Sunday (9/11)

As we continue in the second half of The Gospel of John all-church worship and small group series, this week we are focusing on “Love.” 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 continuing 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 group.

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 (9/12)

Memory Verses:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are

my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35 NIV

 

As we continue 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 if you did not see it yet. It will provide some helpful insights about all four gospel accounts as well as the uniqueness of

John’s Gospel:

The Gospel by the Bible Project

 

Read or listen to John 6. If you read John’s Gospel last month you may find it helpful to listen to it this second time through or read 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 first half of the middle portion of The Nicene Creed about Jesus that is listed below. The creed is a summary of the Christian beliefs from the time it was written in about 325 A.D. Consider letting the words of the chapter of John’s gospel account and the creed influence your prayer.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and became truly human…

 

 

Tuesday (9/13)

Memory Verses: John 13:34-35

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

 

Read or listen to John 7. 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 (9/14)

Memory Verses: John 13:34-35

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them using

whichever translation you prefer.

 

Listen to the song “Child of Love” by We the Kingdom using the link below or

searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLUM48jPBBw

 

Be silent for a few minutes. Think about what the lyrics of the song “Child of Love” reveal about you and God. Let your mind linger on those thoughts. Listen for the internal message from the Holy Spirit.

 

Read or listen to John 8. 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

 

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.

 

 

Thursday (9/15)

Memory Verses: John 13:34-35

*Read the Memory Verses a few times.

 

Watch the Agape – Love video by the Bible Project about available on Youtube using the link below to understand the unconditional love of God a bit more clearly.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=slyevQ1LW7A

 

Read or listen to John 9. 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 (9/16)

Memory Verses: John 13:34-35

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

 

Listen to the song “God So Loved” (Lyric Video) by We the Kingdom using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jasoo3UDSwY

 

Be silent for a few minutes. Think about what the lyrics of the song “God So Loved” reveal about our heavenly Father and Jesus. Let your mind linger on those thoughts. Listen for the internal message from the Holy Spirit.

 

Read or listen to John 10. 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 middle portion of The Nicene Creed that is listed below:

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

 

 

Pray in response to Jesus, letting the creed, verses from John, and the song influence your prayer.

 

 

Saturday (9/17)

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, Sunday, or a weekday 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 13:34-35, the Memory Verses for this past week. If you have not memorized them, consider writing them down multiple times or reading them over and over again until you have them 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 chapters of John’s Gospel from 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 Jesus.

 

Read a few verses about the Sabbath from Leviticus 16:31 and 23:3. What do these verses reveal about the Sabbath? What is something you believe that God wants you to deny yourself today or when you observe the Sabbath? If you are unsure, pray about it.

 

Do you believe that God wants you to rest a day each week? Why or why not? What is preventing you from setting aside a day dedicated to God?

 

Pray in response to Jesus and the verses from Leviticus.