Time For Good Works!

Read: 2 Timothy 3:17 & Ephesians 2:10

Reflect: The Bible prepares us for the good works that God has called us to. What are the “good works” the Bible is talking about? What good works has God called you to do?

Request (prayer): Father, help me know what good works You want me to do.

When the Bible says “good works” what usually comes to your mind? Is it going to church, reading your Bible, praying, obeying your parents, etc? The Bible definitely clear that we are made for good works. The definition is what we mess up sometimes. look up James 1:27 says. Is that what you think of when you hear “Good Works?” What about Mark 16:15? Are you doing any of those things? If not, why? Whats holding you back? Ask God to change your heart because it is time for good works!

Looking Back – What Is The Bible Good For?

Read: 2 Timothy 3:16

Reflect: Look back at the past few weeks, what have you learned from the verse about the Bible? How has this series changed the way you think about the Bible?

Request (prayer): God, thank you for the Bible!

At the beginning of February we started our series on Sunday mornings titled “The Bible Is Good For:” We looked closely at what the Bible says about itself in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

You can also listen to the messages from this series. Due to a technical error, we do not have the first message in the series but you can listen to other two that we recored on Sunday mornings in CRUX: Jr. High @ Harvest.

Message #2 –  “The Bible Is Good For: Warning”

Message #3 – “The Bible Is Good For: Correction”

You Got That Right!

Read: Hebrews 12:11

Reflect: As the Bible corrects you it also will discipline you. Have you ever enjoyed being disciplined? What good does discipline do in the end?

Request (prayer): God, thank you for correcting me when I am wrong and loving me enough to save me from myself.

I fully agree with this verse. Discipline hurts! If it doesn’t hurt physically then it hurts my emotions or worse yet, my pride. But, discipline isn’t all bad. Read Hebrews 12:5-11. When God disciplines us it means that He loves us and that we are His children. That is something we can take comfort in. In the end the Lord’s discipline produces righteousness. Heed the Lord’s discipline. Let Him change you into the person He wants you to be!

Righteous Prayers of a Righteous Person

Read: James 5:16

Reflect: What does it mean to be a righteous person? How does righteousness help our prayers?

Request (Prayer): Ask God to make you a righteous person?

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Does that mean that the prayer of an unrighteous person doesn’t have power? Yes. How so? In order to understand this whole idea about a righteous persons prayer being powerful, we first need to understand what the word “righteous” means.

The word, righteous, means, “just and right; free from guilt and sin”. So the righteous person is one who is free of sin and guilt. What person is righteous? It’s the person whose hope and trust is in Jesus. It is the person who has confessed with their mouth and believed in their heart that Jesus is Lord. That’s the righteous person.
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What is Prayer Centered On?

Read: John 14:13

Reflect: What should our prayers be centered around?

Request (Prayer): Ask for God to be glorified in your life and in everything you pray for.

John 14:13 says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

The whole idea behind prayer is not so we can get what we want, but to align our will and desires with God’s. What does that mean?
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Desiring Prayer

Read: Psalm 63:1

Reflect: Do you have a desire to talk to God? What do you talk to Him about? What keeps you from talking to Him?

Request (Prayer): Ask the Lord to give you a passion for prayer.

Do you desire God? Do you look forward to spending time with God?

David was in the wilderness when he penned the words, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” I can only imagine how he could have felt, being in the wilderness, with no food or water, yet it allowed him to spend quality time with God and he was able to see his need for God.

I’m sure David was hungry and thirsty physically, and it was a fresh reminder to him how a person can become hungry and thirsty if they do not stay connected to God. Is this true of you?
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