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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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?
Read more...
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
Read more...
Living Faith Devotional 71
|
Read more...
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?
Read more...
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?
Read more...
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.
Read more...
Living Faith Devotional 67
6/2 – 6/8
“I choose joy” is a statement in the song “Joy” by the Christian group For King and Country. What about you? Are you choosing to rejoice and give thanks even when circumstances are not what you had planned or hoped they would be? Through the Spirit of the Lord we have God’s JOY in us. We can choose to cultivate that joy within us, in our families, in the church, in the community, and beyond. Will you help us to cultivate joy?
This week clergy and laity representing more than 600 United Methodist congregations throughout the state of Indiana, including pastors and two lay delegates from AUMC, will meet in Indianapolis to worship the Triune God and pray together, reconnect and enjoy fellowship, learn, encourage one another, celebrate Bishop Trimble’s decades of ministry and retirement, while focusing on organizational tasks and responsibilities of the denomination within this state and conference. Throughout the week, please pray for safe travels, humble Christ-like attitudes and collaboration among attendees, and the work of the Indiana Annual Conference. The theme this year is “Cultivate Joy” based on Romans 15:13. Because of the Annual Conference theme, the focus for the Living Faith Devotional this week will be “JOY.”
Read more...
Living Faith Devotional 66
5/26 – 6/1
If you had to describe God to someone who knew nothing about the Lord, what would you say? Would you talk about God as creator, or that he is our heavenly Father? Would you describe Jesus as God’s Son, our Savior, and the image of the invisible God (John 3:18; 4:42; Colossians 1:15)? Would you tell them about the ongoing presence, empowerment, and work of the Holy Spirit? John the Elder, the author of 1, 2, and 3 John in the New Testament, describes the Lord as “light” and “love” (1 John 1:5, 4:8). When Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Who do you say I am,” the apostle answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16 NIV). After Jesus’ ascension, on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came as God’s presence among the believers gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem in the form of a mighty wind, tongues of fire, and the Lord’s power within them (Acts 2:1-4). Jesus had told them during his ministry that “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John 14:26 NRSV). Jesus assured them that the Holy Spirit would be with them forever (John 14:16). That assurance applies to us, today, as well. The Father, Son, and Spirit are among and with us now, and will be forever. God’s ultimate plan is to have his home with us, and for us to be with the Lord throughout eternity (John 14:23; Revelation 21:3).
Read more...