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Personal Devotion

See Link above for current Study Guide

Introduction: 

Questions for Reflection

Discover More about the Message

Reflect on the message you heard in person or on-line. You can listen to the message online here.

https://firstlutherancr.org/resources/sermons

1. What is something you heard that was interesting or engaging?

2. Is there anything that raised a question or needed more explanation?

3. What is one thing you take with you? It may be something to do, something to trust, or a wisdom of insight to have.

Together with God in Prayer

OPTION 1—ONE WORD. Take time to reflect about your day, your concerns, and how God may be speaking to you. As you reflect about your day, what is one word that summarizes how you are feeling? What might God be saying to you in this word?

OPTION 2: Reflect on the past 24 hours

Step 1: Ask God to calm your self and help you see your life from God’s perspective.

Step 2: Review the last 24 hours. What happened? What stands out? What captures your attention? What is a High and Low of this time? When did you experience God’s presence? When did you feel apart or distant from God?

Step 3: Give your day to God your day. Ask for forgiveness where needed. Give thanks.

Step 4: Look forward. How might you be more loving this day? What is God calling you to do?

Prayer—Who or What can you pray for today?

Close in the Lord’s Prayer—Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Five Minutes with God

(Optional)

INTRODUCTION: 

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: 

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Small Group

See Link above for current Study Guide

Five Minutes with God

(optional)

INTRODUCTION: 

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: 

Discover Scripture and Life

Introduction: 

Bible

Opening Discovery

More about the Scripture

More about Life

Together in Prayer

1. As you look to the coming week, what is one word that summarizes how you are feeling.

2. Do you have any prayer concern that you would like to share? What is it?

Closing Prayer

Pray for the concerns shared in the group. Close in the Lord’s Prayer.

You may also use this prayer.

O God, we thank you for this time we have shared. We bring before you the joys and concerns of our heart. We pray especially for….. Grant us your healing and peace, in Jesus name. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Lord remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

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Team Devotion

December 1-See Jesse Tree Link

Together in Community If there is a new person, welcome them and introduce group members.

Discover Scripture and Life

Introduction: 

Bible

Question—Choose 1 (If there are 6 or more in the group, breakout in groups of 2 or 3.)

Together in Prayer

Connect with one another before prayer. Choose one of these options.

Option 1: One word—As you reflect about your day, what is one word that summarizes how you are feeling.

Option 2—Share High’s and Low’s

(If there are 6 or more in the group, then share high’s and low’s in small groups of 2 or 3.)

Prayer—We thank you God for bringing us together. We give thanks and praise for the good gifts you have given us. For the concerns and challenges we experience, help us to give them to you in the confidence of your loving care for us. In our sharing and listening, open us to your presence. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer—Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

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Five Minutes with God

February 23

INTRODUCTION: Jesus’ words this week look good on coffee mugs, and they are especially nice to use as ammunition against others. However, when we are the ones being told to love an enemy, when we are called out for judging someone, when we refuse to forgive, we realize just how impossible these words are. Cries of unfairness and downright refusals are our knee jerk reactions. Yet Jesus’ words don’t go away. Rather, he offers a one-word answer to our objections: MERCY. To be merciful is to be like his Father, like our Father. To be merciful is not to excuse wrongdoing. Mercy is the recognition that someone is a child of God, created in the image of God. It is to seek that image within them, no matter how buried it might be. When I can at least try to be merciful, I see another human being, someone no different than I am. Judgment and condemnation can give way to forgiveness and love.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: Who in your life who has hurt you? Who holds different viewpoints from you, so you write them off as an enemy? Who do you judge and condemn rather than forgive and love? We don’t have to look far to find people who need our mercy. This week pause before you judge, condemn, and refuse forgiveness. Be merciful like your Father.