10.31.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Friday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

Philippians 3:12-14

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There’s only one way to get where we are going – and that’s to press on. Paul here expresses beautifully the spirit of God’s faithful servants: God is calling us forward, asking us to live each day like pilgrims on a journey to an eternal destination that we have not yet reached.

• This summer we watched Olympic athletes suffer disappointment one day, but come back to win a gold medal the next. How can your spiritual life be nurtured by their example?
• At times, a church like ours can be tempted to think “We’ve arrived – we’re doing enough.” How can you stay open and expectant to what God wants to do in and through you in the years ahead? As a part of The Church of the Resurrection, how can you support a forward-looking spirit in our church?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

10.30.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Thursday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

Luke 13:18-21

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In these two parables, Jesus speaks to our impatience – we want to see big results immediately. We have the benefit of 2000 years of history; we know the mustard seed grows, and that the yeast works. But sometimes we still need a reminder that God’s kingdom grows one life at a time.

• Jesus told a few people in Jerusalem (his “mustard seed”) that they would reach the whole world. Do you ever feel discouraged by the enormous tasks that still seem to face our church? How do these parables teach us the importance of faith and patience in letting our light shine?
• You may be facing a personal challenge that feels overwhelming, or an area of spiritual growth that seems too much to tackle. What do these parables say about the importance of “taking the next step,” making even small moves forward? Ask God to bless even small advances in your life.

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

10.29.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Wednesday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

Numbers 13:26 – 14:9

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Moving into any future, even God’s future, means facing our fears. As Israel neared the Promised Land, Moses sent 12 men to scout what lay ahead. Ten focused on obstacles and problems, and were terrified; only Caleb and Joshua focused on God’s promise, and pleaded with people to keep moving forward.

• What problems or challenges do you think Resurrection might encounter as we move into the future? How can our church plan wisely, prudently and carefully without falling prey to the kind of fear that could block God’s plans for our future?
• What about your own future – what fears are you facing? What kinds of frontiers do you sense that God might be calling you to cross? How can you develop the kind of faith that Caleb and Joshua showed?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

10.28.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Tuesday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

Acts 1:6-8

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The disciples asked the risen Jesus, in effect, “Lord, where are we going?” (At that time, there were at most a few hundred open followers of Jesus, living in the hostile city of Jerusalem.) And Jesus replied by telling them they were going places they couldn’t even imagine – ultimately, to the whole world!

• Jesus’ followers eventually reached the whole world – but they began where they were, in Jerusalem. How is Resurrection making the Kansas City area better? How are you, as one of God’s followers, involved in making our corner of the world a better place?
• What are some of the ways you’re aware of that Resurrection is extending God’s love to the whole world? Are there ways you would dream that your church would be making the world, and not just our town, a better place five or ten years from now?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

10.27.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Monday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

Matthew 5:14-16

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Again in the third week of this series, we begin by reading Jesus’ words about our mission. Where are we going? Led by the Holy Spirit, we are moving into the world of God’s purposes, where the Holy Spirit bears fruit in our lives and energizes us to be light-bearers who shine for God.

 

 

• Jesus said we are to let our light shine for a specific purpose – so that people who see what we do will praise God. How does that understanding of our purpose shape the way you go about living your life?
• Jesus also said that a city on a hill cannot be hidden. When people see you and your day-to-day actions, do they see evidence of God’s presence in your life? Do they see you using God’s gifts to be a blessing to others?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

 

10.26.08

Use this weekly prayer to help you begin your time with God each day.

 

 

Lord Jesus, you never seemed to get stuck in nostalgia – you always looked to the future, and so did your servants who wrote the Bible. Shine your light into my life, draw me into the future you have planned, and use me to bring light to the people in my world. I want to live for you and by your power. Amen.

Click here to download a printable version of this week’s GPS.

10.25.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Saturday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

Ephesians 3:8-21

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For those who are new to our church, the vision of ‘renewing the church’ may not address an obvious need. These verses define why we care about this. Paul envisions the church as a community filled with divine power and vitality, embracing the mystery of God and being embraced by God’s expansive love.

• It’s exciting to see our congregation grow—but even if we drew three or four times as many people, we’d only reach a fraction of the Kansas City Metro area. When Paul prayed that God be glorified “in the church,” his vision was world-wide. How can we help other congregations find renewal?
• In verse 10 Paul says God’s wisdom has many forms, or is widely varied. The Greek word he uses means “multi-hued.” How, if at all, have you seen the breadth and depth of God’s wisdom shown through different styles and approaches in various congregations?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

10.24.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Friday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

Luke 4:16-21

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In this passage Jesus defined his mission, using Isaiah 61 as his lead Scripture. Transforming our community is part of our vision at Resurrection—because it was Jesus’ vision. We believe we are called to a transforming mission because we seek to follow in Jesus’ steps.

• The Isaiah verses Jesus read have a lovely, poetic ring. But how, if at all, do they help you define a God-given answer to “Why am I here?” in the gritty, day-to-day realities of life? What can you do each day to live into the meaning of these words?
• Do you have a personal sense of purpose that’s as clear as the one Jesus showed? If so, write it down for yourself below. If not, what steps (e.g. regular prayer, Bible study, conversation with other Christians) can you take to begin defining God’s purpose for your life?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

10.23.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Thursday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

Zechariah 7:2-10

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Back from 70 years of exile in Babylon, Israel asked God if they should continue the religious rituals they’d been practicing for years. Through the prophet Zechariah, God asked about motives—was it really for God that they practiced these rituals? Then Zechariah told them what God wanted most.

• What would you list as the highest priorities, the most important things for your church to get right? Compare them to verses 9 and 10, where Zechariah lists things he said were most important to God. How do our lives measure up to what God wanted of Israel?
• What would you list as the highest priorities in your personal life? Are you just, merciful and compassionate? What is your attitude toward widows, the fatherless, foreigners and the poor?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

10.22.08

Here are the daily scripture and reflection questions for Wednesday. Click on the scripture link below to access today’s reading, then take time to reflect on the questions below.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

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With eloquence and passion, Paul lays out his God-given mission, which echoes through the centuries to define why we are here. God is not angry; God loves us and has reconciled us to himself. Our mission is to be reconciled ourselves and be agents of reconciliation for others.

• Christ died, Paul says, so that those who live should no longer live solely for themselves. How does healthy “self care” prepare you to love your neighbor in healthy ways? What forces tug at you, even as a member of an outwardly-focused church, to live for yourself?
• The Message paraphrases verse 21 as “We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” Do you trust that God is eager to be friends with you and those you know? How can this trust shape the good news you share with others?

Read insights and reflections from today’s passage by our pastors at gpsinsights.wordpress.com