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Small Group Materials Journaling with S.O.A.P Purity Resources Online Devotions Daily Journaling from the Staff       Small Groups Ministry Materials for Leaders   James DVD/Workbook go » Matt - Beatitudes DVD/Workbook go » 1 Thessalonians DVD/Workbook go » 5 Biblical Purposes DVD/Workbook go » Matthew Workbook go » Mark Workbook go » Luke Workbook go » John Workbook go » Acts Workbook go » Col & Philemon Workbook go » 1 CorinthiansWorkbook go » 2 CorinthiansWorkbook go » Ephesians Workbook go » Galatians Workbook go » The Beatitudes Workbook go » Daniel Workbook go » Deuteronomy Workbook go » Ecclesiastes Workbook go » Elijah Workbook go » Esther Workbook go » Exodus Workbook go » GenesisWorkbook go » Isaiah Workbook go » Jeremiah Workbook go » Hosea Workbook go » Job Workbook go » Joshua Workbook go » Proverbs Workbook go » Psalms Workbook go » Old TestamentWorkbook go » New Testament Workbook go » Ephesians Workbook go » Hebrews Workbook go » James Workbook go » Romans Workbook go » Revelation Workbook go » ^ top     Journaling with S.O.A.P.   At New Hope we desire that every attender spend time every day in God's Word! Have you ever sat down to read the Bible, read a chapter or two and then realized that you didn't really take any notice of what you were reading? You are not alone. Many people have a lot of trouble retaining and applying what they read in the Bible. Life journaling, using the SOAP acronym, is a way that some people find useful. This method is simply a matter of following the letters of the word soap. It is probably most effective when you work through a book of the Bible, reading a different chapter each time. Scripture - read the chapter that you have chosen. Don't skim over it or read it too fast. Try to enter into what you are reading. You may need to read it two or three times. When a verse, phrase or word stands out or catches your attention, write it down in your journal. Observation - what is it about that verse or that phrase or word that kind of struck you? What is it that caught your attention? What insights or observations do you actually want to write down? What might this verse have meant to the original writer or reader? Is there a sin to forsake? Is there a promise to claim? Is there an example to follow? Is there an error to avoid? Is there something new about my understanding about God? Write your observations of that verse in your journal. Application - how does your observation impact you? How shoud that thought, that observation, that insight, actually change you? God isn't speaking to you to increase your information; He is speaking to bring transformation. He wants you to grow, to develop, to change. Again, write down your thoughts. What might God be saying to you through this verse? What action will you take as a result of what you are hearing from God? Prayer - Respond to God with prayer. Write to him as though you were writing a letter. Tell him how you feel about what you've read, tell him what you think. Ask him to help you as you seek to apply it to your life. Ask for guidance as you act upon it. You may want to write a poem or draw something to signify what you've just thought about. Your prayer doesn't have to be long or deep, just try to make it come from where you are at.     Sample Journal entries...   A Willing Heart Exodus 35:21 " ...and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord." Moses has returned a second time from the mountain with God and has told the Israelites God's instructions. He has laid out the requirements of the Sabbath, explained the Ten Commandments, and cast the vision for the tabernacle. Now Moses must wait for the people to respond, remembering a golden calf not long before. But scripture tells us that the people gave. In fact, they gave in abundance. So much that they eventually had to be restrained from giving. I think the key is in verse 21, " ...everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him brought and offering." The first criterion was a willing spirit. So often we want for our heart to be moved and then make our decision about willingness. But that is not God's order here. He moved in the willing hearts. He touches the lives of those who first choose to be available. The thing is ...this is a control thing. It does not allow the believer to stand back, see how he feels, and then make a decision about willingness. It's a matter of surrender, of saying to God, "I am willing" before we know His plan, before the options have been revealed. This is my prayer - that I would be a willing heart for God to move, that I would first choose to be used and then understand where.   Chosen by Grace Romans 11:5 "So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace." Paul is explaining that Jesus came and through Him salvation to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. He argues that though it appeared that Jews had rejected God's best, just as in the time of Elijah, there were a few who remained faithful. His point though is not that they had earned anything special. Rather it was not by works but by grace. They were selected because of God's mercy, "chosen by grace". That's me too. I am chosen by grace. Nothing I have done merits special treatment. No words I have said or action I have taken can earn me righteousness. No matter how noble or well-intentioned, nothing I say or do can set me apart. It is God's remarkable grace - His gift of "not giving me what I deserve". Can I then do any less with my fellow Christ-followers, also chosen by grace? How like the unforgiving servant I can be! Father God, Your grace is indescribable. Your mercies are new every morning. Help me to see the wonder in that concept. Remind me of my own unworthiness. Forgive me for the arrogance I have shown as I have judged others. Help me instead to share the grace you have shown me. Remind me that others have also been chosen by grace. Amen   From Peak to Pit Mark 1:11-12 "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, whom I love, with You I am well pleased.' At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert..." It's hard to imagine the feeling Jesus must have had at the time of His baptism: joy, contentment, pride in having pleased His father, fulfillment & a sense of reward knowing that this was to be the beginning of His ministry. It must have been "a mountain-top-experience." Yet, scripture goes on to say, "At once the Spirit sent Him out into the desert..."Not "after he had absorbed the situation" or "after the glow had warn off" but "at once". And He sent Him from a spiritual mountain top to a literal desert, much like Job who went from having a life blessed by God to enduring days of accusation and condemnation from his "friends". The true sign of a surrendered life though is in the way they each respond ... Job spends chapter 19 outlining his woes: "I am nothing," he says. But in verse 25, the truth comes out triumphantly: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth." And Jesus on the heels of weeks of fasting answered Satan, "Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." (Matthew 4:10) when He was offered bread. From mountain top to desert, from peak to pit, though circumstances and emotions change, our God remains constant. The truth is still the truth. The only thing really tested is my conviction. How strong is my faith? Father, Almighty God, I believe You. Let me focus only on You: your holiness, your plan, your calling in my life. Give me clarity and strength. Give me wisdom. I want to serve You only. Forgive me for being distracted by feelings and confusion. Help me to hold on to what I know. I want to bring You pleasure. I love You. Amen.   Sanctuary Haggai 2:7 & 9 " ' ...I will fill this house with glory,'says the Lord Almighty. '...And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty." The temple of Solomon, long in ruins, was finally being replaced. God's people had consistently found themselves stymied in all things because until His house was attended to God had withheld his blessing. Finally, through Haggai, God communicates directly, pointing out the reason for their fruitless efforts as well as the solution. So finally, the people begin to build the house of God. When the foundation is finished, God makes His promise: "I will fill this house with glory. And in this place I will grant peace." What an amazing covenant! God's glory and peace in one spot - truly a sanctuary. In our modern parlance, sanctuary has come to refer, simply, to the large auditorium. But it is so much more. In reality, a sanctuary is a place of refuge, as the song says, a place of rest and shelter, a place of safety. Sadly, I think the modern use of the word more accurately depicts what the church today is. But shouldn't it be that place of safety? How often is the church a place filled with God's glory, His presence, and peace and how often is the church filled with bitter or judgmental or cliquish or ___________ Christians? We must better reflect what God promised to make His temple: a place of peace and glory. Our focus must change so that what we reflect can change. In fact, our lives must change. As people look to us (Christians) to see what God is like, we must more accurately reflect His glory and peace. Too often the reflection is distorted by our lives. Father, Your promises are mighty. They are boggling to the mind. To house your glory and peace in a given place is astounding! Yet, I am distracted too often. My life fails to reflect your glory with any kind of accuracy. Forgive me. Forgive me for selfishly looking after what matters to me and not changing my values to kingdom priorities. Make me a clear vessel able to give a clear reflection of your love and peace. Keep me from stumbling into the way and hampering others from coming to understand the sanctuary of your grace. Amen. ^ top     Suggested Resources on Purity   Websites www.pureintimacy.org www.xxxchurch.org www.filterreview.com www.enough.org www.nationalcoalition.org www.family.org www.sexaddict.com www.ccmag.com/safe www.cyberangels.com www.protectkids.com www.safesurf.com   Accountability Software [ http://www.xxxchurch.org/x3watch/default.asp ] This is a FREE accountability program helping with online integrity. It is offered at no charge by the ministry of XXXchurch.com and it's supporters. Whenever you browse the Internet and access a site which may contain questionable material, the program will save the site name on your computer. Approximately every 30 days or 2 weeks(depending on your preference), a person of your choice (an accountability partner) will receive an email containing all possible questionable sites you may have visited within the month. This information is meant to encourage open and honest conversation between friends and help us all be more accountable. This report only goes to your chosen accountability partners and is not stored or used by XXXchurch or any other organization. Other Websites: Covenant Eyes [ www.covenanteyes.com ] EyePromise [ www.promisekeepers.org ] WinGuardian [ http://www.webroot.com ] ComputerCop [ www.computercop.com ]   Real Solutions for Overcoming Internet Addiction, by Steve Watters go » Every Man's Battle, by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker go » False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction, by Dr. Harry W. Schaumburg go » Kids Online: Protecting Your Children In Cyberspace, by Donna Rice Hughes go » Safety Net, by Zachary Britton go »   Filtered Software NetNanny [ http://www.netnanny.com ] SurfControl [ http://www.surfcontrol.com ] CyberSitter [ http://www.solidoak.com ] We-Blocker [ http://www.weblocker.com ]   Other Scripture to Consider Proverbs 4:23 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 2 Corinthians 5:17 1 Samuel 18:1-4 1 Samuel 19:1-6 1 Samuel 20:1-42 1 Samuel 23:15-25 Psalm 54:1-7 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ^ top