Lenten Devotional Getting Reacquainted with Jesus

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Ambrose Bailey
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1 Lenten Devotional 2014 Getting Reacquainted with Jesus

2 Introduction What is Lent? Lent is an observance in the liturgical year of many Christian denominations, beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting for the six weeks (40 days, not including Sundays) leading up to Easter. The purpose of Lent is to set aside a time of preparing the heart and mind for the events in Jesus s life leading up to his death, burial, crucifixion, and resurrection. During lent, many people choose to commit to fasting (giving up a certain type of luxury) as a tangible act of devotion. Lent can also be a time to consciously add something to your life, such as prayer, meditation, or journaling. When thinking about why we observe Lent, consider these words from Rev Donna: Recently I was cleaning up my house, preparing for company when I decided to clear away the cobwebs in the corners of the ceilings. I thought this job would take just a few minutes when I hauled the little vacuum out of the closet. But the funny thing is once I started clearing away cobwebs, I noticed how many of them were there! Paying attention to the job gave me eyes to see what I previously had not noticed at all. So what I thought would be a quick job turned into much more extensive but highly satisfying work. I ve been reflecting on this experience recently especially in light of the season of Lent. It occurs to me that the Pritchard house may provide a metaphor for the interior dwellings we each inhabit, where it is easy to live day by day without noticing the dust and the cobwebs accumulating in the corners of our souls. Lent provides an opportunity to enter into some spiritual good housekeeping, dragging out whatever it is that helps you to clear away impediments to your relationship with God.

3 My Lenten Journal In church the stories of Jesus that most prominently are brought to our attention are the birth of Jesus at Christmas, and his death and resurrection at Easter. But what about the life of Jesus? What do we know about the places he went, the things he did, and the way he thought? During this Lenten season, let s take a walk through the Gospels and get reacquainted with the life of Jesus. For each day of Lent, you are provided with a Bible passage, some key questions, and a place to record your thoughts. You are welcome to use your Lenten Journal however you wish, but we suggest either as a quiet daily devotion or a conversation starter for the whole family. If you don t have a Bible of your own at home, ask Megan for a free one! We hope that you enjoy your journey through the Gospels, providing new insights, answers to questions, and creating new questions to ask. Remember, while Lent has individual components, it is not a journey alone. Your Confirmation teachers and Clergy want to encourage you to ask questions and share your thoughts with us. Blessings, Anne, Kristin, Richard, Rev Donna, and Rev Jeremy

4 Reading for March 5 - Ash Wednesday John 1: 1-18 A mysterious poem and testimony about who Jesus is What does it mean to you? Reading for March 6 Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus baptism Can you imagine yourself a witness to this scene?

5 Reading for March 7 Matthew 4: 1-11 Temptations in the wilderness Have you ever remembered a scripture passage to help you counter one of your own temptations? Reading for March 8 John 1: Andrew, John and Nathaniel encounter Jesus for the first time What do you think they were looking for in a Messiah?

6 Sunday Worship March 9 Sermon Scripture: Reflections on the sermon: what were you thinking about during it? What made you want to know more? Reading for March 10 Mark 1: 1-20 A quick summary of how Jesus got started in ministry What was his first message to people?

7 Reading for March 11 Luke 5: 1-11 Jesus is full of surprises What surprises you most in this passage? Reading for March 12 Mark 1: Solitary prayer, company of friends, and compassion for people How can we live what Jesus models here?

8 Reading for March 13 Matthew 4: A sweeping summary of Jesus early ministry throughout Galilee What would it have felt like to be there? Reading for March 14 Mark 1: Compassion leads to healing leads to notoriety Can you imagine what people would do today if they witnessed somebody with Jesus power to heal?

9 Reading for March 15 Luke 5: Forgiveness and healing When, in your own experience, have these two things gone hand-in-hand? Sunday Worship March 16 Sermon Scripture: Reflections on the sermon: what were you thinking about during it? What made you want to know more?

10 Reading for March 17 Matthew 9: 9-13 Hanging out with sinners What s the message here? Reading for March 18 John 4: 1-42 Talking to a foreign woman (and a loose one at that!) What s the message here?

11 Reading for March 19 Mark 3: 1-6 Breaking the rules for the sake of compassion What s the message here? Reading for March 20 Luke 6: and Matthew 5: 1-12 Two similar sermons in different settings What speaks most to you in your own setting right now?

12 Reading for March 21 Luke 6: Easier said than done Which of these hard teachings do you need God s help with most at this stage in your life? Reading for March 22 Matthew 6: 1-34 One loaded chapter What speaks most to you in it?

13 Sunday Worship March 23 Sermon Scripture: Reflections on the sermon: what were you thinking about during it? What made you want to know more? Reading for March 24 Matthew 7: 1-28 The rest of a gutsy sermon How would our congregation respond if one of our pastors preached like this?!

14 Reading for March 25 John 7: 31 8:11 Permission to throw rocks at somebody, but with an important caveat Does this sound like the same guy who gave the Sermon on the Mount? Are there any common themes? Reading for March 26 Luke 7:1-28 A resurrection story, and a reply to a discouraged and doubting follower What situation or question is heaviest on your mind right now? Can you pray about it?

15 Reading for March 27 Mark 5: and Matthew 8: 5-13 Another resurrection story, a healing on the sly, and a remote-control healing for a servant of an outsider Is it all about faith? Reading for March 28 Matthew 11: Judgment and mercy Is it all about repentance?

16 Reading for March 29 Luke 7: 36 8: 3 Forgiveness Is it all about love? (Notice the role of women here). Sunday Worship March 30 Sermon Scripture: Reflections on the sermon: what were you thinking about during it? What made you want to know more?

17 Reading for March 31 Matthew 13: 3b-23 A parable interpretation Is it all about follow-through? Reading for April 1 Mark 6:1-13 A hometown visit and instructions to travel light What could Jesus NOT do because of people s lack of faith in him? What did he empower his faith-full disciples to do?

18 Reading for April 2 Mark 6: Miraculous multiplication or contagious generosity How do you understand this story? (BTW, it shows up in all four gospels. If you d like to compare them, see Matthew 14: 13-21, Luke 9: 10b-17, and John 6: 1-13). Reading for April 3 Matthew 14: Walking or sinking in a storm What made the difference for Peter? What makes the difference for you?

19 Reading for April 4 Matthew 16: 13 17: 8 A genuine mountain top experience Why do you suppose Jesus told Peter, James & John not to talk about it right away? Reading for April 5 Mark 9: A difficult healing, and a desperate father s plea, I do believe! Help my unbelief! Have you said something similar? What happened?

20 Sunday Worship April 6 Sermon Scripture: Reflections on the sermon: what were you thinking about during it? What made you want to know more? Reading for April 7 Luke Jesus responds in a counterintuitive way to an argument among his disciples, and delivers several short but potent messages Are there Christians with whom you disagree so much that you wish God would shut them up? What do you think Jesus would have to say about your dispute with them?

21 Reading for April 8 Matthew 18: A three-step strategy for dealing with disputes and injuries, and an assurance about Jesus spirit with us in community How could you apply the basic process Jesus outlines for confronting somebody who is hurting you? Reading for April 9 John 9: 1-41 The healing and testimony of a man born blind Who is to blame for disability? To whom does God listen carefully?

22 Reading for April 10 John 10:1-21 Jesus compares himself to a good shepherd, and explains why he came What do you think it means to have life abundantly? Reading for April 11 Luke 10:25-37 The two greatest commandments and an unforgettable story to illustrate how to live by them Who are the Samaritans of our day? Can you imagine them (or yourself) doing something as good as what Jesus describes in this parable?

23 Reading for April 12 Luke 10:38 11:13 Two sisters with two different ways of welcoming Jesus; Jesus teaches his disciples to pray Do you see any significance in these stories being back-to-back in Luke? Sunday Worship April 13 Sermon Scripture: Reflections on the sermon: what were you thinking about during it? What made you want to know more?

24 Reading for April 14 Luke 12: Worries, treasures, and expectations. One of the heroes in J.K. Rowling s Harry Potter series quoted one of these verses. Spiderman s wise and beloved uncle paraphrased another verse to his nephew. If you were writing a novel or a movie script, which one of these verses would you have one of your protagonists quote or emulate? Why? Reading for April 15 Mark 10: What must I do to inherit eternal life? What part of Jesus answer to this question do you think he meant to be universal, and what part do you think he meant to be specific to the man asking the question?

25 Reading for April 16 Luke 15: A famous story of a father and two sons With whom do you identify most in this story? Why? How would you write an ending for this story? Reading for April 17 Matthew 20: 1-16 A story of unfair wages or Godly mercy? How would you feel about this parable if you and your family only got enough to eat on days when you received a full day s pay?

26 Reading for April 18 Luke 19: 1-10 Mercy and honor for a rich tax collector who served Roman occupiers?! (Note: The literal translation of what Zaccheus says in verse 8 is Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I give [not will give ] to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I am giving [not will give ] back four times as much. Perhaps this generosity was a discipline Zaccheus began practicing after hearing John the Baptizer speak several years earlier). Do you think Jesus expects such generosity from all of his followers? Why or why not? Reading for April 19 John 11 the whole chapter One more resurrection story before the big one How does this story foreshadow what is to come? What does it mean to you?

27 Questions As you read the Scriptures, you may think of questions you d like to ask your Confirmation Teacher or your pastor. Write those down here so you don t forget them!

28 Lenten Opportunities for your Family First United Methodist Church, Portland fumcpdx.org 1838 SW Jefferson St Portland, OR 97210

AND SO INSTEAD OF THE DISCIPLES TELLING JESUS ALL THAT THEY HAD DONE, MAYBE IT SHOULD READ THAT THEY TOLD JESUS ALL WHAT HE

AND SO INSTEAD OF THE DISCIPLES TELLING JESUS ALL THAT THEY HAD DONE, MAYBE IT SHOULD READ THAT THEY TOLD JESUS ALL WHAT HE Jesus: Our Shepherd Mark 6:30-44 LBC. 21 Feb 2016 INTRODUCTION: VERSE 30 SAYS THE APOSTLES RETURNED TO JESUS AND TOLD HIM ALL THAT THEY HAD DONE AND TAUGHT. A SUMMARY VERSE TO END OFF THEIR FIRST PREACHING