Tuesday (9/3/19)

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”

Monday (9/2/19)

Read Jonah ch.4, go slow…

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. 

  • “What did you learn from how the concept of anger is written about in this passage?  
  • Let’s look at anger a little more closely. Read the following scriptures and summarize what you learn about anger: Galatians 5:19-25; Ephesians 4:26-32; Colossians 3:8; James 1:19-20.
  • What lessons can you draw from these verses and from the book of Jonah?”*

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

Sunday (9/1/19)

Sermon on Jonah ch.4.  Discuss with friends and family the message from today 

  • Is there anything specific that God revealed to you (or reminded you of) during today’s message?
  • Is there any specific response you sense God wants from you?  Write that here and pray/respond about that this week!

Saturday (8/31/19)

Read Acts 3 (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 Jonah 4.  Read through it.

Friday (8/30/19)

Read Acts 2 (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?)

Thursday (8/29/19)

Read Acts 1 (with special attention on v.1-11) (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?)
  • Pray through various parts of this passage.  
    • For example, read v.2, assume that is God speaking, and then pray in response something like, “Jesus, thank you for the Holy Spirit, and being that you are in heaven right now, reigning, I worship you.  You are truly great and wonderful and worthy of my allegiance today”.  Then read v.3, then pray something like, “Jesus, I sometimes have doubts, that’s just the honest truth.  Would you help me…”. v.4, “Holy Sprit, help me wait on You today, really be attentive to your leading and guiding, help me recognize …”

Wednesday (8/28/19)

Read 1 Peter 2 (with special attention on v.11-25) (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

Remember from yesterday, the first part of this chapter is about our identity, and that has to be settled FIRST before we “try” (really it’s about being empowered by the Holy Spirit) to live out the second half of this chapter.  

With that in mind:

  • 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?)