Sunday (9/4)

As we begin the second half of The Gospel of John all-church worship and small group series, this week we are focusing on “Intimacy in God.” 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 are beginning our second read through of the entire Gospel According to John. You may find it helpful to read a different Bible translation than what you read last month or listen to an audio version of the Bible. Free audio versions of the Bible are available through the YouVersion Bible App. This month we will focus on 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:

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 (9/5)

Memory Verse:

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4 NLT

 

Read, say, or sing the following lyrics from the song “Come and See” by Bob Bennett to prepare your heart and mind to continue the journey with Christ:

A voice crying in the wilderness

A voice from the sky loud and clear

A still, small voice deep inside

And a voice still ringing in my ear

 

As we begin to read The Gospel of John for a second time you are encouraged to watch The Gospel video by the Bible Project that is available on Youtube. It will provide some helpful insights about all four gospel accounts as well as the uniqueness of John’s account:

The Gospel by the Bible Project

 

Read or listen to John 1. If you read John’s Gospel last month you may find it helpful to listen to it this second time through or reading a different translation. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal the message the Lord has for you for today from this first chapter of the gospel. Look or listen for the themes listed below as you read and study. You may want to use colored pencils to circle or underline each theme within he gospel verses if you are using The Gospel According to John Journal:

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

 

Read the beginning portion of The Nicene Creed about our heavenly Father that is listed below. The creed is a summary of the Christian faith that was written in about 325 A.D. Consider letting the words of the first chapter of John’s gospel account and the creed influence your prayer.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

 

 

Tuesday (9/6)

Memory Verse: John 15:4

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

 

Listen to the song “Come and See” (Live) by Matt Redman using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL8wI8QGunE

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you use your imagination. Imagine seeing God and Jesus as creation was spoken into existence. They are shining in their holiness and glory brighter than a noonday sun. You hear God say, “Let there be…,” and then whatever God says is formed or comes to be. Notice how the created world, including the heavens full of stars, planets, and moons, as well as the waters, skies, and lands of the earth, reveal the intelligence and awesome power of our Maker. Think about how the plants and animals reveal the beauty and creativity of our Provider. Imagine hearing God and Jesus talking about creating humans in their likeness and image. Then you hear them say your name. Spend a few minutes imagining what God and Christ said about you and your life long before you were born.

 

If you have not seen it yet, you are encouraged to watch The Gospel video by the Bible Project that is available on Youtube using the link from the Monday portion of this devotional.

 

Read or listen to John 2. You may find it helpful to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional to dive deeper during your study time. Look for the following themes as you read, listen, and study:

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

 

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 & Russian citizens, 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)

 

 

Wednesday (9/7)

Memory Verse: John 15:4

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

 

Read, say, or sing the following lyrics from the song “Come and See” by Bob Bennett:

A voice crying in the wilderness

A voice from the sky loud and clear

A still, small voice deep inside

And a voice still ringing in my ear

 

Watch Jefferson Bethke’s video about The Intimacy of God available on Youtube using the link below:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a4_mmT6_9s

 

Read or listen to John 3. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read? Continue searching for the following themes:

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

 

Read the beginning portion of The Nicene Creed that is listed below:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

 

Pray in response to what was revealed in John 3. Let your beliefs about God and Jesus influence your prayer and the way you live today.

 

 

Thursday (9/8)

Memory Verse: John 15:4

*Read the Memory Verse a few times.

 

Listen to the song “Come and See” (Live) by Matt Redman using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL8wI8QGunE

 

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

 

Read or listen to John 4. 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.

Continue searching for the following themes:

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

 

Pray in response to the Lord using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (9/9)

Memory Verse: John 15:4

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

 

Read, say, or sing the following lyrics from the song “Come and See” by Bob Bennett:

A voice crying in the wilderness

A voice from the sky loud and clear

A still, small voice deep inside

And a voice still ringing in my ear

 

Read or listen to John 5. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read the verses.

Continue searching for the following themes as you read and study:

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

 

Read the beginning portion of The Nicene Creed that is listed below:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

 

Pray using the phrases from The Nicene Creed listed above as a guide. For example: “We believe in one God” – Lord, we believe that You are holy and mysterious. A God who is three in one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, “the Father, the Almighty” – We believe that you are the Father of everyone and all of creation. You, God, are Almighty, powerful, and awesome!

 

 

Saturday (9/10)

How are you going to rest this weekend in the way God intends for you? 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 John 15:4, 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 it memorized.

 

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 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 up to 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 all that you heard or saw within the first five chapters of John’s Gospel. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do-lists, plans for the day, etc., so that you can simply be with Jesus.

 

Read Jesus’ message in Matthew 11:28-30. Imagine that Jesus is speaking these words specifically to you. Are you weary and burdened? Come to Jesus. He offers you rest for your soul. Have you yoked yourself to someone or something other than Jesus that is causing you to be burdened in a way that Christ did not intend for you? Yoke yourself with the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

 

Pray in response to Jesus. You may need to ask him to reveal whatever you need to stop doing or let go of so that you can experience rest for your soul and the light burden of being yoked with Christ.