This week, we will spend some time understanding the importance of growing in faith with a community of believers around us. God uses individual growth within community and community growth spurred on by individuals in amazing ways. Let's dive in to see how we can grow together.
Week Seven
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Day One
PRAY: Begin the week by quieting your heart and being conscious of God's presence. Ask Him to help you be fully aware of Him today.
WRITE: Quick recap on the Bible from last week – because it's so important! In your journals, respond to the prompts below:
How would you describe the overall narrative of Scripture to someone?
How have you seen the themes from that narrative of Scripture in your own life?
ENGAGE: For each of the following “pieces” of the narrative of Scripture, look up and read the corresponding passages, and respond to the questions in your journal:
CREATION | Genesis 1:26–30 | What does it mean for you that you were made in God's likeness?
FALL | Romans 5:12 | How have we today, or you specifically, played a part in sin taking hold of the world?
REDEMPTION | John 3:16–21 | How have you chosen to respond to this truth?
RESTORATION | 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 | What does it mean to live as a “new creation”?
PRAY: Close your time by asking God to help you become more aware of His redemption in your life.
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Day Two
PRAY: Talk with God about the communities that you find yourself in. Share with Him the places that you see those communities growing in faith.
ENGAGE: Spend a few moments watching the Grow Devotional Video
WRITE: In your journal, respond to the prompts below:
How has your faith grown recently?
Where can you see yourself worshiping God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength more?
How do you think you could see your family growing in faith over the next months? How about your friends?
PRAY: Close your time today, asking God to help you play a role in helping your community grow in faith.
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Day Three
PRAY: Talk with God for a few minutes and share with Him where you have been aware of His presence in your life this week.
READ: In your Bible, or below, read Acts 2:42–47.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe
at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the
believers were together and had everything in common. They sold
property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day
they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke
bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved.
WRITE: In your journals, respond to the prompts below.
What do you notice about the community the Apostles had in that passage?
How is that community similar or different from your own circles? The Apostles from that passage of Acts are starting up the church – they were the earliest Christians. They relied on one another, their community, to continue to live out the Gospel and spread it to the nations.
What qualities of that community do you think helped it to grow into what it is today?
PRAY: Ask God to empower your communities to grow closer to one another and to Him this year.
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Day Four
PRAY: Share with God the places you have felt near to Him in community. Share with Him the places you have been pulled away from Him in community.
READ: Reread the Acts 2:42–47 passage from Day 3.
WRITE: In your journal respond to the prompts below.
How have you grown in faith because of community?
What are your personal “next steps” of faith – the places you want to grow in faith?
Thinking of the communities you are in, what might the next steps of faith be for those circles?
What are ways that you can be a part of helping those communities take those steps of growth?
PRAY: With a few specific communities of yours in mind, pray that God would help grow those communities in faith.
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Day Five, Six & Seven
PRAY: Spend a few moments asking God to give you the strength to help build and grow your faith communities.
ENGAGE: Today for your devotional time, the only thing to do is to ask one family member and one friend what you can be praying about for them. This may feel like just a small thing, but it is simple actions like this that build strong faith communities that seek to grow together in Christ. As you hear back from those people, pray for them! If you can, pray with them.
