Discipleship

Lessons:
A 16 Lesson Series to Help Growing
Christians
Compiled by Dr. Mark Bird
 Discipleship Lessons:

Lesson:

1. How to Know You Are Saved

2. What It Takes to Be a Disciple
3. Studying God’s Word
4. How to Effectively Handle Temptation
5. Growing Through the Knowledge of God
6. How to Talk With God
7. How to Be Filled With the Spirit
8. How to Share Your Faith
9. How to Make Right Decisions
10. Worshipping a Holy God
11. How Should I Manage My Time And Money?
12. The Means of Grace
13. Principles of Entertainment
14. Developing Godly Character
15. Bible Memorization
16. Loving God
 How to Know You are Saved

Memory Verse:

I John 5:13 – “These things I have written to you who believe in the
name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,
and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

What are some reasons we doubt our salvation at times?

I. Assurance of salvation comes because we have met the

conditions for salvation. We must:
a. Repent (turn away from sin) - Acts 3:19
b. Receive Christ – John 1:12; Revelation 3:20.

According to Revelation 3:20, how does Christ enter a person’s life?

What does Christ promise to do? Does he always keep his promises?

II. Assurance of salvation comes from the witness of the Spirit.

a. Who testifies to our own spirit that we are the children of God,
according to Romans 8:15-16? See also I John 3:24.

III. Assurance of salvation is confirmed by the way we live.

a. Based on the following passage, what gives us assurance that we

are the children of God?
 I John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue,
but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the
truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart
condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence
toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because
we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in
His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on
the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us
commandment.

V. Assurance of salvation is not based on feelings.

Our faith must be in the fact of God’s trustworthiness (He will keep
His promises). Our feelings are changeable and undependable. We
must put our faith in the facts, and not in our feelings.

If we trust our feelings rather than God and His Word, how will this
affect our attitudes and actions?

If we put our trust in God despite how we feel, how does this change
our attitudes and actions?

Question: If you were to die tonight, are you sure that you would be in
Heaven with God? Why or why not?

Application: Write down the names of two people that you will share
with this week why you are assured of your salvation.

*Study adapted from New Life Studies; Injoy Publications

 What It Takes to be a Disciple

1. If you had lived in Galilee during Jesus’ time, would you have been
interested in being among the twelve disciples?

2. Would you have qualified for being a disciple of Jesus?

3. What do you think Jesus was looking for when He chose the original
twelve disciples?

I. What Is a Disciple?

A disciple in the ancient world was a learner, but much more than a
learner, he was a committed adherent to a master teacher. Becoming a
disciple involved a long-term personal relationship from which a disciple
learned, was transformed and trained. So out of the master/disciple
relationship came the development of the individual person (character),
understanding and acceptance of ideas (thinking), and a preparation for
one’s life work (ministry).

II. The Twelve as a Model for the Discipleship Process.

By choosing twelve to be with Him on an intimate basis, Jesus is trying

to model for all who want to be a Disciple in all ages, that it is possible
to have a close relationship with God. To illustrate the way this works,
Jesus chooses a handful of men as an example of the kind of
discipleship experience He would like everyone to have. His objective,
of course, is that out of such a discipleship experience should come a
very close, in-depth relationship with Himself.
This means that it is possible for those of us in a different age to
realize that we can have a close, intimate relationship with Jesus in the
same way that Andrew and Peter had in the first century! Is that the
kind of relationship you would like to have? If it is, we need to
understand the things Jesus was looking for in His day as qualifications
to be a disciple.

III. The First Picture of the Disciples:

John 1

In order to get an idea of what Jesus is looking for in the early

disciples, we need to look at the portrait of these early disciples in
their first contacts with Jesus.

Turn to John 1:35-51 and read it carefully. Make a list of all the
characteristics of the five people chosen by Jesus to be disciples who
are introduced in this passage.

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

IV. Four Key Qualifications:

From your observations we are going to lift out and accent four general
characteristics from the larger group. From what you have seen, what
evidence would support these as qualifications to be a disciple?

A. Hunger for God.

B. Available to be with Jesus.
C. Faithfulness.
D. Teachable Spirit.
 The HAFT Principle

This group seemed to have a heart hunger for God. They are already
involved in a revival movement and have attached themselves to John so
that he might help them seek God. They are making themselves
continually available to be with Jesus. They are responsible with the
spiritual opportunities that God gives them, and they are faithful to the
truth. When they begin to establish a relationship with Jesus, they
remain faithful to Him for the rest of His earthly life. Lastly, they seem
to have a teachable spirit and are anxious to know more about Jesus as
well as to learn from Him.

These four characteristics keep showing up throughout the Gospel story.

Other indicators of Jesus’ relationship with the twelve make it clear that
these characteristics continue to be evidenced in their lives.
For easy memory, the four may be listed as an acrostic:

Hunger for God

Available
Faithfulness
Teachable

A “haft” is the handle of a sword. So you can remember a HAFT person

as one whom Jesus is going to teach to handle the sword of the Spirit.

V. Could Jesus Have Chosen You?

It is clear that Jesus looks for certain characteristics in the people He

chooses. All of these characteristics are things that anyone could choose,
if he has the “want to.” The key here is choice. No one apparently is
excluded by Jesus because of his status in society, education, economic
level or natural abilities. The only thing that can keep a person from being
selected is the person’s own choices.
The twelve seem to have chosen these four things for their own lives and
therefore are candidates to be chosen by Jesus as His disciples. Have
you made the same kind of choices in your own life?

A. Do you have a real hunger for God?

B. Are you available to give time every day to be with Jesus?

C. Will you be faithful to Jesus, even when following Him is not

easy?

D. Do you have a teachable spirit?

If you have made the choice to make these four characteristics a part of
your life, then Jesus could have chosen you to be among the twelve in the
first century. More importantly, He is still in the business of choosing
disciples, and if you have made these choices, you now have the privilege
of becoming a disciple in our age. These are the qualifications to begin
the process of discipleship.

If there is any one (or more) of these characteristics that you have not
fully chosen, now is the time to do so. Please indicate with a completely
honest heart which areas you need to choose or to reaffirm an earlier
choice in your life.

We would like to now invite you to pray and tell God that you want to make
these choices for your own life so that it is a settled issue. You are
making or remaking these commitments so that you might qualify to begin
to be a disciple of Jesus.

Memory Verses: Matthew 4:19-20

*Study Adapted from a lesson produced by the Barnabas Foundation.

 Studying God’s Word

Memory Verse: II Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting, and training in righteousness; that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

I. How will the study of the Scriptures help me?

>It is through Bible study that we grow in Christ and become victorious.
a. What are we to use when fighting the devil’s schemes? Eph. 6:17
_________________________________________
b. How does Scripture memorization help us according to Psalm 119:11?
_________________________________________
c. What are the results of meditating on the Word according to Psalm
1?_______________________________________
d. According to the II Timothy 3:16-17, what is the result of yielding
to the Bible’s teaching and correction?
_________________________________________
e. According to James 1:22-25, why is application important?
_________________________________________

II. Five steps to getting a grip on Scripture:

1. Read
2. Study
3. Memorize
4. Meditate
5. Apply

Remember these by associating them with the fingers on your hand. The
more fingers you use, the better grip you have on the Bible.
III. Three Steps to Studying the Bible
A. Observation: Ask, “What does the passage say?”
>Look for key words and important connectors
>Look for admonitions, commands, promises
>Look for contrasts, comparisons, illustrations
>Look for reasons and arguments, etc.

B. Interpretation: Ask, “What does the passage mean?”

>Principles of Context. Look at the surrounding verses to help discover
the meaning of the passage.
>Principle of Harmony. Look at other passages that speak on the same
subject.

C. Application: Ask, “How does this passage apply to my life?”

IV. Questions for Discussion

1: What truth from God’s Word has especially helped you recently?
__________________________________________________
2: What method of Bible study helps you most?
__________________________________________________
3: What ways do you best memorize Scripture?
__________________________________________________

V. Suggested Ways to Benefit from Scripture

A. The “FV” Method
Read a passage
Find a verse that is especially meaningful. Write “FV” (for favorite
verse) by it.
Meditate on the verse
Pray for yourself and others, using that verse.
Think of a specific change you should make in your life, based on that
verse.
Make a commitment or set a goal.

B. The Spiritual Diary

Read a passage with your Spiritual Diary open.
Find a command to keep, a promise to claim, and/or a timeless principle.
Record these.
Write out an application.
Write out a prayer based on this study.
 How to Effectively Handle Temptation

Memory Verse:

I Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as

is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be
tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make
the way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

“The proof of God’s love for you is His faithfulness in temptation. The
proof of your love to God is your fleeing temptation.” J. Maxwell

I. We Overcome By Understanding What Temptation Is, Where It Comes

From, And What It Leads To.

According to I Corinthians 10:13, what is true about every temptation

we face?

>How does God demonstrate His faithfulness to us in temptation?

>What is our responsibility?

According to James 1:13-14, how is someone tempted?

Is it a sin to have a desire to do something that is wrong? Look up

Hebrews 4:15.

Who likes to bring temptation to us? (Matthew 4:1-11)

When does temptation become sin? (James 1:15)

“When desire has _______________, it gives birth to sin.”

Sin is conceived when our will yields to the desire to do what is wrong.

When does sin bring spiritual death? (James 1:15)

“Sin, when it is _______________, brings forth death.”

Sin is full-grown when its destructive forces push out saving faith
through its rebellious persistence.
Why is it important to resist temptation?

What should a Christian do if he does yield to temptation? (I John 1:5-2:2)

How will confessing your failures to other Christians help? (Look up

James 5:16).

II. We Overcome by Practicing the Things That Keep Temptation from

Leading into Sin.

1. Psalm 119:9, 11 ___________________________________

What helped Jesus resist the temptation of the devil?

(Matthew 4:1-11)

2. James 4:7 ________________________________________

3. II Timothy 2:22 ___________________________________

4. Ephesians 6 _______________________________________

What parts of the armor of God do we need to have on to defeat the tempting
forces of Satan?

>How has God helped you to overcome temptations in your life?

What specifically has helped you?

Application:
What is a specific temptation that you are frequently faced with?

How will God help you to escape from this temptation?

Goal setting suggestion:

In the first section of your covenant, write down a specific temptation

that has bothered you. Ask your small group members to hold you
accountable for overcoming that temptation. (They need not know what
the temptation precisely is, as long as you do.)

*Study adapted from New Life Studies; Injoy Publications

 Growing Through the Knowledge of God

Memory Verse: Psalm 111:10

“Plunge yourself in the Godhead’s deepest sea: be lost in His immensity; and you
shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know
nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and
grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of
the Godhead.” -- Charles H. Spurgeon

As we see God’s ATTRIBUTES, we will see the things we are to know about God
that help us establish an intimate relationship with Him.

I. God’s Non-Transferable Attributes – These attributes are those that belong

to God exclusively, so that there is nothing resembling them in a created being or
spirit. Here are some of them:

A. God is Sovereign. The word sovereign means chief, highest or supreme.

When we say that God is sovereign, we are saying that He is the number one
ruler in the universe.

Application – God’s Sovereignty encourages the Christian that nothing is out

of His control, and that God’s plans do triumph.

Psalm 103:19 Romans 9:20,21 Revelation 19:16

*The areas of my life that could be changed by having a proper understanding of

this attribute are:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

B. God is Eternal. There has never been a time when God did not exist.
He has no beginning and He has no end.

Application – Being eternal, God is not bound by time. He sees the past and
the future as clearly as the present. With this perspective, God knows what
 is best for our lives. Knowing this, we should be willing to trust Him with our
lives. (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

Isaiah 44:6 I Timothy 1:17 Revelation 1:8

*The areas of my life that could be changed by having a proper understanding of

this attribute are:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

C. God is Omnipotent. God is all powerful, having more than enough

strength to do the sum total of all things (all things that are consistent with
his holy, rational character).
Application – Because God is all powerful:
1. He preserves all things (Hebrews 1:3)
2. He can keep the believer from all danger (Jude 24)
3. He providentially cares for us. (I Peter 5:7)

Psalm 147:5 Ephesians 3:20 Philippians 3:20,21

*The areas of my life that could be changed by having a proper understanding of

this attributes are:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

D. God is Immutable. God never changes in His nature or attributes.

Application – The Bible contains thousands of things that God has promised
to do for those who belong to Him. He can be trusted to keep His Word.

Psalm 102:27 Hebrews 1:11,12 James 1:17

*The areas of my life that could be changed by having a proper understanding of

this attribute are:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
II. GOD’S TRANSFERABLE ATTRIBUTES – These attributes belong to God, and
are seen in the way God relates to man. We can see limited manifestations of
these attributes in His created beings. Here are some of these attributes:

A. God is Patient. Throughout Scripture God demonstrates a loving patience

which reflects His divine mercy. God does not give us what we deserve but
offers us what we need.

Application – In dealing with man, God patiently takes us from where we are
to where He wants us to be. It is up to us to cooperate with His methods.
As He is patient with us, so we are to be patient with others.

Psalm 103:8 I Timothy 1:16 II Peter 3:9,15

*The areas of my life that could be changed by having a proper understanding of

this attribute are:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

B. God is Just. It is impossible for Him to do anything that is unfair, either

to himself or to man.

Application – God’s justice is more applicable in the area of judgment. When

men stand before God to be judged, they will receive full justice. This is
both a comfort (for those who have been wronged in life) and a warning (for
those who think they have been getting away with evil) (Romans 1:18).

Nehemiah 9:13,33 II Thessalonians 1:3-10 II Timothy 4:8

*The areas of my life that could be changed by having a proper understanding of

this attribute are:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

C. God is Love. God is perfect, infinite love. His love is given freely and
without any consideration of the loveliness or merit of the object.
 Application – Godly love is that which seeks good for the object loved. Love
expresses itself in action. God is our example. He demonstrated His love
for us in sending Jesus to die in our place (Romans 5:8).

Exodus 15:13 Romans 8:37 I John 3:16

*The areas of my life that could be changed by having a proper understanding of

this attribute are:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

D. GOD IS HOLY. God is perfectly holy and righteous. It is impossible for

Him to do or to cause anything that is wrong.

Application – All holiness begins with God.

1. It is an essential part of His nature (Amos 4:2)
2. His holiness is beautiful (Exodus 15:11)
3. His presence is holy (I Samuel 6:20)
4. His Person is holy (Psalm 99:9)
5. As obedient children, we are to be holy because He is holy (I Peter 1:14-
16)
6. We cannot be holy within ourselves, but must rely on His power and grace
(Matthew 19:26)

Deuteronomy 32:4 Revelation 4:8 Revelation 15:3,4

*The areas of my life that could be changed by having a proper understanding of

this attribute are:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Suggested Goals (that could be added to a member’s covenant):

Meditate on one attribute of God per week for the next two months.

Meditate on one attribute of God per day for the next two weeks.
 How To Talk With God

Memory Verse
John 16:24 – “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and
you will receive, that your joy may be made full.”

Introduction
Continual prayer is essential to a meaningful relationship with Christ
because it is the only way that we can communicate with Him. The five
levels of communication are (These levels are possible in any relationship):

1. Using Cliches
2. Sharing Facts
3. Expressing Ideas/Opinions
4. Sharing Feelings
5. Total Honesty

Think about the levels at which you communicate with Christ. The higher
the level, the deeper the relationship.

I. Effective Praying is Based Upon Our Relationship with Christ

1. According to James 5:16, who prays effectively?

2. According to John 15:7, under what conditions will we receive

what we ask for?

II. Effective Praying Can Be Hindered by Improper Attitudes or Conduct

1. What reason for not receiving an answer to our prayers do we

find in James 4:3?

2. What happens if we have unconfessed sin? Psalm 66:18

3. What does James 1:6-7 say will keep us from receiving anything
from the Lord?
III. Effective Praying is Determined by Certain Conditions

In Luke 11:1-13, Jesus showed us how we should pray. List some of these
characteristics of effective praying:

1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. _____________________________
4. _____________________________

What other lessons about prayer have you learned that you could share with
the group?

Application: ACTS is a good way to pray because it includes four essential

elements of prayer – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.
Below write out a prayer that includes all four elements (in the order
mentioned).

A________________________________________________________
C________________________________________________________
T________________________________________________________
S________________________________________________________

Goals: What commitment are you willing to make concerning your prayer life?
Some have found that committing to keep a prayer journal has been very
helpful. Others have found that using a prayer list was important to their
success in praying. Still others have found that committing to spend a certain
number of minutes in the early hours of the morning has helped them
tremendously in their relationship with Christ. Maybe you would like to modify
your covenant to reflect a greater focus on prayer. What goals would you like
to set in this area?

*Adapted from New Life Studies, Injoy Publications

 How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Memory Verse:
Ephesians 5:18 – “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is
dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Coming to Christ is the greatest event one can ever experience. The
Holy Spirit brings a person to Christ and continues to dwell with that
person. However, after conversion, the believer often experiences
defeat and fruitlessness. Even though he has the Holy Spirit, the Holy
Spirit does not have all of the believer. It is possible for the believer
to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in spiritual power.

Question:
Ask yourself this question: “Do I experience spiritual defeat in my
life? In what way(s)?”

The New Testament refers to the Holy Spirit nearly 300 times.
“Power” is the one work which is continually associated with the Holy
Spirit. The process of being filled and controlled by God’s Spirit could
be explained like this:
What I give Him—He takes
What He takes—He cleanses
What He cleanses—He fills with His Spirit
What He fills—He anoints with His power
What He anoints with His power—He uses effectively!

Today we will study how the Holy Spirit works in our lives

I. When One Becomes a Christian

1. What does John 6:63 say the Holy Spirit does?

2. How does the Holy Spirit give assurance of salvation? Romans 8:16
II. After One is Born Again

1. Ephesians 4:30 tells us not to _________________________

2. Ephesians 5:18 commands us to ________________________

III. How Is The Fullness Of The Spirit Revealed?

1. Admit your need for inner cleansing and purity. Romans 7:21

2. Yield your whole life to God. Romans 12:1,2

3. Receive the sanctifying Spirit by faith. He is faithful.

Acts 15:8,9 I Thessalonians 5:23,24

>Ask God to give you the Holy Spirit in His fullness. Luke 11:13

Question: Have I been filled with the Holy Spirit? Does He abide in His
fullness right now?

Application: If you are not fully satisfied that you are entirely sanctified,
pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

*Study adapted from New Life Studies; Injoy Publications

 How to Share Your Faith

Memory Verse: Acts 1:8

“Ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

>Question: How does a person overcome his fear of sharing the gospel
with others?

I. Why should the believer share his faith with others?

1. What does Christ tell us to do in Mark 16:15?

2. Does failing to witness have any consequences for the believer

according to Ezekiel 3:18-19?

3. According to Luke 15, what causes rejoicing in heaven?

4. II Corinthians 5:18-20 tells us that we are Christ’s ambassadors

(We represent Him before the world). As ambassadors, what message
are we to take to the world?

II. How should the believer share his faith with others?

A. The Personal Testimony

1. A Testimony should not . . .
a. Contain meaningless statements, facts, etc.
b. Contain too much personal trivia.
c. Give a “holier than thou” impression.
d. Use technical or religious terms that are not properly
defined.
e. Be too lengthy.
 2. A Testimony should . . .
a. Identify with the listener by discussing mutual interests.
b. Contain honest statements.
c. Give a clear account of how you were saved.
d. Be a personal expression of what Christ has done for you.
e. Keep Christ and the gospel central.
f. Be an illustration of Christ’s faithfulness
g. Base assurance of salvation on scripture.
h. Refrain from negative comments about persons, other
churches or denominations.

B. The Plan

The bridge illustration can be used in a non-confrontational

manner to present the basic message of the Bible, which is the
message of Reconciliation: Christ restoring mankind’s broken
relationship with God.

Question: What is our source of power (for witnessing) according to our

memory verse, Acts 1:8?

Application:
Mark your Bible with the following soul-winning verses:

a. Repent. Acts 3:19

b. Believe. John 3:16
c. Receive (Open the Door). John 1:12, Revelation 3:20

Possible goals:

*Master a plan of salvation (by memorizing it and practicing it on

others) by ______________ (date).
*Share your testimony with an unbeliever once every
______________.
*Share the plan of salvation with an unbeliever once every
__________.
 How to Make Right Decisions

Memory Verse:

Romans 12:1,2: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God

to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable
and perfect.”

I. We can make the right decisions if we know God’s instructions and his
promises to us.

1. According to our memory verses, what three things are we told to

do?

2. According to Proverbs 3:5-6, what does God promise to those that

trust Him and acknowledge Him in all their ways?

II. We must realize that every decision has a consequence.

1. Consequences of a wrong choice. Read about David in II Samuel 11.

2. Consequences of a right choice. Read about Joseph in Genesis 39.

III. Discuss these six steps to a right decision:

1. Pray and ask for wisdom. James 1:5

2. Base decisions upon the whole counsel of God. II Timothy 3:16-17
3. Think through the consequences of your decision.
4. Consider all the options.
5. Choose the right time to make the decision.
6. Confirm your decision.
a. Seek spiritual counsel from godly people. Proverbs 11:14 and
Hebrews 13:17
b. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s direction. Acts 20:22
Application:

>Describe a situation which confronts you presently in which you need

to seek God’s guidance. Have you considered each of the above steps
to making the right decision?

>Continually apply these 10 Scriptural tests to all thoughts, words, and

actions:

1. The Purity Test – I Cor. 6:19

Can I do this to the body where Christ dwells?
2. The Participation Test – I John 2:15-16
Will doing this take my eyes off Jesus?
3. The Polite Test – Romans 14:7,21
How will this affect others?
4. The Partner Test – Colossians 3:17
Could I invite Christ to do this with me?
5. The Public Test – I Thessalonians 5:22
Will this give the appearance of wrong doing?
6. The Presence Test – I John 2:28
Would I be ashamed to be found doing this upon Christ’s return?
7. The Problem Test – Hebrews 12:1
Will this hinder my NEW LIFE in Christ?
8. The Proof Test – Romans 12:9
Is this good for me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?
9. The Proclamation Test – Phil. 2:15
Will this void my witness for Christ?
10. The Peace Test – Phil. 4:6-7
After praying about it, can I do it and have peace?

Suggested Comments:
1. I commit to using the above tests when making decisions.

2. I will not make major decisions when depressed.

3. ______________________________________
 Worshipping a Holy God

“It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.”
- Calvin Coolidge

More Than a Prayer and Song

What is Worship? True worship flows from a grateful heart that knows
God’s mercy and grace firsthand. When you begin to comprehend all that
God did to forgive you and restore you to fellowship with Him, your natural
response should be one of overwhelming reverence and gratitude, not just in
what you say, but, in the way you live your life.

True worship might be more than you think. It’s not limited to the common
practices of a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening service. In fact, in its
most basic form, worship is entering into the presence of a holy God with a
clean heart, and attributing to Him the praise and honor that He rightly
deserves. It can be offered through a song that proclaims God’s “Amazing
Grace,” or in a prayer that acknowledges His many attributes (Ephesians
3:14-21), or through music (Psalm 150), or by sharing God’s love with others
(Psalm 89:1-2), or through obedient living (Micah 6:6-8).

There are many different forms of worship but one common focus – the
Almighty God, who created you, died for you, and continues to love you
unconditionally despite your faults.

Worship is a privilege that’s reserved for those who know God and desire to
do His will. Worship should be more than something you do when you’re in a
church building. Does God only help, encourage, guide, and love you on
Sunday and Wednesday? Has He ever stopped helping, encouraging, guiding,
and loving you? Then, worship should be a part of your everyday life.

What’s one way that you worship God every day?

Free To Be Yourself

John 4:24 says, “God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit
and in truth.” What exactly does that mean? For starters, it means that
you cannot worship God unless you’re doing so through the Holy Spirit.

If you’re acting apart from God’s will, you’re also acting apart from the Holy
Spirit. You cannot worship God if you’re out of His will. When there’s
nothing hindering your relationship with God, and you’re carrying out His
purpose for your life, your worship is pure, acceptable, and pleasing to Him.

How does obedience relate to worship? [Discuss]

Your worship must also be “in truth.” Although there is not a “best” way to
worship, there are five ingredients that all forms of worship must include to
be “true.”

1. A grateful response (Psalm 30). Ultimately, all worship must be in

response to your relationship with God being restored. What is significant
about this ingredient is that only a person who knows God can worship Him.

2. To God (Exodus 20:1-6). All true worship is directed to God alone.

3. In obedience to His command (Philippians 4:4). You cannot be in God’s will

and not worship Him.

4. With a willing heart (Psalm 139:23-24). If you are grateful for what
God’s done in your life, you will be more than willing to show Him your thanks.

5. To bring glory to God (John 17:4). The focus of all true worship is to
ascribe the glory to God that He deserves.

Now that we have discussed a little more about true, Spirit-filled worship,
what are three more ways that you personally worship God on a regular
basis?
We Benefit

True personal worship creates a boomerang effect in your life. Every time
you enter God’s presence, you acknowledge that He’s worthy of your praise
and gratitude, and more than able to meet your needs. As a result, He
continually meets your needs and equips you to do His will, or, in other words,
to be a worshipper. The many benefits of personal worship are simply the
promised blessings of obedience.

A Symphony of Praise

Another biblical emphasis is on corporate worship; that takes place with

other Christians.

Corporate worship is like the sound of a dynamic symphony to God’s ears.

Although each instrument has a distinct charisma of its own, when united
with other instruments, a greater, more vibrant offering of sound results.

Corporate worship is a symphony of praise from God’s people. It happens

wherever “two or three come together” (Matthew 18:20) to glorify God
“with gratitude . . . in word or in deed” (Colossians 3:15-17).

In what ways do you participate in corporate worship?

APPLICATION

Each day this week, ask God to help you become a better worshipper.
Determine to obey God in everything, so that your worship is pure and
acceptable. Think of specific ways to worship God each day. If you have a
Prayer Journal (or are willing to start one), write out prayers of worship.

*Lesson adapted from Firm Foundation, InJoy Publications

 “How Should I Manage My Time and Money?”
Ideas for Discussion

Let’s look at Matthew 6:28-33: Seeking first the Kingdom of God.

[Discuss]

Turn to Mark 10:17-22: [Discuss story.]

This young man’s money meant more to him than following Jesus. He
didn’t recognize that the money He possessed was really God’s. He
should have held onto his possessions loosely. We, too, are simply
stewards of what God has given us.

Consider the definition of Steward: A person who was asked to manage the
estate and resources of his master.

Ask yourself: “How well do I manage the time, talents, and

possessions that God has given me?”

How would you answer these more specific questions in the areas of money,
time, and talents?

MONEY:

 Where do I spend most of my money?

 How faithful am I in my tithing? Do I ever exceed my tithe?
 How satisfied am I with the possessions I have right now?
 How careful of a steward am I? Am I conscious of the fact that
God is owner?
TIME:

 During this past week, what took up most of your “free” time?
 How much of a priority is it for me to spend time with the Lord?
 Do I focus at all on spending time with others for the purpose of
edification?
 What does Matthew 6:34 mean when it says, “Take no thought for
tomorrow?”

TALENTS:

 What talents has God entrusted me with?

 What am I doing to enhance my talents so that I may be more
effectively used of God?
 Am I freely sharing my talents with others, or do I hide them
behind shyness or ruin them by pride?

REMEMBER: Being a good steward is dedicating every aspect of your life to

God. It’s letting go of your grasp on everything in your life and releasing it
to God’s Control. Have you done this?

Hold loosely to the things of this world. One day they will be so worthless.
The time you spent for personal enjoyment and achievement will seem so
empty when there is nothing to show for it in God’s Kingdom. You will be held
accountable for the talents that God has entrusted you with. To whom much
is given, much is required!

*Lesson adapted from Firm Foundation, InJoy Publications

 The Means of Grace

Question: Why do we call prayer and Bible reading “means of grace”?

The means of Grace: The ways of intentionally

Receiving the dynamic life of God.

I. Two General Means (ways) of God’s Working

A. Life to Life Sharing

This is sharing one’s heart with another in the hope that such
fellowship will result in a fuller understanding and appropriation of the
nature and character of God.

B. Accountability
The life of biblical discipleship is based on mutual accountability built
upon trust, openness and encouragement in the Holy Spirit.

II. Specific Means (Ways) of Grace

These life habit patterns have biblical and historical precedent.

A. Biblical Precedent
Matthew 6:1-18 lists some of the “means” of spiritual life present in
first century Israel. Jesus never did away with these “means” but did
critique their use. All the means of grace must be used with the right
motives and attitudes.

Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 4:1-11 point to other means of grace that
Jesus used.

B. Historical Precedent
The Influence of Wesley

John Wesley was very aware of the Biblical evidence of idolatry and
religious hypocrisy because he had lived there himself. He realized
that the “means of grace” are only “means,” not “ends in themselves.”
In a transcript from one of the earliest Methodist conferences, he laid
 out some very helpful guidelines. Wesley said the “means of grace”
were:

1. Never just a functional thing (“purely outward use”).

2. Never to be used as merit badges (“works righteousness”).
3. Never to be viewed as manipulations of God (“virtual magical
operations”).
4. Never to be placed on a par with God (“God is above all
means”).
5. Never to be seen as having innate power (“Useless” without
grace).

Can you think of two ways in which “means”

can become an end rather than a means?

Over Christian history, several “means” have surfaced as non-negotiables in

maturing in faith and love. They all bear the potential of deepening spiritual
life. Again Wesley is helpful in distinguishing three kinds of means:

1. General Rules: (More generalized ways all Christians keep themselves

open to more of God’s grace).
Instant and Continual Obedience from the Heart.
Keeping the Commandments.
Denial of Self.
Taking up one’s Cross Daily.

2. Prudential Means: (More of a personalized list that varies remarkably.

These do not seem to be required in Scripture in the same way as the
instituted means.)

e.g., Doing no harm, abstaining from swearing or drunkenness, caring

for the poor, guarding against extravagant dress or certain forms of
entertainment. Two very helpful prudential means were singing and
keeping a journal.

3. Instituted Means: (The “disciplines” which recur throughout the

testimony of the ages.) These means can be divided into two categories:
 A. Personal “Means of Grace.”
Private Prayer and Worship
Searching the Scripture (reading and “searching” or studying and
meditating)
Fasting (or some form of intentional abstinence)

B. Corporate “Means of Grace.”

Public Worship
Lord’s Supper
Ministry of the Word (preaching, teaching)
Family Prayer
Conferencing (small group, large group, one on one)

One form of Methodist “conferencing” was like the Band of Disciples Jesus
had around Him. Each society of Methodists had various forms of meeting in
small groups, or “conferencing.” So important was this means that the entire
work of early Methodism was built around it.

The “institutional means of grace” were “instituted” because they are

presented in Scripture as essential ways in which we know God and receive
grace from Him. Other means may be prudential, i.e., helpful, but not
required in the same way.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Because of your commitment to a

discipleship covenant, these means of grace are not unfamiliar. But as you
have reviewed them, is there any one of these means about which the Holy
Spirit is speaking to you in a special way? Is there some fresh commitment
to one or more of these to which He is leading you? Write down the area of
the means about which He is speaking and what He is asking you to do.

Means of Grace What He is saying to me . . .

___________________ ________________________
___________________ ________________________
___________________ ________________________
___________________ ________________________
Lesson Adapted from Following Jesus, produced by the Barnabas Foundation

Principles of Entertainment
By Nathan E. Brown

 Beware of anything that makes you calloused to sin. The world

surrounds us with so much sin that eventually, we all become used to
it. It is difficult to hate what you are calloused to.

Romans 12:9 – Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil;

cling to what is good.

I Thessalonians 5:22 – abstain from every form of evil.

 Beware of anything that presents sin as funny and appealing, or is

glorifying to evil.

Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and
perfect.

 Beware of anything that you feel troubled about in your spirit.

Romans 14:23 – But he who doubts is condemned if he eats,

because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from
faith is sin.

I Timothy 1:18-19 – This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my

son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made
concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight,
keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected
and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
 I Corinthians 10:31 – Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever
you do, do all to the glory of God.
 Beware of anything that stimulates wrong thoughts or attitudes.

II Corinthians 10:5 – We are destroying speculations and every

lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are
taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Phil. 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is

honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if
anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

 Beware of anything that is shady or suggestive

Ephesians 5:3-4 – But do not let immorality or any impurity or

greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and
there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which
are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

 Beware of anything that focuses on or centers around evil

Ephesians 5:11-12 – And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds

of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful
even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Colossians 3:2 – Set your mind on the things above, not on the
things that are on earth.

 Beware of loving pleasure more than loving God

II Timothy 3:4 – treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of

pleasure rather than lovers of God;
 Beware of anything that causes you to desire or long for the things
of this world

I John 2:15-16 – Do not love the world, nor the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust
of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father,
but is from the world.

II Timothy 2:3-4 – Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of

Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in
the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who
enlisted him as a soldier.

 Beware of anything that appeals to or affects your areas of

weakness

Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of

witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance,
and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us.

 Beware of anything that would make another brother or sister

stumble

Romans 14:13 – Therefore let us not judge one another anymore,

but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling
block in a brother’s way.

Romans 14:21 – It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to

do anything by which your brother stumbles.
 DEVELOPING GODLY CHARACTER

A primary key to developing Godly character is learning how to walk in the

Spirit. If you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal.
5:16). You will also be growing in Christlike attitudes and actions. To aid you in
spiritual development, review this spiritual “check-up” list daily.

1. Daily intake of God’s Word is vital to a Christian’s spiritual health. Study of

God’s Word in our private devotions will reflect in our daily lives.

2. Are you spending time in prayer each day in your personal and private
devotions?

3. Are your words throughout the day thoughtful, kind and gracious?

4. Complaining is a direct affront to God. It is a sign that one is probably not

“walking by faith,” nor being “let by the Spirit.” Are you engaged in
complaining? (Food, homework, etc.)

5. Are you keeping your thoughts pure? Are you abstaining from literature,
pictures, talk, or music that is lewd or suggestive?

6. Are you seeking to obey Psalms 34:1? “I will bless the LORD at all times:
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

7. Are you being kind to all your fellow students? Are you treating them, and
talking about them just as you, in a reverse role, would wish them to treat and
talk about you? Remember, what you sow, you will reap.

8. Do you have any hard feelings, resentment, or bitterness toward anyone or

is there any unforgiveness in your heart toward any one?

9. Are you a trustworthy model for others to imitate? Is your walk with God
causing you to develop sensitivity as to I Corinthians 1:9: “God is faithful, by
whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
I John 1:3-4: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye
also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father,
and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your
joy may be full.”

* I am seriously seeking to learn how to communicate Christ to others and

share the victory He has given me.

Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Christ to others and
share the victory He has given me.

Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” I will pray for those
Jesus has placed in my life, that they will strengthen in the most holy
faith and mature in Christlikeness in every area of their life.

Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and
to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching.”

James 5:16: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.”

I am willing to be spiritually committed and accountable to those Christ has

put over me to guide my spiritual training.

NIV Hebrews 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They
keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their
work will be a joy, not a burden for that would be of no advantage to you.”
 Bible Memorization

“Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might

not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11)

I. How important is Scripture memory?

Psalm 119 says that memorizing will increase your effectiveness in dealing
with temptation. Bible memory will empower your public ministry of
preaching, teaching, or sharing your faith. It will enrich your ability to
provide godly counsel. And it will elevate your understanding of God’s will in
personal decisions.

When you memorize Scripture, it is available to you throughout the day

for meditation and reflection. You are able to gain new insights from the
Word that are not limited to the devotional time you have each day.

You might think of it as though you were building a bank account from which
the Spirit of God can draw in any time of need. Nothing is impossible for
God. His Spirit can impress things on our hearts and minds that we have not
learned anywhere before. But His normal method of action is to quicken
that which we have already learned at some point. When we commit to
memory the truths of Scripture, we are building a valuable resource which
can be quickly tapped as needed.

If the football coach told the quarterback that by committing a number of

key plays to memory he would be more effective in adjusting to opposing
defenses and have greater flexibility at the line of scrimmage, would he
memorize them? Yes, if he wanted to succeed (and keep his job).

Are you willing to commit yourself to a program of Scripture memory to

increase the effectiveness of your ministry?
II. Practical Insights for Memorizing the Word

Prayer
Scripture memory should begin with prayer. Begin by asking God to quicken
your mind to memorize the verse. Then pray for the discipline to review
the verse daily until it is well engraved in your memory. Pray for added
insight into the meaning and possible uses of the verse. Finally, ask God for
opportunities to use the verse in ministry or personal life.

Review
The Navigators have a saying, “Learn it well; repeat it often.” This simple
phrase is the key to effective Scripture memory. You begin by learning the
verse well – exactly in the version you have chosen.

Then, repeat it often. A verse that is learned well initially will be quickly
forgotten unless it is regularly reviewed for a period of time.

Educators tell us that it take 21 days of daily repetition to learn a new habit.
Thus, a good pattern is to review a verse daily for 21 days before moving
it to a weekly or monthly review group.

The weekly review is a maintenance category for those verses which have
already been a part of your daily review process (the 21-day pattern). This
group should go 3 to 4 weeks before rotating the earliest verses to a
monthly review group.

Selection
Scripture memory has greater meaning when the verses we select to
memorize are related to some purpose in our daily living. For example, it
is helpful to know that the verses we memorize will help us in sharing our
faith, improving our relationship with our children or spouse, motivate us in
our giving, or help us develop godly character.

As you select verses to memorize, you might place them in categories which
reflect their purpose or function. Sample categories might include
“witness,” “salvation,” “family,” “discipleship,” “faith,” and so forth. You can
create the categories most helpful for you.
As you faithfully read and study the Bible, you will regularly find verses that
get your attention as possible memory verses. If you are already
memorizing a set of verses you can create a FM (Future Memory) list to help
you remember the verse reference and, perhaps, a key thought that stood
out to you. You might keep such a list on a paper attached to the back flap
of your Bible. Then when it is time to add new verses to your current group
of memory verses, turn to your FM list to make your selections.

Context
An important part of Scripture memory is to understand the memory verse
in its context. Always read the verses surrounding your memory verse to
gain a sense of the context in which the verse is used. This not only aides
you in a proper interpretation of the verse, but it may also add
understanding which will help you in the actual memorizing process.

III. Other Practical Hints

- Select a Version of the Bible

- Read the verse aloud slowly several times

- Write the verse exactly as it appears in your translation (1 or more times)

* Write the verse on a card or paper you can carry with you for
frequent review. Index cards or even the backs of old business cards
are excellent for this.

- Always repeat the reference before and after saying the verse

- Learn a phrase at a time

- Look for keys to aid memory

*Are there any lists in the verse? How many items are in the list?
How many phrases are there? If there are several which is the
dominant phrase? Are there any words that stand out or take on new
meaning?
- Imagine you are explaining the meaning of the verse to someone else
*To make sure you understand the meaning of the verse, talk through
each phrase of the verse as though you were explaining it to someone
else. A good understanding of the verse will prevent simple rote
memory.

- Visualize or act out the verse with hand motions

*Associate visual images with key words or ideas in the verse.
*Use hand motions to emphasize words or ideas.

- Take advantage of “in between time”

*Carry verse cards with you to take advantage of time waiting in lines,
waiting on hold on the phone, waiting for a class or project to begin,
etc.
*Make a cassette tape of your verses to play in the car while
commuting to work or school.
*Place cards in key places in the home – on the bathroom mirror, on the
refrigerator, over the sink, by your bed.

- Have a review partner

*Someone who is memorizing the same verses from the same version is
the best review partner.
*Make time each week to check each other’s verses.
*If possible, allow time in your review session to share insights gleaned
during the week while memorizing the selected verses.

- Begin with the key subjects to equip you for ministry

*A series of verses on the plan of salvation is excellent preparation for
sharing your witness.
*Your Christian bookstore sells packet of verses arranged by key
topics.
*Do not forget the FM (Future Memory) lists which you create yourself
from your own reading and study.
*Lesson adapted from Following Jesus, by the Barnabas Foundation. For the complete lesson, contact the
Barnabas Foundation through the GBS Christian Service Department.

Loving God
The Primary Principle of the Christian Life

What is being a Christian all about? If we boil it all down, what is the one main
thing that is at the heart of it all?

Jesus gives us the answer to this question in Matthew 22:34-40

34
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence,
they were gathered together. 35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him
a question, tempting him, and saying, 36Master, which is the great commandment in
the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great
commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

I. The Most Important Command God Has Ever Given

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and says that it is the most important
commandment God has given us. He commands us to love Him with our total
inner being (heart), with our total person (soul), to the utmost extent of our
capacity (might).

Note: Jesus use of ‘heart, soul, and mind’ in Matthew 22, or ‘heart, soul,
mind, and strength’ in Luke 10:27 are interpretive quotes of Deuteronomy
6:5 indicating that every part of one’s being must be committed to loving
God.

The second most important commandment is Leviticus 19:18.

All the law and the prophets ‘hang’ on these two commandments in the sense
that all the law is an outworking of these two commands. As a door hangs on its
hinges, so the whole OT hangs on these tow commands. In other words, keeping
these two commands will result in keeping all of God’s other commands.

II. What Does It Mean to Love God Totally?

Suggested Definition
To love God is to self-sacrificially commit oneself to delight in Him, to rejoice
in serving Him, to desire continually to please Him, to seek our happiness in
Him, and to thirst day and night for a fuller enjoyment of Him and Him alone.

A. Commitment is the Indispensable Element of Loving God

In Deut. 13:1-4, God tells Israel He may test their love by allowing a false
prophet to prophesy accurately some sign or wonder and then entice them to
serve another God. This enticement tests their love because it tests their
commitment to God.

When God commands us to love Him, He is commanding total commitment. No

rivals for our affection. No reservations in our commitment.

B. Love Delights in the Loved One

To love God is to commit oneself to delight in Him

Proverbs 3:12 compares Lord’s delight in His people to a father’s love for his
son. This verse implies what we already know from experience—love involves
delighting in the loved one.

Psalm 37:4 commands us to “Delight yourself in the Lord.”

How do you delight in the Lord? Consider the following verses:

Job 27:10 _________________________________________________

Isaiah 58:13-14 _____________________________________________

What other ways can you think of delighting in the Lord?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Besides delighting in who God is as a person, what else do we delight in when we
love God?

Psalm 119:47 ________________________________________________

Psalm 111:2 _________________________________________________
C. Love Rejoices to Serve the Loved One

To love God is to commit to rejoice in serving Him

This element of love relates to the Servant-Master aspect of our relationship

with the Lord. See Deuteronomy 11:13.

Where does Scripture command us to “serve the Lord with gladness”?

______________

What does Deuteronomy 28:47-48 imply about the relationship of love and
service? ___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

How could you put this aspect of loving God into practice?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

D. Love Desires to Please the Loved One

To love God is to desire continually to please Him.

We know from human relationships that when you love someone, you enjoy doing
things that please them, that make them happy. The same is true in our
relationship with God.

How does Jesus say the world will know that he loves God?

John 14:31 ________________________________________________

Does obedience = love? _____ What is the relationship between love and
obedience? Consider I John 2:5 and 4:12.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
For other passages that relate to pleasing God, see Ephesians 5:8-10 and
Colossians 1:9-10.

How can we increase our desire to please God? _______________________

__________________________________________________________
E. Love Seeks its Happiness in the Loved One

To love God is to seek our happiness in Him

What is happiness? Consider the following verses:

Genesis 30:13 ________________________________________________

Psalm 128:1-2 ________________________________________________

How do the following passages reflect the Psalmist’s finding his happiness in God?

Psalm 63:5 __________________________________________________

Psalm 36:7-9 ________________________________________________

What are some of the things that unsaved people seek their happiness in?
___________________________________________________________

How can we know if we are seeking our happiness in God?

___________________________________________________________

F. Love Thirsts for a Fuller Enjoyment of the Loved One

To love God is to thirst day and night for a fuller enjoyment of Him

Love doesn’t just find happiness in the loved one. Love wants to enjoy them
more. It continually seeks for ways to increase its joy in the beloved.

How do the following verses express this thirst for a fuller enjoyment of God?

Psalm 27:4 __________________________________________________

Psalm 42:1 __________________________________________________
Psalm 63:1-3 _________________________________________________

What practical steps could a person take to develop a thirst to enjoy God more
fully? ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Love also sacrifices itself for the loved one. Jesus modeled this in His love for
us and calls us to the same sacrifice in our love for Him (Matthew 10:37; Luke
14:26; cf. Philippians 3:8-10)