Sunday (9/18)

We have entered the final few weeks of The Gospel of John all-church worship and small group series. This week we are focusing on “the Cross.” You are encouraged to can watch The Gospel of John small group study video and discuss it with others. The video can be found on the AUMC website using the following link:

 

As we continue 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 for a fresh experience. Free audio versions of the Bible are available through the YouVersion Bible App. This month we are focusing 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 (9/19)

Memory Verse:

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

 

Listen to the song “Mighty Cross” by Elevation Worship using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

 

Be silent for a few minutes. Let the Memory Verse and the lyrics of the song “Mighty Cross” roll around in your mind. Listen for the internal message from the Holy Spirit as you silently listen while seated, kneeling, lying down, or walking.

 

Read or listen to John 11. 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 ending portion of The Nicene Creed about the Holy Spirit that is listed below. The creed is a summary of Christian beliefs from the time it was written in about 325 A.D. Consider letting the song, the words of the chapter of John’s gospel account and, the creed influence your prayer.

 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son

is worshiped and glorified.

who was spoken through the prophets.

We believe in the one holy catholics {universal} and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

 

Tuesday (9/20)

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18

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

 

Read, say, or sing the following lyrics from the hymn “Lift High the Cross” by George William Kitchin and Michael Robert Newbolt:

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim

till all the world adore his sacred name.

Come, Christians, follow this triumphant sign.

The hosts of God in unity combine.

Each newborn servant of the Crucified bears

on the brow the seal of him who died.

 

Read or listen to John 12. 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 (9/21)

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18

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

whichever translation you prefer.

 

Listen to the song “The Cross Has the Final Word” (lyrics video) by The News Boys using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI1E6s-5hVI

 

Be silent for a few minutes. Think about the Memory Verse and what the lyrics of the song “The Cross Has the Final Word” reveal. Let your mind linger on those thoughts. Listen for the internal message from the Spirit of Christ as you silently listen while seated, kneeling, lying down, or walking.

 

Read or listen to John 13. 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 (9/22)

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18

*Read the Memory Verse a few times.

 

Read, say, or sing the following lyrics from the hymn “Lift High the Cross” by George William Kitchin and Michael Robert Newbolt:

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim

till all the world adore his sacred name.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,

as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:

Praise to the Crucified for victory!

 

Read or listen to John 14. 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 (9/23)

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18

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

 

Listen to the song “At the Cross” (lyric video) by Chris Tomlin using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zev5tHjCB_s

 

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

 

Read or listen to John 15. 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 ending portion of The Nicene Creed that is listed below:

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son

is worshiped and glorified.

who was spoken through the prophets.

We believe in the one holy catholics {universal} and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

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

 

 

Saturday (9/24)

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18, 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 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 Deuteronomy 5:12-15. This book from the Old Testament is a message from God to the Israelites shared through Moses as the people of God were about to enter the Promised Land after nearly forty years of wondering through the wilderness. Before their season of wandering the Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt for centuries. What do these verses reveal about the Sabbath? Just as God set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt, are you free from a need to buy things or to do work every day of the week? Are you able to set aside a day for rest, recreation, and being with the Lord? If not, what is holding you back?

 

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 week/weekend until you are eventually able to worship and rest an entire day each week.

 

Pray in response to Christ, the cross, and the verses from Deuteronomy about the Sabbath.