November 26th, 2023
by Pastor Charity Goodwin, Pastor of Spiritual Formation & Groups
by Pastor Charity Goodwin, Pastor of Spiritual Formation & Groups
Scripture
"Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures." - Romans 15:4
Reflection
Welcome to the Advent Devotion. Whether you’re reading a devotional for the first time or fortieth, I’m glad you’re here.
We offer up these devotions with scripture, reflection and prayer because we believe scripture, as ancient as it is, is still relevant, inspiring, and gives us both hope and encouragement. Moreover scripture instructs us how to love, live, and lead as followers of Jesus.
In my CoreGroup we have a standing joke about how we include scripture in our conversations. You see the group is hesitant about scripture’s role. We all come from different backgrounds and have experienced good and bad uses of scripture to harm folks. Honestly, at times we give scripture the side eye. However, we always consider scripture in our conversations. When we do, our discussion is richer, deeper, more grounded, and/or challenged by it.
Here’s what we do. After checking in, we answer the question of the day. From there we ask what scripture reflects or speaks to the common themes or collective experiences we’ve mentioned. There is always a word from God in the scripture for us. We laugh and sometimes we sigh (in awe and wonder) about how God shows up in scripture for us. Then after CoreGroup, we send other scriptures, memes, songs, quotes that remind us of our conversation.
At its best, we find hope, endurance, and encouragement in scripture. I pray the same for you as you start the Advent Devotion. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Prayer
God, I am not sure always what I think or believe about scripture. But I am here offering up space for you to speak to me and impress upon me what you want me to know and hear during this Advent season. In the name of the one who is to come, Jesus Christ. Amen.
"Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures." - Romans 15:4
Reflection
Welcome to the Advent Devotion. Whether you’re reading a devotional for the first time or fortieth, I’m glad you’re here.
We offer up these devotions with scripture, reflection and prayer because we believe scripture, as ancient as it is, is still relevant, inspiring, and gives us both hope and encouragement. Moreover scripture instructs us how to love, live, and lead as followers of Jesus.
In my CoreGroup we have a standing joke about how we include scripture in our conversations. You see the group is hesitant about scripture’s role. We all come from different backgrounds and have experienced good and bad uses of scripture to harm folks. Honestly, at times we give scripture the side eye. However, we always consider scripture in our conversations. When we do, our discussion is richer, deeper, more grounded, and/or challenged by it.
Here’s what we do. After checking in, we answer the question of the day. From there we ask what scripture reflects or speaks to the common themes or collective experiences we’ve mentioned. There is always a word from God in the scripture for us. We laugh and sometimes we sigh (in awe and wonder) about how God shows up in scripture for us. Then after CoreGroup, we send other scriptures, memes, songs, quotes that remind us of our conversation.
At its best, we find hope, endurance, and encouragement in scripture. I pray the same for you as you start the Advent Devotion. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Decide when you’ll read the devotion (in the morning or night or lunch time). The right answer is the time you’ll actually do it.
- Start a journal on your phone in a memo app or old school paper and pen to capture your thoughts, prayers and aha moments.
- Consider doing this with a friend, spouse or family member. Share the link to sign up with them or to your social media as an invitation.
Prayer
God, I am not sure always what I think or believe about scripture. But I am here offering up space for you to speak to me and impress upon me what you want me to know and hear during this Advent season. In the name of the one who is to come, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Posted in Advent Devotional
Recent
Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2
May 11th, 2024
Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24
May 11th, 2024
Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1
May 5th, 2024
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24
May 4th, 2024
Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
April 28th, 2024
Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 3Explore - Week 4God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23SENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 10Lent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 13Lent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17The Evening Service is BACK!!! // M-Note 3.10.23Lent Devotional Day 18Lent Devotional Day 19Who Is Jesus: Week 2 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 20Lent Devotional Day 21Lent Devotional Day 22Lent Devotional Day 23The Most Important Sunday of the Year // M-Note 3.17.23Who Is Jesus: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 24Lent Devotional Day 25Lent Devotional Day 26Lent Devotional Day 27Lent Devotional Day 28Lent Devotional Day 29Lent Devotional Day 30The Power of Easter and Invitation // M-Note 3.24.23Lent Devotional Day 31Who Is Jesus: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 32Lent Devotional Day 33Lent Devotional Day 34Lent Devotional Day 35
Categories
Tags
1 Kings 3
1 Kings
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians 9:5-7
2 Timothy
Belden Lane
Beyond Simple
Celebrate
Change
Christ
Commit
Confidence
Denee Bowers
Devotional
Discussion Guides
Distractions
Divine Love
Doubt
Easter
Ephesians
Equity
Evangelism
Explore
Five Shared Practices
Focus
Frederick Buechner
Fresh Take
Friends
Generosity
God
Gratitude
Hebrews
Holy Ambiguity
Holy Spirit
Hope
Humanity
Identity
Inside Voice
Isaiah
Jesus
John 21
John
Joy
Kids
King Solomon
Lectio Divina
Lent
Life
Limitations
Longing
M-Note
Matt Miofsky
Matthew
Nadia Bolz-Weber
No Filter
Open
Parables
Parenting
Patience
Paula D'Arcy
Paula D\'Arcy
Paula D\\\'Arcy
Paula D\\\\\\\'Arcy
Paul
Privilege
Proverbs 1
Proverbs
Psalms
Purpose
Questions
Redeem
Rejoice
Righteousness
Sabra Engelbrecht
Second Chance
Self-Love
Struggle
Success
The Bible
The Church
The Gathering
Timothy
Uncertainty
Untethered
Vision
Weird
acts
adulting
advice
challenge
commitment
creation
deconstruction
deconstruct
faith
finances
fitness
forgiveness
forgiving
foundation
freedom
give
growth
kelley weber
love
meister eckhart
money
mystery
new life
opportunity
reconstruction
reconstruct
redemption
relationships
responsibility
simplify
sin
social
thomas merton
transition
truth
willingness
willpower
will
young adult
No Comments