Life Transformation

Monday, February 12                Mark 10:13-16
 What is God's attitude toward kids, according to this passage? What does
this tell you about the character of God? What do you think the parents
were looking for in bringing their kids to Jesus for a blessing? Why was
this so important?

What are the barriers that can get in the way of our kids getting to
Jesus? If you are a parent, how can you be proactive in making sure your
kids have consistent access to Jesus?

Tuesday, February 13                                      Deuteronomy 6:1-9
What does this passage communicate about God's plan for kids' spiritual
direction? What does it communicate about God's priorities when it comes
to children? What are our responsibilities as followers of Jesus, as
stated in this passage? What are the promises?

If you are a parent, how can you bless your kids with these promises? How
are you doing in that arena? What are some steps you can take to make the
spiritual direction of your kids more fruitful?

Wednesday,  February 14        Ephesians 6:1-4
 There are two sections in this passage-what do they each deal with
specifically? What are the instructions? What is the promise? How do you
think this blessing gets played out?

What do you think it means to "exasperate" your kids? How does this apply
to discipline, which clearly exasperates kids?

Thursday,  February  15 Luke 17:1-3
Who are "these little ones" in this passage? What is the general principle
of this verse? How should it play out in the life of the believer? What
does it have to do with kids?

What are some ways that you could cause someone to sin-or be tempted to
sin? What are some of the ways we can cause our kids to stumble into sin?
Is there something in your life that could cause spiritual harm to your
kids? Why do you suppose Jesus takes such a strong stance on this?

Friday,  February 16           Mark 1:19-20
James and John are no more than teenagers in this passage. What does this
say about how God views the capacity of teenagers? What does He ask of
them?

In light of this, what is our responsibility to teenagers? If God trusts
them to this degree, how can we begin to show this level of trust and
interest in our teenagers?

Life Transformation

Monday, February 5          2 Corinthians 3:16-18
Paul here talks about being "transformed into His likeness." In what significant way has God changed you over the years to be more like Jesus? In what area do you want to see more change and growth, personally?

What do you think Paul means by saying "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom?" What do you see as a veil" that distracts or keeps people from really seeing the glory of God, from experiencing that freedom? What keeps you from experiencing more of it?

Tuesday, February 6               Ephesians 4:20-5:1
This passage speaks about a life transformed by Jesus-what things are good, and which need to be worked out of the system. Which one of the negative traits are you most working on right now? Which do you feel like God has transformed in your character?

What does it look like to practice v. 22-24? How are you at doing this? What, according to the last verse in this passage, is the point of all these "practices" and a transformed life? How does v. 29-32 fit into that picture?

Wednesday, February 7         John 17:20-26
If you had to sum up Jesus' prayer for all of us here, how would you rephrase it? What is His point? What does vs. 22 mean? What is the glory we have been given as followers of Jesus? What was Jesus' "glory?"

This is a deep passage of Scripture because its Jesus in His raw prayer for us. What does the content of this prayer say about Jesus' heart for us? The significance of this prayer is powerful, because this may be the only time in the Bible where Jesus directly prays for you and me. If that's true, how does it affect the way you see the Christian life?

Thursday, February 8              Revelation 21:1-7
In the end of all things, Jesus comes back to "make all things new." Full transformation for us as Christians only happens in this day. What part of this imagery strikes you the most profoundly?

What appeals to you most about this future? What are the things that you are most eager to leave behind?

Friday, February 9                     1 Peter 2:9-12
When did you first experience being called "out of darkness and into His wonderful light?" How easy is it for you to see the distinction now in your world-between light and darkness? When have you most experienced the mercy of God?

According to this passage, what is the point of being a "holy nation?" Who are the people in your life who need a glimpse of His light? How can you begin to share with them and be a beacon of hope in the dark world?