Month: August 2025

August 11, 2025 – Bible Recap Journal

Jeremiah 14-17

Common Theme
God calls His people to repentance, warning of judgment for their unfaithfulness, yet offers hope to those who trust in Him. The contrast between the cursed who rely on man and the blessed who trust in the Lord reveals His desire for wholehearted devotion.

Questions

What does this passage reveal about the dangers of misplaced trust?
How does God’s promise to bless those who trust Him encourage faithfulness during trials?

God Shot
God is the fountain of living water, the source of life and blessing for those who draw near to Him. He is faithful to judge sin and equally faithful to preserve those who put their confidence in Him.

Freedom Starts Today – Week 5 Study Guide

Study Guide: Week 5 (Days 29–35)

Day 29 – Burn the Ships

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination. – Augustine

The story of Hernán Cortés illustrates the principle of “burning the ships”, removing all avenues of retreat to ensure forward movement. Likewise, to overcome sin, we must decisively destroy anything that could lead us back into addiction or sinful habits. This act is not about willpower but about advancing in Christ’s victory. Colossians 3:2–6 calls us to set our minds on heavenly things and put to death earthly desires, living in the reality of our new life in Christ.

Scripture: Colossians 3:2–6

Discussion Questions

What “ships” do you need to burn to avoid retreating into sin?
How does setting your mind on heavenly things strengthen your resolve against sin?

Day 30 – A Confessional Psalm

Bernard of Clairvaux said, “Theirs is an endless road, a hopeless maze, who seek for goods before they seek for God.”

Distractions, especially smartphones and devices, can quietly become idols, consuming more of our attention than God Himself. This chapter reflects a moment of conviction where the author realized their phone was receiving more time and affection than prayer and Scripture. Jesus commands us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). We must evaluate and remove anything hindering our intimacy with Him.

Scripture: Matthew 22:37; Deuteronomy 6
Promise: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7)

Discussion Questions

How do modern distractions like phones affect your walk with God?
What practical steps can you take to put God first in daily life?

Day 31 – Getting Hammered

Grace seeks the helpless to save, sanctify, and glorify. – C. I. Scofield

Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures, the Prisoners, symbolize our struggle against sin’s weight. Like those figures trapped in stone, human efforts cannot free us from sin’s grip. Philippians 1:6 assures us that God, the Master Sculptor, never abandons His work. He is continually shaping us into Christ’s image. Though painful at times, His chiseling brings true transformation, leading to ultimate freedom and completion in Him.

Scripture: Philippians 1:6

Discussion Questions

In what ways have you experienced God’s “chiseling” in your life?
How does knowing that God will complete His work in you bring hope?

Day 32 – Identity Theft

“Infinite grace cannot be exhausted.” – Samuel Rutherford

Past sins often distort our identity, convincing us that what we’ve done defines us. The author’s story of meeting his wife highlights the freedom of grace. Our worth is not determined by past actions but by belonging to Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 reminds us that though we were once defined by sin, we have been washed, sanctified, and justified. Our identity rests not in shame or failure but in the transforming work of Jesus.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9–11

Discussion Questions

Do you struggle to separate your identity from your past sins?
How can you daily live in the truth that you are defined by Christ?

Day 33 – Your Part + Their Part = God’s Part

Tertullian noted that people often hide sins out of shame, risking their salvation.

When sin is confessed, healing begins. Like a car accident requiring emergency assistance, sin calls for supernatural help. Our part is confession, others’ part is prayer, and God’s part is healing. James 5:16 promises that mutual confession and prayer bring spiritual restoration. Hiding sin keeps us in bondage, but vulnerability before God and others opens the door to His healing grace.

Scripture: James 5:16

Discussion Questions

What fears keep you from confessing sin to others?
How have you experienced God’s healing through confession and prayer?

Day 34 – General Order #3

“The law humbles the proud; the gospel lifts the despairing.” – Charles Spurgeon

Though legally free after the Emancipation Proclamation, many slaves remained in bondage due to withheld information and fear. Similarly, Christ has set us free from sin and Satan’s tyranny (Romans 6), but many believers still live as captives. Galatians 5:1 calls us to stand firm and not return to slavery. The gospel’s legality must become our daily reality. We are free, and we must walk boldly in that freedom.

Scripture: Galatians 5:1; Romans 6

Discussion Questions

What “old masters” do you still allow to oppress you spiritually?
How can you actively walk in the freedom Christ has already secured?

Day 35 – Yellow Teeth

“If anything becomes more fundamental than God to your happiness and identity, it is an idol.” – Timothy Keller

Comparison breeds dissatisfaction, leading to spiritual and emotional turmoil. Social media often amplifies this, causing anxiety and depression rooted in comparing ourselves to others. God uniquely designed each person for His glory. 1 Corinthians 4:3–4 teaches that human judgment, including our own, holds no ultimate authority, only God’s verdict matters. True joy comes from embracing God’s view of us and rejecting the bondage of comparison.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:3–4

Discussion Questions

In what ways do you fall into the trap of comparison?
How does focusing on God’s judgment free you from seeking approval from others?

August 10, 2025 – Bible Recap Journal

Jeremiah 10-13

Common Theme
God contrasts His living, sovereign power with the emptiness of idols and calls His people to turn from stubborn rebellion before judgment falls. Israel’s refusal to listen to His warnings reveals the depth of their spiritual corruption and the certainty of coming exile.

Questions

How does recognizing the emptiness of idols sharpen our understanding of God’s true greatness?
What does Jeremiah’s grief over Judah’s sin teach us about God’s own heart toward His people?

God Shot
God is the living and eternal King whose power rules over all nations and whose word brings both blessing and judgment. He is deeply grieved by the unfaithfulness of His people, yet remains steadfast in His holiness and justice.

The Second Exodus – Lesson 1

Title: Lesson 1

Summary:

God establishes unbreakable covenants that reveal His unwavering commitment to redeem and restore His people. Beginning with Abraham, God promises land, descendants, and blessing, reaffirming His oath through covenantal rituals. Moses foretells a future return to God’s commands and blessings of restoration. Through Jeremiah and Ezekiel, God unveils the New Covenant—a divine work where He writes His law on hearts, forgives sins, gives a new spirit, and renews His people for His glory. These passages trace God’s faithful promises culminating in ultimate spiritual renewal and eternal fellowship with Him.

Scripture References:

Genesis 12:1-4 – ESV (audio 🔊)

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Genesis 15:1-21 – ESV (audio 🔊)

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”

And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”

And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.

And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.

Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.

And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,

the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

Deuteronomy 30:1-10 – ESV (audio 🔊)

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you,

and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul,

then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.

If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will take you.

And the LORD your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.

And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

And the LORD your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you.

And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today.

The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers,

when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 – ESV (audio 🔊)
31. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
32. not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
33. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Ezekiel 36:22-32 – ESV (audio 🔊)
22. “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.
23. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
24. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.
25. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
26. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
28. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you.
30. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.
31. Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.
32. It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.

August 9, 2025 – Bible Recap Journal

Jeremiah 7–9

Common Theme
God rebukes false religion and empty ritual, calling His people to genuine repentance and obedience from the heart. Despite Judah’s confidence in the temple and religious practices, God warns that judgment is coming because of their unrepentant sin and stubborn hearts.

Questions

Do I ever rely on religious activity to excuse disobedience or hardness of heart?
How does God’s grief over sin challenge my view of His justice?

God Shot
God is not impressed by external worship—He desires truth, justice, and heartfelt obedience. He is a God who weeps over sin, showing that His judgments flow not from cold indifference but from a broken heart longing for His people to return.

August 8, 2025 – Bible Recap Journal

Jeremiah 7–9

Common Theme
God rebukes Judah for their false religion and unrepentant hearts, warning that external rituals are meaningless without true obedience. Despite their confident trust in the temple, their hypocrisy and injustice bring inevitable judgment.

Questions

In what ways might religious rituals today be used to mask disobedience or spiritual complacency?
How do we discern whether our repentance is genuine or superficial?

God Shot
God is a God who desires truth in the inward being and not just outward conformity. He is deeply grieved by sin and deception, weeping over the people He loves even as He declares judgment.

August 7, 2025 – Bible Recap Journal

Jeremiah 1-3

Common Theme
God calls Jeremiah to be His prophet to a rebellious people, confronting Judah’s spiritual adultery and urging them to return to covenant faithfulness. Despite their unfaithfulness, God offers mercy and restoration if they repent.

Questions

How does God’s call of Jeremiah show His sovereignty in choosing and equipping His servants?
What does this passage reveal about God’s patience and desire for His people to return to Him despite repeated unfaithfulness?

God Shot
God reveals Himself as a sovereign and purposeful Caller, setting Jeremiah apart before birth and empowering him to speak His words. Even in the face of betrayal, God’s heart burns with steadfast love, longing to heal and restore His wayward people.

August 6, 2025 – Bible Recap Journal

Zephaniah 1-3

Common Theme

God warns of an impending day of judgment for all nations because of idolatry and rebellion, yet promises restoration and joy for a humble remnant who seek refuge in Him. His justice and mercy converge as He purifies His people and dwells among them as their victorious King.

Questions

How does Zephaniah’s vision of judgment and restoration reveal God’s heart toward sin and redemption?
What does it mean for God to “rejoice over you with gladness” (3:17), and how should that shape our view of Him?

God Shot

God is a righteous Judge who cannot overlook wickedness, yet He is also a redeeming King who delights in saving and restoring His people. He is mighty to save, rejoicing over His redeemed with singing and dwelling in their midst as their protector and joy.

August 5, 2025 – Bible Recap Journal

2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35

Common Theme
Josiah’s reign is marked by a rediscovery of God’s Law, leading to national repentance and covenant renewal. God’s Word exposes sin, and true reform comes only through wholehearted obedience to Him.

Questions

How does Josiah’s response to God’s Law challenge our own posture toward Scripture and repentance?
What does this passage teach about the relationship between God’s Word and spiritual revival?

God Shot
God reveals Himself as the covenant-keeping Lord who calls His people back to holiness through His Word. He delights in repentance and faithfully responds to those who humble themselves before Him.

Freedom Starts Today – Week 4 Study Guide

Study Guide: Days 22–28

Day 22 – Witness Relocation

In Christ, believers are spiritually placed in a ‘witness relocation program.’ Satan once sought to destroy us through sin, but when we trusted Jesus, our old identity died and we were given a completely new life hidden with Christ in God. The enemy may still look for the person we used to be, but that person no longer exists. We were crucified with Christ and raised with Him. This transformation grants true freedom from sin’s power and Satan’s accusations, as our identity is now fully secured in Christ’s victory.

Scripture: Colossians 3:3

Discussion Questions

How does understanding your old self as ‘dead’ change the way you face temptation?
What does it mean to have your life ‘hidden with Christ in God’?

Day 23 – The Pain of Poisonous Pleasures

Like a small lead BB embedded in flesh causing infection and pain, even ‘little sins’ can poison and cripple our spiritual health. Sin often appears harmless or pleasurable for a moment but ultimately leads to destruction and death. Galatians 5:17 reminds us that the flesh and Spirit are in constant conflict; tolerating sin is like nurturing a toxin that seeks to kill us. Through the Spirit’s power, believers must actively destroy sin’s hold, extinguishing the enemy’s fiery arrows and turning their affections back to God, who alone brings life.

Scripture: Romans 5; Galatians 5:17; Ephesians 6:16

Discussion Questions

What are some ‘small sins’ that can poison spiritual growth?
How does the Spirit help you fight against sin’s destructive power?

Day 24 – Lighting a Twelve-Year Fuse

Sin’s consequences are not always immediate. Like a slow burning fuse, it may take years before its full destructive force detonates, causing relational, physical, mental, and spiritual death. A 12 year descent into hopelessness and addiction ended only after crying out to Jesus. Setting the mind on the flesh leads only to death, but setting it on the Spirit brings life and peace. God’s promise is that regardless of circumstances, turning to Him daily results in transformation, freedom, and restored joy even when external problems persist.

Scripture: Romans 8:6

Discussion Questions

Why is sin sometimes described as having a ‘long fuse’?
What does it mean to ‘set the mind on the Spirit’ in daily life?

Day 25 – Your Pain Is Never in Vain

God never wastes pain. Through suffering, He deepens our hearts, builds compassion, and equips us to minister to others. The story of Ramsey Stone illustrates how God redeems even devastating tragedy, turning severe burns into a calling to heal and comfort others. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 assures that God comforts us in every affliction so we can extend His comfort to others. Scars may remain, but through God’s redemption, they become testimonies of His mercy and instruments for blessing future generations. Suffering, when surrendered to Him, produces eternal impact.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3–4

Discussion Questions

How has God used pain in your life to grow or change you?
In what ways can you comfort others because of what God has brought you through?

Day 26 – Raining Prayer

Prayer mirrors the water cycle. Our petitions rise to heaven like evaporation, God sovereignly gathers and purifies them, and in His timing, He pours out blessings like rain. A drought in Haiti highlighted the desperate need for water, and when God answered with torrential rain, it sparked praise and faith. Similarly, our prayers never go unheard; they return as pure, life giving provision from God’s hand. Believers are called to trust this divine cycle, continually praying, believing, and then worshiping when God pours out His answers, knowing His timing and gifts are perfect.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:11

Discussion Questions

How does the rain cycle help you better understand prayer?
Why is thanksgiving an important part of the prayer process?

Day 27 – My Kids Own Everything

Just as children legally inherit everything their parents own, believers inherit every spiritual blessing through Christ. All New Testament promises find their ‘Yes’ in Jesus, meaning they belong to every child of God by faith. This inheritance is not earthly prosperity but the riches of a relationship with Christ: grace, strength, comfort, and eternal hope. Christians are called to live as true heirs, personally embracing God’s promises, saying ‘Amen’ to His Word, and giving thanks for His generous gifts that secure spiritual abundance now and forever.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:20; Ephesians 1:3

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to be an heir of every spiritual blessing?
How can you live as though these promises truly belong to you?

Day 28 – First Be Reconciled

Unresolved past wrongs often weigh heavily on our present struggles. True freedom sometimes requires humbly making amends with those we’ve harmed, regardless of the outcome. A personal story of confession and restitution to a former landlord demonstrates obedience to Jesus’ command in Matthew 5:23–24. Reconciliation lifted a burden and even opened doors for ministry. God calls believers to seek forgiveness and restore relationships as an act of worship, trusting Him to handle responses and outcomes. This step of obedience reflects Christ’s reconciling love and leads to deeper peace and freedom.

Scripture: Matthew 5:23–24; Ephesians 4

Discussion Questions

Is there someone you need to seek forgiveness from?
How does reconciliation reflect Christ’s love in your life?