Weekly Study Guide

Using God as Our GPS

Week of Feb 1 - Feb 5 Study Guide

Mon., Feb. 1 – Begin in prayer. This week, we are going to use several psalms to help guide our growth when using Godas our GPS. Read Psalm 37, which was used in worship on Sunday. Pay particular attention to verses 3-9, 23-23-24, 27-28, 3-0-31 and 39-40. In your own words, write down how you think the Psalmist is encouraging followers of God. Can you relate to what the Psalmist is saying? What words or phrases of this psalm do you find most challenging personally?  

Tues., Feb 2 – Prepare yourself before the Lord. Read Psalm 31. Re-read these verses: 3-5, 14-18. Do you agree with the Psalmist’s words? The Psalmist also talks about how his friends have not been nice to him. What does the Psalmist do to deal with them? How do you best deal with those who challenge you? Now read verses 23-24 as a benediction, an ending to your study time.  

Wed., Feb 3 – Pray that God will speak to you through God’s Holy Word. Read Psalm 25. This psalm is about trust. The Psalmist asks God to forget his earlier sins and commits himself to trusting God. Throughout the psalm, the writer exhibits great trust in the Lord. Do you trust the Lord? Why or why not? When or when not? What doest the Psalmist say to you about trust?  

Thurs., Feb 4 – Ask God to direct your study time. Read Psalm 42, which speaks of hope. Twice the Psalmist uses the same phrase. Find the phrase and write it down. When the scenery gets challenging along life’s journey, how does the author encourage us? Pick a phrase from this psalm that speaks to you and use it several times throughout the day.

Week of Jan 25 - 28 Study Guide

Mon., Jan. 25 – Begin in prayer. One man who journeyed with God throughout his life was Jacob.  This week, we will read a significant portion of his story.  Read Genesis 25:19-34, the story of Esau and Jacob's birth and Esau giving away his birthright.  Why do you think he did and gave it away so quickly?  Has there been something in your life that you didn't value intitially...and later realized this was a mistake?  Do you think this happens to Esau?

Tues., Jan. 26 – Prepare yourself before the Lord. Read Genesis 26:24-27:46.  Now, Jacob receives Esau's blessing.  When have you felt like Jacob in this story?  When have you felt like Esau?  Why does the journey for Jacob seem easier than for Esau?  What is the lesson here for us?

Wed., Jan. 27 – Pray that God will speak to you through God’s Holy Word. Read Genesis 28:1-30:24.  Jacob jorneys to the region his mother, Rachel is from.  What happens to him along the way?  Once he gets there, he is welcomed into his Uncle Leban's family.  But what trick does Laben play on Jacob?  What does this remind you of from yesterday's devotion?  The next section is about Jacob's 12 sons, who will become the 12 Tribes of Isreal.  How many wives does Jacob have?  Why is this?  Is this his plan?  Reflect back upon Jacob's journey so far.  When have things worked out well for him?  When haven't they?  What do you think Jacob is learning through all of this?

Thurs., Jan. 28 – Ask God to direct your study time. Read Genesis 30:25-31:55.  How does Jacob try to follow God in this part of the story?  What does he learn from his father-in-law, Leban?  What lessons can you take from Jacob's journey?

Week of Jan 18 - 22 Study Guide

Mon., Jan. 18 – Begin in prayer. This week, we will study how God is present in our detours; our trials of life. Read James 1:2-4. James speaks about considering trials as “joy,” knowing that these tests of faith which lead to mature faith. Do you agree with James? Why or why not? Have you had a trial that lead to a deeper faith? Have you had a trial that almost broke your faith? Pray about these situations to God.

Tues., Jan. 19 – Prepare yourself before the Lord. Read James 1:5-8. What do you think wisdom is? James promises us wisdom, if we seek God. In fact, he is very critical of those who doubt. Have you doubted your faith? Have you doubted God? What is the difference? Ask God for wisdom in a situation that is challenging you today.  

Wed., Jan. 20 – Pray that God will speak to you through God’s Holy Word. Read James 4:12-19, which continues the discussion about suffering in joy and hope. When we suffer, who suffers with us? How are we to act when we suffer, according to James? Why is this so hard for us to do?  

Thurs., Jan. 21 – Ask God to direct your study time. Read

1 Peter 5:6-11. When we do not humble ourselves, what sometimes happens? Who is someone that you think models humility for you? What qualities does this person have that encourages you in this way? Pray for humbleness.  

Week of Jan 11 - 15 Study Guide

Mon., Jan. 11 – Begin in prayer. Read Psalm 8, which speaks of God’s creation. As you read this psalm, think about your belief in God. Where does your belief in God come from? Do you question whether there is a God? What is something that you’d like to discover about God in the next several weeks during this sermon series? Write this down and pray to God for clarification about this.

Tues., Jan. 12 – Prepare yourself before the Lord. Read Psalm 18:1-14. David wrote this psalm after he had been spared from his adversary, Saul’s hands. What was David’s experience of God when he called for help? Have you had a similar experience? If not, does this affect your relationship with God?  

Wed., Jan. 13 – Pray that God will speak to you through God’s Holy Word. Read Psalm 18:15-29. David now speaks about how God came to him and rescued him. Look at verses 28 & 29 again. What confidence does David have in God now? Rate your confidence in God. Would you like this to change? How might that happen?

Thurs., Jan. 14 – Ask God to direct your study time. Read Psalm 18:30-50. David says that God’s way is perfect. We might want to debate this with David! Why does David say this, do you think? How does David justify his response, throughout the rest of the psalm? Can you identify a time when God’s way was more appropriate than what you might have wanted God to do?