5/14-5/20 Overview

In the chapters for this week from The Acts of the Apostles, the church becomes “scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” because of increasing persecution (Acts 8:1 NIV), the Holy Spirit does mighty works through Philip among the Samaritans, an Ethiopian official who serves the queen is baptized as a believer becoming a catalyst for the spread of Christianity onto the African continent, and the persecutor of Jesus followers known as Saul of Tarsus has a life changing encounter with Christ which alters the direction of his life.

If you have not watched it yet, you are encouraged to WATCH the first of two Bible Project video summaries of the book of Acts to understand it more clearly before reading the verses on Monday. The video is available on YouTube: Book of Acts Summary (Part 1) 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. What do these verses reveal about God?

4. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

5. What do these verses teach me about myself?

6. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

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

8. Consider using 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, you are encouraged to download 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.

 

 

Sunday (5/14 – Mother’s Day)

READ Jeremiah 31:3. Focus on receiving God’s love today and throughout this week as you continue living your faith through prayer, presence, gifts, service, and using your words as a witness and blessing to others:

 

Prayer – time with God receiving the gift of communion with the Lord

Presence – being mentally and physically present with God and people

Gifts – receiving and recognizing the talents, opportunities, resources and

spiritual gifts you have been given as you use them for God’s glory

Service – following Jesus’ example by humbly serving others

Witness – using your words to bless, encourage, and guide others by sharing

what you have seen, heard, and experienced in regards to God working within

your life and in the world in the past and now

 

How have you experienced God’s love and compassion through your mother, stepmother, aunt, grandmother, and/or some other women in your life?

 

PRAY today thanking God for mothers, including the women who have been or continue to be like a mother to you.

 

 

Monday (5/15)

READ Psalm 66:20 to prepare yourself for time with the Lord:

 

Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. – Psalm 66:20 NLT

 

READ Acts 7:54-60, the account of the first martyr of the Church. Stephen lived the virtues of Christ that include humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Did you notice what the Holy Spirit enabled Stephen to see in verse 55? As he was dying Stephen entrusted his life and spirit to Jesus. How are you entrusting your life and spirit to Jesus?

 

Stephen asked the Lord to forgive those who were persecuting and killing him (vs. 60). As you seek to live the virtue of forgiveness today and throughout this week, who do you need to forgive?

 

If you did not read Acts 1:1-7:53, then read or listen to an audio version of those chapters and verses before reading the verses during the coming days.

 

PRAY to God entrusting your life and spirit to Him. Ask the Lord to help you and others to receive his love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. If you are struggling to forgive yourself or someone else, ask the Lord to help you to forgive them.

 

 

Tuesday (5/16)

READ Psalm 66:20 as a reminder.

 

BE SILENT for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord as you seek to be present with Him as much as you are able. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, kneel, or walk during this time of being intentionally present with God. Listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit as a word, phrase, idea, image, or message that comes to mind.

 

READ Acts 8:1-3. If you are using a Study Bible, you may find it helpful to read the study notes for these verses. Did you notice how the persecution of the church was the catalyst for fulfilling Jesus’ commission from Acts 1:8 beyond Jerusalem? Who were the people who stayed in Jerusalem with the believers who were being imprisoned?

 

PRESENCE – Seek to be mentally and emotionally present with God during your devotional time to receive the fulness of the gift of the Holy Spirit in you and with you. Also seek to be as fully present as possible with others wherever the Spirit sends you today knowing that God’s presence is with you as you are with them.

 

PRAY for the people you will be with or have already been with today, for prisoners and for persecuted Christians throughout the world.

 

 

Wednesday (5/17)

READ Psalm 66:20 to prepare yourself for time with our God, the source of love.

 

GIFTS – What are your spiritual gifts? If you are unsure, consider reading the article “Spiritual Gifts 101” found on the Tyndale website using the link below. You may also find it helpful to use the “Spiritual Gifts Inventory” found on the UMC Discipleship Ministries website using the link below to discern what gifts God has given you.

 

“Spiritual Grifts 101” article:

 

“Spiritual Gifts Inventory” assessment:

 

READ Acts 8:4-25. You may find it helpful to use the suggestions and questions from the Overview portion of this devotional during your study time. What do these verses reveal about what the church in Avon, Indiana should be doing?

 

PRAY in the Spirit for:

• Christians to go to the people who need to hear about Jesus, including the believers from Avon UMC leaving our comfort zones to go to the lost people within our community, neighborhoods, families, and within our circles of influence

 

• God to do signs and wonders through the leaders of the Church throughout the world, including in Greater Hendricks County

 

• physical, mental, and emotional healing for those who need it today

 

• the afflicted to be set free, including addicts, persons suffering from mental illnesses, and those who are tormented by demons

 

• a holy boldness among believers to proclaim the gospel message

 

• for those who are not yet Christians to have ears that can truly hear the gospel message, eyes to see God among us, as well as hearts and lives that can receive what God wants to give them

 

 

Thursday (5/18)

READ Psalm 66:20 to focus your heart and mind on the Lord.

 

BE SILENT for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord as you seek to be present with Him as much as you are able. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, kneel, or walk during this time of being intentionally present with God. Listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit as a word, phrase, idea, image, or message that comes to mind.

 

READ Acts 8:26-40. What do you remember about your baptism or confirmation classes? Why is baptism important? If you are unsure of the significance of baptism, you are encouraged to watch a brief video about baptism using the link below.

“Baptism” by Chuck Knows Church via YouTube:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABCKyffq7Wo

 

If you have not been baptized, you are welcome to contact Pastor Rob to discuss it: 317-272-4068 or robprobus@avonumc.com

 

On June 11th Avon UMC will have a special Sunday of welcoming new members into the congregation and baptizing folks who are ready to repent, turn to God through faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, receive forgiveness of sins, become part of the Church of Christ, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

SERVICE – Did you notice how Philip served the Ethiopian official? Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you to serve others today in a way that blesses them just as Philip served and blessed the Ethiopian eunuch.

 

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)

 

 

Friday (5/19)

READ Psalm 66:20 to seek to center yourself in God.

 

READ Acts 9:1-22, the account of Saul’s Conversion. You may find it helpful to use the suggestions and questions from the Overview portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

WITNESS – Today you can use your words to bless, encourage, and guide others. You can share Christ and be his witness through your words and deeds. You are encouraged to practice sharing a brief summary of Jesus’ story and the Good News about God’s kingdom with other believers, so that you will be ready to share the message with those who do not believe. You may find it helpful to use the following verses as a reminder and guide for how Jesus, the gospel writers, and the apostle Paul concisely shared summaries of Christ’s story and the Good News. Consider writing your statements to help you to clarify your thoughts.

Matthew 4:17 (Jesus’ very brief message about God’s Kingdom)

Matthew 4:23-24 (Matthew’s summary of Jesus’ ministry)

Mark 10:45 (Jesus refers to himself as “the Son of Man”)

Luke 19:10 (Jesus refers to himself as “the Son of Man”)

John 3:16-17 (Jesus’ message)

1 Corinthians 15:1-7 (The Apostle Paul’s summary of the Gospel)

 

PRAY for:

• those who are persecuting Christians in the world today
• those who are blind to the truth and cannot see Jesus clearly
• believers like Ananias who are afraid to do what God has told them to do
• new believers
• Christians who are intentionally living as witnesses of Christ here and throughout the world as we share the good news

 

 

Saturday (5/20)

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 stop, rest, worship, and delight in the Lord and what he has given us.

 

You may find it helpful to LIGHT a candle and LISTEN to a worship song or hymn before reading the verses for today as a way to prepare your heart, mind, body, and soul for observing the Sabbath.

 

During the morning, READ Exodus 20:1-21 giving special attention to what the text reveals about the Sabbath, God, and worship. “WORSHIP” is the Sabbath theme for this weekend. What is God’s message to you from the Ten Commandments?

 

• What needs to happen so that you can set aside part or all of a day this weekend for the Lord?

 

• What causes you to struggle with “not working” for a day? Is it a lack of trust in God, an overfilled life throughout the week, or something else?

 

• As you read the verses did you notice that the Sabbath day is “holy,” which means it is set apart from the other six days of the week? How are you going to set the Sabbath day apart from the other days of the week?

 

• Do you need to take things off or your to-do-list and set a more sustainable pace so that you are prioritizing stopping, resting, and worshiping?

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend ten, twenty, or thirty minutes alone with God seeking to rest in the peace that can only be found in and from the Lord. If you struggle to stop and rest, consider laying down, kneeling, or sitting on a very comfortable chair or seat. If you need a nap, then sleep so that your mind and body receive the rest that you need.

 

PRAY and live in response to our God. You may find it helpful to use the words from the verses you read from Exodus 20 as a guide for your prayer.

 

 

During the afternoon or evening, READ Psalm 95:1-7a about worshipping the Lord our Maker. Seek to set aside time today or tomorrow to stop, rest, and assemble with others to worship our Creator and Sustainer of life.

 

• What is a song that helps you to worship the Lord? You could listen to it right now to help you to sing and praise our God.

 

• You may find in helpful to write a list of things to thank God for today.

 

• Notice in verse 6 the posture the psalmist describes for worshiping God. During your time of prayer, try bowing down and kneeling before our Lord and Maker.

 

PRAY and live in response to our God offering thanksgiving to our Savior. You may find it helpful to use the words from the psalmist as a guide for your prayer.