Sunday (8/28)

We are at the halfway point in our journey through The Gospel of John all-church worship and small group series. During the first week our theme was the “Identity of Jesus.” The second week we focused on the theme of “Eternal Life.” Last week we turned our attention to “Jesus as Food.” This week we will focus on “Light” within John’s Gospel. The worship services, small group discussions, and memory verse for this week are all connected to the theme. You can watch The Gospel of John small group study videos and discuss them with others. The videos can be found on the AUMC website using the following link:

 

This week we will finish our first read through of the entire Gospel According to John. Next month we will be invited to search for the last four themes of the series while reading or listening to the entire gospel again. Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read and study scripture this week:

1. Approach scripture with humility. Seek to receive what the gospel writer reveals without trying to make it say what you want the verses to say.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

3. As you read ask yourself a few questions:

What do these verses reveal about humanity?

What do these verses teach me about myself?

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?

What do these verses reveal about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?

7. Read, study, and discuss the verses with another person or small groups.

8. Use a Study Bible. 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 (8/29)

Memory Verse:

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 ESV

 

Read, say, or pray the words from the ESV translation of psalms listed below:

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD! – Psalm 4:6

 

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! – Psalm 43:3

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

 

The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. – Psalm 119:130

 

Be silent for a few minutes. Let the Memory Verse and messages of the psalms roll around in your mind. Listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit as you sit, kneel, lay down, or walk in silence with your mind focused on the one who is the Light of the world.

 

If you have not read the first 15 chapter of John’s Gospel, you are encouraged to watch the overview videos to have a better understanding of this gospel before you read the final chapters this week:

Overview: John 1-12 by the Bible Project

 

Overview: John 13-21 by the Bible Project

 

Read John 16. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal the message the Lord has for you from this chapter of the gospel. Look for the themes listed below as you read and study. You may want to use colored pencils to circle or underline each theme within the gospel verses if you are using The Gospel According to John Journal:

• Jesus’ Identity Revealed
• Eternal Life
• Food
• Light

 

Pray after reading the portions of the Apostles’ Creed that are listed below. Consider letting the words of the chapter of John’s gospel account and the creed influence your prayer.

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord.

I believe in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

 

Tuesday (8/30)

Memory Verse: John 8:12

*Read the Memory Verse a few times from whichever translation you prefer.

 

Listen to the song “Light of the World” by We the Kingdom using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWeXVnRm6R8

 

Be silent for a few minutes. Think about what the lyrics of the song “Light of the World.” Let your mind linger on those thoughts about Jesus. Listen for the internal message from the Holy Spirit.

 

Read John 17, while looking for the following themes:

• Jesus’ Identity Revealed
• Eternal Life
• Food
• Light

 

Pray using Jesus’ prayer from John 17 as an inspiration:

• Praise and glorify God the Father and Jesus the Son
• Knowing the God and Christ is eternal life
• Jesus reveals the Father to us and shares messages from him
• God’s protection from the evil one for Jesus’ followers
• Jesus’ joy in us
• For God to sanctify those who trust in Jesus
• Oneness and complete unity for all who believe in the Son of God
• God’s love and Jesus’ presence revealed in those who trust in Christ in such a way that the people of the world can believe in our Savior

 

 

Wednesday (8/31)

Memory Verse: John 8:12

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

 

Read, say, or pray the words from the ESV translation of psalms listed below:

The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. – Psalm 118:27a

 

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1

 

Read John 18. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read? Continue searching for the following themes as you read and study:

• Jesus’ Identity Revealed
• Eternal Life
• Food
• Light

 

Pray through your day, including praying for the people you will be with or have already been with, as well as for what you will do or have already done, then conclude your prayer with the portions of the Apostles’ Creed listed below:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord.

I believe in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

 

Thursday (9/1)

Memory Verse: John 8:12

*Read the Memory Verse a few times.

 

You are encouraged to watch the Messiah video by the Bible Project that is available on Youtube. The video will provide you with a deeper understating of who Jesus is and what his death and resurrection mean:

Messiah by the Bible Project

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dEh25pduQ8

 

Read John 19. If you have not yet, use a suggestion or question on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional to dive deeper during your study time. Where do you see one or more of the themes listed below within the chapter?

• Jesus’ Identity Revealed
• Eternal Life
• Food
• Light

 

Pray in response to what Jesus has done for you, your family, your friends, our church, and the people of the world which is revealed in John 19. Offer the Lord thanks and praise.

 

 

Friday (9/2)

Memory Verse: John 8:12

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

 

Listen to the song “Light of the World” by We the Kingdom using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWeXVnRm6R8

 

Be silent for a few minutes. Think about what the lyrics of the song “Light of the World.” Let your mind linger on those thoughts about Jesus. Listen for the internal message from the Holy Spirit.

 

Read John 20. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the verses. Continue searching for the following themes as you read and study:

• Jesus’ Identity Revealed
• Eternal Life
• Food
• Light

 

Read and pray the Apostles’ Creed as an act of faith in response to the resurrected Jesus and how God has revealed himself through Christ in the Gospel of John:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried,

the third day he rose from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic {universal} church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

 

Saturday (9/3)

Read, say, or pray the words from the psalm listed below:

For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling,

that I may walk before God in the light of life. – Psalm 56:13 ESV

 

Read John 8:12, the Memory Verse for this past week. If you have not memorized it consider writing it down multiple times or reading it over and over again until you have the verse memorized.

 

Read John 21. If you have been taking notes, underlining, or circling words as you have read the Gospel of John chapters this past week, read through your notes from chapters 16 through 21 as you look at words, phrases, and verses underlined and circled.

Consider telling others what God has revealed to you within The Gospel of John by talking to a family member, a friend, or the members of your small group or Sunday School class the next time you are together.

 

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 Jesus, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, allow the Holy Spirit to bring to mind portions of what you read from the chapters of John’s Gospel this past week. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do-lists, plans for the day, etc., so that you can simply be with the resurrected Jesus.

 

Listen to the song “Light of the World” by We the Kingdom using the link below or arching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

 

Pray however the Spirit of the Lord guides you to respond to our God and King, the risen Savior of the world.