Reflection Questions:

What areas of your life are you working to make changes on the outside that you need to let God transform from the inside?

How will you, in the midst of your ordinary life, commit to being part of God’s extraordinary story?

Who will you care enough about to invite them into what God is doing this Christmas?

What will your response to God be?

Righteous in the sight of God.

What prayer have you been praying that you have given up on?

Have you surrendered to what God is doing behind the story and beyond what you can see?

Will today be the day you speak faith over your doubt? 

Father in Heaven, I believe that you love me. That in your great mercy, you sent your Son, Jesus, to pay the price for my sin by dying on the cross. I confess that I have sinned against you and I trust Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins. I commit to trust you enough to follow you as Lord of my life and speak faith over my doubt. Help me to live for you. In Jesus name, Amen.

2 Gates - 2 Paths

2 Kinds of People - 2 Fruits

2 Foundations

What are the fruits of my Life?

What are my reasons for - partially or fully - rejecting Jesus?

Will I answer The Call?

Hypokrites: Referred to an actor who wore a mask

“Our greatest desire is to be known, but our greatest fear is to not be loved” ~ Timothy Keller

God doesn’t want our mask, He wants our heart.

What door are you knocking on?

What is your “Next Step” in growing in wisdom?

My Kingdom or God's Kingdom

What am I investing in that is going to outlive me?

If my budget could speak, what would it say about who I am and what matters to me?

“Pharisees typically fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, refraining from food but not from drink. Jesus apparently did not give this spiritual discipline a high priority, especially during his ministry, but he did anticipate that it would occur later (9:15). The only specific New Testament references to later Christian fasting come in contexts of seeking God’s will in choosing church leaders (Acts 13:2–3; 14:23).”

- Craig Blomberg

When you give, pray, or fast, what reward do you find yourself hoping for?

Is there an area in your life where you feel the need for others to notice you?

What small step would you want to take to make it more about God than just people?

Will I trust God enough to Follow Him and do what He asks me to do?  

INFORMATION

UNDERSTANDING

CONVICTION

ACTION

Where are you today?

Soaking up information?

Seeking Understanding?

Wrestling with Conviction?

Weighing what Action will cost you?

What part of your life are you delaying obedience in?   

What is keeping you from “going public” with your faith?

What part of the process are you struggling with: Information, Understanding, Conviction, Action?

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

ACTS prayer model

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

No political party or candidate will ever fully reflect the mission of the church and heart of our Heavenly Father.

How do I, as a follower of Jesus, engage in politics?

Navigating Biblical Issues in Politics

There is no perfect candidate.

Vote for policy over personality.

Vote for principle over passion.

How do we make the best decisions we can based on what we are given that most accurately aligns with God’s Word and His redemptive heart?

Filter:

Earthly agendas are driven by fear. 

Heavenly agendas are driven by love.

What does God say about borders? 

What does He say in regard to people who cross them?

What is our response to people who cross the border/foreigners?

The role of secure borders should be to protect the nation and not to keep out those fleeing persecution.

Filter:

Earthly agendas are driven by fear. 

Heavenly agendas are driven by love.

Which border policy more closely aligns with God’s design?

CI-128 would amend the Montana Constitution to expressly provide a right to make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to abortion. It would prohibit the government from denying or burdening the right to abortion before fetal viability. It would also prohibit the government from denying or burdening access to an abortion when a treating healthcare professional determines it is medically indicated to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health. CI-128 prevents the government from penalizing patients, healthcare providers, or anyone who assists someone in exercising their right to make and carry out voluntary decisions about their pregnancy.

1 Timothy 6:13-I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things,

Which decision more accurately aligns with God’s Word and His redemptive heart?

How are you loving the people in your life you don’t agree with?

How can you commit to voting for policy over personality and principle over passion?

Research Tools:

Freespoke-Web Browser and app. 

Montanafreepress.org

ivoterguide.com