Category Archives: Discipleship

Trust In The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Proverbs 3:5-8 - Trust In The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust In The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)

Lean On

I don’t want to lean on my own understanding. Why is that? I have made so many mistakes. I have taken so many missteps. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to stop and turn around and start all over because I have relied on my own understanding. You don’t need to tell me, I already know. The ways that I have chosen have led me on a zig zag path through life. I have gone from one thing to another. I have stopped. I have started. I have gone left and right. I have been frozen in place. I have raced on ahead. All in all, I have wasted a lot of time. I have burned up a lot of my energy. I have been unproductive and unfruitful. I thought that I was wise. But now, I know that I am not. That’s very good.

What else? Not only have I wasted time and energy. I have filled my life full of worry. If you are the one in charge of your own life, then you have good reason to worry. Why is that? You just told me. Your track record of success when you are under your own leadership is dismal, isn’t it? Yes, it is. Are you ready to give up? Are you ready to accept new leadership? Will you place yourself under new management? Will you follow me to where I lead you? Will you do whatever I ask of you? Yes, I will follow and serve you. My life is in your hands. I will no longer lean on my own understanding. I will place all my trust in you. I will acknowledge your leadership over my life now and forever. That’s very good. 

You will also have something new as you follow me to where I lead you and do all that I ask of you. What’s that? You will have my peace and joy and hope and health, all because you will know that I am leading you on a good and straight path. You will know that your life is not a waste. You will know that I am helping you to bear fruit for my kingdom. You will know that you are bringing glory to my name. That is my hope and prayer. That is what I have always wanted. That is what you will have as you follow me.

Lord, so often I have relied on my own understanding rather than placing my trust in you. I have walked a crooked path that zigged and zagged throughout life. Forgive me. Now, I will trust in you, so that you can guide my steps and bring health into my life. Amen

Key Question… When have you had to stop, turn around and start over because you relied on your own understanding?

Living It Out… Place all your trust in the Lord rather than relying on your own understanding so that He can direct your path.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will make your path straight as you trust in Him rather than rely on your own understanding.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are trusting in the Lord to guide you through life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you trust in the Lord rather than lean on your own understanding.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional study guide click here:

God’s Will – Proverbs 3-5-8 – Trust In The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Grow Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - 1 Peter 2:2-3 - Grow Up - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – 1 Peter 2:2-3 – Grow Up – Growing As Disciples

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV)

Your Word

You have allowed me to taste of your goodness. You have drawn me into your presence. In your presence, you have restored my soul and healed my life. You have given me rest in you. You have helped me to drink deeply from your word. You have used your word to change my heart. You have used your word to transform my mind. You have used your word to guide my life. Your word has allowed me to think your thoughts. Your word made me able to know your will. Your word has strengthened me to walk in your ways. I can’t get enough of your word. It is my joy and delight to hear you speaking to me through your word. I hunger and thirst for your word. I crave your word like a newborn baby craves milk. You satisfy me with your word and yet I always want more. There is no place I would rather be than with you in your word. There is nothing I would rather do than listen to all that you want to say to me through your word. That is very good.

What will you do with my word? I will listen carefully to your word. I will put your word into practice. I will allow your word to form the thoughts and words of my prayers. I will stand on your word. What do you mean by that? I know that your Holy Spirit will take your word and use it like a sword to fight in me, with me and for me. That’s right. Your word will be my defense against temptation and evil in this world. Just as you stood on God’s word when you faced temptation from the devil, so will I. Yes, you will. Your word will be my fortress and strength. Your word will be my guard and my guide. Your word will be my firm foundation. Your word will help me to stand against all the storms of life. Yes, it will. 

When will you meet with me in my word? There is not a day that will go by that I don’t need to hear from you. That’s right. I will set apart a daily time and a special time to meet with you in your word. Beyond that, I will carry your word with me in my heart and mind as I love, follow and serve you. I will be thinking your word. I will be speaking your word. I will be praying your word. I will be living out your word. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have tasted of your goodness. I want to grow up in your salvation. Like a newborn baby craves milk, I crave your word. I have set apart a time and a place to meet with you in your word. Speak to me. Help me to know your will and walk in your ways. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord used you to help feed the spiritual needs of others?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to use you to feed the spiritual needs of others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to help feed the spiritual needs of others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is using to feed the spiritual needs of others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to use you to feed the spiritual needs of others.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – 1 Peter 2-2-3 – Grow Up – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Feed My Sheep

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - John 21:15-17 - Feed My Sheep - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – John 21:15-17 – Feed My Sheep – Growing As Disciples

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17 (ESV)  

Love Me?

Do you love me? Yes Lord, I love you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That is easy to say. It is much harder to demonstrate. What will you do because you love me? I will follow and obey you. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. You have given me a good answer. Why is that? You know that your love for me is not a one time and once for all decision. Yes, I do.

You will have countless opportunities to demonstrate your love for me. How so? You will go where you would prefer not to go. You will do what you would rather not do. You will love, follow and serve me when the road is not easy and the task is difficult. You will love and serve the unlovable because you love me. You will want to become like me because you love me. Yes, I do. Yes, I will. You will do for others what I have done for you. What’s that? I took on the form of a servant. I humbled myself. I did not seek to serve. I sought to serve. I laid myself done. I poured myself out. I did not hold back. I didn’t keep anything in reserve. Am I correct in thinking these things about you? Are these the things that you will do because you love me? Yes Lord, I want to do these things. I want to live my life in this way. I want to serve like you served. I want to give like you gave. I want to love others just like you loved me. That is very good.

I do not count following and serving you as some big sacrifice. Why is that? If I did not love you, following and serving you would be a heroic and herculean sacrifice. But, I’m doing what I want to do. Loving you is the desire of my heart. Loving you motivates my wanting to follow and serve you. It is my joy to do what pleases you. It is my passionate desire to become like you. Mold and shape my life. Help me to know and do your will. Use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I pray that moment by moment and day by day my love for you will grow stronger and be demonstrated more fully as I continue to follow and serve you. That is a very good prayer. That is a prayer that I will hear and answer.

Lord, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will go wherever you guide me. I will do whatever you ask of me. Use me to help guard and guide others. Use me to help feed others spiritually as they walk with you on their journey of faith. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord used you to help feed the spiritual needs of others?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to use you to feed the spiritual needs of others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to help feed the spiritual needs of others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is using to feed the spiritual needs of others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to use you to feed the spiritual needs of others.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – John 21-15-17 – Feed My Sheep – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Keep In Step With The Holy Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Galatians 5:25 - Keep In Step With The Holy Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Galatians 5:25 – Keep In Step With The Holy Spirit – Growing As Disciples

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (ESV)

Two Choices

How will you live your life? I’m not sure that I understand your question. Isn’t there a lot of different ways that I could live my life? Isn’t life filled with an almost unlimited amount of choices? On one hand, you are right, life does offer an almost unlimited number of possible choices. On the other hand, you are wrong. How so? Really, there are only two choices to make in life. I find that hard to believe. How could there be only two choices in life? You have my full attention. That’s good. Listen carefully to what I am about to say to you. You will have the choice of living by the Spirit or living by the flesh. There is no middle ground. One choice eliminates the other. If you choose to life by the flesh, you will be rejecting living by the Spirit. If you choose to live by the Spirit, you will be rejecting living by the flesh. I get it. I understand. I now see how there are only two choices in life. That’s good.

I want to live by the Spirit. I will reject living by the flesh. Good choice. How did you first begin to make that choice? I turned away from living my old sinful life. I asked you to forgive my sins. I asked you to cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. I said that I want to love, follow and serve you. I said that I would follow you to where you lead me. I said that I would do what you ask of me. I turned my life over to you completely. Yes, you did. What did I do for you? You forgave my sins and cleansed me of my unrighteousness. You filled me with your Holy Spirit. You are now leading and guiding my life. Every day, I am following you. Yes, you are. 

Let’s talk more about following me. Let’s talk more about your living your life for me. I’m listening. You made one of two choices. Yes, I did. That wasn’t the end of all your choices in life, was it? Certainly not, I have many choices to make every moment of every day. Yes, you do. How will you make all those choices? All my choices in life will be guided by the one choice I made of deciding to live by your Spirit. I want to know and do your will. I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to keep in step with you every day of my life. I want to live by your Spirit. That is very good. 

Holy Spirit, I have left my old sinful life behind. Thank you for coming into my life. I want you to lead my life. Help me to keep in step with you. Guide me to where you want me to go. Give me what you want me to do. Use my life to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Key Question…  What have you left behind so that you could keep in step with the Holy Spirit?

Living It Out…  As a disciple of Jesus Christ make sure that you are keeping in step with the Holy Spirit.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will help you to keep in step with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are keeping in step with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live by the Spirit by keeping in step with Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – Galatians 5-25 – Keep In Step With The Holy Spirit – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - James 1:2-8 - If Any Of You Lakes Wisdom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – James 1:2-8 – If Any Of You Lakes Wisdom – Growing As Disciples

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:2-8 (NIV)  

Ask Me

Do you lack wisdom? That is a very important question don’t you think? Yes, it is. If you think you have all the wisdom you need, then you won’t ask me for any, isn’t that correct? Yes, that would be true. Well, what do you think, do you have enough wisdom? I know what I have done. What have you done? I have foolishly and pridefully failed to ask you for wisdom when it was obvious that I desperately needed it. Why is that? I have been self-sufficient. I have been strong willed. I have been self-reliant. I have been independent. Most of all, as I have said, I have been proud and foolish. How has that worked out for you? Not well. I have made mistakes, taken many missteps, wasted time and valuable resources all because I failed to ask you for wisdom. That’s not good. No, it’s not.

What will happen to you when you fail to ask for my wisdom? If I continue to fail to ask for your wisdom, I will never know or be able to do your will. I will never be able to accomplish your purposes or fulfill your plans. I will never be able to bear fruit for your kingdom or bring glory to your name. I will never be able to live a life that is pleasing to you. Why is that? You want me to come to rely on you. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to hear your voice. You want me to follow your direction. Yes, I do.

It isn’t that hard. It isn’t that hard to do what? It isn’t that hard to come to ask me for wisdom. I am ready, willing and able to generously give you wisdom. I won’t turn you away. I won’t leave you empty handed. It will be my delight to generously give you all the wisdom you will need to be able to know and do my will. Will you humble yourself so that you will come and ask me for wisdom? Yes, I will. With a heart filled with faith will come and ask me for wisdom? Yes, I will. If you humble yourself and believe that I will hear and answer your prayer for wisdom what can you expect? I can expect that I will generously receive wisdom for you. That’s right. Ask me for wisdom right now. Yes, I will. That will be very good. 

Heavenly Father, I desperately need wisdom from you. There is no question about that. Forgive me, for pridefully and foolishly failing to ask you for wisdom. With a humble heart, filled with faith I am now asking you to generously give me all the wisdom I need. Amen

Key Question… When have trials of many kinds made you desperate for wisdom from God?

Living It Out… With a humble and faith filled heart, ask God for all the wisdom you will need to be able to know and do His will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will generously give you all the wisdom you need, when you ask Him for it.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are asking for and generously receiving wisdom from God.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you with a humble and faith filled heart ask God for all the wisdom that you need.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – James 1-2-8 – If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Put On The Full Armor Of God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Ephesians 6:10-13 - Put On The Full Armor Of God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Ephesians 6:10-13 – Put On The Full Armor Of God – Growing As Disciples

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)

Stand Your Ground

Don’t be surprised. Don’t be surprised about what? There are two things that I don’t want you to be surprised about. First, don’t be surprised that many of your battles in life will not be against flesh and blood. You may think that a battle is strictly against flesh and blood, in many case that will be incorrect. It would be better to assume that a battle you are facing is against spiritual forces of evil in the world, rather than against flesh and blood. You may think that conflicting worldly thoughts, opinions and values are simply someone’s worldly belief system. That would also be incorrect. The evil ruler of this world has a strong grip on the unguarded thoughts and values and opinions that are firmly held by many in this world. So, you will need to think and act and move differently against evil in this world. How so? You will not be able to rely on the strength of any human effort to win battles over spiritual evil that is in the world. You must watch and pray. You must rely on me. You must rely on my power and strength to give you victories over evil that is in the world. Will you rely on me? Yes Lord, I will rely on you. That will be very good.

What else don’t you want me to be surprised about? I don’t want you to be surprised when you face battles with evil in the world. Don’t think that they will be rare. Don’t be surprised when they come upon you. Be ready, at all times, to face battles with the devil and all his evil in the world. How can I always be ready to face the devil and his evil in the world? You must put on the full armor that I have given to you. Live in the truth that you have in me. Allow the truth you have in me to continue to keep you free from evil. Live and walk in my truth. Don’t allow yourself to become entangled in deceitful evil. Live the righteous life that I have called you to live. Don’t go where you shouldn’t go. Don’t do what you shouldn’t do. Live out the gospel. Be always ready to share the hope you have in me. Let your faith in me be a shield to protect you from the world. Don’t allow fiery arrows of doubt to come near you. Let your heart and mind and life be guarded and guided by my word. Allow my word to guide the thoughts of your mind, words of your mouth and deeds of your life. Allow my Spirit to use my word to fight in you, with you, for you and through you. Finally keep watch. Keep praying. Pray for yourself. Pray for others. Live a life of prayer as you walk through life with me. These things, I will do with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Then you will be able to stand your ground. Then you will live and walk in victory. That will be very good.

Lord, I know I am not fighting solely against flesh and blood. I know I am certain to come under attack of spiritual evil. Help me to put on your full armor. Protect me against attack. Make me able to stand against evil. Fight in me, with me, for me and through me. Amen

Key Question… How has the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, made you able to stand against evil?

Living It Out… Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand against evil in this world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that putting on the full armor of God will make you able to stand against evil in this world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the armor of God is making you able to stand against evil.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand against evil in this world.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – Ephesians 6-10-13 – Put On The Full Armor Of God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Live On

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Mathew 4:4- Live On - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Mathew 4:4- Live On – Growing As Disciples

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

Feed On God’s Word

What will feed and sustain your life? What will strengthen you? What will make you able to stand against temptation and resist evil? What will change your heart? What will transform your mind? What will guide your life? Can you answer these questions of mine? Yes, I can answer these questions of yours. I can answer these questions of yours, not because I am wise. I can answer these questions of yours, not because I am anyone unusually special. I can answer these questions of yours, because you have made the answer especially obvious. You have placed an example right before my eyes. Tell me what is obvious to you. Tell me what you see in the example that has been placed before you. You are my example. I see you. I see the life that you lived. I see how you were made able to stand against temptation. I see how you were able to resist evil.

How did I stand against temptation? How did I resist evil? You fed on God’s word. You did not live on bread alone. You did not feed on cheap substitutes. You did not live on junk food. You read God’s word. You studied God’s word. You meditated on and memorized God’s word. You prayed God’s word. You took hold of God’s word and put it into practice. Yes, I did.  You allowed God’s word to fight for you when temptation tried to seize you and evil tried to overcome you. Yes, I did. You stood on the strength of God’s word. You lived by the power of God’s word. Yes, I did.

Will you feed on God’s word? Yes Lord, I will do what you have done. I will follow your example. I will take hold of God’s word so His word can take hold of me. I will allow God’s word to change my heart. I will allow God’s word to transform my mind. I will allow God’s word to guide my life. I will read God’s word. I will study God’s word. I will meditate on and memorize God’s word. I will pray God’s word. I will take hold of God’s word and as I put it into practice. Then you will be able to stand against temptation. Then you will be able to resist evil.

When will you allow God’s word to take hold of you? When will you allow God’s word to work in you, for you and through you? There is only one answer that I can give to these questions. What is your answer? Every day, is my answer. Every day, I will meet with you in your word. Every day, I will allow your word to work in me, for me, and through me. That will be very good.

Lord, I have lived on junk food. I have fed myself on what would not sustain my life. No more of that. Now, I will feed on your word. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind, guide my life and make me able to stand against temptation and evil. Amen

Key Question… How is feeding on God’s word making you able to stand against temptation and resist evil?

Living It Out… Allow God to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life as you feed on His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be sustained and strengthen as you feed on God’s word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has blessed your life as you have fed on His word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you feed on God’s word so that you can sustained and strengthened as you love, follow and serve Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – Matthew 4-4 – Live On – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

God’s Workmanship

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Ephesians 2:8-10 - God's Workmanship - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Ephesians 2:8-10 – God’s Workmanship – Growing As Disciples

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Good Works

Those are very important words. What words? Good works, are very important words. How so? You may not have realized it, but you have asked a very good question. Why is that? In the past, you have misunderstood “good works”. I’m not sure what you mean. Have you ever thought that you needed to earn my approval? Have you ever tried to do heroic acts of service to try to atone for your sins? Can you be more specific? Yes, I can. At times in the past, when you became aware of your sins, you confessed them to me. I still do. Yes, you do and that is good. But, in the past there were times when you thought confessing your sins and receiving my forgiveness was somehow not enough. Is this ringing a bell? Do you remember trying to earn my forgiveness even after it had already been freely given to you? I do. What do you know now, that you didn’t know then? Now, I know for certain that I cannot earn my forgiveness. I cannot do anything to cleanse myself of my own sin. To try to do so, is a sin in itself. Yes, it is and tell me why trying to earn your own forgiveness and cleansing is a sin. Any attempt to earn my own forgiveness and cleansing is like saying that Christ’s death on the cross was not enough payment for my sins. Any attempt to earn my own forgiveness and cleansing is like saying that I can take what Christ did on the cross one step further by my own efforts. How does that sound to you? It sounds like a sinful act of pride. So, we are agreed that you are not forgiven and cleansed of your sins by your own good works. Yes, we are. You are not saved by your good works? No, I am not. You and I are clear on this point? Yes, we are.

There is another way I want you to understand “good works”. How is that? You are not saved by good works. I get that. But, you are saved to do good words. Say more about that. You are my workmanship. I created you. I have given you gifts, talents and abilities. I have designed you. I have prepared you to do good works. I have good works that I have prepared in advance for you to do. As your life of salvation unfolds I will lead you to where I want you to go and I will give you what I want you to do. Do you understand? Yes, I do. Will you go where I guide you? Will you do what I ask of you? Will you do the good works that I have prepared in advance for you to do? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son into the world to pay for my sins and secure my salvation. You have given me a gift I could never earn. Use me now to do all the good works that you have prepared in advance for me to do. I am at your service. Amen

Key Question… What good works do you believe God has prepared in advance for you to do for Him?

Living It Out… As God’s workmanship, do all the good works He has prepared in advance for you to do.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you are God’s workmanship created to do good works He has prepared in advance for you to do.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are doing the good works God has prepared you to do.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you do the good works that God has prepared in advance for you to do.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – Ephesians 2-8-10 – God’s Workmanship – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

May Be Built Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Ephesians 4:11-13 - May Be Built Up - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Ephesians 4:11-13 – May Be Built Up – Growing As Disciples

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

Prepare Others 

I have called you to come to me. I have called you to follow me. I have called you to serve me. I have richly blessed your life. I have given you gifts and talents and abilities to be used to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. How will I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name? You will use your gifts and talents and abilities to help prepare people for works of service so that my body can be built up. You are not to simply serve me, but you are to also help others to serve me. I want to multiply your efforts through your preparing and building others up to serve me.

Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. When you came to me, were you ready to serve me. No, not really. Oh, maybe I could serve you in some small ways. Yes, and that is what you did. You started serving me in small ways right away. That was very good, make no mistake about that. Every day that you have followed and served me you have become more prepared to serve me in larger and greater ways. How did I prepare you to serve me? Who did I use to prepare and build you up to serve me? You brought people into my life that taught me how to love and follow and serve you. They gave me a good example to follow. They showed me how to live my life with and for you. Through them, you prepared me to be used in your service. Through them, you built me up as a member of your body. Yes, I did.

What would have happened to you if some of my faithful followers never helped prepare and build you up to serve me? I would have never progressed. I would have never grown. I would have never developed. I would have gone on serving you in small, almost infantile ways. That’s true. But, they took the time. They invested their lives in yours. They did not just serve me through their own efforts. They took the time to prepare and build you up so that you could serve me with your efforts. Yes, they did and I am so thankful for the people that have invested their lives in my life. That is very good. 

Will you invest your life in the lives of others? Will you prepare others to serve me? Will you use your gifts, and talents and abilities to help build up my body? Will you allow your efforts to be multiplied through the efforts of others? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will truly bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name.

Lord, thank you for calling me to serve you. You have used others to prepare me for service and build up your body. I have benefited from their labor. Use the gifts, talents and abilities you have given me to also prepare others for service and build up your body. Amen

Key Question… Who has the Lord used to help prepare you for service and building up His body?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to use you to prepare people for service so that His body can be built up.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to prepare people for service so that His body can be built up.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how others have prepared you for service to build up the body of Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to use you to build up the body of Christ.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – Ephesians 4-11-13 – May Be Built Up – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Worthy Of Your Calling

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Ephesians 4:1-3 - Worthy Of Your Calling - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Ephesians 4:1-3 – Worthy Of Your Calling – Growing As Disciples

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (NLT)

Your Love

What kind of life would I need to live be worthy of your calling? Is living that kind of life even possible? I fall far short of living the kind of life that you lived. Does that mean that you will give up trying to live a life that is worthy of your calling? Do you think that living a life that is worthy of your calling means that you must live a perfect life? If that is what you think, then you are right, that would be impossible. You will never be able to live a perfect life.

What did you do when you heard my call? How did you respond to my calling? I confessed my sins to you. I turned away from the dark and sinful life that I was living. I received your forgiveness and cleansing of my sin. I accepted the new life that I had in you, as a free gift. That’s right. You could not earn or merit your forgiveness and cleansing by trying to live a perfect life. You couldn’t do that then. You can’t do that now. 

How is your life different from the life that you once lived? My life is completely different. You have made night and day different changes in my life. I am not the person that I once was. So, you are allowing me to change your heart. That’s right. You are allowing me to transform your mind. That’s right. You are allowing me to guide your life. You have changed the thoughts of my mind, the words of my mouth and the deeds of my life. That’s right. You are following me to where I lead you. You are doing what I ask of you. Yes, I am.

Let’s do a little recap. You are confessing your sins. You are following and serving me. You are allowing me to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life. Yes, I am. Why? Why? That’s what I asked. I am doing all these things because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, you do. Is your love for me spilling over to others? Do you love others just like I love you? Yes, I love others. Do I love others perfectly? No, I do not. But, you are helping me to love others with your love. Yes, I am. Keep on loving me and others so will continue to live a life that is worthy of your calling. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I have not always been humble and gentle. Sometimes, I have been just the opposite. Forgive me. I will live the life that you have called me to live. I will love others just you have loved me. Help me to love others and live in peaceful unity with them. Amen

Key Question… How are you putting up with the faults of others because you love them?

Living It Out… Love others and live the life that God has called you to live.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you love others you will be living the life that God has called you to live.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are living the life that God has called you to live.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love others as you live the life that you were called to live.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – Ephesians 4-1-3 – Worthy Of Your Calling – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com