Purpose Driven Life - Day 1

Purpose Driven Life

It's in Christ that we find out who w are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ, ... he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

Ephesians 1:11 (Msg)

 

Okay I think that this is important so I am writing this.. in here to make the point of the 40 days

 

Your Next 40 days

 

Today the Average life span is 25,550 days. That's how long you will live if you are typical. Don't you thnk it would be a wise use of time to set aside 40 of those days to figure out what God wants you to do with the rest of them?  The Bible is clear that God considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period. Whenever God wanted to prepare someone for his purposes, he took 40 days:

• Noah's life's transformed by 40 days of rain
• Moses was transformed by 40 days in the Promised land
• David was transformed by Goliath's 40 Day Challenge
• Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 Days of strength from a single meal
• The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when God gave the people 40 days to change
• Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness
• the disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection.

The next 40 days will transform your life

it is divided in 40 brief chapters

 

There are 4 features to help you

 

• Point to ponder(PTP) - this is a nugget of truth that summarizes a principle of purpose-driven living that you can reflect on throughout your day...
• A verse to remember (VTR) -this is a Bible verse that teaches truth from that chapter
• A Question to Consider (QTC) these questions will help you think about the implications of what you have read and how it applies to you personally.
• Discussion Questions (DQ)

I strongly urge you to get one or more friends to join you in reading this bood during the next 40 days. a jouney is always better when it is shared with a partner or a small reading group you can discuss what you read and bounce ideas off each other. This will help you grow stronger and deeper spiritually. Real spiritual growth is never an isolated, individualistic pursuit. Maturity is produced through relationships and community.

 

On the convenant page.. and I often do not sign them but I did this.. and will do it this time as well ... it says .. with God's help, I commit the next 40 days of my life to discovering God's purpose for my life.

 

_______________(partners names)

Rick Warren

 

"Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up... Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. a rope made of three cords is hard to break." Ecclesiastes 4:9 (TEV)

Luke ..... Chapter ..... 2

Heart & Home Bible Fellowship Curriculum Contents:  Studies From ..... LUKE Chapter Two

Luke - Introduction

Introduction to Luke  Luke was a Gentile who addressed this book, as well as the Book of Acts, to Theophilus, which means "friend of God." He proclaimed a universal Gospel to everyone who desires to be called a "friend of God" when he recorded the message the angel gave to the shepherds at the time of Christ's birth: Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people (Luke 2:10). Luke revealed that the purpose for Jesus leaving heaven was to seek and to save that which was lost (19:10; also 1:68; 2:11,38; 24:21). Luke was known as the beloved physician (Colossians 4:14). Luke emphasizes the divinity of Christ even in His perfect humanity. The perfect humanity of Jesus is revealed as Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man. The phrase Son of Man is mentioned 25 times in this book. Luke also proclaimed the full deity of Jesus as the virgin-born Son of God as he traced the genealogy of Jesus through His mother Mary back to the creation of the first man, Adam. Through the actual, physical genealogy of Mary, Christ is linked with all mankind. No other Gospel provides as many details of the humanity of Jesus as the Book of Luke does. He tells us about the parents and the birth of John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin who was just 6 months older than Jesus (Luke 1:36). He also gives the details of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where Jesus was born (2:1-7). Only Luke records that Jesus was laid . . . in a manger (2:7); was presented for circumcision in the Temple (2:21-24); conversed with the teachers (rabbinic scholars) at the age of twelve (2:42-46); and that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man (2:52). Luke also reveals the human dependence of Jesus upon His Heavenly Father in prayer (3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:16,18,28-29; 10:21; 11:1; 22:17,19; 23:46; 24:30). This points out the vital importance for all of His followers to realize how dependent upon God we are to accomplish His will through prayer. Only Luke records the disciples asking: Lord, teach us to pray (11:1), or Jesus teaching that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart) (18:1). The parable of the unjust judge and the widow (18:2-8), and the parable of the midnight appeal: Friend, lend me three loaves (11:5-13) are found only in Luke. All of these teach the importance of continuing to pray until the need is met. Luke demonstrates that the Gospel is for everyone, even Samaritans (Luke 17:11-19).

Luke Chapter 1 - Assignment

Read the Chapter straight through from your own Bible at home or feel free to link here and read it online at www.zondervanbiblesearch.com or another online site of your choosing.  It is important to read it in its entirety before breaking it down into questions and sections.

Luke's Introduction:  Luke 1:1-4
1. What do you learn about the historical accuracy of Luke's Gospel account from these verses?
2.  What process did the events go through before they were written down?
3.  Who do you suppose the eyewitnesses were and what did Luke say about others who wrote things down?
4.  How did Luke write this all out?  How will this help you as you read in the days to come?

Luke 1:5-25 - Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

1. What do you learn about the parents of John the Baptist?  Who was his father and what was he doing when he saw the angel and heard about the coming birth and purpose of his son John?

2.  What did the angel prophesy concerning John the Baptist? 

3.  Why did John's father, Zacharias, go mute?

4.  What did John's mother, Elizabeth, do during her first five months of pregnancy?  How did she feel about becoming a mother finally?

Luke 1:26 -38 - Birth of JESUS the Messiah Foretold
1. How far along was John the Baptist's mother, Elizabeth, when Mary conceived Jesus?
2. What did the angel tell Mary when he visited her?
3. How did Mary conceive the child of God although she remained a virgin?
4.  What was Mary's response to the call of God on her life to carry the son of God in her womb?
Luke 1:39-45 - Mary visits her relative Elizabeth.
1. What did Mary do as soon as the angel told her that her relative was in her sixth month?
2. What happened to the baby John the Baptist and Elizabeth when they were greeted by Mary who was pregnant with Jesus, the Son of God?
3. What did Elizabeth say to Mary?  What did she call her?
4. Why did she say that Mary was blessed?
Luke 1:46-56 - The Magnificat (praises of Mary)

• Why was Mary's soul rejoicing? 
• What does she praise God for in her magnificat?
• List the things she praises God for:

Luke 1:57-66 - John the Baptist is Born

1. Why did Elizabeth's neighbors and relatives rejoice with her at the birth of John?
2. On the day of John's circumcision, what was the plan of what the baby would be named?
3. Because the angel of the Lord told both Zacharias and Elizabeth that the baby would be named John, how did Zacharias get this over to the people even though he was mute and couldn't speak to them?
4. As soon as Zacharias did this, what happened with his speech abilities? 
5. From these events, what were the people convinced of concerning this boy John?
Luke 1:67-80 - Zachariah's Prophecy
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied concerning the coming of Jesus the Messiah.
1. What did he say about Him and what His coming meant for the nation of Israel?
2. In verse 80, what are we told about the child John the Baptist?
Luke Chapter 1 - Conclusion

• Can you summarize what you learned today?
• Do you have a verse you want to commit to memory in your heart from today?
• What is your final thoughts and or prayers concerning this chapter?

Your summary and prayer today:

Written by Brenda LeMoine for Heart & Home Bible Fellowship© with permission to use on RTB website only. For personal or ministry related use, please email Brenda for permission and conditions.