January 10 – 16

Weekly Reading for January 10 – 16

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: Getting a Grip
Sermon Title: Getting a Grip on Your Relationships

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on January 17, 2016:


Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: Getting a Grip
Sermon Title: Getting a Grip on Your Schedule
Delivered On: January 10, 2016

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Memorize and Reflect

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)


Prayer Direction

Pray for wisdom to know how God would have you use your time and energy. Thank God for the simple pleasures of sustenance and work. Ask for strength to use each opportunity for God’s glory. Confess where you are numbing yourself with substances and diversions rather than being filled with the Holy Spirit…and pray for a fresh filling of the Spirit.


“Live It!” Challenge

Take Time to Memorize: It would be a great investment of your time to commit Ephesians 5:15-16 to memory. When you find yourself squandering time, meditate on this passage seek wisdom about how you should use the moments of your day.


Small Group Discussion

  1. Why do you think so many “One-Minute” books have been sold and why are people attracted to this approach to life?

  2. Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
    This passage lists all sorts of things that “There is a time for.” What are things on this list that surprise you? What do you think the writer of this book is seeking to communicate and what message do you think God wants us to learn?

  3. How can our view of how we should use our time change when we realize that this life is just the start, but we also have eternity waiting for us? Why do you think God wants us to enjoy the simple things of life like food and our work and what happens if we don’t enjoy these things?

  4. Read: Ephesians 5:15-20
    What gets in the way of us “making the most of every opportunity”? Why do you think God wants us to turn in to how we can best use every opportunity we encounter?

  5. Tell about a time when you did not make the best of an opportunity God brought your way. What do you think you might have missed out on?

  6. What are some of the “mind-numbing” substances and experiences people can use that get in the way of their life being used fully for the glory of God? How can we avoid these temptations?

  7. When your life gets out of balance, what things do you tend to spend too much time on? What do you tend to neglect?

  8. When Jesus is truly in the center of your life, how does He impact the way you invest your time in one of the following areas: family, friendships, work, health, recreation, some other area.

  9. What is one area of your life that you need to work at getting Jesus back in the center of? What action can you take and how can the others in your group pray for you in this area of your life?

  10. Why do you think so many “One-Minute” books have been sold and why are people attracted to this approach to life?

  11. Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
    This passage lists all sorts of things that “There is a time for.” What are things on this list that surprise you? What do you think the writer of this book is seeking to communicate and what message do you think God wants us to learn?

  12. How can our view of how we should use our time change when we realize that this life is just the start, but we also have eternity waiting for us? Why do you think God wants us to enjoy the simple things of life like food and our work and what happens if we don’t enjoy these things?

  13. Read: Ephesians 5:15-20
    What gets in the way of us “making the most of every opportunity”? Why do you think God wants us to turn in to how we can best use every opportunity we encounter?

  14. Tell about a time when you did not make the best of an opportunity God brought your way. What do you think you might have missed out on?

  15. What are some of the “mind-numbing” substances and experiences people can use that get in the way of their life being used fully for the glory of God? How can we avoid these temptations?

  16. When your life gets out of balance, what things do you tend to spend too much time on? What do you tend to neglect?

  17. When Jesus is truly in the center of your life, how does He impact the way you invest your time in one of the following areas: family, friendships, work, health, recreation, some other area.

  18. What is one area of your life that you need to work at getting Jesus back in the center of? What action can you take and how can the others in your group pray for you in this area of your life?