Daily Devotions for Your Congregation – Based on Lectionary
written by Elaine Lehecka Pratt
Would you like an easy way to encourage your congregation to read the Bible and reflect on the Sunday message during the week? Daily devotions based on lectionary may be the answer! Allow individuals in your congregation to sign up, or enroll your entire congregation to receive a daily devotion in their personal email. Typical devotions include a Bible passage (based on lectionary), a brief meditation, followed by questions for reflection, or related music for further reflection.
Following is a sample for one week – each day would be sent separately via email.
Spiritual Gifts
‘I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth…’ 1 Corinthians 3:6
Monday – Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (The Message version). But for right now, friends, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I’ll nurse you since you don’t seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way? When one of you says, ‘I’m on Paul’s side,’ and another says, ‘I’m for Apollos,’ aren’t you being totally childish? In light of our series on spiritual gifts, I think Paul could be saying that we should concentrate on working together for God, and not on using our spiritual gifts to make ourselves feel good or important. Humility is sometimes difficult to achieve, but we need to keep the bigger picture in mind. If this is something you struggle with, pray for God’s help while you listen to ‘Make Me a Servant’- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNTLi0htMi4
Tuesday – Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-6. What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Do you remember who first told you about God? Can you name the people who helped your faith development through your life? They were using their spiritual gifts in God’s service. But God nurtured that seed in your heart. Thank God for the people who helped you in your faith journey, and thank God for God’s growth in your soul while you watch this video of the miracle of growing seeds – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Z1etoGp0Q
Wednesday – Read 1 Corinthians 3:7. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Have you ever planted a garden or a potted plant? It really is a miracle that a tiny seed can transform and grow into a beautiful plant. This passage describes this process perfectly – we may plant the seed, and then water the seed, but those actions in themselves are not miraculous. What is miraculous is when the seed grows into a plant. And that is God’s role, not ours. (What a relief!) Give thanks to God for the growth God has given to seeds you have planted and watered while you listen to ‘All Good Gifts’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zzATl9vYEc
Thursday – Read 1 Corinthians 3:8-9a. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together. All through this series, we have been talking about spiritual gifts. This passage uses the example of planting and watering as spiritual gifts. We all have different spiritual gifts, but the key are the phrases – we ‘have a common purpose’ and ‘we are God’s servants, working together.’ Discuss with family and friends examples of Christians using their different spiritual gifts to work together so God could provide growth.
Friday – Read 1 Corinthians 3:9b. You are God’s field, God’s building. This week’s passage uses the analogy of planting seeds, and goes on to use an analogy of constructing a building where Christ is the foundation. Both ideas have one thing in common – as Christians we are expected to use our spiritual gifts to be God’s presence on earth, God’s hands and feet. You may have heard the story where a person asks God, ‘Why didn’t you do something about this bad situation?’ And God replies, ‘I did, I created you.’ We have a role to play. God also has a role. How are you doing with your part?
Saturday –Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (The Message version). Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us – servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working. Make a list of church family members who are carrying out their ‘servant assignments’. Can you see how all are working together to achieve God’s goals? Think of how the church can be more effective at this as you listen to ‘It Is God Who Gives the Increase’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiF1t03hYk8
