Germantown UMC Devotionals

Monday, October 29, 2012

Opening: What has been the hardest thing you have gone through in life; an experience, event, accident, or tragedy?

Insights:

This is Paul’s big moment. He’s called to testify not just to Roman appointees, but to Agrippa II. Amid considerable pomp, Paul testified before the Agrippa II, whom Paul calls “King” and expert in Jewish laws and politics.
This is more than legal testimony for Paul. He always treated these occasions as opportunities to share his faith. Of the three “defense” speeches (Acts 22, 24, 26), this one before Agrippa gives the most detailed exposition of the gospel.
It makes you wonder if Paul made a tactical error when making his appeal to Rome. According to verse 31-32, King Agrippa, Governor Festus and Bernice all agree: Paul is innocent and should go free. The key is that they did not offer Paul the option of withdrawing his appeal to Rome based upon their judgment. So in essence, they passed the buck and sent Paul on his way.

Life Questions:

Jesus had said, "You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake" (see Matthew 10:18). The hard prophecy had come true; but the promise of help (see Matthew 10:19) was also to come abundantly true. Are you going through a situation that is difficult, and you are holding on to God’s promise of help? Maybe you could do some research and searching for Scriptures that talk about God’s promises.
Both Festus and Agrippa put up barriers to Paul’s message. “You’re crazy” and “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?” were their defense. But note something. Paul was the prisoner; he was the one on trial. Yet in reality, the tables are turned; it is Festus and Agrippa who are on trial, confronted with the truth of the Gospel. Each time we hear the Gospel message, we are responsible to act upon it. Have you put up barriers to God’s message to you like Festus and Agrippa did? Or have you accepted it like millions and millions have?

Prayer Focus: That we would break down the barriers and accept God’s message of salvation and purpose for our lives.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Opening: Ever been challenged to get into something that you knew you would lose? Maybe into a fight with a bully? Maybe into a game or competition that had no chance of being fair? Maybe into an argument with someone who cannot, does not, and never will consider an opposing viewpoint?

Scripture: Read Acts 25:1-22.

Insights:

Festus succeeded Felix as procurator of Judea in 60 A.D. He quickly went to Jerusalem to “survey” the political landscape, where he ran into the Jewish leaders still fuming over Paul. Why did Festus set the hearing in Caesarea?

1. It could be deduced that he saw through the accusations, because instead of sending for one prisoner to come the Jerusalem, everyone has to go to Caesarea, thus protecting Paul (see Acts 25:3).

2. Festus may not wish to stay in Jerusalem any longer than necessary. The city’s reputation is one of abstinence and intolerance. In two decades, Rome will have had enough and put an end it.

3. Festus may have wanted to establish his leadership and judgeship in his capital, not in some backwater city. “See me in all my splendor” may have been his motivation.

Paul was in custody in Caesarea for 2 years, occasionally brought out for lively discussion (and maybe some amusement.) He was not in the mood to be handed over to a prejudiced Jewish High Council; he wanted an impartial court, and if he wasn’t going to get it in Caesarea, he would appeal to Rome. As a Roman citizen (see Acts 22:24), it was his right, and it took the matter out of the hands of this new and unknown governor.
Agrippa was king of an area included Galilee and Peraea, but he knew quite well that he held even that limited realm by grace of the Romans. They had put him there and they could just as easily remove him. It was therefore his custom to pay a courtesy visit to the Roman governor when he entered his province. Bernice was a sister of Drusilla, the wife of Felix, and she was also a sister of Agrippa himself. Festus, knowing that Agrippa had the most intimate knowledge of Jewish faith and practice, proposed to discuss Paul's case with him. But more about that tomorrow!

Life Questions:

Paul wanted to go to Rome to preach the Good News (see Romans 1:10), and he knew that his appeal would give him the opportunity. To go to Rome as a prisoner was better than not to go there at all. What goal or dream might you have that involves a less than desirable path?

Prayer Focus: That we would be willing to do whatever God wants us to do, no matter the cost.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Opening: What have been the most important jobs you have ever had to perform? Be a parent? Guide a company? Teach students? Give someone good (or bad) news?

Scripture: Sunday’s message is our text today. Read Matthew 28:18-20.

Insights:

Read Matthew 28:18-20 in as many translations as you can to see how this verse is translated (go to www.biblegateway.com for additional translations). Look for nuances in the words and phrases.
This is the end of Matthew’s Gospel story of Jesus. These are Jesus’ last words to those He has entrusted with His new Kingdom. What did He say?

1. He assured them of His power (verse 18). Surely nothing was outside the power of Jesus who had died and conquered death. Now they were the servants of a Master whose authority upon earth and in heaven was beyond all question.

2. He gave them a commission (verses 19-20). He sent them out to make all the world His disciples.

3. He promised them a presence. It must have been a staggering thing for eleven humble Galileans to be sent forth to the conquest of the world. Even as they heard it, their hearts must have failed them. But, no sooner was the command given, than the promise was fulfilled through the coming of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2).

This passage is called “The Great Commission.” Before, Jesus sent His disciples only to the Jews; now their mission is worldwide and to all people, exactly what happened in the Book of Acts.
Jesus uses two Greek imperatives/commands (“go” and “make”) and two Greek participles (“baptizing” and “teaching”). What does that mean? We are commanded to go and make, and while we go and make, we are to baptize and teach. In the process of going and making, we are to baptize and teaching.

Life Questions:

With this Great Commission, we must also have the Great Commandment: “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[1] Without the Great Commandment (Love God and Love People), the Great Commission is accomplished out of duty, or worse, in a judgmental way (“Get right or get left,” “Turn or burn,” etc.) The Christian must start with the Great Commandment in order to fulfill the Great Commission.
The disciples were sent out – as we are sent out – on the greatest task in history: make disciples for Jesus Christ. That is the written and affirmed mission of the United Methodist Church. Sound daunting? Don’t let it. We have God’s own Spirit with us day, tomorrow, every day, and everywhere, even to the end of the age!

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would grow in our love for God and love for others in order to make disciples for the transformation of the world.

Message Series: “Send Me.”

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “…To Go & Make”

[1] Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)

Friday, October 26, 2012

Opening: If someone want to get you to do something that you didn’t want to do, what would be the most effective “bride” they could use after the “Please, please, please?” A return favor? Your favorite meal? Free babysitting? Money? Flattery? Something else?

Scripture: Read Acts 24:1-27.

Insights:

Felix the Governor began life as a slave. His brother, Pallas, was a favorite of Emperor Nero. Through the influence of Pallas, Felix had risen first to be a free man and then to be a governor. He was the first slave in history ever to become the governor of a Roman province. Tacitus, the Roman historian, said of him, "He exercised the prerogatives of a king with the spirit of a slave." He was two years in Samaria, and now in the fifth of seven years as governor of Judea, the same position Pontius Pilate had held. While the Jews were given much freedom to govern themselves, the governor ran the army, kept the peace, and gathered the taxes. Felix had actually been married to three princesses one after another. He was completely unscrupulous and was capable of hiring thugs to murder his own closest supporters.[1] As a result of his corruption and attempts at appeasement, Paul waits in prison for two years.
Tertullus’ opening argument sounds like a political ad or speech: lots of fluff, very little truth. It begins with almost nauseating flattery, every word of which he and Felix knew was untrue. He went on to state things which were equally false. He claimed that the Jews had arrested Paul. The scene in the Temple court was far closer to being a lynching than an arrest. The charge he leveled against Paul was subtly inaccurate.
Paul was able to present the Good News as he presents his point-by-point defense. Paul's accusers were unable to present specific evidence to support their general accusations, but he gave specific and provable evidence.

Life Questions:

Though God had promised that Paul would preach the gospel in Rome (see Acts 23:11), the great apostle had to endure more than two years of Felix's refusal to decide his fate. In addition to this custody, Paul was subjected to other long stretches of time during which he could do little but trust God and wait for him to act. What do you do when it comes to the issue of waiting on God? Do you become anxious? Angry? Discouraged? Few things test our patience and faith like being forced to wait – which perhaps explains why our sovereign God often puts us in situations where we have no other choice.[2]
Paul talks with Felix and his wife Drusilla about weighty matters: righteous living, self-control, and the time when God will judge the world. We don’t know if all three upset Felix, but we do know that when people talk about judgment day, it can get a little scary. Honestly, do you look forward to judgment day, or does the thought of it scare you too? Maybe you should come to the November 4^th First Sunday – Christianity 101.

Prayer Focus: That we would live out Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”[3]

[1] Barclay's Daily Study Bible, Acts 23:25-35

[2] Life Application Study Bible, Acts 24:27

[3] Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)