When we think about the call of God, most of us focus on the big giant changes: God telling us what career to pursue, what person to marry, what city to move to. We think the call of God is only for the people who are in ministry or only for the big decisions of life, but the truth is God is always calling. He is always calling us to take a step. He is always inviting us to a deeper and closer relationship with Him. He is always giving us opportunities to trust Him more, even if sometimes we don’t realize it.

So the question is: when God calls, what is our response?

We learn from Jonah that when God calls us to something, we can say no. Disobedience is always an option, but it takes away our opportunity to live in the fullness of life God wants. We will miss out on God’s best.

We also learn from Jonah that when God calls we can go, but with the wrong attitude. Expecting that God will do what we want or second guessing what He said along the way.

But neither of those are God’s best. So what is the alternative? The Jesus way.

Jesus answered the call of God in a much different way. He willingly obeyed, laying down his will and his desires to pick up God’s desires for His life. When he fully surrendered, everything changed, and he was able to do the hard things ahead of him with peace and authority.

The full life that Jesus wants to give us is on the other side of a full yes to His call. Let’s be the kind of people that fully commit to the call of God, no matter how big or small.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is something that you feel God is calling you to do?
2. What is stopping you from fully committing to doing it?
3. How have you seen God provide in the past when you said yes to Him?
4. What is something you could do to take a step of faith this week?

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When we read John 13, it almost feels like we are “eavesdropping” on Jesus’ conversation with his disciples. It’s the last time Jesus is with his disciples before he is betrayed, beaten and killed… and he knows it. And so, in John’s Gospel, Jesus shares his heartfelt, final lessons to his closest friends.

John 13:1-17

In these last moments with his disciples, Jesus knew his hour had come and having full authority, humbly washed his disciples’ feet, even Judas Iscariot’s, who would betray him. This act was not meant to establish a new ordinance like communion or baptism, but rather to demonstrate the “attitude and actions of a foot washer.”

To be a modern-day foot washer:

1. Know the Time: Understanding God’s perfect timing for your life, avoiding mistakes that happen when we rush ahead of God’s plan.

2. Know Your Identity: Recognize that your mission and ministry flow from knowing who you are in Christ, freeing you to serve anyone, anywhere.

3. Know the Small Things: Understand that true love and service are often expressed and mean the most in the little acts of faithfulness and kindness.

LIVING DEAD means serving others.

How are you serving your family, community, campus, workplace, and those who have hurt you or are different from you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Whose feet is God calling you to wash? How are you “washing the feet” of those around you?
2. It’s important to know the time and avoid mistakes that happen when you rush ahead of God’s timing. Has there been a time that you waited for God’s timing and saw positive results or rushed ahead and faced difficulties? What is something that you are waiting on God to fulfill in your life?
3. When you know who you are and whose you are, your mission and ministry will flow from that. What ministry and mission is God calling you to do?
4. What are some small things you can do this week to show love and humility to those in your daily life?
5. Jesus washed the feet of Judas, who would betray him. How are you serving someone who has hurt you? How challenging is this concept for you, and what steps could you take towards serving someone who has caused you pain?

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2 Timothy 2:15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.

Other translations say “work hard”, “do all you can”, “be diligent”, “do your best to present yourself to God as one who is worthy of his approval”. If we are going to live for Jesus, we are going to need to be transformed. That is a process of growth. Of learning and being stretched. Even Jesus himself, when he was on earth, went through this process.

The understanding and authority we had 5 years ago is not enough to face today's problems. The closeness we had with Jesus 2 years ago is not enough to sustain us through the schedule we have this week. We must grow.

But growing is uncomfortable. It takes time and effort, and we enjoy being lazy and comfy. Unfortunately, our addiction to comfort and convenience has robbed us of the full life that Jesus offers. Because Jesus did not die on the cross for us to have a “normal” Christian life. He died for us to have purpose and passion and joy. Full life.

So how do we get it? Discipline

We allow the Lord to discipline us. To correct us when we have settled for a mediocre faith, or when we have stepped into sin. And we discipline ourselves to consistently step out in faith. To pray for people and give generously and speak the truth in love. We work hard, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. As we live this way, we will certainly experience a revival in our hearts as excitement and expectation begin to rise again.

Let’s not settle for less than extraordinary. Let’s not grow so comfortable in our “normal” Christianity that we miss out on the fullness that Jesus wants to give us. There’s so much more to life with God than just going to church and reading our bible, so let’s step out in faith and experience it!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When was the last time you intentionally stepped out in faith? What happened?
2. Do you feel like your walk with Jesus is mostly exciting or mostly routine? Why?
3. How comfortable are you with being uncomfortable? DO you feel like that is helping or hurting your growth?

What is one thing that you feel God is challenging you to do? What is keeping you from doing it?

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1 Corinthians 14:1-4 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,[a] you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,[b] but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

Jesus will never lie to us. It is costly to be a disciple. It is not enough to simply hear about the cross, we actually have to pick it up and take the first step towards following after Him. He is calling us to ABANDON our lives and deaths to Him, and trust Him in this journey.

Sounds a bit wild doesn’t it? But as we count the cost and consider what this means for our life, our families, our careers, our dreams, what we will encounter time and again is that the price of following Jesus is not too high. When we consider all that we gain as children of God, we quickly realize that there is no price too high that can compare with the worth of what we have received in Christ.

We have one life to lose, one opportunity to give everything to Jesus. And beyond just laying down our life, are we willing to pick up our cross and take the first step of obedience? As Jackie Hill Perry said, “There may be many things God wants you to give up, but the primary one is your life.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In your own words, what does it mean to live dead?
2. What are some ways that you feel the Holy Spirit calling you to deny yourself and take up your cross?
3. What is one step that you can take today to obey what God is telling you to do?

Pray for one another that the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to pick up your cross and follow Him.

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Luke 9:22-25 “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

Jesus will never lie to us. It is costly to be a disciple. It is not enough to simply hear about the cross, we actually have to pick it up and take the first step towards following after Him. He is calling us to ABANDON our lives and deaths to Him, and trust Him in this journey.

Sounds a bit wild doesn’t it? But as we count the cost and consider what this means for our life, our families, our careers, our dreams, what we will encounter time and again is that the price of following Jesus is not too high. When we consider all that we gain as children of God, we quickly realize that there is no price too high that can compare with the worth of what we have received in Christ.

We have one life to lose, one opportunity to give everything to Jesus. And beyond just laying down our life, are we willing to pick up our cross and take the first step of obedience? As Jackie Hill Perry said, “There may be many things God wants you to give up, but the primary one is your life.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In your own words, what does it mean to live dead?
2. What are some ways that you feel the Holy Spirit calling you to deny yourself and take up your cross?
3. What is one step that you can take today to obey what God is telling you to do?
4. Pray for one another that the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to pick up your cross and follow Him.

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Acts 2:1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. 5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

The first time the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers it happened at a time and place where people from all over the world were gathered together. God specifically chose to empower the believers then and immediately gave them the opportunity to proclaim the gospel to people from everywhere. Does that sound like a coincidence? Of course not!

The first Pentecost gives us a glimpse into the Father’s heart, which has always been to bring people close to himself. He has always made a way for humans to meet with him in holy spaces, and at Pentecost, the believers became the place where the presence of God now lives. As we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, that power is for us to walk in authority in our own lives and extend the invitation of salvation to others.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Do you feel like you are growing in your faith? Why or why not?
2. What is your past experience with the Holy Spirit? Did you view Him as a person or more like a power?
3. What does it mean that we are “temples of the Holy Spirit”? How would living like that change your life?
4. Pray for God to give you an opportunity to share the gospel with someone this week

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To be a disciple of Jesus means we are called to lay down our life for Him. We are called to live our lives like we have nothing to lose. We are called to live dead. As followers of Jesus, all of our dreams, desires, and decisions are laid down at the throne of Jesus. He has the ultimate say in our life. And there is nothing that this world can ever give that will compare to knowing Jesus. If I have Jesus then I have everything I need.

Luke 9:22-25 “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”.

This kind of life does not just happen though. This kind of life is chosen, this kind of life is built. And the foundation of this life is this: ABIDE in Jesus.

John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory,that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

This may seem a bit strange to you. The way to change the world, live radically, lay down my life, and sacrifice everything for the Gospel is by…resting in Jesus? How does abiding in Jesus lead to a life lived dead?

When we abide in Jesus we…

Recognize what a priceless treasure Jesus is.

Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Become more like Jesus.

1 John 2:6 “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

Bear lasting fruit

John 15:5 “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”

As we abide with Jesus, you can simply walk with Him and watch him work in you and through you. And here is the amazing thing about abiding in Jesus, you can start right now! There is no prerequisite you need to do before you abide. There is nothing you can do or not do to make yourself worthy of abiding. Don’t wait another moment. Run to his presence, learn to love His word, and abide now!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean to you to lay down your life for Jesus?
2. How would your life look different if you lived like you had nothing to lose?
3. Is Jesus priceless to you?
4. Do you look like Jesus?
5. How do you know if your life is bearing fruit?
6. What does abiding in Jesus look like in your life?

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🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
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Welcome to the Holy Spirit Bible Reading Plan. For the next 10 days we are going to explore who the Holy Spirit is and what he does in our lives. We welcome you on this journey to find out who is the Holy Spirit.

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
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