Grace
To live out God’s priority for those facing poverty and seek the full life God has for each person and neighbourhood.
Readings
Reading deeper…
Jim Reiher, The Book of Acts: A Social Justice Commentary, Chapters 22 & 23.
Devotion 1
Wait: Spend some time waiting on God, aware of God’s heart for the poor and oppressed.
Read: Acts 21:37-22:29
Paul addresses the crowd after being mistaken for someone else and tells the story of his experience as he approached Damascus. His life changed from that moment. Some of us have dramatic stories like that, others less so.
Share your story.
Ask:
- At what point in your story did you realise that God’s priority was those facing poverty?
- At what point in your story did you realise that God seeks the full life for each person and neighbourhood beyond charity?
- Why do some of us have quite separate phases in our faith when it comes to conversion to Jesus, conversion to the poor and conversion to working for the full life of those in our neighbourhoods?
Share:
- Share communion
- Spend some time in prayer together for you neighbourhood.
Devotion 2
Wait: Take time to sit in silence together, aware of the presence of God’s Spirit.
Read: Acts 22:30-23:11
Ask:
- What is the hope of the resurrection of the dead?
- How does that hope appear in the lives of our neighbours?
Share: Communion
Pray:
- End with the Lord’s prayer
Devotion 3
Wait: Spend some time waiting on God, aware of h presence.
Read: Acts 23:12-22
Ask:
- What is our role when we hear rumours in our neighbourhoods?
- How can we respond with a Christ-like response?
Share:
- Communion
Pray:
- End with the Lord’s Prayer.
Devotion 4
Wait: Spend some time in the silence of thanksgiving to God.
Read: Acts 23:23-35
Ask:
- What strikes you as read this passage?
- What challenges or encouragements do you hear?
Share:
- Communion
Pray:
- Spend time praying for each of those present in the room and for the wider UNOH team.
- End with the Lord’s Prayer.