Over and over in Scripture we are called to imitate Christ, whether it is Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians (11:1) or Christ’s own call to love as he loved us (John 13:34) or serve others as he came to serve us (Matthew 25:25-28). But how do we grow to become a little more like Jesus each day?
Each week throughout this sermon series, we will highlight and utilize a specific practice to engage in the week ahead in order to deepen our understanding and faith.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. Take a few moments to rest with our Savior, allowing Him to become your ultimate attachment. Continue writing words down as they come to your mind and then returning to your rest with God.
Take some time to look at the words you have written down. What stands out to you? What anxieties, fears, and worries do you see? What do these reveal about your identity?
Now take a few moments to confess that you are not called to control all that disrupts your life. Return these concerns to the Lord, trusting that He will hold them as you rest in Him.
Now that we have taken time for God to re-collect our souls, let’s take a few moments to center our hearts and minds on Christ. Read Romans 8:15-17 and choose a word or phrase to be your “centering” word. You will return to this word any time you are distracted.
What word or phrase caught your attention?
Take time to become quiet. It is normal for the first few minutes to be filled with many noisy thoughts. Don’t worry about them or pay attention to them, for you have already given these concerns to the Lord. Let them go. Gently return your attention to the center of God’s presence and love by repeating your chosen word. Be with Jesus. Listen. Be still. When distractions persist, allow your imagination to help you return to Jesus. Imagine His face, His smile, His voice…perhaps you imagine walking with Him in silence, just being together.
Take these moments to be with Jesus.
As we end our time of stillness before God, may you be encouraged that this is one way to live out Galatians 2:20. You have given Jesus space today—you have sat at the feet of the Master.
Read John 10:14-18.
In rhythm with a slow, deliberate breath, inhale the attribute that the Spirit has impressed upon you from the reading, and exhale a praise or prayer to God regarding that attribute.
Repeat this prayer as you continue to inhale and exhale in the moments of silence that follow.
After a minute or two, read John 10:14-18 a second time. Pay attention to the words and attributes the Holy Spirit impresses upon your heart regarding the nature of our Triune God and His concern for you and those around you.
In the moments that follow, allow your prayer to correspond with your inhale and exhale. On your in-breath, repeat your chosen attribute of God. As you exhale, offer how that speaks to your life today, or the truth you need to hold onto today.
Continue in this posture of praying for the next few minutes.
As you end your breath prayer today, know that you can do this at any time. You do not always have to have Scripture guiding this prayer time. As long as you can recall an attribute of God, you can practice breath prayer.
Each day, use one of these Scriptures as an invitation to confession: Psalm 32:1-2; Psalm 139:23-24; James 5:16; 1 John 5-9; or Proverbs 28:13-14. Pair with one of the practices below. Conclude with an assurance of God’s forgiveness such as Psalm 103:11-13 or 130:3-4, 7-8; Acts 10:43 or 13:38; Romans 5:8-9 or Romans 8:1, 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Peter 2:24.
Each day this week, use one of the Scriptures to follow the lectio divina process below: Romans 3:23-25; Isaiah 26:3-4; Isaiah 26:7-9; Psalm 16:1-2, 5-8; Ephesians 3:14-19; Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 5:1-5.
As you settle into your space and into this sacred time, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the God-breathed Word.
As you slowly read the Scripture text above out loud for the first time, notice any words, phrases, or images that catch your attention. In the silence that follows, let your mind linger on the word, phrase, or image that captured your attention.
As you read the text out loud for the second time, notice what thoughts, feelings, and reflections arise within you. What might God be highlighting to you through this? Did a new word or phrase stand out to you? Did the same word or phrase catch your attention? Ask the Lord how this relates to your life today.
As you read the text out loud for the third time, notice what God might be stirring within you in response. How is God leading you to respond? Perhaps in gratitude, praise, or confession? In the silence that follows, respond to Him as you feel led.
As you read the text out loud for the fourth time, allow yourself to simply be. Rest in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Each day, reflect on one of these Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10; Romans 1:14-17; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Habakkuk 2:1-4; Matthew 28:16-20. Ask for boldness, respect, and the leading of the Spirit. Confess any behavior that interferes with your witness.
Ask God to bring to mind people to pray for that they might come to know Him. Write down their names and pray for one every day.
Reflect how God brought you to know Jesus. Make it a goal to journal or share with a friend your personal answer to one of these “Story-Starter” statements each day this week:
Reflect on the gospel by reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and Ephesians 2:1-10. Practice lectio divina with a selection of verses. To deepen your reflection, memorize Eph. 2:8-9.
YouTube different gospel presentations: The Big Story (Four Circles) “Part 1” and “Part 2” and Two Ways to Live. Which one of these seems more natural to you? How would you phrase that one in your own words? Write out how you would say it. Read it out loud.
Each day this week, reflect on one of these Scriptures: Mark 10:35-45; 1 Peter 4:7-11; Philippians 2:3-8; Galatians 5:13-15; Matthew 25:35-40; John 13:1-17; Romans 12:6-13. Pray that God will open your eyes to opportunities to serve others and that you would respond. Select at least one practice to challenge yourself with this week.
Each day this week, reflect on one of these Scriptures: Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:23-31; Acts 4:32-37; 2 Timothy 2:1-3; Acts 18:18-28; Hebrews 10:19-25; Galatians 5:13-6:6. Pray daily for God to show you how you might live out these Scriptures. Notice which communal practices sound appealing to you. Is God calling you into a new practice that you could share with others or invite them into? Take action on at least one of these practices:
Organize a potluck dinner where each person will bring a dish and share a “story-starter” from Week Four.
Go for a walk with a friend to talk about these practices in this series. Where did you experience more of the fullness of God’s presence? What was hard? Where would support, encouragement, or accountability from a friend help you? What practices would you like to continue or explore going forward?
Invite someone to come over for tea/coffee and prayer. What has God brought to your attention through these practices that you would like to give to Him in prayer? Be still and ask God to show you the state of your soul. Take turns sharing briefly. Ask God to guide your prayers for each other. Pray as you feel led.
Commit to a community. Ask God to bring to mind specific people for you to reach out to about starting a D-Group or small group.
