Daily Discipleship Guide for 12-MAY-2010

Love is an act of the will.

Please read Luke 10:25-37 and answer the following questions.

What does this passage reveal about God?

What does this passage reveal about humanity?

What does this passage reveal about God and humanity?

Please close by reading or singing the second and third verses of "Gift of Love."

Though I may give all I possess, and striving so my love profess, but not be given by love within, the profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control, our spirits long to be made whole.  Let inward love guide every deed; by this we worship, and are freed.

Daily Discipleship Guide for 11-MAY-2010

We can't give what we've never received.  If we've never received love, how can we love others?
Do you agree that we can't give what we haven't received?  Explain.

How does someone "receive" love?  How does someone "refuse" love?

Have you received God's love?  Explain.

How can we love as God loves?  We want to.  We long to.  But how can we?  By living loved.  We receive first and love second.

How does God love you?

What does the phrase "living loved" mean to you?  Are you living loved?  Explain.

How do you receive God's love on a day-to-day basis?

Please close by reading or singing the first verse of "Gift of Love."

Though I may speak with bravest fire, and have the gift to all inspire, and have not love, my words are vain, as sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

*Study taken from Lucado.

Daily Discipleship Guide for 10-MAY-2010

Please read the following passages aloud and write the verse by hand.

John 13:34-35

I John 3:14

Romans 13:8

I Peter 4:8

Galatians 5:22-23

John 3:16

After reading these passages, how would you define love?

Did you learn anything new from these passages? 

How did these answers affirm what you already knew?

Please close this session with the following song, “I Want a Principle Within.” 

Almighty God of truth and love, to me thy power impart;
the mountain from my soul remove, the hardness from my heart.
O may the least omission pain my reawakened soul,
and drive me to that blood again, which makes the wounded whole.

Calling All Men - Methodist Men's Conference and Hand's On Mission

If you have been to Calling All Men before you know what an exciting time this is.  If you have not, please come and join your fellow brother's and see what is stirring the hearts of men in Holston Conference.  See how this gathering is helping to change the lives of men and getting men more involved in their church and their community. 

Remember UM Men's Ministry goal is:  "Bring men to Christ and then help make them disciples for Him." 

Invite another man to come with you.  Come Friday morning and be a part of the "hands-on" and pre gathering activities.

  • End Hunger Project (Packing of 10,000 meals that will help support school feeding programs in schools and orphanages around the world)
  • The Upper Room Prayer Line (You can be a part of this ministry and answer the prayer line)
  • Personal Energy Transportation (PET Project) [Help assemble 10 PET carts]
  • Nothing But Nets (Help purchase nets to protect families from mosquitoes that are carrying malaria and killing 3,000 children a day)
  • There will be two (2) pre gathering session speakers on Friday afternoon (Bishop Thomas Bickerton and Dr. David Kitts)
  • You can help support the local Manna House by bringing canned goods

Finally, remember there are 113,000,000 men age 15 or older in the United States and 72,000,000 (64%) of these "don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior."  It's time as men of the Church to stand up and do our part to get these men in the Church.  We must "cast the net" if we are going to fish and we are called to be "fishermen of men."

Looking forward to seeing you a Calling All Men at Cokesbury Center in Knoxville, TN on August 13 - 14, 2010.

Here is the brochure for this year's Calling All Men (attached).

(download)

(download)

Revised Disciple Guide for the week of May 2, 2010

**

*Disciple Study Guide
for the Week of*

*May 2, 2010*
*Rivers of Living Water*

^37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, ^38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” ^39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39 NRSV)

In this passage Jesus surprises his disciples by blurting out, “Let any one who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink,” and he begins speaking about rivers of living water.

Jesus was referring to taking in the Holy Spirit that he will soon offer and give to them. In these weeks after Easter, we as Jesus’ disciples find ourselves faced with the question, “What will I do with this resurrected Jesus? What WE do?”

Brothers and sisters, it is time to decide what kind of believer you are. Life is hard, life is short, the world is in chaos, people are broken, individuals in our own congregation (maybe the one you sat behind in church) are desperate. Will you take in the gift of the Holy Spirit? Will you let the resurrected Jesus live in you and through you? Even if it means inconvenience? Death? Changing your lifestyle?

Gandi listed Seven Deadly Social Sins. For each day this week, please ponder each of these sins. Ask yourself the following questions. What does this mean in general? What does this mean for me as an individual? What does this mean for me and my community of faith? How am I participating in this sin?


Seven Deadly Social Sins--Gandhi


*_Sunday, May 2:_* Politics with out principle

*_Monday, May 3:_* Wealth with out work

*_Tuesday, May 4:_* Commerce without morality

*_Wednesday, May 5:_* Pleasure without conscience

*_Thursday, May 6:_* Education without character

*_Friday, May 7:_* Science without humanity

*_Saturday, May 8:_* Worship without sacrifice

At the close of each time of devotion, please remember that in your baptism you promised to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves, and repent of (turn your back on) your sin. Then, say these words to yourself, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I am forgiven, and I live by the power of His Holy Spirit in me.”

Disciple Study Guide for the Week of May 2, 2010

Disciple Study Guide for the Week of May 2, 2010

*Scripture: John 7:37-39 NRSV*

*Rivers of Living Water*

^37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, ^38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” ^39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.


In the above passage Jesus surprises his disciples by blurting out, “Let any one who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink,” and he begins speaking about rivers of living water.

Jesus was referring to taking in the Holy Spirit that he will soon offer and give to them. In these weeks after Easter, we as Jesus’ disciples find ourselves faced with the question, “What will I do with this resurrected Jesus? What WE do?”

Brothers and sisters, it is time to decide what kind of believer you are. Life is hard, life is short, the world is in chaos, people are broken, individuals in our own congregation (maybe the one you sat behind in church) are desperate. Will you take in the gift of the Holy Spirit? Will you let the resurrected Jesus live in you and through you? Even if it means inconvenience? Death? Changing your lifestyle?

Gandi listed Seven Deadly Social Sins. For each day this week, please ponder each of these sins. Ask yourself the following questions. What does this mean in general? What does this mean for me as an individual? What does this mean for me and my community of faith? How am I participating in this sin?


Seven Deadly Social Sins --Gandhi


*_Sunday, May 2:_* Politics with out principle

*_Monday, May 3:_* Wealth with out work

*_ Tuesday, May 4:_* Commerce without morality

*_Wednesday, May 5:_* Pleasure without conscience

*_Thursday, May 6:_* Education without character

*_Friday, May 7:_* Science without humanity

*_Saturday, May 8:_* Worship without sacrifice

Daily Discipleship Guide for 28-APR-2010

Were you afraid of the dark when you were small?  Why?
What helped you get over your fears—a nightlight, stuffed toy, hallway light?
 
Darkness can still be intimidating even as we get older.  What fears do adults associate with darkness?

Read Psalm 27:1.

Christ was sent into the world to observe our human misery.  He came to experience it and defeat it so that, through faith in him, we can also defeat the darkness that creeps into our lives.  Just as a nightlight brings a sense of safety, peace and comfort to a child, so the light of Christ brings hope and peace to our souls.  When we let the light of Christ shine in our own lives, we bring that same hope and peace to a needy and searching world.

Take time now to think of those around you who are fearing darkness in their lives.  Pray that the Lord will bring light into their lives so that they may no longer have fear.

Daily Discipleship Guide for 27-APR-2010

Begin today's devotion by praying the following hymn.

“I want to walk as a child of the light.  I want to follow Jesus.
 God set the stars to give light to the world.  The star in my life is Jesus.
 In him there is no darkness at all.
 The night and the day are both alike.
 The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
 Shine in my head, Lord Jesus.”

 (I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light, Thomerson, 1966)

Read 1 John 1:5-7

How does it make you feel to read that there is no darkness in God?  Does that give you hope and comfort?  Hopefully it does!  John tells us that if we stay close to Christ and walk in the light, then we will be closer to our Christian brothers and sisters as well as be cleansed from all sins.  Light equals freedom!

What has the light of Christ freed you from in your life?

Close with the following prayer:
God of Light, we are so thankful that you have overcome the darkness.  I pray that today I will remember that I have found freedom in your light.  Continue making me into the child you want me to be so that I may show your light to others.  In Christ's name I pray, Amen.