Study do you employ to treat God’s word with the priority conveyed in the passage?

 

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 4 – Review

13 “You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  14 “You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13 – 16)

 

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past three days.  We study God’s word for transformation not just for information.  Spend your 15 minutes today reflecting on the Bible study over the last three days.  Remember that our theme this year is A World in Need.  Think about what you have learned about responding to a world in need, and if you have missed any of the days, you can catch up.

As you perform your review, please keep in mind the example set for us by Jesus.  He loved the world.  Matthew 9:36 tells us that “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them”.

Please consider the question below and ask God to help you to apply the lessons from His word to your life.

 

Question

How can you strengthen your love for those in the world without loving the world?

 

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 3 – Group Bible Study

13 “You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  14 “You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13 – 16)

 

Today, we will continue our focus on our theme for this year – A World in Need.  Over the last two days, we considered the references to salt and light in the passage above.  Thanks to all the commentators who are already adding richly to the study!

Please prayerfully read the passage again and answer this short quiz:

  • Do you study the Bible enough to use it as a basis for addressing the problems faced by those around you? (2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to show yourself approved…..)
  • Do you regularly pray for the lost with love, especially those in your sphere of influence? (Romans 10:1…. my heart’s desire and prayer to God…is that they may be saved).
  • Do you spend your time wisely – sometimes sacrificially – in service of peole in need, or do you spend too much time on “entertainment” or “work”? (Ephesian 5:16 – making the most of every opportunity (“redeeming the time”), because the days are evil.)
  • Is your speech typically “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:5- 6 …. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,….)? In other words, are you typically gracious in your interactions with non-Christians?

Questions:

  • How did you do on the quiz?
  • What specific areas can you talk to God about to seek His help in improving your interactions with a world in need?

Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else.  Please leave a comment on the blog.

 


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 2 – Group Bible Study

13 “You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  14 “You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13 – 16)

 

Today, we continue our focus on how we should interact with A World in Need.  Yesterday, we focused on being salt.  Today, we will focus on being light.  As you consider the passage above, please spend some of your time thinking about why Jesus says we are to let our light shine.

Questions:

  • What stands out for you in the illustrations about light that Jesus uses?
  • Reflect on the purpose for us being light presented in the passage above.  How does the world benefit when we shine our light?

Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else.  Please leave a comment on the blog.