R3 READING PLAN - The Woodlands UMC
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Transcript of R3 READING PLAN - The Woodlands UMC
R3READINGPLANREAD|REFLECT|RESPOND
THEWONDEROFCHRISTMAS|WEEK5
©2015TheWoodlandsUnitedMethodistChurch
WEEK5THEAFTERMATHChristmashascomeandgone.Theperiodoftimeaftertheholidayscanleaveusfeelingkindofletdown.Thisweekend,welearnedthattheendofChristmasinvitesusintoanewbeginning,anewwayofliving—theadventureshaveactuallyjustbegun.
AllScripturesourcedfromTheMessage.
MONDAYREADLuke2:21
WhatIsWrittenonYourHeart?
REFLECTThedayafterChristmashasalwaysseemedreallydepressingtome.Itarrivessoabruptly,withnodeceleration—likegettingrear-endedinago-cartbyadumptruck.Ihatetakingdownthered,greenandgolddecorations.Idon’tlikethatdarknesstakestheplaceofthelightsthatwerestrunguponmyneighbors’treesandhouses.Imisslookingforwardtotheparties(whicharereallyjustanexcusetogettogetherwithpeopleIloveandamworkingonloving)withthewonderfulfoodandawfulsweaters.
RESPONDWritingtoGodIntoday’sreading,youencounteredthecircumcisionritualperformedonJesusbyapriest.TheritualwasthemarkorsymbolofthecovenantofpromiseGodmadetoAbrahamandallofhisdescendants:thatHewouldbetheirGod—nevertoleaveorforsakethem.JesusisthefulfillmentofGod’sNewCovenant,andthroughthisNewPromisewearetoldtohaveacircumcisionofheart.
Today,spendtimewritingtoGodaboutthemarksinyourheart.Thesemarkscouldbeguilt,shame,anxiety,fear,joy,
peace,patience,tenderness,etc.AskGodtohelpyouunderstandwhatthesemarkssymbolizeorpointto.Whatmarksshouldbecelebrated?Whatmarksneedstobehealedorrefined?
TUESDAYREADLuke2:25–32
DesireandAnticipation
REFLECTIsupposemuchofthelet-downthatgetsthebestofmeeveryDecember26thhastodowithadeflatedsenseofanticipation.Ireallylikehavingsomethingtolookforwardtoandtoworktowards.Anticipationgivesmeauniquerushofenergyandemotionthatcanbecomeintoxicating.Italwayskeepsclosecompanywithdesire,anddesireisstrongmedicineforushumans.Whilegoodinandofitself,desirecanoftengetthebestofus,reducingthejourneyofanticipationintoimpulsivegraspsforsensationalism.Inotherwords,ourdesireforthefeelingsandemotionsgeneratedbyanticipationoftenoutweighourdesireforthearrivalofthesubjectofouranticipation.
RESPONDWritingtoGodIntoday’sreadingyouencounteredthepureandunbridleddesireofSimeontoputhiseyesonhisSavior.HisanticipationclimaxedwhenhelookeduponJesus,thoughhisspiritremainedinflatedasherespondedtothesourceofhisanticipationthroughservice,speakingprophecyoverJesus.
Today,writetoGodaboutthewayyouarebeingcalledto
respondtothegiftofJesus.Perhapsyouaredoingtoomuch,andneedtoprunebackyouractivities.Perhapsyouneedthecourageordirectiontostepoutintonewterritory,startingsomethingnew.Asyouwrite,askGodtoprovideyoudirectionforyourresponse.
WEDNESDAYREADLuke2:33–36
TheCostofResponse
REFLECTInthecaseofChristmas,Ifindmyself,apastor,guiltyofbeingletdownbythearrivalofthesourceofourcelebration.ItseemsIgetmoreofakickfromsingingOCome,OCome,EmmanuelthanwhenHeactuallyshowsup.Iguessit’sthatI’mnotsurewhattodonowthatHe’scome.WehavesomuchdirectiontoguideourpathinthepreparationofEmmanuel:songs,hymns,turkeys,wrappingpaper,BlackFriday,Christmastreesandsoon.Nevertheless,itseemsthatwelackthesamesortofstepping-stonestocarryusforwardnowthatJesusactuallyshowedup.
RESPONDIntoday’sreadingyouencounteredthechallengingwordgiventoMarybySimeon,thatherownheartwouldbepiercedbyasword.
Today,writetoGodaboutyourresponsetothegiftofJesus.DoyoufeelmorecomfortableleavingJesusinthemangerthanfollowingthedirectionsHeoffersforlivingthegoodlife?DoyouoftenworryaboutwhatiswillcostyouifyoucommittofollowingJesus?
THURSDAYREAD1Corinthians13:3–7
LoveIsGreater
REFLECTIthinkit’simportanttorememberthatloveanddesirearenotthesame.Justlikeallrectanglesaresquares,butnotallsquaresarerectangles,lovecanbefilledwithdesire,butnotalldesireisfilledwithlove.Weallseetheevidenceofthiswhenrelationships,marriages,jobsandfriendshipsgrowstale.Desirefuelsourpursuitofpeople,possessionsandpositionswithincomparablepassion,energyandfocus,andwewaitinanticipationuntilwegetwhatwewant.Butwhenwegetit,whateveritis,weoftenloseinterestandmoveontothenextthing,thenexttargetthatperksdesireandcreatesthatintoxicatingandaddictingsenseofanticipation.
RESPONDToday,writetoGodaboutthequalitiesofloveyoulongmosttoembody.Nameeachonespecifically.Allowyourwordstobeaprayerforhelp,patience,disciplineanddirection.
FRIDAYREAD1Corinthians12:1–11
REFLECTWeneedloveandthisiswhyweneedJesus.God’sHolyWord,thealmost2,000-yearcontinuationoftheChristiantradition,andmanyofourownstoriesandintellectsconfirmthatGodisLoveandthatlovecamedowninitsfullestexpressioninJesus.JesusasGod’sfullestexpressionofloveusedthesick,mentallyill,poor,dejected,andproudasHiscanvastoillustratehowthesustainabilityoflovetrumpstheimpulseofdesire.
RESPONDTodayyouencounteredalistofspiritualgiftsthatGodbestowsuponthosewhoprofessfaithinJesus.Mostpeoplearestronginjustafewandmaynoteverexperiencethegiftofothers.Haveyoueverconsideredyourspiritualgifts?
AsyouwritetoGod,spendtimereflectinguponeachspiritualgift.Nametheonesthatyouidentifywithmost.AskforGodtoguideyouinhowyouaresupposedtogrow,matureandutilizethegiftsthatHehasgivenyou.
