Baptism of our Lord

 

Opening Prayer

Jesus

You meet us in the wilderness

You understand the rocky path

You hear our cries for help

You bring cleansing rain

to give us new perspective

So we can see more clearly

the pathway before us
Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or 40:1-5, 9-11

• What does it mean to you for God to be pleased with you? What do you want God to be pleased about?
• Describe a real life desert experience. Where do they exist and what positive things can come from wandering through the desert?

 Acts 10:34-38 or Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7

• What does it mean to you that God has no partiality? How does that affect the way you accept others?  How does that affect the way you accept yourself?
• How do you give thanks for the extravagant gift of eternal life God has given to you?

 Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

• The scripture says the people waiting in anticipation for the Baptism; explain in your own words how baptism makes you feel. Must you have a personal connection to the one who is baptized to feel this anticipation?  Why or why not?
• John the Baptist brought many believers to follow Jesus…who do you give thanks to for the introduction?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you find value in your life? What validation do you seek?
• What is something you’ve seen that was hard for you to comprehend or figure out how it worked? Do you ever find faith hard to comprehend or figure out how it works?
• Why does turning on the light in the middle of the night when it is dark hurt? Describe the feelings and thoughts you have in those seconds it takes to adjust to the light.
• On the flip-side, how do you adjust to the darkness when you turn off the lights? How often is there complete darkness?
• How do you proclaim your dedication to God?
• Can you always see darkness coming? Is it possible to avoid darkness?
• What can you do to get yourself out of darkness? Is it possible to do it alone?  How can you help others out of darkness?
• Do you see/feel God’s presence guiding you as this new calendar year begins? Be specific.
• How do your “new year resolutions” pertain to your faith?
• What can you do with an ounce of God’s kindness? God’s generous love?  Make a plan.

 

Closing Prayer

Leader: Pour upon me Lord…

ALL:  the POWER of praising your name!

Leader:  Pour upon me Lord…

ALL:  the humility to be in AWE of creation!

Leader:  Pour upon me Lord…

 ALL:  the MERCY to bring comfort and healing!

Leader: Pour upon me Lord…

 ALL:  the strength of the SPIRIT to persevere!

Leader:  Pour upon me Lord…

ALL:  the GRACE to stumble but not fall!

Leader:  Pour upon me Lord…

ALL:  the fullness of your LOVE to share with others!

 

Challenge for the Week:   There is not one person who has ever wanted to be the last one picked to be on a team.  The anticipation of being the next person chosen can be agonizing, silently screaming “pick me, pick me” and then the feeling of defeat when your name is not the one called.  This is not a feeling God EVER wants us to experience when it comes to his choosing us because we were chosen by God BEFORE we ever existed.  This is one amazing thing to contemplate!