X

New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

The movement Jesus led more than 2,000 years ago is still making a huge difference in many people’s lives, as well as in many communities and nations throughout the world, even to this very day. That is why we are in the mission of forming new disciples of Jesus Christ, so that the work of changing lives and transforming communities will never cease. As we focus our efforts on making new disciples, those new disciples will then form new churches. We make disciples who will plant new churches that will transform the world! It takes disciple-making and church-planting efforts to sustain this transformative movement of the gospel.

—Bener Agtarap & Curtis Brown, Ready, Set, Plant: The Why and How of Starting New Churches (Discipleship Resources, 2021)

Today’s Question

How much energy do you give to making disciples of Jesus? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Jesus came near and spoke to them, “…Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you.”
—Matthew 28:18-20 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Holy God, thank you for the opportunity to plant a new faith community. Help me to have wisdom and discernment as I develop relationships with the people in this community. Guide me to stay close to you through prayer and Bible study and to love the people who cross my path. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Join us for Spiritual Formation in Today’s World: A One-Year Online Offering from The Academy for Spiritual Formation. The first 3-day session begins on August 24, 2023. Learn more and apply here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

4 Comments

  • Julie Posted May 15, 2023 9:51 am

    I hate to say it but none. I am still not always comfortable sharing my faith. I do at times in unobtrusive ways but I have seen what others do and how it can make people uncomfortable.
    I spent a lovely Mother’s Day with Megan. we saw a wonderful movie. Then we shopped at Barnes and Noble, our favorite store. We went through an automatic car wash and Megan vacuumed the inside while I got rid of stubborn marks on the ouside. We visited a friend of mine who has not seen Megan since she was two. We then went out to eat at a time when we managed to not have a wait. It was such a warm day we took the dog for a walk when we got home.

  • Ally Posted May 15, 2023 10:01 am

    Catching up on readings and comments.
    Envy. I have devoted more energy to envy than I should have engaging in it, I try not to envy those who don’t have to struggle to make financial ends meet. Also a little envy to those who travel a lot. Various friends have been to Portugal, Brazil, Ireland and Scotland. I try to deal with it by enjoying the photos they share On Facebook. .
    Thought of my mom all day yesterday. I miss the person she was before dementia. Didn’t mean our relationship wasn’t complicated. I’m thankful for our good times.
    As I see churches disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, I think about what we as a denomination will do and what our future will look like. I realized as I read today’s reading, that we continue to make disciples and work to change lives and transform communities. God may be doing a new thing in new ways, as the Lord told Isaiah. We look to God to map our future, knowing as God told Jeremiah , that God’s plans are for good and not evil, to give us a hope and a future. Blessings to all.

  • Jill Posted May 15, 2023 1:48 pm

    I believe I am ready, as the opportunity arises – to be a disciple maker. My daily actions and words provide the ground work for this. So – I guess daily – in either a positive or negative way – I am in on the “process”.
    Have gotten a lot accomplished today at school, as I had no classes – as there was a “junior retreat” at a local university. I needed it, as I didn’t crack open my school bag over the weekend.
    Looking forward to being back on the court this evening.

  • robert moeller Posted May 15, 2023 9:38 pm

    I’m not out there as Paul was, I have a struggle with an unbeliever at home, I support church activities we hope will bring new believers.
    The UMC position regarding LGBTQ people is disheartening, although the New England Conference is very inclusive. I’m a firm believer that for too many years out understanding of scripture regarding homosexuality has been in error. Love is the message God sent in His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemies, love conquers all and covers a multitude of sins. Love is a gift we don’t deserve but by the grace of God it is given to all unconditionally. Thank You, Lord.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *