Monday, October 28
Theme for the week:
Disciples Forgive Family

• I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:11-21

Paul Opposes Cephas

11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

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Pondering Point

The Apostle Paul found the Apostle Peter living hypocritically and was willing to confront him (and others) in order to keep the church aligned with the Gospel’s message of truth; That is taking reconciliation and sin seriously; Maybe this was one of those “takes one to know one” moments. Paul knew what it was like to know God’s Word’s but be misapplying it. As Jesus graciously redirected Paul in Acts 9, Paul in turn redirects Peter – hopefully with similar grace and kindness that he received from Jesus. Paul can be a model for us when we see others acting like Peter and living hypocritically. But oh be careful! Paul warns even as he teaches,

Galatians 6:1

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live
by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch
yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Paul could work from a place of humility when correcting others. Can You? Paul encourages us to use him as a model as he follows Jesus (1 Cor. 11:1). Pray for help here and talk with God about who has permission, grace and willingness to call out your ungodly behavior or attitudes, And – ask for a willingness to listen as well.

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Prayer

Father God, where I can be of help with others who need direction, let me be full of grace, humility, and kindness. Where I am in need of help from others, enable me to receive it willingly and humbly. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Tuesday, October 29
God’s Mission

John 9:1-41

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

“You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!”
And they threw him out. ~ Pharisees, John 9:34

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Pondering Point

God’s mission is to restore people – broken people – to Himself through Jesus. In this story, He does just that in the life of this blind man. The man in turn glorifies God in public just like Jesus said was part of the plan (John 9:3 and 9:24). It’s a beautiful story! BUT…

Then there is this comment in John 9:34.

These words come out the mouths of religious leadership in this man’s life! Ugh!

These religious leaders couldn’t stomach Jesus and they couldn’t celebrate victories that came through Jesus either. How sad in the midst of a great encounter!

Still today, the church can be on the wrong side of reconciling people to God and celebrating their deliverance through Jesus. Why? Because God’s ways don’t fit our ways of how things ought to be. But God’s ways are bigger than our ways, and often beyond understanding. I wish the church didn’t hurt people, don’t you? Of course, the “church” is people – and people hurt people (even those in leadership). Sometimes the body of Christ today doesn’t act like it is Christ’s body, but like it has a mind of it’s own. BUT we can take this seriously and pray that God helps us change that.

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Prayer

Father God, help us let Christ rule our hearts and minds – as one body – as one church, submitted to your will. Let us submit our ways to Your ways even when we don’t understand them. In Jesus’ name I pray for us all. Amen.

Wednesday, October 30
Biblical Teachings on Prayer

James 5:15-16

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 

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Pondering Point

When this verse gets quoted, focus often goes to the latter part on powerful and effective prayer. But note the first part: “confess your sins to each other.” This was a practice Martin Luther embraced, once writing “when I urge you to go to confession, I am doing nothing else than urging you to be a Christian.” (Large Catechism 32.27). In fact, Luther wrote that he questioned the faith of anyone unwilling to confess his or her sins to another. By the way, he also had an issue with professional clergy being the sole focus of hearing sins confessed. Luther saw confession AND absolution (forgiveness) as falling in the realm of all believers, referenced as the “priesthood of all believers.”

As you mull over James 5:15-16, take God’s word seriously and consider to whom you can confess your sins and receive absolution. Tomorrow we look at being in a position of forgiver or absolver in Jesus’ name.

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Prayer

Father God, teach me the value of confession and absolution. Strengthen my resolve to be obedient to You and practice confession of sins to another person. Finally, lead me to those who will share your forgiveness with me in the name of Jesus, our Lord. In His name I pray. Amen.

Thursday, October 31
Prayerfully Re-Center Around God

Ephesians 1:17

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
~ Apostle Paul

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Pondering Point

The “you” in this verse is plural, enabling us to expand the prayer to encompass our entire faith community such as the one Paul was writing to in Ephesus. This is about your church family. It’s not merely about you getting to know God better, but for all of “us” family to know him better.

“If you can’t love and forgive like Jesus, then you shouldn’t be judging and offering to help others see the error of their ways.”
On the one hand, I like this statement because it would lower the number of sinful judgments made by Christians. On the other hand, God himself calls us to help each in matters of correcting sinful behavior – and this requires judgment. Hopefully we do this IN THE SPIRIT of God with grace and kindness.

Sin can block people from seeing God for who He truly is, so let’s Prayerfully Re-Center around God by reviewing how we help others get to know God and His ways “better”?

Review the week

When you see people living outside of God’s will, do you hold your tongue or speak? Do you consider yourself to be sensitive? Do you come across as judgmental? Are you humble and gentle when you point out faults in others? Do you see yourself as one who extends forgiveness in the name of Jesus?

Repent (if necessary)

Ask God to remove all hypocrisy, judgmental attitudes, or arrogance from your heart and mind and soul (this is a good practice before you approach anyone about sensitive areas).

Return (as necessary)

Ask God to remove all hypocrisy, judgmental attitudes, or arrogance from your heart and mind and soul (this is a good practice before you approach anyone about sensitive areas).

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Prayer

[Create your own prayer for recentering yourself in Jesus' eyes.]

Friday, November 1
Discipleship Point and Prayer

Humility means forgiving. See how Paul linked the two in his letter to the Colossians: therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Col. 3:12-13)... Not forgiving is a supreme act of arrogance. Who do we think we are? This action says that the offenses committed against us are worse than those we have committed against God.
p.82,83, The Prideful Soul’s Guide to Humility, Fontenot/Jones
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Humility Prayer

Father God, it is hard to hear that unwillingness to forgive is an act of arrogance. I too have sinned against you much and have needed copious amounts of grace through Jesus to keep our relationship strong. Forgive me for allowing an unhealthy spirit of arrogance to move into my life through lack of forgiveness. Help me release and forgive others as you have forgiven me. Specifically help me with these people… list them…In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Discipleship Point about Justification

In the family of God, particularly the church or groups within it. Ephesians 4 shares teaching about discipleship within the family of God. Disciples should see their personal walk with Christ influencing their interaction with other believers. It is one way that we grow as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12), living together like a second family. Being a child of God automatically creates brothers and sisters in life. Paul says to build one another up and sacrifice our wants and desires for the good of the mission and to help others in need – like a healthy family.

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Discipleship Prayer

Father God, thank you for the reminder to celebrate my second family known as the church – Your body, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for them. Build my love for them, and help to invest and engage with them as You desire. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Saturday, November 2
Scripture's Story for the Week

Paul Confronts Peter
on His Actions

Galatians 2:11-21

Paul Opposes Cephas

11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Our story is drawn from the reading used in Monday’s Immersion experience. The Apostle Paul had found the Apostle Peter living hypocritically and confronts him in order to keep the church aligned with the Gospel’s message of truth. That is taking reconciliation and sin seriously.

Let’s be candid here. Applying God’s Word to how we live is not always easy. Which verse is to be applied to which situation? Which teachings are to be to set aside and which ones implemented? The bible can be a confusing set of teachings–with many denominations and non-denominations to prove that point. Many people duck such issues, leaving it to others or saying something like “never discuss religion or politics with family.”

That is hardly taking God and His word seriously. The bible says that we are to live by the Spirit and not under the Law (Galatians 5:18). Obedience still matters, but not to the law. It is obedience to the Holy Spirit living in us (Romans 8:12-13). So how to we live according to Spirit and what can we learn from his law? So many things to disagree about! Just because people disagree does not mean we should abandon efforts to apply God’s word. After the story, let’s ask God to show us the way. Now, enjoy and learn from this story of God’s word.

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Prayer Prompt

Father God, let Your indwelling Holy Spirit lead me to live according to Your ways, to take seriously Your Word and Your ways. Let me gently help others see the truth behind Your ways in order to apply them as well. Let it all center in Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.

Sunday, November 3
Call to Gather, Pray and Worship God

God Bless You

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
~ Apostle Paul

This blessing is found among words of encouragement from Paul winding up his letter. Acknowledging we will have anxious times, he points us back to God, with the promise of these words above. There CAN BE PEACE even in anxious times.

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