Sunday (4/10)

This is the final week of the Lenten season. During the past five weeks we have been on a journey through the Gospel According to Luke, reading and studying it as part of worship services and the Your Faith Journey weekly devotionals. Our read through of Luke will conclude on April 20th. Even if you have not read the previous chapters, you are strongly encouraged to read the chapters for Holy Week (4/10 – 4/16). 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 been reading it with us, you can watch two Bible Project videos about this gospel to understand it more clearly. The videos are available on YouTube:

Overview Luke: 1-9 by the Bible Project:

 

Overview Luke: 10-24 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 (4/11)

Memory Verse: Jesus said, “…when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive yours sins, too.” – Mark 11:25 NLT

 

Read the following lyrics from the hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” by Elizabeth C. Clephane:

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,

the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;

a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,

from the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

 

Read Luke 20:1-26. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray the words of confession from Psalm 51:1-2 NLT listed below, then conclude your time of prayer asking the Lord to help you to forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against:

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot our my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

 

 

Tuesday (4/12)

Memory Verse: Mark 11:25

*Read the Memory Verse a few times.

 

Pray the following prayer from the United Methodist Hymnal (#366):

O God, just as we look into a mirror to see any soiled spots on our face,

so let us look to you in order to understand the things that we have done amiss. We are like a reed shaken in the wind; we are inexpressibly weak.

Leave us not to ourselves, but dwell in our hearts and guide our thoughts and actions. Amen.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you use your imagination. Imagine life beyond today and what is familiar here on earth. Imagine what heaven will be like. How do you think you will respond being in the presence of our Creator, the one who is our Savior, the One who reigns forever and ever, our heavenly Father? Although there is suffering, sorrow, and loss during life on earth, imagine an existence with “no more death, or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4 NIV). Who are the loved ones the Holy Spirit is bringing to mind as you think about being reunited in heaven? In addition to being with family members and friends, imagine the people of faith you will see from throughout history, including Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Elijah, King David, Queen Esther, the women and men who were Jesus’ earliest followers, Martin Luther, the Wesley family that gave birth to the Methodist movement, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and more. Now imagine everyone there, including you, worshipping Christ together and living in peace with each other and with God. A greater life than we can imagine is what is to come for those of us who trust in Jesus. Amen.

 

Read Luke 20:27-21:4. Use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional to dive deeper during your study time.

 

Pray however you feel led to pray today, then conclude by praying the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it.

 

 

Wednesday (4/13)

Memory Verse: Mark 11:25

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize it using whichever translation you prefer.

 

Read the following lyrics from the hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”:

Upon the cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see

the very dying form of One who suffered there for me;

and from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess:

the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

 

Read Luke 21:5-22:6. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray however you feel led to pray today, then conclude your prayer time using the words of confession from Psalm 51:1-7 NLT listed below:

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot our my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

For I recognize my rebellion;

it haunts me day and night.

Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in your sight.

You will be proved right in what you say

and your judgment against me is just.

For I was born a sinner—

yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

But you desire honesty from the womb,

teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

 

 

Holy Thursday (4/14)

Memory Verse: Mark 11:25

*Read the Memory Verse a few times.

 

Pray the following prayer from the United Methodist Hymnal (#366):

O God, just as we look into a mirror to see any soiled spots on our face,

so let us look to you in order to understand the things that we have done amiss. We are like a reed shaken in the wind; we are inexpressibly weak.

Leave us not to ourselves, but dwell in our hearts and guide our thoughts and actions. Amen.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you use your imagination. Imagine being at the Last Supper with Jesus and his disciples. You are sitting at the table with them. You are all eating and enjoying the celebration of the Passover. Then Jesus takes a cup and begins sharing that he “will not drink from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18 NIV). He then takes some bread, thanks God, breaks it, then gives it to all who are at the table saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19 NIV). After the meal, Jesus takes a cup and says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20 NIV). Let the significance of this Last Supper sink into your heart, mind, and soul. Let the words of Christ speak to you as you sit in silence.

 

Read Luke 22:7-65. How have you betrayed Christ during your life? When have you abandoned Jesus? How have you denied or disowned Christ recently or in the past?

 

Pray however you feel led to pray today, then conclude by praying the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it.

 

 

Good Friday (4/15)

Memory Verse: Mark 11:25

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

 

Read the following lyrics from the hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”:

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face;

content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,

my sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

 

Read Luke 22:66-23:56. After reading this heartbreaking account of Jesus’ trial, persecution, sentencing, crucifixion, death, and burial, why do you think today is called “Good Friday”? Was it a good day for the religious leaders, Roman government, and crowd of citizens? Was it a good day for Jesus’ followers? Was it a good day for the world? Was it a good day for God? Why do Christians call the Friday before Easter “Good Friday”?

 

Pray the words of confession from Psalm 51:1-17 using whichever translation of the Bible you prefer.

 

 

Silent Saturday (4/16)

Read Psalm 22 to begin your day. Jesus quoted the beginning of Psalm 22 from the cross.

 

Read Matthew 27:32-50 and John 19:28-37. These verses are two accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion and death with connections to Psalm 22.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for thirty to ninety minutes. The extended time of solitude and silence is to help you feel the weight and significance of Holy Week before we celebrate Easter. During your quiet time with Christ, think about the journey through Luke’s Gospel during this past week that ultimately ended with Jesus’ death upon the cross. Let yourself think about being present and witnessing what Luke, Matthew, and John describe in the written accounts that you read yesterday and today. Invite the Holy Spirit to enable you to understand the significance of Jesus’ life, suffering, and death.

 

Either write your thoughts about Holy Week in a journal or spend some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend about it.

 

Pray in response to the Lord for what Christ has done for you and the people of the entire world. You may find it helpful to use some of the words of Psalm 22 to help you pray, as well as what you wrote in your journal. Just as the psalmist didn’t hold back, you are encouraged to cry out to God in anguish or thanksgiving, or pray to our heavenly Father however you feel. Conclude your time of prayer praying the Lord’s prayer the way you have memorized it.

 

Read Psalm 22 again before going to sleep at night.