Growing Deeply

Sunday Sermon

a daily scripture guide

Week of July 2530

MONDAY Luke 14:16-23 Yes!

One of meanings of the great feast parable is the invitation Christ offers us to the
salvation table. Traditionally, the invitations would be made and people would
reply with their yes. The parable begins after having received those rsvps.
REFLECTION: Think about the last invitation you received. How did it feel to
be invited?
TUESDAY: Luke 14:16-23 Yes, but...
Having said yes, when the word goes out on the day of the celebration that now
is the time, people back out. The reasons seem appropriate, but we wonder
why those reasons are valued over the invite.
REFLECTION: Perhaps youve said yes Christs invitation to salvation and the
Christian life but things (even reasonable ones) are getting in the way and take
priority. WEDNESDAY: Luke 14:16-23 A far-reaching invite
The tables are set and people are invited to eat but few have showed up. So
the invite goes out to the highways and hedges to unlikely guests.
REFLECTION: The church has an opportunity to invite ALL to the feast. Who are
we overlooking and how can we include them?
THURSDAY: Matthew 28:16-20 One final instruction
After the resurrection, Jesus gives instructions to the disciples to continue
sharing his life and teaching people his ways.
PRAYER: Starting in my home, Ill share your stories and teach your ways. Help
me to do so, and give me community in which to share both the blessings of
your last instructions as well as the stresses of it.

Beyond Low-Hanging Fruit - July 24

Scripture: Luke 14:16-23 (NRSV)

Then Jesus said to him, Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At
the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited,
Come; for everything is ready now. But they all alike began to make excuses.
The first said to him, I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see
it; please accept my regrets. Another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen,
and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets. Another said, I
have just been married, and therefore I cannot come. So the slave returned
and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry
and said to his slave, Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town
and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. And the slave
said, Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room. Then the
master said to the slave, Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people
to come in, so that my house may be filled.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches
of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.All rights reserved.

My Notes:

FRIDAY: Matthew 28:16-20 On the mountain

Jesus instructs on the mountain. When were on a mountain we hear things with
a bit of hope and excitement. When we come down from the mountain however,
reality sets in. What did he say? Does he know how hard this is going to be?
PRAYER: I just dont know what to do with this instruction, Lord. Open my
heart to hear it again and again and help me to get out of the way so that I can
at least try to be obedient to your word.
SATURDAY: Matthew 28:16-20 I am with you
Fear. The instruction is so large and daunting and scary. What if we scare
ourselves out of the blessing of disciple-making? Jesus made disciples by being
in relationship with them. He spent time with them. He knew them.
REFLECTION: May the Jesus in you start or deepen a friendship, allowing you
an opportunity to share how his joy and peace as well as his life and ways have
been a blessing and comfort to you.

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