Message Action Plan
Talk It OverScriptures Used
Mark 4:16-17 (NLT); 1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:1-2, 4:12-15, 4:19, 5:10-11 (NLT)
Bible reading this week: Mark, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude
My perspective on pain is either propelling or preventing my growth.
How to Persevere:
- Recognize that all trials are temporary.
- Expect difficulty in every season.
ACTION PLAN: Knowing that you are going to have trials, prepare your heart in advance by memorizing scripture that will encourage you to persevere. Consider one of the verses from this week's sermon, such as 1 Peter 4:1-2 or 1 Peter 4:12-13, which will remind you of the wonderful joy you will have following Jesus.
God's good gifts come with grief and grind.
- Distinguish good pain from bad pain.
ACTION PLAN: Make a list of pain that you have experienced or are going through now. Categorize your list according to the table below. This week, take some time to reflect on how both types of pain have affected your faith. Instead of complaining about your pain to God, in prayer, thank him for the transformative changes that are being worked out because of your pain.
Good Pain vs. Bad Pain |
|
|
For doing what is right |
For doing what is wrong |
|
The pain is now |
The pain is later |
|
The payoff is later |
The payoff is now |
|
Suffer together |
Suffer alone |
- Be released from the burden of perfection.
Immerse
ACTION PLAN: Saddleback is engaging our community to read the entire New Testament. It began January 22nd and will continue through March 16th. We are using Immerse, The Reading Bible® to read "Messiah", a unique Bible whose format doesn't include chapter, verse, and other headings, to create a reading experience more like the original readers would have read it. If you haven't signed up for The Anchored Life challenge yet, learn more and sign up here. The reading assignment for week five is pages 257 – 310.
