Daily Readings at Southeast

Step 1: Know It Do you really know what you believe and why you believe it? Have you ever heard someone use the term “Gospel” or “Gospel Message”? Today’s reading in Romans mentions it. Maybe the translation you read talked about "Good News." But what does that even mean? What are you supposed to say if someone asks you about the Gospel, or what's so good about the Good News? Are you supposed to use that phrase if you're trying to share your faith? Don't worry. Sharing your faith doesn't mean you have to use certain words. It's not so much about what you know as it is about who you know. You see, to be a Christian means to live like Christ, but to live like Christ, we need to know how He lived. As Christians, it's important to know and understand who Jesus is, how He lived His life, and what He did on the cross. If we don’t get it, we can’t live it. Get to know what you believe and why you believe it so that you can live it out and share it with others...

  Do What? Okay, it’s true you just read these verses from Matthew yesterday, but we’re going to look at a different part of them today. This passage is called “The Great Commission.” Sounds so important, doesn’t it? But as Christians, this is what Jesus tells us to do with our lives. As you are going, make disciples. What the heck does the rest of this passage mean? What does it mean to make disciples? We’re supposed to baptize them? So, like, carry around some water and sprinkle it on people shouting, “BAM! You’re baptized?” Better yet, maybe just carry around a super soaker full of holy water. You can call it “The Super Soaker of Salvation” or something like that. Maybe don’t do any of that. But we should be making disciples as we're going. A disciple is someone who follows another person’s way of life and teaching. So, if you want to make disciples, live your life different from other people-like Jesus did. In fact, live your life following God like Jesus did, and let...

  Just Do It (Um … not the Nike slogan.) If you read today’s verse from Matthew in its original language, it starts off “As you are going ...” What this means for us is as you’re living your life ,  you should be sharing your faith with others. You don’t have to stand on a street corner shouting at people that they’re going to hell. Jesus didn’t do that, so you don’t have to either. Just live your life and be intentional about sharing what God’s done for you. Let’s say you play football—maybe you hate football—but for this example, you play football. Would people say you’re a football player who happens to be a Christian or a Christian who happens to play football? See the difference? Are you a Christian first or the other way around? As you’re going out and doing the things you do, be a Christian first, and let people see it. Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

  Self-Centered or Christ-Centered? Are you living your life for yourself, or are you living your life to please God? Seriously, answer that question, and be honest. Maybe this can help you figure it out. Self-centered people want the attention on them. They care more about themselves than others. They go after what makes them happy. Christ-centered people want God to get the glory and attention. They care more about helping others than themselves. They want to do things they know will make God happy. Self-centered people don’t share. So, to share your faith well, you need to become Christ-centered. This is where you need to start. Ask yourself, “Am I self-centered or Christ-centered?” If you’re self-centered, are you willing to change that up and become Christ-centered? Answer out loud right now. Yes or no? Say it. Okay. The rest of this Bible Plan is for those who say, “Yes, I want to be Christ-centered.” Now we can start to look at what it takes to share your faith. Scripture: J...

  To Continue To Love, You Need To Refuel “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”  1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT) Love can be absolutely exhausting. Don’t let anyone fool you. The kind of love that makes a difference in this world can really drain you. Sometimes you just don’t feel like you have any more love to give. Maybe you’re in a people-intensive job, such as teaching, sales, or customer service, and you come home and think, “I just can’t face another need, another problem, or another heartache.” So you shut down. Or you need to show love to a particular person who is demanding, acts selfishly, and never returns your love. And you just think to yourself, “I’m done. No more.” While that’s a perfectly natural and entirely human response, it’s not the standard of love God calls us to in the Bible. The Bible says,  “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”...

  Understanding God’s Definition of Love “Love means doing what God has commanded us.”  2 John 1:6 (NLT) The Bible says love needs to be central to our lives, so let’s take a few moments to consider what love really is. 1. The Bible says love is a command. God commands that we love each other:  “Love means doing what God has commanded us”  (2 John 1:6 NLT). Love is not a feeling. You can’t always control an emotion and God would never command you to do something that he doesn’t give you the power and the ability to do. Imagine seeing a little kid who’s crying and upset, and saying, “I command you to be happy!” You simply can’t command someone to feel a certain way. 2. The Bible says love is a choice. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:1,  “Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does”  (MSG). If you “go after” something, that means you make a choice. Love is a choice. We choose to love or not to love. But acting in love when you do...