Our Lord taught us to be at peace with each other, all of the way from the first Apostles down to us.  Yet, we often fight each other (often, over who is a “real” Christian, as we define it).  This has been going on since the Apostle Paul began his missionary journeys.  How are we continuing, as Christians, in something that Jesus Himself told us specifically the opposite to do?


Questions for further thought:
1. What would Christ Himself, in your mind, think about the ways in which the church has responded to His command of being in unity with one another?

2. What are some common misconceptions that you think some denominations have about each other that maybe are not accurate?  


Challenge: Jesus Himself prayed to His Father, and ours, that we would all be united in Him.  Please pray that we would make the same prayer, and then allow the Holy Spirit to show us the ways in which we may be judging our own Christian brothers and sisters by non-Biblical standards, and correct our own blindness in certain areas.  

The Bible contains numerous proofs of the deity and identity of Jesus. These testimonies include the statements of supernatural beings. The angel Gabriel proclaimed to Mary that Jesus would be the "Son of the Most High." Even the demons realize that Jesus is the Son of God and Lord of all!


Questions for further thought:
1. Do you believe in things you can't touch or see?

2. How do you develop that kind of faith?  


Challenge: J. Warren Wallace, a former Los Angeles homicide detective turned Christian apologist, author of "Cold Case Christianity" states that his ability to believe in God was dependent on his own ability to grasp the concept of the supernatural. If you will not believe without physical proof, there is a good chance that you will continue to struggle with your faith.  

John, Peter and Thomas, along with the other disciples, were eyewitnesses to the teachings and performance of miracles by Christ. Through these acts, and by living and traveling with Him, they came to know who Jesus really is – the "Son of God." By "witnessing" through God's Word, we can come to know the same truth.


Questions for further thought:
1. Have you "witnessed" Christ through the Scriptures?

2. How do you plan to do that?  


Challenge: Many times the challenge brought before us is to get into the Bible more often. It takes discipline and commitment.
Commit today to find time to spend a few minutes each day to read, study and meditate on God's Word.

Some 800 years before Jesus came to earth as an infant, the prophet Isaiah foretold of John the Baptist "preparing the way for the Lord." Indeed, John was a contemporary of Jesus and pointed to Jesus and the prophecy concerning Him. He also pointed out people's need to prepare their hearts for the Savior, the Son of God, who would come to take away the sins of the world. 


Questions for further thought:
1. Have you studied the Old Testament?

2. Do you have an understanding of the prophecies concerning Jesus?  


Challenge: Some of the best proof of Jesus being who He says He is comes from the Old Testament. Numerous prophets foretold the coming of Jesus. No one else fulfills them all. Jesus truly is the Son of God. Take time to read and meditate on the books of the prophets of the Old Testament.

Much to the displeasure of the religious leaders, Jesus himself proclaimed His "Sonship" and equality with God. While believers are often referred to as "heirs to the kingdom (James 2:5) or children of God (John 1:12-13), Christ alone has a unique "oneness" with God in communion with the Holy Spirit. When He declared this fact, He revealed to the world who He really is.


Questions for further thought:
1. Why did the religious leaders not believe Jesus was the Son of God?

2. How do you know that you would have recognized Jesus given the same circumstances?  


Challenge: The religious leaders of Jesus' time had all the tools to recognize who Jesus was. Pride, arrogance, self-confidence, and a host of other flaws stood in the way of their seeing Jesus for who He is. Don't make the same mistake.

At both Jesus' baptism and at the Transfiguration, God proclaimed Jesus as "His Son." At both events God spoke audibly to eyewitnesses, even to the point of revealing the Trinity in God's audible voice, Jesus' presence and the descending dove, representing the Holy Spirit. These are very important proofs that Jesus truly is the Son of God.


Questions for further thought:
1. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?

2. How do you know? 


Challenge: The concept of the Triune God is probably one of the most difficult (and maybe controversial) concepts the world and Jesus followers grapple with. Find trusted authors to study and of course, read your Bible for guidance to better understanding.

Once we’ve learned to hear God’s voice, there is a next logical step to take – acting on what He has revealed. The Bible is full of accounts of all sorts of different responses to God’s instructions, from Moses’ initial reluctance to the prophets’ obedience – even when the requests were exceedingly strange. One common thread runs throughout – God gives us the opportunity to be intimately involved in His story when we listen to His voice and follow His direction. 


Questions for further thought:
1. We’ve all done it at times, but what keeps you from acting when you believe God is leading you to do something? 


2. How do you personally discern God’s leading in a particular situation? 


Challenge: Have you sensed that God is leading you to take on a new challenge, heal a relationship or make a move that has you hesitating? If there’s no contradiction with Scripture, this is your chance to take action. Step out and see what God will do.

It seems clear that God has spoken to His people throughout history, and that He continues to direct us today through His Son and the Holy Spirit. How then do we go about learning to recognize His voice and actually hearing what He has to say? Jesus’ example provides the answer. If the Son of God had to find solitude in order to speak with His Father, how much more do we need to escape the daily noise and spend time seeking and listening for His voice.


Questions for further thought:
1. Knowing the importance of minimizing distractions and focusing on God, do you set aside daily time to withdraw from your regular routine? 


2. When you focus on God, do you tend to spend more time speaking or listening?


Challenge: If you haven’t tried it or have gotten out of the habit, this is a good opportunity to try the 5-minute challenge that Pastor Doug suggested a few months ago. Try to spend 5 minutes clearing and quieting your mind to just listen to God. Once you’ve mastered 5, try expanding the time.

So how exactly does God communicate with his people today? As Jesus stated in this passage, that’s the role of the Holy Spirit. Believers now have an internal guide with us at all times to help us interpret Scripture and discern God’s direction in our decision-making. Jesus speaks to the Spirit, and the Spirit in turn helps lead us in understanding and applying the truth.


Questions for further thought:
1. How does the Holy Spirit communicate with us today?

2. What role would you say the Holy Spirit plays in your daily life?


Challenge: Spend some time this week looking up references to the Holy Spirit in your Bible. Jot down a few notes on the person and role of the Spirit from your study.

As Elijah’s story and other accounts clearly illustrate, the prophets in the Old Testament were directed by God’s voice. New Testament believers have an even better deal – Jesus’ promise that He will speak to His sheep. We don’t have to be prophets to hear from God. But just as Elijah learned to recognize God’s voice, we must learn to hear the words of our Shepherd. Fortunately, we have the additional benefit of access to the Bible to help discern truth from error.  


Questions for further thought:
1. When you’re “in the wilderness,” is your first instinct to talk to God or to find your own way out?

2. What does Jesus’ description of Himself as the Good Shepherd mean to you in practical, everyday terms?


Challenge: 2020 was a wilderness year for many of us. If you’re in your own wilderness now, read the passages describing Jesus as the Good Shepherd again, along with Psalm 23. Ask for God’s strength and leading to guide you out of the wilderness.