Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days By Dr.Toby Snowden Cedar Hill, Texas Copyright, January 2018, All Rights Reserved Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. John 21:25 Acknowledgments Thank you, to all my ministry partners both within and without the church who through their encouragement and example have helped make this year s 40 Day experience Red Letter Days possible. Thank you to Claudia Arenas for the cover design and for editorial assistance and study help work. Thank you to David Lee for editorial work. All Bible references from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society, unless otherwise specified.
Introduction You might be wondering, Why forty days? It rained forty days while Noah was in the ark. Moses was forty days upon the mountain. Joshua, Caleb and the spies searched the land for forty days. And, of course, Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days. These and other forty day experiences were used of God to make history and mold lives. Also, this length of time can prove to work in the establishing of new patterns and habits of behavior. If you have only one Bible verse memorized, it is very likely John 3:16 KJV. For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The Apostle Paul prays that those in Ephesus might grasp how wide, long, deep, and high is God s love for them in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:14-21). The great apostle goes on to state that it is the love of Christ that compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14). The churches of Ephesus, Sardis, and Laodicea all struggled with a lack of spiritual passion (Revelation 2, 3). I believe that if the heart is right we can get most everything else right. Spiritual lethargy is a cause of so much sin and hurt. No matter whether we have left our first love, have a reputation for being alive, but are dead, or are lukewarm, it is sickening to God and we are less than effective. We call it revival. It is the restoration of spiritual passion. The desire and goal is that over the next forty days God might forgive us, shine upon us, and restore our devotion, love and passion for Him. May these be days of spiritual preparation and renewal. If Jesus tarries and the Lord grants your life, may the next forty days be Forty Days of Passion. Red Letter Days is a daily study of selected sayings of Jesus that you might find as red letter words in your Bible. Pray for eyes to see and ears to hear these teachings of Jesus. May the experience of these forty days deepen our faith, increase our love and truly be forty days of passion. Toby Snowden Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days ii
Preface What do you want for Christmas? Many ask this question at the holiday season each year. I am sure that you have been asked, What do you want for your birthday? What do you want for supper? This is a common question at our house. What do you want? The Apostle Paul answers this question in Philippians 3:10, 11, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead. Hebrews 12:2, 3, states, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. A goal of this study is that you would take the opportunity to focus upon the study of the heart in the Scriptures. Proverbs 4:23 states, Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. If we get the heart right, the rest can follow. During these forty days you are being asked to faithfully complete all the daily studies and journaling. You will need to record your reflections, meditations, spiritual insights, journaling, written prayers and a spiritual concept, Red Letter Today, each day. Get a prayer partner and join a small group. Make prayer a priority. Give yourself to the reading, studying and memorizing of God s Word. Be faithful in Life Group/small group, Bible Fellowship/Sunday School and corporate worship. Commit to the concept of worshiping God daily. Ask God each day what adjustments He would have you make in your attitudes and actions. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do you have in mind? Those you need to forgive, forgive. If you have offended another, be reconciled. The one thing you lack or whatever is undone, complete it and make it right. While seeking to accurately handle the Scriptures the focus of this work is and remains devotional not scholarly. May it inspire, encourage and challenge you in spiritual preparation and renewal. These forty days ought to be an adventure in discovery and faith by the truth of His Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days iii
Getting Started Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days, is a program of study and reflection. However it is more than a program; it is a process. All spiritual growth is a process. These forty days will require that you study, and do more than study. It must be something that you desire and that you give yourself fully to as you ask God to change you for His glory and your good. This season is a time when we lay aside pride, hypocrisy, selfishness and ask God to work in us, to transform us, that He might work through us for the sake of His kingdom. Make the study times a priority. Set a time and place when and where you can get alone with God. Commit to pray. As your church might embrace and promote prayer groups, celebration services, solemn assemblies, or small group meetings, commit to them. Be a part, a vital part. Be a leader. I am issuing a special challenge to men. Commit to be the spiritual leader in your home for these forty days. Do the studies individually and come together regularly to lead your family in reflection and prayer! Make a commitment to listen to God and to make adjustments according to what He reveals to you. Each day, you are to journal your thoughts, reflections, commitments, biblical concepts, responses, and prayers. The journaling is not optional. Be careful regarding your commitments. It is better not to make a vow, than to make a vow and not fulfill it (Ecclesiastes 5:5). Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days, is designed to promote spiritual preparation and renewal beginning before Easter. God does not change (Malachi 3:6). All of our worship is a response to God and what God has done. Consider Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days as a way to worship God daily. As we focus on Jesus Christ and His words, sayings and teachings may our hearts and lives respond by gladly, whole-heartedly and quickly giving God our first and our best. May God use this time to cause us to think, act and feel in new ways. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Jesus Matthew 24:35. Psalm 51:17; 1Timothy 2:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-19 Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days iv
Spiritual Pilgrimage Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days, is the fifteenth forty day study that I have written for the purpose of spiritual preparation and renewal. Forty Days of Passion, the original work, focused on selected Bible passages and emphasized the basic spiritual disciplines. Forty Days of Passion: The Son of Man focused on the biblical references where Jesus is referred to as the Son of Man. Look and Live concentrated upon Jesus in every book of the Old Testament. Learn of Me was on the parables of Jesus. Grace and Truth was a study of the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel according to John. Teach us to Pray, focused on prayer. Your Kingdom Come dealt with the teachings of the Kingdom of God. You Will Receive Power, was on the Holy Spirit. Above All Else, was about the heart, Worship Him on worship and My Holy Mountain on spiritual experiences on mountain tops in the Bible. Hosanna took an in depth look at the last week of Jesus life and Miraculous Signs at the seven miracles of Jesus in the Gospel according to John. These and all the studies were built around biblical texts, spiritual disciplines, practical application and daily journaling. These books relied heavily upon appendices referred to as Study Helps. The Forty Days books and experiences are designed to be spiritual pilgrimages. Spiritual preparation and renewal takes place individually, as couples, in families, in Home Groups/small groups, in mid-sized groups (Bible Fellowships and Sunday School Classes) and in corporate worship. Spiritual preparation and renewal can best be moved along with personal accountability and significant levels of social support. While the studies and discipline practices are designed to be done alone, they are also designed to be shared within all the contexts mentioned above. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days is a Forty Day emphasis for spiritual formation focusing upon selected words, sayings and teaching of Jesus. Allow the daily studies, prayer, written prayers, journaling, meditating along with the mutual sharing, be an enriching time of spiritual preparation and renewal. The heart of what it means to be a disciple is to be a learner. Submit to God, humble yourself, take Christ s yoke upon you and learn of Him! Pray hard! Be transformed! The Study Helps in the back of the book should be read thoroughly before beginning. Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 12:1, 2 Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days v
Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days is the fifteenth in a series of forty day studies. All of the studies have focused on spiritual preparation and renewal. This forty day pilgrimage is designed and written to accomplish three key purposes. The first is to inform and inspire the student regarding selected words, saying and teachings of Jesus. Second is to challenge the forty day participant to discover and embrace certain spiritual concepts, transforming principles and to live more fully under the influence of the Holy Spirit in light of God s Word. The third is to enrich the life and experience of the individual in the matter of spiritual preparation and renewal, spiritual formation, and embrace the influence of group life, better together. Each week in corporate worship we join together and pray as a congregation the model or Lord s Prayer. I am always reflective and thoughtful about praying such concepts as God forgiving us as we forgive others, praying for daily bread and especially about asking God that His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Especially, that it might mean that God s will be accomplished through us. We know that it is God s will that we be born of the Spirit, filled with the Spirit and that we walk by the Spirit. We also know that we are to love God with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves. This can best happen as we open our lives to the truth of His Word, the Bible, and as we yield our lives to the influence of the Holy Spirit. I will ask you in each daily study to think, reflect and meditate in order to discover one key concept, one spiritual reality, the Just One Thing that I will call Red Letter Today. It is up to the 40 Days student, led by the Word of God and prompted by the Spirit of God to identify the key lesson for the day. The lesson for the day is the one thing, above all others, upon which you need to reflect, meditate and apply. The Red Letter Today will be the last entry you make for the day after the correlation/connection section. After you have decided upon your one main thought, Red Letter Today for the day check Study Help Fifty Three-Red Letter Today just to see if what the Lord put on your heart is somewhat close to what God put on mine for that day. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days vi
Practical How To Preparation for Daily Assignments Each day will begin with an assigned portion of Scripture to read. That is the place to begin. Read the assigned passage without interruption and without consulting any bible study helps or notes. I trust that God will speak to you through His Word, the Bible. Please take time now to read Study Help One- Hearing from God. Please remember that the point of this forty day emphasis is spiritual preparation and renewal. My purpose in not that you merely gain biblical information but that you experience adjustment, change and spiritual transformation. Please take time now to read Study Help Two, A Heart for God. Reflect and pray about what it means for you personally and specifically to have a heart for God. Pick one trait to focus on and refer to this study help throughout the course of these forty days. Two of the challenges of any forty day study experience are the use of time and dealing with distractions. While there is no such thing as time management there is such a thing as self-management. Each and all of us have 24 hours in the day, 168 hours in the week and 960 hours in these forty days. How will you use them? Please take time to read Study Help Twenty Seven, How to Prepare Your Heart for Revival. These study helps, along with so many others, can go a long way in challenging you to make adjustments, changes, repentance and spiritual transformation. Jesus words to the Rich Young Ruler were, one thing you lack. For you it might be just one thing or it may be a number of things that crowd out God, His Word, prayer, ministry, service, worship, people and other godly influences in your life. As the purpose of Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days is spiritual preparation and renewal, consider this portion of the How To as preparation for preparation. Take this opportunity to get serious, get excited and to adjust your calendar and commitments, as you trust God for great things! Pray and ask God to reveal His biblical truth to you as you study, reflect, meditate and pray. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days vii
Daily Assignments Explained Take time to thoroughly read Study Help Four-Part I & Part II, How to Study the Bible. Much of the daily assignments depend upon your mastery of these principles of Bible study. Each day you will have a Scripture portion that is assigned. That portion is what you are supposed to focus upon. The daily studies are selected passages taken from the Bible. Some assignments are relatively simple and others you will have to pull out the spiritual principles. Stay focused to look for the timeless truths. Let s consider the component parts. Investigation See it! Note your observations below. This is the discovery phase. Make as many observations of the passage as possible. You cannot learn what you do not observe. If you do not see it you cannot apply or pass it along. Two things will not change as you do these forty studies. The first is the fact that every verse or passage has a context. Do not hesitate to look ahead and behind of the Scripture in question to gain additional information. The other fact is that every passage deals with words, sayings and teachings of Jesus. Look for the main idea and spiritual truth. When you first get started I encourage you to do the investigation phase of the daily study and put the booklet aside for a few hours. Come back after a few hours and make new observations. It is always amazing to see what you observe from the text by means of a second look. Do not be reluctant to ask a question for which you do not know the answer to or to note a word that is unfamiliar to you. Remember, this portion of the daily assignment is simply and purely investigation. You are to observe and study through close examination. Try to see as much, ask as much and think as much as you can. Remember also that this step is to be done with only your Bible and your booklet. In fact, I encourage you to use a Bible without helps, notes, reference markers and the like. The very real tendency is to short cut the process by looking to the helps and notes too soon. See and discover all you can. Ask God to show you His truths from His Word, the Bible. The challenge comes with it the excitement of discovery, the discovery of God s powerful truth as revealed in Scripture. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days viii
Explanation Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. To begin this phase answer as many questions, define as many words and clarify as many relationships as you can on your own. Once you have exhausted your knowledge, then and only then, is it time to go to the helps. Have them on hand and get them ready. A good study Bible, Bible dictionary, English dictionary, Bible concordance, Bible commentaries, other Bible translations and the internet can all be useful. Remember that the theme of this study is what the words and sayings and teachings of Jesus. Try to look at everything through spiritual lenses. You will need to be open to the many references and sayings. Do not refrain from considering the mind, will and emotions as you look for spiritual insights. Remember the challenge is to think, act and feel in new ways. I am asking you to identify the main idea in the passage and to put it in your own words. It is at this point that you will begin to face a new but good challenge. To identify the main idea might be as much Spirit led as it is Bible fed. It is a real challenge to put the main idea in your own words. This is called a paraphrase. It has been said that it is only when you can put a passage in your own words that you truly understand what the passage means. If investigation is discovering what the passage says then explanation is determining and stating what the passage means. Your prayer/accountability partner, Home Group/small group and Bible Fellowship/Sunday School Class can be very helpful at this point. As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another, Proverbs 27:17, and so you need to hear the insights of others. Remember the two great challenges are determining the main idea and then putting it in to your own words. If you can t say it do you really know it? It can also be helpful to go back to the passage after having left it alone for several hours. Also, it can be interesting to see how your thoughts on the explanation of the passage may change the further you get into the study. Remember, Openness to challenge is opportunity to change. Always be open to new and additional ideas and to new and better ways of saying them. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days ix
Implementation Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 The Nike Corporation has had a slogan for a long time that reminds us of the importance of action, Just Do It! The name of the company comes from the Greek word that means victory. In order to be victorious in life you must do what the Bible says. In my office there is an art object that says, Change is good, you go first. It is very easy to point out the faults and flaws in others but to miss or be unwilling to deal with our own. James 1:25 states that whoever looks intently into the Bible and does and keeps on doing what it says will be truly blessed. In applying the Bible to our lives we make personal, measurable and specific changes. Notice, if you will, the three-fold challenge of thinking, acting and feeling in new ways. The Bible says we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, Romans 12:2. We have just seen that it is when we act upon what the Bible says and keep on doing it that we are truly blessed. Notice, that feelings come last. Make every attempt to keep them there. Feelings change frequently so never allow yourself to be ruled by your feelings. Most people just want to feel better not get better. The real goal is to get better and as a result you will feel better. Two popular Christian psychologists remind us that real, lasting and spiritual change requires grace, truth and time. Growth is a process and change comes by steps. You might be helped to think in terms of small or baby steps. I encourage you to select no more than one item, step, change or application per day. If the study brings up more than one, pick one and start there. Spiritual renewal comes when you are overwhelmed by your own personal need for change and transformation. It is here, in the implementation phase, that you deal with confession, repentance, godly sorrow, forgiveness, acceptance and other core issues of spiritual transformation and renewal. It is here that you may wish to incorporate Study Help Forty-Three - Praying the Virtues of Scripture. Ask God to change you. Remember, the goal is to think, act and feel in new ways. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days x
Key Verse/Phrase: Write your key verse, phrase, words or word in the space below. God speaks through His Word, the Bible. As you do the daily studies you will discover that there will be certain verses, or thoughts within a verse, that just seem to jump out at you. Don t just look for the familiar but also consider the lesser known portions as well. As the title represents, some days it might be a verse, somedays a phrase and yet somedays it will only be a word. In the realm of the profound often we find that less is more. Ask the Lord to guide you. Some days the key verse or thought will be obvious and irresistible. Other days you will need to look for it. Nevertheless, be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit will speak through the Bible. Sometimes your key verse, phrase, words or word may be closely associated or actually be a part of the main idea. By looking for a key verse or phrase you might better unlock the meaning of the passage. Also, please allow this exercise to move you forward in meditation and memorization of Scripture. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. The journaling can be insights, reflections, correlations, impressions or commitments, as you seek to think, act and feel in new ways. Do not just read the words but study the Bible text for what is being communicated about Christian living. Let your thoughts flow. Some days it may be a truth you grab and other days it may a truth that grabs you. All is grist for the mill. Baptists and evangelicals have not been known for written prayers. Reference Acts 4:23-31 and see how Scripture, experience, passion and desire impact this prayer of the early church. Do not miss the fact that this is a written prayer. This discipline may be challenging at first but I am praying that this exercise will be enriching and empowering to you personally, to your circle of prayer partners and to your church. The written prayers do not have to be long. Remember, it is better to have heart without words than words without heart. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days xi
Connection Know it! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Close your time in prayer. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible. In this portion of the study write any verses the Lord brings to mind that relate to, complement, explain, comment upon or harmonize with the passage or verse of Scripture that you have studied today. Once you have done this you may use such helps as a center column reference in your Bible but only do so after you have looked up and read the verses on your own. Volumes are packed in the little five word phrase close your time in prayer. Do not let this portion of the time be incidental or accidental. The prayer component should be strategic, intentional and powerful. I encourage you to reference Study Helps Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty Nine, Thirty Two, Thirty Three and Forty Three concerning prayer. I trust that these will be days of spiritual preparation and renewal. Enjoy the journey. Be blessed and be a blessing. May you grow in grace and truth and in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples. Luke 11:1 Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:1, 2, 12 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1 Please pray for God s kingdom to come and His will to be done. And personally, pray for the knowledge of God s will for your life and for the courage, power and perseverance to carry it out. At the end of each study will be a Red Letter Today section where you are to write the main idea, the key spiritual concept for the day. This is the truth that you have learned that day about God and the things of God, put in your own words. See Study Help Fifty-Three. Be sure and check your concept with what I have written in study help fifty-three Red Letter Today. May God richly bless you as you think, act and feel in new ways! Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days xii
Index Daily Studies & Journaling Pages 1-88 Study Helps Notes and Comments Page One Hearing from God 89 Two A Heart for God 90, 91 Three How to be Born Again 92 Four-Part I How to Study the Bible 93 Four-Part II Sample Bible Study 94 Five Jesus Christ 95 Six Jesus and the Sabbath 96 Seven The Names of God 97 Eight Seven Realities of the Churches of the Revelation 98 Nine Bible References on Sin 99 Ten Selected N.T. Verses on Repentance 100 Eleven The Five Ships of Christian Ministry 101 Twelve The Christ of the Psalms 102 Thirteen The Passion of Christ in the Psalms 103 Fourteen Areas of Submission in the N.T. 104 Fifteen Faith is Believing-John 3:16 105 Sixteen P.R.A.Y. 106 Seventeen Selected Scriptures on Prayer 107 Eighteen Pray Hard-Prayer in Colossians 108 Nineteen Praying for Missionaries-Acts 13, 14 109 Twenty Daily Prayer Principles 110, 111 Twenty-One The Trials of Jesus 112 Twenty-Two The Stations of the Cross 113 Twenty-Three The Last Words of Christ 114 Twenty-Four Life Group/Small Groups Ministry 115 Twenty-Five A Five-Fold Philosophy of Ministry 116 Twenty-Six Where to Go From Here 117 Twenty-Seven How to Prepare Your Heart for Revival 118 Twenty-Eight Hiding God s Word in your Heart 119 Twenty-Nine Praying for Those Who Need Christ 120 Thirty One Another s of the New Testament 121 Thirty-One Directions for Singing 122 Thirty-Two How to Pray for Revival 123 Thirty-Three Praying and Fasting-Isaiah 58 124 Thirty-Four Leaven in the New Testament 125 Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days xiii
Thirty-Five Thoughts on Forgiveness 126 Thirty-Six The Seven Realities of Experiencing God 127 Thirty-Seven Discipleship 128 Thirty-Eight The I Am Statements of John 129 Thirty-Nine The I Am Statements of Jesus 130 Forty Return of Christ in Philippians 131 Forty-One The Be Attitudes of the Parables 132-134 Forty-Two A Process of Spiritual Growth 135 Forty-Three Praying the Virtues of Scripture 136 Forty-Four The Elements of Influence 137 Forty-Five Life-Change Cycle 138 Forty-Six Cycles of Spiritual Transformation and Decline 139 Forty-Seven Seven-Fold Plan for Bible Study 140 Forty-Eight Kingdom of God Principles 141 Forty-Nine Daily Kingdom Concepts 142, 143 Fifty The Enemies of the Faith 144 Fifty-One Power Points 145, 146 Fifty-Two Worship Him 147, 148 Fifty-Three Red Letter Today 149,150 Fifty-Four Biblical Meditation 151 Digging Deeper (7) 152-158 40 Days of Passion Schedule 159 References 160 Notes 161,162 Read Study Help Four, both parts, on How to Study the Bible. For each passage of Scripture you will make observations of the text and do the explanation phase by interpreting those observations by writing a brief paraphrase that puts the main idea in your own words. Implementation will be completed as you note specific actions you take or adjustments you make. On the next page, you will be asked to identify a key verse, phrase, words or word. All Scripture is inspired but at times there are those Scriptures or Scripture portions that really stand out. As the Lord might give you a special verse or special phrase you will note it on the journal page. Remember that you will be writing a prayer each day. Allow this exercise to be an open and honest expression of your heart. Read Psalm 19:12-14. After the connection section, you are to write the key heart lesson or spiritual principle in the Red Letter Today space. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days xiv
Day One-Sunday Forty-Two Days before Easter Luke 2:41-52 Prepare Your Heart for Worship Worship- Live It! Note your observations below. Prepare your heart for the worship of God. As you read the assigned passage don t miss Luke 2:49, see KJV or NKJV Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 1
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s passage. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Close your time in prayer. Red Letter Today NOTA BENE Note this well. In the Red Letter Today section you are to identify the Just One Thing, the main idea of the text that has become clear to you. The phrase in Luke 2:49, see KJV or NKJV, my Father s business, is the focus upon the importance of God s business or Kingdom Work! Thus, my focus is upon Kingdom Work. How can I better be about my Father s business? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 2
Sunday Sermon Notes Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 3
Day Two-Monday Forty-One Days before Easter Matthew 4:1-11 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Note carefully the statements of Matthew 4:4,7,10. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 4
Key Verse: Write your Key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. See Luke 4:1-13, Deuteronomy 6:13; 6:16; 8:3 Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 5
Day Three-Tuesday Forty Days before Easter Matthew 5:43-48 Complete the Bible Study below. Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Give special note to Matthew 5:43,44. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 6
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or keys words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Matthew 5:21-22; 5:27-28; 5:31-32; 5:33-34; 5:38-39; 5:43-44. See a pattern? Close your time in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 7
Day Four- Wednesday Thirty-Nine Days before Easter Matthew 6:1-18 Complete the Bible Study below. Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Give attention to Matthew 6:4,6,18. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 8
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Luke 11:1-13. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 9
Day Five Thursday Thirty-Eight Days before Easter Matthew 7:24-29 Complete the Study Below Investigation See It! Note your observations below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make in attitude or action. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 10
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Today try to select a key word. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any verses that complement what you studied today. Luke 6:46-49. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual principle did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 11
Day Six-Friday Thirty-Seven Days before Easter Matthew 8:5-13 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Give special attention to Matthew 8:10. Explanation Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation- Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 12
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Luke 7:1-10. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual principle did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 13
Day Seven-Saturday Thirty-Six Days before Easter Read Psalm 1:1-6 Complete the Bible study below. Meditation - Consider It! Today, and every Saturday in this 40 day study you will be asked to reflect, consider and meditate. Give special attention to Psalm 1:2. Spend time today reflecting on what you studied this week. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Reflect on one spiritual insight that impressed you this week. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 14
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by this week s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you study. Red Letter Today What key thought did you learn this week? Write it in your own words. Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 15
Day Eight-Sunday Thirty-Five Days before Easter John 4:1-26 Prepare Your Heart for Worship Worship- Live It! As you read the passage focus on worship. Be sure to notice John 4:25-26 Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 16
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s passage. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you read today. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual ideal impressed you today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 17
Sunday Sermon Notes Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 18
Day Nine-Monday Thirty-Four Days before Easter Matthew 9:9-13 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation - See It! As you read this account record your insights below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 19
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Mark 1:14-20; John 1:35-51. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 20
Day Ten- Tuesday Thirty-Three Days before Easter Matthew 9:35-10:6 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation - See It! Read the passage and record your insights below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 21
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by your study today. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. James 1:5-8; John 15:16,17; 1 John 5:13-15 Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 22
Day Eleven-Wednesday Thirty-Two Days before Easter Matthew 12:38-45 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation See It! Note your observations in the space below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Note especially the warnings of Jesus to watch out and be careful. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 23
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. What word or phrase will be the focus of your meditation today? Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Luke 11:29-32; Jonah 1:17. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 24
Day Twelve-Thursday Thirty-One Days to Easter Mark 1:35-39 Complete the Bible study below Investigation See It! Note your observations of the text in the space below. Explanation Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 25
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer that is prompted by your study today. Connection - Know It! Note any verses that complement what you have studied today. Luke 4:42-43. Matthew 14:13. Close your time in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 26
Day Thirteen-Friday Thirty Days to Easter Mark 4:1-20 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Also note the other parables in this chapter. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make Dear Lord. What do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 27
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Matthew 13. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 28
Day Fourteen-Saturday Twenty-Nine Days before Easter Read Psalm 119:9-16 and reflect on this week s study. Meditation Ponder It! Consider Psalm 119:15. Take some time and reflect on what you have studied this week. Try to focus on one concept and let it be your assignment today. Note your observations below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation- Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 29
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by this week s study. Correlation - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today or this week. Red Letter Today What key thought, spiritual insight or just one thing impressed you most about the studies this week? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 30
Day Fifteen-Sunday Twenty-Eight Days before Easter Read John 3:1-36 and prepare your heart for worship. Worship- Live It! Note your observations below. Be sure and notice the theme in John 3:7,14,30. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 31
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and pray to prepare your heart for worship. You are welcome to write a prayer. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight will you embrace as you worship today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 32
Sunday Sermon Notes Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 33
Day Sixteen-Monday Twenty-Seven Days before Easter John 6:1-15 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 34
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. The only miraculous sign of Jesus recorded in all four gospels; Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 35
Day Seventeen-Tuesday Twenty-Six Days before Easter Mark 10:17-31 Complete the Bible study Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 36
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 37
Day Eighteen-Wednesday Twenty-Five Days before Easter Luke 5:1-11 Complete the study below Investigation See It! Note your observations below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Remember to ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 38
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. John 21:1-14. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 39
Day Nineteen-Thursday Twenty-Four Days before Easter Luke 9:18-27 Complete the study below Investigation- See It! Note your observations below. well Luke 9:23! Note Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Ask the question, Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 40
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Matthew 16:13-20. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 41
Day Twenty-Friday Twenty-Three Days before Easter Luke 10:25-37 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation See It! Note your observations below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments you need to make. Do you know what God has gifted you to do? Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 42
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 22:34-40 Mark 12:28-34. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 43
Day Twenty-One-Saturday Twenty-Two before Easter Read Psalm 119:17-24 and complete the Bible study below. Meditation- Ponder It! Today is a day to pause and reflect on what you have learned this week. See Psalm 119:23. What concept this week will you consider? Note your observations below. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 44
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by this week s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought, spiritual insight or just one thing has the Lord pressed upon your heart this week? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 45
Day Twenty-Two Sunday Twenty-One Days before Easter Mark 12:41-44 Prepare your heart for worship. Worship- Live It! Note your observations below as you prepare your heart for worship. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 46
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s passage. Connection - Know It! Other verses that complement your study today. Ask the Lord to help you live a life of worship. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight will you embrace as you worship the Lord? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 47
Sunday Sermon Notes Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 48
Day Twenty-Three-Monday Twenty Days before Easter Luke 15:1-32 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Take each story separately Luke 15:1-7; Luke 15:8-10; Luke 15:11-32. Explanation - Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 49
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today Notice Luke 15:7,10,32. Close in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 50
Day Twenty-Four-Tuesday Nineteen Days before Easter Luke 16:19-31 Complete the Bible study below. Investigation - See It! Note your observations below. Give special note to Luke 16:31! Explanation- Say It! Write the main idea in your own words. Implementation - Do It! Think, act and feel in new ways. List any changes or adjustments that you need to make. Dear Lord, what do You have in mind? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 51
Key Verse: Write your key verse, key phrase or key words or word in the space below. Journal your reflections and write a prayer prompted by today s study. Connection - Know It! Note any other verses that complement what you studied today. Close your time in prayer. Red Letter Today What key thought or spiritual insight did you learn today? Forty Days of Passion: Red Letter Days 52