The desire for the power of God’s gifts in our lives is inherent within each Christian. How and to what degree we receive these gifts and how we use these gifts in our lives is different for each believer. Although the Bible certainly contains the truth that we need in order to receive and appropriately use these gifts; there does not seem to be any simple checklist that if we do these things, we will receive gift number one, another list for gift number two, etc. We seem to be trapped somewhere between what Christ told us about the simplicity needed to know God: “…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it" (Luke 18:17); and What Paul told the Roman Christians: “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Rom 3:11, NIV). Believe is strongly based in scripture, but not as a textbook. It was written by a Layperson in language that will bring these promises alive for today’s Christians.

     Believe God Loves You illuminates fourteen of the gifts that God has promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ and relates these gifts to the message of God’s unlimited and unconditional love for each one of us. Each chapter discusses those scripture verses that identify each of the promises, in the context of the larger body of scripture that surrounds the specific verses quoted. To enhance the understanding of these scriptures, the reader is encouraged to use the reading lists for each chapter that are shown on the page opposite the first page of each chapter. The reading lists include most of the scriptures quoted in Believe but also include additional verses before and or after the quoted verses so that the reader will get a better sense of the context of the quotes. For either group or individual study, reading the scriptures from the reading lists for the chapter at the start each study period, will help the reader(s) to understand the topics discussed in that chapter. There is space to write additional Scripture verses that each reader may feel are pertinent to the topic of each chapter.

     Each chapter ends with discussion questions and a call to action that will help the reader claim each of God’s Gifts in his or her own life. Space is provided with each question for the reader to write their thoughts about each question. For group study, the questions provide a starting point for discussion of the material after the leader has completed their presentation. Individuals can use the questions as a review of the material of each chapter. The assignments, for those chapters that have them, should be completed between study sessions. In a group study, they provide an opening discussion for the next session. The questions and the call to action are located on the two pages following the end of each chapter.

     Appendix B contains an evaluation form. Please complete this and either E-mail or snail mail it back to us. Your comments on the study are very helpful. You may also send us your comments by going to our web site, http://www.MarlinLClark.com, and using our guest book. The web site also includes an electronic copy of the evaluation form that you can copy into an email.