March 10th, 2022
by Mike DePope
by Mike DePope
Thursday, March 10
INVITATION by Suzanne Bassler
John 1:35-50
The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking along he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and they followed Jesus.
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he asked, “What are you looking for?”
They said, “Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?”
He replied, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
One of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Christ). He led him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
The next day Jesus wanted to go into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph’s son, from Nazareth.”
Nathanael responded, “Can anything from Nazareth be good?”
Philip said, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are God’s Son. You are the king of Israel.”
Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these!
Reflection
Before I worked for the church, I was working a part time job on top of my 9-5. That is where I met Andy. For those of you that aren’t familiar, he was our former Worship Director. He would come to my work regularly and speak with one of my coworkers about this amazing church where he worked. I would often overhear the conversations, but didn’t really engage. One day, Andy eagerly invited me to check it out. I was hesitant. I hadn’t been to church in a while and had lost most of my relationship with God. I debated back and forth over the following week.
The following Sunday however, I found myself walking up this huge set of concrete stairs to our old McCausland site. I was immediately drawn in by the music and felt a connection that day that I hadn’t felt in years. That was 13 years ago. Even with all my hesitations, I am so glad I accepted that invitation, it has literally changed my life.
In this scripture Jesus says “Come and See” and “Follow Me”. He extends several invitations to several people that he comes across. This is yet another example of Jesus being open and inviting to all. John, the two disciples, as well as Philip accept Jesus’ invitation without hesitation. Often, when we are faced with an invitation, we are uncertain. We have questions that flood us regarding all the what ifs. But what if we were more like John, Philip, and the disciples, we wouldn’t waver when an invitation was extended to us. If you think about it, when we are the one inviting friends, family or acquaintances to do or try something, it is often because it is something we are truly excited about. We want them to have the opportunity to partake in the exciting and amazing thing. That may be a new restaurant, a new product, new music, meeting someone new at a party, or even worship at our church. We want the ones we are inviting to accept readily because we think they will enjoy the experience. BUT, we generally do not hold ourselves to that same expectation when we are on the receiving end. This scripture reminds us of all the good things that can come of something new.
Question for Contemplation
What was your immediate reaction the last time you received an invitation from someone? Did you ultimately accept the invitation and how did it turn out?
Prayer
Jesus, help us to be more like your disciples, ready and willing to accept the invitation to follow you. Help us to be more like you, open and inviting to all. We know that great things await us when we invite others and accept invitations ourselves. Amen
INVITATION by Suzanne Bassler
John 1:35-50
The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking along he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and they followed Jesus.
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he asked, “What are you looking for?”
They said, “Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?”
He replied, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
One of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Christ). He led him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
The next day Jesus wanted to go into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph’s son, from Nazareth.”
Nathanael responded, “Can anything from Nazareth be good?”
Philip said, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are God’s Son. You are the king of Israel.”
Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these!
Reflection
Before I worked for the church, I was working a part time job on top of my 9-5. That is where I met Andy. For those of you that aren’t familiar, he was our former Worship Director. He would come to my work regularly and speak with one of my coworkers about this amazing church where he worked. I would often overhear the conversations, but didn’t really engage. One day, Andy eagerly invited me to check it out. I was hesitant. I hadn’t been to church in a while and had lost most of my relationship with God. I debated back and forth over the following week.
The following Sunday however, I found myself walking up this huge set of concrete stairs to our old McCausland site. I was immediately drawn in by the music and felt a connection that day that I hadn’t felt in years. That was 13 years ago. Even with all my hesitations, I am so glad I accepted that invitation, it has literally changed my life.
In this scripture Jesus says “Come and See” and “Follow Me”. He extends several invitations to several people that he comes across. This is yet another example of Jesus being open and inviting to all. John, the two disciples, as well as Philip accept Jesus’ invitation without hesitation. Often, when we are faced with an invitation, we are uncertain. We have questions that flood us regarding all the what ifs. But what if we were more like John, Philip, and the disciples, we wouldn’t waver when an invitation was extended to us. If you think about it, when we are the one inviting friends, family or acquaintances to do or try something, it is often because it is something we are truly excited about. We want them to have the opportunity to partake in the exciting and amazing thing. That may be a new restaurant, a new product, new music, meeting someone new at a party, or even worship at our church. We want the ones we are inviting to accept readily because we think they will enjoy the experience. BUT, we generally do not hold ourselves to that same expectation when we are on the receiving end. This scripture reminds us of all the good things that can come of something new.
Question for Contemplation
What was your immediate reaction the last time you received an invitation from someone? Did you ultimately accept the invitation and how did it turn out?
Prayer
Jesus, help us to be more like your disciples, ready and willing to accept the invitation to follow you. Help us to be more like you, open and inviting to all. We know that great things await us when we invite others and accept invitations ourselves. Amen
Posted in Lent Devotional 2022
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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
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 4Explore - Week 3God 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 GuideSENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23Lent 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 3.3.2023Lent Devotional Day 10Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Lent Devotional Day 13Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17
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