GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Saturday, October 30

Acts 4:32-35 

Material blessings come and go—this thriving Jerusalem church later needed financial help, and Paul took up an offering in Greece for their benefit. But spiritual blessings are “for keeps.” Isn’t it great to see what God can do through people, then and now, who are deeply committed to God?

• What parallels do you see between the early Jerusalem church described in this passage and the spiritual energy and enthusiasm seen at FPC? What do you believe are the driving forces that create these parallels? 

• Acts says these Christians were of one heart, but many signs show us that the phrase does not mean they always agreed! What do you think the phrase means? How much spiritual power could be set loose if, at First Presbyterian Church and beyond, Christians again became of one heart? How might that happen?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Friday, October 29

2 Corinthians 8:7-12 

When we follow Jesus, we’re committing ourselves to follow a Lord who embodied self-sacrificing love. For Jesus’ followers, the central spiritual issue is to determine how best we can serve, how best we can give ourselves away for God’s kingdom.

• More than anything a Mastercard can buy Jesus’ gift of himself for us is priceless! How, if at all, do you express your gratitude to God for that gift? How, if at all, do you tell others about your gratitude for what God has done? 

• As you reflect on (and perhaps reset) your life priorities, examine how financial goals or hopes for certain items (house, car, etc.) rank on your list compared to “being generous.” Are you satisfied with your priorities? Is God? What inner changes, if any, are needed to reset your life priorities?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Thursday, October 28

1 Kings 17:8-16 


Today we read another story about a widow who took a leap of faith to honor God and to bless one of God’s servants. She had very little, but her humble gift honored God, and God miraculously multiplied what she gave in ways that brought life for Elijah, her son and herself.

• This widow’s “leap of faith” moved her from being resigned to dying of starvation (verse 12) to renewed life and service. Have you ever been scared to follow God’s call, but as you look back, you say “I’m so glad I did”? If so, share that story with someone else today. 

• In what ways, if any, are you “stretching” or taking a risk to follow God? How do you feel about your decision(s)? What outcome(s) do you hope for, and what results, if any, are you seeing?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Wednesday, October 27

John 4:4-11 

The Good News of the gospel often faces difficulty and discouragement on all sides. When we do what God calls us to do, it is not always popular with others. But God promises that as we offer our best to serve God and bless others, the Holy Spirit will help us overcome any hurdles we meet.

• The Christian message is truly “counter-cultural”—it calls us to live with reference to forces and values that exist before and beyond our culture. What are some of the ways, if any, that you have overcome negative cultural habits and patterns because of your faith in Jesus? 

• What culture-based fears and pressures are keeping you from offering your best to God? How do the principles in this passage offer you strength to resist those pressures?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Tuesday, October 26

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

In the early church, Christians gave generously to meet one another’s needs, and in this way they built up the church. Circumstances are different today, but it’s as true as ever that we are connected, that each of us is important as we serve God in the way we were made to serve, and that we need each other.

• In what way(s) are you a functioning member of the body of Christ at First Presbyterian Church? 

• What role(s) do you intend to play in the body during the coming year? 

• God’s concern for how we manage our finances is only one aspect of a broader divine interest in your whole life. 

• What resources besides money do you have that can serve and bless others? How, if at all, are you allowing God to guide you in your use of those resources?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Monday, October 25

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 

In setting the values that guide our lives, we must always keep in mind that money is a means to an end, not an end in itself. That is why Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive (see Acts 20:35). There is a joy in generosity, in exercising love and compassion for others.

• It’s Monday—no one is likely to pass you an offering plate today. Where do you have an opportunity to show a generous spirit on this Monday? How will you take that opportunity? 

• At the end of this passage, Paul expresses thanks for God’s indescribable gift. What do you think he means by that? Do you have a deep sense of gratitude for what God has done for you, and in your life? Why or why not?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Saturday, October 23

Luke 9:25-26

Jesus had a remarkable knack for getting at what was essential with a minimum of words—and he certainly did that with this pointed question. Open your heart to Jesus’ question, asking God to help you accurately value what’s at stake in your daily decisions.

• Do you know who the “real you,” the person God intends you to be, is? Have you learned how to locate God’s “true north” for your life, or do the expectations and approval of others drive many of your choices? Listen inwardly for God’s direction as you pray today. 

• Review your personal goals in the light of Jesus’ words. What “price tags” are attached to each of the goals? Are they all prices that you are spiritually wise to pay? How will they shape the legacy you will leave behind at the end of your life?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Friday, October 22

Psalm 25:1-7

What we leave behind matters—and, if we’re honest, we know that our moral legacy will not sparkle in God’s sunlight, totally free of defects and failures. The psalmist celebrates the fact that, in this crucial respect, we serve a forgetful God, one whose grace blots out the shame and the failures from our life. What are the chapters of your life that, like the psalmist, you want God to forget?

• Have you ever talked to God about them, owning your failure and asking for forgiveness? If not (or if some of them still haunt you with guilt), make that a focus of your prayer today. 

• As he asks God to forget the failures of the past, the psalmist also requests that God will show the right path, the ways of living that God desires. In what decisions do you need God’s guidance today? Are you open to doing what God wants you to do in those areas?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Thursday, October 21

2 Corinthians 2:14 - 3:3

By many human standards, Paul left nothing much behind when his life ended: no property, no financial assets, not even a spotless legal record! But in this passage, he shows that he evaluated his life by a different measure—the people whose lives he had touched.

• Who has been a “Paul” in your life—a person who has shaped you spiritually, and whose sincerity and example have drawn you to Christ? If that person is still living, when did you last express your appreciation? 

• Who are the people in whom you are investing yourself—family, co-workers, friends? In what ways do you seek to make sure your impact on their lives could be described, in Paul’s image, as a life-giving fragrance?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Wednesday, October 20

Matthew 7:15-23

What an animal leaves behind matters little, except that it shows the animal’s feeding habits and well-being. Similarly, Jesus said we learn about a tree’s inner makeup from the fruit it bears—and, in the end, the key spiritual reality for all of us is not how good we look publicly, but whether we know God or not.

• We often read these verses mainly in reference to religious leaders who fail morally—but the principle works the other way, too. Are there people you have learned to trust more as you have seen the fruit God bears in their life and work? What kind of “fruit” do you find most persuasive? 

• In verse 22, Jesus notes that certain kinds of “showy” actions do not necessarily show that a person knows God. How closely does your inner life align with the public “face” you show at church? What makes authenticity more valuable than outward show in God’s sight?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Tuesday, October 19

Luke 12:13-21

“What will I leave behind?” is a challenging, significant question. In this passage, Jesus addressed one of the most common human answers to that question, and pointed to the tragic triviality of a life lived in order to leave behind primarily a big collection of money and “stuff.”

• When public figures discuss their financial dealings, they regularly use the word “security.” The Contemporary English Version translates verse 15 as “Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe.” What’s your definition of “security”? Do Jesus’ words challenge or affirm your definition?

• Who have you known who, as far as you could tell, had a “rich” relationship with God? What could you observe that helped that person build that kind of relationship? What impact, if any, has that person’s example had on your own spiritual life?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Monday, October 18

Acts 9:36-42

There are many ways of blessing others. Tabitha (Dorcas—meaning “gazelle” – in Greek) was apparently not much of a preacher, but God equipped her to sew, and gave her a heart for the poor. She was clearly known by what she left behind—the “show and tell” time in verse 39 is a deeply touching scene.

• To what extent do you think behavior like Tabitha’s is a matter of natural inclination, and to what extent do you believe it reflects intentional moral choices? What choices are you making to bless others with whatever talents and gifts you have been given? 

• God used both Peter, the apostle, preacher and healer, and Tabitha, the seamstress with a compassionate heart, to lead many to believe in Jesus. What role(s) has God equipped you to play in the work of the gospel? How committed are you to doing your part in helping others to believe?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Friday, October 15

Psalm 84:1-12

God provides for the animals—but they do not sit back passively, waiting for food to drop in front of them. God asks us, too, to be involved in the process of feeding our spiritual life—to earnestly seek God’s presence through spiritual practices like Bible reading, prayer and regular worship. 

* Mark Twain once said he didn’t know why Christians wanted to spend eternity in heaven when they could barely stand to spend one hour a week in church! How does your heart respond to being in God’s house? What might increase your delight in worship and praise? [One idea: consider arriving 5-10 minutes early for worship, so that you can prepare your heart and mind.] 

* Do you find that Bible reading, prayer and worship strengthen you spiritually? If so, how do you experience that strength? If not, how might you change your attitudes, or the ways in which you practice these things, so that they could be a greater source of strength?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Thursday, October 14

Psalm 42:1-8

No animal survives long unless it knows where and when to find good watering holes. The psalmist compares his thirst for God to a deer’s thirst for water. No matter what we face, he says, God’s love stays with us, like a song wafting through even the darkest night.
* How great is your thirst for God? What things have you noticed that tend to increase or decrease your interest in being in God’s presence?
* For the ancient Hebrews, the waves of the ocean symbolized the frightening, disorderly forces of chaos in life. What breakers are sweeping over your life today? Do they tend to drive you away from God, or to make you want to seek God more intently than ever?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Wednesday, October 13

Matthew 18:1-14

We are charmed when we see or hear about how elephants and other animals shelter and protect the youngest members of their herd. Jesus said a similar concern for the young and the spiritually vulnerable is a characteristic of God’s family.
* Occasionally we welcome young children into our church family through baptism. What responsibility do you feel for the ways the church influences the lives of those children? In what ways can you bless and support the children of our church?
* Was Jesus only concerned with people’s age in these verses, or was he also addressing their level of spiritual maturity and strength? What are some steps you could take, or some personal qualities you could focus on, to ensure that you don’t cause new believers and seekers to stumble?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Tuesday, October 12

1 John 4:7-21

Our connection with other members of God’s family, says John’s letter, runs much deeper than the instinctive “herd” response of animals. As we grow in our ability to love one another, we are reflecting God’s actions toward us in Jesus Christ.
* Based on this passage, how do you believe John defined “love”? In what ways is the picture of love these verses paint different from the ways “love” is defined in much popular music, at the multiplex, or in People magazine? 

* Of the many challenging sentences in this passage, which one speaks most deeply to you? How will you think and act differently today in the light of that sentence? Speak your intention(s) in prayer, and ask God to help you live into them.

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Monday, October 11

Ephesians 4:1-6

As we observe how African animals live, we see the tendency of most species to face life together rather than separately. Though our culture often glorifies rugged individualism, the animals can show us the truth of this passage in Ephesians: unity and peace are important, to God and to us.
This passage urges us to be humble, gentle and patient. 

• How do those qualities relate to effectiveness in your daily work? Do you want those qualities to define your favorite sports team or political candidate? What makes these qualities important to a Christian?
Different views and experiences often cause disunity in the Christian community. 

• In what does this passage ground our unity? Is it possible to worship one God, serve one Lord, be led by one Spirit and still disagree with one another? If unity doesn’t mean agreement on everything, what does it mean?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Saturday, October 9

Personal Application: 

How has God spoken to you this week? What will you do about it? Take time today to write it all down. Then share it with someone who will support, encourage, and perhaps help you as you follow through with this plan.

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Friday, October 8

Acts 2:1-47 

This passage describes the birth of the Church as it developed from a small group of disciples into a widespread and growing movement that would change the world. Yet we read that people on the outside made fun of what they saw happening, saying that the disciples were just drunk or crazy. That's when Peter stepped forward to explain what was happening.

At times those who are following Jesus, being faithful to God, seem out of place or even out of sync with the world around them. They might even seem crazy to other Christians. In those times, we know that God has sent the Holy Spirit to help us clearly explain what is happening.

It took a lot of courage for Peter to stand up and give this speech, but it is important to recognize that his courage was only a small piece of the puzzle. More importantly, he was open to letting the Spirit direct his words and actions.

In what ways are you called to tell the story, to explain to others how God is working through Christians? If you have sensed that God is calling you to take some kind of action this week, how might you explain it to those around you?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Thursday, October 7

Matthew 2:1-12 

Does this story sound familiar? If you've been using this guide all week, you might recognize that there are similarities between this story of the birth of Jesus and the story of the birth of Moses. Both stories describe how gentiles (non-Israelites) acted in resistance to the path of least resistance, ultimately preserving the life of a child who would become a redeemer of the people.

What might God be calling you to resist? What do you see happening in your daily life that tugs at your heart, calling you to action? Perhaps God is calling you to follow your heart, as difficult as it may be.

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Wednesday, October 6

Jeremiah 25:1-14 

God used Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, eventually bringing them to the “Promised Land.” Early in the journey, the people were constantly complaining and longing to go back to Egypt. They seemed to prefer the oppression they had known to the freedom they didn't know or understand. Generation after generation the Israelites would follow God faithfully for a short time, only to turn away again and again. They had been warned not to imitate the people in the surrounding areas. They had been warned that doing so would inevitably lead them into a life of disobedience, breaking their part of God's covenant relationship with them. God repeatedly sent prophets to warn the people that if they didn't get back on track they would wind up oppressed yet again in a foreign land.

For the Israelites, the path of least resistance seemed to be conforming to the ways of all the people around them. That meant worshipping false gods and adopting customs that were contradictory to their covenant with the God who brought them out of Egypt. Instead of being unique in their faithfulness to this God, they chose to get on the interstate to cruise along.

Just as many interstates direct traffic away from or along the outskirts of a city, this interstate directed the Israelites away from the one true God.

Think of an example of this kind of interstate in your daily life. In what ways does the path of least resistance lead you away from faithfully following in the way of Jesus?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Tuesday, October 5

Exodus 2:11 – 3:22 

Yesterday we read about several women whose combined actions thwarted Pharaoh's attempt to wipe out the Israelites. As a result, a baby Israelite boy, Moses, was not only rescued, but brought up as a member of Pharaoh's family. This grandson of Pharaoh, could easily have kept his cover. He could have overlooked the injustices he saw all around him. Instead, he dared to intervene, killing an Egyptian, and ultimately had to sneak out of town in order to survive.

We know how the story ends. Moses ends up leading the Israelites out of Egypt. But what happens in the long time before Moses returned to Egypt? Among other experiences, he encounters God and his life is changed forever. During his years in Midian, he picked up new skills that would shape his future leadership of the Israelites.

Along life's journey, we don't always leave the interstate intentionally. Sometimes circumstances cause us to take an unplanned pitstop or exit ramp. As you look at your own life, what unplanned pitstops have you taken? How have these experiences shaped your life? How have you encountered God?

If you can't think of an example, perhaps it's about time to get off the interstate and take a breather. Have there been times when you should have taken an exit ramp or an unplanned pitstop, but didn't? What current circumstances might be good reasons to get off the interstate for awhile?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Monday, October 4

Exodus 2:1-10

At the invitation of their brother Joseph, and of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt), the other 11 sons of Jacob (God's nickname for him was Israel) and their families moved to Egypt in order to escape a widespread famine. More than 400 years later, these families had grown so much that it became an increasing concern for a new Pharaoh (who apparently blew off history class). Out of fear that the Israelites could pose a threat to the Egyptian national security, Pharaoh decided to make them forced laborers (slaves). Yet the Israelites continued to grow in number, and Pharaoh continued to monitor this national security issue. Eventually, he even ordered that all the newborn baby boys be thrown into the Nile, presumably to be drowned.

If everything had gone according to Pharaoh's plan, his national security issue might have been effectively resolved. Yet there were some who dared to resist and/or bend the rules. They chose to “get off the interstate”, the path of least resistance, in search of an alternate route.

Interstates are designed to help people travel without dealing with time consuming, annoying obstacles like traffic lights, school zones, and busy intersections. There is no doubt that interstates have their advantages, but if we use them exclusively, we can get a distorted view of reality.

This week, consider what kind of route you are traveling. Are you going through life consistently choosing the path of least resistance? Are you cruising through life on the interstate? How might interstate travel color your reality?

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Saturday, October 2

1 Timothy 6:6-10

In the last few months, the news has been filled with words like “worry,” “fear,” “uncertainty” and “trouble.” This passage was written by a traveling preacher and tent-maker (Acts 18:1-4) with little money and no retirement plan—yet he talks (again) about “contentment”!

• Do you find the principle Paul states in verse 7 a source of contentment, or does it trigger other feelings in you? What attitudes and values in our world need to be reset in order for that principle to become a cause for contentment?
• Have you at times in your life felt trapped in “the rat race”? What is godly contentment worth to you (or, if you don’t have it, what would it be worth to you)? Open your heart to God in prayer, and ask for divine help in incorporating contentment and true joy into all of your life.

New Series starts tomorrow

GPS - Grow, Pray, Study Weekly Guide: Friday, October 1

Philippians 4:10-13

From a prison cell (Philippians 1:13), Paul reflects on his inner response to gifts he  had received from the Christians in the city of Philippi. He gives us some challenging and profound insights to consider as we think about the relationship of “needs” and “wants” in our own lives.

• Paul does not glorify poverty or hunger in these verses—he expresses heartfelt gratitude for what the Philippians had sent. How did those gifts represent God’s care for Paul’s needs? In what ways are you able to be God’s physical presence to bless someone else who is in need? 
• Paul had learned to be content in every situation. How does he express his “secret” (verse 13)? How, if at all, have you learned to take strength from God’s presence with you when you deal with scarcity? Is it difficult to find contentment when dealing with plenty? If so, how does God help?