Palm Sunday - 40 Days

Sunday, April 14, 2019 

Palm Sunday 

We usually don’t have a reading and a video to watch on Sunday, but today is Palm Sunday and I couldn’t resist.  Today is the start of Holy Week.  I encourage you to keep up with the reading this week and to attend our special services.  To get ready for this week watch this videoabout the rest of the Gospel of Luke and the events of Holy Week.  

Read: Luke 19:28-40

Questions to Consider:

1.     Check out the email from yesterday.  What Holy Week events are you going to attend?  Put these events on your calendar. 

2.    Do you have some friends who don’t attend church? Invite them to Easter Sunday services. 

Activity for the Day: Attend worship! 

Blessings, 

Sat, April 13 - 40 Days Luke

Saturday, April 13, 2019 

Rest

Holy Week starts tomorrow with Palm Sunday worship.  From here until the end of Lent the reading assignments attempt to follow the events of Holy Week.  Because of this, you will have reading assignments and daily activies on Sunday.  For this day I encourage you to rest and to review our schedule for Holy Week.  Our hope is that you will be able to fully participate in all events and that you will invite friends to join you.  

Lake Deaton Campus

·     Sunday, April 14 - Palm Sunday Worship: 8am, 9:30am and 11am

·     Thursday, April 18 – Journey to the Cross: A Walk-thru Easter Experience Drop in any time between 12-6pm to experience the sights of Holy Week

·     Thursday, April 18 – Holy Thursday Worship at 6pm (Including Foot Washing) 

·     Friday, April 19 (Summerhill Campus) – Good Friday Worship with District Churches at 12pm

·     Sunday, April 21 – Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30am

·     Sunday, April 21 – Easter Worship: 8am, 9:30am and 11am

Summerhill Campus

·     Sunday, April 14 – Palm Sunday Worship: 7:45am, 9:15am and 10:45am

·     Wednesday, April 17 – Prayer Stations: Seven Words on the Cross: Living His Last Words from 9am to 5pm

·     Thursday, April 18 – Holy Thursday Worship at 6pm

·     Friday, April 19 – Good Friday Worship with District Churches at 12pm

·     Sunday, April 21 – Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30am

·     Sunday, April 21 – Easter Worship: 7:45am, 9:15am and 10:45am

Blessings, 

Friday, April 12 - 40 Days

Friday, April 12, 2019 

Perseverance

When I had to take Hebrew in seminary I wanted to give up. Only students who were getting Masters in Divinity or Biblical Studies had to take Hebrew.  I figured out that I actually had enough credits that I could drop Hebrew and graduate with a Masters in Christian Education.  I wanted to give up.  However, I knew that getting the full Masters of Divinity is what God was calling me to do, so I didn’t give up.  That semester was awful, but I made it.  Have you ever wanted to give up?  

Read: Luke 18:31-19:27

Questions to Consider:

1.     Why didn’t the blind man give up on calling out to Jesus? 

2.    What is the difference in the blind man and the rich man from yesterday’s reading?  

Activity for the Day: Share in the Facebook Groupabout a time when you wanted to give up, but kept on trying.  Share what helped keep moving you forward. 

Blessings, 

Kristyne

Thursday, April 11 - 40 Days Luke

Thursday, April 11, 2019 

More than the Law

Greetings Lake Deaton Family! Have you ever wondered if you had lived during the time of and if Jesus had stopped and asked you to “Follow me” whether you would have followed him? I want to think that if he had given me the opportunity, I would have jumped at the chance. In today’s scripture we read about a young man that is given that opportunity. Hidden within his conversation with Jesus there is a call… “Then come, follow me.” Several things hinder the young man: his wealth and possessions and his understanding that all that is needed for a relationship with God is to keep the commandments. God’s call to us is deeper than that… This Lent season if Jesus is saying… “follow me,” I hope we can lay our assumptions aside and follow Christ in spirit and truth.

Read: Luke 18:18-30

Questions to Consider:

1.     Did Jesus expect too much from this young man? After all, this young man was a “good” person.

2.    The young man thought that all he needed to do was keep the commandments to inherent eternal life. What are some things we do that today, like the young man, that do not really get us any closer to eternal life?

3.    What then, do you believe is really needed to gain eternal life?

Activity for the Day: Examine the weekly newsletter again. Where is God calling you to serve outside the walls of the church? 

Blessings, 

Jim 

Wednesday, April 10 - 40 Days Luke

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 

Humble Prayers

It is easy for me to get caught up in asking God for “stuff” when I pray.  It is also easy for me to do all the talking when I pray.  I am one of those people who have a hard time just sitting in silence, however, I know that it is good to be still before God and just listen. One of my favorite, almost silent ways to pray and be still before God is by practicing breath prayer.  Check out this linkto learn more about it.  

Read: Luke 18:1-17

Questions to Consider:

1.     What is your favorite way to pray?

2.    Do you have a favorite place to pray?  

3.    Do you want to discover another way to pray?  Check out this linkto learn about Lectio Divina.  

Activity for the Day: Write a simple, honest, humble, prayer. 

Blessings, 

Kristyne

Tuesday, April 9 - 40 Days

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 

Coming Kingdom

I used to worry about many things.  However, the thing I worried about most was the world ending. I especially worried about this around Y2K.  Do you all remember that?  I was in my mid 20s and was not actively in a relationship with God.  I worried, worried, worried about what was going to happen on December 31, 1999.  Of course nothing happened.  Today I am a different person and I do not worry about such things.  Do you?  

Read: Luke 17:20-37

Questions to Consider:

1.     What do you worry about? 

2.    What can you do instead of worrying about the end of the world?  

3.    What is your favorite Means of Grace?  Why? 

Activity for the Day: How is your practice of the Means of Grace going? Write about this in your journal or in the Facebook Group.  

Blessings, 

Kristyne