Sunday Morning Devotion and Prayer 7-12-20

The Journey:

1-A new, or renewed attitude about our church

2-Our church will begin to change

Review:

Q: Read the entire story of Jesus rebuking His disciples in Matthew 20:20-28. How could that story relate to church membership?

A: In verses 26-28, it says in order to be great, you must be a servant, whoever wants to be first, must be a slave. Jesus is the ultimate example: He did not come to be served, but to serve. He gave His life as a ransom for all. We are to be servants, and we are to give of ourselves, as members of the church.

Today’s Devotion: I Am a Church Member

As we review each pledge, what areas will be your greatest challenge? In what areas can you make immediate changes?

I am a church member…1. As a functioning member, I will give. I will serve. I will minister. I will evangelize. I will study. I will seek to be a blessing to others. I will remember, as the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NIV) ~ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.2. I will seek to be a source of unity in the church. I will not be a source of gossip or dissension. One of the greatest contributions I can make is to do all I can in God’s power to help keep the church in unity for the sake of the gospel.3. I will not let my church be about my preferences and desires. I am in this church to serve others and to serve Christ.4. I will pray for my pastor every day. I will pray for God’s strength for him and his family. I will also pray the same for our church leaders.5. I will lead my family to be good members of this church as well. We will pray together for our church. We will worship and serve together in our church. We will ask Christ to help us fall deeper in love with the church, because He gave His life for her.6. This membership is a gift. When I received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became a part of the body of Christ. I identified with a local body and was baptized. And now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in our church. I pray that I will never take my membership for granted, but see it as a gift and an opportunity to serve others.

Let’s pray: Dear God, going through this book together has given us an understanding of what it means to be a church member. These pledges show us that Your love must be the foundation, and the center, of our individual lives, and in this church, in order for Your will to be fulfilled. Teach us and show us daily, how to be more like You, and less like our carnal nature. May we be used in this church, in our homes, in our community, to draw others to You, and to encourage and support one another. Give us Your eyes to see as You see. Give us Your heart, that we may love as You love. And where we fall short, thank You for Your mercy, grace, strength, and forgiveness. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen!