Trusting in Christ

By Sarah Young and Karen Lee-Thorp

After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior’s voice and listen for what He was saying to her. The result was Jesus Calling, a collection of personal reflections based on Jesus’ own words of hope, guidance, and peace found in the Scriptures. Through these messages, countless people have been encouraged to experience a deeper relationship with the Lord as they also learn to listen for His voice in the pages of the Bible.

In Trusting in Christ, the second study in the Jesus Calling Bible Study Series, you will examine what the Bible has to say about relying on God for all your needs. As you push back the demands of the day, give your cares to Him, and encounter Him personally through His Word, you will discover the truth of Paul’s words when he wrote, “My God will meet all of your needs according the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). You will see that God loves you, cares for you, and provides the strength you need to get through any situation.

Each of the Jesus Calling Bible Studies include devotional readings from Jesus Calling, selected passages of Scripture for reflection, Bible Study questions, and additional questions and activities to help you apply and live out the material during the week. This study can be used for personal reflection and Bible study or in a small-group setting.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jul 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9780718035945

Sarah Young

Sarah Young, author of the bestselling 365-day devotionals Jesus Calling® and Jesus Listens, was a missionary alongside her husband, Stephen, for forty-five years. In her writing and in her mission work, Sarah was committed to helping people connect with Jesus and the Bible. Her books have sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. Jesus Calling® has appeared on all major bestseller lists. Sarah’s writings include Jesus Calling®, Jesus Listens, Jesus Always, Jesus Today®, Jesus Lives™, Dear Jesus, Jesus Calling® for Little Ones, Jesus Calling® Bible Storybook, Jesus Calling®: 365 Devotions for Kids, and more, each encouraging readers in their journeys toward intimacy with Christ. Sarah believed praying for her readers was a privilege and God-given responsibility and did so daily even amidst her own health challenges. Connect with Jesus Calling at: Facebook.com/JesusCalling Instagram.com/JesusCalling YouTube.com/JesusCallingBook Pinterest.com/JesusCalling

Book preview

ontents

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 our prayers 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 God 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 hear 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.

—HEBREWS 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 in silence studying a passage of Scripture, and then if you’re meeting with a group, share your insights and hear 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 one or two questions in this opening section serve as an icebreaker to help you start to think about the theme of the session. These questions will help you connect the theme to your own past or present experience and will help you get to know the others in your group more deeply. If you’ve had a busy day and your mind is full of distractions, this section will 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 help you apply these biblical principles to your everyday habits.

• STUDY IT. Next, you’ll explore one or two Scripture passages connected to the session topic and the readings from Jesus Calling. You will not only analyze these passages but also pray through them in ways designed to engage your heart as well as your head. In some cases the passage will be a biblical story, and you’ll spend five to ten minutes in silence imagining what it was like to be there in that moment. If you’re meeting with a group, you will then talk about what you learned and how the passage is relevant to your life. In other cases, the passage will be a teaching from Jesus or the apostle Paul. You’ll first talk with your group about what the passage means 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.

During the Study It portion, you will want to make notes of what comes to mind when you imagine the scene in the Scripture passage. Be sure to bring a pen to record your thoughts. The Bible passage itself is provided for you in this study guide.

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.

ontents

SESSION 1

TRUSTING IN GOD’S STRENGTH

CONSIDER IT

So much of ordinary life is based on trust. When you climb out of bed in the morning, you trust the floor will support you so you can stand upright. When you go to the coffee house, you trust the people there will safely supply the ingredients for your breakfast. When you step into an elevator, you trust the maintenance crews have done what is necessary to make sure you won’t get stuck between floors. If any of these betray your trust, it can be very disturbing.

Unfortunately, no structure, person, or human institution is perfectly trustworthy. Buildings wear out and fail. Food and water can be tainted. Maintenance crews miss things or fail to follow proper procedures. Even family and friends sometimes fail us. Our awareness of these flaws in people and things can leave us feeling insecure, as if there is no one or no thing we can truly trust.

The Bible claims God is