Living Faith Devotional 25
8/6-8/12 Overview
Welcome to the beginning of The Art of Neighboring all-church worship and small group series! During the months of August and September our church will focus on living the second part of the greatest commandment taught by Jesus, which is “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 NIV). To get the most out of this journey as a congregation, you are invited to:
- ATTEND Sunday morning worship services
- READ portions of the The Art of Neighboring book by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon each week
- USE this Living Faith Devotional daily
- TAKE practical steps to put love of neighbor into action during the coming weeks
- PARTICIPATE in weekly group sessions or discuss the series with a family member or friend
The Neighboring series will continue through the week of September 17th. We hope you will join us throughout the journey! Worship services this weekend are focused on “loving God and loving our neighbors.”
*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 (8/6)
READ Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to center yourself in God:
“…The LORD is our God, the LORD alone…
love the LORD your God with all your heart,
all your soul, and all your strength.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NLT
LISTEN to a hymn or praise song that helps you to worship the Lord.
READ Mark 12:28-34. As you read you may notice that Jesus adds “all your mind” to the list of ways we are supposed to love God from the verses he quotes from Deuteronomy 6. Why is it important to love God with all of your mind?
PRAY for the Art of Neighboring series using what is printed here, your own prayer, or a combination of the two:
Heavenly Father, we rejoice in you, the source of life and love.
Thank you for your son, Jesus. We are thankful for all that Christ
taught and did, including teaching us your will and ways.
We invite your Spirit to guide our church during this
Art of Neighboring journey in August and September.
We want to be more intentional about loving our neighbors,
including our sisters and brothers in Christ who are part of this congregation.
Help us to develop deeper genuine relationships with one another
so that we experience the true fellowship of being part of your family.
Help our church to live the commandment to love our neighbors
through our words and actions.
Let your love flow through us.
Let your kingdom come and your will be done
throughout Greater Hendricks County as it is in heaven.
In the name of God our Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.
DO
Worship: Join others as part of an Avon UMC worship service today either in person or online.
Book: Read chapters 1 & 2 of The Art of Neighboring this week. Books will be distributed within small groups & classes. Additional books are available at the AUMC Welcome Desk near the Sanctuary.
Block Map: Fill in a block map today or later this week with the names of people from your small group, Bible study, Sunday School class, or others from the congregation.
Pray: Pray for the same person, couple, or family from the church each day throughout the week.
Next Step: What small next step will you take this week in regards to “neighboring” within the church family of Avon UMC? Will you intentionally memorize a name, invite someone out for coffee or a meal, or something else?
Monday (8/7)
READ Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to begin your devotional time:
“…The LORD is our God, the LORD alone…
love the LORD your God with all your heart,
all your soul, and all your strength.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NLT
LISTEN to a hymn or praise song that helps you to worship the Lord.
READ Leviticus 19:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:9-10. The word “holy” in the verses from Leviticus mean “of God,” “separate,” set “apart,” and “sacred.” God let the Israelites know that they were a “holy” people because they were claimed and connected to God. Through faith in Jesus, Christians are a “holy” people too as members of the world-wide church of Christ.
REFLECT upon the Bible verses using the following questions:
What do these verses from 1 Peter reveal about Christians? Knowing that
Christians are “holy,” how does that impact the way you think about yourself and others?
DO
Today: Seek to praise the Lord throughout the day as an expression of loving God. You can do this by rejoicing and thanking the Lord continually.
Book: Remember to read chapters 1 & 2 from The Art of Neighboring this week.
Block Map: If you have not done it yet, fill in a block map with the names of people from your small group, Bible study, Sunday school class, or others from the congregation. Maps are available within AUMC groups, at the Welcome Desk closest to the Sanctuary, and online using the link: http://www.artofneighboring.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/blockmap-1.pdf
Pray: Pray for the person, couple, or family from our congregation that you have chosen to pray for this week, as well as for the entire church. Invite the Holy Spirit to help our thoughts, words, and actions to be holy as the Lord is holy.
Next Step: Seek to move forward with the small next step you are taking this week in regards to “neighboring” within the church family of Avon UMC.
Tuesday (8/8)
READ Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to seek to center your heart and mind in the Lord.
MEDITATE upon the verses from Deuteronomy letting the message roll around in your mind for a minute or two before moving on the the next verses for today.
READ Leviticus 19:4 and 19:12, verses about our relationship with God.
REFLECT upon the Bible verses using the following questions:
The idols during the time when Leviticus was written were probably easier to identify than some of the idols of today. What receives prioritization in regards to your focus and attention? God? People made in God’s image? Other things? Why?
DO
Today: Focus your thoughts, will, emotions, the essence of who you are, and your physical effort towards pleasing and loving God today.
Book: If you haven’t started yet, you may want to begin reading chapters 1 & 2 from The Art of Neighboring book.
Block Map: Have you filled in a block map with the names of people from your small group, Bible study, Sunday school class, or others from the congregation? Maps are available within AUMC groups, at the Welcome Desk closest to the Sanctuary, and online using the link below:
Pray: Pray for the person, couple, or family from our congregation that you have chosen to pray for this week. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you focus your thoughts, will, emotions, the essence of who you are, and your physical effort towards pleasing and loving the Lord..
Next Step: Have you started moving forward with the small next step you are taking this week in regards to “neighboring” within the church family of Avon UMC?
Wednesday (8/9)
READ Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to begin your devotional time.
LISTEN to a hymn or praise song that helps you to worship our God.
READ Leviticus 19:9-10 and 19:13-15, commandments about how we should treat those in need.
REFLECT upon the Bible verses using the following questions:
What do the verses you read reveal about how we should treat our neighbors?
Why do you think God gave these commandments?
DO
Today: Do somethings small and simple for someone in need. It could be a simple act of providing something them with something to drink or buying/cooking a meal for them.
Book: We are reading chapters 1 & 2 from The Art of Neighboring this week.
Block Map: If you have not done it yet, fill in a block map with the names of people from your small group, Bible study, Sunday school class, or others from the congregation. Maps are available within AUMC groups, at the Welcome Desk closest to the Sanctuary, and online using the link below:
Pray: Pray for the person, couple, or family from our congregation that you have chosen to pray for this week. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal a need to you that another person our family has, pray for them, and ask the Lord to guide you to do something that helps them.
Next Step: If you have not yet, seek to move forward with the small next step you are taking this week in regards to “neighboring” within the church family of Avon UMC.
Thursday (8/10)
READ Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to focus your heart and mind on our Creator.
MEDITATE upon the verses from Deuteronomy letting them roll around in your mind for a minute or two before moving on the the next verses for today.
READ Leviticus 19:11 and 19:16-18, verses about how we should treat others with the ultimate goal of loving our neighbors.
REFLECT upon the Bible verses using the following questions:
What do these verses reveal about loving my neighbor as I love myself?
Am I loving myself well? If not, why?
Am I loving my sisters and brothers in Christ using my prayers, presence, gifts,
service, and witness? If not, why?
DO
Today: If you have stolen something, return what you have taken. If you have lied, go tell the person the truth. If you have deceived someone, ask them for their forgiveness. Use your words to build others up instead of tearing them down. Use your actions to love yourself and your neighbor in the ways described in the verses form Leviticus.
Book: Read chapters 1 & 2 from the book this week.
Block Map: Have any additional names of people from your class/group or the congregation come to mind to add to the block map?
Maps are available within AUMC groups, at the Welcome Desk closest to the Sanctuary, and online using the link below:
Pray: Pray for the person, couple, or family from our congregation that you have chosen to pray for this week. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you to love yourself and your neighbors in the ways described in Leviticus 19.
Next Step: It is time to move forward with the small next step you are taking this week in regards to “neighboring” within the church family.
Friday (8/11)
READ Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to begin your time with the Lord.
LISTEN to a hymn or praise song.
READ 1 John 4:19-21, a reminder that our love for God is truly seen by the way we love people.
REFLECT upon the Bible verses using the following questions:
Why are loving God and loving people interconnected?
What does the way you treat people reveal about you and your love for God?
DO
Today: Do somethings small and simple for a sister or brother in Christ who is not part of your family. You could send an encouraging text message, spend a few minutes talking to them over the phone, buy them a snack, ask them if they have a prayer request, or something else.
Book: Finish reading chapters 1 & 2 from The Art of Neighboring before Sunday.
Block Map: If you have not done it yet, it is time to fill in a block map with the names of people from your small group, Bible study, Sunday school class, or others from the congregation. Maps are available within AUMC groups, at the Welcome Desk closest to the Sanctuary, and online using the link below:
Pray: Pray for the person, couple, or family from our congregation that you have chosen to pray for this week. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide our congregation to be humble, compassionate, forgiving, and loving with and for one another through our words and deeds.
Next Step: If you have not yet, seek to move forward with the small next step you are taking this week in regards to “neighboring” within the church family of Avon UMC.
Saturday (8/12)
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. You may need to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each week beginning with an hour, then increasing it to multiple hours or part of a day the next weekend or month, and eventually designating an entire day for remembering and observing the Sabbath.
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 Leviticus 19:3, a verse about God’s Sabbaths.
REFLECT upon the Bible verse using the following questions:
How will you honor and show your respect for your parents today?
What will you stop doing today or tomorrow to observe God’s Sabbath this weekend? Choirs? Working remotely or at the office? Your “To Do List?”
How will you enable yourself to rest today or tomorrow?
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, or sitting on a very comfortable chair or seat. You may also find it peaceful to go for a leisurely walk. If you need a nap, then sleep so that your mind and body receive the rest that you need.
PRAY thanking God for your parents, for the Sabbath, and for the ways you experienced God’s love through your “neighbors” this past week, as well as for the ways he loved others through you.
TIME of REFLECTION during the afternoon or evening. Either write in a journal or notebook the ways you were intentional about loving God and others this past week, or discuss them with a close family member or friend. It may be helpful to write or talk about what you need to stop doing to be able to observe the Sabbath for an entire day and live a healthier pace and rhythm for your life.
PRAY the following at the end of the day based on Deuteronomy 6:4-5:
LORD, you are my God, the one and only.
I love you because you first loved me.
My desire is to love you with my whole heart.
Forgive me when I fall short.
My desire is to love you with my entire soul,
but it doesn’t happen every moment of every day.
My desire is to love you with all of my strength,
but as you know, I am weak and vulnerable.
Your grace is enough for me.
You, LORD, are enough for me.
Thank you! Amen.