Third Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Lord

We are planted in the garden of life

starting as a tiny seed;

tucked away in the darkness.

Your word feeds us…Good works nourish us…

We struggle to break through

emerging ever slowly;

reaching toward the SON!

Your spirit sustains us…Love surrounds us…

AMEN!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Exodus 3: 1-8a, 13-15

• Put yourself in the place of Moses…what do you feel? What do you do?  How are you called to action?
• Can you see evidence of the trinity in this scripture?

 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

• What spiritual food and drink do you consume?
• What evil do you desire?

 Luke 13:1-9

• A gardener needs to pull weeds, cut off dead branches and prune in order to generate new growth; when have you seen new growth in your life from pulling, cutting and pruning?
• How is God like a gardener to the world? To you?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you find holy ground? What is your definition?  What makes it holy?
• When have you witnessed something holy? Where were you?  Did you know it was holy at the time or was it revealed to you in retrospect?
• How is God calling you into action today?
• In what ways do you care for the earth? Do you do it out of obligation or another reason?  Be specific.
• What are some of the qualities you value in friendship? Who are the people whom you spend the most time?  What do you have in common with them?  What keeps you connected?
• Where does God/Jesus/Holy Spirit fall in line with your friends? What value do you place on your relationship with each of the members of the trinity?
• God wants us to tend to one another; what can you do to fertilize others around you?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  You call us by name…

ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You wait patiently for our answer…

 ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You walk with us through the desert…

 ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You sit with us during the storm…

ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You carry us when we turn away…

ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You call us each to fulfill a purpose…

ALL:  Here I am Lord; find me READY!

 

 

Challenge for the Week:   In the first reading we see Moses’ conversion, his turning from the old ways and beginning anew with God.  When have you experienced a conversion?  During Lent each person is called to a conversion of self, turn away from sin and toward the Gospel.  We should be letting go of a bad habit or trying to practice a new life-giving habit.  Check in this week on how you are doing so far this Lent.  Have you made progress in developing a deeper relationship with God, yourself and others?  Can you see evidence of a conversion happening?  It is not too late to make this Lent a meaningful one…make sure you are on course for having a productive Lent!

Second Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Lord

We are reminded of your covenant

as each new day brings us a fresh start.

You shine on us bringing forth the light

which you planted within each of us.

Leading us down the path of righteousness

walking with us through the dark places.

With you Lord, each day of the journey

is filled with peace and joy!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

• How would you respond to God if you were Abram?
• What covenant does God make with Abram? How do the terms of the covenant affect you?
• What is the purpose of sacrificing animals? What is being communicated through these offerings?

 Philippian 3:17-4:1 or 3:20-4:1

• What earthly things are keeping you from Jesus?
• How do you imitate God?
• How do you know if something is glorified? Does it look, smell, taste, feel different?

 Luke 9:28b-36

• Why do you think people in the Bible go up to the mountain to pray? What is the significance?  What should we learn from this action?
• Why is it good for the disciples to be there on the mountain? Why is it also good for the disciples to come down?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Have you ever promised God something? What was it and did you make good on the promise?
• How does God make himself known to you? Where do you see/feel Him?
• Is the God of the Old Testament different than the God of the New Testament? Why or why not?  What do the scholars say?
• How does your life change when you turn toward Jesus or turn away from Jesus?
• What does God ask each Christian to let go of in order to be a Christian?
• God loves your enemies? What can you do to follow His lead?
• How do you come to know Jesus better? Write down all you know about Jesus.  Do you know anyone who needs to have this information?
• Where have you seen God in everyday situations?
• How do you know God is real?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  As the day comes to a close and darkness fills the sky…

ALL:  I hear your voice, Lord.

Leader:  When I surrender to the silence of the night…

 ALL:  I hear your voice, Lord.

Leader:  In the birds who chirp their welcome to a new day…

 ALL:  I hear your voice, Lord.

Leader:  As I say my prayers and pause for a response…

ALL:  I hear your voice, Lord.

Leader:  When I go forth to see what my day has in store…

ALL:  I hear your voice, Lord,

        guiding me, leading me up the mountain!

 

 Challenge for the Week:   Jesus said our joy may be complete in HIM.  What does this mean?  How do you find joy?  Is it something you can put on like a shirt?  Can it be fake? NO!  Joy comes from God and doing what is right and pleasing to Him.  Lent is a time of discipline, fasting and remembering the sacrifices Jesus made for us…spend time finding the joy in all of that!

First Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father

You lead us through the desert places of our lives

so we may be refreshed and made new

You put before us a banquet feast to nourish us

so we may be filled with your goodness

You gave your life to show us love without conditions

so we may share that gift with others

Thank you Lord!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Deuteronomy 26:4-10

• What do you lay at the altar of God?
• How does being in the desert change your perspective?

 Romans 10:8-13

• How do you proclaim Jesus as Lord? Is it evident you are a Christian through your words? Your actions? Both?
• When did you last call on God? What was it for and what was the response?

 Luke 4:1-13

• The devil tempts Jesus to be self-glorifying; where do you see this behavior in the world today?
• How does the devil tempt you to turn away from God?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• When has God delivered you from a bad situation?
• Identify a time when you felt alone or abandoned. Can you look back and see God there with you?
• What are the communities which you dwell? Give them each a rating on a 1-10 scale on how they show/share the Gospel message.
• How can love be blind?
• When did you first understand unconditional love?
• Does love require effort? Why or why not?
• How are you exercising your faith?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

ALL:  to share your love with others.

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

 ALL:  to set captives free.

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

 ALL:  to visit the lonely and oppressed.

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

ALL:  to show mercy and kindness.

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

ALL:  to shine YOUR light for all to see!

 

 

Challenge for the Week:   Do you have a faith story?  Of course you do!  Just like in the business world where people have “elevator speeches” which describe and highlight their accomplishments and successes; Christians should have a faith story.  Spend time this week putting together your own personal faith story; include pivotal moments, desert places and mountain top experiences.  Include specific scripture passages which carried you through the bad times or sustain you in the good times.  Write it down and then put it in your Bible so it can be added to the many other stories of our salvation HIStory!

Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Father,

I hear you calling but I’m held back by…

fear and resentment

judgment and selfishness

sin and shame

Wipe away those things that bind me

Let me walk with you to edge

and take the leap of faith!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8

• Whom do you fear? Of what are you afraid?  Where does your fear come from?
• How to you tell God you are ready to do His will?

 1Corinthians 15:1-11 (15:3-8, 11)

• Have you fallen asleep to the purpose you have been called for? What can you do to find the passion and drive to go on?
• How would you describe someone who is “fit” to serve God?

 Luke 5:1-11

• When have you doubted God? What was your situation?  How did God change your heart?
• Are there people who are in deep waters who need you to come and bring them to the shore?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How has God made you worthy of His love?
• Have you ever been paralyzed by fear?  What was the situation?  How did you overcome the fear?
• How has your life been shaken up?  Where was God during the storm?
• What has God called you to do?  Do you minimize the importance of your purpose?
• How many people from the Bible (old and new testaments) can you name who encountered God but felt they were not worthy?
• How many people from the Bible (old and new testaments) can you name whose lives were changed when they took a leap of faith to trust God entirely?
• How is grace distributed?
• What “work” is required to receive faith?  Grace?  Love?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  You created me with the will to choose…

ALL:  Let me choose YOU!

Leader:  You gave me a name and purpose…

 ALL:  Let me serve YOU!

Leader:  You walk the road ahead of me…

 ALL:  Let me follow YOU!

Leader:  You call me into the deep waters…

ALL:  Let me trust YOU!

Leader:  You welcome me to the shore…

ALL:  Let me be there with YOU!

 

 Challenge for the Week:   Spend time reflecting this week on a time in your life that is comparable to the experience of the fishermen…when was God asking you to do something you didn’t want to do because you thought you had exhausted all possibilities.  Did you do as He asked anyways?  Did you choose to ignore the suggestion and go a different direction?  Regardless of which path you took, share your story with someone to show how God blew you out of the deep water and onto the shore and how you would do it all over again (the same or differently) as a witness of your faith.