Sunday (4/4)

During this Lenten season we are reading and studying the Gospel According to Luke as part of worship services and this Your Faith Journey devotional. Our read through of Luke will continue through April 20th. Luke’s Gospel is one of four accounts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection within the New Testament of the Bible. If you have not started reading it, you are encouraged to watch a brief video on Youtube that will help you understand the gospels:

The Gospel by the Bible Project:

 

Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read scripture this week:

1. Approach scripture with humility. Seek to receive what the Bible reveals without trying to make it say what you want it to say.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

3. In regards to the verses you read, what do these verses reveal about humanity?

4. What do these verses teach me about myself?

5. How do I see myself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

6. What do these verses reveal about God and Jesus?

7. Read, study, and discuss scripture with a small group or another person.

8. Use a Study Bible…

A Study Bible is a very helpful tool for understanding each book of the Bible. They include information shared by scholars about historical and cultural realities during the time depicted or the era of the document, the author, when the book might have been written, the intended audience of the document, themes and messages within a book or letter, and more.

The NIV, NRSV, ESV, and NLT Study Bibles are worth considering if you do not own one. There are a few available from the AUMC Library in the back of the Chapel. You can also purchase a Study Bible from ChristianBook.com, Cokesbury.com, or Amazon.com.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

 

 

Monday (4/5)

Memory Verses:

Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:43-45a NIV

 

Pray or sing the following words from the hymn “I Surrender All” by J. W. Van Deventer:

 

All to Jesus I surrender; now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory to his name!

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

 

Read Luke 14. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time. If you have not read the previous chapters before Luke 14, you should watch the Bible Project videos about this gospel. The videos will help you to understand Luke more clearly before you begin reading verses this week. The videos are available on YouTube:

Overview Luke: 1-9 by the Bible Project:

 

Overview Luke: 10-24 by the Bible Project:

 

Pray through your day, including what you will do, or what you have already done, the people you will be with, or those you already were with, then conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Matthew 6:9-13 (MSG):

 

Our Father in heaven,

Reveal who you are.

Set the world right;

Do what’s best—

as above, so below.

Keep us alive with three square meals.

Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.

Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.

You’re in charge!

You can do anything you want!

You’re ablaze in beauty!

Yes. Yes. Yes.

 

 

Tuesday (4/6)

Memory Verses: Matthew 5:43-45a

*Read the Memory Verses a few times before you pray.

 

Say, sing, or pray the following lyrics from the song “Reckless Love” by Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, and Ran Jackson:

 

Oh, the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God.

Oh, it chases me down, fights til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine.

And I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still, You give yourself away.

Oh, the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you use your imagination. Imagine that you have wandered away from the Lord and now you are lost in an unfamiliar wilderness. You are separated from your family, friends, and our congregation. You are alone. It is cold and the world feels like a lonely place. Then you hear the footsteps of someone walking towards you. It is Jesus. The Good Shepherd has left behind those who are safe to find you, his lost sheep. When he finds you he wraps his arms around you as a parent hugs a child they have longed to see and be with. Shortly after being found, you follow Jesus out of the wilderness and towards your family, friends, and our church family. As you arrive where others have been waiting for your return, you are welcomed with a celebration. Think about the joy you would feel if this happened to you.

 

Read Luke 15. Use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional to dive deeper during your study time.

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the Ukrainian people, as well as those who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)
• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

Conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it.

 

 

Wednesday (4/7)

Memory Verses: Matthew 5:43-45a

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them before you pray, using whichever translation you prefer.

 

Pray or sing the following words from the hymn “I Surrender All”:

 

All to Jesus I surrender; now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory to his name!

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

 

Read Luke 16:1-17:10. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray however you feel led to pray, then conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Matthew 6:9-13 (NRSV):

 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not bring us to the time of trial,

but rescue us from the evil one.

 

 

Thursday (4/8)

Memory Verses: Matthew 5:43-45a

*Read the Memory Verses a few times.

 

Say, sing, or pray the following lyrics from the song “Reckless Love”:

Oh, the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God.

Oh, it chases me down, fights til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine.

And I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still, You give yourself away.

Oh, the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God.

 

Be silent for a few minutes. Imagine that you have been forced into an ongoing quarantine away from family members and friends. You’ve been unable to interact and associate with others for quite some time. You feel a deep longing to be reunited with people, engage in normal activities, and enjoy life again. Today, the waiting is over. Jesus has come to heal you. Envision our Savior reaching out his hand as he gestures for you to reach out to him. When your hand touches his you feel your body being restored and revitalized. You’ll now be able to return to a normal life again. Continue to silently think about how you would respond to Jesus if this happened to you.

 

Read Luke 17:11-37. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray in response to God using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

Conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it.

 

 

Friday (4/9)

Memory Verses: Matthew 5:43-45a

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them before you pray, using whichever translation you prefer.

 

Pray or sing the following words from the hymn “I Surrender All”:

 

All to Jesus I surrender; now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory to his name!

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

 

Read Luke 18. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray that the Lord helps you and our congregation to live the AUMC virtues revealed in Christ, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Afterwards, conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT):

 

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need,

and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptations,

but rescue us from the evil one.

 

 

Saturday (4/10)

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend? The sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and be refreshed. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the Sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship and rest an entire day each week.

 

Read Matthew 5:43-45a, the memory verses for this past week.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or thirty minutes. During your time of solitude and silence with the Lord, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy

Spirit. Focus on the memory verses as if you are hearing Jesus speak them directly to you. Allow Jesus’ words to roll around in your mind and transform your heart.

 

Read Luke 19. Use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional to dive deeper during your study time.

 

Listen to “Reckless Love” by Passion Music using the YouTube link below:

Reckless Love (Live) by Passion Music featuring Melodie Malone

 

Pray in response to the Lord, then conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer the way you have memorized it.

 

Spend some time thinking about how you saw, heard, or experienced God working in your life this past week. What did you learn about yourself, Jesus, or others? Consider writing your answers in a journal or spending some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend about what you learned, as well as what you experienced, heard, or saw.