Sunday (9/25)

Welcome to the final week of The Gospel of John all-church worship and small group series! The United in Christ weekend worship service was not part of the series, but a wonderful opportunity for our church family to come together during one worship hour as we recognize our unity made possible through faith in Jesus, as well as celebrate how God worked in and through us during Serving September. Next Sunday morning will be the final message of the all-church series. Throughout the John series, we have focused on various themes found in the gospel account. This week and next Sunday morning we will focus on “The Holy Spirit.” You 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:

 

This week the Your Faith Journey devotional will guide us to finish our second time through the entire Gospel According to John. Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read and study scripture this week:

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 groups.

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 (9/26)

Memory Verses:

Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” – John 20:21-22 NIV

 

Read, say, or pray the words from the hymn “Holy Spirit, Come, Confirm Us” by Brian Foley that are listed below:

Holy Spirit, come, confirm us in the truth that Christ makes known;

we have faith and understanding through your helping gifts alone.

Holy Spirit, come, console us, come as advocate to plead;

loving Spirit from the Father, grant in Christ the help we need.

 

Watch the Holy Spirit video by the Bible Project available on Youtube using the link below to learn more about the third person of the Trinity of God:

 

Read John 16. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal the message the Lord has for you from this chapter of the gospel. Look for the themes listed below as you read and study. You may want to use colored pencils to circle or underline each theme within the gospel verses if you are using The Gospel According to John Journal:

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

 

Pray after reading the portions of the Nicene Creed that are listed below. Consider letting the words of the chapter of John’s gospel account and the creed influence your prayer.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty…

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God…

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

who proceeds from the Father and the Son…

 

 

Tuesday (9/27)

Memory Verses: John 20:21-22

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

 

Listen to the song “Spirit of the Living God” by Meredith Andrews using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPks3NQwH28

 

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

 

Read John 17, while looking for the following themes:

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

 

Pray using Jesus’ prayer from John 17 as an inspiration:

• Praise and glorify God the Father and Jesus the Son
• Knowing God and Christ is eternal life
• Jesus reveals the Father to us and shares messages from him
• God’s protection from the evil one for Jesus’ followers
• Jesus’ joy in us
• For God to sanctify those who trust in Jesus
• Oneness and complete unity for all who believe in the Son of God
• God’s love and Jesus’ presence revealed in those who trust in Christ in such a way that the people of the world can believe in our Savior

 

 

Wednesday (9/28)

Memory Verses: John 20:21-22

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them using whichever translation you prefer.

 

Read John 18. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read? Continue searching for the following themes as you read and study:

• 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, then conclude your prayer with the portions of the Nicene Creed listed below:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty…

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God…

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

who proceeds from the Father and the Son…Amen.

 

 

Thursday (9/29)

Memory Verses: John 20:21-22

*Read the Memory Verses a few times.

 

Read John 19. 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. Where do you see one or more of the themes listed below within the chapter?

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

 

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

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI_SQrRUOt0

 

Pray in response to what Jesus has done for you, your family, your friends, our church, and the people of the world which is revealed in John 19. Offer the Lord thanks and praise for Christ and the cross.

 

 

Friday (9/30)

Memory Verses: John 20:21-22

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them today, using whichever translation you prefer.

 

Read, say, or pray the words from the hymn “Holy Spirit, Come, Confirm Us” by Brian Foley that are listed below:

Holy Spirit, come, renew us, come yourself to make us live;

holy through your loving presence, holy through the gifts you give.

Holy Spirit, come, possess us, you the love of Three in One,

Holy Spirit of the Father, Holy Spirit of the Son.

 

Read John 20. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the verses. Continue searching for the following themes as you read and study:

• Intimacy in God
• Love
• Cross
• Holy Spirit

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

 

Read and pray the portions of the Nicene Creed listed below as an act of faith in response to the resurrected Jesus and how God has revealed himself through Christ in the Gospel of John:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty…

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God…

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.

 

 

Saturday (10/1)

Read John 20:21-22, the Memory Verses for this past week. If you have not memorized them consider writing them down multiple times or reading them over and over again until you have the verses memorized.

 

Listen to the song “I Need a Ghost” by Brandon Lake of Bethel Music using the link below or searching for the song on YouTube, Spotify, or elsewhere: www.youtube.com/watch?v=diDB730p6p0

 

Read John 21. 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 from chapters 16 through 21 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 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 what you read from the chapters of John’s Gospel 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 the resurrected Jesus.

 

Pray however the Spirit of the Lord guides you to respond to our God and King, the risen Savior of the world.