Introduction

During this Lenten season we have been on a journey with Jesus. Through this devotional we have been invited to read the entire Gospel According to Matthew. This week we will conclude with the resurrection account, as well as returning to some of the previous portions of the gospel as a reminder before we transition into other New Testament documents during the weeks and months ahead, including the entire Acts of the Apostles. On the Christian calendar this week is the first week of the Easter Season. The United Methodist Book of Worship states, “The Easter Season, also known as the Great Fifty Days, begins at sunset Easter Eve and continues through the Day of Pentecost. It is the most joyous and celebrate season of the Christian year.” We hope you will join us to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior on Easter morning at 7:00, 9:30, or 11:00 am.

 

If you did not read Matthew during the Lenten season, you are encouraged to watch a brief video on Youtube about the Gospels, then join us in reading the verses this week:

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.

 

Easter Sunday (4/9)

Proclaim:

Rejoice, heavenly powers!

Sing, choirs of angels!

Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! (United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 372)

 

Pray:

O Lord, your wondrous birth means nothing unless we are born again,

your death and sacrifice mean nothing unless we die to sin, your resurrection means nothing if you be risen alone.

Raise and exalt us, O Savior, both now to the estate of grace and hereafter to the state of glory; where with the Father and Holy Spirit

you live and reign, God for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Worship 392)

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 28:19-20

*You are encouraged to memorize a verse or verses each week of this season of Lent. You can memorize the version listed below or from some other translation:

 

Jesus said, “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

 

Read Matthew 28:1-15, the account of Jesus’ resurrection, then PRAY in response to our resurrected Savior.

 

 

Monday (4/10)

Proclaim:

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! (Book of Worship 386)

 

Pray:

Almighty God, through your only Son you overcame death

and opened to us the gate of everlasting life.

Grant that we who celebrate our Lord’s resurrection,

by the renewing of your Spirit,

arise from the death of sin to life of righteousness;

through the same Jesus our Lord. Amen. (Book of Worship 393)

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 28:19-20

You can memorize the version listed below or from some other translation:

 

Jesus said, “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

 

Read Matthew 28:16-20, the commissioning of the disciples. If you did not read the previous verses from this chapter, read verses 1 through 19 before reading the verses for today.

 

Listen to the song “The Commission” by the band CAIN either using the link below for the YouTube video or using a music streaming service.

“The Commission” by CAIN

 

PRAY in response to the resurrected Jesus and the commission he has given us.

 

 

Tuesday (4/11)

Proclaim:

For Judah’s Lion bursts his chains,

Crushing the serpent’s head;

And cries aloud through death’s domains

To wake the imprisoned dead. (Book of Worship 388)

 

Pray:

Lord of Life, submitting to death, you conquered the grave.

By being lifted on a cross you draw all people to you.

By being raised from the dead

you restored to humanity all that we had lost through sin.

Throughout these fifty days of Easter

we proclaim the marvelous mystery of death and resurrection.

For all praise is yours, now and throughout eternity. Amen. (Book of Worship 394)

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 28:19-20

*Read the Memory Verses a few times as part of this devotional time.

 

Listen to Matthew 5:1-7:29, the Sermon on the Mount. Listen to Jesus’ entire sermon all at once. You can do this for FREE using a translation of the Bible that includes the audio version on the YouVersion Bible App or via BibleGateway.com. Listen to it as you imagine hearing Jesus preaching it to you. The link for the Bible Gateway audio Bible is listed below. Use the drop-down menus to select “Matthew” and “chapter 5”:

 

Be silent for a few minutes letting Jesus’ sermon sink deeply into your heart and mind after listening to it. Which words, phrases, or parts of the sermon stand out?

 

PRAY in response to Jesus and his sermon.

 

 

Wednesday (4/12)

Proclaim:

Rejoice, heavenly powers!

Sing, choirs of angels!

Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! (United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 372)

 

Pray:

O Lord, your wondrous birth means nothing unless we are born again,

your death and sacrifice mean nothing unless we die to sin, your resurrection means nothing if you be risen alone.

Raise and exalt us, O Savior, both now to the estate of grace and hereafter to the state of glory; where with the Father and Holy Spirit

you live and reign, God for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Worship 392)

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 28:19-20

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

 

Read Matthew 10:1-16, Jesus sending the twelve disciples out to do what he had been doing. Keep in mind that sending them out took place during Jesus’ three year ministry, before his crucifixion and resurrection. It was an opportunity for them to learn and grow as Jesus’ apprentices. If you have a Study Bible you may find it helpful to use the study notes as you read. How does Jesus’ message to the twelve apply to us today, the 21st-century disciples of Christ?

 

PRAY the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it, or using the version in Matthew 6:9-13.

 

 

Thursday (4/13)

Proclaim:

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! (Book of Worship 386)

 

Pray:

Almighty God, through your only Son you overcame death

and opened to us the gate of everlasting life.

Grant that we who celebrate our Lord’s resurrection,

by the renewing of your Spirit,

arise from the death of sin to life of righteousness;

through the same Jesus our Lord. Amen. (Book of Worship 393)

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 28:19-20

*Read the Memory Verses a few times today.

 

Read Matthew 22:37-40, the Greatest Commandments.

 

Listen to the song “The Greatest Commandment” by The Porter’s Gate either using the link below for the YouTube video or using a music streaming service. “The Greatest Commandment” by The Porter’s Gate via Integrity Worship www.youtube.com/watch?v=pElUWTNsYXU

 

PRAY in response to Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and the greatest of all the 613 commandments from the Torah (first 5 books of the Old Testament).

 

 

Friday (4/14)

Proclaim:

For Judah’s Lion bursts his chains,

Crushing the serpent’s head;

And cries aloud through death’s domains

To wake the imprisoned dead. (Book of Worship 388)

 

Pray:

Lord of Life, submitting to death, you conquered the grave.

By being lifted on a cross you draw all people to you.

By being raised from the dead

you restored to humanity all that we had lost through sin.

Throughout these fifty days of Easter

we proclaim the marvelous mystery of death and resurrection.

For all praise is yours, now and throughout eternity. Amen. (Book of Worship 394)

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 28:19-20

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them today.

 

Read Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission, again. Think about what the

commission reveals and how we, Jesus’ followers, are supposed to fulfill it? Are you striving to fulfill Jesus’ commission? If not, why?

 

Listen to the song “The Commission” again either using the link below for the YouTube video or using a music streaming service.

“The Commission” by CAIN

 

PRAY inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you, the people of Avon UMC, and Christians throughout the world to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission.

 

 

Saturday (4/15)

During the morning, READ Matthew 28:19-20, the memory verses for this past week. If you have not memorized them, spend some time this weekend trying to memorize Jesus’ Great Commission.

 

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.

 

During the morning, READ Matthew 28:1-10. As the two ladies encountered the resurrected Jesus the first Easter morning, Matthew wants us to know that when they saw Christ, “they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him” (Matt. 28:1, 9 NRSV). Our Sabbath theme for today is “WORSHIP.”

• How are you going to go to our resurrected Savior today and this weekend to be with him? Through prayer, solitude, and silence, being with the church, or some other way?

 

• How are you going to take hold of Jesus today and when you observe the Sabbath? Perhaps you could use a prayer cross as you pray, a pocket cross with you throughout the day, or something else that you can physically touch that reminds you of Christ.

 

• How are you going to intentionally worship Jesus today and this weekend? By singing to him, making a joyful noise, and thanking him? By bowing down or kneeling before him as you pray and praise Him?

 

• When you attend a worship service this weekend, look for Jesus within the faces and presence of the people of the church (the body of Christ). Also look for Jesus in the faces of the hungry, thirsty, strangers, those in need of clothing, the sick, and prisoners whenever you are with them (Matthew 25:34-40).

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend ten, twenty, or thirty minutes alone with Jesus 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.

 

Spend some time worshiping Jesus. You may find it helpful to listen to a hymn or praise song that you know so that you can sing along or playing music and singing if you are a musician.

 

PRAY and live in response to Christ Jesus today.

 

 

During the afternoon or evening, READ Psalm 95:1-7 as a reminder of ways we can worship King Jesus:

• sing to him
• make a joyful noise
• offer thanksgiving
• bow down
• kneel before him
• submit to him as Lord
• listen to him

 

PRAY in response to our Christ. You may find it helpful to use the words from the verses you read. Consider singing, making a joyful noise, offering thanks, bowing, or kneeling as you pray, then submit to Jesus and listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit upon your heart and mind.

 

At the end of the day before you go to sleep, READ Romans 12:1-2 as a reminder to offer your body and life as a living sacrifice for God as an act of ongoing worship.