Living Faith Devotional 77
8/11-8/17 Matthew’s Gospel Reading Plan
Introduction
If you compiled a greatest hits version of Jesus’ teachings, what would you include? For Matthew, the gospel writer, he includes all that is in the Sermon on the Mount. According to author and professor Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, the Sermon on the Mount provides us with a guide for understanding the kingdom of heaven. Jesus began his ministry by proclaiming that “the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). He taught his disciples to pray about God’s kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10-11 NRSV). He embodied the kingdom of heaven through his life, ministry, death and resurrection. This week this Living Faith Devotional will guide us to read Jesus’ entire sermon from Matthew 5-7, which is the basis for the Avon UMC worship and small group series during August and September.
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Living Faith Devotional 76
8/4-8/10 Matthew’s Gospel Reading Plan
Introduction
As Jesus’ ministry began he proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17 NRSV). In the next chapter of Matthew’s Gospel Jesus went up on a mountain, sat with his followers, and began teaching them (Matthew 5:1-2). The sermon Christ spoke to the disciples on the mountain in Galilee shortly after his ministry began is often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. According to author and professor Amy-Jill Levine,
the Sermon on the Mount provides us with a guide for understanding the kingdom of heaven that Jesus proclaimed. Levine also believes that the sermon contains some of Jesus’ greatest teachings. During August and September the AUMC Sunday morning worship services, as well as small group discussions, will be based upon Levine’s book and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
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Living Faith Devotional 75
7/28 – 8/3
During the months of June and July we as a congregation have been on a journey through part of the book of Acts studying the life and ministry of the apostle Paul, as well as some of the letters he wrote to churches and first-century Christians. The end of the book of Acts ends with this message, Paul “lived there” under house arrest in Rome “two whole years…and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:30-31 NRSV). After his imprisonment in Rome Paul may have continued traveling for another year or so before returning to Rome as a prisoner yet again. As the end of his life was daring near as he was awaiting execution while imprisoned in the capital city of the empire, Paul wrote one final letter to his protege, Timothy. To conclude the Blinding Light series, we will read most of 2 Timothy this week to receive Paul’s final message for us. In adding to those chapters and verses, we will as also read other New Testament chapter and verses as reminders to continue living our faith in Christ and sharing the good news of Jesus, and God’s Kingdom, no matter what hardships we may face for being Christians.
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Living Faith Devotional 74
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.
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Living Faith Devotional 73
7/14 – 7/20
Saul of Tarsus, better known as the apostle Paul, traveled throughout the Roman Empire during his missionary journeys proclaiming the Good News about Jesus and inviting hearers to respond to God’s grace through faith in Christ. He and his traveling companions introduced countless people to the Savior of the world by sharing the gospel message wherever they went. As part of their ministry, they also strengthened and encouraged believers, planted new churches, as well as appointed and trained leaders. Paul is credited with either writing, dictating, or significantly influencing 13 of the letters in the New Testament of the Bible. His story is shared within 17 of the 24 chapters in the book of Acts. For nearly 2,000 years the disciples of Christ and people of other faith traditions throughout the world have been influenced by the life, ministry, teachings, and Spirit-inspired letters of the persecutor of Jesus’ church who became the most influential Christian to ever live.
Just as Paul knew about the issues, challenges, joys, and concerns of the Jesus followers during the middle of the first century in Colossae, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Philippi, Rome, Thessalonica, and elsewhere, imagine if Paul knew our struggles and opportunities in Avon and Greater Hendricks County too. What if Paul wrote a letter to us, the Christians here in Avon, Brownsburg, Danville, Plainfield, and the west side of Indianapolis? What messages would the apostle include within his letter to us?
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Living Faith Devotional 72
7/7 – 7/13
As we continue through the Blinding Light: Lessons from the Life of the Apostle Paul sermon series, this week the Living Faith Devotional will guide us to read and study Acts 15 and 16. The format of this plan is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day. 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
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Living Faith Devotional 71
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Living Faith Devotional 70
6/23 – 6/29
Acts 15:36-41 describes the beginning of the season when Barnabas and Saul had a falling out and were no longer doing ministry together as missionaries. Before Acts 15 they spent a year together preaching, teaching, and leading the church in Antioch, as well as another year in partnership traveling through various parts of the Roman Empire evangelizing, planting churches, and doing ministry. Although we don’t know how the two of them felt after they parted ways, it is reasonable to assume that there was mourning that took place because of the change in their relationship. Who comes to mind when you think about a falling out or parting ways regarding a relationship you have or had? Someone from the congregation? A friend? A family member?
After Acts 15 Barnabas is not mentioned again in the book of Acts. Did he and Paul ever experience reconciliation? The New Testament documents don’t provide an answer. Often in life we have opportunities to learn from mistakes, failures, and hardships. Perhaps the apostle Paul wrote, “do all that you can to live in peace with everyone,” as he thought about his relationship with Barnabas, wishing that he had done more to seek reconciliation with his brother in Christ (Romans 12:18 NLT). What do you need to do this week to seek reconciliation with the person or people God brought to mind?
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Living Faith Devotional 69
6/16 – 6/22
Like us, the apostle Paul had times and seasons of need. He specifically notes in his letter to Christians in Philippi, “You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once” (Philippians 4:15-16 NRSV). Perhaps their message to Paul might have been, “Help is on the Way.”
How has God provided for your needs in the past? Paul reminds us in Philippians that he received help from the people of Jesus’ church. How have the people of Jesus’ church helped you? The help we need can change depending on the season we are in. What help do you need right now?
In addition to God providing for us, he uses us to care for and meet the needs of others. So, who needs help from you? Paul believed that, “God will fully satisfy every need…according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NRSV). In what ways is God seeking to satisfy needs through us, the people of Avon UMC?
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Living Faith Devotional 68
6/9 – 6/15
Jesus said, “I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness” (John 12:46 NRSV). Saul of Tarsus was a devout Pharisee who tried to stop Jesus’ church from spreading in the years shortly after the resurrected Savior’s ascension. It was as if Saul was trying to extinguish Jesus’ light in the world. His efforts included approving of those who killed the first Christian martyr named Stephen (Acts 8:1). Yet Saul’s life was transformed when he encountered the blinding light of Jesus while traveling to Damascus to arrest disciples of Christ. As he and his companions were engulfed by “a light from heaven, brighter than the sun,” Jesus’ voice came from within the light and told Saul, “I am sending you to open…eyes so that they (Jews and Gentiles) may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:13, 17-18 NRSV). A few days after his conversion a devout man of faith in Damascus named Ananias shared this message with Saul on behalf of the Lord, “the God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice; for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 22:14-15 NRSV). In response to his encounter with Jesus and the Lord’s message shared through Ananias, Saul was baptized and became an apostle of Christ.
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