Week 1 Day 1

A Relationship Not a Religion

Read It
Matthew 4:18-20, 8:18-22, 9:9-13, 16:24-26; Mark 1:16-18, 2:13-14, 8:34;
Luke 18:18-23; John 1:43

Think about It
Through out the New Testament we find Jesus calling individuals to enter a relationship with Him. He often used the terms “follow Me” ,“come after me”, and “come follow Me”. We never find Jesus asking people to embrace a religion or a system of beliefs, but to enter a personal relationship with Him. When you prayed and ask Jesus to come into your life at that moment you entered a relationship with God. God’s heart and desire is that you learn more and more about Him and what it means to be in a relationship with Him. That is what this series of studies is all about, how you can learn about and live in life’s greatest relationship, the relationship you have with Jesus.

Dwell on It
(Get a notebook where you can record your insights and thoughts each day)
Take a few minutes and right down one of the verses that was meaningful to you today.  Then, write down in your own words how you feel about the fact that you have entered into a relationship with Jesus. Reflect on how this relationship will be different then every other relationship.

Pray about It
Take time to pray, talk just like you are writing a letter to a friend. It might be helpful these first few studies to actually write out your pray in the form of a letter to God. Start with: Dear God, then begin to mention the things that you want to say to God. Then close the prayer (the letter), with in Jesus’ name, Amen. Here are a few things that you might want to include in your prayer (or letter):