Resources

Memory Verse:

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Spiritual Growth Tool:

Tools:

For You This Week

To Try This Week:
As you read this week, make special note of attitudes or desires that God wants his followers to have.  Pray for God to produce those in you.  Confess areas or situations where you don’t have those God-centered desires.

This Week’s Reading:

M: 1 Timothy 4, Isaiah 37-39, Psalm 112
T: 1 Timothy 5, Isaiah 40-42, Proverbs 17
W: 1 Timothy 6, Isaiah 43-45, Psalm 113
Th: Catch up, Isaiah 46-48, Proverbs 17
F: 2 Timothy 1, Isaiah 49-50, Psalm 114

 

    For You + Others

     

      1. Open your time in prayer: Ask God to bring His Spirit into your thoughts and reactions to what you will be reading and discussing in the Word today. Ask him to shepherd you.
      2. Look to the Word:
        • Review the parable found in Luke 16:1-13.  According to Luke 16:9, how does Jesus summarize this parable?  What do you think he is commending here?  How do verses 10-12 help us understand his point? 
        • What is the connection between shrewdness and faithfulness? 
        • What is the problem of trying to serve 2 masters as stated in Luke 16:13?  How is this an issue of the heart (See Luke 16:14-15.)?
        • The manager in the parable in Luke 16 is originally accused (seemingly rightfully) of wasting his master’s possessions. What does his use (waste) of his master’s possessions reveal about what he believes about those possessions? What does his use reveal about how he views his master and what his master is like?
        • If our possessions ultimately belong to God, what does our use of them reveal about what we believe about God and what he is like? 
        • How do you view your money?  Who or what are some of the masters you have served in the past?  What masters scream at you for allegiance now?   How do you deal with these voices in light of your commitment to Christ?

         

      3. Faithfully Follow: Use the other resources on this page to choose an application that aligns with what you are learning about God and about yourself.

    Dinnertime Discussion:

    How do your actions in the area of finances reveal your beliefs about money and possessions? Do these beliefs line up with what the Bible says?

    Get Support

    Gospel in Everyday Life:

    This week’s memory verse states that “one cannot serve two masters.” (Luke 16:13) What causes you to serve a master other than Jesus? What are things you can do to make sure you keep Jesus as the master of your life?

    Developing Disciplines:

    Consciously invite God into your purchases this week. When you pull out your card or cash to pay for something, thank God for his provision and ask him to make you more faithful in your stewardship.

    For Further Study:

    • Complete Guide to Money By Dave Ramsey
    • Money, Possessions & Eternity by Randy Alcorn

      Sunday’s Sermon:

      Memory Verse:

      On your smartphone, long press this image to download and set as your background image (if it doesn’t download the current verse, try clearing out your cache).

      Spiritual Growth Tool:

      Tools:

      For You This Week

      To Try This Week:
      To Try This Week: In the reading plan this week there is a “catch up” day. Review your notes and jottings from the past few weeks. Is there a section of scripture that you need to revisit and think on again? Ask God’s Spirit to bring to mind what He wants you to reflect on.

      This Week’s Reading:

      M: 2 Thessalonians 3, Isaiah 22-24, Psalm 100
      T: Catch up, Isaiah 25-27, Proverbs 16
      W: 1 Timothy 1, Isaiah 28-30, Psalm 110
      Th: 1 Timothy 2, Isaiah 31-33, Proverbs 16
      F: 1 Timothy 3, Isaiah 34-36, Psalm 111

       

        For You + Others

         

          1. Open your time in prayer: Ask God to shine his light into the dark places of your life today. Pray for strength to stand in his might (Ephesians 6:10).
          2. Look to the Word:
            • At Woodlands, “we aspire to have God’s Word guide our decisions and govern our conduct.”  How have the lessons from this series shaped you this summer so far?
            • According to Ephesians 6:14-20, which weapon do you think God is asking you to use more often as you fight the “spiritual forces of evil” (6:12) in your life?  How can you improve its effectiveness?
            • How has Ephesians given you a greater appreciation of gospel peace, gospel love, and gospel grace? (Ephesians for You, Richard Coekin)
            • Based on other places in Ephesians (1:3, 1:20, 2:6, 3:10), what kinds of fighting happens in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)?  Have you experienced this warfare in your life?

          3. Faithfully Follow: Use the other resources on this page to choose an application that aligns with what you are learning about God and about yourself.

        Dinnertime Discussion:

        Based on other places in Ephesians (1:3, 1:20, 2:6, 3:10), what kinds of fighting happens in the heavenly places (6:12)?  Have you experienced this warfare in your life?

        Get Support

        Songs for encouragement:

        Gospel in Everyday Life:

        What truths about who God is and who you are come out of the memory passage? How do you do life differently this week because of those truths?

        Developing Disciplines:

        Make a flash card with words missing to see if you can recall them.

        For Further Study:

        • Habits of Grace by  David Mathis
        • The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible Ephesians Study by Scotty Smith

          Sunday’s Sermon: