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Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING :   Philippians 4:19 , Matthew 6:33 MAIN IDEA :  Faith and Fear- Two Sides of the Same Coin DISCUSSION   As we go through our lives, we encounter all types of situations:  school stress, job stress, sicknesses, death and many more.  In every single situation, there is a choice to be made—how will we react?   We can choose to react in a faithful way or a fearful way.  It’s only one situation, but we have two sides to choose from and we must choose because faith and fear cannot exist together. Choosing faith is saying that you know you have a God who loves you, knows your thoughts and cares about your deepest needs.   Our faith grows by studying the Bible, meditating on God’s word and through sincere prayer.   On the other side of the coin, we are choosing fear when we focus on ourselves, worry and basically don’t believe God’s way is best.   We let fear act...

Woodlawn Family Bible Study MONDAY BIBLE READING :   Luke 7:47 , Matthew 6:14 MAIN IDEA :  A Forgiving Heart DISCUSSION Forgiveness is such a powerful gift from heaven above. It’s like a door on our heart. When we choose to forgive, it opens our heart so that we can receive everything God has in store for us. But when we hold onto unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment, it closes up our heart and keeps us from moving forward. The scripture tells us that if we don’t forgive others, God cannot forgive us. That’s because the door on our heart is closed. If forgiveness doesn’t go out, forgiveness can’t come in. But when we choose to forgive, we open our heart so we can receive His forgiveness and allow His love to flow freely through us. Forgiveness increases our capacity to receive! Today remember, people will let you down, they will hurt you and disappoint you. Don’t let the actions of others block your relationship with the Father by holding unfo...

Woodlawn Family Bible Study SATURDAY BIBLE READING : Psalms 100 MAIN IDEA : “A Psalm for Giving Thanks” DISCUSSION When Corandle Johnson was here for our Gospel Meeting a few years back, he quoted this Psalm before every lesson.  In fact, I am pretty confident that he quotes this Psalm every time before he speaks.  The 100 Psalm comes at the close of a collection of hymns that celebrate the Kingship of God.  Although written centuries ago, the Psalm still has validity as it invites the whole earth to give praise to God in song.  The title of the Psalm notes that it was written for the purpose of giving thanks.  We truly are “people of His pasture”.  It reminds us that “it is He who has made us and not us ourselves”.  As you prepared your heart for worship tomorrow, meditate on this song.  Hopefully it will help you see things with a whole new perspective. Application Make it a point to try to memorize this Psalm as a famil...

Woodlawn Family Bible Study FRIDAY BIBLE READING : I Samuel 24 & 26 MAIN IDEA:            “Character Through Courage” DISCUSSION: Many times when we think of courage we see it as taking action. Look at courage through David’s eyes in the reading. In this instance, David had the opportunity to take Saul’s life. This would have made David’s world so much easier.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study THRUSDAY BIBLE READING : Philippians 2:14-18; Ephesians 5:7-14 MAIN IDEA:            “Character Through Contrast” DISCUSSION: Middle schoolers are a curious bunch. They spend half of their time trying to fit in so that they do not stand out. The other half of their time is spent trying to be different.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study WEDNESDAY BIBLE READING : Daniel 6 MAIN IDEA:            “Character Through Consistency” DISCUSSION: Imagine looking at your monthly bank statements, particularly at the cable TV charges.  January: $89.99 February: $89.99 March: $130.99 How many times has this happened in your billing cycle? Whether you lose a “one time” promotion, something has been mysteriously added, or “sorry, our rates have increased,” most people have experienced inconsistency when dealing with bills.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING : Romans 5:1-5 MAIN IDEA:            “Displaying Godly Character” DISCUSSION: In the ancient world, there was no banking system, as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into molds and allowed to cool.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study MONDAY BIBLE READING:   Colossians 3:1-4 MAIN IDEA:            “Defining Godly Character” DISCUSSION: Growing up, I heard many lessons on character. one description of character always stuck with me: doing the right thing even when no one is around.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study SATURDAY BIBLE READING:  Isaiah 6.1-8 MAIN IDEA: “Preparing for Worship” DISCUSSION: If the Lord tarries His return, we will all gather to worship with our church family in the morning.  Worship is not something that we should just rush into.  In the reading for the day, we find Isaiah coming into the presence of “the King, the Lord of Hosts”.  As you read his description, you can almost feel the same emotions of fear, unworthiness, not to mention the awe.  As you prepare your minds to worship in the morning try to imagine that God will be at services with you.  Would worship be the same for you if that were the case?  Well, that is the case!  God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will all be here as we worship them as the body of believers.  Tomorrow you will be in the presence of “the King, the Lord of Host”!  Are you prepared to worship? APPLICATION: Discuss things we can...

Woodlawn Family Bible Study FRIDAY BIBLE READING:    Matthew 6:25 MAIN IDEA: “Look Again and Think” DISCUSSION: A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study THURSDAY BIBLE READING :   Matthew 6:30 MAIN IDEA: “Look Again and Consecrate” DISCUSSION: A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study WEDNESDAY BIBLE READING:    2 Corinthians 3:18 MAIN IDEA: “Transformed by Beholding” DISCUSSION: When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Jeremiah 2:2 MAIN IDEA: “Recall What God Remembers” DISCUSSION: Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me?   Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way?

Woodlawn Family Bible Study MONDAY BIBLE READING:    John 3:1-3 MAIN IDEA: “Are You Fresh For Everything? DISCUSSION: Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a worship service or Bible class, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes? Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study SATURDAY BIBLE READING:   Ezra 3 MAIN IDEA:            “Preparing Your Heart for Worship?” DISCUSSION: If the Lord tarries His return to this world, you will wake up in the morning and attend a worship service.  Our worship to God should be a very serious and emotional thing.  However, Satan has provided us with many distractions and excuses for us to either not attend physically or not attend mentally.  In the reading for today, we have the ending of the Babylonian captivity and the return of the captives to Jerusalem.  It has been 70 years since they have been able to worship Jehovah in their homeland of Jerusalem.  Use your imagination and try to visualize what it must have looked and sounded like when they restored their worship services.  It seems as though their response to worship is very different from ours today. APPLICATION: Compare and con...

Woodlawn Family Bible Study FRIDAY BIBLE READING:    John 20:28 MAIN IDEA: “It is the Lord!” DISCUSSION: Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink’” (John 4:7). How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him! We should be pouring out our lives, investing our total beings, not drawing on Him to satisfy us.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study THURSDAY BIBLE READING:    Galatians 1:15-16 MAIN IDEA: “The Call of the Natural Life” DISCUSSION: The call of God is not a call to serve Him in any particular way. My contact with the nature of God will shape my understanding of His call and will help me realize what I truly desire to do for Him. The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study WEDNESDAY BIBLE READING:    Isaiah 6:8 MAIN IDEA: “The Voice of the Nature of God” DISCUSSION: When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Mark 10:29 MAIN IDEA: “Total Surrender” DISCUSSION: Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is “for My sake and the gospel’s” (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study MONDAY BIBLE READING:   John 4:11 MAIN IDEA:            “The Impoverished Ministry of Jesus” DISCUSSION: The well is deep”—and even a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew (4:11)! Think of the depths of human nature and human life; think of the depth of the “wells” in you. Have you been limiting, or impoverishing, the ministry of Jesus to the point that He is unable to work in your life?

Woodlawn Family Bible Study SUNDAY                                            BIBLE READING:  Hebrews 4.1-11 MAIN IDEA:            “Entering Our Rest” DISCUSSION: Read over Hebrews 4.1-11 before you go to bed tonight.   The discuss how important it is for us to get into that “rest” that the writer is talking about.  Imagine what that rest will be like, then discuss it with your loved ones.  Try to think of it as a family vacation that never ends, and how it would be a shame if we were not all there together.  Each member of your family is responsible for themselves when it comes to being accountable for our sins.  Talk about some things that we can do to stay motivated as a...

Woodlawn Family Bible Study SATURDAY BIBLE READING: Proverbs 31:10-31 MAIN IDEA:    “The Gift of our Mothers” DISCUSSION: Tomorrow will be one if not the busiest days for those who work in the restaurant business.  So many husbands and sons will give mom the day off from cooking and treat them to a meal. 

Woodlawn Family Bible Study FRIDAY BIBLE READING:   Genesis 12.8; 13.4 and 35.1-3 MAIN IDEA:            “Building Our Family Altar” DISCUSSION: In the Old Testament, the Patriarchs were often known to build altars.   The purpose of these altars, were to have a place where they could make a sacrifice to God.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study THURSDAY BIBLE READING:   Proverbs 11.14, Titus 2.9 & Matthew 5.14-16 MAIN IDEA:            “Leading by Following” DISCUSSION: The word “counsel” in Proverbs 11.14 means “steerage”.  That means if there is not someone to “steer” the family in the right way, it destined to go the wrong way. 

Woodlawn Family Bible Study Wednesday BIBLE READING:   Philippians 2.3-11 MAIN IDEA:            “Home Awareness Will Invite Unity” DISCUSSION : It is very easy to get so caught up in our lives that we forget about the lives of those around us. When that happens we become so self-absorbed that we are blind to the needs and concerns of those around us.  Discuss how much stress Jesus must have been under with His own tasks at hand (i.e. enduring the cross) and how He managed to be concerned with us.  Talk about how we not only need to be concerned with ourselves, but also those around us.  We might find that by being more aware of each other’s lives, we will grow closer. Who knows, we may even start to like each other!  APPLICATION: Take a few minutes to see what struggles others in your home might have. Then discuss ways in which you can help each other, rather than alienate yourselves from ...

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING :      Ephesians 4.29-32 MAIN IDEA :      “Making Home a Place of Encouragement?” DISCUSSION: Too often our homes have become a place where we complain, criticize and nitpick each other’s faults and short comings.

Woodlawn Family Bible Study MONDAY BIBLE READING:   JAMES 4:7-10 & ISAIAH 55:5-6 MAIN IDEA:            “Are We Making God a Priority in Our Home?” DISCUSSION: The word “draw” means to “approach or come near”.  Having God be a part of this family begins with us making an effort.