Recover Together - Mark 2:1-12

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Questions for Reflection:

What are the names of 4 friends over the years that have helped get you closer to Jesus? (Consider dropping them a text or note to tell them.)

Why is the forgiveness of sins so important to Jesus and His message to the world? How do you think people in general deal with sin, guilt and shame if they don't deal with it through Jesus's forgiveness?

Prayer of the Week:

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive Your life and Your love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and God and give every aspect and dimension of my life – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will – to You and You alone. I ask Your Holy Spirit to restore me in You, renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

Jesus, union with You in every dimension of my life and through You, union with my true Father in heaven is of pivotal importance to me today. I may feel like there are many other things that are “more important” in this moment but I step out in faith and resolve that being synced up in union with You is the most important step to take. The quality of our connection profoundly affects every other aspect of my life. I now receive You Jesus as my Lord, Leader, Savior and Lover of my soul. I surrender to you and ask that You apply to me all the work and triumph of Your cross, death and sacrifice for me as well as Your life resurrection and ascension. I confess my sin and brokenness to You now and receive Your complete and total forgiveness, (You my take a few moments to confess any sin and soul brokenness that is on your heart right now and receive complete forgiveness.)

Jesus I want to live the moments of this day reconciled to my Father in heaven and in synced up union with You and the Holy Spirit.

I praise You Jesus for friends that I trust will bring me to You. I thank you for some of them now and mention them by name (just mention who comes to mind by name.) I thank you for the friends, some of which I may not know, who provided this I Belong reading, devotion and prayer because they are friends who bring friends to Jesus. Jesus, I also thank you for all opportunities I get to bring friends to You in the course of everyday life. I ask Your kingdom reign to come over every dimension of my life so that I might see and seize opportunities to help people connect with You ... to love people in such a way that encountering me helps them encounter You.

I specifically pray for all Grow Groups at Point of Grace, those that exist and those You desire to come into existence, that they might be places where friends bring friends to Jesus in real and ever so gracious and effective ways. I love You Jesus and invite you in to every aspect and movement of my being as I live this day in Your name!

Amen

Recover Together - Acts 2:42-47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Questions for Reflection:

What part of the story we read today inspires you, or captures your imagination for doing life together?

What do you think life would have been like at this time? How exciting it must have been to be part of the first days of the church!

How is the Holy Spirit still working to create this type of community today!?

Prayer of the Week:

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive Your life and Your love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and God and give every aspect and dimension of my life – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will – to You and You alone. I ask Your Holy Spirit to restore me in You, renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

Jesus, union with You in every dimension of my life and through You, union with my true Father in heaven is of pivotal importance to me today. I may feel like there are many other things that are “more important” in this moment but I step out in faith and resolve that being synced up in union with You is the most important step to take. The quality of our connection profoundly affects every other aspect of my life. I now receive You Jesus as my Lord, Leader, Savior and Lover of my soul. I surrender to you and ask that You apply to me all the work and triumph of Your cross, death and sacrifice for me as well as Your life resurrection and ascension. I confess my sin and brokenness to You now and receive Your complete and total forgiveness, (You my take a few moments to confess any sin and soul brokenness that is on your heart right now and receive complete forgiveness.)

Jesus I want to live the moments of this day reconciled to my Father in heaven and in synced up union with You and the Holy Spirit.

I praise You Jesus for friends that I trust will bring me to You. I thank you for some of them now and mention them by name (just mention who comes to mind by name.) I thank you for the friends, some of which I may not know, who provided this I Belong reading, devotion and prayer because they are friends who bring friends to Jesus. Jesus, I also thank you for all opportunities I get to bring friends to You in the course of everyday life. I ask Your kingdom reign to come over every dimension of my life so that I might see and seize opportunities to help people connect with You ... to love people in such a way that encountering me helps them encounter You.

I specifically pray for all Grow Groups at Point of Grace, those that exist and those You desire to come into existence, that they might be places where friends bring friends to Jesus in real and ever so gracious and effective ways. I love You Jesus and invite you in to every aspect and movement of my being as I live this day in Your name!

Amen

Recover Together -- 1 Corinthians 12:20-27

20-24 But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn’t be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, “Get lost; I don’t need you”? Or, Head telling Foot, “You’re fired; your job has been phased out”? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the “lower” the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it’s a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn’t you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?

25-26 The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

27-31 You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything.

1 Corinthians 12:20-27

Questions for Reflection:

Have you heard of this Body of Christ analogy before? If so, what is your default assessment of your body part? Are you an “out there” bigger than life “body part”? Or are you “just a toe?” Do you see yourself as insignificant in His kingdom? Perhaps pray for the Holy Spirit to help you reframe that thought – and reveal to you just how important you are in His Kingdom. And as we recover “TOGETHER” ask Him to show you how important you are as part of the “TOGETHER.”

Prayer of the Week:

Our Father who art in heaven, Holy be Your Name, Your Kingdom reign come, Your will be done …

Jesus thank you for making it possible through Your life, death and resurrection for me to engage personally with my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for Your constant and consistent work calling me to daily follow You by faith and enlightening me with your gifts and fiery yet gentle presence. Fill me afresh that I might follow You well this day.

Jesus, even as I began this prayer with the opening phrase of that familiar prayer You taught us to pray I am struck by the first word, “Our”. As I come to You now, Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am not alone. I not only have Your presence with me but I am part of Your family here on earth. I have a place at the table among Your many children, I am not forgotten, I am a child of God and member of Your family – the church. I am part of “a people belonging to God.”

Jesus, I thank you for the church, the body of Christ, the people of God and I now take my place as a vital part of it. I lift up my local church, Point of Grace (or whatever local expression of the church you are connected to) and ask You to move mightily among us as a church in these unusual times. I ask specifically that You would show me ways that I could tangibly help my church Recover TOGETHER. The condition and climate of the world has been hard on “togetherness” and I ask You to help me see my vital yet appropriate role in the restoration and renewal of “togetherness” in my church that my church might continue to be a vibrant place of restoration and renewal for people. (Please take a few moments as this prayer concludes to contemplate, pray and listen to Jesus respond to the petition, Jesus, what can I be doing in this season to “Recover TOGETHER” in my life and for my church?)

Amen

Recover Together -- Ephesians 4:2-6, 29-5:2

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Questions for Reflection:

What are things in your life now that feel lifeless and you need Jesus to breathe life into them?

How does taking a posture of gentleness and humility protect you from rage, malice, anger, etc?

Prayer of the Week:

Our Father who art in heaven, Holy be Your Name, Your Kingdom reign come, Your will be done …

Jesus thank you for making it possible through Your life, death and resurrection for me to engage personally with my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for Your constant and consistent work calling me to daily follow You by faith and enlightening me with your gifts and fiery yet gentle presence. Fill me afresh that I might follow You well this day.

Jesus, even as I began this prayer with the opening phrase of that familiar prayer You taught us to pray I am struck by the first word, “Our”. As I come to You now, Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am not alone. I not only have Your presence with me but I am part of Your family here on earth. I have a place at the table among Your many children, I am not forgotten, I am a child of God and member of Your family – the church. I am part of “a people belonging to God.”

Jesus, I thank you for the church, the body of Christ, the people of God and I now take my place as a vital part of it. I lift up my local church, Point of Grace (or whatever local expression of the church you are connected to) and ask You to move mightily among us as a church in these unusual times. I ask specifically that You would show me ways that I could tangibly help my church Recover TOGETHER. The condition and climate of the world has been hard on “togetherness” and I ask You to help me see my vital yet appropriate role in the restoration and renewal of “togetherness” in my church that my church might continue to be a vibrant place of restoration and renewal for people. (Please take a few moments as this prayer concludes to contemplate, pray and listen to Jesus respond to the petition, Jesus, what can I be doing in this season to “Recover TOGETHER” in my life and for my church?)

Amen

Recover Together - John 15:12-17

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

- John 15:12-17

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

- John 13:35

Questions for Reflection:

How does the implication of the verses change if you change "you" to "y'all?"

How has our individualist culture hindered our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus in community?

How do you think the loving fellowship found in Christian community should be different than what every other community offers?

Prayer of the Week:

Our Father who art in heaven, Holy be Your Name, Your Kingdom reign come, Your will be done …

Jesus thank you for making it possible through Your life, death and resurrection for me to engage personally with my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for Your constant and consistent work calling me to daily follow You by faith and enlightening me with your gifts and fiery yet gentle presence. Fill me afresh that I might follow You well this day.

Jesus, even as I began this prayer with the opening phrase of that familiar prayer You taught us to pray I am struck by the first word, “Our”. As I come to You now, Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am not alone. I not only have Your presence with me but I am part of Your family here on earth. I have a place at the table among Your many children, I am not forgotten, I am a child of God and member of Your family – the church. I am part of “a people belonging to God.”

Jesus, I thank you for the church, the body of Christ, the people of God and I now take my place as a vital part of it. I lift up my local church, Point of Grace (or whatever local expression of the church you are connected to) and ask You to move mightily among us as a church in these unusual times. I ask specifically that You would show me ways that I could tangibly help my church Recover TOGETHER. The condition and climate of the world has been hard on “togetherness” and I ask You to help me see my vital yet appropriate role in the restoration and renewal of “togetherness” in my church that my church might continue to be a vibrant place of restoration and renewal for people. (Please take a few moments as this prayer concludes to contemplate, pray and listen to Jesus respond to the petition, Jesus, what can I be doing in this season to “Recover TOGETHER” in my life and for my church?)

Amen

Recover Together - 1 John 1:1-7

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Questions for Reflection:

What are some ways that the inner desire for relationship that was knit into each of us by God plays out in your life and your relationships with others?

What do you think are some implications of having access to the Eternal God?

Prayer of the Week:

Our Father who art in heaven, Holy be Your Name, Your Kingdom reign come, Your will be done …

Jesus thank you for making it possible through Your life, death and resurrection for me to engage personally with my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for Your constant and consistent work calling me to daily follow You by faith and enlightening me with your gifts and fiery yet gentle presence. Fill me afresh that I might follow You well this day.

Jesus, even as I began this prayer with the opening phrase of that familiar prayer You taught us to pray I am struck by the first word, “Our”. As I come to You now, Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am not alone. I not only have Your presence with me but I am part of Your family here on earth. I have a place at the table among Your many children, I am not forgotten, I am a child of God and member of Your family – the church. I am part of “a people belonging to God.”

Jesus, I thank you for the church, the body of Christ, the people of God and I now take my place as a vital part of it. I lift up my local church, Point of Grace (or whatever local expression of the church you are connected to) and ask You to move mightily among us as a church in these unusual times. I ask specifically that You would show me ways that I could tangibly help my church Recover TOGETHER. The condition and climate of the world has been hard on “togetherness” and I ask You to help me see my vital yet appropriate role in the restoration and renewal of “togetherness” in my church that my church might continue to be a vibrant place of restoration and renewal for people. (Please take a few moments as this prayer concludes to contemplate, pray and listen to Jesus respond to the petition, Jesus, what can I be doing in this season to “Recover TOGETHER” in my life and for my church?)

Amen

Recover Together - Ephesians 2:19-22

19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Questions for Reflection:

What are some implications of not being strangers or foreigners, rather full and equal member' of God's household?

What does the confidence of knowing that Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith mean to you?

How is God preparing you, as part of the priesthood of all believers, for a dwelling place of God?

Prayer of the Week:

Our Father who art in heaven, Holy be Your Name, Your Kingdom reign come, Your will be done …

Jesus thank you for making it possible through Your life, death and resurrection for me to engage personally with my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for Your constant and consistent work calling me to daily follow You by faith and enlightening me with your gifts and fiery yet gentle presence. Fill me afresh that I might follow You well this day.

Jesus, even as I began this prayer with the opening phrase of that familiar prayer You taught us to pray I am struck by the first word, “Our”. As I come to You now, Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am not alone. I not only have Your presence with me but I am part of Your family here on earth. I have a place at the table among Your many children, I am not forgotten, I am a child of God and member of Your family – the church. I am part of “a people belonging to God.”

Jesus, I thank you for the church, the body of Christ, the people of God and I now take my place as a vital part of it. I lift up my local church, Point of Grace (or whatever local expression of the church you are connected to) and ask You to move mightily among us as a church in these unusual times. I ask specifically that You would show me ways that I could tangibly help my church Recover TOGETHER. The condition and climate of the world has been hard on “togetherness” and I ask You to help me see my vital yet appropriate role in the restoration and renewal of “togetherness” in my church that my church might continue to be a vibrant place of restoration and renewal for people. (Please take a few moments as this prayer concludes to contemplate, pray and listen to Jesus respond to the petition, Jesus, what can I be doing in this season to “Recover TOGETHER” in my life and for my church?)

Amen

Recover Together — Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Questions for Reflection:

Why do you suppose "giving up meeting together" has evidently been a problem for Jesus followers since the early church?

How does this text help you grow as a faithful fervent follower for the long haul knowing these words were written to a nearly 2000 years ago reader?

What words from this reading are particularly helpful to a Jesus follower today who is facing current temptations to "give up meeting together" especially as we move into what we hope is a post-covid environment?

Prayer of the Week:

Our Father who art in heaven, Holy be Your Name, Your Kingdom reign come, Your will be done …

Jesus thank you for making it possible through Your life, death and resurrection for me to engage personally with my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for Your constant and consistent work calling me to daily follow You by faith and enlightening me with your gifts and fiery yet gentle presence. Fill me afresh that I might follow You well this day.

Jesus, even as I began this prayer with the opening phrase of that familiar prayer You taught us to pray I am struck by the first word, “Our”. As I come to You now, Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am not alone. I not only have Your presence with me but I am part of Your family here on earth. I have a place at the table among Your many children, I am not forgotten, I am a child of God and member of Your family – the church. I am part of “a people belonging to God.”

Jesus, I thank you for the church, the body of Christ, the people of God and I now take my place as a vital part of it. I lift up my local church, Point of Grace (or whatever local expression of the church you are connected to) and ask You to move mightily among us as a church in these unusual times. I ask specifically that You would show me ways that I could tangibly help my church Recover TOGETHER. The condition and climate of the world has been hard on “togetherness” and I ask You to help me see my vital yet appropriate role in the restoration and renewal of “togetherness” in my church that my church might continue to be a vibrant place of restoration and renewal for people. (Please take a few moments as this prayer concludes to contemplate, pray and listen to Jesus respond to the petition, Jesus, what can I be doing in this season to “Recover TOGETHER” in my life and for my church?)

Amen