FOCUS OF THE MONTH
New Convictions For A New Year
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. –James 4:17 (KJV)
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. — James 4:17 (ESV)
Wednesday Corporate Fasting Scripture – Isaiah 58 (ESV); Isaiah 58 (KJV)
!!!! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!
Sister Ruby McCollum Brown – January 5 – Class #03
Brother Robert Davis – January 5 – Class #01
Sister Earnestine White – January 5 – Class #02
Sister Cornelia Booker – January 7 – Class #06
Sister Annie Faulkner – January 9 – Class #03
Call (605) 472-5694, access code 4558-62#; Reference 78# to listen to a review of these lessons.
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Overview:
Sunday – Let’s allow our lights to shine before others. Pray that they will receive the welcoming love of Jesus into their lives and be free.
Monday – We must show hospitality to strangers. We never know how God will use us or others in a mysterious way to help in times of need.
Tuesday – Remember, when we give, whether of our time, treasures or talents, we must give from our hearts. Be sure that our motives are not self-serving. Instead, focus on Jesus and give Him the glory.
Wednesday – Life is fleeting and none of us know the number of our days. We must truly begin to appreciate and trust the character of God as, “Protector”, especially during difficult times. Ministry work can be challenging, however, our goal is to leave a meaningful legacy.
Thursday – In order to stand the test of time, we must be sure that our foundation is Jesus Christ, “The Rock”! As followers of Christ, we must count the cost, be determined to stay in His word, apply it to our lives and keep the faith.
Friday – There’s no doubt that we live in a broken world and darkness has brought so much suffering. It’s difficult to see so much pain; however, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us daily. Don’t fear as we are led into uncertain territories to shine our lights to reach lost souls.
***The English Standard Version (ESV) stands in the classic mainstream of English Bible translations over the past half-millennium. The fountainhead of that stream was William Tyndale’s New Testament of 1526; marking its course were the King James Version of 1611 (KJV), the English Revised Version of 1885 (RV), the American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV), and the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 (RSV). In that stream, faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of accuracy were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression. Our goal has been to carry forward this legacy for a new century.
To this end each word and phrase in the ESV has been carefully weighed against the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, to ensure the fullest accuracy and clarity and to avoid under-translating or overlooking any nuance of the original text. The words and phrases themselves grow out of the Tyndale-King James legacy, and most recently out of the RSV, with the 1971 RSV text providing the starting point for our work. Archaic language has been brought to current usage and significant corrections have been made in the translation of key texts. But throughout, our goal has been to retain the depth of meaning and enduring language that have made their indelible mark on the English-speaking world and have defined the life and doctrine of the church over the last four centuries.
The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. It seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original. More about the ESV translation philosophy….***
Sunday, January 5, 2020 – Shining the Light – Matthew 5:14-16
Our Daily Bread Topic: Evangelism; Living like Christ
Reflect & Pray
What’s one way you could be more welcoming to the lonely and needy around you? How can the Holy Spirit help you be a city set on a hill for others to see?
Heavenly Father, thank You for Stephen’s example. Like him, help me to show kindness and a welcoming spirit to everyone I meet.
Monday, January 6, 2020 – Mysterious Helpers – Hebrews 13:1-3
Focus: Let’s thank God for mysterious helpers that are sent to help us in our times of need.
Scripture(s): Acts 8:26-40; Matthew 25:34-40
Our Daily Bread Topic: Angels; Serving
Reflect & Pray
What do you know about angels? Can you think of an instance when you may have encountered one without realizing it at the time?
Thank You, God, for the angels You send, meeting us in our time of need.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 – Secret Delivery – Matthew 6:1-4
Focus: When giving from our hearts, our motives should never be for self-attention, but rather, focus on Jesus and give Him the glory.
Scripture(s): 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Kings 4:8-11; Luke 21:2-3
Our Daily Bread Topic: Giving
Reflect & Pray
How can you place the spotlight on Jesus by giving to someone in secret this week? How can you give God credit while still accepting appreciation?
Jesus, thank You for reminding us that giving to others is a privilege and a wonderful way to thank You for all You’ve given us.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 – A Hundred Years from Now – Job 19:21-27
Focus: Life is fleeting. Let’s learn to appreciate God’s character and trust Him in times of difficulties. Let’s leave a lasting legacy.
Scripture(s): 1 Peter 1:25; Isaiah 40:8; Job 13:15
Our Daily Bread Topic: Mentoring
Reflect & Pray
Why do you think Job wanted his words preserved forever? How do you want people to remember you one hundred years from now?
God, everything is fleeting except for You. We praise You for Your unshakable character. Show us what is truly important.
Thursday, January 9, 2020 – The Leaning Tower – Matthew 7:24-27
Focus: When our foundation is Jesus Christ, “The Rock”, our faith will sustain us in troubling times. Count the cost.
Scripture(s): Matthew 16:24-26; Luke 14:28
Daily Bread Topic: Trust in God
Reflect & Pray
How has your faith helped you to weather the worst storms you’ve faced? What are some practical ways you can strengthen your faith each day?
Father, storms are inevitable in life. Help us to choose to dwell daily in Scripture and strengthen our strong foundation in You.
Friday, January 10, 2020 – Here Be Dragons? – 2 Timothy 1:6-14
Focus: Following Christ in this broken world can be difficult. We must trust the Holy Spirit to guide us daily in uncertain territory and not fear.
Scripture(s): Psalm 118:6; Psalm 27:1-3
Our Daily Bread Topic: Fear; Trust in God
Reflect & Pray
Is there a particularly debilitating fear God may be calling you to confront? How might the support and love of other believers encourage you as you walk through your fears?
Loving God, thank You for the new life You’ve given us, for freedom from all that would cripple us in fear and shame. Help us to find peace in You.
For further study, read Hope: Choosing Faith Instead of Fear at discoveryseries.org/q0733.
Saturday, January 11, 2020 – The Only King – Matthew 2:1-12
Our Daily Bread Topic: Christ, death; Forgiveness of Sin; Sin
Reflect & Pray
What does it mean for you to have Jesus as your King? Are there areas of your life where He’s not?
Jesus, thank You for willingly dying for our sins and offering forgiveness. Teach us to submit to Your rule.
To learn more about Christ’s life, visit christianuniversity.org/tgs.
Inspirational Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson
A Legacy of a Well-Worn Bible
It has been said that a Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t. That isn’t a legacy of faith. The well-worn pages of a Bible tell a beautiful story. Every wrinkle marks a spot where you came to meet God. The notes written in the margin are reminders of lessons learned, questions asked and surrender given. In a few places, you might find smeared ink where teardrops have fallen, battles have been fought and sins have been forgiven. The cracked worn binding of a Bible reveals strength that has been unleashed in prayers and the Words of God breathes life into a soul.
In opening our Bibles, we receive an amazing gift. Each word echoes the voice of God. Every book points to Jesus. Every verse reveals, His plan, His purpose, and is passion for you. Every time you open your Bible you meet God. Every time you come into His presence you have chance for a fresh start, a new beginning, and radical transformation.
O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. – Psalm 119:97
“My friends, make time for God every day because He always has time for you.” — Sister Clovia