WEEKLY SERMON REFLECTIONS

Each week, take 5 days to dive deeper into the heart of our Sunday sermons! Through key insights and scripture, this format will allow for further personal reflection and spiritual growth. Keeping this at the dinner table, discuss it with family and/or friends.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK:

Lord, search my heart and remove any grievous way in me. You have not called me to greater independence apart from You or anyone else. You have made me to first be in fellowship with You and then to be in community with others. Show me how to do the good works that You would have me do with the gifts and talents You have put within me. I surrender myself to You and trust that wherever You call me, You will equip me. It’s not about me; it’s about communicating Your love and grace to others around me. Thank You for Your word and guidance. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAY
01

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

REFLECTION:

We were created for more, not to continually try to be the best version of ourselves. We were created by God and for God—to do the good work that He calls us to do with our lives. This is the greatest calling, and we should honor it.

RESPONSE:

How often do you find yourself thinking about needing to be better or those inner thoughts that start with "If only I..."? What if knowing who you are in Christ could free you to reach out and serve others with the love and grace that you’ve been given? What is one area where God is calling you to step out and serve?

DAY
02

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry...
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him —a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

Colossians 3:5–11

REFLECTION:

We were saved to be something different. We were called to be something different. We are empowered to be something different. God wasn’t just getting the band back together—He was creating a new culture of living that is meant to impact the world around us and lead us on a different path.

RESPONSE:

How does God’s word challenge your current way of thinking and doing things? Knowing that following God’s ways can bring greater blessing and purpose to your life, what things is God prompting you to turn from, and which new path is He calling you to choose?

DAY
03

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 

1 Peter 4.9

REFLECTION:

We all have uniqueness, but God didn’t make us unique just for the sake of it. We have a purpose He has given us. He desires that we use the gifts and talents He has entrusted to us for His greater good—to show His love by serving others.

RESPONSE:

Where do you struggle with being interruptible for others? 
In your:
  • Speech (e.g., words of affirmation/kindness)
  • Schedule (e.g., allowing time for others)
  • Service (e.g., tangible help)
  • Space (e.g., opening up your home)
  • Spending (e.g., generosity with money)
Pray and ask God where He would have you step out of your comfort zone and be available to someone else in one of these areas.

DAY
04

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Galatians 6:9–10

REFLECTION:

Sometimes we hesitate to step out and do “good works” because we fear giving bad advice, not communicating properly, or thinking we have nothing to offer. But God wants us to understand that it’s not about us. When we step out in faith to do what He’s calling us to do, He is the one who works through our willingness to bring about the desired outcome.

RESPONSE:

Have you ever felt inadequate to serve others because you don’t feel qualified, or feel like anything you do or say won’t make a difference? What if you took the pressure off and trusted God to work through your willingness, not worrying about how it turns out? Sometimes it simply takes time for things to work out, and God is asking you to trust and be patient. Is there an area where you’ve done all you can, and now you need to surrender it to Him for the outcome?

DAY
05

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10.38-42

REFLECTION:

Martha often gets a bad rap in this story. But actually, the story begins with Martha being the first to welcome Jesus into her home. Martha became overwhelmed with perfectionism and lost sight of the mission of Jesus in the Mission of Jesus. We need to stop letting insecurity and perfectionism distort our call to be hospitable. We cannot fix everything or make anything perfect. God calls us to be interruptible so that we can do good works by His grace. Don’t misinterpret that to mean a ‘perfect’ work. It’s okay to say, “I don’t have the solution, but I love you and will pray for you.”

RESPONSE:

Do you often feel the burden of trying to fix other people's problems or think that your house must look a certain way to have company? Pray and ask God who He would have you call this week. Ask Him to help you put aside these doubts and trust Him in the middle of your willingness to step out and do good.