We heard Keith speak yesterday on genuine knowing of the Father. 1 John 1:3 tells us that our fellowship is with the Father and the Son. This fellowship is unique for us as believers because of the gift of the Holy Spirit. As He indwells in someone who has “trusted in Jesus” (see doctrine box), He does many remarkable and predictable things in each of our lives. We are going to spend this week rooted in John’s Gospel listening to Jesus’ description of what the Holy Spirit is doing and providing for each of us!

Conversely, if you have not “trusted in Jesus,” the Holy Spirit does not indwell you and is not doing this work. Because you are sitting here, you’ve heard that Jesus wants a relationship with you personally. Consider KNOWING Him.

Stop, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you from the text. Ask Him to help you engage with your mind and your heart. Remind yourself you are in God’s presence and read the passage; notice how God might be speaking to you through His Word.

Read John 14:1-20

If you peruse the previous chapter(s) of John’s Gospel, you see thatJesus told the disciples some hard things: He is going to die, He is going to be betrayed, and that He is going away.

He then says “Don’t let your hearts be troubled…”

• ŽAs you think about the transition for them in losing Jesus’ physical presence, what kinds of things do you think would “trouble” them?
  
• What are the ways/phrases/truths Jesus uses to comfort them?
  
• What are some things you learn about Jesus’ character from this passage?

Imagine the pain expressed in verse 18 in suddenly becoming an orphan. Confusion. Pain. Fear. Immobilization. We picture children inthis situation and it is gut wrenching. But even as adults, we cling tobeing a part of a family. We can feel adrift without the sense of belonging that comes from a common last name.Ž 

• How has Jesus communicated “belonging” to your heart through this passage?

Read 1 John 1:1-4

Remind yourself you are in God’s presence and read again; notice how God might be speaking to you through His Word.

Dwell on a word or phrase that jumps out at you; how has God’s Word moved you? Ponder and meditate what has connected with your heart or mind; pray to God about what it is that has moved you today.

Read Romans 8 (with special attention on Romans8:35-39) (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

Study this passage and process through the following three questions:

Know(what does the text say about God?)  
Be(what does it say about us?)  
Do(what does it call us to do?)

Also, tomorrow’s sermon will be on 1 John 1:1-7.  Read through it.

Read Isaiah 6:1-8, go slow (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

In the opening 5 chapters of Isaiah the coming judgement (and grace) from God is foreshadowed; this judgement is due to Judah’s sin (there’s a lot of direct and harsh accusations in these opening chapters of Isaiah, for example, see Isaiah 1:21).  Then, in Isaiah 6, God directs/allows Isaiah to observe God’s own holiness; which gives great perspective on both God and ourselves.  From there God commissions Isaiah to GO and engage the people with God’s message.

Study this passage and process through the following three questions:

Know(what does the text say about God?)  
Be(what does it say about us?) 
Do(what does it call us to do?)

Read Micah 6:1-8 (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

Imagine that you are called to appear in court by God for breaching an agreement.  This is what happens to God’s people (specifically the southern kingdom of Judah) in Micah 6.  God presents His case as well as reminds them of His faithfulness, their faithlessness, and then calls them to respond in faith fulness (which is more than mental belief, it’s faith in action).

Study this passage and process through the following three questions:

Know(what does the text say about God?)  
Be(what does it say about us?) 
Do(what does it call us to do?)

Read Luke 18:9-14 (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

Remind yourself you are in God’s presence and read again; notice how God might be speaking to you through His Word. 

Study this passage and process through the following three questions: Know(what does the text say about God?)  
Be(what does it say about us?) 
Do(what does it call us to do?)

Read Jonah ch.4, go slow…

“Read through Jonah 4 again and mark compassion(ate). The Hebrew word for compassionatein Jonah 4:2 is rooted in the idea of the love of a superior, and it can also be translated as “mercy.” The Hebrew word translated “compassion” in Jonah 4:10-11 is “to look on with pity and have mercy.” These two attitudes produce the same result—mercy—but they are rooted in two different motivations.

Both are used of God, so read the following passages and note what you learn about the compassion of God: 

• Deuteronomy 4:31; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Joel 2:13.

In the New Testament, the Greek word also reflects the idea of mercy. 

• Read Romans 9:15; 12:1; Colossians 3:12; James 5:11.

What place, then, should mercy or compassion have in our lives if we are to reflect God’s nature?*

*From Kay Arthur’s “Discovering the God of Second Chances”