Sermon-Series Devotional
This guide is a tool to help you give your attention to God throughout your week as you gather.
Sermon Series: Faith and Knowing
Jan 9: "I Believe Therefore I Understand" Matt 2:9-12
Jan 16: "Believing is Seeing" John 20:24-29
Jan 23: "Enough" Luke 17:5-6
Jan 30: "The Road" Luke 24:13-18
Feb 6: "Blind Eyes See" Acts 9:1-9
Feb 13: "Frosted Lenses" 1 Cor 13:8-13
Feb 20: "Unconsuming Fire" Ex 3:1-3
Feb 27: "God in the Unexpected" 1 Kings 19:11-13
Step 1: Music
Step 2:
Turn to God’s word.
See the verses above.
Step 3: Prayer
Seek God through prayer
- Pray for wisdom for our church.
- Pray that we would pay attention to how and why we know Jesus.
- Pray for those who are experiencing pain and suffering, including isolation, homelessness, marginalization, illness, or loss of a loved one whether through death or fractured relationships.
- Pray for our church to move closer to Jesus and to desire God's will for our community, and the whole of creation
Step 4: Reflection
If you have been to our church building recently, you may have noticed most of our Christmas decorations have been put away. We have packed up our manager and our nativity scenes in favour of winter decor. We're willing to bet that your home experienced the same transition as you took down the trees, but your stockings and your Christmas stars away and returned your living room from a flurry of red and green to the muted tones of the rest of the year.
Yet, there is one decoration that remains. Our trio of Magi, or wise men are still on display. And that is because we are in the season of Epiphany. This is a season in which we reflect on and celebrate the "Eureka!" or "Ah-Ha!" moment in which the Magi find the baby Jesus. It was as if the star that guided the Magi to the child, Jesus, was a light bulb over their heads. They had finally seen the light and they knew that this was the SAVIOUR of the whole world. The season of Epiphany is a season of getting to know Jesus. We know him in his miracles, and in the way, he changes people's lives. The light bulb comes on when he turns water into wine or heals the woman who was bleeding for 12 years. Something about this man is different, divine.
The Magi experienced this knowing even before they met the baby. They didn't have the added benefit of the stories and miracles that would follow. They had a divine epiphany, divine knowledge, about who this baby was, is and will be.
As you move through this season, rest in the moments that give you epiphanies. Wrestle with the knowing. It's hard sometimes. And if you need an excuse to keep those Christmas stars up, here it is. That star represents the light bulb that allows for divinely inspired epiphanies about who God is.
Step 5: Benediction
May the Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace. Amen.
Step 6: Questions
after each week, come back and revisit these questions.
- How do you know who Jesus is? Who is he to you?
- How does this change your life or your behaviour?