Monday
August 10, 2020 Reading Plan: Daniel 7-9 Psalm 57 1. Write Hebrews 12:1 three times. 2. Read the following, and answer. The Lord Jesus Christ when He walked on this earth He often prayed. Jesus prayed. Jesus the son of God who was there from the beginning, Jesus who is God, prayed. Jesus who walked on this earth as a perfect example to you and I, prayed. How is your prayer life? Yesterday I asked in the sermon, how is your hearing? Today I want to ask how is your praying? How often are you going to the Lord in prayer? How often are you leading your family in prayer, how often are you alone and praying? If I called upon you to pray would you? If a friend was in need, would you pray for them on the spot? Are you serious about your prayer? How long do you pray? How intense is your prayer? How confident are you in your prayers? Are you distracted when you pray? Are you emotional when you pray? Are you certain of your prayers? Do you pray three times a day, breakfast , lunch and dinner? Are you fervent when you pray? Are you righteous when you pray? Are your prayers hindered? Are your prayers being heard? Do your prayers produce intimacy with Jesus? Do you believe He is able to answer your prayers? Do you believe He wants to answer your prayers? Do you want His answer to your prayers? 3. Read Matthew 6:9-13. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 4. Write down three take-a-ways from Sunday’s message. 6. Now write Matthew 6:9-13 without looking. 7. Read Hebrews 5:7 “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,”
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Sunday
August 9, 2020 Reading Plan Zechariah 9-14 Psalm 62 1. Write the memory verse. 2. Write the mission statement of theway church. 3. Bring your notecard to church with you today! 4. Listen to praise and worship as you get ready this morning! 5. Pray for the following:
7. Listen for understanding all day long! Saturday
August 8, 2020 Reading Plan Zechariah 1-4 Psalm 61 1. Write the memory verse. Write the mission statement for theway church. 2. Reflect on this week, what lesson, statement, reading, video etc. had the greatest impact on you? 3. What are you moved to change because of your time with the Lord this week? 4. What are three take-a-ways from your lessons this week? 5. If you had to take just one point from your preparation this week, what would it be? 6. List three things that you are currently praying about. 7. Pray for service tomorrow. Be ready to recite the memory verse for this week. Pray for your pastor. Pray for your church family. Walk worthy of the calling today! Talk with someone about your preparation this week! Recite the mission statement of theway church. Write the books of the bible in order. Answers for Fun Friday: 1. “The Glory of God,” “his handiwork”; Ps. 19:1. 2. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. 3. Ezekiel; see Ezek. 1:1. Daniel; see Dan.1:1-6. 4. The creation of the first woman; Gen. 2:20-24. 5. Jehovah. 6. Three. 7. Christ, to His apostles; Acts 1:8. 8. The Levites; Num.3: 44, 45. 9. Evil Sons of Eli; 1 Sam. 2:12-17. 10. Enoch. Gen. 5:4. 11. 2 John. 12. One of the Egyptian treasure cities built by the Hebrew captives; Ex. 1 :11. 13. Some animal or bird entirely consumed upon the altar. 14. Hebron. 15. The star of Bethlehem; Matt. 2:1, 2. 16. They made them live outside the camp; later, outside the towns or cities; Num. 5:1-4. 17. Three times: at his baptism, Mark 1:11; at his transfiguration, Luke 9:35; and when the Greeks sought him in the temple, John 12:28. 18. Queen of Xerxes, whom he deposed; Esth. 1:9-12. 19. John the Baptist; Luke 1:17. 20. Caleb and Joshua, because they alone had faith to believe God’s word that they could conquer Canaan; Deut. 1:35-38. 21. The archangel Gabriel; Luke 1:19. 26, etc. The Archangel Michael; Rev. 12:7, etc. 22. The room of the Lord’s Supper (Mark 22:12) and of the assembling of the disciples after the ascension (Acts 1:13). 23. “The world and they that dwell therein”; Ps. 24:1. 24. Because she sheltered the two spies whom Joshua sent into Jericho; Josh. 2:1-14. 25. Andrew and Philip; John 1:40, 41, 45. Doubtless also John, who brought his brother James. Friday
August 7, 2020 Reading Plan Zechariah 1-4 Psalm 60 1. Write Hebrews 12:1 five times. 2. Read Matthew 13:1-23. 3. List the books of the New Testament. 4. List the books of the Old Testament. 5. List the twelve tribes of Israel. 6. List the 12 disciples? Who replaced Judas Iscariot? 7. Answer the following: 1. Complete the quotation: “The heavens declare…….; and the firmament showeth…” 2. Name the seven churches of Asia. 3. What great Jewish prophets were captives in Babylonia? 4. What event had to do with Adam’s rib? 5. What is the meaning of iah in the termination of Hebrew names, as Zephaniah, Hezekiah? 6. How many Epistles of John in the New Testament? 7. Who said, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me,” and to whom did he say it? 8. What tribe took the place before God of all the Hebrew firstborn? 9. Who were Hophni and Phinehas? 10. Who was the father of Methuselah? 11. What is the shortest Book of the Bible? 12. What was Pithom? 13. What was a burnt offering? 14. What is probably the oldest city in Palestine? 15. What is the chief mention of a star in the Bible? 16. How did the Israelites isolate lepers? 17. How many times in Christ’s life did a voice from heaven testify to him? 18. Who was Vashti? 19. Of what New Testament character was it foretold that he should have “the spirit and power of Elijah”? 20. What two Israelites alone of their generation were allowed to enter Canaan, and why? 21. The names of what two archangels are in the Bible? 22. What was “the upper room”? 23. Complete the quotation: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof,” 24. For what deed is Rahab remembered? 25. Who were the first to bring disciples to Jesus? Thursday
August 6, 2020 Reading Plan Video Haggai 1-2 Psalm 59 1. Write Hebrews 12:1 five times. 2. Read Matthew 13:1-23. Read Luke 8:4-18. 3. Read the article/sermon below: Take Care How You Listen! Part 1 For Whoever Has, to Him More Shall be Given Resource by John Piper Scripture: Luke 8:4–18 Topic: Life of Worship When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 9 His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. 10 And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND. 11 Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. 16 Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him." How Do We Prepare for Preaching and How Do We Respond? Last week we asked the question why preaching has such a prominent place in the corporate worship services of the church. This week and next week we ask: How should the people prepare for preaching and how should we respond to preaching? To answer this question, I have chosen a text that is all about hearing the word of God preached. So, the first thing I want to do is show you that this is indeed the case - this text is all about hearing the word of God when it is preached. It's a very sobering text for preachers, because it does not hold out the prospect of huge success in terms of numbers of people who are lastingly affected - one in four, perhaps (like the soils), if you take the text that way. I doubt that the proportion should be pressed to mean that we can always or only expect a 25% lasting response. But surely, Jesus is at least warning us preachers from being cocky, lest we think we can change people easily, or discouraged, if there are many hearers who do not respond with lasting change. Is Preaching an Effective Way of Communicating? Sometimes people will say that the day of preaching is over because it is not an effective way of changing people. The answer is: It has never been statistically very effective. Nor has any other form of communication, statistically. And the reason is not in the method of communication. The reason is Matthew 7:14, "The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Which is why Jesus said, in Luke 13:24, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." When the Word is preached and the way to life is shown, strive to enter. That is what this text is about. It's about hearing and yet not hearing. Seeing and yet not seeing. It's about those who think they have heard, but have not heard. And so, it is all about how to prepare for preaching and how to respond to preaching. Let me show you this so you can see it for yourselves. May God give us eyes to see and ears to hear and good hearts to bear fruit. What we are doing now - and do every Sunday in these moments - is huge and has eternal implications for what you do with what you hear. Start in verse 5 with the beginning of the parable of the soils: Jesus tells a parable that begins, "The sower went out to sow his seed." Then in verse 11 he interprets: "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God." So he is telling a parable about the preaching and hearing of the Word of God. The sower is the one who preaches the Word. A Parable About Hearing Then there are four responses to this preaching of the Word - four kinds of soil. What we want to notice especially is that Jesus interprets every one of them explicitly as four ways of hearing the Word. It's all about hearing. Verse 5 says that, first, some seed - some Word - "fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up." Then in verse 12 he interprets, "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved." That's one kind of hearing. Verse 6 says that "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture." Then verse 13 interprets: "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away." That's a second kind of hearing. Verse 7 says that "Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out." Verse 14 interprets: "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity." That's a third kind of hearing. Finally, verse 8 says, "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." And verse 15 interprets: "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." That's a fourth kind of hearing. He Who Has Ears to Hear Then at the end of verse 8 Jesus makes sure we got the point about hearing, and says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." That means it's not enough to have ears on the side of your head. Everybody has those. But there is another kind of ear that only some people have. And those can hear. "He who has ears to hear let him hear." There is a spiritual ear, or a heart-ear. There is an ear that hears, in the preaching of the Word, more than mere words. There is a beauty and a truth and a power that these ears hear as compelling and transforming and preserving. That's the kind of hearing Jesus is calling for. That's what this text is about. Then to stress the issue of hearing even more, Luke tells us how Jesus explained the purpose of parables in his situation. In verses 9-10, "his disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. And He said, 'To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that "seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand."'" This is a shocking word. To those whom Jesus has chosen, the mystery of his kingdom is opened and he gives them the gift of understanding. Verse 10a: "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God." The Word Saves Some and Hardens Some This hard word is a quote from Isaiah 6:9-10 where God tells Isaiah his ministry to Israel will not only be saving for some but hardening for others. God says to Isaiah, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; keep on looking, but do not understand.' Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed." In other words, time had run out for these people and the Word of God was no longer effective to save them, but was only effective to render their hearts insensitive, and their ears dull, and their eyes dim. This teaches us something very important about preaching. Even when preaching the Word of God does not soften and save and heal, it is not necessarily ineffective. This preaching of the Word may be doing God's terrible work of judgment. It may be hardening people, and making their ears so dull that they will never want to hear again. There is a judgment in this world - not just in the world to come (Romans 1:24) - and oh, how we should flee from it. Which in this text means: take heed how you hear! Don't be cavalier in the hearing of God's Word week after week. If it is not softening and saving and healing and bearing fruit, it is probably hardening and blinding and dulling (see 2 Corinthians 2:16). The Effectiveness of Hearing Which brings us to the last mention of hearing in this text. It comes in a surprising place. I would have expected it to come right after the parable - right after verse 15. But it comes in verse 18: "So [= therefore, the conclusion of the matter] take care how you listen [hear!]" That's the point of the text. And that's my main point this morning. Take care how you hear. Preaching is one thing - and it is crucial. But hearing is another thing - and it is just as crucial. There is nothing in this text about the effectiveness of preaching. It is all about the effectiveness of hearing. The point is not, "Take heed how you preach." But: "Take heed how you hear." Now notice the reason given in the rest of verse 18 for why you should be so vigilant over how you hear. It says, "For [= because] whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him." Now what does that refer to? Whoever Has . . . Well, there are two parts, the positive ("whoever has, to him more shall be given") and the negative ("whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him"). Take the positive first: "Whoever has, to him more shall be given." This refers first back to verse 8, at the end of the parable of the soils. Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Why? Because "whoever has, to him more shall be given. If you have spiritual ears, then you will be given understanding. It also refers to the fourth soil described in verse 15: "The seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." Whoever has, to him more will be given. What they have already is "an honest and good heart." And the more that will be given is fruit. They "bear fruit with perseverance." So take heed how you hear! Hear with spiritual ears, not just the ears on your head. And hear with an honest and good heart, not a deceptive and evil heart. "Whoever does not have" But now look at the negative half of verse 18: "Whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him." What does that refer to? It refers to the other three soils and the failure to hear with a good heart and with true spiritual ears. In each of the first three soils (verses 12-14) there is a hearing of the Word of God. But in each case what they think they have, is taken away from them. Verse 12, the first soil: they think they have the Word, but the devil snatches it away. Verse 13, the second soil: they think they have the Word and true spiritual faith and joy, but they have no root to sustain them in time of trial. Their faith is a superficial enthusiasm that is real only for fair weather days. And so, when the trial comes, what they think they have is taken away. Finally, in verse 14, the third soil: they think they have the Word of God, but when the worries and riches and pleasures of life come, what they think they have is taken away, and they fail to bear fruit. So, the point of verse 18 is to interpret what was happening in the four soils. Three times it comes true: "Whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him." And one time - the fourth soil - the opposite comes true: "Whoever has, to him more shall be given." If you hear with an honest and good heart (v. 15) then more will be given to you. Next week I will try to answer the question why the sayings about the lamp and the lampstand (verses 16-17) are sandwiched between the interpretation of the parable of the soils and its practical conclusion in verse 18. Take Heed How You Hear But for now the main point is clear and very urgent: "Take heed how you hear!" To the one who has more will be given. Do you have ears to hear? Do you have a new heart? I'm going to talk very practically next week on how you prepare yourself to hear like this. But this morning I simply want the weight of it to land on us. Hearing is huge. I believe with all my heart that I am called to preach the Word of God. And many of you are called to teach it in various settings. But this text is about another great calling - the calling to hear the Word of God. And it is no small thing. The stakes are very high. There is a hearing that barely gets started and the Word is gone before you get out the door. There is a hearing that lasts until there is a hard time in life, and then one turns from God to other messages. There is a hearing that flourishes until the riches and pleasures of this life choke it off. And there is a hearing that defeats the devil, endures trial, scorns riches and bears fruit unto eternal life. That is the hearing we want. Let's ask God for it. Psalm 40:6 says that God opens the ear to hear: "Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; my ears You have opened." So, let us pray. Just like we prayed back during prayer week, "Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law" (Psalm 119:18), so let us now pray, "Open my ears, that I may hear the Word of God, with an honest and good heart and be saved (Luke 8:12) and bear fruit. 4. Who is the sower? What is the seed? What us the soils? High-light this sermon, write questions, write statements that stand out to you. 5. What are the two results to the Word of God being preached? 6. Read this sermon again and look over your notes. 7. Describe what good soil does with the preached Word of God. Wednesday
August 5, 2020 Reading Plan Daniel 10-12 Psalm 58 1. Write Hebrews 12:1 five times. 2. Read Matthew 13:1-23. 3. Write down your takeaways from Sunday’s message. Please write it down and email it to me at theway.dwilson@gmail.com. 4. Read Luke 8:4-18. What new information do you gain reading Luke’s account? 4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?” 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’ 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. 5. What happened to the seed that fell by the wayside? 6. What did the seed that fell on the rock lack? What happened to the seed that fell among the thorns? 7. What happened to the seed that fell on the good ground? What makes soil good? Discuss good soil, regarding the spiritual applications to a man’s soul. Tuesday
August 4, 2020 Daniel 7-9 Psalm 57 1. Write Hebrews 12:1 five times. 2. Read Matthew 13:1-9. 3. Write down your take-a-ways from Sunday’s message. 4. Write down action steps to your three take-a-ways from Sunday’s message. 5. Describe the act of sowing. 6. List all the places the seed fell as the sower sowed. 7. Have you ever planted seeds?
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