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Grace UMC prepares for Sunday worship by reading the scripture for the coming Sunday’s sermon. Below, you fill find questions that can be used for Bible Study, small groups or personal devotion. Let the scripture speak into your life! Expect great things!
Preparation for 25th Sunday After Pentecost
Gathering Time
In pairs or groups of three, ask participants, “Briefly describe your favorite Thanksgiving Day from your past.”
Group Dialogue
Read Philippians 4:4-13.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
- Who comes to your mind when you hear “rejoice’? Why do you think the person acts that way? What might you learn from the person?
- How have you experienced this? Can you think of someone who needs to hear those words? How might you reach out to them?
– “Joy, says Paul, is revealed in gentleness, in how we treat those around us, in how we respond to slights against us, and in how we reach out to those who are hurt. “Let your gentleness be known to everyone,” says Paul. Let it show. Joy is found in the knowledge and experience of the nearness of God (The Lord is near), a nearness that diminishes anxiety and brings out a willingness to connect with God with gratitude and with hope (in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God). Joy is found in that communion, that peaceful confidence that comes from living in Christ”
- What would it look like to live this way?
– “I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need” (Philippians 4:12). “
- As you prepare for the Thanksgiving feast, how could you and your church give thanks to God by helping those who are hungry?
Prayer
Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.
Sending Forth
Gracious and loving God, we give thanks for your many blessings in our lives. We rejoice in You always, finding our joy in the Lord. We pray that your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds as we bring our anxieties to You. In Thanksgiving week, help us cultivate a spirit of thankfulness in our daily lives and express our gratitude not only in words but also in our actions. Amen