Category Archives: If

Any Man Builds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 - Any Man Builds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 – Any Man Builds – Growing As Disciples

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

Testing Your Work

One day your life’s work will be tested. I will examine how you have spent the life that you have been given to live. We will have the opportunity to see the fruit that you have born for my kingdom and the glory that you have brought to my name. I’m looking forward to that day. You seem quite confident. Yes, I am very confident. My confidence is in you. If my confidence were in myself I would have absolutely none. Tell me more about your confidence in me. You are the foundation of my life. All that I think and say and do is founded on you. I want to think your thoughts. I want to speak your words. I want to do your deeds. In everyway I want you to be guided by you. I know that you will use my life according to your purpose and plans as I follow you. I can’t go wrong if I go where you lead me and do all that you ask of me. So, I am listening attentively to you. I don’t want to miss out on one word that you have to say to me. I am following you closely. I don’t want to run ahead or lag behind you. If I keep in step with you I will certainly know and do your will Yes, that’s right. That’s why I can say that I have confidence in you.

There is more that I want to say on this subject. Go ahead, I’m listening. I don’t have a mild desire to know you and do your will. My heart aches within me to know you and do your will. I have no other desire in my life that comes remotely close to wanting to know you and do your will. Nothing gives me more joy than to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. It is my constant prayer that you will use me according to your purposes and plans. I want to do everything that you have prepared for me to do for you. If I do lag behind, if I do run ahead, I asking that you will help me to get to exactly where you want me to be to do exactly what you want me to do for you. When we look back over my life I want to be surprised by the joy that we can share together. I don’t want to regret something that I left undone. So, it is my prayer that you will fully use me. Do you believe that I will hear and answer this prayer of yours? Yes Lord, I believe with certainty that you will fully use me so that I can bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, I will hear and answer this prayer of yours.

Lord, you are the foundation of my life. I will follow, obey and serve you. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. Make my life’s work able to stand the test of time and bear abundant fruit for all eternity for your kingdom and glory. Amen 

Key Question… What of your life’s work will stand the test of time and bear fruit for all eternity?

Living It Out… Allow your life and work to be founded on Jesus Christ as you follow and obey and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will ask you to do work for Him that will stand the test of time and bear fruit for all eternity.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group about the fruitful work that the Lord has asked you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life’s work be built on Jesus Christ and continue to directed by Him.

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

If – 1 Corinthians 3-10-15 – Any Man Builds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

You Want To Enjoy Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 1 Peter 3:10-12 - You Want To Enjoy Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 1 Peter 3:10-12 – You Want To Enjoy Life – Growing As Disciples

For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do well. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12 (NLT)

Enjoy Life

I want you to be able to enjoy the life that I have given to you. That makes two of us. I want to enjoy the life that you have given to me. I also want you to see many good days. That sounds good to me as well. I especially want to be able to hear and answer your prayers as I watch over your life. I can’t imagine anything better than you hearing and answering my prayers as you watch over my life. Is there anything that I must do to enjoy life and see many good days? Is there anything that would make it so my prayers would not be heard and answered? It pleases me that you have asked these questions. Yes, there are several things you must do if you want to enjoy life and see good days. The quality of your life and the goodness of your days depend a lot on your own behavior. How so? What does my word say? If I want to enjoy life and see good days I will need to place a guard on the words that come out of my mouth. I must speak good words that will bless the lives of others. My words must also tell the whole and complete truth. Speaking evil and telling lies will rob me of joy and prevent me from enjoying my life and seeing many happy days. That’s exactly right. What else? I must turn away from every evil to do whatever is good in all my thoughts, words and deeds. In all my relationships I will need to seek and maintain peace. Nothing will rob my joy and ruin my days more quickly than living in continual conflict with others. You want me to be known as a peacemaker. Yes, I do. Thinking, speaking and doing evil will also hinder my prayers. Yes, it will. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to do what pleases you. I want to know and do your will at all times. I will do all the good things that you have asked me to do for you as I turn away from every evil. That will be very good.

Lord, I know the life you have called me to live. You want me to turn away from every evil thought, word and deed. You want me to bless others with all I think, say and do. You want me to seek and maintain peace in all my relationships. This is what I will do. Amen

Key Question… How are you seeking and working to maintain peace in all your relationships?

Living It Out… Turn away from every evil thought, word, and deed so you can enjoy the good life God has given you to live for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your life as you do the good He has given you to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are living the good life God has given you to live for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you turn away from evil and do good so you will be able to enjoy life.

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

If – 1 Peter 3-10-12 – You Want To Enjoy Life – 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

My People

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 2 Chronicles 7:14 - My People - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 2 Chronicles 7:14 – My People – Growing As Disciples

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

Turn

Would you like to live in a close and intimate relationship with me? Would you like me to forgive your sin and cleanse you of all your unrighteousness? Would you like my healing to come into your life? Do you want me to hear and answer your prayers? Yes, I want to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. Yes, I want you to forgive my sin and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness.  Yes, I want your healing to come into my life. Yes, I would like you to hear and answer my prayers. What must I do if I want all of this to be true in my life. That is a very good question. If you want all of this to be true you must turn in two different directions. What two directions must I turn?

You must turn away from evil if you want to live the life that I have called you to live. You must leave your wicked ways behind. You must separate yourself from your old way of thinking, speaking and acting. You must remove yourself from what was once so enticing. You must leave what was once so alluring. This all sounds very difficult, maybe even impossible. I’m not sure that I will have the strength to turn away from every evil. I don’t know that I can do what you are asking of me. I’m not finished yet. It will not be enough for you to turn away from evil. It will not be adequate for you to remove yourself from what was once so enticing and alluring. You are right to think that this would be impossible for you alone to accomplish. You certainly will not have the strength within yourself to turn away from every evil. But, so far, we have only talked about your turning in one direction. Once you have turned away from evil you must turn yourself toward me. I will make you able to turn away from every evil as you turn yourself toward me. As you turn and seek me with all your heart I will bring my healing into your life. I will forgive you of your sin. I will cleanse you of all your unrighteousness. I will make you able to live in a close and intimate relationship with me. Then I will hear and answer your prayers as you seek and follow me with all your heart. Is this what you want? Yes Lord, this is what I want. Will you turn away from evil and turn yourself toward me? Will you seek me with all your heart? Will you humble yourself so you can meet with me in prayer? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I am humbling myself before you so I can come to meet with you in prayer. I have turned away from evil so I can seek you with all my heart. Thank you for forgiving my sin, hearing my prayers and bringing your healing into my life. Amen

Key Question… How has humbling yourself made you ready to come to meet with God in prayer?

Living It Out… Humble yourself and turn from evil so that you can pray and seek the Lord with all your heart.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will forgive your sin and bring His healing into your life as you seek Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have turned from evil to seek the Lord with all your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you humble yourself, turn from evil and seek the Lord with all your heart.

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

If – 2 Chronicles 7-14 – My People – 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

You Are Faithful

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Luke 16:10-12 - You Are Faithful- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Luke 16:10-12 – You Are Faithful- Growing As Disciples

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? Luke 16:10-12 (NLT)

Little Things

You would like to have large responsibilities. You would like to be in charge of many things. You would like me to use you in significant ways. You would like your life to make a large impact. You would like your life to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. You would like to bring glory to my name. Is all of this true? Yes, all of this is true.

If you want these desires and prayers of your heart to come true, is there a price you must pay? That sounds like a good question. What price must I pay if I want to be powerfully used by you? You must learn to be faithful in little things, if you want me to give you large responsibilities. You must show me that you can handle little details, if you want me to use you in significant ways. You must be willing to do work that goes unnoticed. You must be willing to do jobs for which you will receive little or no recognition. You must humble yourself and take on the form of a servant. You must learn to serve like I served. You must learn to give like I gave. No task will be too small for you. No job will be below your station in life. You must learn to go where I guide you. You must be willing to do whatever I ask of you. Will you go where I guide you and do all that I ask of you? Yes Lord, I will.  That will be very good. But there is more.

What else are you asking of me? You must give up on the idea of being powerfully used by me. You must stop thinking of doing great things for me. You must give up on the idea of doing and being great. These thoughts are too dangerous for you. These desires are too tempting for you. Think about doing all the little things I ask of you. Do the one little thing after another that I will give you to do for me. All the little things I give you to do for me will bring glory to my name. All the little things I give you to do for me will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. Will you also do all the little things that I ask you to do for me? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me, whenever you ask it of me, however and wherever you ask it of me. Then you will know and do my will. Then these prayers and desires of your heart will be heard and answered. Then I will powerfully use you for my kingdom and glory.

Lord, I need your wisdom, power and strength. I want to be faithful and trustworthy in all my responsibilities. I’m sure that I have done what did not need to be done and left undone what needed to be done. Help me to be completely faithful and trustworthy. Amen

Key Question… When has forgiving someone released you from a heavy burden that you were carrying?

Living It Out… Make it the rhythm of your life to forgive others just as you have been forgiven.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will help you to forgive others just as you have been forgiven.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group hoe you are forgiving others who have sinned against you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you forgive others just as you have been forgiven by your Heavenly Father.

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

If – Luke 16-10-12 – You Are Faithful – 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

Tasted The Kindness Of The Lord

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Discipleship Study - If - 1 Peter 2:1-3 - Tasted The Kindness Of The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – If – 1 Peter 2:1-3 – Tasted The Kindness Of The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NASB)

Grow Up 

Do you want to continue to grow up in your salvation? Do you want to become mature in your faith? Do you want to taste of my goodness? Do you want to live the life that I have called you to live? Yes, I want to grow up and become mature in my faith. Yes, I want to continue to grow up in my salvation. I want to taste of your goodness. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want nothing less than all that you have for me. What must I do if I want to continue to grow up in my salvation and mature in my faith? How can I keep on tasting of your goodness? Those are very good questions. 

There are two things that you must do if you want to grow up in your salvation and mature in your faith. There are two things that you must do if you want to live the life that I have called you to live. There are two things you must do if you want to receive all that I have for you. There are two things you must do if you want to keep on tasting of my goodness.

What things must I do? You must rid yourself of evil and leave it behind you. That sounds very difficult. Actually, that sounds impossible. If it were up to you and your efforts it would be impossible for you to rid yourself of evil and leave it behind you. But, you have tasted my goodness. You have received my grace and mercy. You have turned from your sin to follow me. On the cross I broke the power of sin over your life. You now have a new life to live in me. You are now dead to sin and alive to me. I know this is all true. I have given my life to you. I know that I have a new life to live in you. I know that you have broken the power of sin over my life. Yet, I have had a very difficult time ridding myself of evil and leaving sin behind me. There is something else that you must also do, that you haven’t been doing. What’s that? You must feed on my word. You must desire my word like a newborn baby. As you feed on my word you will continue to taste of my goodness. As you feed on my word your hunger and thirst for me and the life I have for you will grow. As you feed on my word I will change your heart and transform your mind. You will no longer want the evil that is in the world. You will want to rid yourself of every evil. You will want to leave evil behind you. As you meet with me in my word you will taste of my goodness, grow up in your salvation, mature in your faith and be able to rid yourself of evil and leave it behind you. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, that is what I want.

Lord, thank you for your word. Your word has helped me to rid myself of evil. Feeding on your word has allowed me to taste your goodness. Feeding on your word and tasting your goodness has caused me to continue to grow up in my salvation. Amen

Key Question… How has daily feeding on God’s word allowed you to taste the goodness of the Lord?

Living It Out… Leave evil behind you and feed on God’s word so that you can continue to grow up in your salvation.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will grow up in your salvation as you leave evil behind you and feed on God’s word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are leaving evil behind and feeding on God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rid yourself of all evil and desire God’s word so you can grow up in your salvation.

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

If – 1 Peter 2-1-3- Tasted The Kindness Of 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

Belonged To The World

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - John 15:18-19 - Belonged To The World - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – John 15:18-19 – Belonged To The World – Growing As Disciples

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  John 15:18-19 (NIV)

World

You no longer belong to the world. I have chosen you from out of the world. Even though you still live in the world you are no longer of the world. I have changed you. You will think differently than those who are in the world. Your values will not be the same. Your desires will be different. You will want what I want. You will desire to know and do my will.  You will want to accomplish my purposes. You will speak differently than those who are in the world. Your words will give life. You words will build others up rather than tear them down. You will act differently than those who are in the world. Your actions will offer healing and help and hope to others. In every way you will stand out in the world. You will shine brightly for me. You will be like a light set on a hill. You will be like salt that adds a pleasant flavor in the world. Others will be drawn to you because they will see me living in and through your life. That’s the good news. Is there news that isn’t quite so good? Do you mean what’s the bad news? Yes, I suppose so. I didn’t want to say it quite like that.

The world hated me. The world will hate you. This should never take you by surprise. The world’s hate will take on many forms. You will be ridiculed. You will be disdained. You will be mocked. The world rejected me. The world will reject you. What do you think of all this? On one hand this sounds terrible. On the other hand it comes as very good news. Why do you say that? The world will remind me that I do not belong to it when it hates me. The world will affirm to me that I belong to you when I am mistreated by it.  The world will encourage me to draw near to you to receive your comfort, encouragement and strength when I have been rejected by it. The world will let me know that I am shining brightly for you when its darkness tries to overcome me. There is one thing that I know for certain. What’s that? You are with me as I live in this world. Yes, I am. You will give me all the help I need as I live in this world for you. Yes, I will.

 Lord, thank you for choosing me out of the world. Even though I still live in the world I am no longer of the world. Help me to shine brightly in the world as one of your followers. I will be encouraged when I am hated because I know the world also hated you. Amen

Key Question… How has your life changed since Jesus Christ chose you from out of the world to live your life for Him?

Living It Out… Live your life as one who has been chosen from out of the world and now belongs to Jesus Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has chosen you from out of the world to live a changed life with and for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how being chosen from out of the world changes the way that you live.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live your life knowing that you have been chosen out of the world to live your life for the Lord.

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

If – John 15-18-19 – Belonged To The World – 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 Yourself Pure

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 2 Timothy 2:21 - Keep Yourself Pure - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 2 Timothy 2:21 – Keep Yourself Pure – Growing As Disciples

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  2 Timothy 2:21 (NLT)

Ready

I know that you want to be used by me. I know that you want your life to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. I know that you want me to use your life according to my purposes and plans. I know that you don’t want any of the gifts, talents and resources that I have given you to go to waste. I know that one day you would like to hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You have told me all of these things in your prayers. Yes, I have prayed for all these things. It gives me great joy to know that you have heard these prayers of mine.

How you live your life will determine how fully these prayers of yours will be answered. How so? How you live your life will determine if you are ready to be used by me. I want to be ready to be used by you at all times and in every situation. If you want to be used by me you must turn and run away from evil. You must separate yourself from anything that will stimulate sinful desires within you. You must resist the urge to engage in unfruitful arguments that will only start fights. Avoid all foolish and worthless talk of every kind. Instead pursue me. Pursue the righteous life I have given you to live. You will not be alone in your pursuit of me. Be encouraged by and give encouragement to those who, with a pure heart, are also pursuing the righteous life that I have called you to live. Will you do what I am asking of you? Yes Lord, I will do all that you are asking of me. Then you will be ready to be used by me. You will be a tool in my hand. You will do the work that I have prepared in advance for you to do. You will know my will. You will walk in my ways. You will bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. That is what I want. That is what you will do.

Lord, I am all yours. I will turn away and run from every evil. I will pursue you and the righteous life you have called me to live with and for you. It will be my joy and pleasure to be ready for you to use, Bear fruit and bring glory to your name though my life. Amen

Key Question… What unfruitful activity can be eliminated from your life to make you more available for the Lord’s use?

Living It Out… Turn and run away from every evil that will make unready and unusable and ineffective for the Lord’s use.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you and bear fruit through your life according to His purposes and plans.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how turning from every evil has made you ready for the Lord to use.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you turn from evil and pursue righteousness so you will be ready for the Lord to use.

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

If – 2 Timothy 2-21 – Keep Yourself Pure – 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

Shuts His Ears

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Proverbs 21:13 - Shuts His Ears - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Proverbs 21:13 – Shuts His Ears – Growing As Disciples

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13 (NIV)

Cry Of The Poor

Are you listening? Are you watching? Are you paying attention to the needs of those around you? It is easy to ignore those who are poor. Nothing will stop you from walking right on by those who are in need. Are you seeing and hearing the cries of the poor? Those are tough questions. Why is that? I can’t honestly say a wholehearted yes to any one of your questions. I probably haven’t been listening. I’m sure that I have not been watching. The poor and needy have become invisible to me. I don’t mean to walk right on by those in need. I want to hear and respond to the cries of the poor. That’s all I wanted to hear from you. 

Since you have said that you want to hear and respond to the needs of the poor you will be tested. How will I be tested? I will make it so you will be able to hear the cries and see the needs of the poor. You will no longer be able to walk blindly by those in need. You will no longer be deaf to the cries of the poor. The poor and needy are all around you. Those who need help are both near and far. Once you hear and once you see you will be tested. How will I be tested? Do you really need to ask that question? I suppose not. The test will be in how I respond to what I see and hear. That’s right. The question you will ask me is, “Will I hear and answer the cries of the poor?” That’s right. You want to know if I will help those who are in need. Yes, I do. You want me to know how I will respond to what you allow me to see and hear. Yes, I do.

I will tell you right now how I will respond to your questions. I will give my answer in advance of your test. I will make my answer firm and sure right now. I will not waver. I will not shrink back. I will not change my mind. I will hear and respond to the cries of the poor. I will help those in need. Why will you do this? I want to become like you. I want to love like you loved. I want to give like you gave. I want to do all that you would do for all those who are in need. I will do whatever you are calling me to do for you. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not shut my ears to hearing and responding to the cries of the poor. I will listen carefully and respond enthusiastically to those who are in need. Use me to help others. Help me to love like you loved and give like you gave. Amen

Key Question… What relationship is there between hearing the cries of the poor and your prayers being heard?

Living It Out… Open your ears so that you will hear and respond to the cries of the poor.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to hear and respond to the cries of the poor.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to hear and respond to the cries of the poor.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you open up your ears and respond to the cries of the poor so that your prayers will also be heard.

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

If – Proverbs 21-13 – Shuts His Ears – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Come After Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Luke 9:23-25 - Come After Me- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Luke 9:23-25 – Come After Me- Growing As Disciples

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

Deny Myself 

What do you want? Your entire life will be guided by how you answer that one question. All that you think, say and do will be directed by what you want. There are really only two answers to my question. How could there be only two answers to your question. Oh, I’m absolutely sure that you already know the two answers to my question. If you’re positive then I must have the answers. That’s right. 

I will start with my answer. I want you. I know that you want me. You love me. You came into this world to rescue me from a life without you. You died on the cross so that I could be forgiven of all my sins and cleansed of all my righteousness. You pursued me when I was walking on a path away from you. You turned my life around. I told you that I would turn away from my sin so I could follow you. What do you mean by saying that you want me? I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to serve you. My life is in your hands. I am at your service. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I will deny myself and take up the cross and follow you. How often will you deny yourself and take up the cross and follow me. I will deny myself and take up the cross to follow you everyday from now and until I meet you face to face. That will be very good. What is the other answer to my question?

The other answer to your question is not my answer. Let me hear the answer that you have rejected. There are two answers. There are only two choices. I can live my life with and for you or I can live my life for all that the world has to offer. I can lose my life for you by going and doing whatever you ask of me or I can lose my life by pursuing all that the world has to offer. Pursuing the world and all it has to offer is a tragic mistake. Yes, It is. Pursuing the world and all it has to offer leads to death now and forever. Yes, it does. Choosing to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you leads to life now and forever. Yes, it does. I am choosing to live the life that you have called me to live. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for drawing me to you. I am coming after you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will deny myself and take up the cross, as I love, follow, and serve you. It is my joy to lose myself in your service. I am all yours. Amen

Key Question… What has denying yourself and taking up the cross of Christ looked like in your daily life?

Living It Out… Lose your life for Christ by denying yourself and taking up the cross as you love, follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to deny yourself and take up the cross daily as you love, follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what denying yourself and taking up the cross has meant in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you lose your life for Christ by denying yourself and taking up His cross daily.

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

If – Luke 9-23-25 – Come After Me – 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.

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

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

A New Creation

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 2 Corinthians 5:17 - A New Creation - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 2 Corinthians 5:17 – A New Creation – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!   2 Corinthians 5:17  (NIV)

What’s New?

What’s New? That is an interesting question. Why are you asking me, “What’s new?”  I want you to think about what is new in your life since the day that you came to believe in me. That would be quite a long list. I have plenty of time to hear all that you have to say to me. The newness that you brought into my life began on day one with you. What do you mean by that? On day one with you I turned away from my sin to follow you. I asked you to forgive me of my all sins and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. I said that I was giving my life to you and that I would follow you as my Savior and Lord. You answered my prayer and did all that I asked of you. Yes, I did. There was something more that I didn’t know was coming. What’s that? You filled me with your Holy Spirit. Your Holy Spirit made it so I could be born again to a new life in you. On day one, you made me to be your new creation. Yes, I did.

What changed since you become my new creation? I could live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I could talk to you in prayer. We could have an ongoing conversation together. You would draw near to me as I would draw near to you. I could listen to you as you also listened to me. That’s right. What else? Did everything in your life change all at once? What do you mean by that? Did you completely leave your old life so that you could live the new life I had for you to live? There were many things from my old sinful live that fell away right away. Much of my old life no longer appealed to me. I wanted to fully live the new life that you had given me to live in you. What happened? I began to see that not all of my old life of sin fell away. I found that quite discouraging. Why is that? I thought that you would make me a completely new creation all at once. That’s exactly what I did. Your spirit was reborn. I gave you a new heart and mind. Didn’t it become your desire to love me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Yes, that was and still is my desire. You thought you might be a completely new creation on day one? You thought I might finish all my work in your life in one day? I guess so. Well, you now know that my work continues in your life every day. Yes, I now know that and I welcome your ongoing work in my life. I will make you and every day new as you continue to love, follow and serve me.

Lord, thank you for drawing me to you. You made it possible for me to come to believe in you. You have made me to be a completely new creation. You have given me a completely new life to live you in you. Keep on molding and shaping my life as I follow you. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord been continuing to make you new every day as you follow Him?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to continue to make you into His new creation as you live the new life that He has given you to live.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord made you into a new creation, giving you a new life to live since you came to believe in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what has changed in your life since you came to believe in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live as the new creation that the Lord has created to be since you came to believe in Him.

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

If – 2 Corinthians 5-17 – A New Creation – 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