10/20 – 10/26

King Solomon instructs us to “trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight” (Proverbs 3:5 NRSV). We have limited capacities for knowledge and insight as human beings, but God is all-knowing. In the New Testament, James encourages Christians to ask God for wisdom. “If any of you is lacking wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you” (James 1:5 NRSV). Through the Holy Spirit, God can provide the wisdom or insight we need that can only be given by the Lord. Humbly asking God in faith is an important part of the process for gaining wisdom and understanding. As a young king, Solomon asked the Lord for “an understanding mind to govern” God’s people, so that he could “discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9 NRSV). The Lord gave him a “wise and discerning mind” because of his humility and faith in God (1 Kings 3:11 NRSV). As part of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches us to “ask and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7 NIV). By continuing to read the book of Proverbs this week as we humbly ask the Lord, we can receive the wisdom revealed within this Old Testament book as the Holy Spirit enables us. Read more…

9/17-9/23 Overview

Welcome to the final week of The Art of Neighboring all-church journey. The daily devotionals throughout this week will guide us to focus on the power of love, forgiveness, our ministry of reconciliation, living at peace with others if possible, loving our enemies, that we are sent with ministry partners as ambassadors of Christ, and the people who are part of our inner circles, then we’ll conclude the week with an emphasis on God’s Sabbath. The authors of the book remind us that “this is a journey that doesn’t end.” For Avon UMC, this is just the beginning of a new chapter of being more intentional about “neighboring.” In the final chapter of the book, authors Jay and Dave go on to explain that “good neighboring matters” and “it works better than any program, and it works better than any government initiative.” When the people of the Church prioritize loving God and loving our neighbors, God’s kingdom is among us and his will is done here as it is in heaven. Lives are transformed through the love of God. We have daily opportunities to share the love of God that we have received by offering it to our neighbors here in the community where God has placed us and among the people in our circles of influence. Yes, we have been entrusted by the ultimate artist, our Creator, to partner with him in this ongoing art of loving, living, and neighboring. Read more…

2/26-3/4 Matthew’s Gospel Lent Reading Plan

Introduction

The season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday (2/22) and will continue through Holy Saturday (4/8), which is the day before Easter. Jesus fasted for 40 days before his ministry began and immediately after he was baptized in the Jordan River (Matthew 4:1-11). Like Christ, what is the Holy Spirit inviting or asking you to deny yourself and leave behind during these 40 days of Lent? If you are unsure, invite the Spirit of the living God to reveal the fast or self denial He wants from you during this season. Which faith practices will you utilize during this season to repent and grow closer to Jesus? Observing the Sabbath? Attending weekly worship services? Daily scripture reading and prayer? Intentional and scheduled faith-focused conversations with other believers?

 

In regards to this Living Faith Devotional, formerly called “Your Faith Journey,” we are being guided to read the entire Gospel According to Matthew during this season. Matthew’s Gospel is one of four gospels within the New Testament of the Bible. If you did not begin reading it last week, you are encouraged to watch a brief video on Youtube that was created by the Bible Project which is about the Gospels before you begin: Read more…

Sunday (9/11)

As we continue in the second half of The Gospel of John all-church worship and small group series, this week we are focusing on “Love.” The worship services, small group discussions, and memory verse for this week are all connected to the theme. You can watch The Gospel of John small group study videos and discuss them with others. The videos can be found on the AUMC website using the following link:

 

This week we are continuing our second read through of the entire Gospel According to John. You may find it helpful to read a different Bible translation than what you read last month or listen to an audio version of the Bible. Free audio versions of the Bible are available through the YouVersion Bible App. This month we will focus on the last four themes of the series while reading or listening to the entire gospel again. Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read and study scripture: Read more…

Sunday (7/17)

This week we will continue reading the book of 1 Kings. The books of 1 & 2 Kings were written together as one scroll to tell the stories of the various kings and the divided kingdom of the descendants of Abraham and Sarah during hundreds of years after the death of King David. The season of history within 1 & 2 Kings concludes with the Temple and city of Jerusalem being destroyed by the Babylonians and the people of God forced to leave their homeland to go to Babylon. Read more…

Sunday (6/26)

This week we will conclude our reading of the book of 1 Samuel. Samuel was a prophet chosen by God to anoint the first two kings of Israel. The book tells the stories of the prophet Samuel, King Saul, and King David.

 

If you did not read the previous books of Genesis through Ruth, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the Old Testament. The video is a summary of the Hebrew scriptures. It is available on YouTube.

TaNaK/Old Testament by the Bible Project:

 

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

Sunday (6/19)

This week we will continue reading the book of 1 Samuel. Samuel was a prophet and the last judge of the people of Israel before the twelve tribes became unified as a monarchy. Samuel was chosen by God to anoint the first two kings of Israel. The book tells the stories of the prophet Samuel, King Saul, and King David.

 

If you did not read the previous books of Genesis through Ruth, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the Old Testament. The video is a summary of the Hebrew scriptures. It is available on YouTube. Read more…

As we continue our journey through our sixth annual all-church sermon and small group series, which is entitled, Discipleship: Virtuous Life in Christ, you are invited to use this daily devotional to help you to focus on the virtue of “compassion” this week. Throughout August we are uniting together as a congregation to focus on four of the many virtues of Jesus. Our hope is that these virtues of Christ will guide us throughout the next few years as the Holy Spirit forms us more and more into the likeness of our Savior as individuals and as a church family.

 

This week you are invited to begin your devotional time with Psalm 103 or part of the lyrics of the hymn, “God Will Take Care of You”, by Civilla D. Martin. With your heart and mind focused on God, then read the daily Bible verses about compassion, and conclude your time praying in response to the Lord. Read more…

When he saw the Christ child in the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem when Jesus was taken there to be dedicated to God, a righteous man named Simeon declared,

“Sovereign Lord…

I have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared for all people.

He is a light to reveal God to the nations,

and he is the glory of your people Israel!”” – Luke 2:29-32 NLT

For Simeon, Jesus was the sign of God’s salvation that had been prepared for all people. A light to reveal God to the nations of the world. Read more…