WEEK 4: NOVEMBER 19 - 25

Thursday, November 19

Read Matthew 6:25-34

• In this passage, Jesus is delivering a very famous sermon known as the Sermon on the Mount. From this part of the message, what is it that you worry about? How often do you worry about it/those things?

• God hasn’t promised that he will provide everything that we want, but he will meet our needs. Do you trust and believe that God is going to provide for you everything that you need?

• Do you spend time worrying over little things like clothing and appearance? Worrying over these things communicates that we don’t trust in Jesus, and he commands us not to spend time worrying, but to seek first his kingdom. Would you say you seek first his kingdom, or what you want and desire?

• Take 5 minutes and sit quietly. Try not to worry about anything but just let your mind rest. It’s pretty tough! In our culture, we are constantly moving and thinking about what’s next. Spend time in prayer for 5 minutes now. If you need to, apologize to God for the amount of time you spend worrying and not pursuing Him. Ask him to set your focus on the things that matter most to him.

Friday, November 20

Read Luke 9:18-25

• In this passage, Jesus begins by asking his disciples who other people say he is. He then asks them who they say he is. Who do you think Jesus is? Why do you believe this?

• What does Jesus mean when he says “whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for me will save it?

• Based on what you know to be true about Jesus, are you willing to give up the things you desire the most to follow him? If you are a Christian and are already following him, in what ways are you not living for him? How can you “die” to these things and follow after Jesus?

• Bow down on your knees before God. Pray and surrender the things in your life that need to be surrendered over to him. Whether those are plans, friends, desires. Offer him control of your life and ask him to make you more like him.

Monday, November 23

Read 1 Peter 5:5-9

• In your mind, what does it mean for someone to be humble? What does it mean for someone to be prideful?

• Do you think of yourself as someone who is humble or proud?

• Since God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble, is it your desire to be humble or prideful?

• Everyone struggles with pride. We all want things to be our way, look the way we want, or be in control of the situation. Jesus asks us, though, to die to those desires. In Philippians 2, Paul says we should consider others better than ourselves. That is true humility. Spend some time in prayer. Tell the Lord that you desire to be humble. Ask him to make you a humble person and to kill the pride within you. It won’t be easy, but you will know the heart of God.

Tuesday, November 24

Read Ephesians 5:15-17

• Paul is the author of these few verses, writing to the church in Ephesus. What does it mean to you to live wisely?

• Paul reminds the people to make the most of every opportunity, for the days are evil. How can you make the most of every opportunity you have for Christ each day?

• He also tells them not to be foolish, but to know the will of God. List out ways that you can know and learn what God’s will is each day.

• The only way to know the will of God is to know about him. This is done in prayer, reading the Bible, singing songs to him, and being silent before him. Take some time to pray. Ask the Lord to make you wise. If it’s your desire, tell him that you want to make the most of every opportunity. Tell him that you want to know his will.

Wednesday, November 25

Read Philippians 2:14-16

• Think back over the past week. How often do you think you complained or argued about something to someone? How often did you do it in your mind?

• Paul tells the church in Philippi to do everything without complaining or arguing. Why did he tell them to do this?

• The great thing that Paul has realized here is that complaining and arguing corrupts and darkens someone’s heart and soul. If their soul is corrupted and negative, they won’t be able to “shine like stars in the universe.” What does it mean to let your life “shine?” Is it your desire to let your life “shine” to the people around you?

• If this is your desire, pray and ask the Lord to purify your heart and soul. Ask him to remove any bitterness from your heart. Confess to him the times you have complained and ask him to give you an attitude and heart of love and encouragement.

WEEK 3: NOVEMBER 12 - 18

Thursday

Read Judges 2:6-23

• List anything that really stands out to you about this passage.

• This passage follows the speech Joshua gives at the end of the book of Joshua. Joshua dies and a new generation is born that does not know the Lord. They choose to worship other gods instead of God. Because of this disobedience, God gave them over to raiders. Why do you think God gave them over to the raiders if they were His people?

• God raised up Judges, or Leaders, to save the people during this time period. After each Judge died, the people returned to their sinful ways and became more corrupt. The Lord became angry with them and decided to no longer drive out enemies that opposed the people of Israel. These became consequences for their behavior. Can you think of a time recently when you disobeyed God, your parents, or teachers and received consequences? What were they? How did they make you feel?

• God uses consequences for disobedience to help train and grow us in our character. Without consequences, we wouldn’t grow and learn from our mistakes. Take some time to pray. Thank God for consequences. Thank him for caring for us enough to teach us lessons, even if it sometimes is the hard way.

Friday

Read Ruth 1:1-18

• This section is loaded with tons of sadness. Imagine being Naomi, your husband and sons have all died and you were left alone (guys vise-versa for you). How would you feel?

• Naomi was very upset and frustrated. She wanted to head back to her homeland and be left alone. She commands both of her daughters in-law to leave her and return to their homes. Orpah chooses to leave and go home, but Ruth demands to stay with her and not let her be lonely. Ruth saw that she was in need and ran to her aid. If you were placed in Ruth’s situation, what would you have chosen to do? Would you have been loyal no matter what?

• The definition of loyalty is giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution. Ruth was an incredibly loyal woman during a time period where most people were far from loyal. Do you wish that your friends and people in your life were as loyal as Ruth is?

• Ruth’s example is one we can all learn from. Spend some time in prayer. Ask the Lord to make you, your friends, and family loyal like Ruth.

Monday

Read 1 Samuel 16: 1-13

• In this section, Israel has recently begun its new monarchy system. Saul was anointed as the first king, but the Lord ends up rejecting him because of his disobedience. God sends Samuel to anoint the new king. As Samuel sees Jesse’s first son, he believes he is the one to anoint, but God says, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” What does it mean when he says, “but the Lord looks at the heart”?

• With the people around you (friends, family, teachers, etc) do you typically accept people based on what they look like, or based on their heart?

• What does it look like to judge or accept someone based on their heart in your everyday life?

• It’s refreshing to know that God doesn’t judge you and I based on our appearance either, but based on our heart. Take a moment and pray, thanking God for that. Ask God to help you look for the good in people’s hearts, and not judge them based on their appearance.

Tuesday

Read Daniel 1:1-9

• Place yourself in the shoes of the Israelites. In this passage, they have just been conquered by the Babylonians. They are moved from their homes, families, and customs. Everything they once knew is gone. How would you feel in this situation? How do you think you would respond?

• The majority of the Israelites conformed to the traditions of the Babylonians, all but Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. It says, “but Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” Daniel had a ton of courage to stand up for what God was calling him to. In what ways do you need to stand up to the culture, environment, or choices that others are making and resist the lies and temptations of the enemy?

• It says in James 4:7 “Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” Take some time to pray, asking God to give you the strength and wisdom to resist the enemy like Daniel.

Wednesday

Read Ezra 10: 1-12

• In this passage, the people of Israel have returned to Jerusalem. Ezra has assembled them together and is calling them out for their sin and unfaithfulness to God. In what ways have you sinned against God and been unfaithful to him within this last week?

• The people responded by confessing their sin and unfaithfulness to God. Confess the sins you previously listed to God.

• What steps, if any, do you feel like the Lord is leading you to take? Does he want you to forgive someone? To apologize for something you did? To turn away from a destructive habit? List what out what you believe is the next step for you.

• Pray over the things you listed. Ask God to be glorified in and through your life, and to give you the strength to make things right with Him and the people around you.

WEEK 2: NOVEMBER 5 - 11

Thursday, November 5

Read Genesis 1

• According to this passage, what did God create in the beginning?

• It’s mind-blowing to think that God created everything in 6 days! What stood out most to you after reading this chapter?

• What did God do differently when He created man in his image? The Hebrew word for image is selem, which means to have someone’s characteristics (life, personality, truth, wisdom, etc.) Why do you think he did this?

• Spend some time in prayer, thanking the Lord for creating you. Thank him for the beautiful creation that we are surrounded with each day. Thank him for making you in His image.

Friday, November 6

Read Genesis 32: 24-30

• In this passage, Jacob wrestles with God. What do you think it would be like to wrestle with God physically?

• Have you ever wrestled with God mentally over issues in your life? Why? What did you wrestle with him about?

• Jacob named the place Peniel, which means face of God. He said “It is because I saw God face to face and yet my life was spared.” What do you think it would be like to see God face to face?

• What issues do you need to quit wrestling with God over? List them and spend some time in prayer, surrendering these things over to the Lord.

Monday, November 9

Read Exodus 20: 1-20

• In this passage, God is giving Moses what has become known as the Ten Commandments. Which of these is most difficult for you to live out each day? Why?

• Verse 4 says that we should not make for ourselves idols and worship them. In today’s age, we don’t make idols out of material, but many of us worship and adore celebrities, athletes, or musicians. Which of these do you struggle with? How is this dangerous for our relationship with God?

• Verse 17 says that we should not covet of neighbor’s house. This ultimately means that we should not be jealous of anything that belongs to other people. Is there anything that you are jealous of that your friends have? List them.

• Spend some time in prayer. Tell the Lord that you want to love and worship him and him alone. Surrender to him the idols you worship and the things you are jealous of in other people’s lives.

Tuesday, November 10

Read Joshua 1:1-9

• Joshua lived much of his life following and serving Moses. The Israelites had been wandering in the desert for 40 years before Moses’ death. The Lord is now calling Joshua to go into battle for the Promise Land. How do you think Joshua is feeling at this point in time? How would you feel? Why?

• The Lord comforts Joshua with the promise that he will never leave him or forsake him. This promise is also true for people who have a relationship with Christ. Do you believe this promise? Why or why not?

• The Lord then tells him to be strong and courageous three times. God is clearly making a point to Joshua. He also tells him to not let His word depart from his mouth, but to meditate on it day and night. Why do you think he tells him these things?

• God’s word is what leads and guides us. Spend time in prayer asking God to make you strong and courageous like Joshua. Thank him for being with you no matter what. Pray that you not let his word depart from your life.

Wednesday, November 11

Read Joshua 24: 1-15

• This passage is a summary of Israel’s history as a nation and covers everything we discussed during Sublime, Creation to Conquest. It tells how God chose them as a people and the amazing things he did among them. How much of this was prior knowledge to you before this past week at Sublime?

• In verse 14, Joshua tells them to fear the Lord and serve Him but tells them if that’s not desirable to them to serve other gods. He then tells them a famous quote “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Who do you want to serve with your life, God or other gods? Why?

• Reread Joshua: 24:1-15. After you finish, spend 10 minutes in silence, reflecting on all that God has done in your lifetime. When the 10 minutes is up, thank Him for those things. If it’s your desire, tell Him that you want to serve Him and Him alone.