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Your Faith Journey
Developing & Deploying Disciples – What a huge responsibility God gives parents and grandparents to care for, raise, protect, and teach children. The words of wisdom from Proverbs remind us to, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NLT). Jesus said that, “I am the Road.” (John 14:6 MSG). Christ is the “right path” to direct our children towards. The most effective way for us to connect children to Christ is to be living examples by faithfully following him and surrounding them with others who are also committed Christians. We are made to “make disciples” within the church as a gathering of believers working together to direct our children into the abundant life Christ offers, so that “when they are older, they will not leave it.”
Heavenly Father, we give you our children. It is humbling to think about the fact that you love them even more than we do. With your Spirit empowering us, guide them in the way that they should go so that when they grow older they continue to faithfully follow Jesus as his disciples. As we sow seeds of truth, and water what has been sewn, bring forth a harvest according to your perfect timing. Expand your kingdom within the hearts of our children, in our homes, neighborhoods, community, state, nation, and across the world. Amen.
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Your Faith Journey
Serve & Give – Jesus referred to himself as the “Son of Man,” and said, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 NIV). As Jesus’ 21st-century disciples, we believe in him as Savior, submit to his lordship, and follow his example as the Holy Spirit transforms us more and more into His likeness. Serving and Giving to Meet Needs are one of the key commitments of Christians. Look for opportunities to Serve & Give to Meet Needs as a way of putting love into action this week within your home, among your neighbors, at work, with friends, and wherever you go.
Develop as a Disciple – Below are three questions to help guide you on your faith journey. You’re encouraged to pray for God’s wisdom and discernment as you answer them.
- What do I need to stop doing so that I have more time and energy to focus on personally developing as a disciple of Christ?
- What do I need to start doing to become a more mature Jesus follower?
- Who am I intentionally investing in to help them grow and mature as a disciple? A child/grandchild? A niece or nephew? A friend, co-worker, or neighbor? Who?
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Your Faith Journey
Serve & Give – Below are various ways to put love into action by serving & giving to meet needs in July as we continue Caring for Our Community:
1. Serve homeless families in Hendricks County through our partnership with Family Promise as we host three families in the AUMC parsonage June 30th through July 7th. We need help providing dinners, folks to spend evenings with the families, and overnight volunteers to stay at the parsonage in case of an emergency. Visit the AUMC website to sign up to serve!
2. Invest in the children of our church and community as part of Vacation Bible School from July 8th through 12th by going to the church website to sign up at: www.avonumc.com. There are many ways to be involved and serve! June 30th is the final day for online registration. Visit the donation board in the gathering place outside the sanctuary to find a sticky note with needed items that you can donate.
Invest – 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?
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Your Faith Journey
Pastor Larry’s Final Sunday
Worship God – In his letter known as 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul was trying to help Christians to avoid chaotic or disorderly gatherings, as well as instructing them to be sensitive to unbelievers. Paul encourage the Corinthians that when “unbelievers…come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin…their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, ‘God is truly here among you.’” (1 Cor. 14:24-25 NLT). Let us focus upon worshiping God during our time together, as we enjoy the supernatural communion and fellowship of being with brothers and sisters in Christ as we’re aware and sensitive to unbelievers. Lord, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit transform lives.
Develop as a Disciple – What is the Holy Habit (spiritual discipline) that you need to begin or re-start this summer? 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 in a journal the ways you experience God working in your life. 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 this summer.
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Your Faith Journey – Father’s Day
Serve & Give – Below are various ways to put love into action by serving and giving to meet needs this summer as we continue Caring for Our Community:
- Serve homeless families in Hendricks County through our partnership with Family Promise as we host three families in the AUMC parsonage June 30th through July 7th. Visit the AUMC website to sign up.
- Invest in the children of our church and community as part of Vacation Bible School from July 8th through 12th by going to the church website to sign up at www.avonumc.com.
Pray for Our Missionaries – We have nearly 50 people from AUMC serving as the hands, feet, and presence of Christ during short-term mission trips this month. You can help support their efforts by praying the following prayer daily for the teams: Lord, empowered by your Spirit, we are the body of Christ here and now. Use the hands, feet, and voices of your servants from Avon UMC sent into the harvest fields on behalf of our Savior to do good for your glory. Bless the representatives of our church on mission trips to be blessings. Touch the lives of everyone who crosses paths with them during their journey. Give the missionaries, and those they serve, eyes to see Christ in the faces of one another. Protect and guide the teams as you fulfill your will through their work and lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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Your Faith Journey
Day of Pentecost
Day of Pentecost
Invest in the Disconnected – Acts 8 reveals that Philip, one of the twelve disciples, was escaping persecution and hid among the Samaritan people. While there he relied upon the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to do miraculous things for the Samaritans as a way to prepare them to receive the message about the source of his power, Jesus Christ. It’s time for Jesus’ 21st-century disciples in Avon to rely upon the Spirit of the living God to do what only He can do in us, through us, and for others. As hearts and minds become prepared for receiving Christ, then we can effectively share the Good News to transform lives.
Develop as a Disciple – A “disciple” of Jesus is a faithful follower of Christ who has placed their faith in Him as Savior and is continuing to surrender more of their life to His lordship. A disciple of Jesus becomes more and more like Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit, personal choices, and holy habits. If you are a Christian, how would you describe this season of your journey as a disciple of Christ? Are you becoming more like Jesus or drifting further from Him? If you’re drifting, what small habit do you need to start to begin growing closer to Christ?
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Worship God – Are you in a season or phase of your faith journey worshiping God more or less frequently? If you’re worshiping less frequently, what small habit do you need to start doing to worship more frequently? You could listen to Christian or worship music daily, attend Christian concerts throughout the summer, or attend a worship service weekly. Perhaps you need to stop doing something so that you have time to start the new habit that will enable you to worship God more often.
Serve & Give – Below are various ways to put love into action by serving & giving to meet needs this summer as we continue Caring for Our Community:
- Serve lunch to the hungry and homeless at Robert’s Park UMC in Indy on June 9th by signing up at the Welcome Desk or on the Mission’s bulletin board.
- Serve homeless families in Hendricks County through our partnership with Family Promise as we host three families in the AUMC parsonage June 30th – July 7th. Visit the AUMC website to sign up.
- Invest in the children of our church and community as part of Vacation Bible School from July 8th – 12th by going to the church website to sign up at www.avonumc.com.
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Your Faith Journey
Worship God – Acts 2:46 reveals that the earliest Christians were so full of joy, awe, and gratitude for everything that God had done that they worshiped daily. We can follow their example by worshiping God throughout the week when we are working, at home, in the car, as well as at AUMC during worship services.
Invest in the Disconnected – Who is your family member, friend, co-worker, or neighbor that doesn’t believe in God or is disconnected from church, yet God wants you to foster a deeper relationship with them so that they can take a step closer to Jesus with your help? Consider inviting that person or those people to share meals with you and your spouse, or friends, this summer.
Develop as a Disciple – It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the never-ending lists of things to do. Jesus explained that loving God, self, and others are more important than anything else on your to-do-list (Matthew 22:34-40). With that in mind, what things are you giving up to do what matters most? Perhaps you need to create a “stop doing list.” Bob Goff, the author of Love Does, quits doing something each Thursday. Maybe you should too.
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Your Faith Journey
Worship God – In Acts 13, we read that as multiple church leaders in Antioch were fasting and worshiping together one day the Holy Spirit spoke to them. Do you come to worship services expecting God to reveal a message to you through the Holy Spirit?
Serve & Give to Meet Needs – Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan illustrates the Key Commitment of Serving & Giving to Meet Needs as an expression of loving others (Luke 10). Look for your opportunity to serve others and give to bless those in need this week. Maybe one of your neighbors where you live needs you to take the time to see their need and meet it.
Develop as a Disciple – As a disciples of Jesus, learn from those ahead of you on their faith journey, encourage Christians walking beside you, and guide new believers behind you. You only need to be a step ahead of the person behind you to lead them towards Christ. Remember that you can’t lead others where you are not going. To lead others to grow closer to Christ, you have to be following Him and growing closer to Him.
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Your Faith Journey
Worship God – Matthew 28:16-17 reveals that when Jesus’ disciples saw their resurrected teacher, friend, Messiah, and Savior on the mountain in Galilee where he had told them to go, “they worshiped him.” Where is Jesus telling you to go? When do you feel closest to Christ? How do you respond when you’re in His presence?
Connect – Enjoy a FREE lunch as you meet others who are new to the church at the Newcomer Luncheon next Sunday (5/19) at 12:00 pm in the AUMC Fellowship Hall. Let someone at the Welcome Desk know you are planning to attend or contact the church office to RSVP at 317-272-4068.
Develop as a Disciple – To grow closer to God, you’re encouraged to designate 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.