G.I.F.T.
Growing In Faith
Together
July 12th
2015
Today’s Texts:
Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 85:8-13
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29
Gathered by
Grace:
Ephesians begins with a rolling wordy sentence that
tumbles from one set of wonderful thoughts
to another finally coming to rest in the affirmation to the readers that
they belong -“You also!” Ephesians celebrates the inclusion of both Gentiles
and Jews in this new initiative of God to bring together all people, indeed,
all things into unity under Christ. This is God’s big vision of justice and
peace, in which we, too, are invited to share.
Discuss in your
household or small group:
* What does it
mean to you that God chooses you?
* What God wants
is holiness and blamelessness, which is spelled out in terms of love. How is
that lived out in your life?
* What does the
author of Ephesians say is God’s plan for the fullness of time?
* How do we claim
our spiritual inheritance?
Try to
memorize I will listen to what the Lord is saying
this verse: Psalm 85:8
Daily Bible
Readings:
These readings
are related to the Sunday readings. M-W reflect upon the past Sunday’s readings
and Th-Sa prepare for the next Sunday.
Try to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Mark 6:14-29 Thursday Psalm 23
Monday Psalm 142:5-7 Friday Jeremiah
10:19-21
Tuesday Acts 23:12-35 Saturday Mark 6:35-52
Wednesday Luke 7:31-35 Sunday Mark 6:30-34,53-56
NEXT SUNDAY: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:11-22;
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Prayers for this
Week:
For the Week: I
live for the praise of your glory!
For Throughout
the Day: Set my hope in Christ.
A Blessing to
Share: God calls you, Christ sends you,
and the Spirit empowers you.
FOR MEALTIME:
Say responsively:
Righteousness shall go forth: and prepare a path before God.
Meal Prayer from
Bible Camp:
tune- Lone Ranger/William Tell Overture
God is great and
God is good!
And we thank God
for this food.
By God’s hand we
all are fed.
Give us Lord our
daily bread!
NOTE: Improvise
on the “Amens” then go back to the words.
Devotional
Practice:
Sit quietly and reflect on verses 7-8a of Ephesians 1. What are some
of the ways in which God has “lavished” you with the riches of his grace? How
does that lavish grace impact your daily life? (Or maybe the question is “does
it” impact your daily life?) Wrap up your meditation with a prayer.
Summer Ritual:
This summer start each morning with a simple prayer: Lord, show me something
incredible. Amen. Then watch to see what the treasure is. When you find it, in
your mind add a tag “Made by God”.
Scattered to
serve:
In gratefulness
to God’s lavish grace, reach out to someone in need of God’s love. Perhaps they
have a physical need – like food or shelter; perhaps they have an emotional
need - like a word of comfort in grief or despair; perhaps it is a spiritual
need – like the good news that they too are loved and chosen by God.