Day 1
Read Psalm 95:1-7. As the season of Advent approaches, we may wonder how we will proclaim "Joy to the World" with the backdrop of economic fear and uncertainty. Many people and institutions are revisiting their priorities for this season. Think and pray about what your priorities are and where you hope to find joy this season?
Day 2
What does JOY stand for? It can be an acronym to remind us of who our church belongs to:
Jesus first
Others second
Yourself last
According to these priorities, first and foremost, our church belongs to Jesus. Read Colossians 1:15-20. What is Jesus' relationship to our church?
Day 3
Second, our church belongs to others. Read Matthew 25:31-46. What is Jesus' relationship to others? Think about the ways that Peace already “gives itself away” to others. Pray about new ways that Peace can make others a priority by helping those that are overlooked, ignored, lost or lonely.
Day 4
Finally, our church belongs to us. Or does it? Read Galations 2:11-21 & 2 Corinthians 3:1-6. What is Jesus' relationship to each one of us? How does this relationship affect our priorities at Peace?
Day 5
Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. Paul experienced great joy at hearing about this new church in Thessalonia and prays that God will continue to increase their love for each other and everyone else until it is overflowing. Do we want to be a church where God can work through us to bring overflowing love and joy to the world? Pray for Peace to be a place where Jesus is followed and others can see and experience hope rising in God’s world.
Questions: Why do people need the church?
Day 1
Read Ephesians 4:1-16. How many "ones" appear in verses 4-5? What point do you think these repeated words make? What relation might this have with ensuing verses, 7-16?
Connect verses 11-13 with these verses from 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 12, and 13. What are the purposes of the God-given gifts to God’s people? What gift has God given you to offer in the community? In the world?
Day 2
Read John 17:20-23; John 13:34-35. In John 17, Jesus prayed for all followers to be unified. What impact does unity (or lack of unity) have on the congregation? On you personally? On the community and world around us? Pray this part of Jesus’ prayer today.
Day 3
Read Acts 2:42-47. How has your experience with Christian community compared to the community described in Acts 2? Is there a way that you could help to move your community to a deeper level? What one step might you take?
Day 4
Read Matthew 16:13-20. Last weekend we read Mark’s version of this story (Mark 8:27-30). What do you think Jesus meant by these terms: keys of the kingdom, binding, loosing? Why did Jesus tell his disciples not to spread the word that he was the Messiah (at that time)? Do you think that command is still in force?
Day 5
Read 1 John 1:1-10. Do you recognize the words from 1 John 1:8-9? Why is confession important for the life of the individual Christian? Why is confession important for the life of the community of faith? Write a prayer of confession that you can use today and for the next few weeks.
Read Ephesians 4:1-16. How many "ones" appear in verses 4-5? What point do you think these repeated words make? What relation might this have with ensuing verses, 7-16?
Connect verses 11-13 with these verses from 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 12, and 13. What are the purposes of the God-given gifts to God’s people? What gift has God given you to offer in the community? In the world?
Day 2
Read John 17:20-23; John 13:34-35. In John 17, Jesus prayed for all followers to be unified. What impact does unity (or lack of unity) have on the congregation? On you personally? On the community and world around us? Pray this part of Jesus’ prayer today.
Day 3
Read Acts 2:42-47. How has your experience with Christian community compared to the community described in Acts 2? Is there a way that you could help to move your community to a deeper level? What one step might you take?
Day 4
Read Matthew 16:13-20. Last weekend we read Mark’s version of this story (Mark 8:27-30). What do you think Jesus meant by these terms: keys of the kingdom, binding, loosing? Why did Jesus tell his disciples not to spread the word that he was the Messiah (at that time)? Do you think that command is still in force?
Day 5
Read 1 John 1:1-10. Do you recognize the words from 1 John 1:8-9? Why is confession important for the life of the individual Christian? Why is confession important for the life of the community of faith? Write a prayer of confession that you can use today and for the next few weeks.
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