Transplant
Transplant
One of the amazing statements of God in scripture is the promise of a new heart of flesh in place of our heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26), a transplant of sorts. What a gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ! But what does this mean? Maybe you have questions: Why do I need a new heart? How do I get it? What exactly happens at salvation? How can I tend my new heart? What is God’s part? What is mine? How can I fight the sin that still lingers?
This year at 1st Thursday Connect, we are doing an interactive study of the heart intermingled with our continued study of various books of the Bible. We are calling it Transplant: tending our new hearts. We will address these questions and more, gather tools to help us, and pray for each other.
Transplant is an abridged version of a thorough study of the heart called Kardiology 101: how to guard your heart by Julie Gossack. Copies of Kardiology will be available at 1st Thursday Connect or can be requested on the church website (https://newlifenw.com/wl-women) for a suggested donation of $15 (cash, check, or pay online and designate WLWM). The study includes a notebook, notecards, and labs—a wealth of resources. We encourage you to take advantage of the Kardiology study and work through it individually or with a friend. It is a good investment and highly recommended!
The books of the Bible for Side by Side Bible Reading this year will correspond with the Transplant study of the heart, and the best place to start is with the book of Proverbs, for it is Proverbs 4:23 that calls us to “guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life” (Proverbs 4:23 CSB).
The schedule for the year, then, is as follows:
September: introduction to Transplant and 4 weeks in Proverbs
October: teaching from Proverbs; introduction to 8 weeks in Jeremiah & Lamentations
November: Transplant study
December: teaching from Jeremiah; introduction to 8 weeks in Luke
January: Transplant study
February: teaching from Luke; introduction to 8 weeks in Romans
March: Transplant study
April: teaching from Romans; introduction to 8 weeks in 1, 2 Corinthians
May: Transplant study
June: teaching from 1, 2 Corinthians
July: Transplant study
There will be Personal Bible Reading plans available, plus Side by Side Bible Reading studies where you can partner with another woman or group of women and discuss key passages from each book. This is a golden opportunity to get to know other New Life women, find mentors, engage with neighbors or coworkers, pray for and encourage one another—extra benefits of being in God’s Word together. The Women’s Ministry leadership team is also available to help you find a partner. You can meet in person, on Zoom, any time of day that works for you and your partner. We encourage you to make the effort to be in God’s Word together this year.
Printed materials will be available at 1st Thursday Connect and in the church foyer. They can also be printed from the church website, or you can request them to be mailed to you.
One more thing! One good practice for heart tending is scripture memorization. This year we are going to memorize Romans 8, the core of the gospel. At just a few verses each month, we can memorize all 39 of them by next July!
We hope you will join us!
1st Thursday Connect
We’re kicking off the year with a grab bag party! According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of grab bag is: a receptacle (such as a bag) containing small articles which are to be drawn (as at a party or fair) without being seen. We will be doing a lot of grab bagging! Join us for fun, friendship, Bible teaching, and find out more about what is happening for New Life Women this year.
September 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
New Life Church West Linn
A grab bag sack supper will be provided at 6:30. If you prefer, you are welcome to bring your own food and join us at 6:30. Can’t make it for food? That’s okay! Come at 7 for the meeting portion of the evening.
Your RSVP is appreciated. To RSVP, sign up for Side by Side Bible Reading, request prayer or printed materials, visit https://newlifenw.com/wl-women.
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Links
Below are links to articles, books, podcasts, and music that might be of interest or help on various topics. Resources are curated but may not always reflect the views of New Life Church. Enjoy!
Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord—by Michael Reeves. Based on Proverbs 1:7. Available in the church library.
Small Preaching: 25 Little Things You Can Do Now to Make you a Better Preacher—by Jonathan T. Pennington. A good resource for teachers, also available in the church library.
Children Grow Slow and Leave Fast—by Sam Crabtree @ Desiring God. Yes, they do!
Do Not Feed the Alligators—@ The Palest Ink, a good read and a good reminder.
Learn It Give It—@Bible Equipping, training events for women happening in October.
Godless Productivity: A Believer’s Guide to Redeeming Time—@ Desiring God. Pairs well with Proverbs.
Let Fear Deliver You From Fear—another article @ Desiring God that goes well with our Proverbs study.
Does the Book of Proverbs Over-Promise?—@ TGC, helpful in understanding how to read Proverbs.
Proverbs—@ Spotify, a playlist to accompany our study.
God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life: a year of daily devotions in the book of Proverbs—by Timothy Keller.
Proverbs: Wisdom that Works and Exalting Jesus in Proverbs and Proverbs For You—a few commentaries.
Transplant—a playlist @ Spotify to listen to alongside our study of the heart this year.
5 Truths About Your Battle with Sin You Hate to Admit—@ Fight of Faith. A good start to our Transplant study.