No action items or study questions.

No action items or study questions.

No action items or study questions.

1. Build righteous living into your life before the tests come.
2. Develop a strong foundation and trust in God before you need it.
3. Ask yourself regularly, “What are some new ways I can influence my culture?’
4. Don’t blame God for your troubles but surrender to Him.
5. Even when things look bleak, don’t run away from God, but to Him. With a heart of praise, look to him to work out circumstances.
6. Don’t willfully sin.
7. Live honestly.
8. Raise the bar in your life. Lead yourself before you lead others. Then others will follow you.
9. Become a standout, one-of-a-kind example to the world around you, so others will talk about what you display and live, and endeavor to imitate you.
10. Be a servant, for it is from a servant’s heart that integrity flows.
11. Stay the course. God offers blessings in the long run to those who continue to follow His ways, no matter what.

Consider the following questions and answer honestly.

1. What temptations do you face?
2. How will you proactively prepare for them?
3. What is your attitude toward God? Do you want to please him or yourself?
4. What future calling on your life is more important than today’s pleasure?

1. Look for God’s open doors.
2. Who can you help with your righteous acts? Write down their names and think of ways you can help them.
3. Be faithful even in the little things and let God open doors for the big things.
4. Look for and trust God’s provision in feast and famine, success, and failure.
5. Remember how God sustains in the midst of pruning.

1. Find some “running buddies” so you can encourage one another to hang on to your convictions.
2. Trust that God will show up when you need him to.
3. Walk with God in making right small decisions. He may choose to entrust you with huge opportunities and blessings.
4. Know that good things are worth wait: a) Waiting gives you a chance to develop your character and learn new skills to handle promotions. B) It gives God a chance to line up circumstances. C) It will allow people to observe how you stand on your convictions in difficult decisions.

1. When you sin, know that it is always against God first (Psalm 51:4).
2. Do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it.
3. Weigh the cost before making a wrong move.
4. Do not compromise in any situation.

1. Is God giving you an opportunity to step up and, even though hard, speak out for him? Act on that!
2. Memorize this truth: “submission to authority brings favor from God.”
3. Use humility and self-control at key times-it can avert great danger.
4. When you face difficult situations, what righteous appeal could turn things around?
5. What bigger plans could God have for you?

1. Don’t go back. Go ahead!
2. What are some borders you need to cross?
3. Pick God-fearing comrades and stay loyal to them.
4. Be aware: Who drains you physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially? Who brings you closer to God?
5. Be willing to do the little things because they often lead to greater things.
6. Don’t expect to start at the top.
7. Build strong relationships with people around you.
8. Everything should lead to a closer relationship with the Lord

1. How can you think well of yourself and those who work with you?
2. How can you discern What God is saying and doing, and strategically, direct those God calls you to lead?
3. How can you increase your maturity level?
4. In what ways can you enjoy your own success and that of others more?

1. What are two ways you can make positive use of your time, thoughts, and skills in the midst of dangerous environments?
2. Instead of getting caught up in the drama, how can you seek to creatively solve problems to bring a positive resolution?
3. Assess the good in others and humbly promote that good.
4. Speak truth quietly, thoughtfully, and with dignity, despite the consequences to you.

1. Are there some areas in your life where you need to adjust your attitudes and motives? What are they?
2. What can you take care of in your own life before you point a finger at someone else?
3. How clean is your mouth? Is there a different way to speak from the pulpit or to people you lead?

1. Crave the basics of the Word.
2. Read, meditate on, and live out the word.
3. Handle the truth everyday and you will be able to discern the false doctrines.
4. Filter everything through the Word of God.
5. Remember that the fact check for all things is the Word of God.
6. Study the Bible to show yourself approved to God.

1. Get ready! Prepare your minds for action (See 1Peter 1:13 NLT).
2. Drink from the right bottle. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow” (1 Peter 2:2).
3. Hey, water boy! Take the towel and the water bucket (see 1 Peter 5:5-6).
4. Deliver the goods. Walk in your royal priesthood and show others the goodness of God (See 1 Peter 2:9).
5. Put first things first. In your hearts, set Christ apart as holy, acknowledging him and giving him first place in your lives (See 1 Peter 3:15 AMP).
6. Take a bow- humble yourself (See 1Peter 5:6).
7. Push back, brace yourself, and be sober 19 ( See 1 Peter 5:8).
8. Get ready ( See 1 Peter 1:13).
9. Grow up. That is, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

1. Be intentional in your practice of spiritual disciplines.
2. Discover which discipline works best for you.
3. Determine when and how you will do the disciplines.
4. Read books on spiritual disciplines.
5. Journal what you learn.
6. In determining to hear God, ask him, “What are you trying to tell me through Your Word?” (or through this impression, this dream, or these circumstances).

1. Be intentional about taking a weekly day of rest.
2. Be realistic as you schedule your day of rest.
3. Share with others what you are doing to keep the Sabbath.
4. Journal your Sabbath.
5. Protect your day of rest with great jealousy.

1. As often as is practical, “unplug” yourself from your gadgets, or consider planning a “tech fast.”
2. Determine how you can fill your tank (emotionally, physically, spiritually).
3. Think about and write down any healthy exercise, eating, and sleeping habits you could start.
4. Think about the following question: “What did you learn from your last leadership failure?” Write down the answer and reflect on how you can apply this learning to your current situation.
5. Ask yourself if you have set up guardrails to prevent an emotional breakdown. If there are none, ask yourself, “What boundaries can I set?”

1. Limit the amount and content of television programming you watch and the kind of movies you go to.
2. Stay away from places that “sell sex” in any form.
3. Get control of your internet use. Subscribe to companies that block questionable sites.
4. Do not allow your eyes to linger on sights that tempt you.
5. Starve the lusts of the flesh (see Gal. 5:16–17).
6. Fill your life with Jesus.
7. Take authority over “impulse gratification.”
8. Be filled with the Spirit.
9. Wear that wedding ring, always be talking about your spouse, and carry a picture with you of the one to whom you pledged your lifelong faithfulness. In other words, advertise your love for each other.
10. Work to ensure that your sex life with your spouse is satisfying to you both.
11. Realize the consequences of failing and consider how it would affect family, friends, others, and the honor of God. Remember the words of Joseph, “How could I do such a wicked thing against God?” (Gen. 39:9, paraphrased)
12. Hold in good tension the words attributed to John Bradford, “There but for the grace of God go I.”
13. Memorize this scripture and keep it in the forefront of your mind as you live out your daily life: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
14. Set in place other sexual safeguards and Satan-proof your life.

As you consider the things God has given to you to richly enjoy, ask yourself the following questions before you take any debated action.

1. What is my motive for what I am going to do?
2. Will it cause someone to stumble?
3. Will I be operating in faith or in the flesh?
4. Is this the right thing to do?
5. Will I be flaunting before others what I have liberty to do but they may not?
6. Will it bring honor to God?
7. What will be the consequences of my action?
8. Have I asked the Holy Spirit?

1. Remember: you never go wrongdoing the right thing. What is one “right thing” that you didn’t do previously that you can do right this time?
2. What one thing you promised someone that you did not follow through with? When can you do that?
3. What spiritual area can you be a better steward of?
4. Is there an area of improvement in respecting and treat all people the same?
5. Is there an area of improvement where you can be humbler?
6. Find accountability partners. Write out your rules of integrity and agree to be accountable.
7. Keep your axe sharpened. Be prepared in season and out of season, spiritually, physically, financially, and emotionally.
8. What people of integrity can you plan to spend more time with?
9. Is there a “secret” that you can be authentic about with someone you trust?

1. Love in deed and not word only.
2. Love the unlovable.
3. Love unconditionally, with no expectations of return.
4. Exercise love with discernment.
5. Befriend sinners.
6. Abide in Christ and walk as He walked in the world.
7. Do not be consumed with a love for worldly things.
8. In love lay down your lives in service to others.
9. Cast out fear with love.

1. Be sober and vigilant and resist the devil (1 Peter 5:8–9).
2. Let nothing but the call of God move you (Acts 20:24).
3. Live in the secret place with the Father and at the feet of Jesus (Matt 6:6; Luke 10:38-42).
4. Refresh daily. Renew weekly. Retreat monthly. Recalibrate annually.
5. Maintain a Spirit- and Word-filled life (Eph. 5:18).
6. Live a godly and holy life (Titus 2:12).
7. Stay connected to the end (2 Tim. 4:6–8).
8. Maintain a sense of purpose and spiritual destiny, fulfilling God’s call and dream.
9. Maintain the right attitude about sin.
10. Maintain a teachable and learning spirit.
11. Maintain a runner’s attitude (1 Cor 9:24–27; Heb 12:1–3):
    1. Run to win.
    2. Run with purpose.
    3. Run with discipline and self-control. Run with your eyes on Jesus.
12. Focus to fulfill the call:
    1. Count the cost.
    2. Forget the cost.
    3. Pay the cost.
13. Live with a spirit of excellence (Daniel 5:12; 6:3).
14. Hold fast what you have until Jesus returns (Rev. 2:25; 3:2–3; 3:11).
15. Maintain an attitude of humility (1 Peter 5:6).
16. Always keep you first love first (Rev 2:4).
17. Live your life for Christ’s “Well done” declaration and be a good and faithful servant (Matt. 25:14–23; Luke 19:12–19).
18. As Paul tells Timothy:
    1. Flee certain things.
    2. Follow righteousness.
    3. Fight the good fight.
19. Stay focused even amid hardship and persecution (2 Cor. 11:23–28).
20. Pass the baton well, imparting a legacy that will serve the next generation (Psalm 78).
21. Know that the journey is not just a search but a surrender.

1. Consider using Luke 14:28–31 as a guideline before launching a church building program.
2. Gather other leaders in the church to pray and seek God’s guidance on what He wants, how He wants it done, and the timing of it.
3. Know your flock, their level of spiritual maturity, level of faith, and giving ability.
4. Determine if the amount of pledges is sufficient to do what needs to be done and allow for a percentage for those that may not follow through.
5. Raise the money ahead of time. There is a place for miraculous intervention, and God does answer prayers in amazing supernatural ways, but be prepared to err on the side of knowing what you can do according to budget.
6. Plan the building process carefully with leaders.
7. Consider contingency plans. If the money doesn’t come in, how will you and your leaders handle that? Check your hearts for God’s timing and continue to seek His guidance.

No action items or study questions.