The Story Reading

Sunday- The Story Chapter 20 (pgs. 275-277)
Monday- The Story Chapter 20 (pgs. 277-279)
Tuesday- The Story Chapter 20 (pgs.279-282)
Wednesday- The Story Chapter 20 (pgs. 282-285)
Thursday- The Story Chapter 20 (pgs. 285-287)
Friday- The Story Chapter 20 (pgs. 287-289)
Saturday- Nehemiah 1

Bible in a Year (Chronological Reading)
Sunday- 2 Chronicles 10-12
Monday- 1 Kings 15:1-24 ; 2 Chronicles 13-16
Tuesday- 1 Kings 15:25-16:34 ; 2 Chronicles 17
Wednesday- 1 Kings 17-19
Thursday- 1 Kings 20-21
Friday-  1 Kings 22 ; 2 Chronicles 18
Saturday- 2 Chronicles 19-23

Memorize/Reflect: “With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” (Ezra 3:11)

Personal Reflection: What is an area of your spiritual growth where you started strong but have hit a roadblock and slowed down (or quit)? What can you do to finish what God called you to do in this area of your life?

Discussion: How did the people of God succeed and follow God’s leading in this time of restoration and renewal? What are indications that they got sidetracked and stopped pursuing God’s will for their lives?

Prayer Direction: Ask God to help you make worship of Him a huge priority in your life. Pray for power to live for Him, even when you feel weary.

“Live It!” Challenge: God called them to build the temple (their life of worship) before anything else (including their own homes). Set one practical goal for making worship of God and your relationship with Him a greater priority. Then, put this goal into action in the coming days.

Monthly Prayer Focus: God speaks in many ways. Through the coming weeks, we will be learning ways to hear the voice of God. This week, ask God to convict you of anything that is demanding your time and energy in a way that is keeping you from living fully for Him. Listen for His voice, and respond to His leading in this area.

Extra Resources for this week: Make sure you have a copy of The Story. Also, consider buying a copy of the book, Listening for God, by Marilyn Hontz, and Deepening Your Conversation with God, by Ben Patterson. You might also want to read chapter six of Seismic Shifts, by Kevin Harney.

Small Group Resources for this week: Chapter 19 of The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story (Adult Curriculum). You can purchase this 31-week study for 40% off at the Connections Center in the Shoreline lobby. (If you can’t afford this and are going to be part of a group, please contact Romel.)

The Story Reading

Sunday- The Story Chapter 19 (pgs. 263-265)
Monday- The Story Chapter 19 (pgs. 265-266)
Tuesday- The Story Chapter 19 (pgs. 266-268)
Wednesday- The Story Chapter 19 (pgs. 268-270)
Thursday- The Story Chapter 19 (pgs. 270-273)
Friday- Zechariah 12
Saturday- Zechariah 14

Bible in a Year (Chronological Reading)
Sunday- Proverbs 25-26
Monday- Proverbs 27-29
Tuesday- Ecclesiastes 1-6
Wednesday- Ecclesiastes 7-12
Thursday- 1 Kings 10-11 ; 2 Chronicles 9
Friday-  Proverbs 30-31
Saturday- 1 Kings 12-14

Memorize/Reflect: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

Personal Reflection: How can Christians and the Church help encourage married people and celebrate this great gift of a life-long covenant relationship between a man and a woman? What is one way you can cheer on and support the married people you are close to?

Discussion: God was clear that men and women were not made to be alone, but to live in relationship. How can marriage be a great laboratory for spiritual growth? How can marriage (in the good and challenging times) help us grow in holiness?

Prayer Direction: Pray for couples you know who are in a time of struggle and difficulty. Thank God for couples who are doing well and whose marriage is healthy. Ask God to help them grow in love with each other and with God.

“Live It!” Challenge: Think about one or two couples you know who model the love of Jesus and who work at building a strong and Christ-honoring marriage. Send them a note and thank them for their example of a godly marriage and let them know you are praying for them.

Monthly Prayer Focus: God speaks in many ways. Through the coming weeks, we will be learning ways to hear the voice of God. This week, ask God to help you hear His voice through the people in your life who walk closely with Jesus. Pray for ears to hear godly wisdom as others speak to you.

Extra Resources for this week: Consider getting a copy of Sacred Marriage, or Sacred Pathways, by Gary Thomas.

Small Group Resources for this week: No Small Groups this week!

Sacred Marriage Reading

Sunday- 1 Corinthians 14
Monday- Ephesians 5
Tuesday- Hosea 3
Wednesday- Genesis 2-3
Thursday- Proverbs 5
Friday- 1 Corinthians 7
Saturday- Hebrews 13

Bible in a Year (Chronological Reading)
Sunday- Proverbs 22-24
Monday- 1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3
Tuesday- 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4
Wednesday- 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5
Thursday- 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136
Friday-  Psalm 134; Psalm 146-150
Saturday- 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8

Memorize/Reflect: “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 1:8)

Personal Reflection: What are some of the things I do and think that are “normal” in our culture, but can defile me if I am not careful? How can Christians get sucked into behaviors and attitudes that are not honoring to God or good for us?

Discussion: What are some of the “cultural norms” that are neutral and don’t hurt if Christians embrace them? What are some of the things that are acceptable in our society that can damage a follower of Jesus if they become part of our life?

Prayer Direction: Ask God to show you where your life is looking too much like the world around you. Pray for courage to follow God, even when it involves sacrifice!

“Live It!” Challenge: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to suffer and die before they would reject their faith. What is one way you can stand up for your faith in the coming month? Make a decision to let your commitment to Jesus be known, even if this commitment is costly.

Monthly Prayer Focus: God speaks in many ways. Through the coming weeks, we will be learning ways to hear the voice of God. Through the story of Daniel we see God giving His people warnings. Ask God to speak to you and offer any warnings you need about areas of sin, poor choices, or blind spots in your life. Then, listen for His voice and respond when He speaks to you.

Extra Resources for this week: Make sure you have a copy of The Story. Also, consider buying a copy of the book, Listening for God, by Marilyn Hontz, and Deepening Your Conversation with God, by Ben Patterson. You might also want to read chapter six of Seismic Shifts, by Kevin Harney.

Small Group Resources for this week: Chapter 18 of The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story (Adult Curriculum). You can purchase this 31-week study for 40% off at the Connections Center in the Shoreline lobby. (If you can’t afford this and are going to be part of a group, please contact Romel.)

The Story Reading

Sunday- The Story Chapter 18 (pgs. 249-253)
Monday- The Story Chapter 18 (pgs. 253-256)
Tuesday- The Story Chapter 18 (pgs. 256-260)
Wednesday- The Story Chapter 18 (pgs. 260-261)
Thursday- Daniel 6
Friday- Jeremiah 29
Saturday- Jeremiah 30-31

Bible in a Year (Chronological Reading)
Sunday- Proverbs 1-3
Monday- Proverbs 4-6
Tuesday- Proverbs 7-9
Wednesday- Proverbs 10-12
Thursday- Proverbs 13-15
Friday-  Proverbs 16-18
Saturday- Proverbs 19-21

Memorize/Reflect: “But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” (Ezekiel 2:8)

Personal Reflection: How can one generation be so different than the one that follows it? What can we do to pass on a healthy and godly legacy to the next generation?

Discussion: What does Jeremiah teach us through his warning about idols? What do you learn about good leadership and bad leadership in this chapter of The Story? What do you learn about God’s patience?

Prayer Direction: Thank God for sending Jesus. Thank Him that we can have confidence that judgment has passed and that grace is ours today. Pray that you will not take advantage of God’s grace but that you will seek to walk in obedience to God’s Word.

“Live It!” Challenge: Confess your idols and throw them away. If you have an area of clear rebellion and you are holding on to specific sinful attitudes and life-patterns, throw them away. If this means literally throwing something away to be obedient to God, toss it out!

Monthly Prayer Focus: God speaks in many ways. Through the coming weeks, we will be learning how to hear the voice of God. This week, take time to think about our nation. Where are we rebellious, disobedient, and idolatrous? Seek to identify national sins and pray for God to change the heart of this nation.

Extra Resources for this week: Make sure you have a copy of The Story. Also, consider buying a copy of the book, Listening for God, by Marilyn Hontz, and Deepening Your Conversation with God, by Ben Patterson. You might also want to read chapter six of Seismic Shifts, by Kevin Harney.

Small Group Resources for this week: Chapter 17 of The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story (Adult Curriculum). You can purchase this 31-week study for 40% off at the Connections Center in the Shoreline lobby. (If you can’t afford this and are going to be part of a group, please contact Romel.)

The Story Reading

Sunday- The Story Chapter 17 (pgs. 231-233)
Monday- The Story Chapter 17 (pgs. 233-235)
Tuesday- The Story Chapter 17 (pgs. 235-238)
Wednesday- The Story Chapter 17 (pgs. 238-240)
Thursday- The Story Chapter 17 (pgs. 241-243)
Friday- The Story Chapter 17 (pgs. 243-247)
Saturday- Joel

Bible in a Year (Chronological Reading)
Sunday- 1 Chronicles 26-29; Psalm 127
Monday- Psalm 111-118
Tuesday- 1 Kings 1-2; Psalm 37; 71; 94
Wednesday- Psalm 119:1-88
Thursday- 1 Kings 3-4; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 72
Friday- Psalm 119:89-176
Saturday- Song of Solomon 1-8

Memorize/Reflect: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)

Personal Reflection: What were the behaviors of the people of Israel that led to their fall? How do these attitudes and actions show up in your life if you are not on your guard?

Discussion: How do you see God’s righteous judgment and His tender love both revealed in this chapter of The Story? What happened when Isaiah saw God and was confronted with His holiness?

Prayer Direction: Pray for eyes to see the holiness of God and a heart that melts in His presence. Tell God, “Here am I, send me!”

“Live It!” Challenge: Take a ten minute walk and ask God to meet you as you are quiet and wait on Him. Invite God to show you any place where sin, rebellion, pride, or any form of idolatry have crept into your life.

Monthly Prayer Focus: God speaks in many ways. Through the coming weeks, we will be learning ways to hear the voice of God. This week, focus on the reality that God convicts us by His Holy Spirit. Invite God to convict you in the areas you are rebelling or compromising. Then, pray for power to repent and submit to God’s will in your life.

Extra Resources for this week: Make sure you have a copy of The Story. Also, consider buying a copy of the book, Listening for God, by Marilyn Hontz. You might also want to read chapter six of Seismic Shifts, by Kevin Harney.

Small Group Resources for this week: Chapter 16 of The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story (Adult Curriculum). You can purchase this 31-week study for 40% off at the Connections Center in the Shoreline lobby. (If you can’t afford this and are going to be part of a group, please contact Romel.)