FOCUS FOR THE MONTH
GOD’S GREATEST GIFT
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. — James 1:17 ESV
Wednesday Corporate Fasting Scripture – Isaiah 58 (ESV); Isaiah 58 (KJV)
Friday End of Week Scripture – Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)
MEMBERS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Open Invitation – Introduction Class
Join the Introduction Class on 1-605-313-4831; access code 259-748#, whenever your Class Facilitator is absent
Did you miss your class today? Do you want an evangelism tool?
If yes — call or share the Introduction Class Instant Replay
1-605-313-4904; access code 259-748#
Open Invitation – Intercessory Prayer
Join the Intercessory Team every 2nd Saturday of each month
1-605-313-5671; access code 563-972#
start time is 4:45 AM
Young Adult Prayer Call (Age Group 18-35)
1-605-472-5660; access code 781-480#
start time is 7:30 PM – every Sunday
You Are Welcome To Listen To
Class Review Instant Replays
Introduction Class – (605) 313-4904; access code 259-748#
Class 5 – (605) 468-8114; access code 694-591#
Class 6 – (605) 313-4899; access code 943-172#
Visit here to submit Prayer Requests
***The English Standard Version (ESV) stands in the classic mainstream of English Bible translations over half-millennium. The fountainhead of that stream was William Tyndale’s New Testament of 1526; marking its course was the King James Version of 1611 (KJV), the English Revised Version of 1885 (RV), the American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV), the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 (RSV). Faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of accuracy were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression in that stream. 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 avoid under-translating or overlooking any nuance of the original text. The words and phrases 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 translating 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 the structure and meaning of the original as directly as possible. More about the ESV translation philosophy….***
PRAISE & WORSHIP
DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Sunday, December 3, 2023 – SURRENDERING TO JESUS – Jeremiah 38:17-23
Our Daily Bread Focus: Salvation
Reflect & Pray
How do your life choices line up with the claims of Jesus? What’s keeping you from surrendering to Him?
Compassionate God, please forgive me of the pride that keeps me from You.
Reflect & Pray
What valley have you been walking through? Which of God’s promises provide light for your journey?
Loving God, thank You for Your promise to never leave me. I trust You to be my strength, my provision, and my joy throughout my life.
For further study, read The Promises of God.
Reflect & Pray
How has God recently comforted you with His constant presence? How does His commitment to be present help when you’re far from loved ones?
Ever-present God, thank You for comforting me with the promise of Your constant presence.
Reflect & Pray
What’s your experience with gift-giving—is it forced or free and joyful? How does Jesus’ life change your notions of generosity?
Dear God, I want to be generous, but I don’t always feel it. Please help me to practice true generosity.
Thursday, December 7, 2023 – GIVING LIKE CHRIST – Romans 12:1-3
Daily Bread Focus: Stewardship, Giving
Scripture(s): Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 9:7
Reflect & Pray
What sacrificial gift have you received from someone that showed Christ’s love? What sacrificial gift can you give to others in return?
In my daily life, dear God, may I show others Jesus by sacrificing my needs for theirs.
Reflect & Pray
What biases have you faced or wrestled with? How does Jesus’ love help you deal with them?
Help me, loving God, to overcome any biases I may have and to love others with the love You alone can give.
Saturday, December 9, 2023 – BE THE CHURCH – Hebrews 10:19-25
Our Daily Bread Focus: Church Participation
Reflect & Pray
How can you be a help to those today who can’t gather in a church building? How does the church fill your need to be a part of a much larger purpose?
Dear God, please show me how to be the church.
THIS WEEK’S INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT BY SISTER CLOVIA
SACRIFICIAL GIFT OF LOVE
Love is the highest form of maturity. It often requires a sacrificial gift. If true love doesn’t include sacrifice, we probably don’t truly love another person.
If there is no sacrifice in our actions, we are most likely reacting to something nice they did for us or simply pretending to be kind to gain control over them or the situation.
Love requires a sacrifice of time, talent, and possibly treasure, but the actual sacrifice of love comes when it costs you something that has real value. Jesus showed us His love by intentionally laying down His life for us.
One’s ultimate sacrifice of love is to worship God. We are offering our lives to God because of all He has done and continues to do in our lives and for His glory.
Our sacrificial love for others is a response of worship and praise to Him, who laid down His life for us.
We love because He first loved us — 1 John 4:19 NIV
The greater the SACRIFICE, the greater the LOVE.