March 9 – April 20
Click here for resources for March 9.
Click here for resources for March 16.
Click here for resources for March 23.
Click here for resources for March 30.
Click here for resources for April 6.
Click here for resources for April 13.
Click here for resources for April 20.
March 9: Solitude
Main Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Supplemental Texts: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
Pastoral Pondering:
1) Is solitude a welcome or unwelcome state for you? Why?
2) What temptations do you face when you are alone?
3) Does solitude increase or decrease temptation for you?
4) How does this text suggest we prepare ourselves for temptation?
Resources:
How to Spend a Day Alone
March 16: Solidarity
Main Text: Genesis 12:1-4a
Supplemental Texts: Psalm 121, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17
Pastoral Pondering:
1) How does solidarity with God’s will affect your life?
2) God spoke directly to Abram. How do you discern God’s will for you?
3) What kinds of difficult situations has obeying God put you in? How did you respond in those circumstances?
4) Is it easier or harder to keep solidarity with God in today’s culture?
Resources:
What is ‘God’s Will’ and How Can One Find It?
March 23: Sabbath
Main Text: Psalm 95
Supplemental Texts: Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42
Pastoral Pondering:
1) Do you celebrate the Sabbath?
2) What does the Sabbath look like for you? Is it on a Sunday? If not Sunday, when is your Sabbath?
3)What type of activities happen on your Sabbath?
4) Do you have friends and family that are included in your Sabbath or is it just time spent with God?
March 30: Surrender
Main Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14
Supplemental Texts: Psalm 23, John 9:1-41
Pastoral Pondering:
1) Do you let go and let God; and then find yourself taking it back, all that you have surrendered?
2) What do you do with the storms in your life?
3) To surrender all means to trust. Can you trust? Do you still have a part in those storms in your life, or do you just stay still until the storm passes?
4) Can you hear or feel God saying to you, “I love you and we’re going to make it.”
April 6: Simplicity
Main Text: John 11:1-45
Supplemental Texts: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11
Pastoral Pondering:
1) Where can we find simplicity in this text?
2) When we look at the other texts from today, what is the relationship between life and death? Light and darkness?
3) What are some ways to bring more simplicity into your life?
4) What is holding you back from letting things go in your life?
April 13: Service
Main Text: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Supplemental Texts: Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66
Pastoral Pondering:
1) Between Isaiah and the Psalm in today’s reading, what are similarities between the writers? What is going on in their lives that they feel this way?
2) What is going on in your life that you may feel this way, too?
3) How do we, Isaiah, and the Psalmist move forward during these times? What knowledge can we glean from them?
4) How can we be of service even when we aren’t feeling like it?
April 20: Sacrifice
Main Text: John 20:1-18
Supplemental Texts: Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Colossians 3:1-4
Pastoral Pondering:
1) Reflect on the sacrifice of this season – What meaning comes from it?
2) What is the significance of the empty tomb?
3) How does Acts interpret the crucifixion?