Sunday (3/27)

During this Lenten season you are invited to read and study the Gospel According to Luke using this Your Faith Journey devotional. Our read through of Luke will continue through April 20th. Luke’s Gospel is one of four accounts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection within the New Testament of the Bible. If you have not started reading, you are encouraged to watch a brief video on Youtube that will help you understand what the gospels are:

The Gospel by the Bible Project:

 

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. In regards to the verses you read, what do these verses reveal about humanity?

4. What do these verses teach me about myself?

5. How do I see myself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

6. What do these verses reveal about God and Jesus?

7. Read, study, and discuss scripture with a small group or another person.

8. Use 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.

 

 

Monday (3/28)

Memory Verses: Referring to himself as the “Son of Man,” Jesus said, “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and

whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26-28 NIV

 

Say or sing the following words from the hymn “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus” by Helen H. Lemmel:

 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in his wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim

in the light of his glory and grace.

 

Read Luke 9:18-36. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time. If you have not read the previous chapters and verses before Luke 9:18, you should watch the Bible Project video about the first nine chapters of this gospel. The video will help you to understand the beginning portion of Luke more clearly before you begin reading verses this week.

The video is available on YouTube:

Overview Luke: 1-9 by the Bible Project:

 

Pray through your day, including what you will do, or what you have already done, the people you will be with, or those you already were with, then conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Luke 11:2-4 (NIRV):

 

Father, may your name be honored.

May your Kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

as we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.

 

 

Tuesday (3/29)

Memory Verses: Matthew 20:26-28

*Read the Memory Verses a few times before you pray.

 

Pray or sing the following words from the hymn “I Surrender All” by J. W. Van Deventer:

 

All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to thee;

fill me with thy love and power; let thy blessings fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you seek to be with Jesus as fully as you are able. You may find it helpful to imagine being with Jesus on a mountain, and seeing him glowing as bright as the noonday sun in the summer.

 

Read Luke 9:37-62. Use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional to dive deeper 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 Ukrainian people, as well as those who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)
• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

Conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it.

 

 

Wednesday (3/30)

Memory Verses: Matthew 20:26-28

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them before you pray, using whichever translation you prefer.

 

Say or sing the following words from the hymn “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus”:

 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in his wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim

in the light of his glory and grace.

 

Before you begin reading Luke chapters 10 you are invited to watch the Bible Project video about chapters 10 through 24 of this gospel. The video will help you to understand the remaining portions of Luke more clearly before you begin reading the chapter today. The video is available on YouTube:

Overview Luke: 10-24 by the Bible Project:

 

Read Luke 10. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray however you feel led to pray, then conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Luke 11:2-4 (NKJV):

 

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

 

 

Thursday (3/31)

Memory Verses: Matthew 20:26-28

*Read the Memory Verses a few times.

 

Pray or sing the following words from the hymn “I Surrender All”:

 

All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to thee;

fill me with thy love and power; let thy blessings fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you imagine Jesus present with you, sitting nearby or walking beside you. You may find it helpful to walk slowly, sit, kneel, or lay face down on the ground. Open your hands with your palms facing upward as a position of submission and surrender to Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

 

Read Luke 11. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

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)

 

Conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it.

 

 

Friday (4/1)

Memory Verses: Matthew 20:26-28

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them before you

pray, using whichever translation you prefer.

 

Say or sing the following words from the hymn “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus”:

 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in his wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim

in the light of his glory and grace.

 

Read Luke 12. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray that the Lord helps you and our congregation to live the AUMC virtues revealed in Christ, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Afterwards, conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Luke 11:2-4 (The Living Bible):

 

Father, may your name be honored for its holiness;

send your Kingdom soon.

Give us our food day by day.

And forgive our sins—for we have forgiven those who sinned against us.

And don’t allow us to be tempted.

 

 

Saturday (4/2)

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 worship God, rest, and be refreshed. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the Sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship and rest an entire day each week.

 

Read Matthew 20:26-28, the memory verses for this past week.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or thirty minutes. During your time of solitude & silence with the Lord, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. Focus on the memory verses as if you are hearing Jesus speak them directly to you. Allow Jesus’ words to roll around in your mind and transform your heart.

 

Read Luke 13. Use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional to dive deeper during your study time.

 

Listen to “Lion” by Elevation Worship using the YouTube link below:

Lion by Elevation Worship (featuring Chris Brown & Brandon Lake)

 

Pray in response to the Lord, then conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer the way you have memorized it.

 

Spend some time thinking about how you saw, heard, or experienced God working in your life this past week. What did you learn about yourself, Jesus, or others? Consider writing your answers in a journal or spending some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend about what you learned, as well as what you experienced, heard, or saw.