Reading: Applying Chapter 8

APPLICATION GUIDE APPLYING CHAPTER 8 

1. Think about the different things you do in a typical week. 

a. How do you keep track of the things you need to do? 

b. How do you prioritize them? 

c. If you don’t have a systematic way of doing this, how will you find a good one? 

d. If you are studying this book with a group, share your answers with each other. 

2. How do you give the first fruits of your time to God? 

3. Where do you go when you need to get away from pressures and demands? 

4. Do you and your church have clear understandings about boundaries between your personal time and property and those belonging to the church? If not, what are the most important policies to establish? 

5. What do you do to keep your body healthy and strong for serving God? If your habits could be improved, list specific improvements you can make in each area: 

a. Eating 

b. Exercise 

c. Sleep 

d. Hygeine 

6. Think about your energy level through a typical week. 

a. Make a list of the people, tasks and other things that drain energy from you. 

b. Make another list of those that give you energy. 

c. What can you do to minimize the effects of the first list and maximize the second? 

 7. What makes you happy? Stop now, go to your calendar or appointment book, and schedule in regular time to do that – just because God loves you! 

8. Think about tithing.

 a. If you tithe, does it feel like a joyful privilege or a legalistic duty? 

b. How does it feel to your people when you preach about it? 

c. Do you focus on your needs or God’s abundance? 

d. If you don’t tithe or preach about it, why not? 

9. Does your church have clear policies about the boundaries between your personal money and the church’s money? 

a. If so, are they written and established in such a way that if someone challenges you on a financial issue, an appeal to those policies will settle the question? 

b. If not, how will you establish those policies? 

10. Do you sometimes feel guilty when you take personal time to rest or do something you find relaxing? 

a. If yes, what do you think is the source of that guilty feeling? 

b. One of the Ten Commandments requires us to rest one day a week. How do you understand and obey that commandment? (Hint: don’t let the devil make you feel even more guilty for not obeying it the way somebody else thinks you should!) 

11. How do you feed your spirit? 

a. How often do you do that? 

b. How high is it on your list of priorities? 

12. When you feel discouraged, what steps do or should you take to strengthen yourself in the Lord? Write them down now so you can refer to them when you need them. 

13. When you feel discouraged or need advice, who do you talk to? If nobody comes immediately to mind, ask God to show you the right person, and work on establishing that relationship.