Retreat Scriptures and Questions Session 1: Living from Heaven Down Session 1 Read Aloud Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Session 1 Key Scriptures from the Teaching: Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Ephesians 2:4-9 (ESV) 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Romans 12:2 (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Proverbs 4:23 (AMP) Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Romans 8:5-8 (ESV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace Session 1 Questions: 1.) Meditate for a few moments on Romans 8:5-7. How important do you think our mindset is in living out the promises of God? What do you think you could do practically to bring what is already true in the Heavenly realm to your mindset in your daily life? 2.) With Romans 8:5-7 in mind, is there an area of your life that you have had good practice in setting your mind on truth that has resulted in walking with the Spirit in that particular area? 3.) Are there areas of life where you can allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mindset according to what is already true? 4.) What has been your experience with trying to living “from the bottom up” (striving) rather than letting God bless you with “top to bottom” living? Have you experienced the freedom that living from Heaven down brings in any specific areas that you could share with the group? 5.) In what ways could you become more “God-conscious” and “Godconfident” rather than focusing on self and self-effort? 6.) Was there anything you heard tonight that you want to dive into the scriptures more to receive more knowledge about?
Devotional Meditation:
This is a meditation on the scriptures I love to do that really spurs on “living from Heaven down” and blesses our mindset with God’s thoughts. It is called the “Kid in the Sandbox” meditation. It is based on Psalm 139:17-18. Here are those scriptures in a few translations for you to meditate on: Psalm 139:18 The Passion Translation (TPT) Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me. Psalm 139:17-18 Amplified Bible (AMP) How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17-18 The Message (MSG) Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them! I couldn’t even begin to count them— any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! Now that you know God’s amazing thoughts about/for/and towards you are as numerous as the sand of the sea, be a kid in a sandbox and delight yourself in some of His thoughts. This will renew your mind to what is already true. Whatever is spoken of you from the mouth of God is true – you can count on that! God’s words literally created everything we see and everything around us is still being sustained by His words. So when God speaks these words over you, they are given life and also sustained and carried out, not by you or your effort, but by God’s own initiative, heart, intentions, and power for you. What amazing news! Go have fun in the sandbox of God’s thoughts! Here are a few to get you started. 1.) You are of great value to God. – Matthew 6:26
2.) He calls you His friend. – John 15:5 3.) He bought you at a great price. - 1 Corinth. 6:20 4.) He makes you His child. – John 1:12 5.) He lavishes you with love. - 1 John 3:1 6.) He cares deeply for you. - 1 Peter 5:7 7.) He is for you, not against you. - Romans 8:31 8.) He likes to give you wisdom. – James 1:5 9.) He made you the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinth. 5:21 10.) He will not allow ANYTHING to separate you from His love. – Romans 8:38-39