6/4-6/10 Overview

On May 28th we celebrated the Day of Pentecost as a church family. The celebration continues on June 4th. We are celebrating the gift of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church in Jerusalem as described in Acts 2, the wonderful things God has done, and the ongoing transformational work of the Spirit within Christians, the Church, and the world. May the Spirit of the living God fall afresh upon us.

 

In the verses and chapters of The Acts of the Apostles that we are reading this week, Barnabas and Saul are sent off on a missionary journey by the Holy Spirit from among the believers in Antioch while they are fasting and worshiping the Lord with the church (Acts 13:2). During their journey the two go to Cyprus to speak to the Jews in the synagogues, John Mark joins them for a short period of time, Saul begins to be called “Paul” (Acts 13:9), the journey continues to various locations, Saul/Paul heals a man who had been unable to walk since birth (Acts 14:8-10), the people of Lystra believe that Paul and Barnabas are Greek gods who have come to the earth, and Jews “from Antioch and Iconium” attempt to kill Paul by stoning him (Acts 14:19), but he survives.

 

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. The video is available on YouTube. You will be invited to watch the second video on Monday:

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. Use a Study Bible. A Study Bible is a very helpful tool that includes 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.

 

Trinity Sunday (6/4)

READ Psalm 8:4-6 to set your focus on our Creator:

What are human beings

that you think about them;

what are human beings

that you pay attention to them?

You’ve made them only slightly less than divine…

You’ve let them rule over your handiwork… – Psalm 8:4-6 CEB

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to praise the Lord and sing or pray the words.

 

READ 2 Corinthians 13:14, the end of Paul’s second letter within The Bible to the Christians in Corinth. Try letting the message sink deeply into your heart, mind, and soul. Receive Jesus’ grace, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Let the Father, Son and Spirit fill your heart and mind.

 

PRAY in response to the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit. Invite the Lord to form you, including your thoughts, words, beliefs, actions, and life, according to His will.

 

 

Monday (6/5)

READ Psalm 8:4-6 to begin this devotional time:

What are human beings

that you think about them;

what are human beings

that you pay attention to them?

You’ve made them only slightly less than divine…

You’ve let them rule over your handiwork… – Psalm 8:4-6 CEB

 

WATCH the second of two Bible Project video summaries of the book of Acts before reading the verses for today and the chapters this week. The video is available on YouTube:

Book of Acts Summary (Part 2) by the Bible Project:

 

READ Acts 13:1-12. Consider using the suggestions and questions from the Overview portion of this devotional to guide your study time of these verses.

 

PRAY that the Lord will help you to receive his love, become aware of the grace of Jesus, and be filled and formed by the Holy Spirit. Pray for others who need to receive God’s love, become aware the grace of Christ, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit with and in them.

 

 

Tuesday (6/6)

READ Psalm 8:4-6 to help you to humbly approach our Creator during this time.

 

READ Acts 13:13-43. What comes to mind when you think about God’s grace, His unmerited favor? The justifying grace of God was described by John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, as the moment when we receive forgiveness of our sins and a right standing with God through faith in Christ.

 

PRESENCE – Seek to be mindful of the Holy Spirit’s presence with you and in you today and throughout the week. Trust the Spirit to guide you. Know that even when you are with people who are not Christians God’s presence is with them because the Spirit of the living God is in you.

 

PRAY through your day, including offering thanks for God’s presence with you throughout the day, as well as praying for the people you will be with or have been with.

 

 

Wednesday (6/7)

READ Psalm 8:4-6 to begin your devotional time.

 

READ Luke 10:1-12 and Acts 13:44-52 to see parallels the gospel writer shares in regards to Jesus in Luke’s Gospel and the disciples in Acts. Jesus sends out 72 disciples in the verses in Luke with specific instructions that include leaving places they are not welcomed. In the verses in Acts Paul and Barnabas continue on their journey after being sent out by the Holy Spirit. They encounter Gentiles who gladly receive their message and trust in Jesus, but Jews from the same town try to persecute the missionaries, so they shake “the dust from their feet” and move on (Acts 13:51). This is what Jesus instructed his followers to do years earlier as revealed in Luke 10. If you are using a Study Bible, you may find it helpful to read the study notes for these verses.

 

GIFTS – Where is God sending you today to use your time, resources, talents, and/or Spiritual gifts to bless others?

 

PRAY letting the Holy Spirit guide you to respond to the verses you read.

 

 

Thursday (6/8)

READ Psalm 8:4-6 to focus your heart and mind on God.

 

READ Acts 14:1-7. Consider using the suggestions and questions from the Overview section of this devotional during your study time today.

 

SERVICE – Today, attempt to receive the ways others serve you as blessings from God. Look for opportunities to serve the Lord by serving others.

 

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

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving (thank God)

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (6/9)

READ Psalm 8:4-6.

 

READ Acts 14:8-20. Which word, phrase, or verse is the Lord 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 Jesus as we represent him, live as his apprentices, and spread the Good News in our homes, workplaces, communities, and throughout the world. The virtues include: Humility, Compassion, Forgiveness, Love

 

WITNESS – How did you see, hear, or experience God’s grace, love, and presence this past week? You are encouraged to either write your response or talk about it with someone. You could write in a journal, a notebook, or write/type a letter. You could discuss it with a close family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor, or perhaps even a stranger if the Holy Spirit guides you to share it with them.

 

 

Saturday (6/10)

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 stop, rest, worship, and delight in the Lord and what he has given us. You may need to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each week until you eventually designate an entire day for remembering and observing the Sabbath.

 

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.

 

READ Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 during the morning. Jesus is letting you know that you will find rest in him. Rest from your weariness and burdens. Rest for your soul. Going along with Jesus’ invitation, our Sabbath theme for this weekend is “REST.”

 

• How will you respond to Jesus’ invitation to “come to me”?

 

• What worries and burdens are you carrying that you can offer to Jesus in prayer?

 

• Taking Jesus’ yoke upon you means living according to King Jesus’ pace for life, with Christ as our Lord, not someone or something else. His “yoke is easy, and his burden is light.” How is Jesus’ pace and humble yoke different and light compared to the yoke or pace of others?

 

• Jesus is “gentle and humble in heart.” Let his gentleness calm and comfort you today so that you can experience the restoration that comes through rest.

 

• Trust Jesus to teach and guide you to become gentle and humble too.

 

 

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 however the Holy Spirit guides you to pray.

 

 

TIME for REFLECTION. If you did not do it yesterday, either write in a journal or notebook the ways you experienced the love, grace, and presence of God this past week, or discuss them with a close family member or friend. It may also be helpful to write or talk about what you need to stop doing to be able to observe the Sabbath for an entire day and live a healthier pace and rhythm for your life.

 

 

READ Leviticus 23:3 during the afternoon or evening.

• Which day this weekend are you setting apart from the other six of the week so that you can rest and observe the Sabbath?

 

• You’re encouraged to join others for a “sacred assembly” during worship services this weekend. What preparation do you need to do to be ready to gather with God’s people to offer yourself to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving on Sunday at 8:15, 9:30, or 11:00 am?

 

PRAY and live in response to Jesus. Lift your burdens and worries to him in prayer. Ask Christ to help you to learn from him and his way of living (Matt. 11:29). You may find it helpful to use the words from the verses you read today as a guide for your prayer.