Growing Deeply

Sunday Sermon

a daily scripture guide

Week of September 14 September 19

Swimming Upstream - September 13

MONDAY: Romans 12:1-8 Gifts and the body
REFLECTION: Each person in the church body is an offering to Christ. As
part of the church, we have roles and tasks that build up Christs church in
the world. Everyone has a part to play.
ACTION: Discover your gifts: http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/spiritual-gifts.
Print or save your results. Spend time this week reading about your gifts on the site.
TUESDAY: Ephesians 4:1-16 More gifts
REFLECTION: This passage offers another list of gifts. Remember these lists are
not exhaustive. The purpose of gifts is to build up and grow the body of Christ.
PRAY: Begin a new work in me, Lord. What might you have me do with my gifts
for you through your church? May I be open to grow and serve with passion.
WEDNESDAY: Ephesians 4:1-16 Unity through gifting
REFLECTION: As we learn where we are uniquely called to serve, discord is
minimized. You see, we savor serving in the areas in which we are gifted.
PRAYER: May unity be created and maintained in your church.

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)

So heres what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary
lifeyour sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around lifeand place
it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing
you can do for him. Dont become so well-adjusted to your culture that you
fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. Youll be
changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and
quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down
to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed
maturity in you.

My Notes:

THURSDAY: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Gifts and the Holy Spirit

REFLECTION: While gifting varies, it is the Holy Spirit who gives and
empowers the gifts in us.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, have your way in me and in gifting me to serve Christs church.
FRIDAY: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 Not just a gift
REFLECTION: Watch out for the word just. When we say, Im
just _______, we are lessening the importance of that action, skill,
characteristic, gift, etc. Every gift has meaning and purpose. Even the pinky
toe has a role to play in the natural body! So also is your gift important.
PRAYER: God you dont just give gifts, you anoint us and bless us with gifts.
May we honor the gifts in us and live in them with boldness.
SATURDAY: 1 Corinthians 12:4-26 Gifted living
REFLECTION: Growing up, I was selected for the gifted program at school.
In the world, only some are gifted, but in the Body of Christ, all are
called to gifted living.
PRAYER: You are not a partial God. You grace and gift each of us. Thank you
for loving me and empowering me to live the gifted life.
Read or subscribe to the full weekly Growing Deeply Guide at moumc.org/grow
Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.

Read or subscribe to the full weekly

Growing Deeply Guide at moumc.org/grow
Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.