Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Matthew 5 - 11

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 5:21-34

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text:

• S - Scripture (read scripture together)

• O - Observe (what do we see? What does it make us think?)

• A - Apply (what does this mean for my life?)

• P - Pray (pray together)

Don’t miss
Healing

Here Jesus shows that he has both the authority and the power to heal people, even from long-term sickness and raise them from death. What stands out is the response Jesus asks for from people—faith! Notice that Jesus commends the woman for her faith (Mark 5:34) and challenges cynicism with the words, “Don’t be afraid; just believe” (Mark 5:36). While there isn’t a formula for healing, Jesus shows that he expects us to trust that he is able to heal.

Learn

How to pray for healing: The God we serve is powerful, and one of the wonderful things as a follower of Jesus is that God desires to accomplish his work through ordinary followers of Jesus. One of the ways that God is able to use us is in praying for people to be healed from sickness and disease.

Praying for healing isn’t about using a special formula or combination of words. It begins with belief and that God is moved by our faith (Mark 9:23-24) and that, through being filled with the Spirit, we are able to do the same miracles that Jesus did (John 14:12)! 

Beyond that it’s pretty straightforward.

• It’s good to start by asking the person about the condition, how long they’ve had it, and how long it has affected them. Ask how they would know if God healed them.

• Then pray simply using everyday language that God would move in power, heal every part of the affliction in Jesus’ name.

• Consider pausing as you begin to see if God wants to give you a sense of something specific to pray.

• Pray directly and in faith that the condition would be healed (Don’t give yourself an ‘out’ by saying ‘...if it’s your will, Lord’).

• Check with the person what they’re feeling and if anything has changed. If nothing has changed you’re encouraged to pray again and/or commit to keep praying for them. Sometimes change comes more slowly.

• If nothing changes over time, don’t be discouraged. It’s God’s role to heal, our role is simply to believe, pray, and trust him.

Is there anyone right now that you could ask about praying for their healing?

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Matthew 12-18 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Matthew 12-18

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 7:14-22

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text:

• S - Scripture (read scripture together)

• O - Observe (what do we see? What does it make us think?)

• A - Apply (what does this mean for my life?)

• P - Pray (pray together)

Don’t miss
The Heart

The word for heart can mean a physical heart but also refers to our spiritual life - the deepest source of what animates our lives. For Jesus, the thoughts in our minds, the words that come out of our mouths, our actions and reactions are all things that reveal what is going on in the deepest part of who we are. It means that following Jesus cannot be about rules or religion. It’s not about whether you do the ‘right thing’ so much as the motivation behind it. What does your life currently reveal about the condition of your heart?

Learn

A New Heart: Have a look at Ezekiel 36:25-27. Ezekiel was a prophet who spoke of a time when God would send the Spirit (this is the age of the church that we are in).

• What do you notice about what the Spirit does?

• What is the impact on someone’s heart?

This leads to a way of life that is radically different. Now have a look at Galatians 5:16-26.

• What do you notice about the contrast between verses 19-21 and 22-25?

• What is encouraging and challenging about what you notice in your own life?

• Where do you notice a change that God may want to bring?

Pray

• Why not pray together about that right now?

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Matthew 19-25 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Matthew 19-25

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 8:27-30

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text:

• S - Scripture (read scripture together)

• O - Observe (what do we see? What does it make us think?)

• A - Apply (what does this mean for my life?)

• P - Pray (pray together)

Don’t Miss
Declaration of Christ

Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah, which means “anointed one” (the Greek word ‘Christ’ has the same meaning as ‘Messiah’). Being anointed is being set apart by God for a special purpose. Peter’s declaration reveals that Peter believed Jesus was the anointed one that God had promised to send in order to restore the kingdom of Israel. Many Jews expected this Messiah to be a conquering hero who would overthrow the power of Rome, but they would have to reconcile that with Jesus bringing about his kingdom through the suffering of the cross.

Learn

Three circles gospel presentation - again!

The message about Jesus is the best news ever. Just as Jesus asked Peter to come to a decision about who he was, so must every other person. This is one of the reasons it’s so important that every follower of Jesus can share the message of Jesus with others. A simple way of doing this is using the Three Circles. We have covered this before but it’s important to not just know about this but to be ready to share it when the opportunity comes. Watch the video and practice sharing the gospel with each other.

How to Share the Gospel in 4 Minutes or Less

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

• Who is somebody that you would like to share the Three Circles with? You can pray about this too.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Matthew 26-28 and John 1-4 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Matthew 26-28 and John 1-4 

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 8:31-9:1

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text:

• S - Scripture (read scripture together)

• O - Observe (what do we see? What does it make us think?)

• A - Apply (what does this mean for my life?)

• P - Pray (pray together)

Don’t miss
The call to deny self

There is no escaping Jesus’ words here. There is no wriggling out from underneath this call. It is unequivocal and inescapable for anyone who wants to follow him - you must deny yourself. That is, put your own preferences, agenda, ambition aside and submit yourself to the way of Jesus. It means that the way we live should show our submission to Jesus - and means we should expect sorrow and suffering as well as much joy and celebration! What does ‘denying yourself’ and ‘taking up your cross’ look like for you?

Learn

Submitting ourselves to Jesus’ rule and reign means holding our whole lives open before him and saying: “Jesus, would you lead me and guide me. I’ll do anything and go anywhere as long as you go with me”. For many people this has meant leaving their homes, work and comforts and moving to a new location - often overseas - to be a missionary. In the coming week, take some time to research a nation or people group and what is being done to reach them with the gospel, then come back next week and share with each other what you’ve learned, and spend time praying about how you might be involved in some way.

Alternatively, you could check out the missionary page on our website and take some time each day to pray for one of the projects that stands out to you.

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read John 5-11 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
John 5-11 

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 9:30-37

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text:

• S - Scripture (read scripture together)

• O - Observe (what do we see? What does it make us think?)

• A - Apply (what does this mean for my life?)

• P - Pray (pray together)

Don’t miss
Service

Off the back of last week’s discussion of ‘denying ourselves and taking up our cross’, Jesus’ words here are timely. The way of the cross, the way of Jesus, isn’t about self-promotion or living a comfortable life. It’s known as the ‘upside down Kingdom’: the way to greatness is to be the least, to be strong is to acknowledge how weak we are; if you want honour, you must be the willing servant of all. Jesus himself demonstrates this in how he lived and what he said: ‘The Son of Man didn’t come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.’ - Mark 10:45. 

Learn

One of the things that flows out of our devotion to God is a concern and care for the poor and marginalised. In fact it’s a theme throughout Scripture (see Leviticus 23:22; Proverbs 31:8-9; Galatians 2:10).

Read and discuss Isaiah 58:6-8 together. What are some ways you or we could serve the poor and marginalised together? Are there opportunities within my Location? Are there opportunities in our city? How could we find out about those things?

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read John 12-18 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
John 12-18

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 9:42-50

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text:

• S - Scripture (read scripture together)

• O - Observe (what do we see? What does it make us think?)

• A - Apply (what does this mean for my life?)

• P - Pray (pray together)

Don’t miss
Sanctification

Jesus is getting at the seriousness of sin here. He’s using exaggerated language to show how much we should abhor sin and pursue holiness. He’s calling for a costly sacrifice; that if there are parts of our lives that continually cause us to stumble, then we may have to make radical changes to our lives (e.g. if you are struggling with pornography, you might consider getting a ‘dumb’ phone with no browser or apps). The goal here isn’t outward conformity to rules, or to simply have good behaviour. The issue at stake is our hearts (remember what we looked at in Week 16 in Mark 7:14-23) and our desire to be holy (set apart, consecrated) because God is holy.

Learn

Perhaps the most famous prayer in scripture is the Lord’s Prayer. It has been recited by Christians for millennia and serves as both liturgy and prayer guide - you can pray the words and also use the words as themes to pray through. Read aloud the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13, and then home in on one or two themes that you would like to pray into today:

• Our Father in heaven - recognising God as your supreme authority and reminding ourselves that we pray as children of the Father, not beggars who need to plead with him.

• Hallowed be your name - worship, adoration, desire to make His name known and praised

• Your kingdom come - desire for God’s rule and reign in your life and the world

• Daily bread - request for what you need

• Forgive our debts - confession and a willingness to be forgiving toward others

• Temptation - freedom from besetting sins, desire for a pure heart before the Lord

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read John 19-Acts 4 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
John 19 - Acts 4

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 11:12-25

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.

Don’t miss
Prayer

The religious leaders had turned the temple - intended to be a house of prayer for all nations - into a marketplace of commerce and greed. Jesus’ righteous indignation causes him to turn over tables and return the temple courts into what it was designed for: prayer. Such is Jesus’ zeal for the purity of worship and prayer that he comes into conflict again with the religious elite. Jesus is concerned for both Jew and Gentiles to have access to God in prayer - so much so that he will soon give his life to make such access available to anyone, anywhere who would believe. If Jesus was this concerned about prayer - how much should we make it a priority in our lives?

Learn

A helpful spiritual practice that often accompanies prayer is fasting. If this is a new practice for you, you might want to watch this message before leading someone in this section. Fasting is about aligning our physical bodies with our spiritual desire - hungering for the presence of God, both in our lives now, and the desire to be fully united with him in the future. Fasting from food helps reveal the idols we rely on and often brings sinful habits to the surface and allows us to address them. Fasting focuses us in prayer as we get many reminders (tummy rumbles!) throughout the day. Discuss what a rhythm of fasting could look like for you, and if there’s a way you could do it together. What would a next step look like for you here?

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Acts 5-11 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Acts 5-11

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 12:28-32

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.

Don’t miss
The Greatest Commandment

One of the ways we describe a total follower of Jesus is someone who is growing ‘upwards’ in their love for the Lord. This is about as core to following Jesus as his call to deny ourselves and take up our cross (from Week 18). Everything we do in life flows from our love, or lack of it, for the Lord. If we love the Lord with a genuine, deep, passionate love, then our love for others will naturally flow as a result. One of the early church fathers, St Augustine, said we could ‘love God and then do as we please’, not as a license to sin, but that if we did the first part right, we couldn’t get the second part wrong! What does growing in your love for the Lord look like for you?

Learn

Just like any earthly relationship, it can hardly be called a relationship if you don’t communicate and don’t spend any time with each other! So it is with the Lord. Our love for him will show itself in our prayer habits and how we prioritise time with him. This will look different for you depending on your context, home demands, work schedule etc. One helpful practice is to arrange focused time for prayer. Let’s discuss some ways of doing this together:

• Book an hour in The Street Church’s prayer room. A different space can be really helpful and there are plenty of guides/prompts in there to help you spend the hour well.

• Go for a walk around the streets where you live. Ask God to help you pray effectively and pay attention to verses or ideas that come to mind. These can be helpful prompts to pray for specific homes, streets, churches, public spaces or businesses.

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Acts 12-18 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Acts 12-18

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 12:41-44

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.

Don’t miss
Generosity

Here’s Jesus with the upside-down kingdom again: two copper coins are worth more in God’s eyes than riches poured into the treasury. How can this be? It seems our Lord is more concerned with our heart posture toward giving than the actual amount we give. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says ‘God loves a cheerful giver’. We see something of the widow’s heart here. Those two small coins were everything she had to live on, and yet she gladly, willingly and lovingly gave it back to God in worship - and trusted him to meet her needs! We will only be generous to the extent that we grasp the infinite generosity we have received in Christ. What does generosity look like in your life? With your time? Skills? Finances? Spiritual gifts?

Learn

As we’ve discussed, generosity isn’t simply limited to how we use money, but giving to the Lord financially is an important aspect of our worship in following Jesus. The best way to start is simply to start. Even if it’s $1 a week, begin the discipline of giving to your church and/or a Christian-based non-profit organisation. Talk about how each of you will set this up, then follow up on how it’s going in the coming weeks/months.

If you’d like to understand more about how we see money as a church, you can check out the Cash series. In particular, you may find the Hands message useful because it’s focused on giving.

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Acts 19-25 before you come back next time.

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Acts 19-25

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 14:1-11

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.

Don’t miss
Worship

We worship what we love. Mary poured the equivalent of $100,000 worth of perfume all over Jesus’ feet. There was no cost too high, she didn’t consider the financial implications - she just had to show Jesus how much he meant to her, and she did so in a lavish, unforgettable way - in a way that Jesus said would be remembered through the ages.  Mary didn’t consider what other people would think, her act of worship was done for Jesus’ sake alone - she was focused on her audience of One, of pouring out what she had in adoration of who he is.

Learn

Worship isn’t simply limited to song, though this is an important and large part of many Christians’ experience of worship. Worship can also be through prayer, through service, through silence, through enjoying a sunrise, catching a wave, enjoying a delicious meal and saying ‘Hallelujah!’. It isn’t so much how we worship but that we are able to lead ourselves in worship. What does worshiping Jesus - like Mary did - look like for you? Consider spending time worshiping together with a song from Spotify or Youtube, or go for a walk and marvel at God’s creation. Whatever you do, seek to engage your hearts and minds in the wonder of God - and share it aloud!

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Acts 26-28 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Acts 26-28

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 14:12-26

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.

Don’t miss
Communion

Communion is known by a number of names: the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, breaking bread. But they all refer to the same thing: a memorial in which the gathered church remembers Jesus together through the eating and drinking of bread and wine, which symbolise the body and blood of Jesus (1 Cor 11:24-25). We remember that he has established the new covenant—a new relationship between us and God—through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Before leading this session with someone, it’s recommended you read about how we practice communion as a church to give you more context that will be helpful in this discussion.

Learn

Take communion together. Make sure you come to this session prepared with either wine or juice (depending on what you and the others feel comfortable with) and bread or crackers. You may wish to read Jesus’ words aloud from Mark 14 and then sit in reflective silence for a few moments as you bring any unconfessed sin to mind and repent of it, and as you meditate on the wonder of what Jesus did for you at the cross. Then eat and drink together and pray.

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Romans 1-7 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Romans 1-7

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 15:1-15

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.

Don’t miss
The Great Exchange

This is one of the richest and most profound aspects of what happened at the cross, known as the Great Exchange. Jesus swapped places with us. This is shown in the character of Barabbas - a man who had committed terrible crimes and deserved the death penalty, and yet God allowed him to walk free and Jesus to take his place on death row. God treated Jesus like Barabbas, so he could treat Barabbas like Jesus. We are Barabbas. Romans 3:23 says we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all deserved the cross, to pay for our sins - but God wasn’t willing to let that happen, so he came in the person of Jesus and took our place on the cross. How does this make you feel? Imagine standing in the dock, the judge pronounces you guilty and sentences you to be executed - and then Jesus walks into the courtroom and says he will take you place, and you are free to go. How would you respond? How would you want to live in light of this great exchange?

Learn

While technology has enabled us to carry an entire Bible in our pockets (with every translation available too), it can’t compare with treasuring and storing the word of God in our hearts and minds. Memorising scripture isn’t for Bible scholars, it’s for everyone. Psalm 119:11 talks of ‘hiding’ scripture in our hearts to keep us from wilful sin, Colossians 3:16 encourages to let God’s word take up residence in our lives ‘richly’. It can be so helpful to have verses tucked away and to be able to meditate on them as you drive, before you sleep - anywhere and everywhere! So choose a verse today that you can both commit to memory and come back next week to recite it. Discuss how you can both commit to memorising more scripture as a spiritual practice. There is a verse at the top of every week of the Foundations content that would be great to memorise. You could go back to week one and start your scripture memorisation journey there.

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Romans 8-14 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Romans 8-14

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 15:21-41

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.

Don’t miss
The Cross

This is why Jesus came. His whole life was pointing towards this moment where he was nailed to a Roman cross. This wasn’t an accident. It didn’t take Jesus or God by surprise. This moment was part of God’s plan from the very beginning. In John 19:30, before he dies, Jesus declares, ‘It is finished.’ His mission is complete. God’s righteous wrath toward sin has been satisfied. Jesus took our place and paid for the sins of the world. Jesus was forsaken so we don’t have to be. The temple curtain was torn in two, signifying that people have free access to God’s throne of grace, and that no-one needed to run to the Jerusalem temple to draw near to him anymore - the cross had made a way for people to be reconciled to God!

Learn

The cross of Christ is the most central part of sharing the gospel. In weeks 12 and 17 we learned the Three Circles gospel presentation, so let’s revisit it and see how embedded it is in our minds! Try sharing the gospel with each other using the Three Circles method without referring to the video, then see how you went!

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

• Read Romans 15-16 before you come back next time

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Romans 15-16

Reflect

• What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

• How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

Mark 16:1-8

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.

Don’t miss
The Resurrection

The cross was the reason Jesus came, and his resurrection is the means by which Jesus can promise us eternal life. The resurrection is essential to saving faith. 1 Corinthians 15 is an astounding description of what the resurrection accomplished - and what it would mean if Christ wasn’t raised from the dead: our faith would be futile and we would still be lost in our sins, because if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, it shows he deserved to die. If he didn’t rise, then death has authority over him, and Jesus wouldn’t have authority to forgive our sins! This is why the resurrection is crucial to salvation, this is why we celebrate Easter - because he lives, we too will live beyond the grave!

Learn

As we come to the end of Foundations, we’re going to look at the Oikos Map. This is a simple diagram that helps us see the people around us who are far from Christ that we’d love to see saved, but also the people they in turn will be able to reach. It’s a visual representation of multiplication.

You start with your name in the middle circle, then draw lines to other circles with other names, then lines from them to the people in their world to be reached. Take time to pray for each of them and that God would use you and give you opportunities to BLESS (remember that?) them and share the gospel with them.

Pray

• Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

Next Steps

• What is a key takeaway from today?

• Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?