Calvary Baptist Community

Christian Athiest

2010-05-14T13:31:00.002-04:00

If you are looking for our new study, you can find it by clicking here!

End of the Beginning

2010-04-12T07:36:00.001-04:00

As you come to the end of this study, do not allow today to be the end of your walk in wisdom. God's Word is full of instruction for your life, and it is critical that you embrace His teaching.

It is the prayer of the leaders of Calvary Baptist Church that this study has been effective in your life. Take a few moments to reflect on where you were when you started this study, and the changes you have made in your life over the last month and a half. Spend a few moments thanking God for what He has brought you through and commit your future to a continued walk in His Word.

And may this only be the end of the beginning of you taking time to apply God's Word to your heart and seeing growth in your life!

Day Forty Three

2010-04-12T07:32:00.002-04:00

Ecclesiastes 12

The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well- driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

MI: Wisdom moves you to action and knowledge sticks with you.

AI: I will not allow this to be the end of my wisdom journey. I will continue to be motivated by wise counsel both from my fellow Christians and the Word of God. I will continue to expand my knowledge base, knowing that it will stick with me as trials come my way. I will spend 5 minutes thanking God for this wisdom journey and reflect on what He has done in my life the past month and a half.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 12 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Forty Two

2010-04-11T07:58:00.002-04:00

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.

MI: Do not squander your youth on frivolous things.

AI: I will embrace the challenge - no matter my age - of honoring God in all my ways. I will not trust my fleshly desires, but will place my faith in God. Today I will ask God to grant me wisdom to discern His desires and live in submission to His heart.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 11 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Forty One

2010-04-10T08:19:00.002-04:00

Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

MI: It is not enough just to be wise most of the time.

AI: I will start by spending 5 minutes praying and asking God to reveal areas in my life that I am making foolish decisions. I will ask Him to forgive me for my foolishness. If this is a pattern in my life, I will confess my shortcomings to a trust Christian friend and ask for their help. I will write down action steps that I can take to avoid that behavior in the future. I will start today by following these steps to wisdom.

Go a little deeper:
Read Ecclesiastes 10 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Forty

2010-04-09T08:10:00.002-04:00

Ecclesiastes 9:2
All things come alike to all;one event happens to the righteous and the wicked; to the good, the clean, and the unclean; to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes and oath as he who fears an oath.

MI: Circumstances do not change - it is the reaction to the circumstances that set people apart.

AI: Today I will consider how I am reacting to the circumstances in y life. I choose to act in a godly way when I encounter good and bad things in my life. I will write down three situations in my life and record how I can respond Biblically. (Then do it!)

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 9 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty Nine

2010-04-08T08:02:00.002-04:00

Ecclesiastes 8:2-3

I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him."

MI: Godly people obey those in authority over them for the sake of God.

AI: I will submit to those in authority over me. I will do this because it honors God. I will do what they ask of me and complete my tasks to the best of my ability. I will not be a complainer. If I have been antagonistic to those God had placed over me, I will ask for forgiveness and seek to be a godly example in their lives.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 8 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty Eight

2010-04-07T07:59:00.002-04:00

Ecclesiastes 7:5

It is better to hear rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.

MI: Wise correction is better than foolish comfort.

AI: As circumstances come my way, I will not seek to justify my responses by looking for people to agree with my plight. I will listen to those who lovingly confront me, looking for the wisdom in their words. If there are people in my life that I tend to lean on for comfort, I will ask them to be honest with me when I share struggles I am having. I will not embrace a victim mentality, instead I will strive for growth.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 7 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty Seven

2010-04-06T07:49:00.001-04:00

Ecclesiastes 6:3-4

If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he - for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

MI: Long life and many children are empty investments without seeking after God.

AI: I will commit to live my life as a heritage to my family. Today I will make steps to pass down my Christian faith. I will ask a trusted Christan friend to keep me in check as I seek to be a positive role model to my family.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 6 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty Six

2010-04-05T08:11:00.002-04:00

Ecclesiastes 5:12

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

MI: There is rest at the end of a hard day's work.

AI: I will be sure to put full effort into my days. I will be diligent in the work God sets before me. I know that it is by the sweat of my brow that I will gain rest. Today I will put full effort into my day. I will give everything I have to the work God has set before me. I will do this honor God, not to attain riches.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 5 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty Five

2010-04-04T07:05:00.002-04:00

Ecclesiastes 4:6

Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

Main Idea: Be content with what you have.

Action Item: Today I will be thankful for what I have. I will be content with what God has provided for me. I will not seek out riches or more "things" in my life, know that they come with a price. I will enjoy the peace that comes with being content with less. I will spend five minutes in prayer, thanking God for what He has provided ans asking Him to help me to learn to love with less--less stuff, less stress, less discontentment.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 4 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty Four

2010-04-03T07:52:00.001-04:00

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor - it is the gift of God.

MI: Rejoice in the life with which God has gifted you.

AI: Although I know that it is vain to live my life as though there is nothing beyond the here and now, it is also true that God wants me to take joy in my life. Today I will rejoice in the life - the work, the friends, the material items - with which He has blessed me. I will spend the entire day reflecting on how good God has been to me. I will thank Him for what He has provided for me and my family.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 3 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty Three

2010-04-02T07:57:00.003-04:00

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

MI: You cannot take anything into eternity with you.

AI: I will take stock of what I treasure. If my life is about my work or my possessions, I will heed the warnings of Ecclesiastes 2. I will understand that although earthly things can be enjoyed, they are not eternal, I will focus once again, on the eternal things of life; my relationship with God, my service to His kingdom, and my role in His church.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 2 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty Two

2010-04-01T07:05:00.003-04:00

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "vanity of vanities, all is vanity." What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?

MI: There is no value in the pursuit of human enterprise.

AI: Today I will take inventory of my life. I will assess my value systems. I will take to heart the reality that all the world has to offer is in vain. I will spend 5 minutes in prayer asking God to renew my heart. I will ask Him for the strength to pursue what He values. I will make my life matter in light of eternity by ministering to people, giving of the overflow of my heart, and setting aside my selfish ambitions.

Go a little deeper...
Read Ecclesiastes 1 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty One

2010-03-31T08:15:00.003-04:00

Proverbs 31:10-11
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain.

MI: A godly wife is a great asset to her husband.

AI:WIVES: I will do my part to be a valuable asset to my husband. I will conduct myself ethically so that my husband can trust me. If I have broken his trust I will ask forgiveness. HUSBANDS: I will show my wife that she is valuable to me. I will trust her word and recognize her good qualities. I will treat her as the treasure I know she is.

Recommendation: This week reconnect by going on a date! If you are not married, encourage a married couple by helping to pay for their date or offering to watch their children.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 31 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirty

2010-03-30T07:23:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 30:33
For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.

Main Idea: Dissension is a natural result of anger.

Action Item: I will make every effort to be an agent of peace. I will work to foster loving responses rather than outbursts of anger. I will recognize the consequences of my choices--broken relationships--before I react to circumstances in my life. I will act lovingly toward the people God has put before me. I will spend five minutes asking God to give me grace in the way I treat others.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 30 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty Nine

2010-03-29T08:14:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 29:20
Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Main Idea: Think before you speak.

Action Item: I will be careful to think before I speak. I will take time to consider how my words may impact others before blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. If I have been offensive or unintentionally hurtful toward someone else, I will seek their forgiveness. I will spend time today asking God to grant me the wisdom I need to think before I speak. If this is a big struggle for me, I will ask a trusted godly friend to help me in this area.

Go a little Deeper...
Read Proverbs 29 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty Eight

2010-03-28T07:41:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 28:13
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

MI: Mercy is found in the confession of sin.

AI: I will spend five minutes - right now - asking God to reveal areas of sin in my life. I will then confess those sins to Him and ask for His mercy in my life. If part of my sin involves others, I will confess my sin sin to those I have wronged, and do what is necessary to restore those relationships. If I have a pattern of habitual sin in my life, I will seek out a trusted godly friend and ask them to help me overcome those sinful behaviors.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 28 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty Seven

2010-03-27T07:54:00.004-04:00

Proverbs 21:17
As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

MI: A godly friend can be a great help.

AI: I will seek out godly friends who can share in the journey of my growth. I will do this because I want to be an encouragement to their life. I know this will take work, but I also know that it will yield great results in both of our lives. I will commit to be honest with my friends and ask them to do the same for me. If my friends appear to be struggling, I will do everything I can to help and encourage them.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 27 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty Six

2010-03-26T07:13:00.003-04:00

Proverbs 26:21
As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

MI: An argumentative person fuels disunity.

AI: I will honestly evaluate my attitude. I will make choices that allow me to be an agent of positive change. I will recognize that I am not the final authority on all matters, therefore, I will be gracious to those around me. If there is an area of sin I need to address in another, I will do it in a loving, non-argumentative way. When I am in a disagreement I will seek the truth - not try to be "right". I will ask forgiveness from those who I have had an argumentative spirit.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 26 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty Five

2010-03-25T07:12:00.003-04:00

Proverbs 25:11-12
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.

MI: Godly correction is beneficial to others.

AI: I will not turn a deaf ear to the ungodly actions of believers. I will love my follow Christians enough to lovingly confront wrong behavior. I will prayerfully consider how to communicate in a way that will bring about their growth and I will not cower behind my fear or insecurity. I spend 5 minutes asking God to grant me the wisdom to share His truth.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 25 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty Four

2010-03-24T07:27:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 24:28-29
Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, for would you deceive with your lips? Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work"

MI: Do not testify against your neighbor or seek revenge.

AI: I will be a gracious neighbor. I will choose not to embrace a victim mentality in my life. I will not look out for my best interest or seek revenge when I feel wronged. I will forgive my neighbor and spend five minutes today asking God to help me be gracious toward them. If I feel this issue must be addressed, I will seek godly counsel and act in a God-honoring way.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 24 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty Three

2010-03-23T06:57:00.001-04:00

Proverbs 23:20-21
Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

MI: Choose your friends carefully.

AI: Today I will take inventory of my friends. I will not allow myself to be influenced by people who have a pattern of making poor choices. I will go one step further- today, I will lovingly confront my friends whose poor choices are a negative influence in my life. I will spend time praying that God would bring godly influences in my life. I will ask a trusted friend to help me seek positive friendships.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 23 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty Two

2010-03-22T08:32:00.003-04:00

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

MI: Godly training is vital to a child's growth.

AI: I will not allow my children's (disciple's) poor choices to go unnoticed. I will take hold of the reality that they are headed down a path of destruction apart from the grace of God and His using me to train them. I will set a godly example for their life today. if need be, I will take regular action to restore relationship with my child (disciple). I will spend five minutes today praying for my child(ren) (disciple).

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 22 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twenty One

2010-03-21T08:24:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 21:6
Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

MI: Dishonest gain has no eternal value.

AI: Today I will ensure that I am honest in all my dealings. I will be extremely diligent to ensure that I am not deceitful in the way I communicate or practice business. If I have knowingly deceived someone for my gain, I will make it right by paying them back in full. I will ask God to forgive me for my deceit and rest in His grace.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 21 and journal areas you can grow.

Day Twenty

2010-03-20T09:12:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 20:4
The lazy man will not plow because of winter; he will beg during harvest and have nothing.

MI: Preparation and diligence are keys to success.

AI: No longer will I expect great success without hard work. I will evaluate my life and my goals. I will ask God to give me the strength to do the preparation work, so that I can succeed. I will take the time to write out my goals. I will then write down the steps of preparation it will take for me to accomplish those goals. I will spend five minutes praying over my goals and then get started!

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 20 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Nineteen

2010-03-19T07:36:00.003-04:00

Proverbs 19:3
The foolishness of man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD.

MI: It is foolish to rely on human understanding.

AI: Today I will seek God's wisdom in the decisions I make. I will not make choices based on what the world values. Instead, I will prayerfully consider what God would have me to do, regardless of its "worldly" (financial, social, political, etc.) implications. I will spend five minutes in prayer asking God to give me His wisdom concerning the decisions I make today.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 19 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Eighteen

2010-03-18T07:06:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 18:1
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.

MI: Wisdom is found in community.

AI: I will seek out community and accountability. I will seek the counsel of godly people in my life when making decisions. I will not become defensive when others present ideas contrary to mine. I will not discount others ideas because they are not in line with mine. Instead I will try to understand their perspective and see wisdom that their opinion affords, understanding that God gifts people uniquely.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 18 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Seventeen

2010-03-17T07:12:00.003-04:00

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

MI: Choosing joy instead of depression or bitterness is good for me.

AI: Today I will focus on my attitude. I will be careful to choose joy in all circumstances God bring into my life. I will do this because I know that God has my best in mind. I will not fall prey to a depressed or bitter attitude because I know it is a poor reflection on my Creator. I will write down three situations I will choose joy in today! (Then I will do it!)

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 17 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Sixteen

2010-03-16T07:04:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

MI: God-honoring choices result in peace.

AI: I will look across the landscape of my relationships and ask "where do I struggle to find peace?" As strained relationships come to mind, I will prayerfully ask God how I can be an agent of peace. I will spend five minutes today asking God to change my attitude toward those individuals. I will ask God to give me the strength to follow His ways. Today, I will seek restoration by asking for forgiveness for my part in strained relationships.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 16 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Fifteen

2010-03-15T08:36:00.003-04:00

Proverbs 15:16-17
Better is a little fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.

MI: Contentment is found in the pursuit of God, not material things.

AI: I will take inventory of my life. What does my thought life, bank statements, and time spent say that I value? I will spend my whole day reflecting on my Creator - as I go about my day I will thank Him for the circumstances in it and see them as opportunities from Him for growth. I will give sacrificially - even if it means I cannot buy a luxury item.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 15 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Fourteen

2010-03-14T08:30:00.001-04:00

Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

MI: Love your neighbor.

AI: Today I will love my neighbor as myself. I will stop holding grudges, being judgmental, or engaging in petty fights with people God has brought in my path. I will show kindness and empathy toward my neighbor. It will be my goal to show them the love of Christ, no matter what their position in life, attitude or standing before God.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 14 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Thirteen

2010-03-13T07:20:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

MI: A loving Parent {mentor) disciples their child(ren).

AI: No longer will I let my children {disciple} slide for every poor choice they make. Instead I will discipline the for their actions. When disciplining, I will not act harshly or react in an ungodly manner. Instead, I will promptly and lovingly provide them with consequences for their poor choices, I will remember to attack the heart of the problem and explain why their choice lacks wisdom.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 13 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Twelve

2010-03-12T07:39:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.

MI: A fearful heart leads to depression.

AI: Instead of worrying, I will embrace the reality that I know the One in control of everything. I will fully rely on God for all the concerns of my life. When I feel anxiety creep into my life I will quickly turn to my Redeemer and ask Him to remove it. I will seek godly counsel in order to experience joy.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 12 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Eleven

2010-03-11T07:16:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 11:24-25
There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

MI: Generosity leads to gain.

AI: I will seek to be generous to others with my time and resources. I will ask myself, "how can I give?" not "what's in it for me?" I will be generous to someone today, knowing that God is my provider and He will care for my needs. I will place others above myself.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 11 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Ten

2010-03-10T07:23:00.003-05:00

Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

MI: Wise people think first, then speak carefully.

AI: As I go throughout today, I will guard my tongue. I will think before I speak. I will take the time to consider what affect my words may have on someone else. I will be mindful of how my words reflect on me as a Christian.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 10 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Nine

2010-03-09T06:49:00.003-05:00

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

MI: God is the source of wisdom and understanding.

AI: I will live every moment of today in light of the fact that God is watching me. I will regularly seek out His counsel through Bible study and prayer. I will seek out the counsel of godly people as I make decisions in my life. I will spend five minutes in prayer today asking God to give me understanding and make me wise.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 9 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Eight

2010-03-08T07:42:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 8:6-8
Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

MI: Wise people speak what is excellent, true, and righteous.

AI: I recognize that what I say is as important as what I do. Today I will put off gossip, lying, vulgarity, and perversion and put on speech that honors God. In addition, I will be careful to follow through on my commitments. I will be conscious of the fact that every word I speak is heard by the God of all creation.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 8 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Seven

2010-03-07T06:48:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 7:2
Keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

MI: Live your life according to God's Word.

AI: I will make Scripture memory a priority. I will start by memorizing Proverbs 3:5-6 today or by starting a Scripture journal of verses which require my regular focus. I will spend five minutes in prayer asking God to give me strength to keep His commandments and the passion to live according to the new heart He has given me.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 7 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Six

2010-03-06T07:45:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 6:10-11

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep - so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

MI: Procrastination leads to poverty.

AI: Today will be a day of production! I will stop giving myself excuses. Today, I will accomplish something I have been putting off. I will clean the back room, read that book, confront my friend, start my diet, or share the gospel with my neighbor... whatever it is... Today is the day!

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 6 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Five

2010-03-05T06:59:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 5:22
His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.

MI: Poor choices inevitably lead to negative consequences.

AI: I will take an honest look in the mirror and address sin issues in my life. I will seek reconciliation for broken relationships. I will ask a trusted Christian friend to help me make better choices. I will be honest and face my sin head on. I will confess my sin to God and rest in the forgiveness of my Savior.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 5 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Four

2010-03-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

MI: What you allow to influence your heart, affects your life.

AI: Today I will take inventory of my life and consider what captivates my heart. Are the things I hold most dear the things God values, or mere earthly value systems? Do I value having money more than giving money? Am I more interested in my TV time or my family time? Is my spouse the love of my life or is it my hobbies and toys? Today I will reorder my life to align my heart with godly values.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 4 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Three

2010-03-03T06:51:00.003-05:00

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

MI: If you trust God instead of yourself, He will show you His direction for your life.

AI: Going forward I will let God have the reigns of my life. Instead of trying to figure every detail of my life out and crying out to God when my plans fail, I will go to God before I plan my next move. I will submit to whatever He wants for my life and obey when I sense His direction.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 3 and journal areas you can grow!

Day Two

2010-03-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 2:10-11
When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you.

MI: Allowing your life to be shaped by wisdom and knowledge will keep you from evil.

AI: I will work to grow in knowledge by going deeper today and understanding the full context of this passage. Today I will ask myself who or what is influencing me and commit to allowing only godly influences in my life.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 2 and journal areas you can grow!

Day One

2010-03-01T08:50:00.003-05:00

Proverbs 1:8-9

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.

MI: Parental instruction is for your good.

AI: As my children (or those I mentor) make decisions, I will help them understand the consequences of their choices. I will focus on reinforcing good behavior and disciplining poor choices. I must be careful to consider my child (disciple) instead of myself, making sure my discipline is for their benefit, not my convenience.

Go a little deeper...
Read Proverbs 1 and journal areas you can grow!

Understanding What You're Seeing

2010-03-01T08:40:00.003-05:00

For each day there will be a key verse from a chapter of wisdom literature (Proverbs or Ecclesiastes). This is intended to highlight application for the day.

Below the verse you will see the initials MI. That stands for Main Idea, and is simply a restatement of the verse in easy to comprehend terms. A verse may present more than one main idea, however, we are going to focus on just one each day.

Next you will see the initials AI. The AI is your Action Item for the day. This is based on the main idea of the verse. Each day will have new action items and some will build on one another - so be sure to accomplish each Action Item in a timely manner.

Finally you will see Go a Little Deeper section, this is where you will read a chapter from Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. You may journal any insight you may glean from the text - try not to let this become an exercise in accomplishment...it is not about just getting it done, it is about allowing God to work through His Word in a life changing way!

Beginning of the End

2010-03-01T08:32:00.002-05:00

As you begin your walk in wisdom, consider the first few words of Proverbs, "To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion - a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles."

Here we have the purpose of the book - to aspire to wisdom, pursue truth, to know and understand...and ultimately to change. So here is the question: As you begin to walk in the path of wisdom, what in your life needs to end? This is a blank in which only you can fill.

This will be the beginning of the end of me ______________________________!
(An area of sin, ignoring God's Word, seeing application for anyone but me)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Roll Call!!

2010-02-28T14:54:00.003-05:00

Join us in this Forty Days of Wisdom Journey starting tomorrow! Today we are hosting a roll call. This will let all of us see who is committing to the Forty Days of Wisdom. We hope this will be a source of encouragement and a prayer support for our church community. Simply leave one comment on this post. You can leave your comment anonymously - please sign your name, but it would really aid in your participation if you signed up with a google account. You can do that by clicking here. We are earnestly praying that these coming Forty Days of Wisdom would impact each of our hearts individually and strengthen our community of Calvary Baptist church. We hope you are as excited as we are! Feel free to start a discussion or comment on a discussion during this journey - don't forget to become a follower here and on twitter, and become a fan on facebook! Let us encourage one another as we prepare our hearts for what God has ahead for us, our church - our community.

Let's Get in the Book Together!

2010-02-21T19:54:00.002-05:00

We start our journey in Forty Days of Wisdom a week from tomorrow! This week let's examine our hearts and prepare for what God IS going to teach us.

Cardboard Testimonies

2010-02-21T14:23:00.004-05:00

This morning's message was on transformation. We were challenged to share our stories with others. What is your story of transformation? Who will you tell?

Share your cardboard testimony with us here!

Streamlining

2010-02-17T06:43:00.003-05:00

We are learning as we go along right with you! We have decided to streamline some of this a bit. Rather than having all of us go to so many sites to participate, we have eliminated one. You can now participate in discussion right on our facebook page! So rather than having to go to another website and sign up for another user name and password, if you are on facebook and a fan of Calvary Baptist Community than you are all set! We hope this will encourage more people to participate in the discussion. Simply click on the discussion tab on our Calvary Baptist Community wall or click here to go directly to the discussions already started!

We now only have three main ways of connecting: facebook, this blog, and twitter.

Thanks for being patient with us as we work out the kinks! Less than two weeks until we start our Forty Days of Wisdom journey! How is God preparing you?

Don't Miss Our Roll Call!

2010-02-16T13:09:00.004-05:00

We want to involve as many people from the ministry of Calvary that we can in this Forty Days of Wisdom journey that we will collectively be starting on March 1st. The booklets for this journey will be handed out in the morning service on February 28th. One way to participate in this journey is here on this blog, on our facebook page and in our discussion corner over here. In order to foster an authentic community we encourage everyone to participate in conversation and discussion regarding how God is using this journey in your own life. We believe every person is a vital part of the body of Christ, and we value what you have to say.

We will be hosting a roll call of sorts here on this blog on Sunday afternoon, February 28th. This will let all of us see who is committing to the Forty Days of Wisdom. We hope this will be a source of encouragement and a prayer support. On that day you will simply be asked to leave one comment on the roll call post. You can leave your comment anonymously, but it would really aid in your participation if you signed up with a google account. You can do that by clicking here. We are earnestly praying that these coming Forty Days of Wisdom would impact each of our hearts individually and strengthen our community of Calvary Baptist church. We hope you are as excited as we are! Feel free to start discussing early - don't forget to become a follower here and on twitter, and become a fan on facebook! Let us encourage one another as we prepare our hearts for what God has ahead for us, our church - our community.

Taking Steps

2010-02-14T18:23:00.003-05:00

Our walk is all about strides... taking steps God-ward and seeing Him through the process. It is so important to recognize His plan--especially when our world seems like mass chaos.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Community - A Place to Grow in Christ

2010-02-11T08:09:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."

Being part of a community helps us to live wisely.

God created humans to be in relationships to have a genuine and authentic community with fellow believers. Because this requirement is so fundamental to human beings, it is also fundamental to the church. God wants us to experience community and to obtain a longing for the perfect community that He is creating for us in heaven.

Our prayer is that this blog and our forum here will be a place for real community within Calvary Baptist Church. We hope this will be a soft landing for dynamic, Christ-centered discussion, for questions and answers about our faith, for side-by-side growth, for encouragement, and for prayer requests.

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."
Hebrews 3:13

We do not want the community to stop here on the web, though. Our desire is that the community formed here can be widened and strengthened face-to-face with our church family. We want this to be a jumping off point. We look forward to discussing our Forty Days of Wisdom challenge here, as well as encouraging one another in other areas, but we long to be a unified community that extends farther than the computer screen.

Discuss with us.

Grow with us.

Jump in the water's warm; your community is waiting.

Think about some of these questions and share with us here. (It's easy, quick, and free to set up an account.)

How does being part of a community help us to “live wisely”?

Where are some places people look for community?

Do you think most people associate community with church?
Explain.

Are you ready?

2010-02-10T10:57:00.001-05:00

Starting March 1st, we are going to dive into our 40 Days of Wisdom challenge!

Are you ready?

Each person will be encouraged to join and will receive a booklet that will walk them through this forty day adventure together - as a community of believers. What an incredible opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Christ, our family, and our church family!

According to Webster's Dictionary wisdom can be defined this way:

Noun

1. Accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment.

2. The trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight.

3. Ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight.

4. The quality of being prudent and sensible.

How does that relate to biblical wisdom - to God's wisdom though? How can we obtain God's wisdom and apply it practically to our life?

Are you ready to find out?

Start preparing your heart and mind right now for 40 Days of Wisdom.

If you are excited to chat about this already then jump on over to our forum here and start discussing.

God is ready to do great things at Calvary Baptist Church.

The question is, are you ready?