Weekly Devotional
April 12 - April 18
Each week join us as we hear an encouraging word from one of our FMC staff members.
No matter what day you choose to begin, you can see the corresponding scripture to each day.
**Click the week you are on and you will find the bible reading and reflection questions for that week.**
Bible Reading Plan
March Scripture Reading
Week 1 (March 1 - March 7)
- March 1 - Read Matthew 5
- March 2 - Read Matthew 6
- March 3 - Read Matthew 7
- March 4 - Read Matthew 8
- March 5 - Read Matthew 9
- March 6 - REST
- March 7 - REFLECT
Weekly Reflection Questions
- How have the difficult times in your life with Jesus been transformed into blessings by your faith and your trust in God?
- What parts of your life create the most anxiety? What about them do you wish to control and how can you move toward realizing you don’t have control?
- Who are you most likely to judge? What characteristics tend to cause you to judge without consideration of circumstances?
- When have you seen a storm calmed in your life through prayer, mercy or God’s grace?
- What limits you in your walk with Jesus? What blinds you? What causes you to turn a deaf ear?
Week 2 (March 8 - March 14)
- March 8 - Read Matthew 10
- March 9 - Read Matthew 11
- March 10 - Read Matthew 12
- March 11 - Read Matthew 13
- March 12 - Read Matthew 14
- March 13 - REST
- March 14 - REFLECT
Weekly Reflection Questions
- Under what circumstances do you find it most difficult to talk about your faith? How can you best represent Christ to your neighbors that the Kingdom of God is at hand? (Matthew 10)
- Is Jesus' yoke resting on you, or are you struggling to get out from under it? How does taking up Jesus' yoke lead to rest? (Matthew 11:25-30)
- What real difference does Jesus' power make in your daily struggles against evil? In your daily speech with others? (Matthew 12:22-37)
- What are the "thorns" and "rocks" in your life which tend to choke out your spiritual growth? What steps can you take to improve the soil of your spiritual life? (Matthew 13:1-23)
- How are you "stepping out of the boat" and taking risks? Where do you feel God is leading you to get out of the boat now? (Matthew 14:22-33)
Week 3 (March 15 - March 21)
- March 15 - Read Matthew 15
- March 16 - Read Matthew 16
- March 17 - Read Matthew 17
- March 18 - Read Matthew 18
- March 19 - Read Matthew 19
- March 20 - REST
- March 21 - REFLECT
Weekly Reflection Questions
- Why do you think Jesus had such a harsh reaction to the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15?
- How do you answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”
- Imagine you are there at the Transfiguration. What questions would you ask Moses and Elijah?
- How does Jesus differentiate the manner in which we deal with conflict in the church from conflict in the world?
- In Matthew 19, the rich man goes away sad. Which of Jesus’ teaching are you tempted to turn away from?
Week 4 (March 22 - March 28)
- March 22 - Read Matthew 20
- March 23 - Read Matthew 21
- March 24 - Read Matthew 22
- March 25 - Read Matthew 23
- March 26 - Read Matthew 24
- March 27 - REST
- March 28 - REFLECT
Weekly Reflection Questions
- If Jesus said, “What is it you want?” or “What do you want me to do for you?” how would you answer? Matthew 20: 21, 32.
- If Jesus were to visit you, where would he begin to “turn over tables” in your own life, family, business, or church? Matthew 21: 12-13
- Why do you think Jesus emphasized loving God with our heart, soul, and mind? In what ways is loving God related to loving God? Matthew 22:37-40
- Where does Jesus catch your attention in this passage of the “seven woes?” Matthew 23:13-36
- Over what has God given you stewardship? How does your stewardship line up with God’s calling and desire for your life? Matthew 24:42-51
Week 5 (March 29 - March 31)
- March 29 - Read Matthew 25
- March 30 - Read Matthew 26
- March 31 - Read Matthew 27
*Week Continued Into April*
April Scripture Reading
Week 1 (April 1 - April 4)
- April 1 - Maundy Thursday - Join us for service at 7 pm!
- April 2 - Good Friday - Join us for service at 7 pm!
- April 3 - Rest
- April 4 - Easter Matthew 28 Join us for service at 9:30 am or 11:00 am!
Weekly Reflection Questions
- What can you do in your life, where you live, that makes you more like the sheep and less like the goats found in the story of Matthew 25:31-46? How might living more “sheep-like” change the way you see your life and the lives of others?
- In Matthew 26 a woman anoints Jesus with costly perfume – an act of extravagant adoration. When was the last time you offered an act of “extravagant adoration” to Jesus? What was it? Did it make an impact on you? If so, how?
- Peter, Jesus' closest friend, denies knowing him. How have you denied your relationship with Jesus in your life?
- Jesus cries out – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Have you ever felt like God has left you in your moment of need? Read Psalm 22 – what does it mean to you that Jesus was quoting this Psalm? What does the Psalm declare by the end?
- How can you more intentionally live into Jesus command to “Love one another as I have loved you”?
- How does sharing in the bread and cup of Communion help you see your connection to the greater church and to your neighbor?
- The disciples who were with Jesus in the garden fell asleep not realizing the significance of what was happening. When have you found yourself “waking up” to the greater reality of your life in Christ? Found yourself waking up to both the true cost and the true hope?
- What does it mean for you that Christ was willing to die for you – even before you knew him, even before you admitted your own sinfulness?
Week 2 (April 5 - April 11)
- April 5 - Read 1 Corinthians 1
- April 6 - Read 1 Corinthians 2
- April 7 - Read 1 Corinthians 3
- April 8 - Read 1 Corinthians 4
- April 9 - Read 1 Corinthians 5
- April 10 - Rest
- April 11 - Reflect
Weekly Reflection Questions
- How has God used your weaknesses to show his strength? How have your strengths and successes divided you from God?
- When has the Spirit of God revealed a truth to you? What did you do in response?
- What does it mean to be the Temple of God? How can you live out that truth?
- How does Christian leadership differ from other forms of leadership? What are Paul’s warnings for leaders?
- How does your faith in forgiveness and grace shape your daily choices?
Week 3 (April 12 - April 18)
- April 12 - Read 1 Corinthians 6
- April 13 - Read 1 Corinthians 7
- April 14 - Read 1 Corinthians 8
- April 15 - Read 1 Corinthians 9
- April 16 - Read 1 Corinthians 10
- April 17 - Rest
- April 18 - Reflect
Weekly Reflection Questions
- What "were you" before meeting Christ? What are you now? (ch. 6)
- In chapter 7, what does Paul say to those who are married? How about to those who are single? (ch. 7)
- Where in your experience is one person's "freedom" another person's "stumbling block"? (ch. 8)
- Consider 1 Cor. 9:19-23. What group of people are you especially aware of who need God's love: The poor? The marginalized? Those in nursing homes? Troubled youngsters? What barriers are there between you and these groups? What "rights" would you be willing to discard to love them? (ch. 9)
- In what ways is a Christian free (1 Cor. 10:23-24)? How do you exercise your freedom in Christ? What can you do this week to help live out verse 31 in your life? (ch. 10)
Week 4 (April 19 - April 25 )
- April 19 - Read 1 Corinthians 11
- April 20 - Read 1 Corinthians 12
- April 21 - Read 1 Corinthians 13
- April 22 - Read 1 Corinthians 14
- April 23 - Read 1 Corinthians 15
- April 24 - Rest
- April 25 - Reflect
Week 5 (April 26 - April 30)
- April 26 - Read 1 Corinthians 16
- April 27 - Read 2 Corinthians 1
- April 28 - Read 2 Corinthians 2
- April 29 - Read 2 Corinthians 3
- April 30 - Read 2 Corinthians 4
*Week Continued Into May*
Weekly Prayer
April 12 - April 18
Holy God, plant us by streams of living water. Root us in your love and grow us up to bear the fruit of your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Amen.
Great 50 Days of Prayer
This year we offer you a spiritual practice each day between Easter Sunday and Pentecost to help us all rejoice in Christ’s resurrection and experience what it means to say, “Christ is risen!” Please join us in this community spiritual practice we call The Great 50 Days of Prayer.
Do You Need Prayer Today?
We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to act in and through our difficulties. Our prayer groups provide intercession and hands-on prayer for those who are seeking relief or direction.