Germantown UMC Devotionals

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Opening: Have you ever planted a garden? What do you like to plant?

Scripture: Sunday’s message comes from today’s text. Read Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 9:10-15.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

What does your offering to the church mean? Do you see it as an obligation? How can it be more of an act of worship (and that doesn't mean a part of the Sunday morning worship celebration)?
What have you reaped by being generous to others?
How can God’s promises enable you to be more generous?

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would really see our offering as worship – vibrant, praise-filled, honor-bestowing – worship!

Message Series: “A Living Sacrifice”

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “Worship“

Friday, November 23, 2012

Opening: If you were recognized and called forward to receive a life-time achievement award, who would be the first person you would thank?

Scripture: Read Romans 11:11-36.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

How is it possible for someone to try so hard to please God that they actually resist His love for them? When have you experienced this?
Paul uses imagery reminiscent of Jesus in John 15:1-8.
Paul writes, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”[1] What have you sensed God’s call on your life to be? Your spiritual gifts? How does this passage inform that call and those gifts?

Prayer Focus: That we would be fully confident that “For everything comes from [God] and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.”[2]

[1] Romans 11:29 (NLT)

[2] Romans 11:36 (NLT)

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Opening: What moments of rejection in your teen years do you remember vividly? Getting cut from the team? Not being invited to a big party? Turned down for a date?

Scripture: Read Romans 11:1-10.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

Today’s passage is about a “remnant” from Israel, and it comes from this inevitable question: Has God rejected the people of Israel? What are your thoughts? What are Paul’s?
Reread verse 6. Do you think it's easier for God to love you when you're good? Do you secretly suspect that God chose you because you deserved it? Do you think some people's behavior is so bad that God couldn't possibly save them? If you ever think this way, you don't entirely understand that salvation is by grace, a free gift. It cannot be earned, in whole or in part; it can only be accepted with thankfulness and praise.[1]

Prayer Focus: That we would always be certain there is someone else out there that can help us walk the Christian life.

[1] Life Application Study Bible, Romans 11:6

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Opening: What were some of the hard and fast rules observed in your house when you were growing up?

Scripture: Read Romans 9:30-10:21.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

What is the purpose of Paul’s series of questions in verses 14-17? How does this underscore the importance of evangelism.
The central affirmation of the early church was “Jesus is Lord.” Everyone else in the Roman Empire was saying “Caesar is Lord.” Who or what are some gods that compete with your allegiance to Christ?
Today’s passage contains the final steps on “The Romans Road.” First is Romans 10:9-10, and then Romans 10:13. Memorize these verses, then write out each step on “The Romans Road.”

Prayer Focus: That we would always live, always think, and always say, “Jesus is Lord.”

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Opening: When have you won something unexpected? A trip? Award of achievement? Class officer elections? The big game?

Scripture: Read Romans 9:1-29.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

How deeply do you hurt for unbelievers: your friends, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors? As much as Paul (see verses 1-3)?
How should each of the benefits Paul mentions in verse 4-5 have drawn the Jewish people to Christ? What benefits and blessings have you received that drew you to Him?
Even though many Jews have failed to believe, God’s promise to them has not failed. What to you is God’s most important promise? Look up passages in the Bible that relate to that promise.

Prayer Focus: That we will always hold on to the assurance that God’s promises never fail!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Opening: Do you tend to see the glass half full or half empty?

Scripture: Read Romans 8:31-39.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

Did you need another incredible passage to get through today? Here it is! And while they might not be a Romans’ Road passage, verse 31 and verse 38 are passages to memorize and hold onto at all times and places in life.
Do any of the things Paul lists in verses 31-39 specifically affect you, make you feel far from God? How should you respond?
Reread this passage and consider what Paul says about God’s love. What new insight came to you?

Prayer Focus: That we would agree with E. Stanley Jones: “I can conquer whatever comes because Christ has already conquered. Everything I meet He has already met. When temptation, sin, difficulty, opposition, misunderstanding, criticism, fear, resentment, inferiority, pride, loneliness – yes, when ANYTHING comes upon me to bully me, I ask that thing to bend its neck. When it does so, I exclaim with joy: ‘There I told you so! There is the footprint of the Son of God upon your neck. He has conquered you. I'm in Him and I conquer in His conquering.’”

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Opening: What has been the most pain experience in your life, when you suffered beyond what you ever thought imaginable?

Scripture: Read Romans 8:18-30.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

What a tremendous passage of hope when you feel the hurt of life. There is a future glory! Compare this perspective of hope for the Christian and the wishing thinking of the world.
But it is more than the promise of eternal life. Even life is so difficult that we don’t even know how to pray, God’s Holy Spirit is there (see verse 26-27). What need is on your prayer list right know that is particularly difficult, that you really don’t even know what to pray? How is the Holy Spirit helping you to pray about this?
Romans 8:28 from the Message Bible reads, “That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”[1] What detail in your past has God worked towards good? What detail today might God be working?

Prayer Focus: That we would have the complete confidence and assurance that God’s got it all in the palm of His hand!

[1] Romans 8:28 (MSG)