Cost of Living - Day 17
Day 17 - Tuesday, January 30
Read Exodus 19
Highlight
Think back to your first memory of attending church. Is it a good memory? Bad memory? A little blurry. Or maybe crystal clear, you remember every detail.
For me, I was little and it was when our church was still at the Tibet campus. Our sanctuary was the traditional pews, colored carpet, upper balcony, big stage and the baptistry in the middle of the back wall. Our family sat on the far side under the balcony every Sunday. This particular Sunday I remember because I fell asleep (Sorry Pastor Cam, I was around four years old). Yet, from that moment, I can close my eyes and recall productions, funerals, VBS, services and so much more from the Tibet sanctuary, the Henderson campus, the church I attended in college, and the churches I have been blessed to be a part of or visit. To me, there is something about being able to recall the gathering in church buildings that feels like home.
In Exodus 19, it was not a sanctuary or church building or rented space that held the first gathering of God’s people. It was outside at the foot of a mountain in God’s physical presence. Moses had the people spend two days physically and spiritually preparing themselves for gathering in God’s presence. The mountain they were near was Mount Horeb or Mount Sinai, which is a sacred space in Israel’s history, because God so often meets His prophets and people at that place. Just as today, He meets us in sanctuaries, cathedrals, homes, and the spaces in which we invite Him in and where we find ourselves praying to him the most. He was close to His people that day as they gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai. And He is close to His people today as they gather scattered.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read Exodus 19
Highlight
Think back to your first memory of attending church. Is it a good memory? Bad memory? A little blurry. Or maybe crystal clear, you remember every detail.
For me, I was little and it was when our church was still at the Tibet campus. Our sanctuary was the traditional pews, colored carpet, upper balcony, big stage and the baptistry in the middle of the back wall. Our family sat on the far side under the balcony every Sunday. This particular Sunday I remember because I fell asleep (Sorry Pastor Cam, I was around four years old). Yet, from that moment, I can close my eyes and recall productions, funerals, VBS, services and so much more from the Tibet sanctuary, the Henderson campus, the church I attended in college, and the churches I have been blessed to be a part of or visit. To me, there is something about being able to recall the gathering in church buildings that feels like home.
In Exodus 19, it was not a sanctuary or church building or rented space that held the first gathering of God’s people. It was outside at the foot of a mountain in God’s physical presence. Moses had the people spend two days physically and spiritually preparing themselves for gathering in God’s presence. The mountain they were near was Mount Horeb or Mount Sinai, which is a sacred space in Israel’s history, because God so often meets His prophets and people at that place. Just as today, He meets us in sanctuaries, cathedrals, homes, and the spaces in which we invite Him in and where we find ourselves praying to him the most. He was close to His people that day as they gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai. And He is close to His people today as they gather scattered.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Posted in Cost Of Living