Feb 13: On Relationships

Questions:
1. What do you look for in your future spouse?
2. What are God's requirements for your future spouse?
3. How about ... God's requirement for you?

Passage: 1 Corinthians 13

Feb 6: Hearts on Fire

Hearts on Fire

Preparing for Retreat

Questions:
1. Do you have any expectations from retreat? What are they? Is it even important to have expectations?
2. What is God doing in your life now? Where is He taking you? What do you need to do to get there?

Thought to Ponder:
Like anything, you need to prepare. Think of how an athlete prepares for a race - or even for a training session. To get the most out of a workout or event, you need to come with a plan. (Think of playing competitive volleyball with no strategy or team chemistry). CCF is having a retreat in one week. Before thinking about CCF, let's start with our own lives. Are you feeling spiritually dry? Do you desire more from your relationship with God? Are you living the life you want? Are there areas in your life hindering you from God's blessings? Take time to prepare yourself for a time of refreshing.


Key Passages

2 Chronicles 7:14
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
- Repentance leading to revival (Old Testament example)

Acts 3:19-20,26
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. ... When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.
- Repentance leading to revival (New Testament example)
- God's blessing comes from us turning from our "wicked ways"

James 4:7-10
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
- Humble yourself before God - Pride is a huge stumbling block to hearing and obeying God's Will
- Draw near to God and He will draw near to you

4th Meeting (Jan 30): James 1:22-27

Passage: James 1:22-27

What?
- being doers of the Word

What it means:
- when you read Scripture, to absorb - not let it pass from one ear to the other
- pride: everyone does not want to change when Scripture challenges their lifestyle
- reading vs applying the Bible... reading superficiallly ... living normally

How to resolve disconnect:
- ..

Applications:
- Personal: Josh's life (regular devotions)
- Devotional: meditating, reflecting, not just reading / memorizing superficially
- Bible verses/passages: help in times in need
- applying v19-21 in Sports (team sports): competitive, but different levels of skill

Resolving the disconnect:
- rewarded if you follow instructions (remembering what God's Word says & applying)
- "looking intently" into the Word, "perseveres"
- i.e. put your effort into reading / memorizing, and actively hang on

Apply

3rd Meeting (Jan 23): Themes + James 1:19-21

Themes (as listed in NIV Study Bible)
- Living Faith
- Trials
- Law of Love
- Wise Speech
- Wealth

Brainstorming: Themes
- Prudence
- Honesty (v22)
- Temperance (v19) - analogy: tempering metals -> hardening, shaping character
- Humility (v9-11) - life is like a vapor
- Acting on the Word (v22-25) - analogy of looking in the mirror

This Week's Study Passage

James 1:19-21 
- quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to be angry

Apply

Memorizing not an end but a means to equip ourselves. Focus on applying this week's passage to your life and use memory and meditation / reflection to internalize what you learned.

2nd Meeting (Jan 16): James 1:1-18

Summary of our discussion (feel free to add further thoughts through comments):

The book of James

- practical

v8 talks about being double minded

- faith & trusting vs tossing & turning

- also refers to Christian faith in general: we shouldn't second guess God, His love for us, ...

- when you pray, do not doubt

v2-4 endurance, patience, perserverance ... developed through trials 

- allow these tough times to refine and complete your character

- try to seek God's will in both good and tough times

v5 lacking wisdom? ask God, who gives generously to all ...

For those who have made it this far (i.e. clicked on the link to this blog, and read this, I want to challenge you to do something else)

Challenge:

- Pick a verse or a couple verses that you want to apply to your life 

- Meditate on it and commit that verse to memory

- Post up on this blog or email your small group (accountability)

- Share about how this verse has helped you or helped you help someone else (encourage one another)

1st Meeting (Jan 9): Introduction

NEXT WEEK:

FRIDAY, JAN 16, 2009

3-5 PM

ISC, Pendarvis Room

______________________________________________

Athletes for Christ

from our glory to His

Vision for Winter 2009:
Going through the book of James and focusing on developing deeper relationships with God, with one another, and with those around us.

Importance of Corporate and Personal Vision
- Corporate: Where do we want to go as a cell group?
- Personal: Where am I now and where do I want to be?
- Importance: Direction, helps us to stay on track, not aimlessly wandering

Why Bible Study?
- Hebrews 4:12
- Connect with our God
- Why James? Offers very practical advice on living out the Christian life

Why Small Group?
- Hebrews 10:19-25, Hebrews 12:1-2
- Community, deeper friendships, accountability, and fun!

Basic Approach for Bible Study - 5 Key Steps
1. What is James trying to say to the Jewish Christians?
2. How does this apply in our day, culture, and society?
3. How does this apply to me?
4. What is one thing I will apply this week?
5. Personal Memory Verse(s) for the week

Sharing and Prayer
- Pray for at least one person consistently throughout this week

READ JAMES

What is God trying to tell you this week?