ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 44

THE SET UP

Back in the days of mullets and parachute pants (the 80’s), the rock band Styx had a hit song called Too Much Time on My Hands. The message of the song was, well..., that the singer had too much time on his hands (it wasn’t a super deep song). Today, there aren’t very many people who feel like they have too much time on their hands. Most of us are wishing we had more time so we could get all the stuff on our lists done. Martha, one of Jesus’ friends was like that. She was all about doing, doing, doing, especially when she was hosting people in her home. Her sister, Mary, on the other hand was pretty laid back. When Jesus was around, she wanted to hang out and listen to Him. Martha was frustrated that Mary wasn’t helping her in the kitchen, but Jesus told Martha she was missing the point. In our never stop world, it can be hard to slow down, take a breath, and just listen to Jesus. But it is always worth it.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 10:38-42 (Page 624 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. When you read this passage, are you more on Mary’s side or Martha’s side?

2. What is the best time and place for you to slow down and listen to Jesus through prayer and bible study?

3. What are the biggest distractions that can keep you from taking time to listen to Jesus?

PRAYER IDEA

Stop. Take 5 minutes out of your day to pray, which involves talking and listening to Jesus. Quiet your heart and let God speak to you.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 43

THE SET UP

Who is my neighbor? That was the question Jesus was asked before He told one of His most famous stories, the story of the Good Samaritan. Even people who don’t know much about the bible or church throw out references to being a good Samaritan. An amazing part of Jesus’ story is that the hero of the story is not a Jew, but a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans did NOT get along, and the idea that a Samaritan could act in a morally superior was would have been a hard pill Jesus’ listeners to swallow. Jesus’ story powerfully answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” It also reminds us, as Luke is prone to do, that the kingdom Jesus said He came to establish is for everyone. Even the dreaded Samaritans.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 10:25-37 (Page 623 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What was the conversation that led to Jesus telling the story of the Good Samaritan?

2. What are your personal take aways from Jesus’ story?

3. If you were to think about a “Samaritan” in your life (someone you are not prone to think highly of), who would that be? What do you think it means to be a good neighbor to them?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to show you how to love your neighbor (co-worker, classmate, friend) today.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 42

THE SET UP

Author and pastor Mark Batterson recently released a book entitled, Please, Sorry, Thanks. In the book he talks about the power of these simple words in our life. These are also powerful words for our prayers. Sometimes our prayers are PLEASE prayers. We ask God to intervene for us or someone close to us. At other times, our prayers are SORRY as we repent and ask for and receive God’s forgiveness. The prayers we tend to pray least are the THANKS prayers, when we give God thanks for all He has done in our lives and everything He has given to us. In Luke 10, Jesus prays a prayer of thanks for His followers and what just happened when they went out to tell others about Him. I need to follow Jesus’ example and pray more thanks prayers, more prayers of gratitude, in my life.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 10:21-24 (Page 623 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What are some of the typical things you pray about when you pray?

2. If you were to pray a thanks prayer, what would you be thankful for?

PRAYER IDEA

Take time to pray a prayer of thanks today. Tell God what you are thankful for and give Him praise for how He has blessed your life.

ALL In Summer Devotional: Days 40 & 41

THE SET UP

Have you ever noticed that you always tend to see what you are looking for? For instance, you might not pay too much attention to the vehicles around you on the road. But as soon as you decide to buy a certain type of car, you suddenly see them everywhere when you’re driving around. If you aren’t hungry, food commercials don’t interest you that much. But when you have the munchies, every fast food burger looks amazing. You see what you are looking for. Jesus wanted His followers to see the harvest that was all around them. The harvest represented people who needed to learn about and follow Jesus. And Jesus said that the harvest was great (large, huge). So, Jesus said, pray for more laborers to reach the harvest. The harvest is still great today, and there is still a need for more laborers. Not just pastors, missionaries, and other “professional” laborers. All of us, laboring together to help people take their next step toward Jesus.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 10:1-20 (Page 623 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think Jesus was saying to His disciples when he talked about laborers for the harvest?

2. In your opinion, what does it mean to be a laborer in the harvest?

3. Is there a specific place God has placed you to be a laborer for Him?

PRAYER IDEA

Pray for more laborers for the harvest. Women, men, children, young adults, empty nesters, etc. who will look for opportunities to help others take their next step toward Christ. Ask God to help you be a faithful laborer in His harvest today.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 39

THE SET UP

Have you ever bought something that seemed like a good deal at the time but turned into a bad deal once you read the fine print. It’s happened to all of us. That’s why there are all those ads about helping people get out of their time shares. Jesus often implored people to “count the cost” of following Him. In today’s passage, several people are all in to follow Jesus, but they want to do it on their own terms. They had different reasons, and those reasons probably seemed legitimate and important to them. But Jesus wanted them to know He wasn’t looking for half-hearted followers. What does that mean for you and me? It means that God is still        looking today for fully-devoted followers of Jesus. Jesus didn’t try to win fans, He called followers.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 9:57-62 (Page 623 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. In your opinion do any of the reasons people gave Jesus for waiting hold up? Was Jesus being unreasonable? Why or why not?

2. What do you think it means to be a fully-devoted follower of Jesus?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to reveal any areas of your life where you are holding back from following Jesus. Repent (turn away from) those things and pray for strength to follow Jesus 100%.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 38

THE SET UP

In today’s passage, there is a lot going on. Healing of a demon-possessed boy. Disciples wanting to call down fire from heaven. Jesus again predicting His death. Followers coming and going. In the middle of it all, an argument breaks out among the disciples. What were they arguing about? Who was most important. Luke records this right after Jesus had predicted His death. Maybe they were arguing about who would take over once Jesus was gone (Apparently the hit HBO series, Succession, isn’t so original...) The disciples were thinking like most of the world does. “Someone has got to be number one and it might as well be me.” But Jesus’ had a different model of greatness. He taught His followers that the least would be the greatest, the last would be first, and the way to the top was by serving down.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 9:37-56 (Page 622 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think the disciples were so concerned about which of them was the greatest? Why did it matter?

2. What was Jesus trying to teach them with the example of a little child?

3. How, in your opinion, can Christians live out Jesus’ “others first” lifestyle? What are some practical ideas for doing that?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to help you to walk with humility, showing honor to others. Pray for ways to live that out today as you go about your schedule.

THE SET UP

Maybe you’ve heard someone who is going through a tough situation say, “It’s just my cross to bear.” The idea behind that saying is that just like Jesus bore the suffering of the cross, we all have some suffering to bear in our lives. But is that what Jesus meant when He told His followers they had to take up their cross every day and follow Him? One thing is for sure, Jesus didn’t pull any punches with His followers. He let them know that suffering and being put to death were in His future, but it was all part of God’s plan. He then told them to take up their crosses and follow Him. There are so many incredible promises in the Bible about the blessings of following God’s ways. But there is also a message of self-denial. Of dying to your own wants and desires so you can live for Christ’s wants and desires. We miss that part of the message sometimes. And when the going gets tough, we tend to wonder why God doesn’t make it easier, rather than denying ourselves and following. May today’s reading help us to remember that Jesus calls us to different, and sometimes this different life is a challenge. But we can trust Him to bring us to a better place.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 9:21-36 (Page 622 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think about Jesus’ warning and challenge to His followers?

2. When Jesus says, “If you give up your life for my sake, you will save it?” Do you think He means literal dying or something else?

3. What, in your opinion, did Jesus want Peter, James, and John, to learn when He took them with Him to the mountain to pray?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to give you the strength and wisdom to carry your cross and follow Him today.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 36

THE SET UP

In the movie, Darkest Hour, there is a scene where Winston Churchill, prime minister of England, decides to take the Tube (subway) during WWII. He’d never done it before and wanted to see what the experience was like. He also wanted to see how the common people in England were faring during the war. As he steps into the car and takes a seat, a few people notice him, but many are unaware. As the train moves through the underground, more and more people become aware that Churchill is sitting just a few feet from them. He had been there for a while, they just hadn’t recognized him.

There are many perspectives on who Jesus is. Some see Him as an influential teacher, a religious leader, or a moral example. But Jesus’ followers saw His true identity, expressed by Peter in today’s passage. C.S. Lewis famously said that we all have to see Jesus in one of three ways: He is a Liar (not who He says He is) or He is a lunatic (someone deluded into thinking He is God), or He is Lord (Who He says He is).

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 9:18-20 (Page 622 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think Jesus asked the question, “Who do people say I am?”

2. What does Peter’s answer reveal about him? Why do you think he had come to that conclusion?

3. Why do you think so many people deny Jesus’ identity as the Son of God? What could help them to see Jesus differently?

PRAYER IDEA

Take time to worship Jesus. Not as just a wise teacher or good person, but as Christ, the son of the living God.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 35

THE SET UP

As a former youth pastor, I can tell you that you don’t want to be around a bunch of hungry teenagers - they can turn into a ‘hangry’ mob quick. I don’t know if there were many teenagers in the crowd Jesus was speaking to, but I am sure there were a lot of grumbling stomachs. It was getting late and people were getting hungry. To the disciples it seemed like a no-brainer. Send the crowds home so they can cook dinner or hit a drive through on the way. But Jesus wanted to teach them something. So He asked them what they had to work with, and they produced five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus takes those simple ingredients and feeds thousands of people. There were even leftovers! Jesus wanted His followers to know that He could take whatever they brought to Him and make something great happen. He can do the same for us. Whatever we have (or feel we don’t have) can accomplish a lot when we place it in God’s hands.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 9:10-17 (Page 622 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Can you think of a time when you were really hungry? How did you take care of your hunger?

2. If you were one of the disciples, what would you have thought when Jesus said, “You feed them”?

3. How have you seen God use what you have in your life to make a difference?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank God for His ability to take the little we have and use it in extraordinary ways. Ask Him to take your life and multiply it for His purposes today.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 33

THE SET UP

There is a BIG difference between knowing about something and doing something. Remember, Jesus said the wise builder was the one who heard His words and did what He said, while the foolish only heard. After the disciples spent some time watching and listening to Jesus, He sent them out to do the same thing. He wanted them to practice what He preached. In the church today, all of us have the option. We can just sit back and listen to the Gospel (Good News) or we can go and live out what we have heard. When we start to DO the Word of God and not just LISTEN to the Word of God, it will require faith, just like Jesus told His disciples they would need.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 9:1-9 (Page 622 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think Jesus told His disciples not to take much with them when He sent them out?2

2. What is an example you can think of where you have gone from a hearer to a doer in your life?

3. If someone only listens to God’s Word and never lives it out, what do you think the downside of that is?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to help you to listen to His word and then act on it today.

THE SET UP

Today’s passage talks about two people who were healed by Jesus. One seems to be planned (Jesus was on His was to heal a little girl) and one seems to be unplanned (A woman touched Jesus robe and got healed). The woman that was healed in the crowd had a medical condition that had caused her to bleed for twelve years. This would have been a challenge physically, but also culturally for her. According to the Old Testament law, she was ‘unclean’ because of her bleeding. So for twelve years she could not go to church, she could not worship publicly, and she was cut off from many aspects of society. The healing she experienced was a healing of her heart and soul as well as her body. Thank God for His compassion for every aspect of our lives.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 8:40-56 (Page 621 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think these two stories of healing teach us about Jesus’ heart for people?

2. Why, in your opinion, did the crowd doubt and dismiss Jesus when He arrived at Jairus’ house?

3. Do you believe that God still heals people today? Why or why not?

PRAYER IDEA

Think about people you know (family members, friends, coworkers, classmates, neighbors, etc.) who may need healing. Take some time to pray specifically for them, asking God to heal them.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 31

THE SET UP

There are probably not many things more terrifying than being caught in storm out on a boat. I’ve only seen it in movies, and it does not look fun. The helpless feeling of being tossed around by the waves with the fear would be overwhelming. Most of us will never have that experience, but all of us will have to walk through some storms in our lives. In the same way that Jesus spoke to the storm and it stopped, He can speak to the storms we go through. Sometimes Jesus calms the storm. At other times, the circumstances around us don’t change, but Jesus speaks to the storm within us and brings peace. That’s what He did for the demon-possessed man. Storms might surround us, or they might fill us, but Jesus has the authority to calm them.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 8:22-39 (Page 62 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever been stuck in a really bad storm (tornado, etc.)? How did you feel?

2. Has there been a time when God calmed a stormy situation in your life? Did He change the circumstances or did he change you?

3. If you were one of the disciples in that boat, how would you have felt in the storm? How about after Jesus calmed the storm?

PRAYER IDEA

Give your stormy situations to God. Ask Him to give you peace in the middle of your storm and help you to grow through this experience as you trust Him.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 30

THE SET UP:

“This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” If you grew up in the church, you probably learned that song in Sunday School or kids church. Jesus said we are to be the ‘light of the world’ and that we don’t turn on a light then hide it, leaving the room dark. Someone once said about the church and the culture around it, “You can’t blame the darkness for being dark. You can only blame the light for not shining.” Why must the church shine in our world? So people will be pointed to Christ. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said, “Let your light shine before people, so they will see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” We don’t shine to put the light on ourselves. We shine our light to glorify God.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 8:16-21 (Page 621 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What, in your opinion, does it mean for a Christian or church to shine a light in the darkness?

2. What do you think are some dark areas in our community where the church needs to be the light?

3. What does hearing God’s word and obeying it have to do with shining our light for Christ?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to show you somewhere you can shine the light of Christ today.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 29

THE SET UP

Our theme for this year at Journey Church is, “Cultivate.” We believe that God wants to grow something new in each of our lives and that we need to cultivate or prepare ourselves to receive it. That means setting aside time and space in our lives to listen to God and act on what He speaks to us. That’s not easy. There are plenty of distractions in life and a lot of things that want to choke out the work of God in us. In the parable of the farmer and the seed, Jesus identifies different types of soil and the people they represent. As you read this passage, take time to reflect on the spiritual condition of your heart. Is it hard? Are you living a shallow life? Is God’s Word and work being choked out by your pursuit of this world? Is there good soil ready for growing?

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 8:4-15 (Page 620 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. If you were to honestly assess your heart right now, which soil would best represent it?

2. What do you think are some of the ways we can cultivate God’s presence in our lives?

3. If your heart is anything but good soil (hard, shallow, conflicted), what can you do today to start cultivating it? Who or what can help you with that.

PRAYER IDEA

Open your heart to God. Tell Him what the soil of your life looks like right now. Ask Him to help you cultivate the work He wants to do in you.

All IN Summer Devotional: Day 28

THE SET UP

In many parts of the world today, there is a discussion of women’s rights, equal pay for women, and what equality really looks like. Some people feel these issues have been resolved and that equality has been achieved, while others think there is still a long way to go. In Luke’s day, these conversations were not being had. It was a very male dominant culture and women were often treated more as possessions than people. But in Luke 8, the author makes sure to let us know that it wasn’t just a boys club following Jesus. Women were a significant part of Jesus’ ministry. We might look at that list today and not think much of it, but at the time of Luke’s writing, including these women would have been a significant statement that what Jesus was bringing to the world was for all people. Jesus cut across many cultural boundary lines with His message and ministry, and gender was one of them.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 8:1-3 (Page 620 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. How do you think our faith in Christ should affect our treatment of all people?

2. What are some ways the church can set an example for the culture around us in how men and women treat one another?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank Jesus for coming into this world to show that all people are created in the image of God and are equal in His sight. Ask God to help you to see all people that way, no matter their gender, race, social status, or background.

All IN Summer Devotional: Days 26 & 27

THE SET UP

In the last several years, reality television has become one of the most popular genres of show. I am convinced that one of the reasons we like reality shows is that when we compare our lives to some of the people in the show, our lives don’t look so bad. “I may not have it all together,” we think, “but I am certainly not as messed up as she is...” We love to compare, especially when we come out on top. We can do the same thing spiritually, comparing our virtues to the faults of others and feeling pretty good about ourselves. But in today’s text, Jesus reminds us that we all have much to be grateful for, because we’ve all been forgiven of a lot. Those who have been forgiven much will love much, and those who feel they’ve been forgiven little, love little. In this story, we are reminded that the Gospel is for all (All in!) and often the person you would least expect is the hero in God’s eyes.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 7:36-50 (Page 620 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think about the actions of the woman toward Jesus? Put yourself in her shoes. What do you think she was feeling and thinking?

2. What, in your opinion, did Jesus want Simon the Pharisee to learn?

3. Is your love for God reflective of all you have been given and forgiven?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank God for all He has forgiven you of and if there is anyone that you need to forgive, ask God to help you to forgive and release them.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 25

THE SET UP

When you read the Bible, you realize that some of the most famous people that God used had times of doubt. Abraham and Sarah had them. Moses had them. David had them. Jesus’ own disciples had them. The great thing is that God does not reject us because of our doubts. He knows we are human and can’t always see how He is at work. To our doubts He says, “Trust Me,” and reminds us that He will always be with us. John the Baptist had his doubts too. Even though he kept telling people that Jesus was the Messiah, because of his circumstances he started to wonder, “Did I miss it? Was I wrong about Jesus?” So, if you’ve ever doubted God or wondered what He was (or wasn’t) doing, you’re not alone. Be encouraged, trust that God has a plan, and know that He is with you every step of the way.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 7:18-35 (Page 620 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think John was second-guessing Jesus?

2. Have you ever had any doubts about God? How did you resolve those doubts?

3. What do you think of Jesus’ answer to John’s disciples? How do you thing that would have helped John?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank God that He is big enough to handle our doubts and fears. If there is a situation that you are facing that is causing you to doubt God’s goodness or power, ask Him for insight and faith to believe.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 24

THE SET UP

What would it take for you to amaze God? Is it even possible? Apparently it is. There was a Roman soldier who had so much faith in Jesus that Luke tells us that Jesus was amazed. In fact, He told the crowd around Him that the Roman had more faith than anyone He had met in Israel. And Jesus does what the officer was asking and believing for, He heals his servant. How much faith does it take to amaze God? Apparently not that much. Later Jesus would teach that if we have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, we could move mountains. Jesus seems to teach that it is not the size of our faith, but who or what we put our faith in that matters.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 7:1-17 (Page 619 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think the officer meant when he said, “I am under     authority and I have people under my authority”?  What does that have to do with faith?

2. Why do you think Jesus was so amazed by this man’s faith?

3. Is it hard for you to have faith when you ask God for something? Why or why not? What builds your faith?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to give you amazing faith today.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 23

THE SET UP

The Sermon on the Mount is the longest and most well-known of Jesus’ teachings. It is found in chapters 5-7 of the Gospel of Matthew. When you read it, you will find many familiar sayings of Jesus, maybe even some things you didn’t realize Jesus said. In today’s passage, Luke shares some of the Sermon on the Mount with his readers. While not a word-for-word copy of the Matthew passage, it shares many of the same thoughts. This could be Luke’s notes from the same sermon, or these could be things Jesus repeated more than once. Either way, the important thing, Luke tells us, is to take these words and put them into practice. Jesus shares the parable of the wise and foolish builders here in Luke as He does in Matthew. Basically Jesus is saying that all the wisdom and information in the world won’t help you if you don’t put it into practice.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 6:20-49 (Page 619 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Which of Jesus’ teachings in this passage jumped out at you the most as you read it?

2. If you could choose one truth that Jesus taught in this sermon and apply it to your life today, which would it be?

3. What is the difference between the wise and foolish builder in Jesus’ story? How do you think that plays out in our lives?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to help you apply and live out Jesus’ teaching and become a doer, not just a hearer, of His Word.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 22

THE SET UP

When you have a big decision to make, how do you typically go about it? Do you do your research? Talk to a trusted friend? Go with your gut? Put it out there on a Twitter poll? Freeze and do nothing? Do you pray about it? In our passage today, Jesus chooses the twelve disciples. There were tons of people who followed Jesus (they were waiting for Him everywhere He went), but Jesus chose twelve to be His closest followers? Why twelve? Maybe it had something to do with the twelve tribes of Israel? Whatever the case, what really jumps out about Jesus’ decision is that He spent all night praying about it before He made it. When is the last time you prayed - really prayed - about a decision you had to make? If Jesus, who knew everything about everyone wanted to pray all night about His decision, how much more do we need prayer to guide us?

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 6:12-19 (Page 618 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. If Jesus is fully God and knows all things, why do you think He prayed all night before choosing His disciples?

2. What is the biggest decision you have made in the last year? How did you make that decision?

3. How important is prayer for you when you make decisions? Is it easy or challenging for you to pray?

PRAYER IDEA

If you have a decision you need to make, pray and ask God to guide you and give you wisdom to make the right choice.