Day 1
Read Micah 6:1-8. What in our way of life makes it challenging to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God"? How can we move as a fellowship and as individuals to a posture that reflects the teaching of scripture on mercy and justice?
Day 2
Read John 15:9-17. What does it mean to love one another as Jesus has loved us? Is love a feeling or a way of doing things? What do Jesus' ministry and passion have to tell us about the meaning of this passage?
Day 3
Read Matthew 25:31-40. Are we listening as a fellowship to this parable? Who are the "least of these" around us? What acts of mercy is God putting on your heart?
Day 4
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. What part does fear of social embarrassment play in preventing us from living out the call to servanthood? Are we afraid of being "fools for Jesus"? How can we encourage, support, and learn from each other in this aspect of discipleship?
Day 5
Read Isaiah 61:1-4. In what ways are all of us the oppressed, the brokenhearted, and the captives? How can we act on God's call for justice and mercy in a way that includes all people, yet does not deny the differences in experience between individuals and communities?
Practicing the Faith: A Voice to Speak the Good News
Day 1
Read 2 Timothy 1:1-7. What people helped you to come to faith in Jesus Christ? How did they speak the good news to you? Give thanks to God for their role in your life.
Day 2
Read John 4:5-29. What positive and negative associations do you have with the word "evangelism?" How do you think you came to have these thoughts? How does the Samaritan woman serve as an "evangelist" for her community?
Day 3
Read Matthew 28:16-20. Kelly Fryer asks us to reflect on these questions: What is "the point" of your congregation? Getting people in the doors? Or sending them out? How can you tell?
Day 4
Read Acts 17:16-34. How does Paul help the Athenians to see the presence of God among them? Who in your circle do you think needs to hear that God has and can make all things new? Pray that you may be available to God’s call to speak a word of hope.
Day 5
Read John 9:13-33. What would you tell someone about what you have seen and heard? How have the life, death, resurrection and teachings of Jesus changed your life?
Read 2 Timothy 1:1-7. What people helped you to come to faith in Jesus Christ? How did they speak the good news to you? Give thanks to God for their role in your life.
Day 2
Read John 4:5-29. What positive and negative associations do you have with the word "evangelism?" How do you think you came to have these thoughts? How does the Samaritan woman serve as an "evangelist" for her community?
Day 3
Read Matthew 28:16-20. Kelly Fryer asks us to reflect on these questions: What is "the point" of your congregation? Getting people in the doors? Or sending them out? How can you tell?
Day 4
Read Acts 17:16-34. How does Paul help the Athenians to see the presence of God among them? Who in your circle do you think needs to hear that God has and can make all things new? Pray that you may be available to God’s call to speak a word of hope.
Day 5
Read John 9:13-33. What would you tell someone about what you have seen and heard? How have the life, death, resurrection and teachings of Jesus changed your life?
Practicing the Faith – Having Knees for Prayer
Day 1
Read again the scripture we studied in worship this week. Luke 11: 1-3. Jesus gives us a model of prayer - what instructions do you see in these verses? Which of these do you need to implement? Now read Philippians 4: 4-7. What do you hear from the words of Paul regarding prayer?
Day 2
Someone once wrote that each of us is created with a God-shaped hole and that we will never be truly satisfied until we fill that space up with him. Unfortunately, many of us fill up on Snickers Bars! What do you turn to instead of God when you are feeling empty? (Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)
God longs to have fellowship with us. Read the following verses and describe the metaphor Scripture uses to describe the intimate relationship we can have with God:
John 15:5
Romans 8: 15-16
2 Corinthians 11:2
Day 3
God Is Near -Read Psalm 145:17-18. David tells us that God is righteous, loving, and near. Who will know/recognize God's nearness? What does it mean to call on God "in truth"? Do we, do you, ever pray insincerely by praying to sound good or righteous or by praying without thought of what you are saying? God isn't impressed with lofty words or thoughtless rote; God longs for us to be honest in our prayers. God knows us intimately, and our honesty honors and recognizes that knowledge in our relationship with God. Read Matthew 6:5-8; Luke 18:9-14; and John 4:23-24. Tell the Spirit you want to be really honest with God today. Be still before God; then share your heart.
Day 4
Praise is an Aspect of Prayer -In Psalm 145, David begins and ends his prayer with words of praise and exaltation; in fact, the entire Psalm is a celebration of God's goodness. In the reading from Philippians, and in the prayer Jesus taught us, we are instructed to acknowledge the sacredness of God's name (Read Matthew 6:9). Is praise part of your prayer relationship with God? Praise helps us focus our eyes on the One who loves us infinitely. Consider spending time praising God every day this week. One way to begin making a habit of praise is to pray aloud a psalm each day; Psalms 145-150 work well for this.
Day 5
Think About God's Love…Jesus is about to die; the cross is only hours away, and Jesus prays. Read John 17 slowly and prayerfully. Jesus prays for God to be glorified. He prays for our protection, that we will love each other and embrace God's words of truth. He prays we will take the good news of God's love to the world and live God’s love in the world. Read John 13:34-35. We aren’t simply to love others as we love ourselves. What is to be the measure of our love? How does the world see Jesus? Take time to pray through all or part of John 17. Pray with an open heart. Then pray for whomever God puts on your heart; pray for the grace to love with Jesus' love.
Read again the scripture we studied in worship this week. Luke 11: 1-3. Jesus gives us a model of prayer - what instructions do you see in these verses? Which of these do you need to implement? Now read Philippians 4: 4-7. What do you hear from the words of Paul regarding prayer?
Day 2
Someone once wrote that each of us is created with a God-shaped hole and that we will never be truly satisfied until we fill that space up with him. Unfortunately, many of us fill up on Snickers Bars! What do you turn to instead of God when you are feeling empty? (Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)
God longs to have fellowship with us. Read the following verses and describe the metaphor Scripture uses to describe the intimate relationship we can have with God:
John 15:5
Romans 8: 15-16
2 Corinthians 11:2
Day 3
God Is Near -Read Psalm 145:17-18. David tells us that God is righteous, loving, and near. Who will know/recognize God's nearness? What does it mean to call on God "in truth"? Do we, do you, ever pray insincerely by praying to sound good or righteous or by praying without thought of what you are saying? God isn't impressed with lofty words or thoughtless rote; God longs for us to be honest in our prayers. God knows us intimately, and our honesty honors and recognizes that knowledge in our relationship with God. Read Matthew 6:5-8; Luke 18:9-14; and John 4:23-24. Tell the Spirit you want to be really honest with God today. Be still before God; then share your heart.
Day 4
Praise is an Aspect of Prayer -In Psalm 145, David begins and ends his prayer with words of praise and exaltation; in fact, the entire Psalm is a celebration of God's goodness. In the reading from Philippians, and in the prayer Jesus taught us, we are instructed to acknowledge the sacredness of God's name (Read Matthew 6:9). Is praise part of your prayer relationship with God? Praise helps us focus our eyes on the One who loves us infinitely. Consider spending time praising God every day this week. One way to begin making a habit of praise is to pray aloud a psalm each day; Psalms 145-150 work well for this.
Day 5
Think About God's Love…Jesus is about to die; the cross is only hours away, and Jesus prays. Read John 17 slowly and prayerfully. Jesus prays for God to be glorified. He prays for our protection, that we will love each other and embrace God's words of truth. He prays we will take the good news of God's love to the world and live God’s love in the world. Read John 13:34-35. We aren’t simply to love others as we love ourselves. What is to be the measure of our love? How does the world see Jesus? Take time to pray through all or part of John 17. Pray with an open heart. Then pray for whomever God puts on your heart; pray for the grace to love with Jesus' love.
Practicing the Faith: Arms of Love
God is love, and God sent Jesus to provide the love and acceptance we yearn for. So powerful is his love that nothing can separate us from it.
Contrary to popular media love is not an emotion or feeling. It is a choice and action. Love becomes a decision that is not necessarily motivated by positive feelings but by our own experience of God's love and our willingness to pass that on.
When we accept the love God offers us in Jesus and allow him to live within us then we are able to demonstrate authentic love. When our words and actions say to others, "You are loved! You are accepted!" we point the way to Jesus and let others experience the love of God through us.
Day 1:
Read Romans 13: 8-14
Today begin at home. In your family setting try to put into practice: 1) love of neighbor as yourself; 2) love does not wrong your neighbor and 3) the golden rule.
Day 2:
Referring to Day 1: How would you say you did in your intentional love of family? Who in your family is difficult to love? How could you purposely love them this week? Pray that God's spirit will help, guide and lead you.
Day 3:
Read 1 John 4: 7-21, 2 Corinthians 5: 1-2
As you read these New Testament passages consider that God is the source of all love. As God abides in us his love is perfected in us. Fear is cast away when God's love fills us up. What is your own unique expression of love for Him? Tell God your deepest needs and thank him for his unconditional love.
Day 4:
Read Ephesians 3: 14-19
"Bow your knees before the Father" – have you ever tried to change your posture as you pray to God? Consider giving this a try today. As you pop into your child's room tonight slip down to your knees at their bedside and pray with her/him to the God of love.
Day 5:
Consider how you might serve others? Regardless of what you might think of their worthiness or circumstances are there people in our area that need a no strings attached kind of love? Loving your neighbor is easy here at Peace. Check out the Food Bank items needed this month and donate. Sign up to serve the monthly Salvation Army Soup Kitchen dinner service. Buy stamps and cards for the Fluvanna Women's Correctional Facility. Contact the local Bridge Ministry and partner with them to help men become productive citizens of our community. Join a youngster at Hollymead School with the upcoming reading buddies hour. Help others in the local community garden effort in downtown Charlottesville. Detailed information about these and many more opportunities to love our neighbors can be found: in "The Spirit of Peace" - a weekly informational sheet handed out before worship; visit www.plchurch.org; and by browsing through the welcome center at Peace.
Contrary to popular media love is not an emotion or feeling. It is a choice and action. Love becomes a decision that is not necessarily motivated by positive feelings but by our own experience of God's love and our willingness to pass that on.
When we accept the love God offers us in Jesus and allow him to live within us then we are able to demonstrate authentic love. When our words and actions say to others, "You are loved! You are accepted!" we point the way to Jesus and let others experience the love of God through us.
Day 1:
Read Romans 13: 8-14
Today begin at home. In your family setting try to put into practice: 1) love of neighbor as yourself; 2) love does not wrong your neighbor and 3) the golden rule.
Day 2:
Referring to Day 1: How would you say you did in your intentional love of family? Who in your family is difficult to love? How could you purposely love them this week? Pray that God's spirit will help, guide and lead you.
Day 3:
Read 1 John 4: 7-21, 2 Corinthians 5: 1-2
As you read these New Testament passages consider that God is the source of all love. As God abides in us his love is perfected in us. Fear is cast away when God's love fills us up. What is your own unique expression of love for Him? Tell God your deepest needs and thank him for his unconditional love.
Day 4:
Read Ephesians 3: 14-19
"Bow your knees before the Father" – have you ever tried to change your posture as you pray to God? Consider giving this a try today. As you pop into your child's room tonight slip down to your knees at their bedside and pray with her/him to the God of love.
Day 5:
Consider how you might serve others? Regardless of what you might think of their worthiness or circumstances are there people in our area that need a no strings attached kind of love? Loving your neighbor is easy here at Peace. Check out the Food Bank items needed this month and donate. Sign up to serve the monthly Salvation Army Soup Kitchen dinner service. Buy stamps and cards for the Fluvanna Women's Correctional Facility. Contact the local Bridge Ministry and partner with them to help men become productive citizens of our community. Join a youngster at Hollymead School with the upcoming reading buddies hour. Help others in the local community garden effort in downtown Charlottesville. Detailed information about these and many more opportunities to love our neighbors can be found: in "The Spirit of Peace" - a weekly informational sheet handed out before worship; visit www.plchurch.org; and by browsing through the welcome center at Peace.
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