UPI Historical Disciplines Study 2

LOOKING BACK (Care and Accountability)

• How was your week (highlights, difficulties, challenges, etc.)?

• In what way did you influence someone this week in their relationship with the King?

Engaging in the Historical Disciplines

WEEK TWO

Facet Overview

Discipline should work in concert with dependence, since grace in not opposed to effort but earning. The multiple benefits of the time-tested disciplines of the faith contribute to spiritual formation in the same way that training prepares us for skillful endeavor.

Sub-Themes

A balanced view of both dependence and discipline. An appreciation for the multiple benefits of the spiritual disciplines.

Personal Reading Time

Find a quiet place each day to slowly read the passage(s) out loud to yourself.

Sit in the silence and listen to what is God saying to you through the passage(s)?

• In light of this weeks sub-themes, what is the author saying?

• What word or phrase gets your attention in this reading?

• What in your life needs to hear this word or phrase right now?

• What is God inviting you to do in response to this word or phrase? Be prepared to share how the passage(s) impacted you with the group (make a note).

This Week’s Readings:

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

• In light of this weeks sub-themes, what is the author saying? We work and at the same time God is working in us. Obedience comes from love, love spurs on obedience, we do because of who we now are and who God is making us to be.

• What word or phrase gets your attention in this reading?

“Work out your own salvation”, not work for it, but work out part II, sanctification. We play a part.

“It is God who works in you’-again sanctification is by grace, God working in us at the same time.

• What in your life needs to hear this word or phrase right now? This is something we always need to be reminded of, but I need to hear this when I doubt or don’t see much evidence of my salvation, or believe it at the deepest levels who I now am. That God loves me, rescued me and is desiring for me to partner with Him to become who only God can make me be.

• What is God inviting you to do in response to this word or phrase? Be prepared to share how the passage(s) impacted you with the group (make a note). Own my part, which is what I should want to do because of who He has made me to be. I am, I am a new creation, I am a child of His, I am a witness, I am a tree that bears fruit, now I must partner with Him to become what I am.

John 15:1–8 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

• In light of this weeks sub-themes, what is the author saying? Fruit comes from a branch that is plugged in or connected to the vine. It is a natural process, like us becoming “fruit” producers, this isn’t necessarily things we do as much as becoming the fruit producing branch, and then the “things we do” flows from that. God’s hand is intimately involved in this process.

• What word or phrase gets your attention in this reading?

“Already you are clean” this in not a salvation justification passage but a salvation sanctification passage.

“Abide in me”, live in and with me, so that you will become.

“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit” bearing fruit is a guarantee to us who abide, God will do this through us.

• What in your life needs to hear this word or phrase right now? Again, the struggle of the will is the desire to unplug, but the desire of the redeemed soul and heart is to abide and become. So, it’s not so much my head, but my “heart” my will. I must tap into what my true desires are, and also make effort to cultivate that.

• What is God inviting you to do in response to this word or phrase? Be prepared to share how the passage(s) impacted you with the group (make a note). To abide, to yes work, but also to rest, this is something that He alone can do. I cannot do this by myself and yet so much of my effort is solo and not in partnership.

1 Peter 2:1–5 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

• In light of this weeks sub-themes, what is the author saying? We must do, “put away” things that get in the way. But the Spirit aides in this process, it’s what we want to do and what He does as well. A newborn natural craves because it knows subconsciously what it needs and wants, the same is to be true of us. If we don’t want this then have we experienced God? Then look what God can and is doing!!

• What word or phrase gets your attention in this reading?

“So put away” again what we and the Spirit must do.

“Crave” an interesting word, something that gnaws at us and must be satisfied, this is the best thing.

“living stones, being built into” this is what God is doing, what a glorious existence and purpose.

• What in your life needs to hear this word or phrase right now? Repeat, all of me, take ownership of this process and figure out why I am not longing more??

• What is God inviting you to do in response to this word or phrase? Be prepared to share how the passage(s) impacted you with the group (make a note). Look to Him, remember Him, create a longing, see how desirable He is and long for more.

Weekly Group Time

LOOKING UP (Scripture and Discussion)

• What did you hear God saying to you through the reading this week?

• What word, phrase or passage got your attention this week? And why?

• How has it changed the way you live or the way that you see the world?

LOOKING FORWARD (Prayer and Commissioning)

• Personal: Based on our time today, how can we pray for you and for one another?

• Mission: How can you influence someone this week in their relationship with the King?

Unlimited Potential, Inc. | 2020