The Second Week in May
We Read…
A big theme in our verses for this week is that power is found by being in a relationship with God. Our psalm reminds us that God watches over and cares for us, just as Jesus watches over and cares for us in John 17. God is close to us! We also see in our passage from Acts that the disciples trusted God’s guidance as they chose who to bring in as a new disciple, and God gave them an answer. Sometimes, our prayers are not answered as obviously as this, but we can trust that God really does hear us when we pray. We know that God has given us power and wisdom through God to go out in the world and share about this new life.
Psalm 1
1 The truly happy person
doesn’t follow wicked advice,
doesn’t stand on the road of sinners,
and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful.
2 Instead of doing those things,
these persons
love the LORD’s Instruction,
and they recite God’s Instruction
day and night!
3 They are like a tree
replanted by streams of water,
which bears fruit at just the right time
and whose leaves don’t fade.
Whatever they do succeeds.
4 That’s not true for the wicked!
They are like dust
that the wind blows away.
5 And that’s why the wicked
will have no standing
in the court of justice—
neither will sinners
in the assembly of the righteous.
6 The LORD is intimately acquainted
with the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked is destroyed.
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
During this time, the family of believers was a company of about one hundred twenty persons. Peter stood among them and said, 16 “Brothers and sisters, the scripture that the Holy Spirit announced beforehand through David had to be fulfilled. This was the scripture concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.” 17 This happened even though he was one of us and received a share of this ministry.
21 “Therefore, we must select one of those who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus lived among us,” 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when Jesus was taken from us. This person must become along with us a witness to his resurrection. 23 So they nominated two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
24 They prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s deepest thoughts and desires. Show us clearly which one you have chosen from among these two 25 to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” 26 When they cast lots, the lot fell on Matthias. He was added to the eleven apostles.
1 John 5:9-13
If we receive human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because this is what God testified: he has testified about his Son. 10 The one who believes in God’s Son has the testimony within; the one who doesn’t believe God has made God a liar, because that one has not believed the testimony that God gave about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God gave eternal life to us, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have God’s Son does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of God’s Son so that you can know that you have eternal life.
John 17:6-19
“I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from this world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 This is because I gave them the words that you gave me, and they received them. They truly understood that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
9 “I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. 11 I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one. 12 When I was with them, I watched over them in your name, the name you gave to me, and I kept them safe. None of them were lost, except the one who was destined for destruction, so that scripture would be fulfilled. 13 Now I’m coming to you and I say these things while I’m in the world so that they can share completely in my joy. 14 I gave your word to them and the world hated them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. 15 I’m not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. 17 Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth.
We Think…
What stands out to you in these verses?
Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church?
What are you considering? What questions come to mind?
Why do testimonies matter in Scripture?
Why do testimonies matter today?
How are you most convinced of a new idea or a change of thought - someone you trust sharing their thoughts, who can articulate in the most charming way, physical proof, or some other way?
We Feel…
What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
Where have you seen God today or this week?
What is pointing you to God (maybe something in creation, maybe a friend or adult who cares for you)?
What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
How does it feel to share your testimony (or how God is working in your life) with others?
We Believe…
• What does it mean to talk about the Word of God?
Sometimes, people use this phrase in reference to the Bible since it includes words from God. The Bible is important and does contain these words, but there is another way to understand the Word of God. When we read John 1, we hear that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Who is this Word? Now is the perfect time for a Sunday School answer: the Word is Jesus. Jesus came to the earth as the perfect Word, speaking God’s words for us to hear and be changed by. When we seek to know what God thinks, one of the best ways to learn is by listening to Jesus. In John 17, Jesus shares that he brought God’s words into the world FOR us to help us believe and truly see.
We Practice…
For this week’s practice…
Reflect on your testimony or the story of how God has worked in your life.
Reflect on your big lifelong testimony and on smaller, recent moments where you have seen God working.
Write this down for yourself, both as practice for sharing and so that you can remember God’s work. Then, try sharing your testimony (big or small) with someone you trust. It can be overwhelming to think about telling someone new about Jesus, but when we practice, it can get easier.