One of the things that I love about this Rick Warren study
of '40 Days in the Word' is the weekly introductory information
like last weeks' teaching about how to enjoy 'quiet time'
with the Lord! This week our memory verse James 1:22
sets the stage as we learn that Bible study without application
in our lives is dangerous! You read right, it's dangerous
because it can lead to pride and arrogance.
Applying the Bible is hard work but the Holy Spirit
provides the strength, determination and will power
needed to press through to apply the truth and make
the needed adjustments in our own lives."The challenge
in Bible application is to discover the eternal
truths that never change, and then apply them in a world
that is always changing."
The Probe It! method of Bible meditation by applying
S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S.questions.....
S- Is there a sin to confess?
P- Is there a promise to claim?
A- Is there an attitude to change?
C- Is there a command to obey?
E- Is there an example to follow?
P- Is there a prayer to pray?
E- Is there an error to avoid?
T- Is there a truth to believe?
S- Is there something to praise God for?
Write down your thoughts and applications! Notice
that every phrase in S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. contains a
verb! That means that we're expected to take action!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
What a Team!
Meet our Growth Group team for the fall 2012 quarter!
You might recognize some familiar faces and notice some new ones!
L to R: Paul & Pam Gionet, Kristi McIntyre, Darlene Ouellette,
Brian & Laurie Babcock, Sally Dyer and Danielle Caron.
Last week we met new Believer and Kristi's beau
Colonel Ryan Voss! Colonel (his name) joined us for the
first time! Welcome Colonel and Congratulations for your
your new life in Christ!
Our study of Rick Warren's '40 Day...' has really been exciting!
We're learning lots and enjoying great discussions. All Growth
Groups have been challenged to complete a Micah 6:8 project
and we are excited to once again fill, sort and pack shoe boxes
for Operation Christmas Child. I'll post pictures after our
Dedication Sunday, early in November!
L to R: Paul & Pam Gionet, Kristi McIntyre, Darlene Ouellette,
Brian & Laurie Babcock, Sally Dyer and Danielle Caron.
Colonel Ryan Voss! Colonel (his name) joined us for the
first time! Welcome Colonel and Congratulations for your
your new life in Christ!
Our study of Rick Warren's '40 Day...' has really been exciting!
We're learning lots and enjoying great discussions. All Growth
Groups have been challenged to complete a Micah 6:8 project
and we are excited to once again fill, sort and pack shoe boxes
for Operation Christmas Child. I'll post pictures after our
Dedication Sunday, early in November!
Monday, October 15, 2012
' Picture It'
I love surprises, don't you? Though 'Picture It' is the focus of the second method of Bible meditation, Pastor Warren surprised us by starting this weeks' session with how to best enjoy Quiet Time with God. Our Growth Group discussion revealed that carving out the time each and every day to read and study the Word was often a real challenge for us, so we appreciated the simple plan Pastor Warren provided. "Seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Rev. 6:33. What does that mean to you? The word seek is so important because it directs us to make drawing close to God our #1 priority and it implies that we need to take action.
God deserves and desires our devotion! As we turn to God and give Him our devotion, we get direction, we gain delight in God and we grow more like God! Have you struggled with quiet time? It seems that once my feet hit the floor every morning, my day can take on a life of it's own so I have made a daily commitment to dive into the Word early while enjoying my first cup of coffee before the phone starts ringing and I begin working on my To Do list. What's your Quiet Time action plan? Don't have one? Why not start today?
I love this this simple plan for Quiet Time! If this is new to you, start small 5-10 minutes!
* Wait on God (quiet and still)
* Pray briefly (short opening prayer)
* Slowly read a section of Scripture (aloud if possible)
* Meditate and memorize
* Write down what God shows you
* Have your time of prayer
The 'Picture It" method of Bible meditation works best when you're reading a narrative, story or parable. Imagine what the scene looked like and try to see yourself as one of the active participants. What would I be thinking about and feeling as the scene played out? What character do I identify with? What is God saying to me and what does He want me to do? When finished meditating about this, jot down your thoughts, observations, questions and any other action steps you need to take.
I hope that you're enjoying the techniques being shared in this series as they reveal how we can each enjoy a very close, personal experience with God!
Posted by:
Sally Dyer
God deserves and desires our devotion! As we turn to God and give Him our devotion, we get direction, we gain delight in God and we grow more like God! Have you struggled with quiet time? It seems that once my feet hit the floor every morning, my day can take on a life of it's own so I have made a daily commitment to dive into the Word early while enjoying my first cup of coffee before the phone starts ringing and I begin working on my To Do list. What's your Quiet Time action plan? Don't have one? Why not start today?
I love this this simple plan for Quiet Time! If this is new to you, start small 5-10 minutes!
* Wait on God (quiet and still)
* Pray briefly (short opening prayer)
* Slowly read a section of Scripture (aloud if possible)
* Meditate and memorize
* Write down what God shows you
* Have your time of prayer
The 'Picture It" method of Bible meditation works best when you're reading a narrative, story or parable. Imagine what the scene looked like and try to see yourself as one of the active participants. What would I be thinking about and feeling as the scene played out? What character do I identify with? What is God saying to me and what does He want me to do? When finished meditating about this, jot down your thoughts, observations, questions and any other action steps you need to take.
I hope that you're enjoying the techniques being shared in this series as they reveal how we can each enjoy a very close, personal experience with God!
Posted by:
Sally Dyer
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The Start of Our 40 Day Journey
Welcome to our Growth Group blog. If it's your first ever visit or your first visit in a while, why not take a look around? You'll discover a wide variety of postings dating back to 2009! Our blog has provided us with a perfect way to share our memories of special occasions like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, service projects, study topics and so much more. We'd love to read your Comments! It's easy! Type your comment, along with your name, in the box provided at the end of my post. Comment as Anonymous. Hit Preview just in case you'd like to make any edits, then Publish.
Over the next few weeks, we'll detail information about the '40 Day Journey'. Pastor Rick Warren says that "No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than to study and act upon God's Word." We'll learn six techniques of Bible meditation to increase our knowledge as we study the Bible and we hope that you'll check in here regularly to get an update. This last Friday, we started Session One PRONOUNCE IT! The memory verse for Week One is "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. " Colossians 3:16a . Pastor Rick Warren, through a DVD, tells us that "the ultimate purpose of the Bible is not to inform us, it is to transform us. God doesn't want us to just be hearer's of the Word, He wants us to be doers of the Word- living gospels- sharing the good news of Jesus Christ not only in our words, but in our lives." The 'Pronounce it" method of Bible meditation is simple. Why not try it? Read this weeks memory verse over and over again, but emphasize each word in the verse one at a time. After each word, stop and write down your thoughts, even if it's just a word or two. Now look at your life through the lens of this verse. How does this truth apply to your life today? After you have thought about an application, write it down. Then finish your time by talking to God about what He said to you in His Word.
During the next 40 days, strive to spend quiet time with God every day and love, learn and live God's Word!
Posted by Sally Dyer
Group Ministry Coach
Over the next few weeks, we'll detail information about the '40 Day Journey'. Pastor Rick Warren says that "No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than to study and act upon God's Word." We'll learn six techniques of Bible meditation to increase our knowledge as we study the Bible and we hope that you'll check in here regularly to get an update. This last Friday, we started Session One PRONOUNCE IT! The memory verse for Week One is "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. " Colossians 3:16a . Pastor Rick Warren, through a DVD, tells us that "the ultimate purpose of the Bible is not to inform us, it is to transform us. God doesn't want us to just be hearer's of the Word, He wants us to be doers of the Word- living gospels- sharing the good news of Jesus Christ not only in our words, but in our lives." The 'Pronounce it" method of Bible meditation is simple. Why not try it? Read this weeks memory verse over and over again, but emphasize each word in the verse one at a time. After each word, stop and write down your thoughts, even if it's just a word or two. Now look at your life through the lens of this verse. How does this truth apply to your life today? After you have thought about an application, write it down. Then finish your time by talking to God about what He said to you in His Word.
During the next 40 days, strive to spend quiet time with God every day and love, learn and live God's Word!
Posted by Sally Dyer
Group Ministry Coach
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