LOVE GOD’S WORD & PRAYERDaily Bible Reading |
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| At Faith Baptist Fellowship, we Love God’s Word and Prayer. We strongly believe that every growing disciple of Jesus needs to be regularly hearing from God through His word and personally speaking back to God through prayer. If regular Bible reading is not yet a habit of yours, this is a great way to get started!
We are encouraging everyone to continue our Daily Bible Readings. We will provide devotional thoughts and helpful prayer points on the passages. The weekend material will prepare you for the upcoming Sunday sermon as well as provide some discussion help for Faith Groups. We encourage you to set aside at least 15-20 minutes a day for reading and prayer. If you fall behind, just start on the current day. Try to develop the habit of reading at the same time and place. Have a journal and pen for answering questions and recording your thoughts and insights. For additional Bible reading plans, check out faithsf.com. Enjoy your time in God’s Word and Prayer! |
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Monday, March 27Read John 10 |
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| THINK: Why does Jesus call himself the Door? Why does he call himself the Good Shepherd? What contrast is he drawing with these images? What are the implications of v. 16 for the mission of the church? Notice the clear prophecy of the cross and Jesus’ death. Reflect on your security as a believer described in vv. 25-30. What statement caused the religious leaders to want to stone him? Ponder the rich imagery of this glorious chapter from John.
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| PRAY: Thank God for sending his Son to be the Door and the Good Shepherd. Thank God for opening your ears to hear his voice! Delight in this, and praise God for it! Ask God to help us at Faith fulfill our calling in the mission of the church. Rejoice in your secure place in the family of God as a believing child of God. “Thank you, Lord God and Father, for sending your Son to be my Savior.” Pray for the lost people on your Sacred 7 list (new Sacred 7 brochures are now available). Ask God to give them a new heart! Pray for the identity launch of Risen Hope Baptist Church on Easter Sunday!
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Tuesday, March 28Read John 11 |
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| THINK: Memorize John 11:25-27. Ponder the mystery of Jesus’ statements and actions here in the story of Lazarus. What was his purpose? How was that purpose fulfilled? Why do you think certain men responded to the raising of Lazarus by plotting to kill Jesus? What does that tell us about our hearts apart from God’s grace? Simply think for a while about the extraordinary promise of resurrection life in Christ and the hope of eternity. Imagine what it might have been like to see Lazarus walk out of the tomb!
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| PRAY: Turn your reflections on this resurrection hope chapter into a prayer of praise and adoration, delighting in the resurrection hope of the gospel. Pray for some in your sphere of life who do not believe in this hope. Ask God to help you live each day in the light of this resurrection hope. Ask him to help you apply this truth in the everyday situations and circumstances of living. Easter HOPE! Pray for our Holy Week services at both campuses.
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Wednesday, March 29Read John 12 |
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| THINK: Jesus saw in Mary’s actions an act of worship; what did Judas see in it? Notice how John emphasizes that the triumphal entry was the fulfillment of prophecy. He also emphasizes the conspiratorial, even murderous response of the unbelievers. How does Jesus prophesy concerning coming events? Reflect on what it means to follow Jesus, and to walk in the light. Notice how John likes to interweave believing response to Jesus with unbelieving, with God as the sovereign over all (v. 40).
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| PRAY: Do you have the worshipful heart that Mary had? Of those who threw down the branches and shouted “Hosanna!”? Pray a prayer of worship. Express your love for God to him. Thank God for his salvation plan and how Jesus deliberately went to the cross on your behalf. Ask God to help you be a faithful follower of Jesus. Ask God to help you walk in the light. Thank God for saving you! Pray for Nate Walter and Thomas Slawson and both worship ministry teams as they prepare for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and EASTER.
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Thursday, March 30Read John 13 |
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| THINK: Why was Peter reluctant to have Jesus wash his feet? Would you have been reluctant? Why did Jesus do this? What cue do we take from this about how to live as Jesus’ disciples? Do you find it easy or difficult to be a servant to others? What does it mean to “receive the one I send” from v. 20? Memorize vv. 34-35. “Wash one another’s feet” and “love one another” paint a vivid picture of what the body of Christ is to be like. How do you respond?
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| PRAY: Pray that at Faith Baptist Fellowship we will be a servant- hearted people who truly love one another and love our neighbors. This is a crucial part of our Five Loves! Pray that it is so. Ask God to show you someone today who is in need of your servant actions and your love. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit today. Pray for our nation: for there is much upheaval, sin, and strife. Pray for our Elder Council as they seek to wisely shepherd our West and South Campus ministries and lead us in biblical faithfulness.
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Friday, March 31Read John 14 |
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| THINK: Have you ever memorized John 14:6? Do it now! What strong promises does Jesus make here to his followers? How do those promises impact your life today? How does Jesus respond to Philip’s request (v. 8)? Reflect on what the “greater works” might be. (The book of Acts can be helpful here.) Think about this: there are many millions of people today following Jesus all over the world! Ponder this: do you keep the commandments of Jesus? What is the role of the Helper (the Holy Spirit)?
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| PRAY: Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit today. Ask him to help you live a Spirit-filled life in the “everyday stuff” of this day. Thank God that in Christ you have received “the way, the truth, and the life” and also the Helper. Thank God for the marvelous promises Jesus makes in this chapter. Ask God to help you keep the commandments of Jesus because of your love for him and because you know that HE knows what is best for you! He is, after all, the Great Physician—the Greatest of All! Pray for each and every guest who will visit our campuses over the coming Holy Week.
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Weekend, April 1-2 |
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| If you’ve fallen behind this week, consider using these extra days to catch up. You can also prepare your heart and mind for this Sunday’s worship service. Read the planned sermon text above and the thoughts below in advance of Sunday morning’s message. If you are in a Faith Group, consider discussing the questions below together.
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| THINK: Who taught that there is no resurrection? How does the Apostle Paul expose the utter futility of our faith if these deniers are correct? “But in fact,” is a glorious, thrilling shift in tone. Christ is raised, and so we will be raised, and the enemy of death defeated. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
V. 29 is a text with some mystery to it and is exploited by the Mormon church into supporting their secret ritual of baptism on behalf of the dead. But Paul never endorses this practice; his point is that it is illogical to do such a thing if in fact there is no resurrection. He is pointing out a logical disconnect, not saying this is the right thing to do. The practice is prohibited by Heb 9:27.
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| PRAY: Pray for our Palm Sunday worship services, for our pastors as they preach, for the children singing (South Campus), and for each guest who comes to join us. Praise God for the hope and joy producing promise of the resurrection (even sing a chorus of “up from the grave he arose!”). Pray for the upcoming Holy Week, asking our Heavenly Father for opportunities to share your Easter faith with those around you. Pray for those who are hurting and troubled today.
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| FAITH GROUP: How does Paul’s technique in the first paragraph, related to those like the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection (that’s why they were SAD, YOU SEE is how my father used to say it!), strike you? Would you use this technique yourself in speaking of the resurrection? (“Well, if in fact you are right that there is no resurrection, then I’m a fool. You should pity me. But in fact…”) Have you ever spoken to a skeptic that way? | ||