MEMBERS BIBLE STUDY U.S. CAPITAL

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1 NOVEMBER 19, 2018 MEMBERS BIBLE STUDY U.S. CAPITAL Leading Thanksgiving Devotions with Your Faily Bible Study Sponsors cabinet ebers Mike Pence, VP: DC Mike Popeo, SOS: DC Alexander Acosta, DOL: DC Alex M. Azar II, HHS: DC Ji Bridenstine, NASA: DC INSIDE ENDORSEMENT Sonny Perdue...2 VERSE OF THE WEEK Psal 100: ABOUT Capitol Ministries...8 Ben Carson, HUD: DC Betsy DeVos, DOE: DC Sonny Perdue, USDA: DC Rick Perry, DOE: DC senators Bill Cassidy: LA Steven Daines: MT Joni Ernst: IA Jaes Lankford: OK David Perdue: GA Mike Rounds: SD Ti Scott: SC John Thune: SD representatives Robert Aderholt: AL Rick Allen: GA Don Bacon: NE Marsha Blackburn: TN Ted Budd: NC THANSKGIVING DAY WILL SOON BE upon us and I want you to be prepared to lead your faily spiritually. As is y custo, I offer the following inforation to epower you for this special day with faily and friends. I realize you ll probably not use everything that follows, but take what ight be helpful and spend soe tie crafting a plan for a spiritually growing, eory-building investent. Continued next page John Carter: TX Michael Conaway: TX Kevin Craer: ND Rick Crawford: AR Jeff Denha: CA John Duncan, Jr.: TN Bill Flores: TX Greg Gianforte: MT Louie Gohert: TX To Graves: GA Continued on last page Weekly Bible Studies CABINET: 7:00 a Wednesdays, Location Undisclosed. Light Refreshents Served. SENATE: 8:00 a Tuesdays, Rotating Offices of Senators. Hot Breakfast Served. HOUSE: 9:00 p Tuesdays, Capitol Hill Club, Main Dining Roo. Dessert Served.

2 Leading Thanksgiving Devotions with Your Faily n ENDORSEMENT Sonny Perdue If the trajectory of our country is going to change, it ust begin with our hearts. Aerica s systeic proble is spiritual in nature; therefore, we ust first steward our own hearts and the hearts of our failies before speaking about changing the direction of our country, anything less is hypocritical. May God use the following to aid in crafting a special, constructive day centered in our love for Jesus. Let us give thanks for all He has done for us! If I can be of help to you in preparing, give e a call. Danielle and I have uch to be thankful for in the honor of serving you. Together, in partnership, we are poised to launch any new inistries in state capitols and foreign nations in this coing year. We are grateful and thankful for all that God has done in and through you. ithout a doubt, the W Mebers Bible study is one of the ost iportant hours of y week. Hearing the Word and spending tie with other believers is a wonderful way to center y day and professional walk on Christ. Read on, y friends. Ralph Drollinger I. INTRODUCTION The following is a suggested outline to help prepare you for leading and facilitating a eaningful and spiritually nourishing tie of faily gathering and devotions during Thanksgiving. II. PREPARING FOR THE FAMILY DEVOTIONAL A. ANNOUNCING DEVOTIONS When you invite your faily ebers and are inforing the of the tie to arrive and what tie you will eat, ention the faily devotion in the conversation; this way people will not be surprised when you transition into this part of the day. It will serve to take pressure off of you when the tie arrives to segue into the devotion. (Don t surprise your guests.) B. DRESSING FOR DEVOTIONS Give prior consideration as to how you will dress. Dress one step above your guests but only one step. Your dress should reflect the season, warth, love, nobility and a sense of seriousness. Reeber, how you dress should reflect that in the coing oents you will be God s spokesan to your faily don t take that lightly or discount the sobriety of your duties. [ 2 ]

3 MEMBERS BIBLE STUDY U.S. CAPITAL C. TIMING DEVOTIONS You ight want to have devotions after the ain eal, during dessert. Make sure the TV and background usic are off and not copeting for attention. Kindly infor everyone that they need to turn off all electronic devices during takeoff and landing. It s best that you and the others aren t distracted by a football gae or the young ones text essaging. I ask Danielle to serve dessert and beverages before I share. That helps to take the edge off, especially for those who ight not personally know Christ. D. TRANSITIONING INTO DEVOTIONS As you circulate aong your guests and invite the into the roo that you have previously deterined is best for this purpose, ake appropriate, edifying-only sall talk as people settle in. You are starting to set the tone. Be extra sensitive to ake your guests feel cofortable. Help with oving the chairs, bringing people coffee, etc. Manifest a servant s heart. III. BEGINNING THE FAMILY DEVOTIONAL A. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Express your heartfelt gratitude that you could all be together during this wonderful tie of the year. B. PRAISE YOUR WIFE Nothing is ore iportant in the foration and stability of your children and grandchildren than for the to see how uch you love your wife. Follow the ACTS outline as you speak about her: ADORATION Mention several things you like ost CONFESSION Reference things she puts up with THANKSGIVING Show gratefulness SUPPLICATION Express that you pray for her C. INCLUDE FAMILY MEMBERS Speak personally and edifyingly into the lives of your faily ebers. This will require forethought to be ost effective. For past studies or additional copies go to VERSE OF THE WEEK Psal 100:4-5 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Hi, bless His nae. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. Give Thanks! [ 3 ]

4 Leading Thanksgiving Devotions with Your Faily Sauel Adas Noveber 1, 1777 (adopted by the 13 states as the first official Thanksgiving Proclaation) It is therefore recoended for solen thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people ay express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate theselves to the service of their divine benefactor Sauel Adas, signer of the Declaration of Independence; Father of the Aerican Revolution; ratifier of the US Constitution; Governor of Massachusetts. Continental Congress Noveber 1, 1777 national Thanksgiving Day Proclaation; as printed in the Journals of Congress. [ 4 ] ASK SOME FAMILY MEMBERS TO SHARE WHAT THEY ARE ESPECIALLY THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR Very iportantly, herein you are setting long-ter tone and culture in ters of the interpersonal relationships aongst your clan. This is a tie to circle the wagons and huddle with your loved ones. IV. OPEN THE SCRIPTURES TOGETHER Prepare adequate copies of the attached passage (at the end of this) of Scripture for everyone. A. READ THE PASSAGE Ask soeone to read through Psal 100 (your best reader). This isn t so uch a tie to exegete the passage as it is to open the Scripture together as a part of your faily tradition. B. EXPLAIN THE PASSAGE Once the reading is copleted, be ready to share soe of your insights of the passage that are self-evident fro the reading. V. SING A HYMN TOGETHER The Hyn Give Thanks is very appropriate for singing after reading Psal 100. (It is attached also.) If not you, defer to soeone else to lead who is gifted in usic. VI. SHARE YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY Prepare beforehand your personal conversion story (speak no longer than three inutes). Refrain fro reciting every detail of your life. Mention the following areas: an effective testiony includes three irreducible inius. YOUR LIFE BEFORE RECEIVING CHRIST SPECIFICALLY, HOW YOU RECEIVED CHRIST LIFE CHANGES SINCE YOU RECEIVED CHRIST The ain thing you want to achieve is to odel for your faily how they, too, can receive Christ if they haven t already. Edit your coents accordingly. You are odeling a powerful living exaple and tool as to how they, too, can receive Christ, if not now, at a later date. VII. SHARE THE GOSPEL There is nothing ore iportant to accoplish as a husband and father

5 MEMBERS BIBLE STUDY U.S. CAPITAL than to lead your kids to Christ now is a good tie! Here is how to transition: A. APPLY THE PASSAGE It is fitting at this point, having read Scripture, sung a Hyn, and having given your testiony, to ake soe personal applications. These forer ingredients will serve as pillars to support your quest for the others consideration of Christ. Ask your faily ebers (if they haven t already) to invite the Lord Jesus into their hearts just as you did. Consider and incorporate the special warth people typically feel at Thanksgiving. Don t preach; ephasize gentleness. B. GOSPEL VERSES TO USE I recoend that you look up the following passages prior to the devotion and ark the in your Bible. (Don t read the off of this.) These will aid you in sharing the Gospel in a succinct and thoughtful way. Notice how these verses progress through the plan of salvation ake appropriate transitions to achieve a siilar, sooth progression. Roans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Roans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Roans 5:8 But God deonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. John 1:12 But as any as received Hi, to the He gave the right to becoe children of God, even to those who believe in His nae, Roans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the ercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be confored to this world, but be transfored by the renewing of your ind, so that you ay prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. C. INVITE OTHERS TO ASK JESUS INTO THEIR HEART Pray out loud the following prayer, inviting anyone who would like to ask Jesus into his or her heart to pray silently along with you: Lord Jesus, I need You. I realize that I have sinned and fall short of Your For past studies or additional copies go to John Dickinson Rendering thanks to y Creator for y existence and station aong His works, for y birth in a country enlightened by the Gospel and enjoying freedo, and for all His other kindnesses, to Hi I resign yself, hubly confiding in His goodness and in His ercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity. John Dickinson, signer of the Declaration of Independence; Governor of Pennsylvania; Governor of Delaware; general in the Aerican Revolution. Fro the Last Will and Testaent of John Dickinson, attested March 25, [ 5 ]

6 Leading Thanksgiving Devotions with Your Faily Elbridge Gerry He called on the State of Massachusetts to pray that With one heart and voice we ay prostrate ourselves at the throne of heavenly grace and present to our Great Benefactor sincere and unfeigned thanks for His infinite goodness and ercy towards us fro our birth to the present oent for having above all things illuinated us by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, presenting to our view the happy prospect of a blessed iortality. Elbridge Gerry, signer of the Declaration of Independence; 5th Vice President of the United States, serving under Jaes Madison; eber of the Constitutional Convention; fraer of the Bill of Rights; U.S. Congressan; 9th Governor of Massachusetts. Elbridge Gerry, Proclaation for a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise, October 24, standard of perfection and a in need of not only a Savior, but a Lord who will always lead e in the right direction. I open the door of y life today and ask You to coe in and begin to change y life for good and Your glory. Aen! At a later tie, you need to personally and individually follow-up with your faily ebers; ask the if they prayed that prayer with you. In the days that follow, inister to each accordingly as the faily shepherd. Continue to cultivate your own understanding of being the faily shepherd. VIII. CLOSING THE FAMILY DEVOTION Fro the botto of your heart, express how iportant this tie has been to you. IT IS VERY LIKELY YOU LL FACE HEARTFELT SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE FORM OF A LACK OF COURAGE OR DOUBTING YOU SHOULD DO THIS You ight even put off soe faily ebers. Expect this going in. You are definitely doing the best thing you could possibly do for your faily! A. SING THE SAME HYMN AGAIN B. CLOSE WITH PRAYER You ight choose to have soeone else in the faily who you know has a strong walk with Christ to close in prayer. C. EXPRESS APPRECIATION Once again, take the opportunity to set a tone of love. Abundantly shower others with His love and tell the how uch you appreciate each one of the. How can you spend ore tie with your faily ebers? For soeone as busy as you are, your prioritization of tie is probably your best way to express your love and extend your influence for Christ. IX. SUMMARY May God richly bless you as you lay hold of your spiritual leadership responsibilities. This is what God has called you to and you need to serve your faily in this way in service to Hi. A faily devotion is one of the ost iportant functions you will perfor in life with the greatest return on investent, I ight add! c [ 6 ]

7 MEMBERS BIBLE STUDY U.S. CAPITAL John Jay PSALM 100 A Psal for Thanksgiving Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; coe before Hi with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Hiself is God; it is He who has ade us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Hi, bless His nae. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. GIVE THANKS Public Doain Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He s given Jesus Christ, His Son Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He s given Jesus Christ, His Son I recoend a general and public return of praise and thanksgiving to Hi fro whose goodness these blessings descend. The ost effectual eans of securing the continuance of our civil and religious liberties is always to reeber with reverence and gratitude the source fro which they flow. John Jay, President of Congress; diploat; author of the Federalist Papers; original Chief Justice of the U.S. Supree Court; Governor of New York. Willia Jay, The Life of John Jay (New York: J. & J. Harper, 1833), Vol. I, pp , to the Coittee of the Corporation of the City of New York on June 29, And now let the weak say, I a strong Let the poor say, I a rich Because of what the Lord has done for us And now let the weak say, I a strong Let the poor say, I a rich Because of what the Lord has done for us Give thanks For past studies or additional copies go to [ 7 ]

8 Leading Thanksgiving Devotions with Your Faily Bible Study Sponsors Continued fro page 1 Glenn Grothan: WI Gregg Harper: MS George Holding: NC Bill Huizenga: MI Randy Hultgren: IL Bill Johnson: OH Ji Jordan: OH Steve King: IA Doug Laborn: CO Mark Meadows: NC Gary Paler: AL Steve Pearce: NM Robert Pittenger: NC Bill Posey: FL Cathy McMorris Rodgers: WA David Rouzer: NC Steve Russell: OK John Rutherford: FL Laar Sith: TX Glenn Thopson: PA Scott Tipton: CO Ti Walberg: MI Jackie Walorski: IN Making Disciples of Jesus Christ in the Political Arena Throughout the World Capitol Ministries provides Bible studies, evangelis and discipleship to Political Leaders. Founded in 1996, we have started ongoing inistries in over 40 U.S. State Capitols and dozens of foreign federal Capitols. c Randy Weber: TX Daniel Webster: FL Roger Willias: TX Joe Wilson: SC Rob Wittan: VA Steve Woack: AR Rob Woodall: GA Ted Yoho: FL governors Mary Fallin, Gov: OK Capitol Ministries Mail Processing Center Post Office 30994, Phoenix, AZ [ 8 ] /capitolinistries For past studies or additional copies go to Ti Griffin, Lt Gov: AR Dan Patrick, Lt Gov: TX The views expressed in each Bible study are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of any individual Bible Study Sponsor.