Apicontent

We are still talking about the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives. What are you learning and what difference is it making in your life?

Get ready to reflect! Do you need to review the lesson or devotionals? Did you miss one? Click on one of the “Quick Links” below and get the information you need!

Quick Links

The Holy Spirit’s Power to Overcome Evil

Sermon on the Mount

Humility

Finding Comfort

God’s Mercy

God’s Presence

Reflection

The lesson this week on overcoming evil focused on a passage of scripture that describes God’s protection against Satan’s attacks:

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” —Ephesians 6:10–17

• The belt of truth
• The body armor of God’s righteousness
• The shoes of peace
• The shield of faith
• The helmet of salvation
• The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God

At this time in your life, which piece of armor is most important to you? How can you use it most effectively?

Can you imagine scenarios in your life when specific pieces of armor would be critical for you?

How do you most often deal with temptation and evil in your life?

What changes do you need to make in your life so that the armor of God is your first plan for dealing with Satan’s schemes?

This week marks the beginning of another new devotional series. What did you learn this week about and from the Sermon on the Mount?

In “Finding Comfort,” Beth Yoe quoted Oswald Chambers:

“The teachings of Jesus are all out of proportion when compared to our natural way of looking at things, and they come to us initially with astonishing discomfort. We gradually have to conform our walk and conversation to the precepts of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit applies them to our circumstances. The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations—it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us.”

What would your life look like if the Holy Spirit was “having His unhindered way” with you?

Of the four devotionals, you read this week based on the Sermon on the Mount, which one challenged you most? Which one was most comforting? Which one was most encouraging?

What is God teaching you about yourself and your relationship with Him?

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for a video featuring Francis Chan talking about humility: Jesus, More Than a Savior

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize these verses:

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. —Ephesians 6:13–17

We are now fully immersed in the Sermon on the Mount … in what ways are the words of Jesus challenging you?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Pray with Confidence

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Making a Difference

Let Your Light Shine!

Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law

Quite Simply … We Need a Savior!

Reflection

As you worked through this week’s lesson, what was one new concept you learned about prayer?

One of the key points in the lesson on prayer was: “It is important to focus on God rather than on your request when you pray. He already knows what you are praying about and His answer to your questions. Trust His heart, His answer, and His timing.”

Why do you think it is important to focus on God when we pray?

In what ways does prayer affect the relational issues discussed in the devotionals for this week?

Hebrews 12:1–2 says, “We must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.”

What sin in your life often clings to you?

What do you need to do to disentangle yourself from that sin?

What do you think it means to “run with endurance”?

In what ways are you currently “salt” in your life circumstances and situations?

In what ways are you currently “light” in your life circumstances and situations?

In “Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law,” Beth Yoe included this quote by Oswald Chambers: “The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations—it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us.”

What do you like about reading the Sermon on the Mount?

What steps do you need to take in order for the Holy Spirit to have his “unhindered” way with you?

Beth Yoe wrote in “Quite Simply … We Need a Savior!”:

“Our actions and words come from the overflow of our hearts. That is why Jesus told us the fruit of our lives is a good indicator of what lies within us. Are we full of selfish ambitions, vain conceits, greed, anger, and the like? Or are we full of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness?”

What is overflowing from your heart?

What changes do you need to make in your life in order to let Jesus flow out of your life?

Go a Step Beyond

This week’s devotionals focused on the words of Jesus. Here’s a recommendation for an article to consider as you think about those words and how they apply to your own situations: Is Jesus Relevant Today?

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse: 

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:16

Time for a day of reflection … in what ways are you seeing God work in and through you?

Think for a moment about what you have been reading in the Sermon on the Mount … in what ways are these words affecting your life? 

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Different Ways to Pray

What’s Really on Your Mind?

Offering Forgiveness

Take a Look at Your Motives

Marriage Is Designed by God

Watch Your Words!

Reflection

This week’s lesson was a continuation of the topic of prayer.

Have you started to implement any of the ideas presented? If so, in what ways is the discipline of prayer affecting your life?

If you have not made prayer a daily commitment in your life, why not? What is keeping you from taking time to talk with God on a regular basis?

Beth Yoe included a quote by Ken Sande as she talked on Jesus’ words of forgiveness: “Peacemakers are people who breathe grace. They draw continually on the goodness and power of Jesus Christ, and then they bring His love, mercy, forgiveness, strength, and wisdom to the conflicts of daily life. God delights to breathe His grace through peacemakers and use them to dissipate anger, improve understanding, promote justice, and encourage repentance and restoration.”

What keywords can you identify in this quote?

Would the people around you use any of these words to describe you?

What encourages you or convicts you when you think about these keywords?

Just yesterday Beth Yoe challenged us with these words from Oswald Chambers: “The teachings of Jesus hit us where we live.”

Which “teaching” this week has “hit you” where you live? What has been your response?

In that same devotional Beth penned these words, “Christians are to be honorable and trustworthy. We are to be known as people of our word.”

Do you agree or disagree with her statement?

Is your opinion based on the truth of God’s Word?

In what ways is your life reflecting your conviction?

Go a Step Beyond

This week’s devotions focused on ways we live out our relationship with Jesus every day. Take a moment to focus on your relationship with Jesus as you this video: Life with God

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” —Luke 6:45

Time to step back and consider what you have been reading and contemplating for the past week. In what ways are you finding the words in the Sermon on the Mount challenging? Convicting? Encouraging? Reassuring?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to review … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Share the Good News!

Learning to Forgive

Do I Really Have to Love My Neighbor?

Finding a Way to Give in Secret

Just a Simple Prayer

Take Time to Pray!

Reflection

What are you learning about Jesus that you never knew or never thought about before?

This week’s lesson turned to the topic of sharing your faith with others. The lesson closed with this challenge: “When you wake up each morning, thank the Lord Jesus that He lives within you, tell Him that you are available and stay alert so He can use you to speak of His love and forgiveness sat every opportunity throughout the whole day.”

Is this a priority for you? Why or why not?

Do the people you interact with on a regular basis know that you have a relationship with Jesus?

As you think about the interactions you typically have throughout your day, when do you have opportunities to share the story of your relationship with Jesus?

In the devotional “Learning to Forgive,” Beth Yoe spent some time discussing retaliation. If you are honest with yourself, how do you really feel about retaliation? In what ways does God need to transform you?

How do you really feel about loving your neighbor?

In what ways are you sharing (giving) what God has given you without being recognized for it?

In what ways is prayer affecting your life on a daily basis?

In what ways is your conversation with God changing and growing?

How is your life with God affected when you pray on a regular basis?

Go a Step Beyond

As you consider the directive to share God’s Good News from this week’s lesson, take a moment to read this article: God’s Call for Everyone

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34–35

Remember: God is a personal God … and he is reaching out to you personally!

It’s time to think about all that you’ve read this week! If necessary, go back and read anything you received recently that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Knowing Our Great God

Have You Ever Tried the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting?

What Do You Treasure?

Stay Focused

Choices, Choices

Trusting in a Good God

Reflection

This week’s lesson focused on five fundamental character qualities of God: God is sovereign, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere.

Which of these character qualities is most real to you at this point in your life?

Which one of these character qualities do you need to learn more about?

This week all of our devotionals were still focused on the teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount. 

Which teaching did you find most difficult? 

Which teaching do you find most challenging? 

What thoughts do you have about fasting? Are you willing to try it? What benefits do you think there might be in fasting?

In “What Do You Treasure,” Beth Yoe asked two very important questions that would be easy to just skim over: How do we spend and invest our time? And, how do we spend and invest our resources? 

If you make these questions personal, how would you answer … How am I spending and investing my time?

How am I spending and investing my resources? 

Is your personal focus in the right place?

What are your daily choices revealing about your priorities?

Yesterday’s devotional was entitled, “Trusting in a Good God.” How much trust do you have that God is good?

What has influenced your perspective?

How can you grow in your trust in God?

Go a Step Beyond

Here’s this week’s recommendation for an article for you to contemplate as you consider all the information you read this week: Choose Wisely.

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize these verses:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth where they can erode away or may be stolen. Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value and are safe from thieves. If your profits are in heaven, your heart will be there too.” —Matthew 6:19–21, TLB

It’s time for a day of reflection … how are the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount encouraging you? Challenging you? Inspiring you? Convicting you?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Knowing Our Perfect God

Mercy

Discernment

What Are You Looking For?

No Middle Ground

Test the Fruit!

Reflection

This week’s lesson focused on God’s character. Why is it important for us to know God’s character?

What do you already know about God’s character?

What steps do you need to take to learn more about God’s character?

The Sermon on the Mount has very strong words about what it means to follow Jesus. What has been your response to the words of Jesus? 

In what ways have you been integrating the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount into your life?

In what way do the people in your life see you living out the principles of mercy and discernment as described by Jesus?

In “What Are You Looking For?”, Matthew (in the key verses Matthew 7:7–12) challenges us to ask, seek, and knock. How often do you take time to ask, seek, and knock?

Are your requests in line with God’s will?

How did you feel about the challenges expressed in “No Middle Ground”? Do your thoughts and feelings line up with what the Bible says?

In “Test the Fruit?” Beth Yoe wrote: “Jesus tells us we can know false prophets by the actions of their lives. A tree produces fruit according to its own kind. If we want to know if one’s teaching is from God, an easy test is to examine the life of that person! The works of the person’s life will testify for or against them. If the direction of their teaching leads us to godliness, humility, patience, love, joy, and a host of other Christian graces, it surely points us to the truth. However, if their doctrine is one of dissension and pride, and takes people away from governing themselves or their families, we had better flee or at the very least dig deeper ourselves for real truth.”

Are the leaders you are depending on for teaching and instruction bearing the fruit of Jesus?

Is your life bearing the fruit of Jesus?

Go a Step Beyond

This week’s lesson focused on God’s character. Christian writer and speaker Josh McDowell talks about God’s many attributes (his inherent character) in the video resource we’re recommending for this week: Attributes of God (Part 1)

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” —Matthew 7:7

This week we came to the end of the series on the Sermon on the Mount. What is one key concept you have incorporated into your life because of the past weeks of focus on these words of Jesus?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Hear God’s Word

Living for Jesus

The Right Foundation

Amazed!

The Death and Resurrection of Jesus

The Beginning of the End

Reflection

This week’s lesson brings us back to a focus on reading God’s Word.

The lesson began with listing five ways we experience God’s Word: hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it.

Which one of these is easiest for you?

Which one do you need to give more focus to?

The lesson concluded with a discussion of the four steps we need to take when we hear God’s Word: receptivity, comprehension, conviction, transformation.

Which one of these four steps do you tend to focus on?

Do you typically go through all four steps?

What do you need to do to actually make sure you get to and through the transformation step of letting God’s Word change you?

In the devotional “Living for Jesus,” Beth Yoe wrote, “God is not looking for an outward, ritualistic relationship with His children. He desires inward obedience, as our desire, not as a burden.”

Are there areas of your life that represent an “outward, ritualistic relationship” with God? What do you need to do to change that?

What areas of your life represent an “inward obedience”?

In general, the theme this week was “doing” the Word of God. Are you a “doer” of God’s Word?

In what ways do people see the Word of God in your life?

What action do you need to take this week to be more obedient to God’s Word?

Go a Step Beyond

This week’s lesson brings us back to the priority of letting God’s Word guide our lives. Take a couple of minutes to be challenged and encouraged by this week’s recommended resource: How to Develop an Appetite for Bible Study

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 7:21

Time to take a moment to reflect upon what you have been reading for the past week. The lesson has taken us back to a focus on the importance of God’s Word. In what ways does God’s Word influence you on a daily basis?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to review … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Read God’s Word

Pay Attention!

God Has a Perfect Plan

The Great Love of Jesus

A Servant of All

A Willing Heart

Reflection

What is your current plan for reading God’s Word on a regular basis?

What kind of accountability have you included in your plan? Without some type of accountability, your plan may soon become just a good idea.

It is interesting that immediately following our lesson on reading God’s Word, Beth Yoe included this quote from Charles Spurgeon in her devotional, “If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.”

In what ways are you seeking to know God through His Word?

In what ways are you experiencing God’s power?

What are you learning about God’s purposes through His Word?

In “God Has a Perfect Plan,” Beth Yoe included these words from Hudson Taylor, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

What in your life specifically represents God’s work?

Are you pursuing it in God’s way?

In what ways are you experiencing God’s supply?

What steps do you need to take in order to experience God’s work, God’s way, and God’s supply?

In what ways are you currently following Jesus?

Go a Step Beyond

This week’s devotionals discussed passages in the Bible that describe events leading up to Jesus’ death. Take a moment to reflect on the reality of Jesus’ death as you watch this week’s recommended video: “Why He Died“

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize these verses:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8–9

Time for some reflection. As you are reading the devotionals focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus, what emotions are you experiencing? What thoughts and feelings do you have about the reality of Jesus’ death?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this past week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Study God’s Word

So That You Will Believe

Standing Firm

Sorrow

Confusion

Resting in Jesus

Reflection

The lesson this week was on studying God’s Word. The entire lesson is summed up with the last question included in the 4-Step process: What am I going to do with this new insight and understanding?

In what ways are you currently applying the insight and understanding you receive from God’s Word to your life?

If you are not currently making an application of God’s Word to your life, what space do you need to make in your life in order for this to happen?

This week all of our devotionals focused on the Passover meal that Jesus shared with His disciples before His betrayal and crucifixion. This is often referred to as the “last supper.”

Which of the devotionals was most meaningful to you?

Which of the devotionals did you find troubling or sad?

Did any of the devotionals encourage you?

In “Standing Firm,” Beth Yoe wrote: “Standing firm and fully assured even when the winds of trial and dire circumstances are blowing is a mark of a mature Christian. It is also a mark of one who brings God much glory. It is easy to be ‘on fire’ when circumstances are favorable, but let a little rainfall on our parade and we are often found wallowing in self-pity, groaning, and complaining. How much better for us to season our lives with the spices of contentment and joy rather than to harbor bitterness and resentment which will corrode our vessels like acid.”

Identify all of the adjectives Beth used in this paragraph.

Which ones most describe you?

Which ones do you want to experience?

Ask the Holy Spirit to transform your life into one of contentment and joy.

Yesterday Beth Yoe wrote in “Resting in Jesus”: “It is God’s desire for us to be abiding, not striving or struggling. We are always to be looking to Jesus and His power. He is our strength for service as well as our source of abundant unchanging joy.”

In what ways are you abiding in Jesus?

When in your life do you tend to strive and struggle in your own strength?

How can you remember to let Jesus be your source of power?

Go a Step Beyond

If some inspiration to be more diligent in your Bible study is what you need, take a few minutes to watch this video: How to Study the Bible: Application

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” —Hebrews 13:8

Think about this … what are you learning from God’s Word that is making an impact on your life?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Memorize God’s Word

Misplaced Trust

The New Covenant

Helped by the Holy Spirit

Search Me, O God!

Pray that You Will Not Fall into Temptation

Reflection

As you are learning more about God through His Word, what are you learning about Him and about being in a relationship with Him?

Make a list of all the scripture you currently have memorized. Is it a lot or a little?

What plan do you have for continuing to memorize scripture so that it can impact your life?

In “Helped by the Holy Spirit,” Beth Yoe wrote, “As believers, we are not left to our own resources in our sufferings but are helped by the Holy Spirit.”

In what ways do you tend to depend on your own resources?

In what ways have you experienced the help of the Holy Spirit?

How can you remember to turn to the Holy Spirit first when facing situations that are beyond your own abilities or resources?

In “Search Me, O God!” Beth challenges us with these words: “How do we go about searching and guarding our hearts so as to equip ourselves for the high calling of discipleship? Like King David, we must ask God to search our hearts and point out to us what needs to go and what needs to be fanned into flames. We must seek His ways fully through the study and application of His Word, through prayer, through praise and thanksgiving, and through hiding His Word in our hearts.”

Spend some time with God, asking Him to direct you. Seek Him, praise Him, hide His Word in your heart.

What are you learning about Jesus as you read about the events leading up to his death?

Go a Step Beyond

As you consider memorizing God’s Word and as we read through the various accounts of the events near the end of Jesus’ life, here’s an article to read and reflect upon regarding the reliability of the Gospels: Are the Gospels Reliable?

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8