A PERSONAL PRAYER
Gracious God,
Sometimes I wonder what it must have been like for Jesus. On the one hand, the crowds followed him and cheered for him. He was a celebrity. They loved him, as much as you can love someone when what you really want is for that person to do something for you. On the other hand, there were so many who hated him, who rejected him, who denied him. They even tried to kill him. No, they didn’t just try – they did kill him. That is the ultimate form of rejection. There were some times he seemed to worry what people thought of him: “Who do people say that I am?” he asked the disciples. But he knew who he was, and whose he was, and what he was here to do. So he suffered the wilderness of rejection and lived out his purpose.
God, there are times I worry about rejection by others. There are times I grieve because I feel rejected. Forgive me, God. Remind me of who I am, and whose I am, that I might know I am accepted by the one who really matters.
In Christ, the one I have both accepted and sometimes rejected, I pray,
Amen.
KEY VERSE FOR THE WEEK
And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. … Luke 4:24 Read the whole passage for Sunday’s message here: Luke 4:16-30
QUESTIONS FOR CONVERSATION
When have you felt rejected and for what reason? How have you changed, and how was that change received?
SOME THOUGHTS TO SHARE
This week, we conclude our sermon series “In The Wilderness.” Jesus leaves the wilderness and is rejected by the people in Nazareth, his old home town. How did he respond, and what might we learn from him.
Make sure and come see our Pure Sound youth as they present the musical “Seussical” in the Lowe Theater at St. John’s School this weekend, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30!
One of our inside out habits is “we pray.” Each Sunday during Lent, our children receive plastic Easter eggs containing the Lord’s Prayer and names to pray for that week. Everyone is invited to join in. Eggs are available at the info desk in the Fellowship Walk. Take an egg and pray for those names during the week.
Our Scripture+Shared Bible study for next week, March 19-25, we look at parables, why Jesus taught in parables, and on the parable of the prodigal son found in Luke 15. Get a Bible Buddy and join in here.
PRAYER CALENDAR
Sunday, March 19
Dear Lord, please help us to increase our faith in a world where things don’t always go our way. So that we may be an encouragement to others in your name. Amen.
-Prayer by Dwayne
Monday, March 20
Father, In Jesus’ name I thank you for being my God and letting me live in your world. I want to love you more, trust you more, and see more of you in me. Thank you, Amen.
Tuesday, March 21
Father God, you are so kind and loving to each of us. We thank and praise you for everything, Amen. -Prayer by Anne
Wednesday, March 22
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this new day. Fill us each morning with your love and let us carry it out into your world. Help us to remember we can do all things through you. Guide our steps. Thank you for your many blessings. Amen.
Thursday, March 23
God, our Father, we ask that you provide us with guidance today in all our activities. Let the Holy Spirit work within us to provide insight in what we say and do. We thank you for the gift of your son and the grace He bestowed on us. Amen.
Friday, March 24
Heavenly Father, look down upon us and provide guidance in this troubled world to honor your existence. It is important that we know you and make you part of our life daily. Encourage those non-believers to seek more information and begin a relationship. Amen.
Saturday, March 25
Dear Lord, Give me rest, eight hours would be best. Give me dreams to lead me through so I can wake and know what to do. Thank you for the gift of each night and for each new morning too. Amen. -Prayer by a new Mom
Want to join this email list, or want to unsubscribe? You can click here and manage all your subscriptions through our new membership portal.
Leave A Comment