The Prayer Driven Life
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Although many people would admit that there is value in prayer, few would say that prayer is the driving force in their lives. The life of the apostle Paul was driven by prayer. Fortunately, many of these prayers were preserved in Acts and his letters.
Love is the force behind Paul’s prayer driven life. Paul’s love for others was born out of receiving God’s love in his own life. His example encourages you to care enough about others to become involved and informed so that you can pray intelligently. Just as Paul made a difference in the world because his life was driven by prayer, so can you. See more about “The Prayer Driven Life” on the books tab of this site.
Jesus, In His Own Words
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He” (John 4:26).
If you want to gain information about someone, you usually ask him questions, such as “Where were you born?” “What do you do for a living?” “What are your favorite things to do?” “Tell me about your family.”
If you want to know more about Jesus, ask Him. There were many names given to Jesus and all have significance, but have you ever thought about how He described himself?
The “I Am” statements of Jesus (The Bread of Life, The Light of the World, The Door, The Good Shepherd, The Resurrection and The Life, The Way, The Truth and The Life, and The True Vine as well as the Son of God and the Son of Man) make him stand apart from every other person in the world. In fact, one of the “I am” statements was the grounds upon which he was crucified (John 8:58).
This study will not only help you understand better who Jesus is, but what difference this discovery makes in your life. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).
In the Father’s Embrace
People often form their opinion of God the Father based on their experiences with their own earthly fathers. If a person is fortunate enough to have a godly Christian father, those experiences bear some resemblance to God as Father. There are many, though, who had very bad models of fatherhood. Their perception of God as Father is quite different from someone who had a Christian father. However, all comparisons fall short of who our Heavenly Father really is.
When we apply our father’s attributes to God, we get it backwards. God came first. He created our earthly fathers. They needed salvation, just as we do. God Himself is the model Father. Our error in thinking about the family of God, and God as our Father, comes from our perspective. When we view God as Father through the filter of family as we know it, we will always have faulty thinking.
This six session study covers:
- Relating to God as Father
- Touching Our Father’s Heart
- Piercing Our Father’s Heart
- Trusting Our Father’s Heart
- Our Inheritance in our Father’ Kingdom
- Sitting at the Feet of Our Father
Relationships: Networking God’s Way
Jesus said the greatest commandment is “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. . . and. . . you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31). Every relationship of life is covered in this commandment.
Life is all about relationships. Your most important relationship is with God, your creator. Your self-image, your background, your personality, your self-talk, etc. are all part of the relationship that you have with yourself. Your relationship to your neighbors include your family, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, your acquaintances and even your enemies. The Bible has something to say about all those relationships.
Networking is a familiar term today. The internet is full of social networking sites. Businesses rely on networking for survival. Families stay in touch by networking.
Jesus is the original “networker”, reconciling us back to God. He came from Heaven to show us what God is like and how we can relate to Him. His life gave us an example of how to relate to other people as well. This study of the greatest commandment gives guidelines for your relationships and how they all work together in God’s plan.
Ancient Wisdom for Today’s Women
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).
The book of Proverbs has much to say about how a person should live. This seminar looks at these truths from the standpoint of what God has to say to His daughters, women of faith.
Several questions set the stage for the study of the themes listed below. What is a proverb? Why study proverbs? Is there a relationship between proverbs and parables? What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? What is the difference between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom? What is the difference between the fear of God and being afraid? How do we define a command of God: what about when He says, “do not” do something?
The themes for this study of the book of Proverbs are:
- A Wise Woman Fears God
- A Wise Woman Strives to Understand
- A Wise Woman Obeys the Commandments
- A Wise Woman Accepts Discipline
- A Wise Woman Stands Upright
- A Wise Woman Watches Her Words
- A Wise Woman Takes Her Role in the Family Seriously
- A Wise Woman Cares for Others
- The Wise Woman’s Works
From Frazzled to Fruitful
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Life is unpredictable. Some days things go smoothly, but most of the time snags are encountered along the way. When you cannot carry out your plans, how do you react? Is frustration and confusion an ever present companion in your life?
What can do you do about the complications that present themselves? How can you keep from feeling frazzled by the cares of life? Are you amazed at some people you know who seem to be able to “roll with the punchs” and continue on with life, making necessary adjustments as they go?
What prevents you from being fruitful in God’s service? Do you feel like you are not making the impact you want to make? What do you think is holding you back? What does God count as “fruit”?
Almost everyone wants to have a productive life. A Christian should desire to glorify God and bear fruit for Him.
Scripture, especially the passage on the fruit of the spirit, gives answers to these questions and can replace frazzled confusion with fruitful productivity.
Conquering the “Worry Gene”
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
Some people are prone to worry, thinking they are genetically inclined to do so. “My grandfather worried, my father worried, my mother worried and now it is my responsibility to carry on the tradition!”
Certainly, worry and fearfulness are characteristics of some temperaments. It is harder for some people to get through a day without imagining the worst. A common thread of thought in worriers is “I need to do something. If I can’t resolve the situation, at least I can worry about it!”
Are you aware you are not supposed to worry, but do it anyway? Do you realize worry and fear are evidence of a lack of faith in God? What can you do about it? Christians have to address this issue because the Bible makes it clear that worry and fear are sins.
This topical study of worry and fear will help you understand that when you have a proper fear of God, you need not fear (or worry) about anything else.
Connected to the Vine
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. . . By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. . . These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:5, 8, 11).
God has a plan for your life. When he created you, all that you could ever accomplish for Him was in you. From the very beginning, He implanted the seed for your fruit in you (Psalm 139).
This study of John 15 answers the question: “How do you find God’s plan for your life and bear the fruit that will bring glory to him and joy to you?”
There are three parts to our answer: God’s part, your part, the fruit.
Raising Godly Children: Providing Parents with Tips and Tools from the Word of God
The most touching compliment or most searing criticism could be “Your child acts just like you do.” Not every child is planned by his parents, but every soul is planned by God. Everyone has a family history – some good, some bad. It is possible to break old patterns and put godly patterns in place.
There is no greater or rewarding calling than parenting, but it is also the most difficult because it is all “on the job” training. You, as a parent, have the most input into your child’s life.
This study of biblical principles cover:
- The godly parent must tell his children of God’s work in his own life
- The godly parent must teach his children the Word of God
- The godly parent knows how to lovingly guide his children
- The godly parent comforts his children
- The godly parent provides for his children
- The godly parent is in charge
- The godly parent must correct his child;
- The godly parent leads his child to a personal relationship with God.
Learning to Love Your Role as a Pastor’s Wife
Being a pastor’s wife has many privileges and blessings associated with it, but also the possibility of many trials and heartaches. Some women in that role feel a genuine calling to be there.Some do not. How can God equip you for this very hard task and cause you to love being a pastor’s wife?
This study covers the pastor’s wife’s relationship to her Lord, her husband, herself, her family, her church, her community and the world.
Custom Made Studies
I enjoy developing and teaching custom-made studies. My husband, Richard, and I also do conferences together. We are available to lead workshops and conferences tailor-made for your church. Check out our website, http://www.xtendinternational.com for more information on our international ministry.
One Focus Ministries 