3/5-3/11 Matthew’s Gospel Lent Reading Plan

Introduction

This week we will continue our journey as apprentices of Christ by reading and studying more verses from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as we seek to live them. If you continue using this Living Faith Devotional, formerly called “Your Faith Journey,” by April 15th we will finish reading the entire Gospel According to Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel is one of four gospels within the New Testament of the Bible that shares an account of the life, teachings, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. If you did not begin reading it during the past few weeks, 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:

The Gospel by the Bible Project:

 

*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.

 

Sunday (3/5)

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 5:44-45

*You are encouraged to memorize a verse or verses each week of this season of Lent. The verses for this week are Jesus’ message from Matthew 5. You can memorize the version listed below or from some other translation:

 

Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

so that you may be children of your Father in heaven…” – Matthew 5:44-45 NRSV

 

If you have not watched it already, you are encouraged to watch the Bible

Project video about the first thirteen chapters of Matthew. The video is available on YouTube:

Overview Matthew: 1-13 by the Bible Project:

 

Pray the following words as an invitation for God to speak to you during this devotional time:

“Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” -1 Samuel 3:9 KJV

 

Read Matthew 5:31-32 for today. If you did not read the previous chapters and verses you are encouraged to at least read the section headings within the first three chapters as well as Matthew 3:13-5:30.

 

Pray in response to Jesus’ message as well as using part of the prayer Jesus taught in Matthew 6, which is listed below. You may find it helpful to return to this portion of Jesus’ prayer throughout the day:

 

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” – Matthew 6:9 NRSV

 

 

Monday (3/6)

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 5:44-45

The verses for this week are part of Jesus’ message from Matthew 5. You can memorize the version listed below or from some other translation:

 

Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

so that you may be children of your Father in heaven…” – Matthew 5:44-45 NRSV

 

Pray the following words as an invitation for God to speak to you during this devotional time:

“Jesus, please let your message sink deeply into my heart and mind today, then remind me and guide me to live it.”

 

Listen to Matt Maher’s song “The Lord’s Prayer (Its Yours)” using the link below for the YouTube video or using a music streaming service:

“The Lord’s Prayer (Its Yours)” by Matt Maher

 

Read Matthew 5:33-37. If you did not read the previous chapters and verses

you are encouraged to at least read the section headings within the first three

chapters as well as Matthew 3:13-5:32 before reading the verses for today.

 

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 with the portion of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples that is listed below:

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10 NRSV

 

 

Tuesday (3/7)

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 5:44-45

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

 

Pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to you:

“Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” -1 Samuel 3:9 NRSV

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you seek to be with Jesus using a physical posture that is helpful, such as kneeling, bowing down, sitting with your head bowed or chin raised high, or lying on the ground as if you were touching the feet of Christ. Consider focusing on each breath, knowing that the Lord has provided the air you breathe and He is as close to you as the breath in your lungs.

 

Read Matthew 5:38-42. Which word, phrase, or verse from Jesus’ teaching is the Holy Spirit using to speak to you today?

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, filmmakers, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the people of Turkey and Syria, Ukrainians, Russians, etc.)

• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

Conclude with the portion of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples that is

listed below, and try praying it before each of your meals today:

“Give us this day our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11 NRSV

 

 

Wednesday (3/8)

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 5:44-45

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them before you pray.

 

Pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to you:

“Lord, help me to receive the message you have for me today,

then to live obediently in response to you as your beloved child.”

 

Read Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 5:43-48 that reveals that our “neighbors” include our enemies.

 

Listen to the Hillsong Worship song “The Lord’s Prayer” using the link below for the YouTube video or using a music streaming service:

“The Lord’s Prayer” by Hillsong Worship

 

Pray for those who consider you, our nation, or Christians as an enemy and pray for those who persecute our sisters and brothers in Christ, then conclude with the portion of Jesus’ prayer listed below:

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12 NRSV

 

 

Thursday (3/9)

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 5:44-45

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

 

Pray, inviting the Lord to speak to you today:

“Yes, Lord, I’m listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:9 TLB

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you imagine being alone with Jesus. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, or kneel in awe of our King, the Messiah.

 

Read Matthew 6:1-4. Use a suggestion or question on the list from the introduction portion of this devotional to dive deeper during your study time.

 

Pray in response to Christ using the ACTS acronym as a guide, then conclude with the portion of Jesus’ prayer listed below:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

“And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.” – Matthew 6:13 NRSV

 

 

Friday (3/10)

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 5:44-45

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them before you pray.

 

Pray the following words as an invitation for God to speak to you:

“Lord, help me to receive the message you have for me today and live in response to it.”

 

Read Matthew 6:5-15, then follow Jesus’ instructions during your prayer.

Go to a room or large closet to be alone with the Lord and pray to our heavenly Father.

 

Pray that the Holy Spirit helps you and our congregation to live the AUMC virtues revealed in Jesus, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Afterwards, conclude with the prayer Jesus taught in verses 9 through 13.

 

Listen to Matt Maher’s song “The Lord’s Prayer (Its Yours)” using the link below for the YouTube video or using a music streaming service:

“The Lord’s Prayer (Its Yours)” by Matt Maher

 

 

Saturday (3/11)

Read Matthew 5:44-45, the memory verses for this past week. If you have not

memorized them simply let Jesus’ words be a reminder as you think about how he lived this message.

 

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 beginning with an hour, then increasing it to multiple hours or part of a day the next weekend, and eventually designating an entire day for remembering and observing the Sabbath.

 

Read Exodus 16 giving special attention to what the verses reveal about the Sabbath and rest. Notice that the Israelites “gathered twice as much food” the day before the Sabbath (Exodus 16:22 NRSV). To observe a day of rest you will probably need to plan ahead and use the day or days before it as preparation. “REST” is the Sabbath theme for this weekend. What is God’s message to you from this biblical text?

 

What is your body revealing to you about what you need? Do you need a nap?

Do you need more sleep each night during the other days of the week?

 

Are you willing to trust God to enable you to do whatever needs to be done

during the other six days of the week so that you can rest in the Lord an entire day?

 

Do you need to take things off of your to-do-list and set a more sustainable pace so that you are prioritizing resting?

 

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.

 

Read Leviticus 23:3 about the Sabbath and rest. Seek to do what the Lord commands in this verse, including stopping, resting, dedicating an entire day to God, and assembling with others to worship our Creator and Sustainer of life.

 

Pray and live in response to our God. You may find it helpful to use the

words from the verses you read today as a guide for your prayer.