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God is Doing a New Thing
It’s a new year, a new beginning. And we at The Upper Room feel the excitement Read More
DeVonna R. Allison | Read Luke 12:13-21
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Sign Up TodayThe West African country of Senegal has a tradition called “storying” where storytellers relate important tales of national or personal history through words, actions, and singing. Senegalese Christian women meet together discreetly to learn how to tell and perform Bible stories in this traditional manner. While one woman reads the...
Dear Lord, be with us this week as we study your word with the aim of enlightening, encouraging, and strengthening ourselves, not only for our own good but for the good of others. Lead us into a life of being the gospel for others through action and story. Amen.
Hosea relates a further message from God. Israel has repeatedly ignored God’s teachings, even though God continues to reach out with love and kindness. Although a just response would be wrath, God will respond instead with mercy to restore the people. The psalmist echoes this teaching about God’s enduring love. Although some have gone through periods of distress, when they call out to God, the Lord responds with steadfast love. We then explore guidance for the life of a Christian. In Colossians we read that we should focus on heavenly realities, not the physical world. Rather than pursuing our own pleasure, we should put on a new self and behave more like God desires. The parable that Jesus tells reinforces this point. We should focus on storing up heavenly treasures, not earthly ones.
Read Hosea 11:1-11. How have you suffered the consequences of turning away from God? How has God welcomed you back?
Read Psalm 107:1-9, 43. What stories of God’s goodness does your family tell to the next generations?
Read Colossians 3:1-11. How has Christ renewed you? How do you see Christ in others?
Read Luke 12:13-21. How has greed shown up in your life—as racism, wealth-mongering, or myths of scarcity? How do you combat greed in all its forms to live out of a mentality of abundance?
Respond by posting a prayer.
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