Your Faith Journey

Develop as a Disciple – One of the ways we can grow in our relationship with God and become more mature as followers of Jesus is by spending time praying and studying scripture daily. Each day this week, before you read the verses listed below, invite Christ to speak to you through the words of scripture by saying, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10b).

Monday – Read 1 John 4:7-12 and pray for those closest to you, including family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.

Tuesday – Read 1 John 4:13-21 and pray for those who point you towards God (pastors, teachers, small group hosts, mentors, Sunday school teachers, singers/musicians, devotional writers, authors, filmmakers, etc.)

Wednesday – Read 1 Corinthians 13 and pray for those who serve as leaders within our community, state, nation, and world.

Thursday – Read 1 Peter 4:1-11 and pray for those in need locally, nationally, and globally.

Friday – Read John 15:9-12 and pray for yourself.

Saturday – Read John 15:13-17 and rest, enjoy recreation, and reflect upon the past week.

If you don’t own a Bible, or you need the convenience of having the Bible on your smart phone, download the YouVersion Bible App from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Your Faith Journey

Develop as a Disciple – One of the ways we grow in our relationship with God and become more mature as followers of Jesus is by spending time praying and studying scripture daily. Each day this week, before you read the verses listed below, invite Christ to speak to you through the words of scripture by saying “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10b).

Monday – Read Genesis 1:1-2:3 and lift up prayers of adoration to our Creator.

Tuesday – Read Genesis 2:4-25 and lift up prayers of thanksgiving to our God who provides us with everything we need.

Wednesday – Read Genesis 3 and confess your sins to God. Consider using the words of Psalm 51:1-12 as a guide for your confession.

Thursday – Read Proverbs 1 & 2 and pray for others and yourself.

Friday – Read Proverbs 3 & 4 and sit, kneel, stand, walk, or drive in silence as you wait for the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s message to you.

Saturday – Rest, enjoy recreation, and reflect upon the past week. Re-read verses or phrases that the Holy Spirit draws your attention towards. Share a prayer based on the ACTS acronym that includes, Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (praying for the needs of others and yourself).

If you don’t own a Bible, or you need the convenience of having the Bible on your smart phone, download the YouVersion Bible App from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Your Faith Journey

Develop as a Disciple – Discipleship is a life-long journey of walking with Christ towards maturity and unity with other believers. Are you following Christ or heading in some other direction?

Monday – Christ has commissioned his followers to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). Read our mission statement declared by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20. Use his words to guide your time of prayer. How will you live today, this week, and throughout 2020 to fulfill the Great Commission?

Tuesday – Acts 2:42-47 is a living picture of what the church could and should be. Read the verses and notice God’s presence with the earliest Christians, their presence with one another, and the result of the presence of the church with those who were not yet believers.

Wednesday – Of the 613 commandments found in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Torah, Jesus taught that two of them stand above all of the rest. Read which of the commandments are the greatest from Matthew 22:36-40 as you pray for God to reveal how they should influence your values, the way you manage your time and resources, including how you give.

Thursday – Not only did Jesus teach his disciples to live according to the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), but he instructed them to behave according to a Platinum Rule (John 15:12). Spend some time reading the verses and praying about them. How are you putting love into action? Are you serving others in such a way that they encounter Jesus through you?

Friday – Jesus told his followers that, “you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). Are you a witness of all that God has done in your life who is leading others to Christ? Are you sharing your faith with others? Are you intentionally making disciples? Read John 4:1-42, then pray for God to reveal the persons you are supposed to invest in throughout 2020 to help them know Christ and become believers.

Saturday – Rest, enjoy recreation, and reflect upon the past week. Re-read verses or phrases that the Holy Spirit draws your attention towards. Perhaps you should write out a plan for making disciples, sharing your faith, and putting love into action throughout 2020.

Your Faith Journey

Develop as a Disciple – Discipleship is a life-long journey of walking with Christ towards maturity and unity with other believers. As the people of Avon UMC, we vow to faithfully participate in the kingdom ministries of the church with our Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness. You are encouraged read the verses below while spending time each day prayerfully considering how you’ll intentionally grow through the five faith practices throughout the new year. Which of the five needs extra attention and focus during 2020? Make it a priority.

Monday – Read Isaiah 63:7-9 and pray for those who are closest to you, including family members and friends.

Tuesday – Read Psalm 148 and pray for the people who point you towards God, including pastors, small group hosts or Sunday school teachers/leaders, authors, worship leaders, singers/musicians, etc.

Wednesday – Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 and pray for leaders in the workplace, community, state, country, and around the world.

Thursday – Read Psalm 8 and pray for people in need locally, nationally, and globally.

Friday – Read Revelation 21:1-6 and pray for yourself.

Saturday – Rest, enjoy Recreation, and Reflect upon the past week and year. Re-read verses or phrases that stood out the most.

Your Faith Journey

Advent Scripture Reading Plan – “Advent is a season of four weeks that includes the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means “coming.” The season proclaims the coming of the Christ — whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again.” (The United Methodist Book of Worship). You are encouraged to set aside time each day to be alone with the Lord to pray for God to reveal himself through the Holy Spirit, the words of scripture, music, interactions with others, the normal activities of life, worship services, and holiday gatherings. As you pray, read and study the Bible verses below with an attitude of expectation. Expect Jesus to reveal himself to you when you seek him with all of your heart.

Monday – Micah 5:2-6

Tuesday – Luke 2:1-20

Wednesday – John 1:1-14

Thursday – Matthew 1:18-25

Friday – Matthew 2:1-18

Saturday – Matthew 2:19-23

Your Faith Journey

Advent Scripture Reading Plan – “Advent is a season of four weeks that includes the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means “coming.” The season proclaims the coming of the Christ —whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again.” (The United Methodist Book of Worship) You are encouraged to set aside time each day to be alone with the Lord to pray for God to reveal himself through the Holy Spirit, the words of scripture, music, interactions with others, the normal activities of life, worship services, and holiday gatherings. As you pray, read and study the Bible verses below with an attitude of expectation. Expect Jesus to reveal himself to you when you seek him with all of your heart.

Monday – Isaiah 29:17-24

Tuesday – Psalm 42

Wednesday – Zechariah 8:1-17

Thursday – Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Friday – 2 Samuel 7:18-22

Saturday – 2 Samuel 7:23-29

Your Faith Journey

Advent Scripture Reading Plan – “Advent is a season of four weeks that includes the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means “coming.” The season proclaims the coming of the Christ —whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again.” (The United Methodist Book of Worship) You are encouraged to set aside time each day to be alone with the Lord to pray for God to reveal himself through the Holy Spirit, the words of scripture, music, interactions with others, the normal activities of life, worship services, and holiday gatherings. As you pray, read and study the Bible verses below with an attitude of expectation. Expect Jesus to reveal himself to you when you seek him with all of your heart.

Monday – Psalm 21

Tuesday – Isaiah 41:14-20

Wednesday – Genesis 15:1-18

Thursday – Psalm 146:5-10

Friday – Isaiah 9:2-7

Saturday – 1 Samuel 2:1-8

Your Faith Journey

Advent Scripture Reading Plan – “Advent is a season of four weeks that includes the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means “coming.” The season proclaims the coming of the Christ —whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again.” (The United Methodist Book of Worship) You are encouraged to set aside time each day to be alone with the Lord to pray for God to reveal himself through the Holy Spirit, the words of scripture, music, interactions with others, the normal activities of life, worship services, and holiday gatherings. As you pray, read and study the Bible verses below with an attitude of expectation. Expect Jesus to reveal himself to you when you seek him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13 ESV).

Monday – Psalm 124

Tuesday – Isaiah 11

Wednesday – Isaiah 4:2-6

Thursday – Isaiah 54

Friday – Isaiah 30:19-26

Saturday – Isaiah 40:1-11

Your Faith Journey

Develop as a Disciple – Jesus invites us to follow him into the kingdom reality here and now, as well as throughout eternity. Discipleship is a life-long journey of walking with Christ towards maturity and unity with other believers. As the people of Avon UMC, we vow to faithfully participate in the kingdom ministries of the church with our Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness. This week we are focusing on faithfully participating as a “Witness.” You’re encouraged to read and study the Bible verses below as you pray about being Jesus’ witness wherever you go, sharing the good news, expressing how the Lord has worked in your life, and inviting others to follow Christ.

Monday – Romans 5:1-11

Tuesday – John 1:35-51

Wednesday – Romans 10:9-17 and 1 John 1:1-4

Thursday – Mark 16:9-20

Friday – Acts 1:1-8

Saturday – Write out a concise version of your own faith story by answering the following questions, then share it with someone:

Your Faith Journey

Develop as a Disciple – As the people of Avon UMC, we vow to faithfully participate in the kingdom ministries of the church with our Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness. This week we are focusing on faithfully participating through “Service.” You’re encouraged to set aside daily time to read and study the Bible verses below as you pray about using your S.H.A.P.E. to serve others as love and faith in action. Your S.H.A.P.E. includes:

Spiritual Gifts

Heart

Abilities

Personality

Experience

Monday – 1 Peter 4:8-11

Tuesday – Ephesians 4:1-16

Wednesday – John 13:12-17

Thursday – 1 Corinthians 12:1-26

Friday – Matthew 25:31-46

Saturday – Rest, enjoy Recreation, and Reflect upon the past week. Re-read verses or phrases that stood out the most.