Take 5! A Good Work

Let’s take 5 minutes and study about a good work from the word of God. Now, please get your journal and a pencil and lets get started!

6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

Philippians 1:6-10

What does God promise to do for you in verse 6?

I am very happy God is not finished with me yet. Be assured, who we are today is not who we will be next year or even next month. God constantly works to make us over into the image of Christ! And you are a good work! Amen!

According to verse 7, what does God give us?

Grace! Grace to believe all things, hope all things, bear all things, and become all things through Christ Jesus!

What does verse 9 say must accompany our love for Christ?

Why does love need knowledge and all discernment (see verse 10)?

How will knowing what is excellent keep us blameless until the day Christ returns?

As you finish your study time today, take a moment to thank God for all the excellent things you have in your life. Pray and thank God for how He is continuing His good work in you until the day of Christ Jesus.

Resources

Want more information on Philippians 1:6-10? Click on the links below to access an article or a podcast:

The One Who Began a Good Work

https://www.youtube.com/embed/DuFnLzz1TX8

By Mary Kane

Take 5: Grace and Peace

Take 5 Bible studies are made for busy people who want to dive right in to Scripture. Get your Bible journal and pencil and let’s do Take 5: Grace and Peace. Please read the scripture below.

1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1: 1-5

How does Paul describe himself and Timothy in verse 1?

In the original Greek, the word bond-servant transliterates as doulos, which means one who gives up his will for the will of another.

What two things does Paul say come from God and Jesus?

Grace and peace only come from God and Jesus. God gives us grace through Jesus so we can be at peace with Him.

What does Paul do in verse 3?

What does Paul do for the Philippians in verse 4?

He prays for the Philippians. The word used for pray is deesis, which means a seeking or an asking. Deesis comes from the root word deo which means to bind or fasten. Prayer literally binds us together.

How do you participate in the Gospel?

Go back and read through our Take 5: Grace and Peace verses for today once more. In your journal, record one thing God wants you to do because of Philippians 1:1-5.

Chat with me!

Please share a comment on what you learned today from your study time. I’d love to chat with you!

By Mary Kane

Try another Take 5! by clicking on the link below!

Take 5!:When in Rome

Something great Philippians preaching from Cru!

Philippians 1

Poem: The Strongest Rock

One of my students stopped me the other day, excited to share her poem with me. She wrote it during her Bible Quiet Time at school. Her poem spoke to my heart, and I think it will speak to you as well! Leave a comment below and let Rebekah know how much you enjoyed her poem!

When I think of you, my mind stops.

I go Your way, I go to the top.

When You look at me, I smile.

It brightens my way on the top.

On the top of the mountain, on the strongest Rock.

When I think of You I stop.

I knock on the door of my Father’s Rock.

He opens it up with a smile

and it makes me smile all the way up on top.

I think of You no matter what.

by Rebekah

Bible Scripturegraphic: Salt not Sugar

Salt not Sugar

Two of America’s most popular seasonings are sugar and salt. We can’t eat without ’em. When I was growing up, we always had salt and a sugar bowl on the table. I’d dump spoonful after spoonful of sugar on my Cornflakes. Sugar overload! The sugar bowl went the way of the 8-track tape, no longer a mainstay in the American household.

While the Bible is silent concerning sugar, it has much to say about salt. As a matter of fact, we are told to be salt. To do the Scripturegraphic Bible study on salt, please click on the link below:

Bible Scripturegraphic: Salt not Sugar

Let me know your thoughts about salt in the comment section below! I’d love to chat with you!

by Mary Kane

Busy Woman’s Guide to Spiritual Growth

I’m busy. You’re busy. Everybody is busy.

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6: 6-9

Yea, I can relate. Plain old busy. Who says the Bible isn’t relevant? This verse was written for the 21st century. When I sit, when I stand, when I lie down, when I’m running like a crazy woman. In the midst of the mess, we forget about Jesus. We gottta get some Bible.

What’s a busy girl to do?

Somehow the whole technology thing has backfired. Instead of freeing up hours of time, we’re busier than ever. Scheduling meetings while driving (admit it, you have), arranging doctor appointments during PTA meetings, lining up snacks for a school party on the sidelines of a soccer game, answering emails before you even get out of bed. What the heck?

Isn’t there an app for that?

Instead of running us ragged, let’s make technology work for us. Here’s a few things that will help keep your life on track.

Bible app: Before I get up, before I eat my wheaties, before I throw off the covers, I get God’s word in my head and in my heart and on my tongue. The Bible app is free and it offers a variety of Bible reading plans and many other bells and whistles. You can also connect with your friends and see what they are learning from God’s word. I love it.

Get God’s word in before you get up!

Tweet This

The Bible App

Prayer Notebook App: My prayer life used to be a haphazard mess. Promises broken and prayers forgotten. My own husband and kids were left prayerless by their own wife and mother. Prayer Notebook changed all that. I went large and invested in the $1.99 version. It took about 30 minutes to organize my prayer life. Now, each day, while taking a walk, doing chores or on the way to work, I pray though my list. No more forgotten prayers. Boom. Bam.

The Prayer Notebook

One Place: Get all the preaching and teaching you’ll ever need all in “one place.” Click on the link and download One Place app to your device. Order up podcasts by your favorite Bible teachers and tune in. I love to listen while I’m jogging, doing housework, getting ready for work (the older I get the longer it takes) or running errands.

One Place App

So what are you waiting for?

No more excuses, busy woman! Download a few apps and let’s get growing!

Please share your ideas on how to seek Jesus while you’re living the dream! Leave me a comment in the section below. I’d love to hear from you!

iSee: Life by the Numbers

iSee: short videos to build your faith!

Do you only have a few minutes for Bible Study today? Or do you have a few extra minutes to feed your soul? Try one of our new iSee videos! Three minutes is all you need to receive a little encouragement and refreshment from the Word of God!

If you’re like me, you love social media. Tweet, post, periscope—I love it all! Sometimes it gets a little out of control! I’m constantly checking my numbers instead of my Bible. What does God think about all this “following”? Click on the play button below to find out!

Remember to follow Jesus! He’s the only audience you need!