Recover Together - Romans 12:9-18

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Questions for Reflection:

In your opinion which of the great qualities listed above do you think the Christian church in general needs to display more of?

Which of these attributes would you like to grow in as a follower of Jesus?

Which of these qualities really resonates with our culture as an authentic quality representing Christ well?

Prayer of the Week:

Father in Heaven, thank You for loving me from eternity. You are my true Father and I love You very much. As I begin this prayer I ask You to come by Your Spirit and fill me afresh with Your presence so that I might embrace and receive all that You have for me. You are love and You are life and I receive You by faith and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.

Jesus, I thank You for coming in the flesh to be the Way so that I could be reconciled to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. I receive all that Your work and triumph has done for me. I am amazed that You have made it possible for me to be forgiven completely and given a new heart and new life to live. Give me grace today to rest in You. I ask You to search me and know me and reveal to me where You are working in my life that I might join You in the recovery of my soul. Jesus, help me notice the places in my heart and soul that are particularly tender and wounded. Help me be as gracious and merciful with my heart as You are. I invite You Jesus into the places of my being where I need life and peace this day. (Rest for a few moments in His presence inviting Jesus into the places of your heart that need His peace and wholeness as He reveals them.)

Jesus, thank You for making me a part of Your church, the body of Christ, so that I am not alone and neither are my brothers and sisters. Help me see my vital role as I interact with others. I am sorry I have sometimes looked down on others and looked down on myself as being less significant or less important. I affirm that You have arranged the parts of the body as You see fit. I look forward to living this day fulfilling my role as Your servant and member of Your body. I pray that your vision for Your church be realized this day.

“That there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Amen

Recover Together - Romans 12:1-8

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Questions for Reflection:

What are some mercies that you have seen in your own life thus far?

What are some practices (or tools) we can use to transform our mind and resist being conformed to this world?

How has God uniquely gifted you to humbly serve within the body of Christ? Is there anything holding you back from using your gifts to serve right now?

Prayer of the Week:

Father in Heaven, thank You for loving me from eternity. You are my true Father and I love You very much. As I begin this prayer I ask You to come by Your Spirit and fill me afresh with Your presence so that I might embrace and receive all that You have for me. You are love and You are life and I receive You by faith and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.

Jesus, I thank You for coming in the flesh to be the Way so that I could be reconciled to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. I receive all that Your work and triumph has done for me. I am amazed that You have made it possible for me to be forgiven completely and given a new heart and new life to live. Give me grace today to rest in You. I ask You to search me and know me and reveal to me where You are working in my life that I might join You in the recovery of my soul. Jesus, help me notice the places in my heart and soul that are particularly tender and wounded. Help me be as gracious and merciful with my heart as You are. I invite You Jesus into the places of my being where I need life and peace this day. (Rest for a few moments in His presence inviting Jesus into the places of your heart that need His peace and wholeness as He reveals them.)

Jesus, thank You for making me a part of Your church, the body of Christ, so that I am not alone and neither are my brothers and sisters. Help me see my vital role as I interact with others. I am sorry I have sometimes looked down on others and looked down on myself as being less significant or less important. I affirm that You have arranged the parts of the body as You see fit. I look forward to living this day fulfilling my role as Your servant and member of Your body. I pray that your vision for Your church be realized this day.

“That there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Amen

Recover Together - 1 Corinthians 12:21-27

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Questions for Reflection:

As you read the quote from Sunday's sermon below in light of the passage above, what comes to mind? How are you challenged?

"We each matter to each other in ways we can’t imagine. Presence matters. Life is a shared experience."

God has, from the very beginning, has designed humanity to be in community. How have you noticed "togetherness" being hurt over the last year, and not just in the obvious ways, but also in the subtle ways.

How do you think togetherness needed for following Jesus?

Prayer of the Week:

Father in Heaven, thank You for loving me from eternity. You are my true Father and I love You very much. As I begin this prayer I ask You to come by Your Spirit and fill me afresh with Your presence so that I might embrace and receive all that You have for me. You are love and You are life and I receive You by faith and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.

Jesus, I thank You for coming in the flesh to be the Way so that I could be reconciled to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. I receive all that Your work and triumph has done for me. I am amazed that You have made it possible for me to be forgiven completely and given a new heart and new life to live. Give me grace today to rest in You. I ask You to search me and know me and reveal to me where You are working in my life that I might join You in the recovery of my soul. Jesus, help me notice the places in my heart and soul that are particularly tender and wounded. Help me be as gracious and merciful with my heart as You are. I invite You Jesus into the places of my being where I need life and peace this day. (Rest for a few moments in His presence inviting Jesus into the places of your heart that need His peace and wholeness as He reveals them.)

Jesus, thank You for making me a part of Your church, the body of Christ, so that I am not alone and neither are my brothers and sisters. Help me see my vital role as I interact with others. I am sorry I have sometimes looked down on others and looked down on myself as being less significant or less important. I affirm that You have arranged the parts of the body as You see fit. I look forward to living this day fulfilling my role as Your servant and member of Your body. I pray that your vision for Your church be realized this day.

“That there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Amen

Recover Together - 1 Corinthians 12:3-6, 11-20

3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Questions for Reflection:

What is a gift that you are thankful the Holy Spirit has blessed you to have? How are you using that gift?

Who is blessing you with their unique gift? What is that gift?

Prayer of the Week:

Father in Heaven, thank You for loving me from eternity. You are my true Father and I love You very much. As I begin this prayer I ask You to come by Your Spirit and fill me afresh with Your presence so that I might embrace and receive all that You have for me. You are love and You are life and I receive You by faith and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.

Jesus, I thank You for coming in the flesh to be the Way so that I could be reconciled to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. I receive all that Your work and triumph has done for me. I am amazed that You have made it possible for me to be forgiven completely and given a new heart and new life to live. Give me grace today to rest in You. I ask You to search me and know me and reveal to me where You are working in my life that I might join You in the recovery of my soul. Jesus, help me notice the places in my heart and soul that are particularly tender and wounded. Help me be as gracious and merciful with my heart as You are. I invite You Jesus into the places of my being where I need life and peace this day. (Rest for a few moments in His presence inviting Jesus into the places of your heart that need His peace and wholeness as He reveals them.)

Jesus, thank You for making me a part of Your church, the body of Christ, so that I am not alone and neither are my brothers and sisters. Help me see my vital role as I interact with others. I am sorry I have sometimes looked down on others and looked down on myself as being less significant or less important. I affirm that You have arranged the parts of the body as You see fit. I look forward to living this day fulfilling my role as Your servant and member of Your body. I pray that your vision for Your church be realized this day.

“That there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Amen

Recover Together - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

A letter from Paul to the church in Corinth...

1-2 You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who He is; then Jesus and what He did – Jesus crucified.

3-5 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate – I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it – and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Questions for Reflection:

Do you ever find yourself being “afraid” or cautious to talk to others about Jesus because you may not have the “perfect” words? Or that you are not “theological” enough? How does this passage from Paul help give you freedom to just be simple and talk like a friend to others? It’s God’s power, not yours, not your fancy or emotional footwork – but it’s God’s power!

What about your relationship with Jesus? Are you hindered because you think you aren’t “lofty” enough – or don’t have enough training? Or that you don’t know the right words to say to Him? Does this give you freedom to break down this wall and simply talk to Him, spend time with Him as a friend, not worrying about what you will “say?”

Prayer of the Week:

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive Your life and Your love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and God and give every aspect and dimension of my life – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will – to You and You alone. I ask Your Holy Spirit to restore me in You, renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

Jesus, union with You in every dimension of my life and through You, union with my true Father in heaven is of pivotal importance to me today. I may feel like there are many other things that are “more important” in this moment but I step out in faith and resolve that being synced up in union with You is the most important step to take. The quality of our connection profoundly affects every other aspect of my life. I now receive You Jesus as my Lord, Leader, Savior and Lover of my soul. I surrender to you and ask that You apply to me all the work and triumph of Your cross, death and sacrifice for me as well as Your life resurrection and ascension. I confess my sin and brokenness to You now and receive Your complete and total forgiveness, (You my take a few moments to confess any sin and soul brokenness that is on your heart right now and receive complete forgiveness.)

Jesus I want to live the moments of this day reconciled to my Father in heaven and in synced up union with You and the Holy Spirit.

I praise You Jesus for friends that I trust will bring me to You. I thank you for some of them now and mention them by name (just mention who comes to mind by name.) I thank you for the friends, some of which I may not know, who provided this I Belong reading, devotion and prayer because they are friends who bring friends to Jesus. Jesus, I also thank you for all opportunities I get to bring friends to You in the course of everyday life. I ask Your kingdom reign to come over every dimension of my life so that I might see and seize opportunities to help people connect with You ... to love people in such a way that encountering me helps them encounter You.

I specifically pray for all Grow Groups at Point of Grace, those that exist and those You desire to come into existence, that they might be places where friends bring friends to Jesus in real and ever so gracious and effective ways. I love You Jesus and invite you in to every aspect and movement of my being as I live this day in Your name!

Amen

Recover Together - John 1:29-42

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[a] John’s Disciples Follow Jesus

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[b]).

Questions for Reflection:

Where did you see your faith journey go from following someone else’s faith journey for inspiration to it being about your faith journey?

Who is something in your direct vicinity who you can actively get in front of Jesus?

Prayer of the Week:

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive Your life and Your love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and God and give every aspect and dimension of my life – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will – to You and You alone. I ask Your Holy Spirit to restore me in You, renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

Jesus, union with You in every dimension of my life and through You, union with my true Father in heaven is of pivotal importance to me today. I may feel like there are many other things that are “more important” in this moment but I step out in faith and resolve that being synced up in union with You is the most important step to take. The quality of our connection profoundly affects every other aspect of my life. I now receive You Jesus as my Lord, Leader, Savior and Lover of my soul. I surrender to you and ask that You apply to me all the work and triumph of Your cross, death and sacrifice for me as well as Your life resurrection and ascension. I confess my sin and brokenness to You now and receive Your complete and total forgiveness, (You my take a few moments to confess any sin and soul brokenness that is on your heart right now and receive complete forgiveness.)

Jesus I want to live the moments of this day reconciled to my Father in heaven and in synced up union with You and the Holy Spirit.

I praise You Jesus for friends that I trust will bring me to You. I thank you for some of them now and mention them by name (just mention who comes to mind by name.) I thank you for the friends, some of which I may not know, who provided this I Belong reading, devotion and prayer because they are friends who bring friends to Jesus. Jesus, I also thank you for all opportunities I get to bring friends to You in the course of everyday life. I ask Your kingdom reign to come over every dimension of my life so that I might see and seize opportunities to help people connect with You ... to love people in such a way that encountering me helps them encounter You.

I specifically pray for all Grow Groups at Point of Grace, those that exist and those You desire to come into existence, that they might be places where friends bring friends to Jesus in real and ever so gracious and effective ways. I love You Jesus and invite you in to every aspect and movement of my being as I live this day in Your name!

Amen

Recover Together - Mark 10:13-16

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10

Questions for Reflection:

As you think about your childhood, were there any people that helped you see Jesus, understand Him or in some sense brought your to Him? If so who were they?

What about when you were a teenager/young adult? Was there anyone that used by God to bring you closer to Jesus? If not ..... when did someone enter your life to help you see Jesus? Who were they?

How does it help you to relax with Jesus knowing He wants us to come to Him as children - helpless and filled with "need"?

Prayer of the Week:

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive Your life and Your love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and God and give every aspect and dimension of my life – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will – to You and You alone. I ask Your Holy Spirit to restore me in You, renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

Jesus, union with You in every dimension of my life and through You, union with my true Father in heaven is of pivotal importance to me today. I may feel like there are many other things that are “more important” in this moment but I step out in faith and resolve that being synced up in union with You is the most important step to take. The quality of our connection profoundly affects every other aspect of my life. I now receive You Jesus as my Lord, Leader, Savior and Lover of my soul. I surrender to you and ask that You apply to me all the work and triumph of Your cross, death and sacrifice for me as well as Your life resurrection and ascension. I confess my sin and brokenness to You now and receive Your complete and total forgiveness, (You my take a few moments to confess any sin and soul brokenness that is on your heart right now and receive complete forgiveness.)

Jesus I want to live the moments of this day reconciled to my Father in heaven and in synced up union with You and the Holy Spirit.

I praise You Jesus for friends that I trust will bring me to You. I thank you for some of them now and mention them by name (just mention who comes to mind by name.) I thank you for the friends, some of which I may not know, who provided this I Belong reading, devotion and prayer because they are friends who bring friends to Jesus. Jesus, I also thank you for all opportunities I get to bring friends to You in the course of everyday life. I ask Your kingdom reign to come over every dimension of my life so that I might see and seize opportunities to help people connect with You ... to love people in such a way that encountering me helps them encounter You.

I specifically pray for all Grow Groups at Point of Grace, those that exist and those You desire to come into existence, that they might be places where friends bring friends to Jesus in real and ever so gracious and effective ways. I love You Jesus and invite you in to every aspect and movement of my being as I live this day in Your name!

Amen

Recover Together - John 4:27-42

27Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

33Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.

42They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Questions for Reflection:

Are you a weary and burdened wanderer who needs to spend some time at Jesus feet to satisfy some emotional and spiritual hunger?

Are there a few people in your everyday world (where you live, work and play) who need to be brought to the well to meet Jesus personally?

What are you waiting for?

Prayer of the Week:

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive Your life and Your love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and God and give every aspect and dimension of my life – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will – to You and You alone. I ask Your Holy Spirit to restore me in You, renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

Jesus, union with You in every dimension of my life and through You, union with my true Father in heaven is of pivotal importance to me today. I may feel like there are many other things that are “more important” in this moment but I step out in faith and resolve that being synced up in union with You is the most important step to take. The quality of our connection profoundly affects every other aspect of my life. I now receive You Jesus as my Lord, Leader, Savior and Lover of my soul. I surrender to you and ask that You apply to me all the work and triumph of Your cross, death and sacrifice for me as well as Your life resurrection and ascension. I confess my sin and brokenness to You now and receive Your complete and total forgiveness, (You my take a few moments to confess any sin and soul brokenness that is on your heart right now and receive complete forgiveness.)

Jesus I want to live the moments of this day reconciled to my Father in heaven and in synced up union with You and the Holy Spirit.

I praise You Jesus for friends that I trust will bring me to You. I thank you for some of them now and mention them by name (just mention who comes to mind by name.) I thank you for the friends, some of which I may not know, who provided this I Belong reading, devotion and prayer because they are friends who bring friends to Jesus. Jesus, I also thank you for all opportunities I get to bring friends to You in the course of everyday life. I ask Your kingdom reign to come over every dimension of my life so that I might see and seize opportunities to help people connect with You ... to love people in such a way that encountering me helps them encounter You.

I specifically pray for all Grow Groups at Point of Grace, those that exist and those You desire to come into existence, that they might be places where friends bring friends to Jesus in real and ever so gracious and effective ways. I love You Jesus and invite you in to every aspect and movement of my being as I live this day in Your name!

Amen