Before you get into God's Word...take a moment to pause and pray.  Listen.  What is God saying?  Where is your heart right now?  Is there anything sin that you need to confess?  God is gracious and loving and will not turn away from us as we approach Him.  (2 Chron 30:9)

Take time to read through the passages in a couple of different translations.  On a typical Sunday I use the New International Version.  I have also been using the English Standard Version, the Passion Translation (It is mainly just the New Testament), the New Living Translation, or the New King James Version.  You can go to Bible.com and compare the section of the Bible.   

This week we'll be studying together:

• Acts 17:22-31
• Psalm 100:3
• Revelation 4

As you read through the sections of the Bible, do you notice a theme?  Do you think you could summarize it by a sentence or a short paragraph?  


How would you apply the truths found in these verses to your life?  

As you finish studying these verses, take some time and praise God.  Thank Him for revealing Himself to you.  Thank Him for desiring a relationship with you.  Praise Him for who He is!

Over the next few week's we will be studying the foundations of our faith: what we believe.  And to do this we'll be using the Apostles' Creed.  This is a document that has unified the Christian Church by focusing us on the foundational TRUTHS that are in the Bible.  Take some time in preparation for this series to read through this Creed and discover what God is saying to you through it.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to hell.
      The third day he rose again from the dead.
      He ascended to heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic* church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places