Historical Disciplines Study 8

Engaging in the Historical Disciplines Week 8

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?

Week 8 Focus: Celebration and Remembrance

Facet Overview

Discipline should work in concert with dependence, since grace is 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.

A look at some basic Spiritual Disciplines that lead to a mature walk with Christ

Personal Reading Time

Find a quiet place each day to slowly read the passage(s) out loud to yourself. We will read and discuss week 1 together.

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

This Week’s Readings:

Joshua 4:19–24 ESV

The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

In light of this weeks sub-themes, what is the author saying? It is good to set up permanent memorials to the Lord in the places, and for the things that the Lord has done. In part, we do this for our children, and their children, so they can ask what these “stones” mean, and we can tell and retell the great things the Lord has done in our lives and the lives of others throughout history.

What word or phrase gets your attention in this reading?

When your children ask—are our children asking questions? If not could it be that we have never set up permanent memorials as a testimony to the Lord. We are not telling them.

That you may know and fear the Lord your God forever—this is what we want for our children. Israels system was set up for telling and retelling of the greatness of God, and what He did to free them so they could know Him, respect Him, love Him, obey Him.

What in your life needs to hear this word or phrase right now? The part of me that feels that I failed to a degree with my boys, they see the all that the world has to offer them and maybe not enough of the greatness of God and it could be because I didn’t set up permanent memorials. But God, great words, is bigger and greater than my failures, so I start now and trust Him.

What is God inviting you to do in response to this word or phrase? Let go of my guilt and shame and start now, set up a memorial now. But what would this look like? What could be something that is passed down to my grandkids that speaks of the change in direction with God that started with me, and Nicole. A crest maybe??

Be prepared to share how the passage(s) impacted you with the group (make a note).

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

English Standard Version Chapter 11

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In light of this weeks sub-themes, what is the author saying? Jesus initiated a ceremony of remembrance of His death, His broken body and shed blood for us. The wine cup is also used in wedding ceremonies, a covenant agreement, binding. Jesus was initiating the wedding ceremony and the reception and party will be in heaven.

What word or phrase gets your attention in this reading?

This cup is the new covenant in my blood—Jesus first miracle was turning water to wine, a celebratory liquid but one that is synonymous with blood and death as well. This is a double meaning, wine a celebration, and blood, death. His shed blood initiates the new covenant of grace and is reason for celebration.

Proclaim the Lord’s death—this is the crux of the Gospel, what God has done to make us right with Him. Jesus’ death brought us forgiveness and life, hope and a future and this message is what we proclaim, Christ and Him crucified, resurrected and reigning in heaven.

What in your life needs to hear this word or phrase right now? The part of me that needs to remember what Jesus did for me, who I now am, and what I am called to do, to remember and proclaim.

What is God inviting you to do in response to this word or phrase? To remember what He did for me, and that I am His, and so proud to be His that I want to tell others about Him.

Be prepared to share how the passage(s) impacted you with the group (make a note).

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

In light of this weeks sub-themes, what is the author saying? Jesus is alive, He rose from the dead, He appeared to many in body form before His ascension. This is a historical fact, it was never refuted, a body never produced. Not only that but this was in accordance with the scriptures, God had a plan and it was executed in and by Jesus.

What word or phrase gets your attention in this reading?

Of first importance—this message is crucial, we can argue about other issues but not at the expense of this, that Jesus died for sins, was buried, and raised on the third day, all according to the Word and plan of God.

He appeared—His post-resurrection life was not done privately but publically, appearing to those whom He chose to appear, even 500 at one time. They were eyewitnesses of His resurrected self, just go ask them because as of Paul’s writing most were still alive.

What in your life needs to hear this word or phrase right now? The primacy of the message, all messages must revolve around the God of the universe becoming man, living and then dying for His creation, but also rising from the dead and then ascending. Our God, loves, extends mercy and grace, did all that needed to be done for us to be right with God, and is now alive and reigning in heaven.

What is God inviting you to do in response to this word or phrase? Share this message with as many as I can

Be prepared to share how the passage(s) impacted you with the group (make a note).

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