Follow-Up Study Guide To:

Stories Of New Beginnings

Part 3 of 4 in the series “Brand New”

January 20, 2008 Pastor Scott Oldenburgh

One of the important aspects of spiritual growth is being able to look back at your own life and recognize where God was involved and how that impacted your decision and results

READ ACTS 9

Ê How did Saul recognize that God was speaking to him?

Ê How did he respond?

Obviously Saul knew some of the stories of what God was doing, because he was trying to stop it through persecution

Ê Why do you think that Saul responded differently now?

READ ACTS 22

Ê How comfortable and familiar was Paul with his story?

Ê How do you think it impacted the level of his effectiveness in sharing his story that he recognized what God had done in his life?

Using either a journal or a computer, this week the focus of your time with God is going to be reflective.

Starting back at your earliest memories of God impacting your life, write out your story. Include details of specific stories and events, people that have impacted your life, places and special memories. Think through the relationships that God has blessed you with, including marriage, friendships, churches, small groups, and other influences. Include things you have watched, read, or studied that have greatly impacted your faith.

After looking at all of the things you have written or typed, think about how God has linked certain events in your past to where you are today in the present.

Ê Were there certain events or people that helped you move from what “was” to what now “is”?

Ê How have these things in your life given you a new perspective for the future?

Depending on your style and personality, take the things you have written or typed and clean them up into story form, a timeline, bullet notes, or some form of organization.

As you read through your story, you will be reminded of all the ways that God has worked in your life……past, present and future. One of the greatest obstacles we face if forgetting how God has worked. Now you will have a documented resource of things that God has done in your own story and life.

Commit to periodically adding to and updating this document. This story is something that will continue to change, grow, and mold over time. As you grow older, the effort to actually document your story will be a great blessing to your children, grandchildren, and other friends or family needing to know that God is still at work.