Sunday (6/5) The Day of Pentecost

During worship services on June 5th, we are celebrating the Day of Pentecost. The day is described in Acts 2 as the time when the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus’ disciples as they were gathered together in Jerusalem about ten days after Christ ascended to heaven. Jesus talked about it in this way in the first chapter of Acts, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised…For John {the Baptist} baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5 NIV). Just as we read the Christmas story from Luke’s Gospel during Christmas Eve worship services and family gatherings, you may want to read Acts 2:1-41 as a way of celebrating and remembering the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Consider establishing a Pentecost holiday tradition for your household or family. You could sit together at a table with a candle in front of each person and a bowl of water in the center of the table. Each person could light a candle as you read the Bible verses, then after the verses have been read each person could touch the water in the bowl to remember your baptism. Some of the evidence of God’s Spirit inside us is described by the apostle Paul as “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22). Paul describes the fruit in this way, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). You may want to ask each person gathered with you to share how they have seen the fruit of the Spirit in their life or the lives of other believers. You could conclude your time of celebrating and remembering by praying together however the Spirit of the Lord guides you to pray.

 

In regard to the Your Faith Journey daily devotional, this week we will read the book of Ruth. The book is an intimate and beautiful story of a family that experiences the incredible joys and devastating hardships of life that takes place “in the days when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1 NIV). As you read it look for God’s presence and blessings in the midst of what the family experiences. In addition to reading Ruth we will also begin the book of 1 Samuel. Samuel was a prophet and the last judge of the people of Israel before the twelve tribes became unified as a monarchy. Samuel was chosen by God to anoint the first two kings of Israel. The book tells the stories of the prophet Samuel, King Saul, and King David.

 

If you did not read the previous books of Genesis through Judges, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the Old Testament. The video is a summary of the Hebrew scriptures. It is available on YouTube.

TaNaK/Old Testament 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. What do these verses reveal about God?

4. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

5. What do these verses teach me about myself?

6. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

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

8. Are you using 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 (6/6)

Read the verses from Psalm 82 that are below to begin your devotional time with God:

“Give justice to the lowly and the orphan;

maintain the right of the poor and destitute!

Rescue the lowly and the needy.

Deliver them from the power of the wicked!”

– Psalm 82:3-4 CEB

 

As we begin reading the book of Ruth you are encouraged to watch the Overview:

Ruth video by the Bible Project that is available on YouTube.

Overview: Ruth by the Bible Project

 

Read Ruth 1. If you are using a Study Bible, it will be helpful to read the study notes that are the introduction to the book. Before reading and as you read, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal a word, phrase, or verse from the biblical text that is specifically for you for today.

 

Pray however the Spirit of the Lord and Bible verses prompt and guide you to pray.

 

 

Tuesday (6/7)

Read Psalm 82:3-4 and pray it as a plea to the God of justice who is our righteous judge, rescuer, and deliverer.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend a few minutes or more alone with God silently listening. What do you hear? What sounds are being made around you? How is the Holy Spirit using those noises to remind you of God? If you struggle to listen, focus your mind on God as the true source of justice and righteousness.

 

Read Ruth 2. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional 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 hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)
• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

 

Wednesday (6/8)

Read Psalm 82:3-4 to begin your devotional time. Think about what the verses reveal about God.

 

Read Ruth 3. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray through your day, including for the people you will be with, or have been with, as well as what you will do, or what you have done.

 

 

Thursday (6/9)

Read Psalm 82:3-4 and pray it as a plea to the God of justice who rescues and delivers.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend a few minutes or more alone with God silently listening. What do you hear? What sounds are being made around you? How is the Holy Spirit using those noises to remind you of God? If you struggle to listen, focus your mind on God as our deliverer and rescuer.

 

Read Ruth 4, the conclusion of this book of the Bible. If you haven’t yet, choose a question or two from the Sunday list of this devotional to wrestle with as part of 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)

 

 

Friday (6/10)

Read Psalm 82:3-4 to begin your time with the Lord. Think about what the verses reveal about our God.

 

As we begin reading the book of 1 Samuel you are encouraged to watch the Overview:

1 Samuel video by the Bible Project that is available on YouTube.

Overview: 1 Samuel by the Bible Project

 

Read 1 Samuel 1. If you are using a Study Bible, it will be helpful to read the study notes that are the introduction to the book. Before reading and as you read, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal a word, phrase, or verse from the biblical text that is specifically for you for today.

 

Pray that God guides and empowers you and the people of AUMC to live the virtues revealed in Christ, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love (Philippians 2:3-11 and Luke 6:27-40).

 

 

Saturday (6/11)

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 enjoy life-giving recreation to experience restoration. 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, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week.

 

Read 1 Samuel 2:1-11, the prayer of Hannah, the mother of Samuel.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or up to thirty minutes. During your time of solitude and silence with the Lord, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do-lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God as you let your mind meditate on our Ruler and Judge. Afterwards, read the Bible verses listed below.

 

Read 1 Samuel 2:1-11 again. Try writing your own prayer using Hannah’s prayer as inspiration for your prayer.

 

Pray the prayer you wrote or pray using Hannah’s prayer as a guide.