Faith & Life Connections A Daily Devotion & Resource Guide for Your Spiritual Journey From the Sermon-Teaching Ministry of Fairhope UMC We Can Fly! - Week of February 5, 2012 Extravagant Generosity Celebration Sunday Isaiah 40:28-31 Reflections on this week s message: So he said to me, This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 God is calling us to do a great thing. It s called ministry and it s all about building the Kingdom. This thing we call ministry takes on many forms and is played out in many ways and if we are honest with ourselves we know that we are not able to accomplish God s tasks; not in our own strength. Zerubbabel was called to lead the Israelites and to rebuild the Temple upon their return to Jerusalem out of exile. In Zechariah s prophesy to the king we are reminded that while God calls people to accomplish His work, it is by His Spirit that the work is done. (see Zech 4:6, above) Jesus charged His followers with the task of carrying His message forward into all of the world and for future generations, but He told them that before they set about their work they were to go to Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Holy Spirit. The work of ministry can seem daunting and even frightening. We don t have the human, financial or even the spiritual resources needed to reach the lost for Jesus. Still, God calls us to go into all the world and make disciples. How are we ever going to accomplish what God is asking? We need to look to God and trust Him to empower and equip us for the task at hand. One of my favorite passages of scripture is the text for this week s sermon. In Isaiah chapter 40 there is an awesome promise for those who will trust in the Lord. Some translations say those who wait upon the Lord, others say trust in the Lord or hope in the Lord; they all mean the same thing. If we are to accomplish God s purposes; our strength is in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you believe that we can fly? Love, Pastor Joe This Week s Challenge: Practice Extravagant Generosity! After reflecting & praying through this week s readings & sermon teaching, I feel God is nudging me to take these steps: Listen to this week s sermon teaching by clicking the Online Sermons link at www.myfairhopeumc.net.
Begin with Prayer: Faith & Life Connections Getting Started: Grab your bible & find a quiet, comfortable spot to begin your daily Bible reading. Light a candle & spend a few minutes relaxing, quieting your mind. Keep a notebook nearby to jot down distractions that interfere with your focus to put them out of your mind to deal with later. You may want to play your favorite hymns or praise music softly in the background. To quiet your mind & prepare to focus on God & His Word try one of the prayer exercises found under Spiritual Growth Resources. Then pray the suggested prayer starter personalizing it to your needs & desire for God s guidance. This Week's Prayer Starter: Gracious God, Thank you for the many ways you are at work in my heart & life. Your extravagant gifts of love & grace never cease to amaze me. I am so undeserving of your generosity. You call me and I run from you, yet you never give up on me. Thank you, Lord! Open my heart & mind as I study your Word today. Fill me with your Spirit. Equip & empower me to surrender my all to you. Pour out your Spirit on me and help me to let go of my fears so that I can say yes to your taking me where ever you desire me to go. Help me to be as extravagantly generous towards you and others as you are towards me. I want to fly for you, Lord! Humble me, renew me & lift me up so I can soar on wings like eagles. Breathe on my breath of God. Fill me with life anew so that I might want what you want & do what you will have me do. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. day 1 week of February 5 Read Isaiah 40:28-31 & Matthew 11:28-30 What uplifting promises do you discover in these passages? From these promises, what do you perceive to be necessary in order for the church and yourself as Jesus disciple to be equipped & empowered for ministry? How is learning to hope & trust in God like a fledgling bird learning to fly? What does it mean to soar on wings like eagles? What does Jesus mean by taking up his yoke? Is Jesus yoke resting lightly on you or are you struggling to get out from under it? Why? How does taking up his way lead to rest? How do the truths in today s readings help restore strength to you? Do you trust God to equip and empower you to accomplish what He is asking you to do? If we are to accomplish God s purposes; our strength must be in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you believe that we can fly? In what way is God teaching you to fly now? Ask God to take you where you need to go! Surrender yourself to Jesus & let go of your fear of flying!
Faith & Life Connections day 2 week of February 5 Read Zechariah 4:1-10, Matthew 19:26 What will it take for Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple (vv. 6-7)? What stood in his way (v. 10)? Reread verse 6. What does the Lord say is necessary to accomplish anything? When told your smarts & strength alone will not get you through life or bring glory to God, how do you respond? What gets in the way of your accomplishing what God asks you to do? In what ways is God calling you to do above & beyond what you think you can do? In what ways is God calling our church to do more than it appears to be possible? How can we accomplish all that God is asking us to do? Reread Matthew 19:26. Do you believe this? How does focusing on this truth help you to respond to any ministry challenge you or your congregation might be facing? Read Matthew 11:28-30. Imagine Jesus lifting your burdens, fears, whatever holds you back. Then he says to you, Take my yoke. On your shoulder he places a stole, a sign of your special ministry in His name. What is Jesus commissioning you to do for him? day 3 week of February 5 Read Acts 1:8, Acts 2, & Philippians 4:13 What instruction does Jesus give the disciples in Acts 1? How does being filled with the Spirit relate to being a witness for Jesus? Why did God pour out the gift of the Holy Spirit on Jesus followers? What would you say was the most impressive evidence of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost? What great things did the Holy Spirit enable these ordinary disciples to accomplish for Christ? How do you picture the Holy Spirit? How would you describe your experience with the Holy Spirit? When are you most aware of the Holy Spirit? How does Paul s message in the Philippians 4:13 passage help you to respond when God calls you to do something? How can you be filled with the Spirit? How does the Spirit equip & empower you to live out your faith? How does the Spirit empower you to practice Extravagant Generosity? God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things (Read Acts 4). Surrender to the Holy Spirit and find the strength, inspiration, confidence, courage, & boldness to make a difference for Jesus in our hurting world!
Faith & Life Connections day 4 week of February 5 Read John 15:1-17, Romans 8:5-6, 14, & Ephesians 5:17-21 What does Jesus say about being connected to him in the John passage? Why is this important in order to bear fruit for the Kingdom? What does Jesus mean when he says, No branch can bear fruit by itself? According to verse 8, how will God be glorified? How does it make you feel that Christ chose you? How do you respond to Jesus calling you a friend? What has Jesus appointed you to do? How does he promise to equip you? From the Roman s passage, what does it mean that that all who are led by God s Spirit are God s children? What do people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about? What is the result of a mind controlled by the Spirit? According to the Ephesians 5 passage, what qualities should be evident in the Spirit-filled life? How do we remain connected to the Vine? Check out Fairhope s website (www.myfairhopeumc.net) & Facebook page & find a Small Group or Bible study to get involved in & help you stay connected to the Vine! Invite someone to get connected with you! day 5 week of February 5 Read Matthew 7:7-8 & James 4:7-10 What central truth about God does Jesus stress in the Matthew passage? Do you believe that if you ask, seek, & knock you will receive, find, & doors will be opened? Why or why not? How does coming near to God strengthen you? According to James 4:10, when will the Lord lift you up? How might following the instructions in these passages improve your relationship with God? How will this prepare you to face the challenges God is asking of you? What needs to happen in your heart and life so that God can use you for His purposes? Are you willing to submit & surrender your desires & agenda to God s so He can use you to do what He asks you to do? Are you asking God to fill you with His Spirit? In what ways does the Holy Spirit move you to go all out for Jesus? Pray, asking God to fill you and your church with his Spirit! Be ready to face the challenges He calls you to fulfill!
Dig Deeper: Faith & Life Connections "John Wesley, founder of Methodism, wrote & taught about the use of money, the dangers of riches, & the importance of giving. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. Then read the following quotes attributed to John Wesley. Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, In all the ways you can, in all the places you can, At all the times you can, to all the people you can, As long as ever you can. Generosity is a Matter of the Heart! "Earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can." How does knowing God lead to generosity? How might using our material wealth to further the Kingdom deepen our relationship with God & increase our positive impact for God's purposes? A Personal Challenge Finding ways to grow deeper in our faith requires opening our hearts to prayer and a willingness to personally evaluate and challenge existing habits. One way to do this is to return a portion of our Financial blessings to God through our tithes and offerings. Our giving recognizes God as the source of our blessings. Our gifts help to create and implement ministries that change lives, transform communities, and spread the good news of Christ. Our membership vows in the UMC call us to be loyal to Christ and the church through our PRAYERS, PRESENCE, GIFTS, SERVICE, & WITNESS. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV) How much should I give? Giving comes from the heart, and prayer is essential for determining what to give. Your decision to be faithful in giving originates out of your love for God. This is best seen in John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won t perish but will have eternal life Evaluate your current giving. Does it reflect your blessings? Is it generous? Is it time for you to increase your giving to God and the work of the church? In these questions, you will find your answer. Expressing my love for God Prayerfully review this commitment card and consider how God is calling you to give of yourself for His purposes. Return your commitment card next Sunday as an expression of your love for God. Recognizing the importance of any involvement in God s work, I commit myself to: Attend Bible Study and Sunday School Attend Worship Attend a Small Group or Youth Group Serve as I Can (Committee or Team) Pray for Others Inside and Outside the Church Help Teach (Children, Youth or Adults) Help With Special events Participate in Local Service Projects Other ways you would like to serve: My Estimate of Giving I feel that what I can give to the church financially is a very important part of showing my love for Christ. I intend to return a portion of my blessings to the Lord as follows: 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% Other My tithe/offering will be given: WEEKLY MONTHLY Beginning Date Fairhope UMC s Mission Focus: We exist to love & serve God by loving & serving others, for the purpose of making & maturing disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Faith & Life Connections Resource Fairhope United Methodist Church Membership Covenant Having professed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and being in agreement with the church s purpose and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the congregation in membership. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following: 1.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by PRAYING. for all members and refusing to gossip for church leaders for pastor and staff 2.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by my PRESENCE. as I attend faithfully at nurturing and equipping opportunities as I live a godly life 3.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by my GIFTS. as I will share the gift of love with other members as I will faithfully share my resources and make tithing (10%) my goal as I invited the unchurched and welcome visitors 4.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by my SERVICE. as I discover my gifts, talents, and graces for ministry by developing a servant s heart as I assume my area of ministry 5.) I will be loyal to Christ and the church by my faithful WITNESS....as I learn to share my faith story with confidence...as I prayerfully discern who God may be calling me to influence for Christ....by learning how to grow and mature as a faith-sharing disciple through training opportunities. Signed: Date: (Newly received member) Signed: (Pastor/Witness of Covenant) Date:
Dig Deeper: Faith & Life Connections The practice of Extravagant Generosity reveals what is in our hearts. Throughout the week, use The Prayer of Examen to help you check your heart for a generous spirit. Examine your daily habits & patterns. How is your heart? In what ways are you practicing extravagant generosity? In what ways do you need to grow? How did you experience joy in giving today? Do you recognize the abundance God has given you? What do you need to have to be content? Are you willing to share? How does the knowledge that all you have belongs to God impact your life? Reflect on your blessings. Thank God. You are so blessed. What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday? Reflect on what it means to give God your best. Are you giving God everything He deserves? Are you practicing Extravagant Generosity with your thoughts, time, talents, energy, resources, & abilities? The Prayer of Examen The prayer of examen might also be called an introspective prayer. The word introspection means looking within. The prayer of examen encourages assessing one's life before God on a regular basis. Recollection is the root of the prayer in which we focus on the last twenty-four hours of our life. This prayer is about noticing God's presence in our life, noticing & thanking God for his goodness, recognizing the movement of the Holy Spirit throughout our day, & acknowledging how we have failed God. Psalm 26:2, Jeremiah 17:10, & Psalm 139:23-24 are good Biblical references asking God to test us & examine our hearts & minds. The examen begins by recognizing that we are in the presence of God, recalling the events of our day with gratitude, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and reviewing our day making ourselves aware of the ways Christ has been at work as well as ways in which we have fallen short. When we intentionally notice these areas of our lives we become more conscious of our relationship with God, & as we become more conscious, we grow. During this reflective prayer time you may want to ask yourself some of the following questions: What am I most/least grateful for? When did I feel a sense of love, peace, or joy (the fruit of the Spirit)? When did I feel exhausted, dead, drained, angry, mean? When did I notice God? Toward what actions, activities, or attributes is God drawing me? Where did I fail? Were there things I should have avoided? When did I show love? In what ways was I kind to others? Examine the habits & patterns of the day. Do my habits help me face my day with love or do they hinder me? Preparation: Begin by quieting your body, mind, & spirit before the Lord. Gratitude: Review the previous day looking for events, conversations, & experiences that provoke gratitude. Remembering that no matter how bad a day has been, God continues His work in our lives. This prayer shapes us into grateful people. Awareness of God: Review the past twenty-four hours in your mind looking for God's presence. Sometimes this is easy, other times it may be difficult. Ask God to help you become a person whose life is constantly aware of His presence. Confession of Failure: Recall the past twenty-four hours alerting to the times you have failed the Lord, not acted in love, or refused the work of the Holy Spirit. Seek the Lord in confession and repentance & ask for forgiveness. Thanksgiving: End your prayer by thanking God for his grace and love.
Faith & Life Connections Resource Family Connection: Drive-Thru Generosity Practice Extravagant Generosity with your family! Print out a few copies of the following form. When you are in line at a drive-thru, whether it be at a fast food restaurant, for coffee & donuts, car wash, parking garage, or even a toll booth if you are traveling, practice Extravagant Generosity by paying for the person in line behind you. Ask the clerk to hand them this coupon! Pray for the person who was the recipient of your generosity! Have fun blessing others with your generosity! What other ways can your family bless someone else? We are blessed to be a blessing to others! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi! You don t know me, but I just paid for your order. No strings attached. I just felt like doing it. At my church we have been talking about extravagant generosity. I decided I wanted to make a difference in your life today. I hope this encourages you and I hope you will pass the generosity on to someone else. Share your story with us! Fairhope United Methodist Church 5660 Louisville St. NE Louisville, Ohio 44641 www.myfairhopeumc.net On Facebook at www.facebook.com/fairhopeumc Email us at christianed@myfairhopeumc.net Call us at 330-875-2028
Faith & Life Connections Resource Family Connection: Goal Setting As a family read Jeremiah 29:11-13. Talk about what it means that God has plans for you & what it means to seek the Lord s guidance in all that we do. As a family pray for God s guidance & direction in the coming year. Then create some goals in each of the following areas of your family s life: Spiritual: Family: Service/Mission: Giving: School/Work: Physical/Recreation: Try to consider goals that you can either do as a family or support each other as a family. For example, a spiritual goal may be to pray together as a family before every meal, or to read the Bible together one day each week. An example of a family goal may be to eat 3 meals together each week, turn off the TV, cell phones, & computer one night per month & talk to each other, or hold a family game night once per month. In the area of service/mission you may consider working on a service or mission project together, volunteer at a local food cupboard, help someone in your neighborhood with yard work, or give up fast food for a month & donate the money saved to a mission project, or carry out one random act of kindness in the name of Jesus each month. In the area of giving, prayerfully consider how God is calling your family to practice extravagant generosity with your time, talents, finances, prayers. In the areas of school or work you may set some individual goals for which you can support each other. Examples may include kids improving study habits or grades, while adults may consider setting goals to improve in an area related to their employment. An example of a physical goal may be to prepare & eat healthy foods or to participate together in a physical activity like roller skating, or bike riding once per month. Goal setting is a valuable skill children need to learn. As Christians, it is important to teach our children that God needs to be at the forefront of all we do. Our goals should be in line with God s plans for us. Seeking His guidance in all we do is vital to living a godly life that is holy & pleasing to God. Goals should be written in concrete terms, with beginnings & endings so you can monitor your progress. Keep them simple, beginning with just one goal in each area. Goals should also be written & displayed in visible places as reminders of what you are working towards. Make a poster that includes your goals in written form as well as pictures & hang them in a prominent place in your home like your refrigerator. Encourage each other along the way & celebrate your achievements.