4/16-4/22 Overview

Jesus’ earliest disciples had a living relationship with the holy scriptures. Those of us who are Jesus’ apprentices today need a living relationship with The Holy Bible too. As part of our living relationship with the Bible we are reading and studying the New Testament in 2023. This Living Faith Devotional will provide you with a reading plan to help you to read and study much of the New Testament this year. During the Lenten season of the past few months, we read and studied The Gospel According to Matthew. This week we will read the resurrection account from Luke’s Gospel, then move into the companion volume known as Acts or The Acts of the Apostles. You are encouraged to watch The Bible Project video about the New Testament either on Sunday or some other day during the week to provide a brief overview of this portion of the holy scriptures. The video is available on YouTube. New Testament by The Bible Project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0BrP8bqj0c

 

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. Are you using a Study Bible?

A Study Bible is a very helpful tool for understanding each book of the Bible. They include 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 (4/16)

Read the verse below from Psalm 16 to prepare yourself for time with the Lord:

You make known to me the path of life;

you fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand. – Psalm 16:11 NIV

 

Read Matthew 6:24 as a reminder that today you have a choice to make. Whom or what will you serve? You are invited to join the people of Avon UMC in worshiping our God as we seek to set the Lord at the center of our lives and respond to his love by praising, thanking, and serving Him. What is a practical way you will serve God instead of money today?

 

Living Faith:

Prayer – You will have daily opportunities to experience communion with the Lord, which includes being aware of his presence and hearing his message to you, bearing your soul to Him, and interceding on behalf of others. We call these opportunities “prayer.”

 

Presence – The message of God wanting to be with us is shared throughout The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. One of the ways we intentionally live our faith and love God and others is by being as fully present with them as possible. When you are seeking to be with God or people, try removing or ignoring potential distractions to be as fully present as possible.

 

Gifts – Remember what Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35 NIV). You can express your love for God and others this week by giving to them.

 

Service – Serving God by serving others is an expression of love. You can serve family members, friends, neighbors, members of the congregation, and co-workers. How will you serve God by serving others today and this week?

 

Witness – Even though we weren’t with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, or face to face with the resurrected Christ and the disciples, we are witnesses of what God has done in our lives and within the lives of others. What if someone your path crosses this week needs to be told what you have heard, seen, or experienced in regards to the Lord? You can be a witness on behalf of Jesus this week.

 

PRAY with or for those who are gathering together throughout the world to worship the God revealed in and through the crucified and resurrected Jesus. Invite the living God to make his presence known to you today as you offer yourself to him as a humble act of worship.

 

 

Monday (4/17)

Read the verse below from Psalm 16 to prepare yourself for time with the Lord:

You make known to me the path of life;

you fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand. – Psalm 16:11 NIV

 

You are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about The New Testament to understand it more clearly before reading the verses today. The video is available on YouTube:

New Testament by the Bible Project:

 

Read Luke 24:1-12, the beginning of the gospel writer’s account of Jesus’ resurrection. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray through your day, including for the people you will be with, or have been with, as well as what you will do, or what you have done.

 

 

Tuesday (4/18)

Read Psalm 16:11 to prepare your heart for time with our God.

 

Be silent for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord as you seek to be with him, the One who is the source of life. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, kneel, or walk during this time of being intentionally present with the Lord.

 

Read Luke 24:13-35. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Overview portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick,

imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)

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

 

 

Wednesday (4/19)

Read Psalm 16:11 to prepare yourself for time with the Lord.

 

Read Luke 24:36-53. Which word, phrase, or verse is the Holy Spirit using to speak to you today? How does Jesus’ message to the disciples apply to you and other Christians here and now?

 

Pray however the Holy Spirit is guiding you to pray.

 

 

Thursday (4/20)

Read Psalm 16:11 to focus your heart and mind on the Lord.

 

You are encouraged to watch the first of two Bible Project video summaries of the book of Acts to understand it more clearly before reading the verses today. The video is available on YouTube:

Book of Acts Summary (Part 1) by the Bible Project:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGbNw855ksw

 

Read Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-5 and notice how the two accounts written by the same author have very similar introductions. If you are using a Study Bible, you may find it helpful to read the Introduction to Acts as well as the study notes.

 

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

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (4/21)

Read Psalm 16:11 to seek to center yourself in God.

 

If you have not already, you are encouraged to watch a Bible Project video summary of the book of Acts to understand it more clearly before reading the verses today. The video is available on YouTube:

Book of Acts Summary (Part 1) by the Bible Project:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGbNw855ksw

 

Read Acts 1:6-11. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Overview portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray that the Lord helps you and our congregation to faithfully follow the Spirit of Christ wherever He guides us as we seek to live the AUMC virtues revealed in Jesus: Humility, Compassion, Forgiveness, Love

 

 

Saturday (4/22)

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.

 

You may find it helpful to 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 delighting in the Lord.

 

During the morning READ Psalm 37:3-4 remembering that our Sabbath theme for today is “DELIGHT.” You are encouraged to either spend some time using the following questions to guide you through a time of journaling, thinking through your responses, or use them for a discussion with a family member or friend:

• What is a way you can express your trust in the Lord today?

 

• What opportunities will you have to do good for others today either with your words or actions? Go enjoy being a blessing to others!

 

• What security and safety are you able to enjoy because of the Lord and where you live?

 

• Enjoy being with Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit, while being mindful about delighting in the life and blessings the Lord has given us.

 

Solitude and Silence. 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.

 

PRAY allowing the verses you read to guide your prayer.

 

During the afternoon or evening READ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, which is a reminder of God’s will for us.

 

PRAY allowing the verses you read to guide your prayer as you rejoice and give thanks.