Day 16: Missional excellence
Posted: May 9, 2013 Filed under: 40 Day Walk With God, Bishop's Blog | Tags: 40 day walk, acts, annual conference, bill mcalilly, bishop, mcalilly, memphis, Methodist, Prayer, tennessee, UMC 3 Comments
Acts 2:42-47
The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
Today’s Scripture reminds us that we are called to do what the early church did. They fellowshipped and were obedient to the apostles’ teaching and participated in communion and prayer. Then, greater things began to happen.
The community began to notice the signs and wonders performed by the apostles. The new believers were generous in selling and sharing their possessions with glad and sincere hearts. They were living transformed lives and it was contagious.
We’ve heard a lot of questions about becoming vital congregations and about being disciples of Jesus Christ. But a better question to ask might be, “When did we stop being disciples and vital congregations?” As I reflected, Jesus softened my heart and encouraged me to return to the ways of the early church.
Over the years I have been able to identify others as missionaries (like school teachers) or evangelists (those that share Jesus). But I had been making excuses – that Jesus had called and gifted others, not me. Then, Jesus taught me that I am called and empowered to offer Him to others. Now I am intentional about not only meeting physical needs, but also sharing the Good News of Jesus through His transforming love.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for calling us to follow You. Empower us to share You with everyone we meet. Yes, Lord, GREATER THINGS are still to be done! In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
Today may we look for the opportunities where God is already at work — and join Him!
Holly Neal
Lay Leader-TN Conference
– – – – –
REFLECTIONS FOR THE DAY | Use a program on your computer, a traditional journal, or feel free to use the comment section of this blog post to record your reflections as a conversation with others…
READ – What spoke to me as I read today’s meditation?
REPENT – Where is God showing me that I have failed to be obedient to the call to discipleship today?
RECEIVE – What words of redemption and grace is God offering to me?
REMEMBER – Who and what is God calling me to remember in prayer related to today’s reading?
RESPOND – How is God calling me to respond today?
RESOURCES:
> DOWNLOADS – 40 Day Walk prayer guide (.PDF), 40 Days of Doodles kids journal (.PDF)
> CLICK HERE for sermon starters/suggestions
Day 12: Missional excellence
Posted: May 5, 2013 Filed under: 40 Day Walk With God, Bishop's Blog | Tags: 40 day walk, acts, annual conference, bill mcalilly, bishop, mcalilly, memphis, Methodist, Prayer, tennessee, UMC, united methodist 1 Comment
Acts 2:42-45
The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them.
In these verses we have the earliest recording of the practices of the Church in its beginnings. Whenever I hear folks lament over not singing the “old” hymns, or missing the “old” style of preaching and worship, I remind them of the events in Acts 2. Certainly, things evolve in time and context, but the bones of who we are as missioners and disciples still live in these words of scripture.
The words of the old hymn that says, “Give me that old time religion,” set before us a challenge to look at our lives and our churches and to assess whether we can sing those words with sincerity. If, in fact, we truly embraced that “old time religion” of the apostles, we would be devoted to Bible study, prayer, worship, and fellowship within the Body of Christ.
If, in fact, we truly embraced that “old time religion” of the apostles, we would be in awe of the many miracles and signs of the “greater things” about which Jesus spoke.
If, in fact, we truly embraced that “old time religion” of the apostles, there would be no poverty, no brokenness, no loneliness, and no lack, for we would give out of our own resources to make certain that no one had needs that were unmet.
If, in fact, we truly embraced that “old time religion” of the apostles, we would “be” Jesus to our families, our communities, our churches, and the world around us.
Prayer: O Lord, help us in our devotional and disciplined lives that we might not ever forget the essentials, that we might not major in the minors, and that we might not just become disciples, but that we might make disciples, in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
The Rev. Sky Lowe-McCracken
Paducah District Superintendent-Memphis Conference
– – – – –
REFLECTIONS FOR THE DAY | Use a program on your computer, a traditional journal, or feel free to use the comment section of this blog post to record your reflections as a conversation with others…
READ – What spoke to me as I read today’s meditation?
REPENT – Where is God showing me that I have failed to be obedient to the call to discipleship today?
RECEIVE – What words of redemption and grace is God offering to me?
REMEMBER – Who and what is God calling me to remember in prayer related to today’s reading?
RESPOND – How is God calling me to respond today?
RESOURCES:
> DOWNLOADS – 40 Day Walk prayer guide (.PDF), 40 Days of Doodles kids journal (.PDF)
> CLICK HERE for sermon starters/suggestions
Day 5: God’s transforming presence – Offering Christ to a hurting world
Posted: April 28, 2013 Filed under: 40 Day Walk With God, Bishop's Blog | Tags: acts, annual conference, bishop, bishop mcalilly, mcalilly, Methodist, Prayer, UMC 4 Comments
Acts 9:17-19a (Read verses 17-22)
Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. After eating, he regained his strength.
This Scripture passage from the Book of Acts recounts the story of two men, both doing what they felt was faithful, both encountering the Risen Christ in their own way, both whose lives were changed forever. Saul was protecting the faith of his fathers, while Ananias was praying for the followers of the Way. They were apparently on opposite paths until Jesus called them together.
It was the whole-hearted pursuit of God that allowed both of these men to see with entirely new eyes, and to experience the most unexpected change of direction.
Neither Saul nor Ananias anticipated God’s direction, but the outcome has had lasting impact! That’s the transformation of the world we seek, as we practice being and making disciples: the transformation of vision, to see what God sees, and to love as God does.
We have no chance of changing others’ vision. It is overwhelming to consider the depths of the issues that face the Church and the world today. Poverty is an ongoing reality, we continue to battle disease, and many people feel hopeless and helpless. If it were up to us, we would be lost.
The Good News is still the good news: we serve the Risen Christ who makes the lame walk and the blind see. Unexpected course changes, hope and help and the power to persevere are all fruit of life with Jesus. Greater things are yet to come because He that is in the Church is greater than he who is in the world. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: Lord, we ask that you open our eyes to your transformational presence in the world around us. Help us to see with your eyes, to hear with your ears, and to speak with your voice. Help us to bring your presence to others. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
Sue Engle
Intentional Discipleship Action Team-Memphis Conference
– – – – –
REFLECTIONS FOR THE DAY | Use a program on your computer, a traditional journal, or feel free to use the comment section of this blog post to record your reflections as a conversation with others…
READ – What spoke to me as I read today’s meditation?
REPENT – Where is God showing me that I have failed to be obedient to the call to discipleship today?
RECEIVE – What words of redemption and grace is God offering to me?
REMEMBER – Who and what is God calling me to remember in prayer related to today’s reading?
RESPOND – How is God calling me to respond today?
RESOURCES:
> DOWNLOADS – 40 Day Walk prayer guide (.PDF), 40 Days of Doodles kids journal (.PDF)
> CLICK HERE for sermon starters/suggestions
Greater Things Are Yet To Be Done 