Week of May 7 - May 12

Sunday
growing deeply
MONDAY: Matthew 7:24-29 Life-Long Learning
To be a life-long learner is to recognize that we can always grow in our knowledge. “Practical Teaching”- May 6
No one ever reaches an end-point to educational growth. Scripture: Matthew 7:24-29 (NLT)
REFLECTION: Reflect on your formal education. Did you stop learning or seeking
information when your school days ended, or did you continue to learn? “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person
who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the
TUESDAY: Matthew 7:24-29 Knowing and Growing floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse
To know something is not necessarily the same as understanding it. Understanding because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t
is not necessarily the same as internalizing. obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains
CONSIDER: Have you ever learned a fact, but did not truly understand it or and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a
understand how to use the knowledge? Consider the sequence from knowing to mighty crash.”
understanding, to internalization.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his
WEDNESDAY: Matthew 7:24-29 Information = Gathering teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of
Information is important in every aspect of our lives. What we know guides our religious law.
next steps. New Living Translation (NLT)
CONSIDER: Consider a time when you gathered facts about an idea or a process. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Now consider what happened next: did you apply what you learned, or did you let
the information stagnate and did not use it for any purpose?
MY NOTES:
THURSDAY: Matthew 7:24-29 Formation = Using
Unless we take the information that we have and use it to form our decision-
making and our actions, we have gone only half of the journey.
REFLECTION: Reflect on a learning process that you encountered. When you took
the information and applied it, how was your experience enhanced?

FRIDAY: Matthew 7:24-29 Foundations

The writer of Matthew likens a solid spiritual foundation to choosing a location for
the building of a house. We should seek a personal relationship with Christ and
build our lives on his foundational teachings.
CONSIDER: Consider the foundations of your life – physical, emotional, and
spiritual. Is your life built on sturdy foundations? If so, consider what creates the
strength. Is your life built on weak foundations? If so, consider what needs to be
changed.

SATURDAY: Matthew 7:24-29 Teaching With Authority

Jesus taught with understanding and authority because he was linked to God in
powerful ways. Jesus was the embodiment of God’s love and grace.
PRAYER: God of knowledge and understanding, as Scripture guides us and as Jesus
teaches us, help us to be life-long learners of your Word. Read or subscribe to the weekly guide at moumc.org/grow
Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.