Tag Archives: Growing As Disciples

Love Of Money

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Discipleship Study - Character - Hebrews 13:5-6 - Love Of Money - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – Character – Hebrews 13:5-6 – Love Of Money – Growing As Disciples

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

Your Pursuit 

What will you pursue in life? What will have your focus? What will have your full attention? Will you chase after money? Will you pursue things? Will you seek all the comfort and pleasure and security that this world offers? Will your life be consumed with a continual desire for more? Will you ride the never-ending treadmill of wanting the latest and greatest next new and better thing? Will you store up all the treasures of this life? Will you be the richest person in the graveyard? Those are very good questions. I will gladly tell you my answers. First, let me say that I have answered each one of these questions incorrectly at one time or another in my life. I have loved money. I have pursued things. I have had a continual desire for more. I have sought comfort and pleasure and security from what the world offers. I have frequently wanted the latest and greatest next new thing. I have stored up treasures from this life. Forgive me. I do know that there is no such thing as a rich person in a graveyard. I brought nothing into this world. I will take nothing out of this world. That’s right. I can’t say that I am completely over being attracted to the things of this world. I will need your help to fully pursue the life that you have called me to live. I will need you to help teach and train me to be content with what I have been given. You will have my help. I will teach you and train you to be content. I will help you to pursue the life that I have called you to live.

There are some things that I do know. There are some things that I have learned. What’s that? I know that I am just passing through this life. My real home is forever in heaven with you. It would be foolish for me to store up treasures in a place that I will soon be leaving. That’s true. I do know that I can store up treasures in heaven with you. I know that I can bear fruit for your kingdom. I know that I can bring glory to your name. Yes, you can. It gives me great pleasure to know and do your will. I have great joy and peace and contentment in doing what is pleasing to you. I know for sure that my life will not be a waste when I go and do what you ask of me. I know that you are with me. I know that you will help me. I will pursue you and the life that you have for me now and forever. That will be very good.

Lord, I will pursue you. I will pursue the life you have called me to live. I will pursue priorities you give to me. I will not love and pursue money. Thank you that your presence, help and protection is helping me to be content with what you have given to me. Amen 

Key Question… When has loving money caused you to pursue the wrong priorities in life?

Living It Out… Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what the Lord has given to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord’s presence, help and protection will help you to be content with what you have been given.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are learning to be content with what the Lord has given to you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be free from the love of money and be content with what you have been given.

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

Character – Hebrews 13-5-6 – Love Of Money – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Active In Sharing Your Faith

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Philemon 1:6 - Active In Sharing Your Faith - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Philemon 1:6 – Active In Sharing Your Faith – Growing As Disciples

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Philemon 1:6 (NIV)

Active

How active are you in sharing your faith? That’s a good question. I don’t know how to answer your question other than to say I am not nearly active enough in sharing my faith with others. I would also like to say that I want to be far more active in sharing my faith with others. Why is that, why do you want to be more active in sharing your faith? I would like to be doing what you have called me to do. I know that you have called me to share my faith. You have sent me out into the world to go and make disciples. Making disciples starts with sharing my faith with others. Yes, it does. Sharing my faith with others is how I can bear fruit for your kingdom. That’s right. You want me to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. Yes, I do. The only kind of fruit that will last for all eternity are the people that will come to live forever in heaven with you. The amount of fruit that I will bear for you will come through my actively sharing my faith in you with others. That’s right.

So, would it be true that if you are not actively sharing your faith with others, then you are not doing what is my will? That’s right. How will you become more active in sharing your faith? I will need your help. I will ask for your help. I will ask for you to open opportunities for me to share my faith with others. I will ask you to bring people into my life who need to hear about the new life that they can have in you. I will keep my eyes and ears open. I will watch for the opportunities that you will give me to share my faith with others. That will be very good. 

What has happened to you when you have shared your faith with others? I’m not sure what you mean. How has your life been blessed when you have allowed me to use you? When I have allowed you to use me, I have been able to know that you were working in and through my life. I have felt the closeness of your presence. I have felt your power. I have experienced your blessing. There are ways that I would never know you without going and doing what you have asked of me. That’s right. So, you have blessed my life as you have used me to be a blessing to others. That’s true. Give me every opportunity to share my faith in you with others. Help me to tell others about the greatness of your love and the kindness of your mercy. Speak through me. Use me. Help me to actively share my faith in you with others. Yes, I will. 

Lord, I will actively share my faith. I will tell others about your goodness to me. I will share with them the marvelous things that you have done for me. Thank you, that as I share my faith in you I will continue to grow in knowing all that you have done for me. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord opened opportunities for you to share your faith with others?

Living It Out… Be active in sharing your faith with others so you can continue in grow in knowing all that you have in Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will come to know all you have in Christ as you actively share your faith in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how sharing your faith has helped you to know what you have in Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you come to know all you have in Christ as you actively share your faith in Him.

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

Be – Philemon 1-6 – Active In Sharing Your Faith – 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

Be Still

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Miracles - Exodus 14:13-14 - Be Still - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Miracles – Exodus 14:13-14 – Be Still – Growing As Disciples

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)

Move On

Don’t just sit there paralyzed in your fear. What would you have me do? You tell me. Well, if I’m sitting here paralyzed in my fear, it’s a good bet that once again I am relying on myself to try to fight the battle that is before me right now. You want me to come to rely on you. You don’t want me to rely on myself. My own power and strength will never get me through the battles of life.

No, it will not. You want me to trust you to help me through the battles that I will face in life. Yes, I do. I wonder how many battles I will need to go through before I learn to rely on you completely. Based on my track record, I wonder if I will ever come to fully rely on you in the battles of life. Is that a question? I guess it is. More and more you are learning to rely on me. So, don’t become discouraged. Don’t give up. Keep learning to rely on me. Learning to rely on me is a lesson that will continue until the day you come to live forever in heaven with me. That’s what I thought. Be encouraged though, because you are making great progress in learning to rely on me to help you. I will. That will be very good.

Now, there are two concepts that I want you to consider as you rely on me. What are they? First, I want you to learn to be still as you trust me. I want you to be still so you can hear and see me at work to help you. Don’t frantically race around trying to pull together all your resources. Your resources will never be enough to win your battles in life. Learn that the battle is not yours. Learn that the battle is mine. Watch and see me fight for you. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

What I am about to say may seem contradictory. There is a time to cry out. There is a time to pray. There is a time to ask for my help. There is a time to rely fully on me. There is a time to watch and wait and look and listen for my help in your battle. Then a time will come for you to move on. Relying on me will require you to get up, get going and move on. Relying on me fully will require you to trust that I will fight in you, with you, for you and through you. Yes, you will also be required to fight. But, there is a big difference in how you will be fighting. How so? You will not be fighting with your own strength. You will be relying on me in all your battles of life. That, I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I have been filled with fear in the battles I have faced in life. Forgive me for not praying to you and turning all my fears over to you. I know that you will fight with me and for me as I rely on you to stand firm and face my fears. Amen

Key Question… When have you been afraid of what might be coming next in life?

Living It Out… Pray to the Lord and turn all your fears over to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will fight for you as you rely on Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has fought for you in a battle that you faced.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you stand firm as the Lord fights for you today.

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

Miracles – Exodus 14-13-14 – Be Still – 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

Attitude Of Your Mind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Ephesians 4:22-24 - Attitude Of Your Mind - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Ephesians 4:22-24 – Attitude Of Your Mind – Growing As Disciples

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

You Were Taught

I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to live my life fully with and for you. I don’t want to fall short. I don’t want to miss the mark. I know that I will need your help. I can’t be what you have called me to be by my own efforts. I can’t do what you are asking me to do with my own strength. You are right, you will need my help. You will need my strength. You will need my wisdom. You will need my guidance. You will need to put into practice all that you have been taught. I’m sorry to say that I will even need you to refresh me on what I have been taught.

You have been taught to leave your old life behind. Take off the dirty and stinky clothes of your old life. Walk away from your old thoughts, patterns and practices. Separate yourself from the darkness in which you once lived and walked. Eliminate anything that would feed and sustain your old sinful life. Have nothing do to with wickedness. Let nothing stir up and encourage deceitful desires within you. Let nothing corrupt what I want to do in and through you. None of your old life suits you any longer. I will leave my old life behind. That will be very good.

What else must I do? That is a very good question. It is good that you realize that you must do more than simply walk away from your old life. You must let me change your heart and transform your mind. How will you change my heart and transform my mind? On the day that you turned away from your sin to follow me I began the ongoing process of changing your heart and transforming your mind. This process will continue daily until the day you come to live forever in heaven with me. I will use my word to change your heart and transform your mind. You must let my word dwell in you richly. You must meditate on my word day and night. My word will strengthen you. My word will make you able to think my thoughts and walk in my ways. Will you let me change your heart and transform my mind with my word? Yes, Lord, I will allow your word to do its work in me. I will let your word dwell in me richly That will be very good. 

There is one final thing you must do if you want to live your life fully with and for me. What is that? You must put on the new life that I have given you to live. I will clothe your new life with my goodness. You must follow me. You must walk in the light with me. You must go where I guide you. You must do all that I ask of you. Will you wear my righteousness and holiness as you follow and serve me? Yes, Lord, I will wear the new life in you that you have given me to live. That will be very good. 

Lord, help me to separate myself from any remaining influences from the old self and its deceitful practices. Renew and transform my heart and mind by your word so that I will be able to put on the new self and live fully for you. Amen

Key Question… What steps did you have to take to separate yourself from your old self and its desires?

Living It Out… Separate yourself from the deceitful practices of the old self as you allow God to renew your mind by His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will renew your mind by His word and give you the power put off the old and put on the new self.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to put off the old and put on the new self.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you put off your old life, be renewed in your mind, and put on your new life in Christ.

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

The Mind – Ephesians 4-22-24 – Attitude Of Your Mind – 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

To Give Than To Receive

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Blessing - Acts 20:35 - To Give Than To Receive - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Blessing – Acts 20:35 – To Give Than To Receive – Growing As Disciples

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Giving

I have richly blessed your life. I have given you an abundance of good gifts. Yes, you have richly blessed my life by giving me an abundance of good gifts. There is not one good thing I have received that ultimately has not come from your hand. I don’t know how I can ever say thank you enough for all that you have given to me. I am grateful and thankful beyond measure. I hope that my life will continually express gratefulness and thankfulness every day as I live my life with and for you. That will be very good.

I want to bless your life in a very different way. How so? Your life has already been blessed by all that I have given to you. That’s true. I know that you want to become like me. That’s right. You have seen that I am a giver of good gifts. You know that it is my joy and pleasure to give good gifts to you. I now want you to bless your life by you giving to others. You have experienced much joy in receiving all that I have given to you. Yes, I have. Would it surprise you to hear me say that it is much better to give than to receive? That is hard to believe. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not doubting your word. No, I know that you are not doubting my word. You are wondering how much fuller could your joy be by giving than receiving. Yes, that’s it exactly.

Test the truth of what I am saying. There is nothing that I have given to you that you can’t share with others in one way or another. You can share your gifts, talents and abilities. You can share your resources and possessions. You can share your family and friends. You can share your experience and knowledge. You can share the teaching and training you have received. You will be blessed in far greater measure by what you give than by what you have received. There is something vitally important that I also want you to know and remember. What is that? The blessings that you will receive by giving to others will not just be in this life. As you give and share with others you will be blessed in this life and in the life to come. Giving and sharing all that you are and all that you have will be storing up treasure in heaven with me. Will you give like I give? Will you share with others all that I have given to you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, you have richly blessed my life. You have given me an abundance of good gifts. I will not tight fistedly hold on to what you have given to me. Help me to experience the much greater blessing of giving and sharing others all that you have richly given to me. Amen

Key Question… How has your life been blessed as you have shared with others what the Lord has given to you?

Living It Out…Allow your life to be blessed by sharing with others what the Lord has given to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will find great blessing in sharing with others what the Lord has given to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been blessed by sharing what the Lord has given you,

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life be blessed as you give to others.

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

Blessing – Acts 20-35 – To Give Than To Receive – 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

Given

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Matthew 7:7-8 - Given - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Matthew 7:7-8 – Given – Growing As Disciples

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Ask, Seek, Knock

Is there something that you want from me? Is there anything that you would like to ask of me? What do you want? What do you need? Why are you asking me these questions? I am not hearing many prayer requests from you. Why is that? Is that because you have nothing that you need? Is that because you have everything you want? No, I don’t have everything that I want or need. I’m sure of that. Do you think it would be an inconvenience for you to ask me for what you want or need? Do you think I might be too busy to hear and answer your prayers? No, I am sure that my prayers are never an inconvenience for you. I’m positive that you would never be too busy to hear and answer my prayers. Do you doubt my ability to hear and answer your prayers? No, I have no doubt in your ability to hear and answer my prayers. Do you feel that it would be better for you to try to solve your own problems rather than to ask me for my help? No, I am certain that you want me to come to rely on you. I am sure that it is your delight to hear and answer my prayers. You are a good giver who delights to hear and answer prayers. You aren’t giving me many opportunities to be a good giver that hears and answers your prayers. I can see that now. I am sorry that I have not come to ask you for what I want and need. That is about to change. How so? Every day from here on out, you will hear from me. I will ask you for what I need. I will be passionate and persistent in my prayers for what I want and need from you. I will not give up. I will keep on asking, seeking and knocking in prayer for all that I need from you. That will be very good.

What will happen to your faith as you keep on asking, seeking and knocking for all that you want and need in prayer? As you hear and answer my prayers my faith in you will grow. As I hear and answer your prayers what will you keep on doing? I will keep on praying. Will you ask me for more? Yes, I will ask you for more. That is what I want. I am asking you to come to me to ask me for more. Rely on me. Pray to me. Ask me for what you want and need. I will hear and answer your prayers. That is what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I will be passionate, intense and unrelenting in my prayers. I will keep on asking, seeking and knocking in prayer for all I need from you. Thank you for all your goodness, kindness, mercy and love for me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayers. Amen

Key Question… Why must you never hesitate to ask the Lord to hear and answer your prayers?

Living It Out… Keep on asking, seeking and knocking in prayer for all that you need from the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers for what you need from Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are asking, seeking and knocking in prayer for what you need.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you keep on asking, seeking and knocking in prayer for what you need from the Lord.

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

Be – Matthew 7-7-8 – Given – 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

Do Not Be Like

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Psalm 32:8-9 - Do Not Be Like - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Psalm 32:8-9 – Do Not Be Like – Growing As Disciples

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Psalm 32:8-9 (NIV)  

Stubborn

Do you want me to instruct and teach in the way that you should go in life? That is a very important question that you should carefully consider. The quick and obvious answer might be “Yes, of course I want you to instruct and teach me in the way that I should go.” Yes, that is exactly what I would say to you. There is no doubt about that. I wouldn’t think so. Who wouldn’t want me to instruct and teach them in the way that they should go? Is that a question that you would like me to answer? Yes, it is. Many people might say that they want you to instruct and teach them in the way that they should go but not follow through with their responsibility. What is their responsibility? Their responsibility is to humbly come to you to be taught and counseled by you. Is that all? No, that is not all. After hearing your instruction and receiving your counsel it needs to be put into practice. Will you come to me to hear my instruction and receive my counsel? Will you put my instruction and counsel into practice? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

What will humbly hearing my instruction and receiving my counsel do for you as you put it into practice? Your instruction and counsel will guard and guide my life. Your instruction and counsel will watch over me. As I hear your instruction and receive your counsel I will know where to go and what to do as I follow and serve you. Yes, you will.

What must you never allow yourself to become? I must never become like a stubborn horse or mule that must be guided by a bit or bridle. If I allow myself to become stubborn I will never hear your instruction or receive your counsel. Your words will not guard and guide my life. Your words will not watch over me. I will have no idea where I should go or what I should do in life. I will be on my own. I will go my own way. I will do my own thing. That is not what I want. That is not what I will do. Instead, I will keep on humbly coming to you and put your words of instruction and counsel into practice. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not be proud and stubborn like a horse or mule that must be controlled by a bit or bridle. Instead, I will willingly come to you. I will humbly and attentively listen to all that you have to say to me. I will put all your instruction and counsel into practice. Amen

Key Question… When have been proud and stubborn and unwilling to follow the Lord’s leadership over your life?

Living It Out… Do not be proud and stubborn but rather be humble and willing to allow the Lord to lead and guide your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will instruct, teach, counsel and watch over you as you humbly follow Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are following the Lord’s leadership of your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you humbly come to the Lord to receive all His instruction and counsel.

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

Wisdom – Psalm 32-8-9 – Do Not Be Like – 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

Pattern Of Sound Teaching

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Hear - 2 Timothy 1:13 - Pattern Of Sound Teaching - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Hear – 2 Timothy 1:13 – Pattern Of Sound Teaching – Growing As Disciples

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13 (NIV)

Hold On

Here is the deal. I’m discouraged. I am worn out. I am weary. But, I will hold on to your teaching. I will keep on moving forward with you. I will follow you where you lead me. I will do all that you ask of me. These things are not in question. Why am I so tired? Why am I so burned out? Shouldn’t I be more refreshed? Shouldn’t I be more alive? I would like to be more vibrant. I would like to be filled with joy. I would like your life to be overflowing my life. I want people to be attracted to seeing you in me. Do they see any of you in me? Don’t they see a tired and worn out person? Who wants anything like that? My life doesn’t shout, “look at what I have, do you want what I’ve got?” Don’t get me wrong. I am extremely grateful for all that I have in you.

What do you have in me? Think about that. That’s a good place to start. I have a new life in you. You have healed my bruised and battered and broken life. You have shown me your love. You have pulled me out of the darkness to walk in the light with you. You have forgiven all my sins and cleansed me of all my unrighteousness. You are leading and guiding me through life. I am now living and walking in the light with you. You are changing my heart and transforming my mind. You are giving me your thoughts to think. You are showing me your will to do. You have given me a future filled with hope. My life has a purpose and a plan. You have created good works that you have planned for me to do for you. You are causing me to bear fruit for your kingdom. You are helping me to bring glory to your name. I know that one day I will come to live in heaven with you. I know that I will live forever in eternity with you. I have nothing to fear in this life. How could I? My future is secure in you. You have been given a great deal. Yes, I have been given so very much.

You mentioned that you are very grateful. Yes, I did. Do you give thanks? I don’t give thanks nearly enough. That is your problem. I can see that. Give thanks to me. Praise my name. Remember all that I have done for you. Live your life with a thankful and praise filled heart. Then your life will overflow with my joy. Then others will want what you have. Will you offer all your thanks and praise to me? Yes, Lord, I will. That is how I want you to hold on to me. I will hold on to you with a thankful and praise filled joyful heart. That will be very good.

Lord, I am ready to listen to all that you want to say to me. Help me to hold on to all the sound teaching that you have given to me. Grow my faith and trust in you. I love you Lord. Help me to encourage others so that they will also hold on to their faith in you. Amen

Key Question… Who have been your teachers that have helped you to grow in your faith?

Living It Out… Make it your ongoing pattern to hold on to sound teaching that you have been taught from God’s word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to hold on to and put into practice sound teaching from His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are holding on to sound teaching from God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hold on to and put into practice the sound teaching that you have been taught from God’s word.

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

Hear – 2 Timothy 1-13 – Pattern Of Sound Teaching – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Under Control

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Discipleship Devotional Study - Wisdom - Proverbs 29:11 - Under Control - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study – Wisdom – Proverbs 29:11 – Under Control – Growing As Disciples

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)

Venting

Well, this is not my favorite topic. Why is that? I have been very foolish in the ways that I have expressed myself. How so? I have frequently given full vent to my anger. You think so? Yes, I do. Have you given full vent to your anger recently? No, not recently. When was the last time that you have given full vent to your anger? I don’t know, I can’t remember. Isn’t that a very good thing? Yes, I suppose that it is a good thing. Either I have a very poor memory or it has been a long time since I have fully vented my anger. You don’t have a very poor memory. It has been a long time since you have fully vented your anger.

I’m not perfect. I still do get angry. I do still express words of frustration. I don’t hear anyone claiming that you are perfect. I am not saying that I have anger under perfect control. No, you do not have your anger under perfect control, that is not the point I am trying to make with you. What point are you trying to make with me? This should be one of your favorite topics to discuss. Why is that? You have made tremendous progress. You are not the easily angered person that you once were. You do not fly off at the handle all the time. You aren’t easily provoked. You have generally kept yourself under control. You are growing wise in how you express your frustrations. Would it surprise you to hear others say that you are a completely different person? No, not really. Why is that? I have heard people say that I am a completely different person. Have you really heard those comments and taken them into your heart and mind? No, not really. That is a mistake. Why is that? You need to be encouraged. You need to celebrate success. You need to recognize the changes that have occurred in your life.

How have you been changed? Why are you a different person? How have you been able to keep yourself under control? I deserve none of the credit for being a changed and different person. You have been changing me. You have been transforming me. You have been molding and shaping my life. That’s true I have been changing your heart. I have been transforming your mind. How have I been changing your heart and transforming your mind? You have been changing my heart and transforming my mind as I have come to meet with you in your word. That’s right. You have come to meet with me in my word. Has anyone forced you to come to meet with me in my word? No, you have drawn me to come to meet with you in your word. That’s right. But you, have decided to come to meet with me. Yes, that’s true. I want you to be encouraged that you have been a part of the changes I have been making you in you. You have been welcoming me to do my work in you. Celebrate that. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I have made many mistakes. I have given full vent to my anger. I have hurt feelings and harmed relationships. I have not kept myself under control. Help me to rely on you to express myself with thoughts and words that are helpful rather than harmful. Amen

Key Question… How have you learned to express your frustrations without giving full vent to your anger?

Living It Out… Don’t give full vent to your anger, but keep yourself under control.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to keep yourself under control.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are keeping yourself under control.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you keep yourself under control rather than giving full vent to your anger.

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

Wisdom – Proverbs 29-11 – Under Control – 4 Page Discipleship 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

A Joy

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Hebrews 13:7 - A Joy - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Hebrews 13:7 – A Joy – Growing As Disciples

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

Keep Watch

I have placed spiritual leaders to help keep watch over your soul. I have placed you as a spiritual leader to watch over the souls of others. You should not remain distant and aloof from others. I have made you to live in community with others so that you can watch over each other’s soul. This is an important responsibility that I have given to you.

How can I faithfully fulfill the responsibility that you have given to me? That is a very good question. You have two different responsibilities. Two responsibilities? Yes, you have two very different responsibilities. First, you have the responsibility to allow yourself to be watched over by your spiritual leaders. What responsibility does allowing myself to be watched over by my spiritual leaders require. What do you think? I think I need to show up. I need to make myself available. I need to live in a close relationship with my spiritual leaders. I can’t go my own way and do my own thing. I need to submit myself to the leadership of those you have placed over my life. I need to listen and put into practice what I hear from my spiritual leaders. I need to listen to their wisdom and receive their guidance. I need to make it a joy for my spiritual leaders to keep watch over my soul. How will you do that? I will obey them. I will submit to their leadership over my life. That will be very good. Is there something you need to stop doing? I thought you might ask that. I need to stop setting myself up a judge, evaluator and critic of the spiritual leaders you have placed over me in my life. They will have no joy when I do that. That’s right.

You also will have the responsibility of spiritual leadership over those I have placed in your life. What must you do with those who I have placed under your spiritual leadership? I must provide spiritual leadership. I will watch over those you have placed under my care. I will involve myself in their lives. I will invest all my gifts, talents, abilities and resources to help those who under my care. I will pray for those under my care. I will provide wise counsel and give good direction. I give strong encouragement and solid support. I will do whatever is needed to help those you have placed under my care. This is my plan, others will keep watch over you as you keep watch over others. I will follow your plan I will watch over others as others watch over me. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for placing spiritual leaders in my life to help watch over my soul. I will obey the wise counsel and good direction you give me through my spiritual leaders. Help me to make it a joyful experience for my spiritual leaders to watch over my soul. Amen

Key Question… Who will the Lord use as a spiritual leader in your life if you remain distant and aloof from everyone?

Living It Out… Obey your spiritual leaders so that it will be a joy for them to keep watch over your soul.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has given you spiritual leaders to keep watch over your soul.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are obeying your spiritual leaders.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you obey your spiritual leaders and make it a joy for them to watch over your soul.

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

Be – Hebrews 13-7 – A Joy – 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