Spiritual Renewal 2025

Read: Psalm 1:1-6

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Reflect:

• Have you ever received bad advice? Did you take it? 
• The truth of the matter is that there is foolishness bombarding us all the time. Whether it’s social media seeking to define an unhealthy standard of beauty, or society at large pressing us to accept a picture of success that does not align with God’s Word, the world is constantly pressuring us to take bad advice.
• In Psalm 1, the author presents a dichotomy for us to heed. It states that there will be some who casually stumble into accepting the foolishness of the world, and others that will receive a blessed life, as they purposely devote themselves to the study of God’s Word and fellowship with God.
• Who, or what, are the voices in your life that have a hold of your heart? Is it God’s wisdom? If not, what is one step your could take today to listen less to the foolishness of the world and more to the wisdom of God?

Respond:

Lord, forgive me for where I have walked in foolishness and have accepted the falsehood of the world as truth. Thank You for the wisdom of Your Word. Would you shape me with it’s truth and direct me to an abundant life that is totally focused on You?  

Read: Proverbs 4:20-27

20 My child, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Reflect:

• Yesterday, we were reminded of the importance of studying God’s Word, as it is God’s wisdom. Today, we reflect on how the wisdom of God should move us to action. 
• God’s Word does not call us to laziness, neutrality, or mediocrity. The Bible boldly calls Believers to a life of purposeful devotion to the Lord. Poetically, Solomon writes that this devotion comes from our hearts. 
• What do you believe Solomon intended when he instructed his children to guard their hearts? When thinking of the importance of guarding our hearts, what do you believe is a greater risk, outside pressure or internal temptation? … could it be that we are sometimes our own worst enemy?  
• As we come together for Spiritual Renewal and think about what it means to center our lives on Jesus, we must realize that we are not merely called to learn more about God, but to follow Him with our whole hearts. Does God have your whole heart? What in your life would look different if he did?  

Respond: 

Father, you did not call us to a faith that does not impact the way we live, but you have called us into a relationship that should change everything about us. Father, forgive us for where we have remained stubbornly unchanged. Lead us to become followers, with our whole hearts.

Read: Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Reflect:

• Can you identify the five-letter word in the previous passage that is the basis for God’s salvation? If you said grace, you are correct! 
• Grace could be defined as God’s “free gift.” And while the concept of a gift seems simple, many believe that salvation is something that must be earned from God, rather than received as a gift. Why is understanding salvation as a gift from God a difficult concept to grasp? 
• This passage from Paul is powerful because it does not articulate a religious observance that requires prescribed obedience, but describes a free response to the gift of God.  
• Living a life that is centered on Jesus begins with receiving God’s gift of salvation. Have you received God’s gracious gift of salvation?

Respond:

God, I thank you for your free gift of salvation. Without it we could never earn your favor. Lord, help us to live a life that is Centered on You; help us to live a life that is worthy of You.

Read: Isaiah 26:1-9

1…We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. 2 Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. 3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. 5 He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. 6 Feet trample it down—the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor. 7 The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. 8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. 9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Reflect:

• God has established our salvation, gifted us our salvation, and preserves us within our salvation.
• If these things are true, what sorts of concerns should cause us to worry? 
• Life is full of all sorts of reasons to worry, but how should we handle the difficulties of life as Believers in Jesus?  
• When Christ is our focus, we can trust Him with the worries of life. He does not always take away the struggles we are in, but His eternal salvation and sovereign control can certainly bring us comfort.  

Respond:

God, I want to thank You for being our true and eternal salvation. In You, we do not need to fear for our souls, but we can stay focused on You, as the Rock eternal. Lord, give us grace in through the difficulties of life. Help us to stay true to You and to Your purposes.

Read: Philippians 3:10-14

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Reflect:

• Be honest – What are your top goals in life? List them out… Have temporary pursuits of the things of this life replaced your eternal pursuit of God? 
• What would change in your life, if pursuing God was your first priority? List them out… Would these be good changes? How would they impact you, your workplace, your school, your friends, your church, and your family?  
• Is there something that is worthless, in the scheme of eternity, that God is calling for you to lay down, so that you can better pursue Him?

Respond:

Lord, to be centered on You, is to seek to know You. I ask that You would help me train my mind on You, that I would not be distracted by the things of this world, but that I would better know You, delight in You, and live for You. 

Read: John 15:4-6

4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Reflect:

• In John 15, Jesus tells His disciples about His upcoming return to the Father and teaches them the manner in which spiritual work is accomplished. To help communicate this lesson, Jesus uses an illustration of a branch producing fruit, through the nourishment of a vine. It’s quite easy to picture; healthy fruit only comes from branches that are connected to the vine.  
• Jesus compares the vine and the branches to Him and us. He says that if we are hoping to accomplish spiritual things for God, we must stay connected to Him. 
• Just like the branch, you and I are dependent on God to accomplish the work He desires for us to accomplish. In our culture, is dependence thought of as a positive or negative trait for an adult? Why is it healthy for a Christian to be dependent on God?
• In what areas of your life do feel you need more dependence upon God more?

Respond:

Father, we want to see you do great things through us, but we are incapable of accomplishing anything of value without you. Lord, would you help us as we relinquish our hold on control. You are our only source of strength.

Read: Hebrews 12:1-3

1 ...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Reflect:

• This passage comes on the heels of a great discourse that shows how God used the faith of many historical figures who lived for the Lord (For further study and encouragement, read Hebrews 11). The author then pivots to discuss our lives of faith.
• How does it impact you, to think that ordinary historical figures of faith were used by God?
• What is the author of Hebrews stating and implying in verse one? Perhaps, one could say, that God is calling each of us to an engaged and full life of serving the Lord, and that each of us has a part to play.
• Then, to direct us to a manner of running, the author states that we are to run with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Name something that takes your focus away from Jesus as you seek to run after Him?
• Finally, considering all that we explored above, what difference does it make that the author used inclusive plural pronouns when discussing the race we are to corporately run? The race isn’t a solo run, we run the race together. How can you help encourage a fellow runner today?   

Respond:

Lord, one of the greatest gifts you have given us is purpose. In you, each of us has a role to play and people to encourage. Thank you for that precious gift. Help us to stay centered on You, to follow you, and not lose heart, for our whole lives.