April 2 – 8

Weekly Reading for April 2 – 8

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: Surprised
Sermon Title: Jesus Paid for All My Wrongs

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on April 9, 2017:


Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: Promises
Sermon Title: Ask and You Will Receive
Delivered On: April 2, 2017

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Memorize and Reflect

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14)


Prayer Direction

Ask God to help you read His Word daily, with an open heart, and with a wise mind that understands the true meaning of the Bible. Confess where you have been distracted and have not made reading and following the Bible a high priority in your life. Pray for the Shoreline pastors and teachers to be faithful and effective in their teaching and preaching ministry.


“Live It!” Challenge

Promise Check - First, identify two or three of your favorite “promises” from the Bible and read them in the whole context where they are found (at least the full chapter). Second, ask if there are any qualifiers in the passage that clarify what the promise really is. Third, ask if the context opens up the meaning of the promise. Fourth, prayerfully seek to discern what this promise is really saying (and if it is actually a promise at all). Finally, live out the text as God gave it to us, in context and with its full meaning.


Small Group Discussion

  1. Why is it absolutely critical that we read every part of the Bible in the historical context and within the context of where it is found in the Scriptures? What are some of the potential dangers if we take a sentence or part of a sentence from the Bible, put it on a bumper sticker, and claim that these words represent exactly what God is saying?

  2. Over the past six weeks, we have been studying various promises in the Bible and learning what these promises really mean. Describe one way your understanding of biblical interpretation has grown and deepened through this sermon series.

  3. Read: John 14:13-14 and John 15:7-8 What are some of the dangers and possible costly consequences a person might face if they took only the following words from these passages?

    • “I will do whatever you ask!”
    • “You may ask me for anything!”
    • “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you!”
  4. How do the rest of these passages help us make sense of these promises? What are the qualifiers or words of clarification in the passage that help us understand the true meaning of these passages and the promises they contain?

  5. What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus? (Really dig into this!) It is much more than tagging the words, “In the name of Jesus” at the end of our prayer.

  6. How will our prayers change if we ask the question, “Will God the Father be truly glorified if this prayer is answered in the affirmative”?

  7. What does it mean to remain or abide in Jesus? What are four or five practical ways we can live a life that abides in Jesus? Which of these do you need to pay attention to and grow in your life?

  8. What does it mean to have the Word of God abide (or remain) in us? What are four or five ways we can let the Word of God dwell more deeply in our heart and life? What step can you take to grow in God’s Word?

  9. Why is it absolutely critical that we read every part of the Bible in the historical context and within the context of where it is found in the Scriptures? What are some of the potential dangers if we take a sentence or part of a sentence from the Bible, put it on a bumper sticker, and claim that these words represent exactly what God is saying?

  10. Over the past six weeks, we have been studying various promises in the Bible and learning what these promises really mean. Describe one way your understanding of biblical interpretation has grown and deepened through this sermon series.

  11. Read: John 14:13-14 and John 15:7-8 What are some of the dangers and possible costly consequences a person might face if they took only the following words from these passages?

    • “I will do whatever you ask!”
    • “You may ask me for anything!”
    • “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you!”
  12. How do the rest of these passages help us make sense of these promises? What are the qualifiers or words of clarification in the passage that help us understand the true meaning of these passages and the promises they contain?

  13. What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus? (Really dig into this!) It is much more than tagging the words, “In the name of Jesus” at the end of our prayer.

  14. How will our prayers change if we ask the question, “Will God the Father be truly glorified if this prayer is answered in the affirmative”?

  15. What does it mean to remain or abide in Jesus? What are four or five practical ways we can live a life that abides in Jesus? Which of these do you need to pay attention to and grow in your life?

  16. What does it mean to have the Word of God abide (or remain) in us? What are four or five ways we can let the Word of God dwell more deeply in our heart and life? What step can you take to grow in God’s Word?