Maybe you have finished the Luke Journey (if not why not look here), or maybe you are just looking for some resources to help you read the Bible and pray on your own. We hope you find these resources below helpful:
You can find an online bible here.
Bible Reading Notes (courtesy of St Philemon's Toxtexth)
Proverbs 1-5 - here
Isaiah 13-27 - here
Galatians - here (this is dated - but don't worry if you don't begin it on those dates, or get behind - that is absolutely fine! Start and use it whenever)
Isaiah 28-39 - here (this is dated - but don't worry if you don't begin it on those dates, or get behind - that is absolutely fine! Start and use it whenever)
John 13-17 here (this is dated - but don't worry if you don't begin it on those dates, or get behind - that is absolutely fine! Start and use it whenever)
Ezra and Nehemiah here (this is dated - but don't worry if you don't begin it on those dates, or get behind - that is absolutely fine! Start and use it whenever)
A Cord of Three Strands (courtesy of Dave Griffiths Jones)
Knowing our Faith - Growing our Faith - Sharing our Faith
Knowing our Faith
1) Loved - Read Romans 5:8-9
- As you read today, do you feel more aware of being a sinner or of being loved by God?
- How can we be sure God loves us?
- How can we be sure we will be saved?
- What makes you doubt these things?
- Is it proud to be sure of being saved?
- How does being sure of these things free us from trying to prove ourselves?
- How sure are you that God loves you and will save you?
2) Saved - Read Romans 10: 9-10
- How easy or hard do you find it to tell others you follow Jesus?
- Why is it good news that Jesus is Lord?
- What makes you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
- Why do we need to confess with our mouth as well as believe with our heart?
- Who in your life doesn’t yet know that you follow Jesus?
- Why is it hard to confess openly that Jesus is Lord?
- Pray for two people that you would like to have a chance to talk about Jesus with.
3) Turning - Read 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
- How would the people who know you say you’ve changed?
- Do people still worship idols today?
- What idols have you turned from?
- What reasons are there in this passage to turn to God?
- How are you serving the living and true God?
- Is turning to God a one-off event or do we need to keep doing it?
- How will Jesus’ return affect the way you live this week?
4) Continuing - Read Colossians 2:6-7
What is the story of how you ‘received Christ Jesus as Lord’?
What stays the same as we keep going as Christians?
What changes as we keep going as Christians?
What areas of your life is Jesus not yet Lord over?
What happens if we’re not rooted in Christ?
Are you teachable?
What have you got to be thankful for?
5) Being filled - Read Ephesians 5:18
- What effect does being filled with wine have?
- What effect does being filled by the Spirit have?
- Is being filled a one-off event or an ongoing process?
- Are all Christians filled with the Spirit, or just some?
- How much are you drinking at the moment?
- What would the Christian life be like without the Spirit?
- What changes is the Spirit making in you at the moment?
Growing our Faith
6) Praying - Read Philippians 4:6-7
- How did you learn to pray?
- Is prayer a privilege or a duty?
- What solutions do we turn to instead of prayer?
- What are you anxious about?
- Do you always feel the peace of God after you have prayed?
- Why do we find it hard to pray?
- What requests do you need to present to God?
7) Listening - Read Psalm 119:11
- What do you wish you could change about your character?
- How can we become pure and not sin?
- What is the difference between reading the Bible and hiding God’s word in our heart?
- Can we seek God without loving the Bible?
- “Either the Bible will keep you from your sin, or your sin will keep you from the Bible” – how is this true?
- What truths do you need to hide in your heart?
- How are your times in the Bible going?
8) Meeting - Read Acts 2:42-47
- List what the first believers did ‘together’?
- What was attractive about their community?
- Can you be a Christian and not belong to a church?
- What is the difference between ‘going to church’ and ‘being church’?
- Why are meals so good for fellowship?
- How can you praise God in your conversations with other Christians?
- What do you want our community to see more among us?
9) Remembering - Read 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
- What has been your experience of holy communion?
- How does the Lord’s Supper act out the gospel in 3D?
- How does receiving communion together shape us as a community?
- How does the Lord’s Supper look forward as well as back?
- Should anyone in church not receive communion?
- What misunderstandings do people have about communion?
- What should we think about as we receive the bread and wine?
10) Testing - Read James 1:2-4
- What trials are you experiencing at the moment?
- Can we be mature and complete without trials?
- What keeps us persevering through trials?
- Is it good for Christians to seek a comfortable life?
- Can you say how God is using these trials to make you more mature?
- Are you grumbling about anything at the moment?
- How will you respond to trials this week?
11) Sharing - Read Philemon 6
- Does sharing your faith excite you or terrify you?
- How might sharing your faith lead to a fuller understanding of how good it is to know Jesus?
- How does stepping outside our comfort zone help our faith to grow?
- What puts you off sharing your faith?
- What did it mean for Philemon to be active in sharing his faith?
- What good things do we have in Christ?
- How is God calling you to be active in sharing your faith this week?
Showing our Faith
12) Truth - Read Ephesians 4:25
- Have you ever seen a relationship strained or broken by ‘falsehood’?
- Read verses 17-25 and say
……what the ‘therefore’ follows from?
…what’s with the put off/put on picture?
- How does falsehood go against our togetherness as one body?
- How might truthful speech help our togetherness?
- Why do we avoid telling the truth to people?
- What does this particular putting off and putting on mean for you?
13) Anger - Read Ephesians 4:26-27
- Is anger always wrong?
- Are these verses saying that anger is not allowed, or what?
- How might anger lead to sin?
- What does the bit about not letting the sun go down while you’re angry mean……in a marriage or household?
…in a church?
- How might anger let the devil have a foothold in our church?
- What is your anger management plan now?
14) Work - Read Ephesians 4:28
- Do you find work a good thing or a necessary evil?
- How might stealing to sharing point to a deeper shift in our life? (read about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10)
- What different ways of stealing exist today?
- What different ways of working and being useful are there for you?
- How cool and how common is earning so I can share with those in need?
- What ‘putting off’ is there for you here?
- What ‘putting on’ is there for you here?
15) Speech - Read Ephesians 4:29-30
- “…but words will never hurt me” – is the rhyme true?
- What do grumbling, sneering and unkind words do in a community?
- What other types of ‘unwholesome talk’ are there?
- How have you known words ‘build up’ and ‘benefit’?
- Why do you think the Holy Spirit is so particularly grieved by ‘unwholesome talk’?
- ‘Do not let…’ – how will you do this?
- ‘Build others up…’ – how will you do this?
16) Arguments - Read Ephesians 4:31-32
- Are church communities easy to be part of?
- What exactly is being put off here?
- What exactly is being put on here?
- How does what Jesus has done for us shape our behaviour here?
- Who do you find it hard to forgive?
- What do you want to particularly get rid of?
- What particular bit of ‘Jesus-ness’ do you want to see more of in you?
17) Love - Read Ephesians 5:1-2
- Picture what a ‘life of love’ looks like?
- What smelt so fragrant about what Jesus did?
- How does being an ‘imitator of God’ make you feel?
- Do you think of yourself as God’s dearly loved child?
- How would that make us live?
- How do you want to look and smell this week?
- What would be your biggest help and motive from the verses we’ve looked at in Ephesians?
18) Image - Read Colossians 1:15-16
- Put what this says about Jesus into your own words.
- What does it mean for Jesus to be the invisible God’s ‘image’ – his ‘portrait’ or ‘photograph’?
- Count how many times ‘all’ appears: what is this telling us about Jesus?
- Is Jesus there for us or are we here ‘for him’?
- What does it look like for you to live ‘for him’…What is your favourite picture or photo?
…at home?
…at work?
19) Shepherd - Read John 10:14-15
- How do you react to being under someone’s authority?
- How does Jesus use his authority as a shepherd?
- How close is our relationship to Jesus?
- What reasons are there here to trust Jesus’ authority?
- How is Jesus different to other sources of authority in our lives (media, government, boss, friends, family, adverts etc)?
- When we hear his commands, why is it important to remember that Jesus is good?
20) Living One - Read Revelation 1:17-18
- Who or what are you afraid of?
- What reasons does Jesus give here not to be afraid?
- Read verses 12-16: how does this description of Jesus make you feel?
- How does what Jesus says change our attitude to death?
- How does what Jesus says free us from fearing what other people think of us?
- When do you find it hard to remember that this is what Jesus is like?
- How does what Jesus says help you with your fears?
21) Servant - Read Matthew 12:18-20
- Who do you go to when you’re feeling bruised by life?
- How does God the Father feel about Jesus?
- What will Jesus the servant not do?
- How has this been true in your experience?
- Which ‘bruised reeds’ do you know who need to be reminded of this promise?
- How does this change our attitude to ‘weak’ people?
- Who will you go to when you’re feeling ‘bruised’?
22) Lord - Read John 13:14
- What’s the most disgusting thing you’ve done?
- Read verses 1-17: what sort of Lord is Jesus?
- How do we show that Jesus is our Lord and Teacher?
- What does it look like for us to ‘wash one another’s feet’?
- What stops us doing this for other people?
- What stops us letting other people do this for us?
- Who can you do this for this week?
23) Blessed - Read Ephesians 1:3
- What have you been moaning about recently?
- What reasons does this verse give us to praise God?
- Read verses 3-14: what do these blessings include?
- How does this truth help us
……when we’re feeling grumpy or depressed?
…when we’re envious of people who don’t follow Jesus?
- Why do we spend more time moaning than praising?
- How can we encourage each other to praise God more?
24) Chosen - Read Ephesians 1:4
- Have you ever been chosen for something special?
- When did God choose us?
- What have we been chosen for?
- How is it reassuring to know that God chose us?
- How is it humbling to know that God chose us?
- How does knowing God chose us help
……when we’re worried about the future?
…when someone disrespects us?
25) Adopted - Read Ephesians 1:5-6
- What motivated God to adopt us?
- What is so good about being God’s sons (and daughters!)?
- How does this change our thinking…What was your Dad like when you were growing up?
…when we’re feeling unloved or unwanted?
…when people at church get on our nerves?
- How might it be better to think of ourselves as a loved and adopted child of God
……than as a partner or parent or worker?
…than as a survivor or a victim?
26) Redeemed - Read Ephesians 1:7-8
- Have you ever been or felt trapped?
- What does ‘redemption’ mean?
- When do you find it hard to believe you’re forgiven?
- Would you rather have the riches of money or the riches of God’s grace?
- How does knowing we have forgiveness in Christ help us
……when we sin?
…when we’re sinned against?
- How does knowing we’re redeemed help us when we’re tempted?
27) Included - Read Ephesians 1:11-13
- When have you been left out or excluded?
- In vv11-12, what does Paul say about the early Jewish Christians?
- In v13, what does he tell us about Gentile Christians?
- How does it feel to be included in God’s cosmic plan?
- How does the view of God in verse 11 help us
……when we’re anxious?
…when we’re angry?
- Who would you like to share ‘the word of truth’ with?
30) Sealed - Read Ephesians 1: 13-14
You can find an online bible here.
Bible Reading Notes (courtesy of St Philemon's Toxtexth)
Proverbs 1-5 - here
Isaiah 13-27 - here
Galatians - here (this is dated - but don't worry if you don't begin it on those dates, or get behind - that is absolutely fine! Start and use it whenever)
Isaiah 28-39 - here (this is dated - but don't worry if you don't begin it on those dates, or get behind - that is absolutely fine! Start and use it whenever)
John 13-17 here (this is dated - but don't worry if you don't begin it on those dates, or get behind - that is absolutely fine! Start and use it whenever)
Ezra and Nehemiah here (this is dated - but don't worry if you don't begin it on those dates, or get behind - that is absolutely fine! Start and use it whenever)
A Cord of Three Strands (courtesy of Dave Griffiths Jones)
Knowing our Faith - Growing our Faith - Sharing our Faith
Knowing our Faith
1) Loved - Read Romans 5:8-9
- As you read today, do you feel more aware of being a sinner or of being loved by God?
- How can we be sure God loves us?
- How can we be sure we will be saved?
- What makes you doubt these things?
- Is it proud to be sure of being saved?
- How does being sure of these things free us from trying to prove ourselves?
- How sure are you that God loves you and will save you?
2) Saved - Read Romans 10: 9-10
- How easy or hard do you find it to tell others you follow Jesus?
- Why is it good news that Jesus is Lord?
- What makes you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
- Why do we need to confess with our mouth as well as believe with our heart?
- Who in your life doesn’t yet know that you follow Jesus?
- Why is it hard to confess openly that Jesus is Lord?
- Pray for two people that you would like to have a chance to talk about Jesus with.
3) Turning - Read 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
- How would the people who know you say you’ve changed?
- Do people still worship idols today?
- What idols have you turned from?
- What reasons are there in this passage to turn to God?
- How are you serving the living and true God?
- Is turning to God a one-off event or do we need to keep doing it?
- How will Jesus’ return affect the way you live this week?
4) Continuing - Read Colossians 2:6-7
What is the story of how you ‘received Christ Jesus as Lord’?
What stays the same as we keep going as Christians?
What changes as we keep going as Christians?
What areas of your life is Jesus not yet Lord over?
What happens if we’re not rooted in Christ?
Are you teachable?
What have you got to be thankful for?
5) Being filled - Read Ephesians 5:18
- What effect does being filled with wine have?
- What effect does being filled by the Spirit have?
- Is being filled a one-off event or an ongoing process?
- Are all Christians filled with the Spirit, or just some?
- How much are you drinking at the moment?
- What would the Christian life be like without the Spirit?
- What changes is the Spirit making in you at the moment?
Growing our Faith
6) Praying - Read Philippians 4:6-7
- How did you learn to pray?
- Is prayer a privilege or a duty?
- What solutions do we turn to instead of prayer?
- What are you anxious about?
- Do you always feel the peace of God after you have prayed?
- Why do we find it hard to pray?
- What requests do you need to present to God?
7) Listening - Read Psalm 119:11
- What do you wish you could change about your character?
- How can we become pure and not sin?
- What is the difference between reading the Bible and hiding God’s word in our heart?
- Can we seek God without loving the Bible?
- “Either the Bible will keep you from your sin, or your sin will keep you from the Bible” – how is this true?
- What truths do you need to hide in your heart?
- How are your times in the Bible going?
8) Meeting - Read Acts 2:42-47
- List what the first believers did ‘together’?
- What was attractive about their community?
- Can you be a Christian and not belong to a church?
- What is the difference between ‘going to church’ and ‘being church’?
- Why are meals so good for fellowship?
- How can you praise God in your conversations with other Christians?
- What do you want our community to see more among us?
9) Remembering - Read 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
- What has been your experience of holy communion?
- How does the Lord’s Supper act out the gospel in 3D?
- How does receiving communion together shape us as a community?
- How does the Lord’s Supper look forward as well as back?
- Should anyone in church not receive communion?
- What misunderstandings do people have about communion?
- What should we think about as we receive the bread and wine?
10) Testing - Read James 1:2-4
- What trials are you experiencing at the moment?
- Can we be mature and complete without trials?
- What keeps us persevering through trials?
- Is it good for Christians to seek a comfortable life?
- Can you say how God is using these trials to make you more mature?
- Are you grumbling about anything at the moment?
- How will you respond to trials this week?
11) Sharing - Read Philemon 6
- Does sharing your faith excite you or terrify you?
- How might sharing your faith lead to a fuller understanding of how good it is to know Jesus?
- How does stepping outside our comfort zone help our faith to grow?
- What puts you off sharing your faith?
- What did it mean for Philemon to be active in sharing his faith?
- What good things do we have in Christ?
- How is God calling you to be active in sharing your faith this week?
Showing our Faith
12) Truth - Read Ephesians 4:25
- Have you ever seen a relationship strained or broken by ‘falsehood’?
- Read verses 17-25 and say
……what the ‘therefore’ follows from?
…what’s with the put off/put on picture?
- How does falsehood go against our togetherness as one body?
- How might truthful speech help our togetherness?
- Why do we avoid telling the truth to people?
- What does this particular putting off and putting on mean for you?
13) Anger - Read Ephesians 4:26-27
- Is anger always wrong?
- Are these verses saying that anger is not allowed, or what?
- How might anger lead to sin?
- What does the bit about not letting the sun go down while you’re angry mean……in a marriage or household?
…in a church?
- How might anger let the devil have a foothold in our church?
- What is your anger management plan now?
14) Work - Read Ephesians 4:28
- Do you find work a good thing or a necessary evil?
- How might stealing to sharing point to a deeper shift in our life? (read about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10)
- What different ways of stealing exist today?
- What different ways of working and being useful are there for you?
- How cool and how common is earning so I can share with those in need?
- What ‘putting off’ is there for you here?
- What ‘putting on’ is there for you here?
15) Speech - Read Ephesians 4:29-30
- “…but words will never hurt me” – is the rhyme true?
- What do grumbling, sneering and unkind words do in a community?
- What other types of ‘unwholesome talk’ are there?
- How have you known words ‘build up’ and ‘benefit’?
- Why do you think the Holy Spirit is so particularly grieved by ‘unwholesome talk’?
- ‘Do not let…’ – how will you do this?
- ‘Build others up…’ – how will you do this?
16) Arguments - Read Ephesians 4:31-32
- Are church communities easy to be part of?
- What exactly is being put off here?
- What exactly is being put on here?
- How does what Jesus has done for us shape our behaviour here?
- Who do you find it hard to forgive?
- What do you want to particularly get rid of?
- What particular bit of ‘Jesus-ness’ do you want to see more of in you?
17) Love - Read Ephesians 5:1-2
- Picture what a ‘life of love’ looks like?
- What smelt so fragrant about what Jesus did?
- How does being an ‘imitator of God’ make you feel?
- Do you think of yourself as God’s dearly loved child?
- How would that make us live?
- How do you want to look and smell this week?
- What would be your biggest help and motive from the verses we’ve looked at in Ephesians?
18) Image - Read Colossians 1:15-16
- Put what this says about Jesus into your own words.
- What does it mean for Jesus to be the invisible God’s ‘image’ – his ‘portrait’ or ‘photograph’?
- Count how many times ‘all’ appears: what is this telling us about Jesus?
- Is Jesus there for us or are we here ‘for him’?
- What does it look like for you to live ‘for him’…What is your favourite picture or photo?
…at home?
…at work?
19) Shepherd - Read John 10:14-15
- How do you react to being under someone’s authority?
- How does Jesus use his authority as a shepherd?
- How close is our relationship to Jesus?
- What reasons are there here to trust Jesus’ authority?
- How is Jesus different to other sources of authority in our lives (media, government, boss, friends, family, adverts etc)?
- When we hear his commands, why is it important to remember that Jesus is good?
20) Living One - Read Revelation 1:17-18
- Who or what are you afraid of?
- What reasons does Jesus give here not to be afraid?
- Read verses 12-16: how does this description of Jesus make you feel?
- How does what Jesus says change our attitude to death?
- How does what Jesus says free us from fearing what other people think of us?
- When do you find it hard to remember that this is what Jesus is like?
- How does what Jesus says help you with your fears?
21) Servant - Read Matthew 12:18-20
- Who do you go to when you’re feeling bruised by life?
- How does God the Father feel about Jesus?
- What will Jesus the servant not do?
- How has this been true in your experience?
- Which ‘bruised reeds’ do you know who need to be reminded of this promise?
- How does this change our attitude to ‘weak’ people?
- Who will you go to when you’re feeling ‘bruised’?
22) Lord - Read John 13:14
- What’s the most disgusting thing you’ve done?
- Read verses 1-17: what sort of Lord is Jesus?
- How do we show that Jesus is our Lord and Teacher?
- What does it look like for us to ‘wash one another’s feet’?
- What stops us doing this for other people?
- What stops us letting other people do this for us?
- Who can you do this for this week?
23) Blessed - Read Ephesians 1:3
- What have you been moaning about recently?
- What reasons does this verse give us to praise God?
- Read verses 3-14: what do these blessings include?
- How does this truth help us
……when we’re feeling grumpy or depressed?
…when we’re envious of people who don’t follow Jesus?
- Why do we spend more time moaning than praising?
- How can we encourage each other to praise God more?
24) Chosen - Read Ephesians 1:4
- Have you ever been chosen for something special?
- When did God choose us?
- What have we been chosen for?
- How is it reassuring to know that God chose us?
- How is it humbling to know that God chose us?
- How does knowing God chose us help
……when we’re worried about the future?
…when someone disrespects us?
25) Adopted - Read Ephesians 1:5-6
- What motivated God to adopt us?
- What is so good about being God’s sons (and daughters!)?
- How does this change our thinking…What was your Dad like when you were growing up?
…when we’re feeling unloved or unwanted?
…when people at church get on our nerves?
- How might it be better to think of ourselves as a loved and adopted child of God
……than as a partner or parent or worker?
…than as a survivor or a victim?
26) Redeemed - Read Ephesians 1:7-8
- Have you ever been or felt trapped?
- What does ‘redemption’ mean?
- When do you find it hard to believe you’re forgiven?
- Would you rather have the riches of money or the riches of God’s grace?
- How does knowing we have forgiveness in Christ help us
……when we sin?
…when we’re sinned against?
- How does knowing we’re redeemed help us when we’re tempted?
27) Included - Read Ephesians 1:11-13
- When have you been left out or excluded?
- In vv11-12, what does Paul say about the early Jewish Christians?
- In v13, what does he tell us about Gentile Christians?
- How does it feel to be included in God’s cosmic plan?
- How does the view of God in verse 11 help us
……when we’re anxious?
…when we’re angry?
- Who would you like to share ‘the word of truth’ with?
30) Sealed - Read Ephesians 1: 13-14
- What is your most precious possession?
- Why can we be certain that our future salvation will happen?
- How does it feel to be God’s possession?
- Do you think of yourself as God’s heir?
- How would that make us live?
- How have these studies in Ephesians 1 changed the way you think about yourself?
- What do you want to praise God for from our studies in Ephesians 1?