Thursday, May 7, 2015

John 14:25-26

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Reflection

Our scripture today speaks to how the Holy Spirit teaches us.  As we continue on this journey of faith, the Holy Spirit continues to teach us what Jesus has told us. What have you learned on this journey of faith?

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,

 are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Reflection

This is one of the hardest ways that we encounter the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ. The hard part of this is that the Holy Spirit reveals the image of Christ to us and this shows us the ways that we need to be changed. Change is the hardest part of any journey that we take and change in our own lives is hard. Have you had a hard time trying to change something in your life?

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

 Reflection

This is a fairly common scripture. The funny thing is that so often it is used to talk about tattoos and piercings, but the truth is that this verse is speaking to how the Holy Spirit

resides in all of our lives as a living temple. As we continue to grow in Christ, we allow more and more room in our hearts for the Holy Spirit. What junk clutters your heart that needs cleared out to give more room for the Holy Spirit in your life?

Monday, May 4, 2015

John 3:1-8

¹Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Reflection

The new life we have in the work of God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worked in individual lives by the Holy Spirit. This process of being “born again” is the movement of dying in Christ and being resurrected by the Holy Spirit.  In what ways were you dead that God through the Holy Spirit brought you back to life?

Weekly Theme May 3 through 10

Self-Power or Spirit Power?

 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”

John 16:13

              Here at Southport United Methodist Church we talk about making disciples and being disciples.  The truth of the matter is that we cannot do either of those things out of our own human power we have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us.  We also talk here at Southport about living out our discipleship.  We say we live out our discipleship through a discipleship path.  That path can be described like this: Connecting to God through Jesus Christ and that happens primarily in worship.  Growing in our faith and that primarily happens in journey groups which are small group experiences.  Serving others in the name of Christ inside the church and in the community and that happens primarily through one of our ministry action teams.  Finally, giving back to the Lord of what we have and who we are as persons.  Here at Southport we say that we live out our call to be a disciple or follower of Jesus by connecting, growing, serving and giving.

However, we cannot live as a follower of Jesus in this way and expect to do it on our own.  To truly be able to live our discipleship with power and effectiveness it can only happen if we surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit which lives in us as followers of Jesus.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

John 6:60-66

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” ⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! ⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ⁶⁵ He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” ⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

Reflection

Many times we forget that following Jesus was not for

everyone.  Even some of His disciples left because Jesus was too radical. Many times we skip these verses or forget that to follow Jesus is a challenging way. The way of a follower is hard. Why do you think it is important that we remember that this way is not easy? Why is it important that Jesus continues to challenge our lives?

Friday, May 1, 2015

Acts 3:28

² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Reflection

Our last question is what really gets you excited. In our

scripture today, we see the excitement of a man who is healed in the name of Jesus Christ. His excitement almost leaps off the page. Can you imagine this man who could not walk standing for the first time and then walking and dancing into the temple courts. This is the type of excitement we should have for God. For each and everyone of us has been healed. How can you show your excitement for Jesus?