Devotional Spirituality Study 3

The Contemplative Way

1. Life and Ministry

· How was your week?

· What is God doing around you?

· How did you influence someone this week in their relationship with Christ?

Main Idea

What are the keys to loving God, and how can we cultivate a growing intimacy with him? This section explores what it means to enjoy God and to trust in him. Henry Scougal observed that “the worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love.” We are most satisfied when we seek God’s pleasure above our own, and we gradually become conformed to what we most love and admire.

Overview

Followers of the contemplative approach make the love of God their supreme and unrivaled object of life. The hunger and thirst for righteousness is the soul’s love affair with its “summum bonum,” the “highest good” for which it was created. There will be seasons of dryness and darkness, but when our desire is for God’s manifest presence, the way of the heart will seek his embrace.

Sub-Themes

· Our Image of God: Session 1 & 2

· The Contemplative Way: Sessions 3-5

· Falling in Love with God: Sessions 6-8

Principles and quotes come from Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation by Kenneth Boa

Directions

There are three passages for each week. Read them in light of the Semester Theme and the Week’s Focus found in the boxed section above.

A daily spiritual discipline is to learn to hear God’s voice from his Word. Please don’t look at this as a homework assignment.

Find a quiet place each day to read the passage(s) slowly a couple of times through.

1. Summarize the passage(s). You might want to journal it.

2. What is God saying to you through the passage(s)? (Commands to obey, praise to give, sin to confess, example to follow, etc.) Make note of it to better remember it.

3. What does it mean to fear God? Another way to say it, what does the fear of God look like in a Christ follower’s day?

4. Be prepared to share how some of the Bible passages impacted you in your weekly group meeting. (No question mark needed here)

The key to effective application: Being a group member of like-minded Christ followers for encouragement and accountability.

Psalms 123:1-2

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.

1. Summarize the passage(s). You might want to journal it. The Psalmist on first glance is saying as servants look to the hand of their master for all things, we as servants of the Most High God look to His hand for all things. But, the psalmist doesn’t write we look to God’s hand, but look to the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.

2. What is God saying to you through the passage(s)? (Commands to obey, praise to give, sin to confess, example to follow, etc.) Make note of it to better remember it. He is a God of mercy, we look to Him in desperate need for all things, not to His hands for it, but to His person, His character. He is good and shows loving kindness to those who love Him. The example to follow is to look to God for all things, not to be so independent. The confession is that we act very independently, we live as if we don’t need Him failing to recognize He is the One who has given us the very breath in our lungs. The praise is He is a good, merciful, and loving God who cares for His creation.

3. What does it mean to fear God? Another way to say it, what does the fear of God look like in a Christ follower’s day? We fear because we are in desperate need and fail to see it, helpless and dependent, but see ourselves as strong and in control. We are too comfortable, too settled and life is too easy, we are shocked and confused when discomfort or tragedy breaks in. It actually causes us to question why God would allow such a thing in our life, crazy. The creator God of the universe didn’t call us and save us for comfort, but to be the tip of the spear in His kingdom movement, how could that be comfortable and easy??

4. Be prepared to share how some of the Bible passages impacted you in your weekly group meeting. (No question mark needed here)

Psalms 46:1-7

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

1. Summarize the passage(s). You might want to journal it. God is our refuge, our safe haven, our hiding place so we don’t have to fear life or the troubles in it. There is a place with God, His Holy Habitation, that is unshakable, unmovable, secure and safe and we have been given admittance. The world around us may try to destroy God and His city, but they are nothing, His word shuts them down.

2. What is God saying to you through the passage(s)? (Commands to obey, praise to give, sin to confess, example to follow, etc.) Make note of it to better remember it. This sounds like verses to pray, yes meditate on, but in our minds eye to imagine, to see ourselves in. This is the real world around us, and it is the reality of the spiritual realm.

Praise—God who is in control and our protector, unshakable and immovable, and He is ours and we are His.

Confession—Do I run to You only when I’m in trouble, You allow that, but man do I want to just dwell in the house of the Lord, to feel Your presence and be safe and protected, secure in Your love.

3. What does it mean to fear God? Another way to say it, what does the fear of God look like in a Christ follower’s day? Funny how the Psalmist says we will not fear, but that is only because God is bigger, greater, safer, than all. But we do have awe, reverence, and yes fear of a God who can speak and the world melts, this is not a God to be messing with. I fear I am not appreciating this God enough, loving Him enough, with Him enough.

4. Be prepared to share how some of the Bible passages impacted you in your weekly group meeting. (No question mark needed here)

Psalms 46:8-10

Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

1. Summarize the passage(s). You might want to journal it. The sovereign Lord has done great things. As kingdoms rise and fall it is all at the allowance and cause of our God. The wording is reminiscent of the Exodus, where God delivered His people. So, take time to stop and contemplate God, who He is and what He’s done, for He will be exalted above all, and He is with us and for us.

2. What is God saying to you through the passage(s)? (Commands to obey, praise to give, sin to confess, example to follow, etc.) Make note of it to better remember it. Contemplate, take time, stop to be with God, remember, this God who was and is and is to come. Praise Him, confess we don’t stop and take time enough, rejoice with Him.

3. What does it mean to fear God? Another way to say it, what does the fear of God look like in a Christ follower’s day?

4. Be prepared to share how some of the Bible passages impacted you in your weekly group meeting. (No question mark needed here)

Weekly Group Time

Hearing from God

a. What is God saying through His Word?

b. What passage of Scripture spoke to you? Why?

c. How did it change the way you live?

Talking to God

a. What do we need to say…to God about others and His Kingdom?

b. Personal: From the discussion, what can we pray for you?

c. Ministry: Where do you need God’s help in ministry this week?