¹⁵I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. ¹⁶So I never stop being grateful for you, as I mention you in my prayers. ¹⁷I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. ¹⁸My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.¹⁹I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used ²⁰when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven. ²¹There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well. ²²God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything. ²³The church is Christ’s body and is filled with Christ who completely fills everything.

Ephesians 2

¹In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. ²You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn’t obey God. ³Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.^4-5But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God’s wonderful kindness is what saves you. ⁶God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. ⁷God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. ⁸You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. ⁹It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. ¹⁰God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

QUESTIONS (Here they are again, in case you forgot them):

• What is the verse that sums up this passage? (key verse)
• What is the main idea of this passage?
• Which verse or verses made you think?
• Which verse did you have to read twice to understand?
• Are there any words that you don’t understand? Did you look up the meaning?
• Is there a key WORD that repeats OR sums up the idea of the passage?
• Did anything take you by surprise?
• Do you believe God had a plan as described?
• What part does Jesus play?
• If you were to give this a title, what would it be?
• How does this apply to your life today? Can you use this in your every day life? Can you use it for a) personal encouragement; b) encouragement to others; c) as a guide on how to deal with a problem; or d) as a guideline for an area of your life?
• How would you share this with someone else? Can you summarize it in a sentence or two?

These are guideline questions. Next week I will share what I found, but you all should answer these questions first. — Alyce

^3-6How blessed is God! And what a blessing God is! God is the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before Jesus laid down earth’s foundations, God had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of God’s love, to be made whole and holy by God’s love. Long, long ago God decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure God took in planning this!) God wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.^7-10Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! God thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans God took such delight in making. God set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.^11-12It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.^13-14It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

QUESTIONS:

• What is the verse that sums up this passage? (key verse)
• What is the main idea of this passage?
• Which verse or verses made you think?
• Which verse did you have to read twice to understand?
• Are there any words that you don’t understand? Did you look up the meaning?
• Is there a key WORD that repeats OR sums up the idea of the passage?
• Did anything take you by surprise?
• Do you believe God had a plan as described?
• What part does Jesus play?
• If you were to give this a title, what would it be?
• How does this apply to your life today? Can you use this in your every day life? Can you use it for a) personal encouragement; b) encouragement to others; c) as a guide on how to deal with a problem; or d) as a guideline for an area of your life?
• How would you share this with someone else? Can you summarize it in a sentence or two?

These are guideline questions. Next week I will share what I found, but you all should answer these questions first. — Alyce

STEP 1

Find the answers to the following questions.  Your Bible may have a section that explains or gives a bit of background for each chapter in the Bible.   Definitely read that section.  Try also to search other sources for some answers.  (email your answers to VicarAlyce@GentleSpirit.org) – Yes, I want to hear your answers!!

1. Who wrote the book of Ephesians?
2. Who was the audience?
3. When was it written?
4. Where was the author when he wrote it?
5. Has anyone tried to determine why it might have been written?  (We are roughly 2000 years too late to ask the author that question).
6. How was the letter delivered to the people?  If most people couldn’t read – does it mean someone may had to read this to them?
7. If his was written to be read aloud, has it affected the way it may have been written? Think of the Psalms – they were written to be sung read aloud.  They have a beat/pattern that makes them easy to set to music.  Does Ephesians have anything like that in the text?
8. Does the text reflect or reveal any purpose the author may have had in mind when he wrote it?

You may notice I am using the 5W and 1H method of questioning about this text.  What, Where, Why, When, Who, How – I learned this in journalism class.  If you can gather the answers to these questions – usually it means you have covered the full story.

STEP 2

NOW go behind the story and study the history of the times.

1. What was happening in the area?
2. How did the people live?  They didn’t have super markets, so where did their food come from?  Where did their paper come from?  Did they go to Staples and get their pen and paper to write a letter?
3. What cost is associated to writing a letter at the time?
4. Are there phrases that would apply to the times that don’t apply now?

Come up with a few questions of your own. This is when we research the background of the book.

STEP 3

You should also be reading the book for pleasure and an overview.    Out line the book for yourself.  How would you divide it if it where up to you?  How would you group the topics?  Please outline the book for yourself and share your outlines.  I would love to see them.

This is how you should start all your studies of Bible books with a bit of research.  Have you ever had to do a research paper?  Think of all the skills you used then.  Use some of those skills now.  You should be able to create a “research paper” on Ephesians when you are done with this study.  I will walk you thru the steps.

More next week – keep reading over the book of Ephesians, we are try to get VERY familiar with the book.

Now we have discussed Praying and Listening to God.

Today we need to start planning on times to get together with God.  Once a day you should be planning to spend time with the one entity in this world; in your life; that accepts you 100% and loves you 100% NO MATTER WHAT.  For those of you not as familiar with Gentle Spirit Christian Church of Atlanta – we have a saying - No Rules, Just God.

You see God accept us just where we are today.  Jesus showed that example many times in scripture – a few examples from Matthew see: 8:1-3, 8:5-13, 8:28-34, 9:1-8, 9:9-13, 9:27-34, 12:9-14, 9:15-21, 9:22-37, 15:21-28, 17:14-21 just a few examples of Jesus accepting everyone just where they are and sharing God’s love for those not always openly accepted by others in this world.

So if God has accepted us openly, then why aren’t you spending time with God/Jesus?

Taking time for God – plan a visit everyday.

What do you do?

1. Get alone in a quiet place, and have your Bible with you.
2. Pray – pray to God to speak to you thru God’s word – the Bible Also thank God for all that happened yesterday and praise God – for something.  God works in your life everyday praise God for being there and try to recognize something that God blessed you with and praise/thank God for it.
3. Read the Bible – a short passage.
4. Think about the passage – 5 Ws and 1H – what, where, when, why, who, how – ask these questions in some fashion; questions like:  What stands out?  What touches your heart?  How does it relate to your day, this day, today?
5. Pray – about your day, for others, for yourself – make your requests know.

When do you meet with God?

It depends on your schedule. A lot of people say you should start your day with God.  I find I am not a “morning” person, so I end my day with God.  I know some that take time with God during their lunch periods.  What time will work best for you? 

So – now is time for you to get to work and spend time with God.  Where do you start to read?

Try a short book like Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians or Colossians.  Read a story or section each day applying the five steps above. 

Listen to the video again.  Try it this week.  Next week I will have a quiet time with you during the Bible study.

Remember I can be reached at VicarAlyce@GentleSpirit.org.

– Alyce Keener

The Bible is full of stories – think about how many of the stories you know:

• Noah and the Ark
• Cain and Abel
• Adam and Eve
• Job
• Moses – even in film – “the Ten commandments”
• The three guys in the fire
• And Daniel in the lion’s den

You have heard about Jonah and the whale – how did Jonah get in the whale?

You have to listen or read the story to find out.

I wrapped up with Proverbs – a book of sayings to help guide us thru life.

Read Proverbs 1: 1-7.

This week I want to encourage you to search the Bible that share the importance of the Bible and its contents to each of us.  You can go to www.BibleGateway.com and look for KEYWORD SEARCH on the left.  Select it. Then enter a few words like:

• Word life
• Word light
• Word God
• Word Jesus
• Word Lord

Just for a few options to seek out God and the importance of listening to God thru reading the Bible.

Some examples:

Psalm 119: 105-112

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.  107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.  108 Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.  109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.  110 The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.  111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. 112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

Proverbs 6: 20-23

20 My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  21 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.  23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

As you can see the Bible and its teachings were VERY important to those that wrote it.  I can not think of one person mentioned in the Bible that did not consider God’s word as the best way to “listen” to God and to learn to live as God wishes – loving and accepting everyone – right where they are right now.

So this week I would encourage you to do one of the following (if not all of them):

1. Listen to a sermon – you can go to GSCC.podomatic.com to see a sermon, or you can go to church this week and listen LIVE.
2. Listen to the Bible – either
3. Listen to a Meditation about a verse – we can help you start here, you can go to GSCC.podomatic.com and watch Welcome to the New Week for a bit of mediation on our Sunday sermon.  It is posted most every Monday.
4. Mediate your self on a verse.  Write Psalm 119:105 on a card or piece of paper and look at it before each of your meals.  Think about what it is saying and how you can use it in your life to get to know God and to Listen to God.  Share our thoughts with someone.

That should be enough to get you going.  I hope to hear from you this week as to how your mediations went.  You can always email: vicaralyce@gentlespirit.org

Please send your feed back if you like any of our broadcasts I would love to hear that someone is listening and reading these posts.  Thanks

More next week.

Alyce Keener

James 5:13-18 (The Message)

¹⁵Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out.  ^16-18Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

You started last week talking with God thru prayer – now we need to join w/ others to pray.

Matthew 18:19-20

¹⁹ “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

We need to join forces when we pray.  Sharing requests helps to have 2 or more work together to get prayers answered.

• How – you have sharing at church or with friends.
• Prayer circles  where people get together to share and pray together for issues
• The national day of prayer – held annually here in the US
• Prayer chains – organized to make sure prayer requests are made known by all wishing to support others in prayer.
• Even the internet has sites that you can share requests and be prayed for.

Sharing is something we need to do in life.  Burdens aren’t meant to be carried by ourselves individually, but with help – God, friends, family, and our church.

Books referred to: 1) Paths to Prayer by Patricia D. Brown 2) Book of Common Prayer.

Share this week with someone – a prayer request.  Ask someone to share a prayer request with you.

Contact Gentle Spirit Christian church for prayers at Prayer@Gentlespirit.org

I hope you will join me again next week.

– Vicar Alyce