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Think about a time when you felt totally, completely, wholly loved. What was that experience like? Why do you think that memory has stuck with you so strongly through the years? 

When Jesus interacted with people, there’s no denying that He had a tremendous impact on their lives. Those He healed were immediately freed from a burden that may have been hindering them for years. Those who struggled with unforgiveness were challenged to forgive those who had wronged them. Those who had sinned against others and were experiencing shame were challenged to receive forgiveness. In short, those who listened to His teachings remembered the stories and illustration He used for years.

Some would’ve taken the opportunity to compare His teaching to the Old Testament, only to discover that His life completely adhered to the most important law – the law of love. 

Today, write out your own definition of the word love. Then spend some time reviewing some of the passages you’ve read this week. In what ways is your definition of love similar to or different from the life and ministry of Jesus? 

READING & JOURNALING:

     MARK 2:18-3:6

In what ways is your definition of love similar to or different from the life and ministry of Jesus? 

What is one way you will adhere to the law of love today?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, as I wrote out my own definition of the word love today, I acknowledge that it still felt somewhat incomplete. It’s difficult to define such a complex word in just a few words. However, I continue to realize how Jesus lived out of the law of love in every circumstance. Help me continue to be like Him and to reflect His love upon a broken world. I pray in His holy name. Amen.

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If you read through the Gospels carefully, you’ll discover that people respond to Jesus in a number of different ways. Some were attracted to His teaching. He showed tremendous care and compassion toward those who were beat down and despised and they eagerly listened to His teaching. Others were more ambivalent. They had likely heard a number of good teachers throughout their lives, yet didn’t have a strong desire to listen to or apply the principles from the teachings they heard. 

But there was another group of people who responded to His teaching quite harshly. They believed that Jesus was breaking God’s laws and not upholding them. Following and obeying the law was most important to them. 

Jesus, however, never did break God’s law. Instead, He practiced living out the principles of God’s law in the manner it was intended to be lived out. Not as a checklist, but as a path to overcome the consequences of sin and death. The result is extraordinary. Jesus healed people of their physical and spiritual pain. And their lives were never the same again. 

READING & JOURNALING:

     MARK 2:1-17

What sticks out to you from this passage? 

What areas of your life do you consider to be healthy? Do you have any you consider to be sick (Mark 2:17)? What steps will you take today to be in good health emotionally and spiritually? Be specific. 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, it’s clear from the Gospels that Jesus was, and is, One who heals. The healing He provides may be physical, but the real healing is a spiritual one. Today, I simply ask that You help me to remember that I’ve received a tremendous spiritual healing and I can cling to it in every circumstance. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Imagine for a moment that you’ve just finished a very busy day. You were on your feet for 16 or more hours. You interacted with hundreds of people, each of whom was vying for your time and asking if you could help them in some way. Finally, the day comes to an end and you quickly fall into a deep sleep. 

How would you begin the next day? Would you choose to sleep in? Would you plan to get up at the normal hour but take the day nice and slow? 

The above scenario was common during the life and ministry of Jesus. But on more than one occasion, He responded by getting up early the following day and then seeking out an isolated place to pray. He wanted to eliminate any possible distractions so He could spend some one-on-one time with his heavenly father. 

As you read today, take some time to think about why Jesus sought out an isolated place to pray. Similarly, take some time to identify any distractions that may be hindering your prayer life. 

READING & JOURNALING:

     MARK 1:35-45

Why do you think Jesus got up early to seek out an isolated place to pray? 

What are some things that are distracting you from spending quality time with God in prayer? In what ways would you benefit from regularly spending time alone in prayer? Be specific.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, Your Word says that each and every moment of my life ought to be in prayer – in close communion with You. Today, may I recognize Your gracious presence in every area of my life. I also pray that I’m able to easily recognize Your voice and be comforted by Your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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A.W. Tozer once wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

If you dig through the layers of this statement you’ll recognize that it has profound implications on your day-to-day life. The most important thing about you all boils down to what comes into your mind when you think about God. 

So…what thoughts do come into your mind when you think about God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)? If you had to narrow it down to just two or three words, what would you say? 

The unfortunate truth is that for many of us, we see and think about God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) through the lens of our culture. Your family of origin, your childhood church experiences, the entertainment industry, all impacts what you think about when you think about God. Much of it may be accurate. But some of it may be woefully inaccurate. 

As we begin this new message series, consider this: What is your understanding of God? Is it from your culture or from the Scriptures? As you read today, begin to expand your understanding of God. 

READING & JOURNALING:

     MARK 1:21-34

If you needed to use just two or three words to share your understanding of God, what words would you choose? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that my culture likely has a greater impact on my view of You than I may realize. As I read through passages in the Gospel of Mark this week, I simply pray that my understanding of who You are will become more and more aligned with the Scriptures. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Have you ever wanted to get away? Have a fresh start? You’re certainly not alone. 

Negative experiences and trauma are unfortunate realities of the broken world in which we live. Sometimes we just want to run and get away from it all. And we’ll go to big lengths to make it happen. We may do this by intentionally avoiding someone who has hurt us or someone we’ve hurt. Trying out a new job. Some may even move to another community in order to have a fresh start. 

But unfortunately, running away from past hurts or mistakes isn’t helpful or healthy. Running away simply doesn’t work. 

There’s a similar theme woven throughout a number of stories in the Old Testament. Somebody is clearly running away from their past when a wise person challenges them with two questions: Where have you come from? Where you are going?

These questions may seem simple, but there’s tremendous wisdom in them. They provide opportunities to confront the traumatic experiences of the past. They provide opportunities to heal. They provide opportunities to grow. 

READING & JOURNALING:

GENESIS 16:8, JOHN 16:33

Where have you come from? What negative or traumatic experiences have led you to want to have a fresh start?

Is there anything you’re still running from today?  

Extra: During Sunday’s message, Pastor Justin mentioned this scene from The Chosen, which is a creative telling of the story that occurs in John 4. Feel free to watch it by clicking here.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I confess that I don’t like to think about some aspects of my past. There’s a fear that the pain of some events may overwhelm me, and my life already feels overwhelming. But I’m beginning to see that ignoring these events isn’t helping. So today I pray that you will help me to see these events through fresh eyes. I also pray that I will regularly remember that You have overcome the world, and I can rest in You in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

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Chances are, you already know that Real Relationships are difficult. So how can we go about loving God and others well? 

First, recognize the barriers that are getting in the way of you being able to connect with God and others. While there may be many, here are three that were addressed in a recent message at South Ridge Church.

Question: What’s getting in the way of you being able to connect with God and others? 

Barrier #1: Searching for your identity outside of Christ.

According to Henri Nouwen, the 3 biggest lies we can believe about where to find our identity are: 

• I am what I do. 
• I am what others say or think about me. 
• I am what I have. 

For example: 

I am what I do – My job or my career defines me. I’m good at it. I spend 45-50 hours (or more) a week focusing on that, so I’m really, really good at it. I don’t make time to think about connecting with God and others, because I’m not good at that. But I am good at what I do, so I’ll not only focus my energy there, but I’ll let my work define who I am. Or…

I am what others say or think about me – My family tells me who I am and what I’m supposed to say, think, or believe. As long as my spouse, kids, boss, friends, and/or family think well of me, then that’s where I’ll find my identity. 

I am what I have – Whether it’s a house, car, family, spouse, kids, personal appearance, the nicest golf clubs, a swim membership, another pair of shoes, a new computer, or anything else. We can go to what we have for our identity.

Question to consider: Where do you most go to find your identity?

Practical Application: Find at least five Scripture passages that clearly say who God says you are, write them down, and read them several times a day until you begin to actually believe them.

Barrier #2: Our opinions of others and/or their behavior.

In Everybody Always, Bob Goff writes, “God makes people, and people make issues, but people aren’t issues. They’re not projects either. People are people.” 

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

What if you don’t have people you would refer to as enemies? Perhaps the best step is to think of those you often disagree with, or as Bob Goff says, those “who are flat out wrong about more than a couple of things.” Surely we all have others in our lives that fall into these categories. And one way to love them is to truly believe that they’re doing the best they can.

Question to consider: In what ways would your life be different if you believed that people, in general, are doing the best they can?

Practical Application: Write down the names of 1-3 people you don’t understand or often disagree with, and then think of at least one way to love each of them over the next week. Then think of at least one way to love each of them the following week. And then the next. And then the next. And the next. And keep doing that until you get to a point of seeing them as a person, and not an issue. 

If that seems like an unrealistic step for you, then write down the names of 1-3 people you don’t understand or often disagree with, and beside their name write the words, “is doing the best they can.” Try it. See what happens. It may take days, weeks, months, or even years. But follow through with this exercise every day and over time, you’ll find that maybe you don’t misunderstand them or disagree with them as much as you thought you did. You’ll begin to see them a bit differently. You’ll begin to see them a bit more like God sees them. 

Barrier #3: Lack of delighting in others as Christ does.

Author Larry Crabb writes in his book, Connecting, that we connect with others by:

• Letting people know we delight in them as Christ does
• Eagerly looking for the goodness in someone’s heart
• Remembering that it’s the kindness of God that leads to repentance and healing

Colossians 1:28-29 (NIV) He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Research indicates that for relationships to work well, Appreciations need to outweigh Criticisms by a ratio of at least 7:1.

Question to consider: Do you find yourself sharing more appreciations, or more criticisms?

Practical Application: Keep count this week of the number of appreciations you share. Pick 1-3 people, and see if you can share something you delight in them at least 7 times more than you can share a criticism with them. 

Take time over the coming weeks to really think about the above questions and follow through on the Practical Application suggestions. Chances are, you’ll begin to experience tremendous fruit in your relationships with God and others.

Well, I’ve talked with a lot of normal, everyday, real life, people who have attempted a “Read through the Bible in a Year” plan, and were not able to complete it. When asked why they weren’t able to complete it, the two most common responses I’ve heard through the years include:

Because I’ve heard responses such as these many times through the years, I wanted to offer some insight that may help.

SUGGESTIONS FOR ENGAGING WITH THE SCRIPTURES:

One solution to this is to read through the Bible chronologically. There are many chronological reading plans available, but this one is probably the simplest one for those reading through the Bible for the first time. If you read through the Bible in this way, you’ll begin to see some passages tied together in a way you may not have noticed before.

Another possible solution is to use a Reading Plan that doesn’t focus on the entire Bible. The F260 Bible Reading Plan is one that focuses on the foundational passages of the Bible in 260 daily readings. So those passages in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy that may seem confusing…likely aren’t included in this plan.

3. Don’t beat yourself up if you fall behind.

Picture this. You’re binge watching a TV series such as The Mandalorian on Disney+. You have a goal to finish the first two seasons within two weeks. But something comes up and you’re only able to get through the first half of Season 2 by the end of your initial goal. Do you give up and say, “Well, I didn’t complete it before I wanted to, so I’m not going to go back and watch the final episodes of Season 2”? I mean really, you know you’re going to finish it, right?

Here’s the deal – there is no hard and fast rule saying you have to complete a “One Year Reading Plan” within a year. These plans are simply a guide to help you follow a systematic plan to read through the entire Bible. As I noted above, I’m just now nearing the end of a plan to read through a specific Study Bible and it’s taken me three years to do it. I’ve pushed pause on the reading plan a few times to focus some energy studying out other topics and passages. But I didn’t give up on completing the plan.

So yes, there are benefits to engaging with the Scriptures on a regular basis. And yes, most people I know who read the Bible at least 5-6 days a week can’t imagine not reading it. But don’t give up just because you fall behind on your goal. Keep reading. Get to know God. Get to better understand who He has made you to be. And continue to experience the full life He desires you to live.

4. Bonus: Journal what you’re learning.

Choosing to journal will undoubtedly extend the amount of time you need each day to engage with the Scriptures. But in my experience, it helps to better process and reflect on what I’ve read and engage with the text more fully.

Personally, I often type my journals into an app called Day One. It’s my go-to software on my computer and phone for journaling. But I occasionally use pen and paper to really slow my mind down, as I can sometimes more fully reflect on what I’ve read when I’m not sitting behind a computer screen.

Outside of reading the Scriptures, I’ve also discovered that journaling helps me reflect on other areas in my life, and to identify the positive things that happen throughout each day.

If you’re not used to journaling, here are some steps you may find helpful as you begin to engage with the Scriptures more regularly.

Do you have another tip that wasn’t covered above? Feel free to leave a comment and let us know!

Think about this: How clear are you on your biggest convictions in life? Do you know exactly what you believe and why you believe it? Do you know what your preferences are and what your boundaries are? If you’re anything like me, it takes time to think through questions such as these. But thinking through them for just 10-15 minutes a day often proves very helpful. It’ll take time (weeks, months, and maybe even years), but a little bit of intentional journaling/thinking every day will help you track your growth in ways you may never expect. If you’re not used to journaling on a regular basis, consider trying it for two to three weeks and see what happens.

Below are some steps / questions you can walk through to ensure you’re thinking through life’s challenges in a healthy way. There are other methods as well, but consider this a starting point:

Journaling Recommendation #1: 

• • Begin with 3 positives from the day
  • After writing out 3 positives of the day, write about anything else on your mind. 
  • Oftentimes, the four questions (1) What am I sad about? (2) What am I mad about? (3) What am I anxious about? (4) What am I glad about? Are good questions to consider. 

 

Journaling Recommendation #2: 

• • Begin with 3 positives from the day, then focus on one or two of the following questions: 
    • • Where do my thoughts on self-worth come from? If they’re negative thoughts, what Scripture verses speak against these lies?
      • Why do I feel like I’m not good enough? What Scripture verses speak against these lies?
      • What, specifically, do I love about my spouse, kids, others – emotionally? spiritually? physically? etc.? 
      • What healthy / unhealthy thoughts did I have today? How can I replace the unhealthy ones with healthy ones tomorrow? 
      • What healthy / unhealthy behaviors did I have today? How can I replace the unhealthy ones with healthy ones tomorrow?

 

Journaling Recommendation #3: 

• • Begin with 3 positives from the day and then focus on one or two of the following questions: 
    • • What are the 2-3 things most getting in the way of me growing in my relationship with God? 
      • What are the 2-3 things most getting in the way of me growing in my relationship with my spouse (or kids, others)? 
      • What are the 2-3 things most getting in the way of me knowing who God has made me to be? 
      • What steps can I begin to take to overcome these barriers? And who can help keep me accountable to ensure I take these steps? 

 

Journaling Recommendation #4: 

• • Read Scripture and answer (1) What am I learning about the nature and character of God? (2) What have I learned over the past week (or month) about myself? 
  • Note: In my own life, I’ve written out 3-5 Biblical principles and/or Scripture verses that I regularly repeat to myself as I wrestle with my own unhealthy fears. You may likely find it helpful to do something similar.

 

 

Today, we at SRC began a new message series titled I Wish Someone Had Told Me…

This series will be focusing on topics such as, I Wish Someone Had Told Me…

• How harmful judgmental thoughts can be. 
• What forgiveness is, what it isn’t, and how to practice it. 
• How much envy impacts our lives. 
• How much shame impacts our lives. 
• What it actually means to live in the Kingdom of God. 
• That not all anger is bad or sinful. 
• How to grieve. 

As I (Justin) mentioned in the message this morning (July 26), this first message on the topic of Judgment was difficult to write. I felt like there was so much more that could’ve been said. For those interested in digging a little deeper into this topic, here are some steps you can take this week.

1. Follow through on the end-message questions to consider. Give 10-15 minutes a day to follow-through on your answers to #1 and #3. Also consider specific ways a mentor may be of help, and consider contacting one or two individuals to ask them if they would be willing to serve in this way.

Questions to Consider: 

In what ways will I begin to practice thinking and speaking encouraging thoughts about others? 

Who can I invite to be a mentor in my life to help me be accountable in the areas that matter most? 

Who is somebody I know who is hurting right now? How can I serve them?

 

2. Take the opportunity to study out the topic of judgmental thoughts on your own.

For example, the NLT Life Application Study Bible provides the following references for judging others:

• don’t be quick to judge (Acts 11:2-18)
• God’s standards versus society’s (1 Samuel 16:7, Luke 3:2)
• how God judges others (Psalm 1:1)
• avoid double standards when (Isaiah 11:3-5)
• we’re experts at telling others what to do (Matthew 5:19)
• why it should be left to God (Matthew 13:40-43, 1 Corinthians 4:5)
• we cannot know who will be in God’s Kingdom (Matthew 13:47-49)
• can’t judge others’ salvation (Matthew 16:27)
• use compassion and forgiveness first (John 8:7)
• difference between judging others and dealing with their sin (1 Corinthians 5:12)

See if you can find additional references in your Study Bible of choice, and then think through the following questions:

If I were to be completely honest with myself, how regularly do I judge others?

Which 2 or 3 of these verses stick out the most to me? Why is that?

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” In what ways may God be inviting me to grow in my knowledge and understanding of those who look, think, act, worship, and/or live different than me? Be specific. 

In what ways is God inviting me to change my judgmental thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors? Be specific.

 

This topic is a challenging one, as we’re each confronted with something deep within ourselves that God desires to refine. But just as gold and silver needs to have all impurities removed to increase its purpose, God desires to refine each of us so that we may better fulfill His purpose in our lives. His refinement transforms us into something stronger than we were before. May you continue to grow in Him this week.

Be blessed!