devotion
DEVOTION
SERMON NOTES: PRAYER REQUESTS Rene (son of Rufina Azah) who has separated himself from the family. Philemon Tse (Judith Shu brother-in-law) lost his wife; give him strength to bare the loss. Judith Shu’s brother and his wife who are going through very difficult trials. Jim Dunbar (friend of Amy Moore) who received an artificial heart and is awaiting a heart/lung transplant. For all those graduating this year—that they move into the next chapters of their lives with confidence that God is with them each step of the way. Gregory & Desmond (children of Anna Barzey-Robinson) as they struggle through a difficult time. Stephany O’s mom (friend of Heather Butterfield) who has pneumonia in her lungs and is being treated. Steve Gast (Jennifer Huehn’s college friend) received new lungs for his Cystic Fibrosis back in 2013. He was finally able to move home! Pray for Ruthann Coburn as she works through health issues. Kay Prouty (mother of Pastor Paul’s brother-in-law) who has cancer. Beverly Dols (John Ivers sister) as she is in hospice care. Julie Fjeld (Jennifer & Mike Huehns’ neighbor) who lives with cancer. John Thiessen as he lives with cancer. Donna McCullen (wife of Ken McCullen) as she lives with from cancer.
Our beliefs about the creation of the world and about how we came to be can be very divisive. They don’t need to be though. The Bible has many important words to speak about these issues. This week we have the opportunity to study them. Some of us are using a prayer devotion. We’re praying for 15 new people to come to worship on June 18. If you’d like to look at that devotion go to: http://www.scribd.com/doc/228334582/PrayerGuide-Outdoor-Worship-Service Comments about the devotion can be e-mailed to [email protected]. Monday, June 8 Read Genesis 7:11, 8:2, Revelation 5:3, 13 In the ancient world people believed that a vast amount of water existed above the sky and below the earth. This is why the writer of Genesis said that when the flood came “all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.” With the help of the advancement of science we know that this is not true. We’ve seen pictures of space and the area under the earth. However our own knowledge doesn’t make these stories any less true. We understand that the Bible wasn’t written to be a scientific explanation of the world. Instead it was written to share the glory of God and God’s love of humanity. Because the Bible is “the Bible” it’s hard to sometimes accept that some of the Bible had facts that we know are not true. But if we understand that the writers of the Bible were human who were influenced by the culture of their day, this is less threatening. Prayer: Give me an open mind when I read the Bible. Don’t let me be threatened when something in the Bible doesn’t appear to be factually true. Instead remind me of the grand purpose of the Bible
2 Tuesday, June 9 Read Ephesians 3:14-19 We can have the most powerful telescope in the world, but that won’t help us comprehend the awesome love of God. This knowledge of God doesn’t happen through scientific methods. It happens through faith. However if we need everything proved to us, the Bible and ultimately God will be hard to appreciate. No one has ever been able to prove God using scientific claims. If we struggle to comprehend God or even the Bible, ask God for help. Ask that our own faith might be increased. Living on this spiritual realm, can help us grow as spiritual beings, and it can help us comprehend the most amazing love of God. Prayer: Help me comprehend through faith the awesome love of God. Increase my faith, Lord! Wednesday, June 10 Read Acts 17:24-28 In this story Paul was making the case for Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus in Athens. He had been in a debate with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers of the day, Acts 17:18. At the end of this verse Paul said, “In him we live and move and have our being,” Acts 17:28 This is a beautiful statement. It wouldn’t be surprising to believe that this statement is found in the Bible. However it wasn’t found in the Bible. Paul was quoting a Greek poet. The narrator of this story even mentioned that at the end of verse 28. It might not feel like a big deal for Paul to quote a Greek poet when he is making the case for God. It might be like referencing science to prove the immensity of the universe, or using a high level microscope to view the human heart. Having these tools can deepen our own appreciation for God. To fathom the immensity of the universe and/or the complexity of the human heart can lead us to believe in God. For how can this just happen? Our view doesn’t disprove
3 evolution, but it does mean we believe that some sort of force was behind this creation. Prayer: I marvel at the immensity of the universe and the complexity of the human heart. May these realities increase my own belief and faith in you. Thursday, June 11 Read John 20:24-29 Thomas had not been with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them in the house where they had stayed. This story can be read in verses 19-23 in the 20th chapter of John. Even though his close friends told Thomas that Jesus was alive, he still wouldn’t believe. Thomas needed physical proof. Thomas has been called “doubting Thomas,” but another way to think of him is someone who needed verification. He needed to see Jesus before he would believe. When it comes to the Creation of the world and our own origins, some of us need proof too. We have a hard time accepting the literal account in Genesis—especially when that account is not consistent with the findings of science. Our own doubts in creation are not necessarily a lack of faith—it’s just that we need verification. Jesus loved Thomas and verified to Thomas that he had been raised from the dead. Our task is to live into Jesus last statement in this story, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:29 . Prayer: Even if I am like Thomas help me to believe even when I can’t see you. Friday, June 12 Read Psalm 19:1-4 No matter what our view on the creation of the world we all can agree that the heavens tell the glory of God and the firmament (the earth) proclaims his handiwork. This statement describes our reality. How often have we looked at the sky or a beautiful sunset, or stand near a huge body of water and
4 say, “Wow. There has to be a God.” It’s hard to believe that such beauty could just happen and develop by itself without a guiding force behind it. Prayer: Thank you for the beauty in the world and all that you have done to create it. I praise you for what you have made. Saturday, June 13 Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 No matter what our view of the origins of the world and of humans, we are called to live as though we reflect God. As Paul wrote at the end of this passage we are “being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” The issue of the creation of the world has caused people and churches to divide in a nasty way. This is sad and actually inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture. Jesus didn’t come into the world so that we would get into nasty fights about the creation of the world. He came into the world so we could reflect his own glory. No matter what our views, may we reflect God’s glory in our own lives. If people disagree with us (and even if we strongly disagree with them) may we treat them with kindness and a generous spirit. In this way we are reflecting God’s glory. Prayer: Help me live with a kind and generous spirit. May I treat all people this way—even people with whom I disagree.
SERMON NOTES: PRAYER REQUESTS Rene (son of Rufina Azah) who has separated himself from the family. Philemon Tse (Judith Shu brother-in-law) lost his wife; give him strength to bare the loss. Judith Shu’s brother and his wife who are going through very difficult trials. Jim Dunbar (friend of Amy Moore) who received an artificial heart and is awaiting a heart/lung transplant. For all those graduating this year—that they move into the next chapters of their lives with confidence that God is with them each step of the way. Gregory & Desmond (children of Anna Barzey-Robinson) as they struggle through a difficult time. Stephany O’s mom (friend of Heather Butterfield) who has pneumonia in her lungs and is being treated. Steve Gast (Jennifer Huehn’s college friend) received new lungs for his Cystic Fibrosis back in 2013. He was finally able to move home! Pray for Ruthann Coburn as she works through health issues. Kay Prouty (mother of Pastor Paul’s brother-in-law) who has cancer. Beverly Dols (John Ivers sister) as she is in hospice care. Julie Fjeld (Jennifer & Mike Huehns’ neighbor) who lives with cancer. John Thiessen as he lives with cancer. Donna McCullen (wife of Ken McCullen) as she lives with from cancer.
Our beliefs about the creation of the world and about how we came to be can be very divisive. They don’t need to be though. The Bible has many important words to speak about these issues. This week we have the opportunity to study them. Some of us are using a prayer devotion. We’re praying for 15 new people to come to worship on June 18. If you’d like to look at that devotion go to: http://www.scribd.com/doc/228334582/PrayerGuide-Outdoor-Worship-Service Comments about the devotion can be e-mailed to [email protected]. Monday, June 8 Read Genesis 7:11, 8:2, Revelation 5:3, 13 In the ancient world people believed that a vast amount of water existed above the sky and below the earth. This is why the writer of Genesis said that when the flood came “all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.” With the help of the advancement of science we know that this is not true. We’ve seen pictures of space and the area under the earth. However our own knowledge doesn’t make these stories any less true. We understand that the Bible wasn’t written to be a scientific explanation of the world. Instead it was written to share the glory of God and God’s love of humanity. Because the Bible is “the Bible” it’s hard to sometimes accept that some of the Bible had facts that we know are not true. But if we understand that the writers of the Bible were human who were influenced by the culture of their day, this is less threatening. Prayer: Give me an open mind when I read the Bible. Don’t let me be threatened when something in the Bible doesn’t appear to be factually true. Instead remind me of the grand purpose of the Bible
2 Tuesday, June 9 Read Ephesians 3:14-19 We can have the most powerful telescope in the world, but that won’t help us comprehend the awesome love of God. This knowledge of God doesn’t happen through scientific methods. It happens through faith. However if we need everything proved to us, the Bible and ultimately God will be hard to appreciate. No one has ever been able to prove God using scientific claims. If we struggle to comprehend God or even the Bible, ask God for help. Ask that our own faith might be increased. Living on this spiritual realm, can help us grow as spiritual beings, and it can help us comprehend the most amazing love of God. Prayer: Help me comprehend through faith the awesome love of God. Increase my faith, Lord! Wednesday, June 10 Read Acts 17:24-28 In this story Paul was making the case for Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus in Athens. He had been in a debate with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers of the day, Acts 17:18. At the end of this verse Paul said, “In him we live and move and have our being,” Acts 17:28 This is a beautiful statement. It wouldn’t be surprising to believe that this statement is found in the Bible. However it wasn’t found in the Bible. Paul was quoting a Greek poet. The narrator of this story even mentioned that at the end of verse 28. It might not feel like a big deal for Paul to quote a Greek poet when he is making the case for God. It might be like referencing science to prove the immensity of the universe, or using a high level microscope to view the human heart. Having these tools can deepen our own appreciation for God. To fathom the immensity of the universe and/or the complexity of the human heart can lead us to believe in God. For how can this just happen? Our view doesn’t disprove
3 evolution, but it does mean we believe that some sort of force was behind this creation. Prayer: I marvel at the immensity of the universe and the complexity of the human heart. May these realities increase my own belief and faith in you. Thursday, June 11 Read John 20:24-29 Thomas had not been with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them in the house where they had stayed. This story can be read in verses 19-23 in the 20th chapter of John. Even though his close friends told Thomas that Jesus was alive, he still wouldn’t believe. Thomas needed physical proof. Thomas has been called “doubting Thomas,” but another way to think of him is someone who needed verification. He needed to see Jesus before he would believe. When it comes to the Creation of the world and our own origins, some of us need proof too. We have a hard time accepting the literal account in Genesis—especially when that account is not consistent with the findings of science. Our own doubts in creation are not necessarily a lack of faith—it’s just that we need verification. Jesus loved Thomas and verified to Thomas that he had been raised from the dead. Our task is to live into Jesus last statement in this story, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:29 . Prayer: Even if I am like Thomas help me to believe even when I can’t see you. Friday, June 12 Read Psalm 19:1-4 No matter what our view on the creation of the world we all can agree that the heavens tell the glory of God and the firmament (the earth) proclaims his handiwork. This statement describes our reality. How often have we looked at the sky or a beautiful sunset, or stand near a huge body of water and
4 say, “Wow. There has to be a God.” It’s hard to believe that such beauty could just happen and develop by itself without a guiding force behind it. Prayer: Thank you for the beauty in the world and all that you have done to create it. I praise you for what you have made. Saturday, June 13 Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 No matter what our view of the origins of the world and of humans, we are called to live as though we reflect God. As Paul wrote at the end of this passage we are “being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” The issue of the creation of the world has caused people and churches to divide in a nasty way. This is sad and actually inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture. Jesus didn’t come into the world so that we would get into nasty fights about the creation of the world. He came into the world so we could reflect his own glory. No matter what our views, may we reflect God’s glory in our own lives. If people disagree with us (and even if we strongly disagree with them) may we treat them with kindness and a generous spirit. In this way we are reflecting God’s glory. Prayer: Help me live with a kind and generous spirit. May I treat all people this way—even people with whom I disagree.
