God Encounters 11: David’s Story
“Preparing for Success”
Reading for the week of September 5-11
Day 1- 1 Samuel 13
Day 2- 1 Samuel 14
Day 3- 1 Samuel 15
Day 4- 1 Samuel 16
Day 5- 1 Samuel 17
Day 6- 1 Samuel 18
Bonus- Proverbs 1-2; Psalm 119:11; Acts 13:22
Memorize/Reflect - “But the Lord said to Samuel, “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.” (1 Samuel 16:7- NIV)
Personal Reflection – What is most important to you, your outward appearance or the condition of your heart? What can you do to improve the appearance of your heart?
Discussion – How do you know what is in your heart. What do you think a lot about? What gets you upset and mad? What brings you great joy and happiness?
Prayer Direction – Ask God to help you with “a change of heart,” and to help you know what needs to be changed on the inside. “Create in me a clean heart O God”… Psalm 51:10
“Live It!” Challenge - Find someone you respect as a committed Christian (who knows you). Share with them what you think God wants you to change in your heart. Then ask God to help you change as you work on memorizing verses in the Bible that relate to your growth area (ie- jealousy, lust, greed, bitterness, anger, fear, etc).
September Prayer Focus:For September our prayer focus will be learning to pray the Bible. Consider using the Lord’s Prayer to give direction to your prayers this week.
July-September: This will be our final month focusing on the spiritual discipline of simplicity. This is all about intentionally making our lives less complex. Pick one area you need to simplify (finances and stuff / schedule / your thought world and worry / some other area) and ask God how you can simplify your life so you can focus more on your relationship with Him.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: No extra resources recommended this series. Just read Proverbs and James over and over and over!
God Encounters 11: David’s Story
“Preparing for Success”
Reading for the week of September 5-11
Day 1- 1 Samuel 13
Day 2- 1 Samuel 14
Day 3- 1 Samuel 15
Day 4- 1 Samuel 16
Day 5- 1 Samuel 17
Day 6- 1 Samuel 18
Bonus- Proverbs 1-2; Psalm 119:11; Acts 13:22
Memorize/Reflect - “But the Lord said to Samuel, “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.” (1 Samuel 16:7- NIV)
Personal Reflection – What is most important to you, your outward appearance or the condition of your heart? What can you do to improve the appearance of your heart?
Discussion – How do you know what is in your heart. What do you think a lot about? What gets you upset and mad? What brings you great joy and happiness?
Prayer Direction – Ask God to help you with “a change of heart,” and to help you know what needs to be changed on the inside. “Create in me a clean heart O God”… Psalm 51:10
“Live It!” Challenge - Find someone you respect as a committed Christian (who knows you). Share with them what you think God wants you to change in your heart. Then ask God to help you change as you work on memorizing verses in the Bible that relate to your growth area (ie- jealousy, lust, greed, bitterness, anger, fear, etc).
September Prayer Focus:For September our prayer focus will be learning to pray the Bible. Consider using the Lord’s Prayer to give direction to your prayers this week.
July-September: This will be our final month focusing on the spiritual discipline of simplicity. This is all about intentionally making our lives less complex. Pick one area you need to simplify (finances and stuff / schedule / your thought world and worry / some other area) and ask God how you can simplify your life so you can focus more on your relationship with Him.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: No extra resources recommended this series. Just read Proverbs and James over and over and over!
God Encounters 10: Haggai’s Story
“Priorities in House Building”
Reading for the week of August 29 – September 4
Day 1- Haggai 1-2
Day 2- Nehemiah 1-2
Day 3- Nehemiah 4&6
Day 4- Nehemiah 8-9
Day 5- Nehemiah 12-13
Day 6- Haggai 1-2
Bonus- The Book of Ezra
Memorize/Reflect - “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4)
Personal Reflection – What are some of the things that can consume your time, attention, and energy and distract you from investing in your walk with the Lord? What can you do to invest in “building God’s house,” and growing your relationship with the Lord?
Discussion – Use the two discussion questions above as you talk with others.
Prayer Direction – Pray for eyes to see where you have been building your own house, dreams, or kingdom but have forgotten to do the things of God. Pray for wisdom to identify the next steps you need to take in building God’s house (your walk with Jesus). And, ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to fill you in this process.
“Live It!” Challenge - Look at the next month of your life and identify one new “building project” for your spiritual life. It could be an act of service, a new commitment to prayer, going deeper in the Word, or anything that grows your faith.
September Prayer Focus: Scripture Memory and Wisdom. In the coming month we will be looking at God’s wisdom revealed in Proverbs and James. Read (many times), or commit to memory, Proverbs 1:2-7. Let these words direct your prayer for wisdom and a fresh new “Fear of the Lord.”
July-September: Continue growing in the spiritual discipline of simplicity. Begin thinking about how you can unclutter your thought life. Identify things you tend to worry about and ask God to give you peace and trust in Him. If this is a challenge for you, spend time reading and reflecting on Philippians 4:6-7.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: If you don’t have a good, modern English Bible of your own, look into getting one. On Sundays we use the (NIV) New International Version.
God Encounters 10: Haggai’s Story
“Priorities in House Building”
Reading for the week of August 29 – September 4
Day 1- Haggai 1-2
Day 2- Nehemiah 1-2
Day 3- Nehemiah 4&6
Day 4- Nehemiah 8-9
Day 5- Nehemiah 12-13
Day 6- Haggai 1-2
Bonus- The Book of Ezra
Memorize/Reflect - “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4)
Personal Reflection – What are some of the things that can consume your time, attention, and energy and distract you from investing in your walk with the Lord? What can you do to invest in “building God’s house,” and growing your relationship with the Lord?
Discussion – Use the two discussion questions above as you talk with others.
Prayer Direction – Pray for eyes to see where you have been building your own house, dreams, or kingdom but have forgotten to do the things of God. Pray for wisdom to identify the next steps you need to take in building God’s house (your walk with Jesus). And, ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to fill you in this process.
“Live It!” Challenge - Look at the next month of your life and identify one new “building project” for your spiritual life. It could be an act of service, a new commitment to prayer, going deeper in the Word, or anything that grows your faith.
September Prayer Focus: Scripture Memory and Wisdom. In the coming month we will be looking at God’s wisdom revealed in Proverbs and James. Read (many times), or commit to memory, Proverbs 1:2-7. Let these words direct your prayer for wisdom and a fresh new “Fear of the Lord.”
July-September: Continue growing in the spiritual discipline of simplicity. Begin thinking about how you can unclutter your thought life. Identify things you tend to worry about and ask God to give you peace and trust in Him. If this is a challenge for you, spend time reading and reflecting on Philippians 4:6-7.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: If you don’t have a good, modern English Bible of your own, look into getting one. On Sundays we use the (NIV) New International Version.
God Encounters 9: Ruth’s Story
“The Love that is Most Like God’s”
Reading for the week of August 22-28
Day 1- Psalm 146 and Psalm 11
Day 2- Psalm 103:1-5 and Psalm 12
Day 3- Psalm 103:6-22 and Psalm 13
Day 4- Psalm 145:1-7 and Psalm 14
Day 5- Psalm 145:8-13a and Psalm 15
Day 6- Psalm 145:13b-16 and Psalm 16
Bonus- Psalm 145:17-21 and Psalms 17-20
Memorize/Reflect - “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them – the Lord who remains faithful forever.” (Psalm 146:5-6 — NIV)
Reflection – Reflect for a while on the most faithful people you know. Give thanks for them. Ask God to teach you what they learned about faithful love.
Discussion – What are some things about our culture and the way you were brought up that have helped or hindered your ability to make and keep promises?
Prayer Direction – Practice a little “thank-therapy” to make your love more like God’s faithful love: give gratitude through prayer daily for all the ways God has stayed with you through sickness and in health, joy and in sorrow, for better and for worse.
“Live It!” Challenge - Find someone you deeply respect and trust and ask them to hold you accountable to keep 5 faithful-love promises over the next week. Share with him or her your intentions, pray together about it, and get back together in a week to talk about how things went.
August Prayer Focus: Continue growing in honest prayers of lament as you lift up your hurt, struggle and pain. Be sure to express your trust in God, even while you tell him about the hard things in your life. Read Psalms 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, and 36 and learn from these prayers of lament.
July-August: Conclude your focus on the discipline of simplicity. Think through what you have learned about simplicity in your schedule, thinking, financial life, and other areas.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore:Consider reading some of these resources on prayer, written by Ben Patterson…The Prayer Bible, Deepening Your Conversation With God, and God’s Prayer Book (on the Psalms).
God Encounters 9: Ruth’s Story
“The Love that is Most Like God’s”
Reading for the week of August 22-28
Day 1- Psalm 146 and Psalm 11
Day 2- Psalm 103:1-5 and Psalm 12
Day 3- Psalm 103:6-22 and Psalm 13
Day 4- Psalm 145:1-7 and Psalm 14
Day 5- Psalm 145:8-13a and Psalm 15
Day 6- Psalm 145:13b-16 and Psalm 16
Bonus- Psalm 145:17-21 and Psalms 17-20
Memorize/Reflect - “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them – the Lord who remains faithful forever.” (Psalm 146:5-6 — NIV)
Reflection – Reflect for a while on the most faithful people you know. Give thanks for them. Ask God to teach you what they learned about faithful love.
Discussion – What are some things about our culture and the way you were brought up that have helped or hindered your ability to make and keep promises?
Prayer Direction – Practice a little “thank-therapy” to make your love more like God’s faithful love: give gratitude through prayer daily for all the ways God has stayed with you through sickness and in health, joy and in sorrow, for better and for worse.
“Live It!” Challenge - Find someone you deeply respect and trust and ask them to hold you accountable to keep 5 faithful-love promises over the next week. Share with him or her your intentions, pray together about it, and get back together in a week to talk about how things went.
August Prayer Focus: Continue growing in honest prayers of lament as you lift up your hurt, struggle and pain. Be sure to express your trust in God, even while you tell him about the hard things in your life. Read Psalms 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, and 36 and learn from these prayers of lament.
July-August: Conclude your focus on the discipline of simplicity. Think through what you have learned about simplicity in your schedule, thinking, financial life, and other areas.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore:Consider reading some of these resources on prayer, written by Ben Patterson…The Prayer Bible, Deepening Your Conversation With God, and God’s Prayer Book (on the Psalms).
God Encounters 8: A Nameless Canaanite Woman
“Holy Chutzpah”
Reading for the week of August 15-21
Day 1- Luke 18:1-8 and Psalm 1
Day 2- Genesis 32:22-32 and Psalm 2
Day 3- James 1:2-4 and Psalm 3
Day 4- Hebrews 10:35-39 and Psalm 4
Day 5- Colossians 1:9-14 and Psalm 5
Day 6- 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 and Psalm 6
Bonus- 2 Corinthians 4:16-20, and Psalms 7-10
Memorize/Reflect - “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — NIV)
Reflection – Think of a time in your life when you were forced to persevere for an uncomfortably long time. What kept you going? Is there a lesson for your prayer life here?
Discussion – We live in a culture that teaches us to expect quick fixes to our problems, rather than long term persistence. What are some examples of this?
Prayer Direction – Ask God to give you the confidence to speak your mind to him, without worrying whether or not what you say is “correct”. Tell God you won’t let go of him until he blesses you.
“Live It!” Challenge - 90% of learning to pray is just showing up, consistently and perseveringly. It’s more important that you pray consistently than that you pray for a long time. Make a daily appointment with God, make the time short, but above all make the time when you said you would!
August Prayer Focus: Continue growing in honest prayers of lament as you lift up your hurt, struggle and pain. Be sure to express your trust in God, even while you tell him about the hard things in your life. Read Psalms 13, 14, 17, and 22 and learn from these prayers of lament.
July-August: Continue developing your focus on the discipline of simplicity. Continue looking for the things that clutter your day and your mind and seek to offer these to the Lord. Seek to remove unneeded business and clutter from your days.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore:Consider reading some of these resources on prayer, written by Ben Patterson…The Prayer Bible, Deepening Your Conversation With God, and God’s Prayer Book (on the Psalms).
God Encounters 8: A Nameless Canaanite Woman
“Holy Chutzpah”
Reading for the week of August 15-21
Day 1- Luke 18:1-8 and Psalm 1
Day 2- Genesis 32:22-32 and Psalm 2
Day 3- James 1:2-4 and Psalm 3
Day 4- Hebrews 10:35-39 and Psalm 4
Day 5- Colossians 1:9-14 and Psalm 5
Day 6- 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 and Psalm 6
Bonus- 2 Corinthians 4:16-20, and Psalms 7-10
Memorize/Reflect - “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — NIV)
Reflection – Think of a time in your life when you were forced to persevere for an uncomfortably long time. What kept you going? Is there a lesson for your prayer life here?
Discussion – We live in a culture that teaches us to expect quick fixes to our problems, rather than long term persistence. What are some examples of this?
Prayer Direction – Ask God to give you the confidence to speak your mind to him, without worrying whether or not what you say is “correct”. Tell God you won’t let go of him until he blesses you.
“Live It!” Challenge - 90% of learning to pray is just showing up, consistently and perseveringly. It’s more important that you pray consistently than that you pray for a long time. Make a daily appointment with God, make the time short, but above all make the time when you said you would!
August Prayer Focus: Continue growing in honest prayers of lament as you lift up your hurt, struggle and pain. Be sure to express your trust in God, even while you tell him about the hard things in your life. Read Psalms 13, 14, 17, and 22 and learn from these prayers of lament.
July-August: Continue developing your focus on the discipline of simplicity. Continue looking for the things that clutter your day and your mind and seek to offer these to the Lord. Seek to remove unneeded business and clutter from your days.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore:Consider reading some of these resources on prayer, written by Ben Patterson…The Prayer Bible, Deepening Your Conversation With God, and God’s Prayer Book (on the Psalms).
God Encounters 7: The Story of Moses
A Man with an Excuse
Reading for the week of August 8-14
Day 1- Exodus 1-3
Day 2- Exodus 4-6
Day 3- Exodus 7-11
Day 4- Exodus 12-14
Day 5- Exodus 15-18
Day 6- Exodus 19-20
Bonus- Exodus 33-34
Memorize/Reflect - “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6)
Reflection – God doesn’t call Moses His leader, but his servant. True leadership begins with servanthood. What are ways I can be a servant in my home, church, and community?
Discussion – Numbers 12:3 tells us that Moses was the humblest man on the earth. What would that mean? When you meet a person, what attitudes and actions show that they are truly humble?
Prayer Direction – Ask the Lord to expose any self-serving pride in your heart and to replace it with humility and love for others.
“Live It!” Challenge - Leadership is influence and the greatest influence upon another is to serve them. Pick one act of service you can offer this week and do it! Make sure you are serving with a humble heart!
August Prayer Focus: Continue growing in prayer as you lift up honest prayers that express your hurt, struggle and pain. Be sure to express your trust in God, even while you tell him about your struggles. Read Psalms 5 and 10 and learn from these prayers of lament.
July-August: Continue developing your focus on the discipline of simplicity. Look for the things that clutter your day and your mind and seek to offer these to the Lord. Seek to remove unneeded business and clutter from your days.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: If you want to learn more about prayers of Lament, read the book, Out of the Depths by Bernard Anderson. If you want to learn more about simplicity, read Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
God Encounters 7: The Story of Moses
A Man with an Excuse
Reading for the week of August 8-14
Day 1- Exodus 1-3
Day 2- Exodus 4-6
Day 3- Exodus 7-11
Day 4- Exodus 12-14
Day 5- Exodus 15-18
Day 6- Exodus 19-20
Bonus- Exodus 33-34
Memorize/Reflect - “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6)
Reflection – God doesn’t call Moses His leader, but his servant. True leadership begins with servanthood. What are ways I can be a servant in my home, church, and community?
Discussion – Numbers 12:3 tells us that Moses was the humblest man on the earth. What would that mean? When you meet a person, what attitudes and actions show that they are truly humble?
Prayer Direction – Ask the Lord to expose any self-serving pride in your heart and to replace it with humility and love for others.
“Live It!” Challenge - Leadership is influence and the greatest influence upon another is to serve them. Pick one act of service you can offer this week and do it! Make sure you are serving with a humble heart!
August Prayer Focus: Continue growing in prayer as you lift up honest prayers that express your hurt, struggle and pain. Be sure to express your trust in God, even while you tell him about your struggles. Read Psalms 5 and 10 and learn from these prayers of lament.
July-August: Continue developing your focus on the discipline of simplicity. Look for the things that clutter your day and your mind and seek to offer these to the Lord. Seek to remove unneeded business and clutter from your days.
Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: If you want to learn more about prayers of Lament, read the book, Out of the Depths by Bernard Anderson. If you want to learn more about simplicity, read Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
