COVENANT CHURCH
AMPLIFY GUIDE
What's the Amplify Guide? It's a collection of discussions and practices that will help you apply what we talked about on Sunday. Our goal is simple. We want to help 1) amplify the impact of Biblical teaching in your life and 2) amplify the impact of your life in this community.
Choose the suggestions that fit best in your context. Click here for a printable pdf copy.
This week's Scripture passage: Luke 15:11-32
Sunday Discussion
Daily Discussion
Weekly Discussion
Inwardly-focused Spiritual Practice
Outwardly-focused Spiritual Practice
Sunday Discussion
First Sunday of Advent: Each Sunday of Advent, light the appropriate Advent Candle with someone and spend a moment in conversation and prayer together.
Read Isaiah 9:1-6.
Share something of the darkness your experiencing. Share something of the way that you believe/hope that Jesus brings light into that darkness.
Take a moment to pray with and for the person with whom you just shared.
Daily Discussion
These are intended for conversation around the dinner table, in the car, or before bed at night (ideal for ages 7 and up). Start each conversation by reading the passage listed.
Monday: John 14:23. Why did God give you life and put you here (on earth)? How has or could that purpose play out today?
Tuesday: Ephesians 2:12-13. Does that fit with your experience? Does God seem near… or far? If far, why do you suppose the God who made us would feel far from us?
Wednesday: Galatians 4:8. What are some of our idols? Where do we look for love, joy, peace, belonging, purpose, happiness, fulfilment?
Thursday: Luke 15:20. What are ways in which you have felt God the Father pursuing you in the midst of your unworthiness?
Friday: Mark 1:13. To repent in this Biblical sense is to return to God (Isaiah 30:15). Share something of your experience of repentance and how that impacts your relationship with Jesus.
Saturday: As we reflect during Advent on Jesus’ first coming, what do you hope will be true about the second coming of Jesus?
You can also use the above readings and questions as a personal, daily devotion and journaling prompt.
Weekly Discussion
Use these questions in discussion with spiritual friends. Spiritual friends are those who intentionally move into one another’s life to spur one another on in spiritual growth for the Glory of God.
1. In what ways have you felt like you were living within the purpose of God for you this recently? In what ways have you felt alienated from God recently?
2. We can make idols out of inherent bad things as well as inherently good things. Describe some idols with which you wrestle.
3. How have you felt God pursuing you even in the midst of your struggle with idols?
Inwardly-focused Spiritual Practice
Daily spiritual discipline – Read Luke 15:11-32 each day this week. Create four different lists and interact with the Lord about what you observe.
1. Create a list of observations regarding the failures of both sons.
2. Create a list of ways that you may have expected a normal (sinful) father to respond.
3. Create a list of observations regarding how the father in the story does respond.
4. Create a list of observations regarding how your life re-enacts this story.
Outwardly-focused Spiritual Practice
Seek to love those God places in your path. Be intentional to share Jesus’s love with them through word and deed.
With the love of Jesus in view, reach out to a neighbor or co-worker or someone in need. Read Tom’s blog for some specific seasonal ideas.
Step into one of our Shalom for the City initiatives and share Jesus with our local community.
- Get on our weekly prayer email (Contact Michelle Leichty) and start lifting these prayers and praises up to the Lord.
Help us make this guide even more helpful. Click here and tell us about your experience.