Posted on November 11, 2018 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
November 11 – 17, 2018
Learning To Swim
By Joe Davis
My wife and I have four children that are involved with extra-curricular activities, so we are no strangers to ever changing waters. And having been in the military, I had to always be ready for changing environments, orders, training, etc. It would seem very natural to accept changes that God, through his spirit, is trying to walk me through.
The reality is that I am not very good at listening to the Holy Spirit. It has only been in recent months that I’ve felt the conviction to start listening more eagerly to what God is trying to say to me through his spirit. I don’t consider myself to be anything other than a normal person. I have felt like a distracted soul for a very long time. I’ve always wanted God to be more profound in his communication with me, making it obvious that it was him trying to tell me something. In a sense, I was being lazy.
I’ve come to believe that God is constantly trying to get our attention and speak to us, but we just aren’t attuned to what is happening, or how to hear. In the movie “The Prestige”, Christian Bale’s character is a magician and will ask his audience, “Are you watching closely?” I think God asks the same thing to us. God is not passive, he is constantly at work around us. And he wants us to join him in the work that he is doing. We need to be active in our listening to the Holy Spirit and where we are being called or nudged.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Life Together, says this about being passive with God, “…we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.”
God has so much in store for us . . . it would blow us away if we knew just how much he wants to lavish upon us. It’s difficult to see this in the day to day moments. We live in a world that is so distracting; beating down doors for our attention. I know I need work in this area. I know that what God has in store for me is far better than anything this world could ever offer.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Are we praying and reading the Bible consistently? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us and be a part of our day to day? How do you actively listen for God’s spirit to speak? How can we help each other be more attuned to seeing and hearing God?
{personal reflection and bible reading plan}
As you read the verses each day, make notes of questions you have about what you’re reading as well as answering the reflection questions below. Grab a friend or two to discuss what you are learning and what God is doing in your lives.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Christ knew he was about to be betrayed. He knew it was to be the fulfillment of the scriptures. Though he knew that he would be going home to the father, he wanted all to treat each other with love. He told the disciples that people will know they follow him if they loved one another. Have you ever been done wrong by someone, yet loved them as Jesus would? How do you continue to love others in a Jesus-like manner knowing that they may be after their own needs and not those of the kingdom?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Throughout Jesus’ travels people wanted him to perform miracles for them to believe. I cannot imagine how tired he was of being challenged by his own followers for more. He told them, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and Father is in me.". It sounds like Jesus was in a constant battle to be believed. At what point do you believe in the teachings of Jesus? What in your life holds you back from accepting his word as truth?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Do you remember that old Don McClean song, “American Pie?” In it he said, “The 3 men I admire the most, the Father , Son and the Holy Ghost…” I think of that song when I think of the Holy Spirit. We cannot see it, we have to believe it. Jesus also told us that whoever loved him would obey his teachings. Do you trust the Spirit? Are you an individual that does the right thing when no one is looking? If not, what would it take for you to go all in with faith?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: “I don’t give gifts in the way the world does." This is a line that’s easy to pass over. Give it some thought. Write down a list of gifts that Jesus gives you and a list the world gives you.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: “You didn’t choose me. I chose you, and I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” Why do you think Jesus chose you? What fruit are you to bear that will last?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: “But the world hates you for this reason: that you’re not from the world. No: I chose you out of the world.” Does this statement from Jesus encourage you? Do you feel “chosen” by Jesus?
{community discussion questions}
We weren’t meant to experience the life of Jesus alone, so we encourage you to rally a few others to discuss what you are hearing, reading, and reflecting on together. Whether you are meeting as a Journey Community group, talking with a few friends throughout the week, or bringing up spiritual conversations around your table at home, feel free to use some of these questions as conversation starters on your journey.
Can you name a takeaway or challenge from the Sunday message?
How has that been relevant, challenging, or meaningful to your life this week?
What have you observed about God, Jesus, yourself, others, or God’s plan for you from these readings?
Where do you need a breakthrough from God this week?
Who do you need to share what you’re learning about God with?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources).
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get a free Bible for your phone, tablet, and computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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