Your Faith Journey 25
Your Faith Journey
Worship God – Matthew 28:8-9 reveals that when Mary Magdalene and another Mary saw the resurrected Jesus on Easter morning near the empty tomb where he had been buried, they ran to him, bowed, and placed their hands upon his feet, then worshipped him.Who or what are you bowing towards and worshiping?
Connect & Grow in a Group – Join Pastor Rob, Pastor Mike, and Patsy Fleener to learn the basic beliefs of Christianity as part of the What Christians Believe short-term study. You can join the group on Sunday mornings at 11:00 am in Room 200/201. Room 200/201 is at the north end of the building across from the gym/multipurpose room.
Develop as a Disciple – At AUMC, we are striving to be disciples of Christ committed to the few things that matter most. We categorize these things as the 5 Key Commitments, which are expressions of loving God, self, and others. With that in mind, AUMC disciples of Christ Worship God, Connect & Grow in Groups, Serve & Give to Meet Needs, Invest in the Disconnected & Invite Them to Believe, and Develop & Deploy Disciples. If you’re unsure which commitment to focus on right now, simply pray, “God, which commitment do I need to focus on this week? Enabled by your grace and empowered by your Spirit, help me to do what you want me to do to grow more mature as 21st-century disciple of Jesus. Amen.”
Your Faith Journey 24
Your Faith Journey
Worship – Attending worship services regularly helps you worship God instead of something or someone else. Listening to faith-based music and attending Christian concerts helps during the days you are not attending worship services.
Connect & Grow in a Group – Join Pastor Rob, Pastor Mike, and Patsy Fleener to learn the basic beliefs of Christianity beginning TODAY to explore What Christians Believe, and learn why. You can join the group on Sunday mornings (4/28-6/16) at 11:00 am in Room 200/201. Room 200/201 is at the north end of the building across from the Multi-Purpose Room.
Develop – If you want to know God more clearly, get to know his son, Jesus. You can start by designating a time and place to be alone with Him praying and studying scripture on a daily basis. Consider reading the eyewitness account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in the New Testament of the Bible known as Mark, or a daily devotional. Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling and Jesus Always are both great options for daily devotionals to help you connect your heart, mind, and spirit with the living Christ through the Spirit of God.
Your Faith Journey 23
Your Faith Journey
Worship – We encourage you to join us again for Sunday morning worship services and try listening to a Christian music radio station in your car as you drive (101.9, 97.9, or 90.5).
Connect & Grow in a Group – Join Pastor Rob and others for a 6-session small group experience beginning next weekend to explore What Christians Believe, and learn why. You can join the group on Sunday mornings at 11:00 am in Room 200/201, beginning on April 28th.
Develop – Consider either reading the book 3:16 – The Numbers of Hope by Max Lucado to unpack the significance of the most famous Bible verse, or What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren to help you understand the purpose of your life. Both books are available to borrow from the AUMC library at the back of the Chapel on the “Christian Life” bookshelves. You can purchase the books from ChristianBook.com or Amazon.
Your Faith Journey 22
Your Faith Journey
Worship God – Read John 12:12-18. Do you acknowledge Jesus as the king of your life? If so, how is your belief part of the way you worship him?
Invest & Invite – Who is the person you’re going to invite to an Easter worship service? Pray that God will prepare them to receive the invitation. Ask the Lord to enable them to recognize the prompting of the Holy Spirit within their heart and mind when the message is shared about the resurrection of our Savior on Easter morning.
Develop as a Disciple – Jesus said, “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit…” (John 15:5b NLT) Do you see the fruit (results) of an intimate connection with Jesus within your life? If not, set aside time to be alone with Jesus each day as a helpful next step along your faith journey. During your alone time, pray (talk to God) and invite Jesus to speak to you through his words and actions recorded in Mark Chapters 14 – 16 this week.
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Your Faith Journey
Worship God – The apostle Paul wrote, “I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (Romans 12:1 NLT). Worshiping God is about your entire life, not how you spend one hour each week. Are you offering all that you are to God?
Connect & Grow in a Group – We have a new group at Avon UMC beginning this Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 pm. It is the Agape Support Group, a confidential support group of individuals with common experiences and concerns for LGBTQIA, family, and friends, to provide emotional, spiritual, and compassionate support. The group will be facilitated by Suzanne Conger in Conference Room 2 (near the Chapel). If you are unable to attend on April 11th, you’re welcome to join the group on April 25th at 7:00 pm.
Develop as a Disciple – Jesus said, “…let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16 NLT). Pray for God to reveal opportunities for you to be His light in the lives of others each day this week. Look for ways to do good, then seize the chances you have each day to do something to bless, encourage, or help someone else. “You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:14 NLT).
Your Faith Journey 20
Your Faith Journey
Worship God – Jesus said, “love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 NLT). Worshiping God includes your attitude, thoughts, and how your life is lived in response to God’s love. He loves you. Do you love God?
Connect & Grow in a Group – Do you know the basic beliefs of Christianity? Consider joining Pastor Rob for a 6-session small group experience beginning the last Sunday of April to explore What Christians Believe and learn why. You can join the group on Sunday mornings (4/28-6/2) at 11:00 am in Room 200/201 across from the Gym/Multi-purpose Room.
Develop as a Disciple – What is the Holy Habit (spiritual discipline) that you need to begin in these final weeks leading to Easter? Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)? Praying (Matthew 7:7-11)? Studying what Jesus said and did, and living according to what you learn (Matthew 7:24-27)? Jesus instructed the apostle John to, “write in a book everything you see” (Revelation 1:11). Perhaps you should start writing down the ways you experience God working in your life within a journal. Mark 4:38 reveals that Jesus was sleeping on a boat while he and the disciples sailed through a storm. Do you need some rest? Maybe you need to schedule a day of rest and recreation each week.
Your Faith Journey 19
Your Faith Journey
Worship God – Read John 12:1-11. Are you willing to humble yourself as a servant of our Savior and give extravagantly to the Son of God as an act of worshiping Jesus?
Invest in the Disconnected – In John 4, we discover that Jesus crossed social and religious boundaries to interact with a Samaritan woman at a well. First century Jews despised Samaritans, yet Jesus intentionally went to her village and waited at a well to talk to her. Men didn’t speak to women without the presence of another man during Jesus’ day and time, yet Christ ignored the social norms to transform the woman’s life. By transforming one woman’s life, God changed the lives of others by connecting them to Christ. “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him (Jesus) because of the woman’s testimony.” – John 4:39 NIV
Develop as a Disciple – Jesus said, “This is how my Father shows who he is…when you mature as my disciples.” -John 15:8 MSG As you take steps to grow and mature as a disciple, others will see more and more of Jesus within you. With that in mind, what are you going to do this week to be more like Jesus?
Your Faith Journey 18
Your Faith Journey
Worship God – After 40 days in the dessert, the devil tried to tempt Jesus. Satan invited Christ to worship him, but Jesus quickly replied, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” (Luke 4:8 NIV). What person or thing is drawing your focus away from worshiping God? What are you going to do about it?
Worship God – After 40 days in the dessert, the devil tried to tempt Jesus. Satan invited Christ to worship him, but Jesus quickly replied, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” (Luke 4:8 NIV). What person or thing is drawing your focus away from worshiping God? What are you going to do about it?
Give – John 6:8-13 reveals that a young boy gave five loaves of bread and two fish to one of Jesus’ disciples. Christ took the food, “gave thanks to God,” and had the disciples give the food to a crowd of thousands of people. There was more than enough for everyone to eat. What are you willing to give to Jesus this week to meet the needs of others in a miraculous way?
Develop as a Disciple – Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT).
Are you walking in the light or stumbling in the darkness? Are you following Jesus?
Are you walking in the light or stumbling in the darkness? Are you following Jesus?
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Your Faith Journey Worship God – A Samaritan woman asked Jesus, “Why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place to worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim?” (John 4:20 NLT) Have you ever assumed that weekend worship services at a church are the only place to worship God? Read John 4:21-24 to see Jesus’ reply to the Samaritan woman.
Invest in the Disconnected – There is a person in your circle of influence, a family member, friend, co-worker, or neighbor, who is disconnected from Christ. They need you to invest in them. They need you to be the flesh and blood presence of Jesus in their life. Will you spend the time, use the energy, and make an ongoing effort to be a bridge between the person in need within your circle of influence and their Savior?
Develop as a Disciple – During the 40 days of Lent you’re encouraged to point your life towards Jesus and grow closer to Him. Lent is a season – 40 days, not including Sundays–of acknowledging our sins, seeking forgiveness, denying ourselves, renewing our commitment to Christ through spiritual disciplines (holy habits), and striving to become more like Jesus daily. You’re encouraged to choose a book, a devotional, or a gospel account from the Bible to read daily during Lent which begins on March 6th (Ash Wednesday). You can find a list of recommended resources in the March edition of the AUMC Flame newsletter or at the Welcome Desk.
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Worship – Continue joining us for weekly worship services on Sunday mornings and watch online through the website at www.avonumc.com if you can’t be here. Click “Livestream” to watch the services live on Sunday morning, or select the “Worship Videos” tab to watch previous messages. Serve & Give – We are collecting stuffed animals throughout the month of January for children undergoing surgery and radiology at Hendricks Regional Hospital in Danville. Please place a NEW stuffed animal on the altar rail in the Chapel or Sanctuary by the end of the month to help comfort and ease the concerns of a child at HRH. Develop – When you’re unsure about which way to go and what to do during various stages of life and on your faith journey, Christ reminds us, “I am the way” (John 14:6), so “come, follow me.” Jesus invites each of us to continue following Him to progress towards maturity and fruitfulness as faithful followers. Follow Him mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Pray for Christ to reveal what you need to start doing this week, this month, or this year, to grow as His disciple and faithfully follow Him. Remember that believers are empowered by the Spirit of God to do what He calls us to do and become who He created us to be.