5/21-5/27 Overview

In the verses and chapters of The Acts of the Apostles that we are reading, this week Saul’s ministry continues even after Jews in Damascus conspire to kill him, Peter’s ministry reveals the Spirit and power of Christ working in and through him, and the first gentiles join the expanding church as the members of a household of a Roman Centurion respond to the Good News about Jesus through faith and receiving the Holy Spirit.

 

If you have not watched it yet, you are encouraged to WATCH the first of two Bible Project video summaries of the book of Acts to understand it more clearly. The video is available on YouTube:

Book of Acts Summary (Part 1) 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. Use a Study Bible. A Study Bible is a very helpful tool that includes 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.

 

 

Sunday (5/21)

READ Psalm 68:32 to set your focus for today on worshiping our God:

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord. – Psalm 68:32 NIV

 

READ Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Today and throughout this week you are invited to respond to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the grace of Christ Jesus, and the love of God the Father by loving the Lord with all that you are through your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and being a witness for our God.

 

PRAY praising the Lord now and throughout the day. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you and other believers to live in response to God by loving him with all that we are today and throughout this week.

 

 

Monday (5/22)

READ Psalm 68:32 as a reminder to love God today through praising him:

 

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord. – Psalm 68:32 NIV

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to praise the Lord and sing or pray the words.

 

READ Acts 9:23-31. Consider using the suggestions and questions from the Overview portion of this devotional to guide your study time of these verses.

 

PRAY praising God for who he is and thank the Lord for:

• conversions like those of Saul of Tarsus
• transformed lives that include addicts who are now sober
• new chapters in life for graduates
• parents & families preparing for a child to leave home
• the church of Christ
• The Holy Bible
• the Holy Spirit

 

 

Tuesday (5/23)

READ Psalm 68:32 to focus on loving the Lord.

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to worship God and sing or pray the words.

 

READ Luke 7:11-17 and Acts 9:32-43 to see parallels the gospel writer shares in regards to Jesus in Luke’s Gospel and the disciples in Acts. The verses in Luke reveal Jesus raising a widow’s son from the dead, and the verses in Acts reveal the apostle Peter raising a disciple named Tabitha from the dead. If you are using a Study Bible, you may find it helpful to read the study notes for these verses.

 

PRESENCE – One of the ways we intentionally live our faith and love God and others is by being as fully present with them as possible. When you are seeking to be with God or people, try removing or ignoring potential distractions to be fully present today.

 

PRAY through your day, including offering thanks for God’s presence with you throughout the day, as well as for the people you will be with or have been with.

 

 

Wednesday (5/24)

READ Psalm 68:32 to begin your devotional time focusing on worshiping God.

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to praise the Lord and sing or pray the words.

 

READ Luke 7:1-10 and Acts 10:1-8 to see parallels the gospel writer shares in regards to Jesus in Luke’s Gospel and the disciples in Acts. The verses in Luke reveal a Roman centurion inviting Jesus to come to his house to heal his sick servant, and the verses in Acts reveal a Roman centurion named Cornelius receiving a message from an angel to invite Simon Peter to his house. If you are using a Study Bible, you may find it helpful to read the study notes for these verses.

 

BE SILENT for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord as you seek to be present with Him as much as you are able. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, kneel, or walk during this time of being intentionally present with God. Listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit as a word, phrase, idea, or message that comes to mind.

 

GIFTS – Write a list of people God has placed in your life that represent your closest relationships, such as your spouse, best friend, parents, children, siblings, etc. Look for opportunities to bless them today and this week with your words and actions.

 

PRAY letting the Holy Spirit guide you to respond to the verses you read, your time of silence with God, and the important relationships the Lord has given you with himself and the people who are closest to you.

 

 

Thursday (5/25)

READ Psalm 68:32 to focus your heart and mind on God.

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to worship God and sing or pray the words.

 

READ Acts 10:9-33. You may find it helpful to use the suggestions and questions from the Overview section of this devotional.

 

SERVICE – Serving God by serving others is an expression of love. You can serve family members, friends, neighbors, members of the congregation, co-workers, or even strangers. Look for opportunities throughout the day to serve God by serving the people made in his image.

 

PRAY in response to God using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving (thank God)

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (5/26)

READ Psalm 68:32 as a reminder that one of our responses to the God of love is to worship him.

 

LISTEN to a hymn or worship song that helps you to praise the Lord and sing or pray the words.

 

READ Acts 10:34-48. Which word, phrase, or verse is the Lord using to speak to you today?

 

PRAY that the Lord helps you and our congregation to live the AUMC virtues revealed in Jesus as we represent him, live as his apprentices, and spread the Good News in our homes, workplaces, communities, and throughout the world:

Humility, Compassion, Forgiveness, Love

 

WITNESS – We are the generation of Christ followers of today responsible for being bearers of the gospel message that was first shared by eye witnesses nearly 2,000 years ago, and then was passed down from generation to generation of Christians there after. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you to tell someone about Jesus, just as the Spirit guided Peter’s message to Cornelius and those who were gathered in his home.

 

 

Saturday (5/27)

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 stop, rest, worship, and delight in the Lord and what he has given us.

 

LIGHT a candle and LISTEN to a worship song or hymn before reading the verses for today as a way to prepare your heart, mind, body, and soul for observing the Sabbath.

 

READ Deuteronomy 5:12-15 during the morning. The verses are part of Moses’ retelling of the Ten Commandments to the Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land after their people had been wandering for forty years. Imagine the “delight” the Israelites must have felt knowing that they were about to experience the fulfillment of God’s promise by entering the land of Canaan. The Sabbath theme for us this weekend is “DELIGHT.”

 

• In what ways has God set you free?

 

• What is preventing you from experiencing the freedom and deliverance that God is offering through Christ?

 

• How will you set the Sabbath apart this weekend from other days of the week?

 

• What work will you set aside for another day so that you can rest and focus on the Lord today or this weekend?

 

• How will you help your family members and those who work for you in some way to experience rest and delight on the Sabbath?

 

• One of the best ways to thank someone for their gift is to use it and enjoy it. By observing and thoroughly enjoying the Sabbath you will send a message to God that you appreciate the gift He has given us.

 

SOLITUDE and SILENCE. You are encouraged to spend ten, twenty, or thirty minutes alone with God seeking to rest in the peace that can only be found in and from the Lord. If you struggle to stop and rest, consider laying down, kneeling, sitting on a very comfortable chair or seat, or going for a slow walk. If you need a nap, then sleep so that your mind and body receive the rest that you need.

 

PRAY praising the Lord our God and offering him thanks for what he has given you.

 

TIME for REFLECTION. Either write in a journal or notebook the ways you saw and experienced God working in your life this past week, or discuss them with a close family member or friend. Include the things that brought you delight and the ways you were intentional about loving God.

 

 

READ Psalm 37:3-4 during the afternoon or evening. Seek to set aside time today or tomorrow to stop, rest, worship God, and “delight yourself in the LORD.”

 

• What is something you enjoy doing that helps you connect with God and

focus on Him? Do that as you observe the Sabbath.

 

• Trust in the Lord that He is God and you are not.

 

• Trust in the Lord that six days are enough for working during a week.

 

• Share the desires of your heart with God, then seek their fulfillment in and through Him.

 

PRAY and LIVE in response to the Lord.