Sunday (3/13)

During this Lenten season you are invited to read and study the Gospel According to Luke using this Your Faith Journey devotional. Our read through of Luke will continue through April 20th. Luke’s Gospel is one of four gospels within the New Testament of the Bible. If you have not started reading, you are encouraged to watch a brief video on Youtube that was created by the Bible Project which is about the Gospels:

The Gospel 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. In regards to the verses you read, what do these verses reveal about humanity?

4. What do these verses teach me about myself?

5. 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?

6. What do these verses reveal about God and Jesus?

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 for understanding each book of the Bible. They include 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.

 

 

Monday (3/14)

Memory Verse: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 NLT

 

If you have not watched it already, you are encouraged to watch the following Bible Project video about the first nine chapters of Luke. It may help you to understand the beginning of this gospel more clearly. The video is available on YouTube:

Overview Luke: 1-9 by the Bible Project:

 

Pray or sing the following words from the hymn “I Surrender All” by J. W. Van Deventer:

All to Jesus I surrender; humbly at his feet I bow,

worldly pleasures all forsaken; take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

 

Read Luke 3:21-4:13. If you have not read the previous chapters and verses before Luke 3:21, it will be helpful for you to read them or listen to them via an audio version of scripture. You can find multiple Bible translations and audio versions of scripture using the YouVersion Bible App. In regards to the verses for today, you are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray through your day, including what you will do, or what you have already done, the people you will be with, or those you already were with, then conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Luke 11:2-4 (The Living Bible):

 

Father, may your name be honored for its holiness;

send your Kingdom soon.

Give us our food day by day.

And forgive our sins—for we have forgiven those who sinned against us.

And don’t allow us to be tempted.

 

 

Tuesday (3/15)

Memory Verse: John 14:6

*Read the Memory Verse a few times before you pray.

 

Say or sing the following words from the hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” which was written by an anonymous author:

 

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

no turning back, no turning back.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you seek to be with Jesus as fully as you are able. You may find it helpful to let the memory verse roll around in your mind as you focus on following Christ wherever he leads you.

 

Read Luke 4:14-30. Use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional to dive deeper during your study time.

 

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 people, the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)
• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

Conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it.

 

 

Wednesday (3/16)

Memory Verse: John 14:6

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize it before you pray.

 

Pray or sing the following words from the hymn “I Surrender All”:

 

All to Jesus I surrender; humbly at his feet I bow,

worldly pleasures all forsaken; take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

 

Read Luke 4:31-44. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray however you feel led to pray, then conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Luke 11:2-4 (NKJV):

 

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

 

 

Thursday (3/17)

Memory Verse: John 14:6

*Read the Memory Verse a few times.

 

Say or sing the following words from the hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”:

 

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

no turning back, no turning back.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you imagine being alone with the One who is the way to our heavenly Father, the truth, and the source of life now and forever. You may find it helpful to sit, kneel, or walk as you spend time silently with Jesus.

 

Read Luke 5:1-11. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

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

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

Conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer as you have memorized it.

 

 

Friday (3/18)

Memory Verse: John 14:6

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize it before you pray.

 

Pray or sing the following words from the hymn “I Surrender All”:

 

All to Jesus I surrender; humbly at his feet I bow,

worldly pleasures all forsaken; take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

 

Read Luke 5:12-38. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray that the Lord helps you and our congregation to live the AUMC virtues revealed in Christ, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Afterwards, conclude your prayer time with the prayer Jesus taught from Luke 11:2-4 (NIRV):

 

Father, may your name be honored.

May your Kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

as we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.

 

 

Saturday (3/19)

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 worship God, rest, and be refreshed. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday 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 14:6, the memory verse for this past week.

 

Listen to the song “The Way (New Horizon)” by Pat Barrett using the YouTube link below:

The Way by Pat Barrett:

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or thirty minutes. During your time of solitude & silence

with the Lord, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. Focus on the memory verse as if you are hearing Jesus speak it directly to you. Allow Jesus’ words to roll around in your mind and transform your heart.

 

Read Luke 6:1-11. What does Jesus’ message within these verses reveal about the Sabbath?

 

Pray in response to the Lord, then conclude your time of prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer the way you have memorized it.

 

Spend some time thinking about how you saw, heard, or experienced God working in your life this past week. What did you learn about yourself, Jesus, or others? Consider writing your answers in a journal or spending some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend about what you learned, as well as what you experienced, heard, or saw.