PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 9:35-10:8 Disciples and Apostles

 

Time to reflect: In this passage Jesus' students, disciples, became his representatives, apostles to extend his teachings to a greater number of people. We need to be both disciples and apostles.

Moving through the day: In what way do you need to be a student of Jesus? In what way do you need to be someone who teaches or reaches out to others?

 

Scripture:

 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Matthew 10

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Romans 5:1-8 The value of suffering

Time to reflect: There are two major passages combined in this one. Verses 6-8 is a core Christian concept and preached on regularly.

Moving through the day: Meditate on the sequence in verses 3-5. What is the relationship, in your life between the elements in this sequence.

Scripture:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 A Psalm of priase

Time to reflect: Many good thoughts and statements in this passage.

Moving Throughout the day: Meditate for an extended time on verse 12.

Scripture:

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
       he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,
       I will call on him as long as I live.

How can I repay the LORD
       for all his goodness to me?

  I will lift up the cup of salvation
       and call on the name of the LORD.

 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
       in the presence of all his people.

 Precious in the sight of the LORD
       is the death of his saints.

  O LORD, truly I am your servant;
       I am your servant, the son of your maidservant ;
       you have freed me from my chains.

  I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
       and call on the name of the LORD.

  I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
       in the presence of all his people,

 in the courts of the house of the LORD—
       in your midst, O Jerusalem.
       Praise the LORD.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Monday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 15 Qualifications for entering the Temple

 

Time to reflect: This is a good and doable list of expectations from God.

 

Moving Through The Day: Pray through the list and try decide where you could use the most improvement.

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
       Who may live on your holy hill?

  He whose walk is blameless
       and who does what is righteous,
       who speaks the truth from his heart

 and has no slander on his tongue,
       who does his neighbor no wrong
       and casts no slur on his fellowman,

  who despises a vile man
       but honors those who fear the LORD,
       who keeps his oath
       even when it hurts,

  who lends his money without usury
       and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
       He who does these things
       will never be shaken.