Category Archives: Past Studies

AWESTRUCK – by an AWESOME GOD

Exploring what it means to “fear God” or be a “God-fearing person” –

To View or Print Study Guides

When is the last time you felt the emotion called “awe”?  Was it a place, a person, an experience or something else that caused you to have an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or wonder as well as even a bit of fear or dread? Sometimes awe can even come with physical sensations, such as chills or goosebumps, along with deep inner pleasure.  When you and I are awestruck, we realize or perceive something which is far larger or greater or more extravagant than we normally experience, see or can grasp.  It is said to be one of our very most important emotions because it gives us a sense of our own importance and helps us experience things far larger than ourselves and our everyday comfort zones.

Perhaps there is no life experience that can cause us to experience awe – wonder, admiration, reverence, pleasure, surprise – as great or intense as when we take time to bow before God.  Solomon tells us that submitting ourselves in adoration and worship of Him is where all wisdom begins.  As Jerry Bridges reminds us in his book, The Joy of Fearing God, “Fear of God is the animating and invigorating principle of a godly life.  It is the well spring of all godly desires and aspirations.”  Did you know that there are more promises given to those who “fear God” than any other qualification?

Why not take time each day this week to choose 1 attribute to of God to think about and to ponder?  Then add an adjective to it – unbelievably good, supremely faithful.  Post these 2 words on your daily calendar, on your refrigerator, on your mirror and most of all in your mind and heart.  It’ll be a great way to get ready to participate our fall study.

  • Print out the 11 lessons or use them online.  Intros to each lesson starting Sept. 7. –

“COME, FOLLOW ME”

Exploring 5 Biblical analogies of what it means to live out your faith. To View or Print Study Guides Remember how much fun it was to play “Follow the Leader” when you were a young child?  You formed a line behind your teacher and then you got to do whatever she did with her arms…Continue Reading

AFFECTIONATE ADMONITIONS

Discovering how to “live out your faith” from the book of JAMES To View or Print Study Guides What would you say is the difference between giving someone a suggestion, some advice and an admonition?  To suggest, the dictionary says, is to express an idea for consideration or action.   To advise means to counsel or…Continue Reading

LOOKING AT JESUS – AGAIN

Discovering His Conversations in the Gospel by Mark To View or Print Study Guides What comes to your mind when you hear someone say, “thanks for spending time with me”?  Usually it would indicate two or more people have engaged in a good, helpful or interesting conversation.  It is  through verbal exchange we build relationships,…Continue Reading

BE STRONG and COURAGEOUS

A Bible study focused on the life of Joshua. To View or Print Study guides Where do you turn when you face unexpected changes or challenges?  How do you handle life when feelings of inadequacy or uncertainty creep into your mind and spirit?  What do you do when you sense that you are incompetent or…Continue Reading

FOR YOUR PROGRESS and JOY

A Bible Study focused on the Book of Philippians To view or print study guides Progress!  It’s a positive idea, isn’t it?  Setting a goal and then moving toward the realization of that dream or desire brings us satisfaction.  Sometimes progress is slow and we need many intermediate, short-term markers to help us know that…Continue Reading

HOW WISE ARE YOU?

To View or Print Study Guides If you were asked to describe a “wise person”, what would you say?  What is wisdom and from where does it come?  It is greater than knowledge or intelligence, isn’t it?  It is certainly more profound than advanced age or diversity of life experiences can guarantee.  One cannot buy…Continue Reading

WHAT DOES “HOPE” LOOK LIKE? – Introduction Lesson 2 – January 21 – 28

Who is your favorite character in the stories about Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends?  While most of us would likely name that friendly bear or Christopher Robin himself, there’s something about Eeyore that draws us to him, isn’t there?  Could it be that we identify with his outlook on life all too often?  On a scale…Continue Reading

“May the God of HOPE . . .”

To View or Print Study Guides Would you agree the word “hope” has an enormous range of meanings?  It can suggest anything from wishful thinking to an expectation that has a great degree of certainty.  For example, one might say, “I hope that my friend in India will be able to come and visit me…Continue Reading

When You Pray . . .

To View or Print Study Guides Have you ever thought of prayer as both a window and a mirror?  As Max Lucado said, “Prayer is the window that God has placed in the walls of our world.  Leave it shut and the world is a cold, dark house, but throw back the curtains and see…Continue Reading