Autumn 2015

Welcome to 15 Minutes With God.

I want to thank the Reverend Jamie Holtom the Reverend Debbie Johnson, and the ministry team at North Bramalea United Church (NBUC) in Brampton, for so generously sharing this resource with us. The 15 Minutes With God Challenge is part of their sermon series “Bullseye Aiming to Follow Jesus”.

Their book, Bullseye Aiming to Follow Jesus, can be purchased at the Middlesex Presbytery Resource Centre. Just speak to Karlene Kimber. If you are looking to deepen your relationship with God and discover what it looks like to faithfully follow Jesus, this book is for you.

At Wesley-Knox we will be spending the next several weeks exploring the six markers of following Christ as laid out by Bullseye. Spiritual practices, worshipping together weekly, discovering authentic community, serving, giving generously and sharing Christ will all be explored as we grow together in community.

This resource will help you to deepen your own spiritual practices. Use it as it best works for you, and trust that God will be with you in this journey. I pray that you find it a faith-filled experience and I look forward to how we will all change and grow.

Blessings to you on this journey.

Peace,

Rev. Tracy Crick-Butler

The Bullseye Challenge—15 Minutes With God

If you are just joining us on this 15 Minutes with God journey—welcome! If you are entering the fourth week of the challenge—well done! We are glad that you have accepted the challenge to spend more time in dialogue with God! Each week we will send you a booklet like this to help support you meet your goal. Feel free to use whatever other resources that support you too! It’s very cool to be part of a community of folk who are making this commitment!

This week we are exploring the fourth Bullseye Marker we have named in this worship series which is “Serving”. Serving was central to Jesus’ life and ministry and so it is with those who choose to follow him. In our culture we are probably more familiar with the words “volunteering” or “volunteers” rather than “servants”. In the end it probably doesn’t matter what we call it—the gift of serving is what happens to our hearts as we volunteer/serve.

Most of us have a number of challenges to overcome when it comes to serving or giving of our time. Sometimes our lives are so full with commitments that we can’t imagine how we could fit in one more thing. Sometimes we find ourselves believing that we don’t really have much to offer. Sometimes we find ourselves trapped in doing something that we really hate and fear getting stuck again.

What Jesus shows us is that every act of service is connected to God’s larger mission of healing and mending the world—a mission we are invited to be part of! There is no act of service, no volunteer position that isn’t critical to the community of faith. Washing dishes—you are offering a gift of hospitality! Taking on Parking Lot duties in the cold of winter—you are making a powerful first impression to everyone who pulls into the parking lot. A first impression that says—WOW—these people really do want to welcome me—maybe I can do that next time! Parking Lot attention affirms to people that they made the best decision on that day to come to church! Jesus’ disciples were more than capable of washing their own feet—oh but the power of experience Jesus washing theirs—incredible!

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Jesus said “I have come to serve not to be served” (Mark 10:45) and the invitation is there for all of us who follow him to do the same.

For this worship series, or to learn some more about serving, you may want to purchase the book published by United Church Publishing House, written by Jamie Holtom and Debbie Johnson called “BULLSEYE: Aiming to follow Jesus”. There is also a companion participant’s guide available for individuals and small groups.

You are invited to set aside some time every day for your time with God. For some, the mornings work best and for others it’s the time before going to bed, and for still others it may be on a lunch hour or in between sales appointments! Find a time that works—and put it in your calendar—it will help you make your intentions a reality.

In this booklet, we offer some suggestions about getting settled in a quiet place where you can read and pray and listen for God’s voice. There will be some scripture to read and a space for you to write down your thoughts on the scripture—questions, insights, doubts, aha moments. You may want to reflect on experiences in your life that this scripture speaks to. This is simply a tool—make it work for you!

Some of you already have spiritual practices that deepen your connection with Christ. Don’t stop! Or try these! Or add some more time.

If this is your very first time setting aside some time—congratulations! This is a step in faith into a life that you will not regret. Don’t be daunted by 15 minutes or every day—the challenge is to start where you are—and give yourself a target to aim for! Experience the grace and peace of Christ when you don’t make it every day! Notice what happens when you increase your current engagement with God!

Let us know what is working for you and any other ways we can support you throughout this Bullseye Challenge!

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My Intention for this Week

Write down what you want to do, when you want to do it, and your hopes and expectations of this 15 Minutes with God Challenge.

How to use this booklet…

What is SOAP?

SOAP is simply a way to work through a scripture passage and have a conversation with God. Here is what SOAP stands for:

S stands for SCRIPTURE. Write down a verse or some words from the reading that speaks to you.

O stands for OBSERVATION. Write down your observations about this passage and particularly the words that have spoken to you.

A stands for APPLICATION. What are these observations saying about what you need to do? How might you apply God’s word here to your life?

P stands for PRAYER. Take a moment to write down a simple prayer to God.

An alternative is to do the following:

Read the scripture through once. Does anything catch your attention?

Read the scripture through again. Underline or circle anything that you are noticing,

Take a minute to write down some of your thoughts.

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Read the scripture through a third time. Record any further reflections and write a prayer for yourself about the ways this scripture is speaking into your life.

If the scripture passage is part of a story—imagine yourself in the story. Who are you? What do you see? What are you experiencing?

What are the thoughts/questions which are rising in you? What has surprised you as you read this day?

Offer your questions to God in prayer - God, you know I am wondering about…

When you come to the point where the stirring is starting to subside ask “God - what are you saying to me now?” Or “What would you have me be aware of?”

You may want to memorize the verse and repeat it to yourself throughout the day. Your time now may lead you to another verse—take some time with that as well.

““Prayer in action is love, and love in action is service. Try to give unconditionally whatever a person needs in the moment. The point is to do something, however small, and show you care through your actions by giving your time … We are all God’s children so it is important to share His gifts. Do not worry about why problems exist in the world—just respond to people’s needs … We feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but that ocean would be less without that drop.“ Mother Teresa

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Getting Started

Find a quiet place to begin this time, free from distractions…

Do you have a prayer shawl? Put it on now. If you don’t, consider asking for one to deepen your time of prayer.

Take a deep breath and exhale. Again, breathe a few more times, perhaps repeating a word or favourite scripture to settle you down and center your mind and heart into this moment

Invite God into this time—

Dear God, I want to spend some time with you and listen to your word for me today. Open my heart and mind to the words of scripture that have spoken to generations and can speak to me still.

If you are using this devotional - turn to today’s page and read. Use one of the methods in this devotional or one of your own to reflect on the scripture passage for that day.

When you are finished with the devotional time, take an extra minute. Become aware of your breathing. Take another breath and exhale.

Finish this time with prayer—for the scripture, for your reflections, for the ways God is speaking to you, for others who may need the encouragement that this verse offers today. Thank God for this time you have had together.

The Readings in this Devotional are taken from the

Message Translation by Eugene Peterson

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God Calls You To Serve Others – a blog written by Rick Warren

"It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." (Ephesians 2:10 LB)

God calls you to a service far beyond anything you could ever imagine. You were put on Earth to make a contribution.

You weren’t created just to consume resources — to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. You were created to add to life on Earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back.

The Bible says, “In our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10b TEV). These “good deeds” are your service to the world. Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God and fulfilling one of your purposes (Colossians 3:23-24; Matthew 25:34-45; Ephesians 6:7).What God told Jeremiah is also true for you: “Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work" (Jeremiah 1:5a NCV).

Faithful servants never

retire. You can retire from

your career, but you will

never retire from serving

God. Rick Warren

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When most people think of this "special work," they think of pastors, priests, and professional clergy, but God says every member of his family is to minister. In the Bible, the words "servant" and "minister" are synonyms, as are service and ministry. If you are a Christian, you are a minister, and when you’re serving, you’re ministering.

Talk About It

Is there anything holding you back from accepting God’s call to serve?

What task in ministry do you believe God has given you that you know you need God’s strength and power to complete?

This devotional ©2013 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission

A time for you: What does it mean for you to be a Christ-follower?

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Sunday, October 11th—Ephesians 4:-16 (NIV)

READING: To be Mature

1-3 In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

4-6 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.7-13 But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,

He climbed the high mountain,He captured the enemy and seized the booty,He handed it all out in gifts to the people.

Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step

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with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

My Thoughts, Notes and Prayers

What captures your attention in this passage? When have you experienced “pouring yourself out for each other in acts of

love?” What is the gift that your relationship with Christ has given you to use in

service?

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Monday, October 12th—Matthew 6:25-34

READING

25-26 “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

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My Thoughts, Notes and Prayers

What captures your attention in this passage? Today is Thanksgiving in Canada. What are some of the things you are

thankful for today? What do you see God doing right now in your life?

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Tuesday, October 13th—Galatians 5:13-16

READING: The Life of Freedom

13-15 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

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My Thoughts, Notes and Prayers

What captures your attention in this passage? Name some of the ways you have experienced “loving others as you love

yourself”. In this passage the Apostle Paul says that serving others is an act of freedom.

What are your thoughts on this?

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Wednesday, October 14th – 1 Peter 4:1-11

READING: Learn to Think Like Him

1-2 Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.

3-5 You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself.6 Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believers who are now dead, and yet even though they died (just as all people must), they will still get in on the life that God has given in Jesus.7-11 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

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My Thoughts, Notes and Prayers

What captures your attention in this passage? What are some of the ways that you experience Christ growing in you? How

is the presence of Christ’s Spirit changing you? Have you ever considered that what you do gives glory to God – reflects your

relationship with God? What are you showing others by the life you live? Anything you want to change? Keep on doing?

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Thursday, October 15th—Mark 10:35-45

READING: The Highest Place oif Honour

35 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.”

36 “What is it? I’ll see what I can do.”37 “Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.”38 Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?”39-40 “Sure,” they said. “Why not?”Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.”41-45 When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”

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My Thoughts, Notes and Prayers

What captures your attention in this passage? What do you think/feel about the Zebedee brothers asking Jesus for the

places of honour beside him? What is your reaction to the other disciples’ reaction? Who do you most identify with?

Name some of the ways that Jesus turns the whole idea of what gives honour upside down. How is this lived out by people around you?

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Friday, October 16th—John 13:1-17

READING: Washing His Disciples’ Freet

13 1-2 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.

3-6 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”7 Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”8 Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!”Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”9 “Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!”10-12 Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.12-17 Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

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My Thoughts, Notes and Prayers

What captures your attention in this passage? What do you think about Peter’s reaction to Jesus’ action? Have you ever had your feet washed by another? Have you ever washed the

feet of someone? What did it feel like? Describe what you think/feel about Jesus’ action. While he can’t wash your

feet now, in what ways do you experience this kind of love from Jesus in your life?

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Saturday, October 17th—Romans 12:3-10

READING:

3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

6-8 If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

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My Thoughts, Notes and Prayers

What captures your attention in this passage? A few weeks ago we were naming some of the Unsung Heroes in our lives

and folks continue to hand out cards to those they want to acknowledge and thank. What does it mean for you to play second fiddle?

In what ways have you discovered your meaning and function as part of Christ’s body, within your faith community? In your family? In your workplace? In your playtime?

How has week 4 of the Bullseye challenge gone for you? Is there some area of service that you would like to try? Go for it!!

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