7/21 – 7/27

During the past six weeks we have been on a journey studying the life and ministry of the apostle Paul, as well as reading portions of a few of his New Testament letters recently. On the morning of July 21st we will take a break from the Blinding Light series to turn our focus to Moving Forward: In Christ as a congregation after the decisions made during the General Conference of the United Methodist denomination, which occurred during the spring of 2024. The Bible verses we will read and study this week as part of this Living Faith Devotional go along with the theme of Pastor Danny’s sermon.

 

The format of this plan is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day, but you are encouraged to read all of the Bible verses by the end of the week. Below is a guide for the daily use of this devotional:

 

Each Day

• Read the Daily Psalm
• Spend a few minutes in silence as you wait in the presence of the Lord
• Read the Bible verses for the day
• Answer the question(s) using a journal or notebook, talking to someone else about them, or simply think about your responses
• Listen to and/or sing a worship song or hymn
• Pray
• Live guided by the Spirit of the Lord

 

DAILY PSALM:

READ Psalm 133 as a PRAYER to begin your time set apart to be with, encounter, and worship the living God.

 

 

SILENCE & SOLITUDE:

You are encouraged to spend a few minutes quietly alone with the Lord after reading the verses. You may find it helpful to sit, kneel, lay down, or walk as the message rolls around in your heart and mind.

 

 

DAILY BIBLE VERSES TO READ:

Sunday – Ephesians 4:1-16 (Unity in the Body of Christ)

 

Monday – Ephesians 2:13-22 (One in Christ)

 

Tuesday – Colossians 2:1-3, 6-7 (United in Love)

 

Wednesday – Romans 6:1-14 (Dying and Rising with Christ)

 

Thursday – John 17 (Jesus’ prayer that his followers will be One)

 

Friday – Acts 4:32-35 (the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer among the earliest Christians)

 

Saturday – Hebrews 4:1-11 (The Sabbath themes are “united by faith,” as well as “stop & rest.”)

 

 

DAILY QUESTIONS:

You may find it helpful to read the verses a second time as you ask yourself these questions while pondering about God’s message within the verses. You may find it helpful to write your responses to the questions, or talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group, or to simply think about them:

 

What is God revealing through the verses I read?

 

What is God’s message to us as a church and to me as a part of it? Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal it as you prayerfully re-read the text.

 

How should we respond?

 

 

LISTEN to and/or SING a worship song or hymn to help you respond to God. You may find it helpful to use the same song each day, or a different one on some, or all, of the days because of what the Bible verses bring to mind.

 

 

PRAY:

You are encouraged to let the Bible verses you read guide your prayer, then conclude your time of praying with THE LORD’S PRAYER recited from memory or using Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:9-13 or Luke 11:2-4.

 

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App or Bible Gateway App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.Bible.com or www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.