10/15-10/21 Overview

This week we are taking a break from reading the book of Acts to read Paul’s letter to Christians in Philippi. Our reading this past week ended with Paul as a prisoner in Caesarea for two years (Acts 24:27). Acts 16 shares the account of when the church was established in the city of Philippi as part of Paul’s second missionary journey. According to Acts 16 the first convert to Christianity in the city was a woman named Lydia. Her entire household trusted in Jesus and were baptized after hearing Paul share the gospel message. Paul and his traveling companions stayed in Lydia’s house while they were in the city. During their brief time in Philippi, Paul and Silas were put in prison. It seems fitting that years later, after completing his third missionary journey, Paul wrote a letter to thank, encourage, guide, and warn the Philippians while he was in prison yet again in another city. Biblical scholars believe that Paul wrote Philippians during one of three possible time frames. It could have been written as early as his imprisonment in Ephesus in the early to mid-50s, or during the two years he was in prison in Caesarea from about 57 to 59 AD, or while he was imprisoned in Rome for a few years between 61 and 63 AD. This week we will read Paul’s letter in the New Testament known as Philippians.

 

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.

 

Sunday (10/15)

READ Psalm 106:1 to set your focus on our God:

“Praise the LORD.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.” – Psalm 106:1 NIV

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to worship the Lord.

 

READ Deuteronomy 10:12-13, God’s message to the Israelites shared through Moses. What does this message reveal about how we should respond to the Lord?

 

PRAY now and throughout the day letting the words of Deuteronomy 10 guide you as you respond to God’s grace and love. Pray for our sisters and brothers in Christ who are part of Avon UMC, as well as for fellow believers in Greater Hendricks County, and Christians throughout the world.

 

SERVICE – Look for opportunities to serve God by humbly serving others today and this week as an expression of your love for the Lord.

 

 

Monday (10/16)

READ Psalm 106:1 to begin your devotional time:

“Praise the LORD.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.” – Psalm 106:1 NIV

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to worship our Lord and Savior.

 

WATCH the Bible Project video that summarizes Philippians before reading it this week.

Below is the link for the summary video available on YouTube:

Book of Philippians Summary by the Bible Project:

 

READ Philippians 1. If you are using a Study Bible you may find it helpful to read the Introduction to this letter as well as the study notes.

 

PRAY through your day, including offering thanks for the presence of the Spirit of Christ with us, as well as praying for the people you will be with or have been with.

 

SERVICE – Do something kind and helpful for someone who has blessed you.

 

 

Tuesday (10/17)

READ Psalm 106:1 to help you to center yourself in God.

 

SOLITUDE and SILENCE. You are encouraged to spend a few minutes alone with God sitting, kneeling, laying down, or walking. Spend these minutes letting the message of the psalm roll around in your heart and mind. Let it fill your thoughts.

 

READ Philippians 2:1-18. Consider using the questions and suggestions from the Overview portion of this devotional during this study time.

 

PRAY however the Holy Spirit guides you to pray.

SERVICE – Follow Jesus’ example by humbly serving another person today by putting their interests and needs ahead of your own.

 

 

Wednesday (10/18)

READ Psalm 106:1 to begin your devotional time.

 

LISTEN to and/or SING a hymn or worship song that helps you to worship God.

 

READ Philippians 2:19-30. Which word, phrase, or verse is the Holy Spirit using from the verses to speak to you today?

 

PRAY for:

• Those Who Are Closest to You (family members & friends)
• Those Who Point Others Towards God (parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, professors, coaches, musicians, authors, filmmakers, influencers, churches, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, & globally)
• Those Who Are Vulnerable & In Need (children, orphans, widows & widowers, the hungry & homeless, refugees, sick & diseased persons, prisoners, etc.)
• Yourself (tell God your thoughts, concerns, feelings, and desires)

 

SERVICE – Of the people you prayed for today, who does God want you to go serve? How will you humbly serve them in a way that blesses them?

 

 

Thursday (10/19)

READ Psalm 106:1 to focus your heart and mind on the Lord.

 

SOLITUDE and SILENCE. You are encouraged to spend a few minutes alone with God sitting, kneeling, laying down, or walking. Spend these minutes seeking to simply be with the Lord.

 

READ Philippians 3:1-4:1. Consider using the questions and suggestions from the Overview portion of this devotional during this study time.

 

PRAY using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

A doration (praise the Lord)

C onfession

T hanksgiving

S upplication (offer God your concerns & desires)

 

SERVICE – Secretly do something kind and helpful for a person you don’t know without seeking to receive credit for what you have done.

 

 

Friday (10/20)

READ Psalm 106:1 to begin your time with God.

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to worship the Lord.

 

READ Philippians 4:2-23, the conclusion of Paul’s letter. Which word, phrase, or verse is the Lord using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

PRAY offering yourself to the One who offered his life on the cross for us. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, our congregation, and Christians throughout the world to live as Jesus’ representatives and apprentices, growing more like Christ by living His virtues and God’s values. The virtues include Humility, Compassion, Forgiveness, and Love.

 

SERVICE – Follow Jesus’ example by humbly serving others today as an expression of loving God and loving people.

 

 

Saturday (10/21)

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.

 

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 Exodus 20:1-21 during the morning 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, thirty minutes or more 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.

 

READ Psalm 95:1-7a during the afternoon or evening. 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 in a journal or notebook 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 offering thanks to the Lord. You may find it helpful to use the list you wrote or the words from the psalmist as a guide for your prayer.