Quiet Times Search

1. God shows up
2. The lights turn on for those who respond
3. Their heart is lifted; grateful tears flow
4. Faith, hope, and love seem like the only way to live
5. The next week, it is though nothing happened

1. God delivers his people from the Egyptians by his display of power - plagues, passover, red sea
2. Israelites celebrate with singing and dancing
3. Israelites complain about the water supply
4. God provides sweet water
5. They complain about the food
6. God drops breakfast from the sky
7. They complain about the water again
8. God provides water from a rock

Myth tell us three truths, this third one is:

3. In this desparate hour, we have a crucial role to play

Neo sees himself as Thomas Anderson, but he was the one
Dorthy see herself as just a farm girl from Kansas but Joan of Arc was also on the farm but saw much more

People in the scriptures that saw this:

• Little boy slays the gaint
• Loudmouthed fisherman who can not keep a job to lead the church
• Sinful woman with a golden heart became a example of humility to the Pharisees

This eternal truth is the most difficult for us to believe
Our days are extraordinary but most don't see it this way
It is the 'veil of familarity' - you are not what you think you are

There is a glory to your life that your enemy fears

The one who knows what you could be, fears it
The whole world lies under the power of the evil one - 1 John 5:19

Things happen to you and we question why
There is a bigger story going on

If believe we have a crucial role to play and come to know it is true, everything would change

1. Honor God with your Wealth - Proverbs 3:9
   1. Will I obey the scriptures
   2. Will I, as a mature Christian, increase my weekly giving?
2. Guard Your Heart - Proverbs 4:23
   1. What sins of the heart have I confronted and repented of in regard to my finances?
   2. Am I ready to give out of a pure heart and a sincere love for God?
3. A Living Sacrifice - Romans 12:1
   1. In what ways am I going to live a more sacrificial lifestyle in order to advance God's kingdom?
4. Give and It Will Be Given To You - Luke 6:38
   1. Have I made decisions to give by faith and to give joyfully to the Lord?
5. A Spirit of Self-Discipline - 2 Timothy 1:7
   1. Have I prepared a budget that I am ready to live by? If not, when will I have it completed?
   2. Have I sought input?
6. Free At Last - Romans 13:8
   1. Have I gained deep convictions about getting out of debt?
   2. What is my plan to eliminate sinful/foolish debt from my life?
7. A Light to the World - Matthew 5:14
   1. How am I going to work at my job in such a way that my life is an upward calling to everyone around me?
   2. Am I fulfilling my financial responsibilities as a disciple in the areas that God expects?

• Some daring act of evangelism - although He did this almost daily
• Being baptized  - although it is commanded and can never be omitted

Examples of those seeking God:

Ethiopian eunuch - Acts 8:26-40

• What do we know about this seeker?
  • He is important and therefore certainly busy, but still finds time for God.
  • He reads the Scriptures himself and asks questions about what he is reading.
  • He is humble and sincere enough in his search to ask for help.
    
  • What he learns he acts on right away, as seen with his baptism.
• How did he feel after coming to know God better?
  
• The burning questions he had about God were answered in an afternoon.
  

Bereans - Acts 17:10-12

• What was it about these Berean seekers that made Luke refer to them as having “noble character”?
  • Enthusiastic
  • Great Eagerness - explain
    
  • Examined the scriptures daily
    
• Why was it important for them to “examine the Scriptures every day” for themselves?
• What was the result of this eager yet diligent attitude?
  
• As with prayer, reading the Bible is vitally important to knowing God.

• We are ultimately responsible for what we believe.
  
• Religious leaders can be wrong, so we cannot be lazy.
  
• Review in greater depth the lessons and sermons you hear to be sure about what you are being taught.
  
• Are you willing to take personal responsibility for knowing what the Bible says?
  

• The Bible is more than just words on a page.
  
• We need to develop a thirst and devotion to the word of God.
  
• How eager are you to regularly meditate on the Scriptures?
  

• Our attitude should be one of humility, reverence and awe for God’s word.
  
• Are you willing to live by the Bible, taking God at his Word in your relationship with him?
• Are you willing to trust God’s Word above your own feelings, religious traditions or religious leaders?
• Will you seek to understand God’s will and ways through his inspired Word?

• Sin is the fundamentally “un-God-ward” orientation of our “flesh” or “sinful nature” and finds expression in many different ways. Emphasize “and the like.”
  
• What is the common element in all these things? Self-centeredness.
  
• Be as specific as necessary to explain and share from your own life about the sins listed. How do you see yourself in these verses? What sins have been characteristic of your own sinful nature? (If needed, look at additional Scriptures which catalog sins.)

• We are sinful and in need of forgiveness not only as a result of those sins we have committed, but for failing to do the good that we know to do.

• How does sin enslave?
  
• Note that sin is a power that must be defeated as well as specific acts that must be repented of.
  
• Who alone can set us free from sin? (John 8:31-36)

• What are the eternal consequences of sin?
  
• Why be urgent to learn about receiving the gift of God that comes through Jesus Christ?
  
• Review these verses as honestly as you can to get in touch with the bad news about your own sinfulness. In the next couple of studies, we will look at the good news of God’s solution to our bondage to sin. (Note: In some instances it is important to have the person articulate how he or she was saved or forgiven of sin before examining the Bible’s teaching about salvation.)

• v12 - Everyone that want to live a Godly life will have to go through persecution
• Question: What do you think that means - being persecuted for living a Godly life?
• v14-15 - Apostle Paul instructs Timothy to continue to believe to believe in the scriptures because it is able to make you wise in the choices of life
• v4:4 - Bible says that people will start to listen to and follow man (ideas and myths) rather than God
• If we read the Bible daily then we will know God's will for our lives. If we don't we will start to follow what people say, think, and feel.
• Question: How can reading the Bible daily change your life? What happens if you don't read daily?
• Question: Why do you think God wants you to read his word daily? So you can know him!

• Jesus is talking to the Jewish people and tells them that is they don't hold to his teachings, then they are not really his disciples
• Just because someone acts religious or know a lot about the Bible does not mean they are following Jesus
• Question: What does Jesus say it takes to be his disciple? Then you'll know what? Then what?
• When you read someone's journal you get to know that person more and more each day - same goes for reading God's word
• Question: How often do you read the Bible?
• Challenge: Read the Bible daily and make one decision each day.

Romans 6:23

• We deserve death because of our sins but God is willing to forgive us in spite of who we are (God's gift to us)
• Question: After studying these scriptures, would you say the Bible describes your heart in response to your sin more like the Pharisee or the Sinful woman?

John 3:1-7

• Question: What did Jesus say MUST happen in order for someone to be born again?
• Question: We should born of what? Spirtual birth not a physical birth - not being religous but living a righteous life
• Question: What do we need to have convictions on in order to be born again?

Acts 2:22-24

• Jesus is God's son (miracles prove it)
• Jesus died for our (YOUR) sins
• God raise Jesus on the 3rd day
• Question: So how should we respond to the fact that our (YOUR) is why Jesus died on the cross?

Acts 2:36-41

• Repent and be Baptized (wall is removed)
• Then we can have a relationship with God (what happens at baptism)

Romans 6:1-4

• Question: What are you baptized into? If you were baptized into Jesus' death, what else does that allow us to have? New Life
• You can go from the heart of the Pharisee to the heart of the Sinful Woman by understanding the forgiveness through Jesus
• Encouraged to write a letter to God thanking him for forgiving you of your sins (write the sins out)

• Question: What do you understand these scriptures as saying to you?
• Question: Who would be the most challenging relationship for you to keep God above?
• Question: What if your (spouse, kids, parent) did not want to be a disciple (or left) what would you do?
• Satan will use relationships closest to you to try to pull you away.
• Don't think these things will never happen to you - never underestimate the devil
• v26 - Even his own life
  • What will you need to overcome?

• Even when you sin after you are baptized then the blood of Jesus will continue to purify you from all sin if we stay in the light
• We should confess our sins and having discipling relationship helps us to take care of one another
• Question: If someone approaches you and talks about how many changes they have seen in you. What should you tell them (role play)

• Question: What do you think the heart of what Jesus is saying in these scriptures?
• Question: Biblically speaking, because someone goes to church  does that make them a Christian? Are they a Christian because they are a good person? What if they know a lot about the Bible, does that make them a Christian?
• That means you are saying that the majority of people in the world are lost. How does that make you feel?
• Make God feel said but God has a plan for them - 1 Timothy 2:1-6

• v22 - The miracles Jesus did proves he was God's son
• v23 - He died on the cross for your sin
• v24 - God raised him from the dead
  

• Confess with your mouth (acknowledging God and everyone around you that you nor anything else will be the Lord of your life,expect Jesus)
• It is not the confession that justifies you, it is your heart that God is looking at.

Started reading the one another scriptures in the Bible:

• Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you - Romans 15:7
• Admonish one another - Colossians 3:16
• Be at peace with each other - Mark 9:50
• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love - Romans 12:10
• Be kind and compassionate to one another - Ephesians 4:32
• Be patient, bearing with one another in love - Ephesians 4:2
• Bear with each other - Colossians 3:13
• Build each other up - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Carry each other’s burdens - Galatians 6:2
• Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another - 1 Peter 5:5

• Confess your sins to each other - James 5:16
• Do not lie to each other - Colossians 3:9
• Do not slander one another - James 4:11
• Don’t grumble against each other - James 5:9
• Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others - 1 Peter 4:10
• Encourage each other - 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Encourage one another - Hebrews 10:25
• Encourage one another daily - Hebrews 3:13

• Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another - Colossians 3:13
• Forgiving each other - Ephesians 4:32
• Greet one another with a holy kiss - Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20;2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14
• Have equal concern for each other - 1 Corinthians 12:25
• Honor one another above yourselves. - Romans 12:10

• If you keep on biting and devouring each other you will be destroyed by each other - Galatians 5:15
• In humility consider others better than yourselves - Philippians 2:3
• Instruct one another - Romans 15:14
• Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other - Galatians 5:26
• Live in harmony with one another - 1 Peter 3:8; Romans 12:16
• Love each other - 1 Thessalonians 4:9
• Love each other deeply - 1 Peter 4:8
• Love one another - 1 John 3:11; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:11; 1 John 4:12; 2 John 5; Romans 13:8
• Love one another deeply, from the heart - 1 Peter 3:8

• Make your love increase and overflow for each other - 1 Thessalonians 3:12
• Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling - 1 Peter 4:9
• Pray for each other - James 5:16
• Serve one another in love - Galatians 5:13
• Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs - Ephesians 5:19
• Spur one another on toward love and good deeds - Hebrews 10:24
• Stop passing judgment on one another - Romans 14:13
• Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ - Ephesians 5:21
• Teach[one another] - Colossians 3:16
• Wash one another’s feet - John 13:14; John 13:34-35; John 15:12; John 15:17
• When you come together to eat, wait for each other - 1 Corinthians 11:33

Old Testament scriptures about the Word

• Jeremiah 23:29 - God's word is like a fire and hammer
• Hosea 4:6 - People are destroyed from lack of knowledge
• Jeremiah 8:7 - Animals obey God but His people pay no attention
• Psalms 12:6 - LORD's words are absolutely reliable
• Proverbs 30:5-6 - Every word of God is flawless
• Deuteronomy 4:2 - Keep the commandments of the LORD your God; do not add or take away from it
• Psalms 119 - God's Word should be held in the highest reguard

Old Testament scriptures about sin

• Ecclesiastes 7:20 - There is not a righteous man on earth
• Leviticus 18 - If a persons sins, he will be cut off
• Ecclesiastes 4:4 - Achievement will not get get us to heaven
• Genesis 4:7 - if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door
• Proverbs 6:16-19 - God hates sin
• Isaiah 59:1-3 - Sin separates us from God
• Psalms 26:1-2 - We need to turn from our ways and live blamelessly

Scriptures about Messianic Prophecy

• Isaiah 52:13-53:12 - His form was so marred he no longer looked human
• Genesis 22:1-18 - Abraham did not withheld his son, your only son
• Psalms 16:8-10 - He will you let your Holy One see decay
• Psalms 2:7  - Messiah will be God's Son
• Genesis 12:3 - All peoples on earth will be blessed through you
• Deuteronomy 18:15 - The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you
• Micah 5:2 - From Judah will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel
• Isaiah 7:14 - The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel
• Isaiah 9:1-2 - Future: people walking in darkness have seen a great light
• Isaiah 9:6 - a son has been given to us: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

1st principle scriptures about the cross

• Isaiah 53
• Psalms 22
• Zechariah 9:9 - King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey
• Zechariah 11:12-13 - Thirty pieces of silver paid
• Zechariah 13:7- Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered
• Zechariah 12:10- They will look on me, the one they have pierced
• Deuteronomy 21:23 - Anyone who is hung on a pole is under God's curse

• Daniel 2:31-45- Dream's dream
  
• Isaiah 2:2 - All nations will stream to it
  
• Isaiah 4:2 - In that day the Branch of the LORD will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel
  
• Genesis 49:10 - He to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his
• Malachi 3:1- I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.
• Malachi 4:1-6 - I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes

Old Testament scriptures about commitment:

• Deuteronomy 6:5 - Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength
• Leviticus 19:18  - Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD
• Isaiah 6:1-8 - Here am I. Send me!
• Jeremiah 48:10 - A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD's work

Old testament evangelism scriptures

• Exodus 19:6 - You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation
• Isaiah 49:6 - I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth
• Proverbs 11:30 - The one who is wise saves lives
• 2 Kings 7:3-9 - This is a day of good news; we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us
• Esther 4:14 - For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place

Baptism OT scriptures:

• Proverbs 30:12 - There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness
• 2 Kings 5:1-15 - Dipped in the Jordan seven times and was healed
• Leviticus 14:1-7 - Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the defiling disease
• Isaiah 1:18-20 - Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow

• Apostle - Hebrews 3:1
• Arm of the Lord - Isaiah 51:9; 53:1
• Author and Finisher or our faith - Hebrews 12:2
• Beginning of the creation of God - Revelation 3:14
• Blessed and only Potentate - 1 Timothy 6:15
• Branch - Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12
• Bread of Life - John 6:35,48

• Counselor - Isaiah 9:6
• David - Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23
• Day-spring - Luke 1:78
• Deliverer - Romans 11:26
• Desire of all nations - Haggai 2:7
• Door - John 10:7
• Elect of God - Isaiah 42:1

• Resurrection and life - John 11:25
• Rock - 1 Corinthians 10:4
• Root of David - Revelation 22:16
• Root of Jesse - Isaiah11: 10
• Ruler of Israel - Micah 5:2
• Savior - 2 Peter 2:20; 3:18; Luke 1:47

• City of the Living God - Hebrews 12:22
• Congregation of saints - Psalms 149:1
• Congregation of the Lord's poor - Psalms 74:19
• Dove - Song of Solomon 2:14; 5:2
• Family in heaven and earth - Ephesians 3:15
• Flock of God - Ezekiel 34:15; 1 Peter 5:2
• Fold of Christ - John 10:16

• Holy city - Revelations 21:2
• Holy mountain - Zechariah 8:3
• Holy hill - Psalms 15:1
• House of God - 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:21
• House of the God of Jacob - Isaiah 2:3
• House of Christ - Hebrews 3:6
• Household of God - Ephesians 2:19

• Elect of God - Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1
• Epistles of Christ - 2 Corinthians 3:3
• Excellent, The - Psalms 16:3
• Faithful brethren in Christ - Colossians 1:2
• Faithful, The - Psalms 12:1
• Faithful of the land - Psalms 101:6

• Fellow-citizens with the saints - Ephesians 2:19
• Fellow-heirs - Ephesians 3:6
• Fellow-servants - Revelations 6:11
• Friends of God - 2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23
• Friends of Christ - John 15:15
• Godly, The - Psalms 4:3; 2 Peter 2:9

• John 14:10 - It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work
• John 8:38 - I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence
• Philippians 1:21 - For to me, to live is Christ
• Colossians 1:27 - Christ in you, the hope of glory
• Colossians 3:4 - Christ, who is your life
• Galatians 2:20 - Christ lives in me

• 1 John 2:3-6 - We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.

1. Teachable spirit
2. Spirit of dependance
3. Diligence

• Applying your heart to understanding
• Looking for it as for silver
• Searching for it as for hidden treasure

• In proverbs it refers to the person who hates correction (pride makes us stupid)
  
• When we are unwilling to receive godly correction we are trusting our own way over that of our advisors (this type of pride makes us stupid)
  

• Physically: We have an illness = we go see an expert doctor, to ignore his advice and handle the situation on our own would be stupid
• Spiritually: We face temptations and challenging situations = we should seek advice from spiritually minded people (they may advice us something simple like, read these scriptures or something radical like change jobs) but to ignore experienced spiritual advice would be stupid. Even if you don’t like it (pray about it, get another “experienced” opinion)

• Type A: Listens on the outside (even nod your head “yes”) but on the inside all systems are shut down.
• Type B: You are calm on the outside but on the inside you’re steaming mad ready to explode and interrupt (who do they think they are)
• Type C: Listens and really tries to understand (learn) not just say OK but embrace the input to become a better disciple

1. What does God promise to those who seek him with all their hearts?
2. Are you seeking him or something else?

1. What should make you content?
2. What will a desire for money and things do to your life?
3. How does someone "wander" from the faith?
4. What other desires could make us wander?

• What will you ask or imagine?
• What will you allow God to do in your life?
• What "impossibility" do you have in your life that you want to see God change?
• What person's life do you want to see changed?

• Finances, Discipline (Laziness), Purity
• Eating and drinking habits over the holidays.
• Relationships

• Do I welcome spiritual relationships?
• Do I confess sin and push my life into the light?
• How do these sins affect my heart for people?

• Examine your heart and actions based on Jesus' example the next time you get angry.
• Are you God-focused? Did you bring healing?
• Did you care enough to control your anger and turn it into a victory for God by bringing teaching and discipling to the situation?
  
• What could you have done differently to have Jesus' heart?

• Are you building and growing relationships?
• Are they deepening through openness, prayer, and discipleship?
• Pray for at least three people you want to build a deeper relationship with. Pray for them.

• Pride
• Complacency
• Self pity
• Desiring comfort
• Fear

1. Decide never to quit being a disciple.
2. Decide to admit your weaknesses every day.
3. Decide to obey the Bible when you get knocked down.

Not all the answers but I do know where get them along with advice from others

Going to share about 2-3 scriptures for use to discuss / feel free to be part of things

We need Jesus - Matthew 18:1-6

v1 - Side conversation while Jesus was doing miracles among them
Disciples we arguing about who was the greatest... maybe they were saying - I am the best parent or I have the best kid

v2 - God thoughts: The ones we are to teach are the ones who teach us the very lesson we need to teach them

v3 - It does not come naturally, we need to change

Starts with us - to get our relationship with God in order first - to be a child of God

Why is it so important to become childlike?

• So we can have a relationship with God / welcome Jesus
  
• Make it to heaven / considered the greatest
  
• Not become a stumbling block

• Humble ourselves
• Rely on God
• Seek out answers/advice from others
• Earniestness to learn
• Be relatable

Bible Study Disciplines

Mark up your Bible in to different themes:

Example subjects:

• Blue = God's qualities
• Yellow = Love
• Green = Sin and righteousness
• Pink = prayer and faith
• Purple = Joy
• Orange = evangelism and discipling
• Megenta = the spiritual world

Might circle references to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit

Read the whole Bible every year

Foucused study on indivdual books and passages are good but it also important to have the broad picture of God's revelation ingrained in our hearts

Read the Bible everyday

Jesus lived on every word that came from the mouth of God - Matthew 4:4
The law required the kings of Israel to recopy and read out loud all the days of their lives - Deuteronomy 17:18-20
Bereans examined the scriptures every day - Acts 17:10-12

Memorize key verses

Memorizing scripture helps us to talk to God using quoted scripture (God's language) and keeps us pursuing righteousness
I have hideen tyour word in my heart so I might not sin against you - Psalms 119:11
Proverbs 22 advises to have the Proverbs ready on our lips