John 1: 19-34 - A Voice in the Wilderness - Devo

 Week of December 26th, 2021

Sunday after Christmas Day

Scripture for Reflection: John 1: 19-34

Questions for Journaling and Reflection:

Take time to write down your answers or to create something that represents what you are pondering around each of these questions this week.

How was your celebration of Christmas focused on Christ?

What are some of the fears you have about sharing the love of Christ with the world?

How are you like John, a voice crying out for the Lord?

How does your life point to the greatness of Christ?

Spiritual Practices for this week

Adapted from Traci Smith’s Faithful Families: For Advent and Christmas. Saint Louis: Chalice Press, 2020. 

Challenge your family to do something special together for each of the twelve days of the Christmas season. 

Chalk your door. To chalk a door simply write the first two numbers of the year and the the letters C, M, and B. At the end write the last two letters of the year.

20+C+M+B+21

The letters represent the traditional names of the three magi who visited Jesus, but they are also the first three letters of the phrase Christus mansion benedicat, “May God bless this house”

Get a box or jar and fill it with memories from the year. Then on the next New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day take time to share these memories with one another.

Write a thank you note to someone who shared the love of Christ with you this year. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: John 1: 19-34

From the Sermon:

Christ did not come just as nice thing - no, Christ came to _________________.

Chiefly the Levites want to know: _________________?

John said that he was: _________________________________________.

John knew ___________________ and _______________________.

John the Baptist stood their answering the questions of the religious leaders with a sense of humility and in a way that was completely opposed to the “____________” culture of his time and ours.

Reflection Questions:

How do you describe yourselves when you are asked, “who are you?”

Where do you recognize glimpses of God’s glory in your life?

How do you tell the story of Jesus changing your life?

Prayer:

Lord, free me from my fears in order to be a voice crying out for you. Guide me and use me, for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen. 

Advent 4 Devo - Love - John 1: 1-18

 Week of December 19th, 2021

Advent 5

Love

Scripture for Reflection: John 1: 1-18

Questions for Journaling and Reflection:

Take time to write down your answers or to create something that represents what you are pondering around each of these questions this week.

How is the fruit of the spirit of love  evident in your life?

What is the invitation for you this day found in John 1: 1-18?

How do you feel called to share the love of Christ with others this week?

Spiritual Practices for this week

Adapted from Traci Smith’s Faithful Families: For Advent and Christmas. Saint Louis: Chalice Press, 2020. 

Write down the different names for Jesus and hang them around your home. 

Think of something kind to do this day to share the love of Christ.

Write a thank you to someone who shared with you the love of Jesus. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: John 1:1-18

From the Sermon:

_______________ - God with us.

John reminds of us of God _____________.

Christ is described as the logos - the _________________.

Christ alone is _______________.

Often as the church we do a much better job telling the story of the ___________ instead of the light. 

Let us offer the ________ of the True Light with others this season. 

Reflection Questions:

How do you respond when people do not listen to what you share about the love of Christ?

How do you share the Light of Christ with the world?

Prayer:

Lord, let us through both our words and actions this week, shine for the light of your love. For you came as the True Light into the world. Let us know shine forth that True Light to others. Amen. 

Advent 3 - Joy - Isaiah 55:1-13 Devo

 Week of December 12th, 2021

Advent 3

Joy

Scripture for Reflection: Isaiah 55:1-13

Questions for Journaling and Reflection:

Take time to write down your answers or to create something that represents what you are pondering around each of these questions this week.

How is the fruit of the spirit of joy evident in your life?

How does the season of Advent invite you into the joy of Christ?

Where are places where you can share joy with those in your life this week?

Spiritual Practices for this week

Adapted from Traci Smith’s Faithful Families: For Advent and Christmas. Saint Louis: Chalice Press, 2020. 

As you prepare your Christmas cards, pray for each person.

Prepare hot chocolate. As you wait for the mugs to cool, talk about the things that you are thankful for today. 

Consider what gift you can give to Christ this season. Dedicate whatever you offer to the glory of God.

Choose a charity to support throughout the year with your change and your prayers. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Isaiah 55:1-13

From the Sermon:

The people of Israel had lost their sense of ________________.

God commanded God’s very self to ___________ his people.

God is doing a ________________.

_______ is not dependent upon circumstances.

We call each other to come and remember as the people of God that ____________________ because we are being held captive by the world around us.

when we run from one thing to the next looking for satisfaction, looking for truth, looking for meaning, looking only for the joy of this world - we will never ________________________.

Reflection Questions:

How do you feel called to be joyful in your life?

How do you prepare for God’s purpose for you?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for the ways we have not lived as a people of joy. Let we find joy, not in the circumstances around us that change, but in your faithfulness, this Advent season. Amen. 

Advent 2 Devotional - Peace - Ezekiel 37:1-14

 Week of December 5th, 2021

Advent 2

Peace

Scripture for Reflection: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Questions for Journaling and Reflection:

Take time to write down your answers or to create something that represents what you are pondering around each of these questions this week.

What is hope?

How does the season of Advent invite you into peace?

What peace do you see our World being in need of?

What peace do you need in your own heart and life?

What peace does our Lord and Savior offer to you during this season? 

Spiritual Practices for this week

Adapted from Traci Smith’s Faithful Families: For Advent and Christmas. Saint Louis: Chalice Press, 2020. 

Set up a nativity in your home. Spend time each day with one particular figure - where is their story in scripture? What was their role in the birth of Jesus? Where would you be in the nativity scene?

Set up luminaries outside of your home using white paper bags and battery operated candles. How are we to share the light of Christ with the world this week?

Put an angel or star on top of your Christmas tree. What do these symbols represent in the story of Christ’s brith? What does their message offer for our lives here and now today? 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Ezekiel 37:1-14

From the Sermon:

The Advent wreath is a symbol of the eternity of God and his ____________________.

The candles themselves tell the story of Christ being the ___________________________.

_____________ was called while he lived in exile himself.

In to this desperate situation walks the prophet Ezekiel - telling them that he had a message from the Lord that he had __________, one that was as sweet as honey.

The _____________ that Ezekiel is speaking of and to are still in our lies today.

We are surrounded by people who need ______________________- who need to come to know the love and hope of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Reflection Questions:

What are we willing to risk to share the peace of Christ with the world?

What are we willing to risk to share the love of God that changed our lives?

How are the hope and peace of Christ connected in your life?

Prayer:

Lord, help us soak in your hope and peace this season, not just for ourselves, but for the sake of those you send us to in the world. Amen. 

Advent 1 - Hope - Devo

 Week of November 28th, 2021

Advent 1

Hope

Scripture for Reflection: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14

Questions for Journaling and Reflection:

Take time to write down your answers or to create something that represents what you are pondering around each of these questions this week.

What is hope?

How does the season of Advent invite you into hope?

What is your invitation for this season for prayer? Penance? Sacrifice?

What are you preparing for this season of Advent?

What do you feel that you are waiting for this season?

Spiritual Practices for this week

Adapted from Traci Smith’s Faithful Families: For Advent and Christmas. Saint Louis: Chalice Press, 2020. 

Set up an advent wreath in your home. If you prefer not to light candles think of another way to invite focus on hope, peace, love and joy.

Cut down on your schedule this Advent season in order to spend time with those you love.

Bring a small branch or twig into your home and place it into a vase. Think of this as your Advent Tree. Write down acts of kindness on strips of paper or on paper ornaments for your tree. Place paper onto your tree as you complete acts of kindness to decorate your tree.

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14

From the Sermon:

Advent is about preparing our ____________.

Advent and Lent are actually both a season of __________________________________.

Advent means __________ and ___________.

Advent is a season that invite us to deeply examine our faith lives and get the places where maybe we’ve veered a little off the road, __________________.

Jeremiah tells folks that this would be a really good time to reflect on their _____________________________.

Jeremiah was bringing the people a word of _______.

Like the exiles, we may want to rush through this ___________________________.

Reflection Questions:

How are Advent and Lent similar and different?

What do you do in order to prepare for a trip? What do you do to prepare your spiritual life?

Prayer:

God, we thank you that you for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, who is our light and our hope. May our lives be so changed by that which he offers, that we cannot help but go forth and proclaim it. In Jesus’s name. Amen. 

“Isaiah: A Child Is Born” - Isaiah 9:1-7 - Devotional

 November 21st, 2021

Devotional

“Isaiah: A Child Is Born” - Isaiah 9:1-7

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

This week we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. We do not often think of kings today, especially in America.

A King has Sovereignty - in other words, they have absolute power. While a king may surround himself with those who may advise, the king has the ultimate decision regarding what is best. 

A King may be Worshipped - especially during Biblical times, when people believed the kings to be gods with special powers. The people would enter into the king’s chamber and fall on their face out of respect and fear.

In the books of 1 and 2 King the history of Israel’s kings are given, and not all of them were good. Some were described as evil - often because they let pride control how they behaved or didn’t have morals. They leaned on their own understanding instead of turning to God.

The Gospels celebrate the Triumphal entry of Jesus (on Palm Sunday) as a time when the people ushered him in to be their King. Only those who greeted him thought that he was only to be an earthly king - not our eternal Savior. So they greeted him as they would any other earthly king - with a great celebration. But this was not the way that Jesus was to live into his power - a power that no other person had ever known. Instead, he chose to sit on a beast of burden, and in doing so showed us his strength and dignity. 

Scriptures to Consider

Psalm 118: 22-29

Mark 11: 1-11

Quotes for Reflection

“The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly defeat of a cross, a holy God is utterly glorified. Vicky comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing self.” - Charles Colson

“Before we can pray, ‘Thy kingdom come’, we must be willing to pray ‘My kingdom go.’” - Alan Redpath

“If you do not wish for His Kingdom, do not  pray for it. But if you do, you myst do more than pray for it; you must work for it.” - John Ruskin

Questions

How does Isaiah point out that Christ is King?

How do we surrender our will and way to Christ the King?

How do we honor Christ as King in our lives?

Notes:

Adapted from “The Attributes of God” for Wesley Foundation at Penn State by Karen Bunting Urbanski. Adapted by Rev Michelle Bodle. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

 Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Isaiah 9:1-7

From the Sermon:

Isaiah was one of the __________ prophets.

Even when things seem bad, God is ______________.

God is going to send someone to do for the people what they cannot do for themselves - to _____________________.

____________________ - wise and full of integrity

____________________ - full of power

____________________ - the one who deeply cares for the people

____________________ - the one to bring everlasting peace. 

Reflection Questions:

What links do you see between Christ the King Sunday and thanksgiving?

How do thankful people live their lives?

How do we testify to Jesus’s Kingship at all times?

Prayer:

Lord, may I catch glimpse of your Kingship and Kingdom this week and may it direct me to worship you! Amen. 

“Amos: Justice Rolls Down” - Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24 Devo

 November 14th, 2021

Devotional

“Amos: Justice Rolls Down” - Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

This week’s devotional is different. Take time this week to reflect on this writing about what it means to live into our baptism vows. Then reflect, how does this relate to the idea of seeking justice?

Justice and Mercy

Prepared by Rev. Michelle Bodle

One of the questions asked at baptism is:

“Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression, in whatever form they present themselves?”

To which the person to be baptized (or in the case of children who cannot speak for themselves, their parents) answers “I do.”

What are we saying with this affirmative response? What does it mean to lead a Christian life by these standards? 

One of the ways that the early Methodists believe that we lived into this part of our baptismal vow was through works of mercy. How would you define works of mercy?

United Methodists, like our early founders, believe that salvation involves a change of heart that leads to a change in our attitudes and actions. Further, Wesley believed that salvation was a continual process of falling deeper in love with God and our neighbors. The two entities could not be separated. 

Read James 2: 14-26. What does this passage of scripture say about the link between loving God and loving one another? How are faith and good works inseparable?

Acts of mercy involve those actions we take to help alleviate the suffering of others. When we offer a cup of water or meal to those in need - this is an act of mercy. What acts of mercy does your church participate in? How do these works spread the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Another way that United Methodists live into their baptismal vows involve acts of justice. Acts of justice differ from acts of mercy in that they seek to make the Kingdom of God appear on earth by changing the structures in which we live to bring them more in line with God’s vision. In other words, works of justice are not simply acts of service, but those things that we do to bring us into right relationship with God and one another. An example of a work of justice would be seeking a fair, living wage for workers in order to alleviate poverty. What acts of justice does your church participate in?

Read Amos 5:24 and Micah 6:8. What does justice look like? According to the prophets, is seeking justice optional for followers of God? 

The purpose of the Church is to glorify God and edify believers while making disciples. The Church isn’t a building, but a transformational group of people on a mission for God. How do acts of justice help the Church make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world? 

Often our celebration of Holy Communion ends with the words, “Make us be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.” How does seeking both mercy and justice help us live into this sending forth?

Acts of mercy and acts of justice are greatly needed in the world today and it is the call of the Church to live them out. In doing so, we are expressing our belief that God wants to redeem the world as we seek out a new heaven and a new earth. What difference can United Methodists make in the world through acts of mercy and justice? 

Resources:

Carder, Kenneth L. Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way, Revised Edition. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2009.

General Board of Church and Society. http://umc-gbcs.org/about-us.

Joyner, F. Belton. United Methodist Questions, United Methodist Answers: Exploring Christian Faith. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007.