shows how God can use brokenness for holy purposes. Take a few moments to think of Rahab the
prostitute, Judah visiting prostitutes, Ruth risking being a stranger and rejection
to and David doing great things for Israel and producing an heir to the thrown
(Solomon) with “Uriah’s wife” (Bathsheba). Take a few moments to think about your spiritual ancestors (Sunday
school teachers, bible study leaders, parents, preachers, etc.). Then offer God all of who you can become
through God’s grace.
Fill My Cup, Lord: A Journey with Jesus through Matthew’s Gospel
“Matthew writes this
Gospel in the early church period when the church is predominantly Jewish. Matthew frequently cites passages from the
Old Testament that are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus the Messiah, a
watershed event in the long tradition of ancient Judaism. Matthew’s intent is that those who read his
Gospel, whether Jews or Gentiles, will see themselves as participants in the
grand sweep of God’s purposes in history. The coming of Jesus, says Matthew, is the culmination of all our
waiting” (Gary Thomas, “Promises That Come True,” in The Spiritual Formation Bible (Grand Rapids; Zondervan:
1999) 1272).
You are invited to read
Matthew’s Gospel anticipating Jesus’ coming to you. Jesus was named by Joseph “Emmanuel – God is
with us” and he is still with us. Bring
your troubles, trials, tribulations; your praises, thanksgivings, and
celebrations to the One who promises to be with us always. Come and be filled with the power of Jesus’
presence so that you might be used to fulfill God’s purposes in history. Richard Blanchard, a United Methodist pastor,
said it this way in 1958:
Fill
my cup, Lord; I lift it up, Lord.
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more;
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.
May you cup be filled,
your thirsting soul quenched, your hungry heart fed, and may you be made whole
in Jesus Christ
Each week you will find
four readings. Use the journaling
questions to prompt your thinking. You
may also want to be led in your journaling by the acronym SOAP. In doing this you are invited to center of
one verse in the SCRIPTURE reading that catch’s your attention (write it
down). Then you should OBSERVE the verse
in its context (and make your notes about the journal). Then APPLY the lesson from God to your
life. Finally, PRAY to God to bring this
lesson to fruition in your life today.
The authors for this devotional journey also include Jay Bissette pastor of Bascom Chapel and Page Memorial UMCs, Doug Lain pastor of Salem UMC, and Gregg Presnall pastor of Vass and Cameron UMCs. Together we are part of a larger journey with the Wellspring Colleague Forum of the North Carolina Annual Conference.
O Have You Seen the Mufti Man?
Link: MSNBC – O Have You Seen the Mufti Man?.
Rabbi Gellman is new at Newsweek, offering commentary at the
intersection of religion and culture. We should pause to remember the
Holocaust and join with him in remembering the lessons learned from
another time. Read on …
There is only one lesson from the Holocaust I can bring myself to teach. There are a few other lessons I have learned. By Rabbi Marc Gellman
Newsweek Updated: 12:15 p.m. ET Feb. 3, 2005
Roy Oswalt on Church and Ministry Expectations
Link: Congregational Resource Guide Article: How to Minister Effectively.
The Alban Institute has been helping churches learn how to deal with transitions for a long time. In the article listed below, Roy Oswalt, an Alban Institute consultant, outlines the corporate dynamics of four types of churches based on their worship attendance. The first, the family church, averages less than 50 persons per week in worship and their ministries are centered around the matriarch/patriarch of this small faith community. The pastoral church, which averages 50-150 persons in attendance centers its ministry around the pastor who navigates among the several matriarchs and patriarchs of that church. The next size church finds ministry based on the programs that nurture the 150-350 persons in worship each week. Finally, the corporate sized church returns to a central figure around which ministry extends … this time the figure is often the pastor (for good or bad!). Pinehurst UMC average between 100 to 150 persons in worship until just before moving into our new building in June of 2002. Since then our worship is in the 300-320 range and we stand poised to make another leap. Before we leap we need to gather ourselves and understand a little bit more about who we are. Read on …
"How to Minister Effectively in Family, Pastoral, Program, and Corporate Sized Churches," by Roy M. Oswald, Senior Consultant, The Alban Institute from Action Information, Volume XVII, Number 2, March/April 1991, pages 1–7 and Volume XVII, Number 3, May/June 1991, pages 5–7.
Continue reading “Roy Oswalt on Church and Ministry Expectations”
3.2 – Assurance of Forgiveness – Isaiah 53:5
Memorize Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed (NRSV).
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed (NIV).
Reflect on Isaiah 53:5
- What does Isaiah say about the coming Messiah in the 53rd chapter.
- In what two actions do we participate in verse 5 that causes the Messiah to suffer?
- What two actions will come our way because the Messiah suffered for us?
- These are the words that begin Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of The Christ. If you have seen the movie, what grabbed your attention? your heart? What made no sense to you?
3.1 – Assurance of Forgiveness – Acts 10:43
Memorize Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name (NRSV).
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name (NIV)
Reflect on Acts 10:43
- Again, look to the context of Acts 10:23-48 as you seek to understand the passage.
- Read Micah 5:2 , Zechariah 9:9, and Psalm 22:16 as you contemplate God's forgiveness for you.
- As you pay attention to your life and where you have fallen short of God's glorious purposes for you (see Romans 3:23), take a moment to lean into Jesus' everlasting arms and accept (again) the forgiveness offered to you.
Rick Warren on Marriage
Six characteristics of a satisfying marriage by Rick Warren
When
my wife, Kay, was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the doctors
hospitalized her about halfway through her 12-week chemo regimen
because of her serious reaction to the therapy. The effects of the
chemo plunged her into the misery of extreme nausea. Kay was wiped out,
and I was keeping visitors away so she could get some sleep.
I sat there, quietly thanking God for my wife and for his amazing
invention of marriage. With all its ups and downs, I'm certain marriage
is God's primary tool for teaching us unselfishness, sensitivity,
sacrifice, and mature love. As I looked at my wife, I saw that life is
a precious miracle, and that I’m privileged to care for her in sickness
and in health.
Dan Reiland on Compassionate Ministry
A Wave of Compassion By Dan Reiland
On January 18, 2005 I returned from a tsunami relief trip to the country of Sri Lanka. Four others from Crossroads Community Church (where I serve) and a group from World Hope International comprised our team of nine people. We traveled halfway around the world to the center of the devastation caused by the tsunami on December 26, 2004.
What we saw, felt and experienced is difficult to put into words – that's one of the reasons why two of the people on our team were part of a film crew. It was our desire to capture the story of God's compassion, both already in action and the potential to be expressed, in a country where Christianity is not only the minority, but persecuted. Let me tell you about just a portion of our experience.
2.4 – Assurance of Jesus – Hebrews 1:3
Memorize Hebrews 1:3
He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (NRSV).
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (NIV).
Reflect on Hebrews 1:3
- What three facts about Jesus do we discern in this passage?
- Look up 1 Peter 3:18 to find out how Jesus purifies us from our sins.
- Hebrews 1:3 and 1 Peter 3:18 are powerful words about Jesus' divinity. Check out the following to pay attention to Jesus' humanity (John 4:6, John 4:7, and John 11-35 – the Bible's shortest verse).
2.3 – Assurance of Jesus – Luke 24:39-40
Memorize Luke 24:39-40
Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." [And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet] (NRSV).
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet (NIV).
Reflect on Luke 24:39-40
- Read Luke 24 in the NIV and in The MESSAGE.
- Who is Jesus conversing with in verses 39-40?
- Read Luke 22. What happens to Jesus' disciples?
- Read Luke 23. What happens to Jesus?
- What would it take to convince you that Jesus is alive?
Front Porch Reflections 
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