Prepare for Sunday

Each Monday morning, we will provide the passage to read during the week for the upcoming Sunday message, along with the worship playlist. Our prayer is that this enriches your experience with God's Word and worship during the week leading up to the time when we assemble as a community on Sunday morning. 



Sunday, June 7:

1. READ: Luke 12:1-12

2. NOTICE: As you read, note the different instances fear show up in this passage.

3. ASK: What is Jesus saying not to fear? What is Jesus saying to fear? What are some things that I fear most and most often? 

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Open the Gates
  • Meet Us Here
  • Jesus
  • Jesus We Love You
  • Just As I Am (I Come Broken)

5. PRAY: Ask God to reveal to you your fears. Then, ask Jesus to prepare you to engage those fears in ways that honor Him. 


Sunday, June 14:

1. READ:  James 1:19-20

2. NOTICE: the actions that should precede our anger.

3. ASK: What are the things, people, and situations that make me angry? Why are listening and speaking meant to precede my anger?

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Indescribable
  • Holy, Holy, Holy (We Bow Before You)
  • Peace Be Still
  • Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) - video below
  • Christ Be All Around Me

5. PRAY: Ask God to reveal to you your anger. Ask Jesus to prepare you to engage those angers in ways that honor Him.  


Sunday, June 21:

1. READ: Mark 10:17-27

2. NOTICE: Your feelings about the rich man's reaction.

3. ASK: How would I react if Jesus asked me to give all I had away? What would you be willing to give up all your wealth for (to save your life? to save your child's life?)

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Glory Be
  • How Great Thou Art
  • Great Are You Lord
  • Good Good Father
  • Behold Our God

5. PRAY: Confess to God your attachment to your wealth (we ALL feel that, no judgement here....) Ask Him to grow your heart into the kind of heart that would be willing to give all for Him.


Sunday, June 28:

1. READ: Revelation 6

2. NOTICE: The reaction of the kings, princes, generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free to the scene.

3. ASK: Why do they react as they do? How would I react to the same scene?

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Breathe On Us
  • Spirit of the Living God
  • Living Hope
  • King of Kings
  • Holy Water

5. PRAY: God, I want to be ready for the day of your appearing. Help me to live in such a way that I will have no fear but only joy at your returning.


Sunday, July 5:

1. READ: John 11:1-5, 17-44

2. NOTICE: Jesus is not distant from Mary and Martha in this difficult situation. He enters in emotionally and personally.

3. ASK: What does Jesus’ encounter tell you about His divinity? What does it tell you about His humanity?

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • I Am Free
  • Oh My Soul
  • Doxology (God Be Praised)
  • Peace Be Still
  • His Mercy Is More

5. PRAY: Lord, You know what I need, You know my pain, and You know my name. Teach me to trust You when I don’t understand. 


Sunday, July 12:

1. READ: Luke 18:35-19:10

2. NOTICE: Jesus blessed two individuals. What did they have in common? In what ways were they different?

3. ASK: What got in the way of each individual “seeing” Jesus? How did Jesus help them?  

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Meet Us Here
  • Goodness of God
  • Faithfulness
  • Strong God   

5. PRAY: God show me where I cannot see You.


Sunday, July 19:

1. READ: Luke 7:36-50

2. NOTICE: This encounter with Jesus is an example of radical faith.

3. ASK: How would you describe faith in Jesus? How does this woman show her faith? What does this woman’s encounter add to your understanding of faith? 

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • You Never Let Go
  • Hosanna
  • Holy Spirit
  • You Are Good (Kari Jobe)
  • The Blessing

5. PRAY: Lord, teach me about faith through your Scripture. Enable me to live out the kind of faith modeled by this woman who directly encountered Jesus in the flesh. Amen. 


Sunday, July 26:

1. READ: John 3:1-21

2. NOTICE: How Jesus upends this man's understanding of what the religious life entails.

3. ASK: Have I been born-again in the sense that Jesus is speaking of this experience?

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Oh My Soul
  • Then He Rose
  • Living Hope
  • Doxology (God Be Praised)

5. PRAY: Open my eyes to what you want ME to see in this passage. Nicodemus needed a paradigm change. Where do I need one?


Sunday, August 2:

1. READ: John 4:1-42

2. NOTICE: 

  • The significance of the geographical references. 
  • The differences between Jesus and the woman at the well.  
  • The result of this encounter.

3. ASK: What principles of effective evangelism can we derive from this passage?

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Oh My Soul
  • Then He Rose
  • Living Hope
  • Doxology (God Be Praised)

5. PRAY: Lord, help us to learn from this encounter what it looks like to live and love like Jesus.


Sunday, August 9:

1. READ: Acts 9:1-22

2. NOTICE: How radically changed Saul was by his encounter with Jesus.

3. ASK: What about the encounter so reordered Saul's life?

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Raise A Hallelujah/Surrounded
  • Stand In Your Love
  • I Love You Lord
  • His Mercy Is More
  • Mercy

5. PRAY: God, is there some way you want to reorder my life right now? Are there some priorities that have gotten out of order? Is there something you want me to give my passion to that supports your cause in the world?


Sunday, August 16:

1. READ: John 20:11-18

2. NOTICE: What Jesus says to Mary.

3. ASK: What was Jesus trying to get through to Mary with His questions?
4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Breathe On Us
  • God So Loved
  • What A Beautiful Name
  • Strong God
  • Whom Shall I Fear

5. PRAY: God, help me to encounter Jesus and let Him awaken deep faith in me so that I might have a fuller trust in His power and goodness.


Sunday, August 23:

1. READ: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. - 1 Cor. 11:1

2. NOTICE: Both Christ’s example and your example are important.

3. ASK:  Have you ever thought of your own faith as one that ought to be imitated?   
4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • This Is Amazing Grace
  • Hosanna (Hillsong United)
  • King of My Heart
  • Waymaker

5. PRAY: Ask God who in your sphere of influence might need your example of following Christ to strengthen their own.  


Sunday, August 30:

1. READ: Luke 9:57-62

2. NOTICE: Jesus speaks to three individuals. What are the conditions they put on their willingness to follow Jesus?

3. ASK: What are the real challenges of discipleship that Jesus is pointing out in these conversations?     
4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Every Praise
  • Way Maker
  • King of Kings
  • The Blessing

5. PRAY: Ask God to reveal where you are following Him well. Then, ask God to reveal where you have placed conditions on how and when you will follow Him.  


Sunday, September 6:

1. READ: Luke 4:17-18

2. NOTICE: Take notice of what Jesus says His coming means to the different groups He mentions.

3. ASK: How is the gospel we preach today good news for the poor?

4. LISTEN to the songs we will be singing:

  • Our God Saves
  • His Mercy Is More
  • Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)
  • Goodness of God
  • I Will Boast In Christ
  • God Is Able   

5. PRAY: God, I want to be part of bringing Your justice to the world. Show us how You want us to do that.