Study Guide and Daily Devotion
Monday, September 19
You were formed for God’s family. In modern America individualism is
rampant. People scoff at the need to belong to any group. Being self-sufficient
is the ideal. At the same time people face loneliness and alienation like
never before. Read Mark 3:31-35. When Jesus was asked about his family he
looked around at those who surrounded him and said these are my family. They
were the poor, broken and hurting people who needed a shepherd. Jesus saw
their potential where others might only see hopelessness. Jesus invites you
to be in fellowship with him and others who seek to follow God’s will.
Just knowing that you belong to this family can make all the difference. You
were made to belong to this household of God.
Tuesday, September 20
Healthy families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized
as part of the family. Sadly there are many believing Christians who have
never publicly identified themselves with their spiritual family as Jesus
commanded, by being baptized and confessing Christ as their savior. Baptism
and church membership is not an optional ritual to be postponed. It signifies
inclusion in God’s family. It publicly declares to the world, “I
am not ashamed to be a part of God’s family.” Your particular
membership in this church is a sign of your commitment to be a part of this
greater family. Being included in Christ’s family is the highest honor
and the greatest privilege you will ever receive. Whenever you feel unimportant,
unloved, or insecure, remember to whom you belong. If you are not yet a member,
now is the time to make a decision.
Wednesday, September 21
Life is all about love. Because God is love, the most important lesson you
can learn is how to love. Read I Corinthians 13 and II John 1:6. Learning
to love unselfishly is not an easy task. God wants us to love everyone, but
especially those who are a part of God’s family. It is especially challenging
to love people who are different than you are. The early Christians struggled
with their differences because some were slaves, some free, some Jews, others
Greeks. Scholars now claim it was the ability of the early church to accept
and value diversity that made Christianity so successful. Not only were they
tolerant of those who were different, they passionately went out and recruited
them to be a part of their community. Would you actively seek out someone
who is very different from you and invite them to church?
Thursday, September 22
Life is to be shared. The body of Christ, like your body, is really a collection
of many small cells. For this reason every Christian needs to be involved
in a small group within the church, whether it is a home fellowship group,
a circle, a Sunday School class, or a Bible study. If you think of the church
as a ship, the small groups are the lifeboats attached to it. Read Acts 2:42-46.
From the beginning Christians have used home groups to be the center of their
life together. These were called the ecclesia or (little church). A small
caring group is the place where you can get real and go beyond the superficiality
of most interactions. In small groups you can grow in your faith as you share
the real struggles of life and support each other through those times. Our
church has many small groups and more can easily be formed. Please look at
the brochure from Sunday’s service on small groups and ask yourself
if you should take the time and steps to be in a group? Can you afford not
to?
Friday, September 23
Read Colossians 3:12-16. What does this passage teach us about fellowship?
How should you clothe yourself as God’s chosen one? What are these qualities
and how can you cultivate them. You have a sacred duty to protect your church
by building up other members in mutual respect and harmony. Let us all be
united in Christ Jesus, loving each other in humility and sacrifice. Amen.
First
United Methodist Church 