Saturday, February 25, 2012

James Mercy Triumphs - Session 8

Well, the time has come to say farewell to James (for now). This, by far, felt like the fastest Bible study I have completed to date. Time seems to be buzzing by at crazy speed.

As I reflect on all I have learned, I can’t help but come back to James’ words in Chapter 1, verse 22 (NLT): “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” I don’t want to walk away from this study unchanged. I want the study of God’s word to mark me, to alter me - forever.

I am currently reading a book entitled, “Not a Fan” by Kyle Idleman.* Kyle notes that a fan is defined as “an enthusiastic admirer.” And that “Jesus was never interested in having admirers.” I thought James would be proud when I read Kyle’s words on pages 32 and 33:

One of the reasons our churches can become fan
factories is that we have separated the message of
“believe” from the message of “follow.” ...the two
are firmly connected.... One can’t live without the
other.... Our churches will continue to be full of
fans until we break down the dichotomy between
following and believing. To truly believe is to follow.

We’ve learned some stuff in this study, girls. And James doesn’t play. Indeed, James tells us, “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” James 4:17, NLT. Or, in the words of my new friend Kyle, “To truly believe is to follow.”

Scarily, (on page 27) Kyle also notes that “one of the core symptoms of ‘fandom’ is that fans almost always consider themselves to be followers.” Or, in the words of our protagonist (who was responding to people who also thought they were “followers” of God), “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder.” James 2:19, NIV.

So, as we conclude, the questions I want to leave with you are these: do you truly believe? How do you know? How would anyone else know?

James meant to get in your business. So do I. And I hope you love me enough to get in mine. Let’s do this thing for real, girls. It’s time to get out of the bleachers and onto the field. Let’s be more than fans!

---

*As I read, the author is kind of cracking me up because he is referencing all these funny stereotypical christian experiences from the past 20 years. If you decide to read the book for yourself (and yes, I would recommend it), you will appreciate this little footnote all the more :) http://www.notafan.com/

***

If you have committed to posting a comment in response to our weekly lessons, feel free to post anything you like. If however you find it easier to respond to a specific question, our question of the week is this:

What is the primary thing you are taking from this study and actually applying to your life?

***

This week, we’ll be watching video session EIGHT. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 212 and 213 of our workbooks.

PLEASE NOTE - This Is Important!
The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 8” video, take the following steps:

1) Copy and paste the link below into your browser.
2) Choose the box that says “Session 8" in the section that says “Select Session Number” and click "Add to Cart".
3) When you are SURE you have session 8 in your cart, then proceed to check out.
4) Follow download instructions.

http://www.lifeway.com/Product/james-mercy-triumphs-video-sessions-mp4-downloads-m00000088#

Thank you for studying along with me. I have enjoyed studying with you. I pray God has worked in your life through this study, as He has in mine, and I hope to study together again sometime.

Your friend, Amy

Saturday, February 18, 2012

James Mercy Triumphs - Session 7

If you didn’t read the “Next Level with Melissa” entitled, “James 5 & 2009” (on pages 182 and 183) this past week, grab your workbook and read it now.

With that in mind, let’s recall. What was it that James said in James 5:16? “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Do you believe it? I have a feeling Melissa does.

A couple of years ago, my good friend’s mother had a brain aneurysm. She almost died. Many people were offering words of encouragement to my friend on Facebook, and my mom was one of them. I remember it like yesterday; she quoted James 5:16. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” It stopped me cold.

Shortly thereafter, I was on my knees interceding for my friend’s mom. I started to pray, but was intimidated by James’ reference to “a righteous person.” I was trying my best to walk with the Lord, but I was not righteous. How could I be confident my prayer had any power or effect whatsoever?

Then it hit me. The Lord Jesus is Righteous. And by His Spirit, I suddenly understood. How is my prayer powerful? How is prayer effective? Because I come before the Throne of Grace - not according to my own unrighteousness - but according to the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is by that Name - the Name above all names - that I am justified before the Father and counted among the children of the Most High God. That’s right - I am righteous! And my prayers are not only heard - but also are also powerful! And effective!

***

If you have committed to posting a comment in response to our weekly lessons, feel free to post anything you like. If however you find it easier to respond to a specific question, our question of the week is this:

Give an example of a time when God answered a prayer in an obvious or amazing way.

***

This week, we’ll be watching video session SEVEN The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 184 and 185 of our workbooks.

PLEASE NOTE - This Is Important!
The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 7” video, take the following steps:

1) Copy and paste the link below into your browser.
2) Choose the box that says “Session 7" in the section that says “Select Session Number” and click "Add to Cart".
3) When you are SURE you have session 7 in your cart, then proceed to check out.
4) Follow download instructions.

http://www.lifeway.com/Product/james-mercy-triumphs-video-sessions-mp4-downloads-m00000088#

Our homework for week 7 begins on page 187 of our workbooks and ends on page 211. Again, the homework is broken down into 5 days that should take about 45 minutes each day to complete. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Saturday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.

Okay, so that’s it. Please do not hesitate to ask for help (by private inbox to me, if you prefer) if you find yourself struggling with the homework or anything else. That is why we are studying as a group instead of studying on our own.

Also, please feel free to post any comments and/or prayer requests at any point throughout the week. We will all enjoy and benefit from hearing what you’ve been learning, and it is truly our privilege to lift one another up in prayer.

Your friend, Amy

Sunday, February 12, 2012

James Mercy Triumphs - Session 6

Yikes! Late again! So sorry if any of you were waiting on the video link. I’m pretty sure none of you are completely up to date on homework and videos but, even so, I like to get my posts up on Saturday. I apologize for any inconvenience.

As you probably know, I have had the privilege of going through this Bible study with an awesome group of women at my local church in Cherry Hill, NJ. Sadly, however, I was unable to study with those ladies this week because my youngest little miss wasn’t feeling well. I missed that time - it is usually a place where I reflect on the week and glean even more from what God has taught me through study. For me, it is a place where the rubber meets the road. A place where concepts become practical - as my friends and I work through how these truths are actually applied rather than merely considered.

Missing this week of personal interaction got me thinking about different stages of my life when I didn’t have a safe place to honestly and vulnerably work through what God was teaching me. Church, for me, was a place where I felt condemnation - not freedom. It was a place where I was afraid of being judged, and a place where I myself judged others.

While, I still work at being free from judging others and having personal feelings of condemnation, this is (all glory to God!) an area where I am beginning to see signs of victory.

Today in church it was said by our Assistant Pastor, “the safest place for anyone to walk into should be a church.” Oh, that this would be true in our churches!

***

If you have committed to posting a comment in response to our weekly lessons, feel free to post anything you like. If however you find it easier to respond to a specific question, our question of the week is this:

Beth taught meaningfully on the subject of judgment this week. In what ways did these truths challenge or encourage you?

***

This week, we’ll be watching video session SIX The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 154 and 155 of our workbooks.

PLEASE NOTE - This Is Important!
The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 6” video, take the following steps:

1) Copy and paste the link below into your browser.
2) Choose the box that says “Session 6" in the section that says “Select Session Number” and click "Add to Cart".
3) When you are SURE you have session 6 in your cart, then proceed to check out.
4) Follow download instructions.

http://www.lifeway.com/Product/james-mercy-triumphs-video-sessions-mp4-downloads-m00000088#

Our homework for week six begins on page 157 of our workbooks and ends on page 183. Again, the homework is broken down into 5 days that should take about 45 minutes each day to complete. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Saturday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.

Okay, so that’s it. Please do not hesitate to ask for help (by private inbox to me, if you prefer) if you find yourself struggling with the homework or anything else. That is why we are studying as a group instead of studying on our own.

Also, please feel free to post any comments and/or prayer requests at any point throughout the week. We will all enjoy and benefit from hearing what you’ve been learning, and it is truly our privilege to lift one another up in prayer.

Your friend, Amy

Saturday, February 4, 2012

James Mercy Triumphs - Session 5

The taming of the tongue... ouch! Anyone else feel more than a little convicted on this issue? If so, be encouraged. I am going to keep this post brief tonight, but I want you to consider this:

In the third week of our homework, Beth told us to, “keep in mind that God gave us mouths on purpose so the point is not to cease talking.” Shortly after having read this, I was reading a chapter of Francis Chan’s book, “Forgotten God.” In it, he mentions that the most Spirit-filled christian he knows is a woman by the name of Joni Eareckson Tada. If you are not familiar with Joni, she has a really amazing testimony, and I encourage you to google her or check out her website: http://www.joniandfriends.org/ In any case, Francis Chan listed the MANY charitable organizations Joni founded and accolades Joni has received, and then concluded by saying something like this, “I do not think Joni is the most Spirit-filled christian I know because of any of the things I have mentioned. I think she is the most Spirit-filled christian I know because every time I talk to her, she encourages me with Scripture, or she sings a hymn, or she testifies to a work God is doing in her life or the lives of others.”

Think about that. Joni uses her mouth to give glory to the Lord, and that is what marks Joni (in Francis Chan’s mind) as the most Spirit-filled christian Francis Chan knows. Her mouth!

So what do you say? Do you want to use your mouth with me?

***

If you have committed to posting a comment in response to our weekly lessons, feel free to post anything you like. If however you find it easier to respond to a specific question, our question of the week is this:

Share some of your childhood family’s happy or annoying quirks :)

***

This week, we’ll be watching video session FIVE The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 126 and 127 of our workbooks.

PLEASE NOTE - This Is Important!
The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 5” video, take the following steps:

1) Copy and paste the link below into your browser.
2) Choose the box that says “Session 5" in the section that says “Select Session Number” and click "Add to Cart".
3) When you are SURE you have session 5 in your cart, then proceed to check out.
4) Follow download instructions.

http://www.lifeway.com/Product/james-mercy-triumphs-video-sessions-mp4-downloads-m00000088#

Our homework for week three begins on page 129 of our workbooks and ends on page 153. Again, the homework is broken down into 5 days that should take about 45 minutes each day to complete. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Saturday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.

Okay, so that’s it. Please do not hesitate to ask for help (by private inbox to me, if you prefer) if you find yourself struggling with the homework or anything else. That is why we are studying as a group instead of studying on our own.

Also, please feel free to post any comments and/or prayer requests at any point throughout the week. We will all enjoy and benefit from hearing what you’ve been learning, and it is truly our privilege to lift one another up in prayer.

Your friend, Amy