DAILY BIBLE READINGS:
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday. We invite you to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus walks on water
Monday Genesis 7:11 – 8:5 Noah saved from the flood
Tuesday Romans 10:8-10 You will be saved
Wednesday Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus stills the storm
Thursday Deuteronomy 29:2a, 30:1-14 The word is near you
Friday Isaiah 52:7-10 Beautiful are the feet
Saturday Psalm 18:1-19 God saves from the waters
Sunday Matthew 15:21-28 A woman’s faith
SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. Romans 10:9 (CEV) SAY, PRAY AND BLESS: A Prayer for the Week:
Jesus, you are truly the Son of God. Please take us by the hand today and rescue us from trouble. Amen. Mealtime Prayer:
You who walked upon the sea, come and join our meal, we plea. Thank
you for your care this day; lead us, Jesus, in your way. Amen. A Blessing to Give:
May the Lord Jesus take hold of you when you are scared. May he give
you faith to trust in him. Amen.
CARING CONVERSATION:
Discuss in your household or small group:
• Share about a time when you found yourself out of your “comfort zone.” How did you feel?
• Matthew 14:29-30 tells us that Peter stepped out of a boat to walk
on water, but soon became scared because of the wind and waves.
What are some “winds” or “waves” in your life at the moment?
• How does Jesus help us when we are in trouble? In what ways have
you experienced this?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS:
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday. We invite you to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Matthew 15:21-28 A woman’s faith
Monday 2 Kings 5:1-14 The foreigner Naaman is healed
Tuesday Matthew 8:1-13 Jesus heals many people
Wednesday Acts 14:19-28 God opens the door to Gentiles
Thursday Acts 15:1-21 Believing Jews accept the Gentiles
Friday Romans 11:13-27 God saves Jews and Gentiles
Saturday Psalm 87 Foreigners praise God in Zion
Sunday Matthew 16:13-20 Peter’s confession of Christ
SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
The Lord says, “Hold on to what is right and fair. Do what is right and good. My saving power will soon come.” Isaiah 56:1 (NLT) SAY, PRAY AND BLESS: A Prayer for the Week:
Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us this day! Mealtime Prayer:
Lord, we give you praise and gratitude - for all our drink and all our food,
for rest and work and roof above, and most of all for your great love.
Amen. A Blessing to Give:
May God show loving-kindness towards you and bring good to you. Amen. CARING CONVERSATION:
Discuss in your household or small group:
• The woman who came to Jesus for help wasn’t made very welcome
by his disciples (Matt. 15:23). Have you ever felt unwelcomed by
others?
• How does Jesus want us to treat people who are different from us?
• What welcome does God show to us as his people? In what ways
can we better welcome others at home? At church? DEVOTIONS:
The prophet Isaiah declared God’s intention to make his house a “house
of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7). As a household, discuss how you
can make your home into more of a “house of prayer.” Write and post
up a list of prayer points and spend at least a couple of minutes praying
together each day. If you’re looking for some fresh ideas for prayer, try
this one. Pass around a bag or bowl of M&Ms (or equivalent sweet) the
next time your household is gathered for prayer. Let each person take a
handful, but don’t let anyone eat them yet. Explain that the color of the
M&Ms will indicate the direction of your prayers. Lead your household in
prayer using this guide:
• For every red M&M, pray for a member of your family by name.
• For every green M&M, pray for a friend or neighbour.
• For every orange M&M, pray for a teacher in your life.
• For every yellow M&M, pray for someone in need.
• For every dark brown M&M, pray for a leader in your life.
• For every light brown M&M, pray for Christians in other places.
• For any other color, offer a prayer of your choice! SERVICE:
The Canaanite woman came to Jesus to ask him to heal her daughter,
who was suffering terribly. Make a card to send to someone who is
suffering in some way at the moment. RITUALS AND TRADITIONS:
Blessing one another at the beginning and/or the end the day can be very
powerful and significant daily faith ritual. Use the blessing in this week’s
Taking Faith Home to bless one another each day this week. Mark the sign
of the cross on one another’s foreheads or palms as you say the words of
blessing.
Taking Home Faith -August 21, 2011
DAILY BIBLE READINGS:
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday. We invite you to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Matthew 16:13-20 Peter’s confession of Christ
Monday John 1:43-49 The confession of Nathanael
Tuesday John 11:17-27 Martha’s confession of Christ
Wednesday Matthew 27:50-54 The confession of soldiers
Thursday Acts 9:20-31 Saul’s confession of Christ
Friday Romans 1:1-6 Testimony to Jesus, Son of God
Saturday Isaiah 45:18-25 There is no other God
Sunday Matthew 16:21-28 Take up your cross and follow
SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16: 15-16 (CEV) SAY, PRAY AND BLESS: A Prayer for the Week:
Jesus, you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Help us to point
others to you by the way we live. Amen. Mealtime Prayer:
God, we offer you our heartfelt praise, for great and mighty are your
ways. Thank you for our daily fill; equip us, Lord, to do your will. Amen. A Blessing to Give:
May the Lord answer your prayers. May he make you strong and brave to
speak up for him. Amen.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS:
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday. We invite you to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Matthew 16:21-28 Take up your cross and follow
Monday Matthew 10:32-39 Losing life to find it
Tuesday Matthew 20:17-28 Jesus again predicts his death
Wednesday Luke 9:57-62 The cost of following Jesus
Thursday Philippians 3:7-16 Running towards the goal
Friday 1 Peter 4:12-19 Suffering as a Christian
Saturday Psalm 101 The life of the righteous
Sunday Matthew 18:15-20 Seeking reconciliation
SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24 (CEV) SAY, PRAY AND BLESS: A Prayer for the Week:
Lord Jesus, teach us to put you first, take up our crosses, and follow you. Amen. Mealtime Prayer:
For all we eat and all we wear, for daily bread and nightly care, we thank
you, Heavenly Father. Amen. A Blessing to Give:
May God keep your faith in Jesus alive and strong. May God help you to
stay joyful and give you patience when times are hard. Amen.
CARING CONVERSATION:
Discuss in your household or small group:
• What is something you find difficult to do? What makes it so?
• Sometimes following Jesus involves suffering or difficulty. In what
ways have you experienced this?
• Jesus says “if you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But
if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it” (Matthew 16:25).
What do you think he means by this? DEVOTIONS:
Look together at Romans 12:9-21. Make up a poster listing and
illustrating all of the things these verses call upon Christians to do (e.g.
love others, honor others, be joyful, pray, bless). Put the poster up in
a prominent place. Pray for God’s help to live out these things in your
home this week. SERVICE:
This week, work together as a household to make small crosses out of
note cards or popsicle sticks. Write the words “Take up your cross and
follow me” on each cross. Commit to carrying your crosses with you this
week as a reminder of Jesus’ call to follow him in all things. RITUALS AND TRADITIONS:
When we hear the word “disciple,” most Christians think of the twelve
disciples of Jesus, who journeyed with him from place to place in his
ministry, and we associate discipleship with being away from home more
than in it. But our homes are where we spend a great deal of time, so
they are the primary context in which we are called to live out our faith. In
the ups and downs of household life, our faith and character are shaped,
tested and grown through our interactions with those who know our very
best and our very worst. The call to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus
is often not a call into unfamiliar places but to live differently with familiar
faces. Romans 12:13 says: “Share with God’s people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.” Plan one way you can respond to this as a household
this week.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS:
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday. We invite you to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Matthew 18:21-35 A parable about forgiveness
Monday Genesis 18:20-33 Abraham pleads for Sodom
Tuesday Genesis 33:1-16 Jacob meets Esau
Wednesday Genesis 45:1-15 Joseph forgives his brothers
Thursday 1 Samuel 26:5-25 David spares Saul’s life
Friday Acts 6:8-15, 7:54-60 Stephen prays for his killers
Saturday Psalm 79 Help us, O God our Savior
Sunday Matthew 20:1-16 Parable of the vineyard workers
SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
The Lord is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails. Psalm 103:8 (CEV) SAY, PRAY AND BLESS: A Prayer for the Week:
Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving us. Help us to forgive others from the heart. Amen. Mealtime Prayer:
Lord, as we eat the food you give, make us ready to forgive. We’re so
glad we have your love; thank you, Father, up above. Amen. A Blessing to Give:
May the Lord forgive you all your sins, and help you to forgive others. Go
in peace. Amen.