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    Putting Jesus First
    Putting Jesus First
    Putting Jesus First
    Ebook135 pages1 hour

    Putting Jesus First

    By Sarah Young

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    About this ebook

    In Putting Jesus First, the eighth study in the Jesus Calling Bible Study Series, you will explore what it means to place Christ first in every part of your life–and rely on Him in the busy times, anxious times, uncertain times, and lonely times. While the world offers many distractions and priorities for you to chase, the Bible is clear that peace and fulfillment only come as you put God's agenda first at all times. As Jesus promised, "Seek first [God's] kingdom . . . and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). 

    Each of the Jesus Calling Bible studies includes devotional readings from Jesus Calling, selected passages of Scripture for reflection, Bible study questions, and additional questions to help you apply the material. This study can be used for personal reflection and Bible study or in a small-group setting. 

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateAug 22, 2017
    ISBN9780310083719
    Putting Jesus First
    Author

    Sarah Young

    Sarah Young, autora de los devocionales de 365 días más vendidos Jesús te llama y Jesús siempre, estaba comprometida en ayudar a las personas a conectarse con Jesús y la Biblia.  Sus libros han vendido más de 40 millones de ejemplares en todo el mundo. Jesús te llama ha aparecido en todas las principales listas de los libros más vendidos. Los libros de Sarah incluyen Jesús te llama, Jesús escucha, Jesús siempre, Jesús hoy, Jesús vive, Jesús te llama para pequeñitos, Jesús te llama para niños – 364 Devocionales y más, cada uno animando a los lectores en sus viajes hacia la intimidad con Cristo. Sarah creía que orar por sus lectores era un privilegio y una responsabilidad dada por Dios y lo hacía a diario incluso en medio de sus propios desafíos de salud. Conéctate con Jesus Calling en: Facebook.com/Jesus Calling Instagram.com/Jesus Calling Youtube.com/jesus Callingbook Pinterest.com/Jesus Calling

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      Book preview

      Putting Jesus First - Sarah Young

      images/img-7-1.jpg

      INTRODUCTION

      Sometimes our busy and difficult lives give us the impression that God is silent. We cry out to Him, but our feelings tell us that He isn’t answering our prayers. In this, our feelings are incorrect. God hears the prayers of His children and speaks right into the situations in which we find ourselves. The trouble is that our lives are often too hectic, our minds too distracted, for us to take in what He offers.

      This Jesus Calling Bible study is designed to help individuals and groups meditate on the words of Scripture and hear them not just as words said to people long ago but as words said to us today in the here and now. The goal is to help the heart open up and respond to what the mind reads—to encounter the living God as He speaks through the Scriptures. The writer to the Hebrews tells us:

      In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

      —H

      EBREWS

      1:1–3

      God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. The New Testament gives us the chance to walk with Jesus, see what He does, and hear Him speak into the sometimes confusing situations in which we find ourselves. The Old Testament tells us the story of how God prepared a people to be the family of Jesus, and in the experiences of those men and women we find our own lives mirrored.

      THE GOAL OF THIS SERIES

      The Jesus Calling Bible Study Series offers you a chance to lay down your cares, enter God’s Presence, and hear Him speak through His Word. You will get to spend some time silently studying a passage of Scripture, and then, if you’re meeting with a group, openly sharing your insights and hearing what others discovered. You’ll also get to discuss excerpts from the Jesus Calling devotional that relate to the themes of the Bible passages. In this way, you will learn how to better make space in your life for the Spirit of God to speak to you through the Word of God and the people of God.

      THE FLOW OF EACH SESSION

      Each session of this study guide contains the following elements:

      • CONSIDER IT. The two questions in this opening section serve as an icebreaker to help you start thinking about the theme of the session, connecting it to your own past or present experience and allowing you to get to know the others in your group more deeply. If you’ve had a busy day and your mind is full of distractions, these questions can help you better focus.

      • EXPERIENCE IT. Here you will find two readings from Jesus Calling along with some questions for reflection. This is your chance to talk with others about the biblical principles found within the Jesus Calling devotions. Can you relate to what each reading describes? What insights from God’s Word does it illuminate? What does it motivate you to do? This section will assist you in applying these biblical principles to your everyday habits.

      • STUDY IT. Next you’ll explore a Scripture passage connected to the session topic and the readings from Jesus Calling. You will not only analyze these Bible passages but also pray through them in ways designed to engage your heart and your head. You’ll first talk with your group about what the verse or verses mean and then spend several minutes in silence, letting God speak into your life through His Word.

      • LIVE IT. Finally, you will find five days’ worth of suggested Scripture passages that you can pray through on your own during the week. Suggested questions for additional study and reflection are provided.

      FOR LEADERS

      If you are leading a group through this study guide, please see the Leader’s Notes at the end of the guide. You’ll find background on the design of the study as well as suggested answers for some of the study questions.

      images/img-7-1.jpg

      SESSION 1

      PUTTING JESUS FIRST IN TIMES OF BUSYNESS

      CONSIDER IT

      Back in the 1930s, economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that future generations would work only about fifteen hours each week. Keynes had witnessed technological advances shrink the workday in his time, and he had every reason to believe this trend would continue. Keynes was partly right—leisure time for people in developed countries has, on average, steadily increased over the years. But today, people feel busier than ever.

      What’s the reason for this? Part of the problem seems to stem from the fact that our society evaluates us based on how much we are able to produce in a given day. We feel pressured to make every moment count—and fill every moment with a task to complete. As a result, most of us are crazy busy trying to satisfy all the demands.

      What we desperately need is to ground ourselves in Jesus’ standard for evaluating our lives. He’s not all about how much we produce but about how much we love Him and other people. Putting Jesus first means putting Him first in the way we use our time. But how is that possible, given the way people around us (and a voice inside us) press us to accomplish a superhuman amount of things each day? This is what we will explore during this first session.

      1. What does a typical day look like for you?

      [Your Response Here]

      2. Why do you suppose we tend to value busyness in our society?

      [Your Response Here]

      EXPERIENCE IT

      "Approach this day with awareness of who is Boss. As you make plans for the day, remember that it is I who orchestrate the events of your life. On days when things go smoothly, according to your plans, you may be unaware of My sovereign Presence. On days when your plans are thwarted, be on the lookout for Me! I may be doing something important in your life, something quite different from what you expected. It is essential at such times to stay in communication with Me, accepting My way as better than yours. Don’t try to figure out what is happening. Simply trust Me and thank Me in advance for the good that will come out of it all. I know the plans I have for you, and they are good."

      —F

      ROM

      J

      ESUS

      C

      ALLING

      , J

      ANUARY

      20

      3. What are some possible implications of recognizing Jesus as your boss? How could this perspective change your outlook on the tasks you strive to do each day?

      [Your Response Here]

      4. What is the value of being on the lookout for Christ when your plans are thwarted?

      [Your Response Here]

      "Be still in My Presence, even though countless tasks clamor for your attention. Nothing is as important as spending time with Me. While you wait in My Presence, I do My

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