Weekly Guide：Week 41

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Weekly Guide：Week 41

November 04, 2018

Week 41 Day 1: Source of Gospel ⇧ ⇩

Forward

We completed last week the reading of the Second Corinthians. This week we will complete the book of Galatians and starting on the Ephesians.

Last week at closing of the Second Corinthians, Paul defended his status as an apostle where he boasted in his own weakness to demonstrate Jesus’ grace. This will be elaborated further in the book of Galatians.

We often fall victim to desire to barter blessings with our actions calling upon our own ability to renew and persevere. Some even use suffering as a way to spiritual growth instead of accepting it as a consequence of the falling world. Paul’s experiences demonstrated the truth about gospel. It is not by one’s own perseverance to overcome adversity, not by one’s capacity to withstand fleshly wounds, nor by one’s ability to endure suffering. It is by the power of God’s grace He gives to His people. The thorn in Paul’s body is not a calling to suffer, but a promise God gives to all Christians so that when we are weak, His power may be seen through our weakness. Gospel is good news because His grace is sufficient. God reveals Himself through His word. We can only boast for the word became flesh. Our inadequacy is an opportunity for God’s power and grace to be shown.

May God’s word renew you all each day!

Question

What is the real gospel?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

Paul’s status and authority as an apostle came from God through Jesus Christ.
False gospel from human is different from the true gospel which is from God. Preaching false gospel shall fall under God’s curse.
True gospel comes from God’s revelation. True gospel is of righteousness through faith.

Meditation: My Story

Walking with God - Preaching gospel and the truth is to win approval of human beings or God? Paul’s dedication to gospel did not aim to please the other apostles. He went to Jerusalem to prove the gospel he preached was the true gospel. Have I withheld the truth when I preach because I was afraid to offend or I wanted to please the others?
Community - Paul was accepted by all apostles not for his ability but for he preached the true gospel. Paul did not hold back to rebuke Peter because Peter had become an apostle before him. Both are examples of standing firm on the foundation of faith without taking something or someone by their face value. A relationship like this is one based on true faith and transparency. What does the apostles’ testimony remind me? Have I taken anything or treated anyone by their face value?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 2: Righteousness through Faith ⇧ ⇩

Question

When did the promise of being righteous through faith come about?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

The Galatian believers received their salvation through faith, not law.
The promise of being credited righteous by faith was given before the law. We don’t receive grace through law.
Law is to prepare us, as our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.
The spiritual growth of the Galatian church proved that they did so through faith not through law.

Meditation: My Story

Walking with God - As the Galatian believers, our salvation and our spiritual growth proved that righteousness is gained through faith, not through law. Reflect back to the day I became a believer and throughout my life, how God’s grace and blessings were given to me through my faith, not my conduct?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 3: Cherish the Freedom ⇧ ⇩

Question

How do we gain freedom through God’s promise?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

We became God’s children through His promises, not through our works of being slaves of the law.
Jesus Christ released us to grant us freedom. If we burden ourselves again by the yoke of slavery of the law, then Jesus’ redemption becomes meaningless.
In Christ, the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love, not by bondage of the law.
In Christ, we wait eagerly through the Spirit by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

Meditation: My Story

Identity - What are the differences of being free children of God and being slaves under the law? Although I have not been through the law as the Israelites, are there other laws burdening me in my life that cause me to forget my status as a child of God and live like a slave?
Walking with God - A life freed from slavery expresses itself through love. What does a faith like this bring about in my life? Reflect in my life, when have I seen the outcome of such faith?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 4: Devoid of Indulgence ⇧ ⇩

Question

How should we view the freedom God gave us?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

To be devoid of fleshly indulgence, we must follow the Spirit, live by the Spirit, and bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Follow the Spirit to do good to all people, carry each other’s burdens, love others, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
Boast only in the cross of Christ and become a new creation.

Meditation: My Story

Community - What is the relationship with others like when one lives by the Spirit? I shall always go back to my relationship with God first to find an answer when I have problems in my relationships.
Integrity - How do the Spirit and flesh contradict each other? What real life example can I find on myself? What does this passage remind me of if the Spirit and my flesh are battling in me? There are nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. Which aspect am I lacking in? Am I willing to rely on God to bear the fruit in me?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 5: Heavenly Spiritual Inheritance ⇧ ⇩

Question

What is the spiritual inheritance of a Christian?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

As our inheritance, our election by the riches of His grace in Jesus Christ, redemption by Christ’s blood, and adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the proof of our inheritance from God.
The inheritance from God allows us to connect with His power. And such is the same power that raised Christ Jesus from death. Only when God enlightens the eyes of my heart I would know truly and rely on His incomparably great power.
God blessed us in heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ for us to be holy and blameless so that He would be praised for His glory.

Meditation: My Story

Identity - Pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Do I truly know Him? Do I truly know He gave us the inheritance? Do I truly rely on Him? Even though I claim to know Him but do I often prioritize worldly inheritance over the heavenly one and relying on human power more than His? Let me pray to God to open the eyes of my heart to truly know Him.
Integrity - The purpose of the blessings we receive from God is not to glorify us but by His calling that we may live out the life of Christ so that His glorious grace may be praised.

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 6: Unity in God ⇧ ⇩

Question

What is the life of Christ’s ambassador?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

By His work on the cross, Jesus Christ unified the Jews and the Gentiles into one to create a new people. This work of Jesus’ alone brought the Gentiles who had no part in God into His kingdom to receive His inheritance.
By His work on the cross, Jesus destroyed the wall between the Jews and the Gentiles so that we are not defined and separated by our races, accomplishments, or background. Instead, we are unified as one in the Lord.

Meditation: My Story

Identity - Jesus through His works on the cross gave us a new identity: People of God. What do I see as important identities in my daily life, occupation, politics, country, race, heritage, or family? We can only cause isolation if too much emphasis is placed on any of these identities. Only when we place the utmost importance our identity as People of God, we would then be able to connect with God and unite with others through Him.
Community - Jesus through His works on the cross put to death the hostility between us and God. He brought together the ever-contentious Jews and Gentiles to unite them into one people. What hostility do I have still toward others?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 7: Mend the Loose Ends ⇧ ⇩

Scripture Reading

Psalms 34 | [YouVersion]

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 1: Foundation of Church ⇧ ⇩

### Question Are leaders of church custodians or servants? {% include BibleLinks2020.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + Paul reminded the Corinthians to not judge but wait for the second coming of Christ. + Paul warned those who puff up themselves and belittle of others. + Paul taught and disciplined the church as a father to his children to unite and look up to Christ. ### Meditation: My Story + **Community** - Have I ever judged others? Ask the Lord to help me not to judge and wait for Jesus' second coming. + **Integrity** - Am I able to withstand the test of fire for what I build atop the foundation?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 2: Reject Sexual Immorality ⇧ ⇩

### Question What to do with brothers and sisters who are doing obvious wrongs? {% include BibleLinks2020.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + Paul warned the church about sexual immorality for the wrongdoers would not inherit the kingdom of God. + Our past sins have been cleansed in the name of Jesus Christ. By His power, God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also. ### Meditation: My Story + **Identity** - Do I realize that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? Can I remind myself often that I need to live out a holy life? + **Community** - What to do about disputes between Christians? + **Integrity** - How should I be associated with the unbelieved? What should I watch out for?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 3: Matters of Marriage ⇧ ⇩

### Question What's God's purpose for marriage? {% include BibleLinks2020.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + God established marriage to keep us faithful to our spouses. + We may faithfully serve God whether married or not. + Circumcise or not is nothing. Keeping God's command is what counts. ### Meditation: My Story + **Identity** - What is God's calling for me in marriage? How do I follow God's will to have a holy married life? + **Fidelity** - For whether I'm married or not, how do I use my situation to serve the Lord?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 4: The True Freedom ⇧ ⇩

### Question What is freedom in Christ? {% include BibleLinks2020.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + For those with knowledge shall be careful not be stumbling blocks of those with weak conscience. + The sacrificial food to idols is nothing to God. We don't' gain nor lose anything by eating or not. + If eating sacrificial food to idols causes others to stumble, then don't eat it. + Paul put up his rights so he can preach and not hinder the gospel of Christ. ### Meditation: My Story + **Identity** - Paul has all the legal rights but would rather put up with them for the gospel. Does my life in Christ obey the higher authority to live out a life with sacrificial love? + **Community** - Do I often mind about my conduct so I don't stumble those who are weak in faith?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 5: Ward off Idolatry ⇧ ⇩

### Question How to win over temptations? {% include BibleLinks2020.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + Israelites failure in front of temptation shall serve as a warning to us. + God is faithful that He always provides a way out of temptation. + Not to seek our own good but for the good of many others. + Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ### Meditation: My Story + **Identity** - Do I have any idol in my life? Do I put it higher than God? How can I get rid of the idol? + **Community** - How should I build up my fellow Christians through my freedom in Christ?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 6: Covering and Supper ⇧ ⇩

### Question Why did Paul raise the question of covering and supper? {% include BibleLinks2020.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + It was a tradition of the time to wear head covering. Paul suggested women of the period should cover their heads. + Remember the Lord and examine oneself during the Lord's Supper before eating the bread and drinking the cup. + When eating together, we ought to wait for each other. ### Meditation: My Story + **Community** - Do I dress appropriately in church? Would the way I dress cause others to stumble? + **Integrity** - Am I willing to follow Lord's authority and priority?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 7: Mend the Loose Ends ⇧ ⇩

{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 1: Foundation of Church ⇧ ⇩

### Question Are leaders of church custodians or servants? {% include BibleLinks2022.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + Paul reminded the Corinthians to not judge but wait for the second coming of Christ. + Paul warned those who puff up themselves and belittle of others. + Paul taught and disciplined the church as a father to his children to unite and look up to Christ. ### Meditation: My Story + **Community** - Have I ever judged others? Ask the Lord to help me not to judge and wait for Jesus' second coming. + **Integrity** - Am I able to withstand the test of fire for what I build atop the foundation?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 2: Reject Sexual Immorality ⇧ ⇩

### Question What to do with brothers and sisters who are doing obvious wrongs? {% include BibleLinks2022.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + Paul warned the church about sexual immorality for the wrongdoers would not inherit the kingdom of God. + Our past sins have been cleansed in the name of Jesus Christ. By His power, God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also. ### Meditation: My Story + **Identity** - Do I realize that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? Can I remind myself often that I need to live out a holy life? + **Community** - What to do about disputes between Christians? + **Integrity** - How should I be associated with the unbelieved? What should I watch out for?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 3: Matters of Marriage ⇧ ⇩

### Question What's God's purpose for marriage? {% include BibleLinks2022.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + God established marriage to keep us faithful to our spouses. + We may faithfully serve God whether married or not. + Circumcise or not is nothing. Keeping God's command is what counts. ### Meditation: My Story + **Identity** - What is God's calling for me in marriage? How do I follow God's will to have a holy married life? + **Fidelity** - For whether I'm married or not, how do I use my situation to serve the Lord?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 4: The True Freedom ⇧ ⇩

### Question What is freedom in Christ? {% include BibleLinks2022.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + For those with knowledge shall be careful not be stumbling blocks of those with weak conscience. + The sacrificial food to idols is nothing to God. We don't' gain nor lose anything by eating or not. + If eating sacrificial food to idols causes others to stumble, then don't eat it. + Paul put up his rights so he can preach and not hinder the gospel of Christ. ### Meditation: My Story + **Identity** - Paul has all the legal rights but would rather put up with them for the gospel. Does my life in Christ obey the higher authority to live out a life with sacrificial love? + **Community** - Do I often mind about my conduct so I don't stumble those who are weak in faith?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 5: Ward off Idolatry ⇧ ⇩

### Question How to win over temptations? {% include BibleLinks2022.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + Israelites failure in front of temptation shall serve as a warning to us. + God is faithful that He always provides a way out of temptation. + Not to seek our own good but for the good of many others. + Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ### Meditation: My Story + **Identity** - Do I have any idol in my life? Do I put it higher than God? How can I get rid of the idol? + **Community** - How should I build up my fellow Christians through my freedom in Christ?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 41 Day 6: Covering and Supper ⇧ ⇩

### Question Why did Paul raise the question of covering and supper? {% include BibleLinks2022.html %} ### Meditation: God's Story + It was a tradition of the time to wear head covering. Paul suggested women of the period should cover their heads. + Remember the Lord and examine oneself during the Lord's Supper before eating the bread and drinking the cup. + When eating together, we ought to wait for each other. ### Meditation: My Story + **Community** - Do I dress appropriately in church? Would the way I dress cause others to stumble? + **Integrity** - Am I willing to follow Lord's authority and priority?