Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 40:4-5 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.
Read the Entire Psalm
Too many to declare: Imagine for a moment that you used all your words today to declare the deeds of God. If you spoke all day of what God has done, you would still not be able to declare all his deeds. He has cared for every human for all of time. He has watched over every sparrow and caused numerous seeds to germinate and grow. Praise Him for His many faithful deeds in your life.
Scripture Reading
1 Peter 5:1-5 – New International Version
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for our Onelink teams as they prepare to return home. Ask God to lead them to finish well and continue to plant gospel seeds with their new friends.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Leadership in the church is God’s idea. God wants his church to be led in a particular kind of way. This passage makes clear, God wants his church to be led by pastors who will imitate Christ’s humility, lovingly laying their life down for the good of the entire church. Jesus is the head of the church. As this passage says, he is the chief Shepherd. He is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. He has modeled for his church the kind of humility required for those who lead. That humility is not only required for those who lead but for those who follow as well. The sheep of the flock don’t follow leaders blindly, but they ought to follow their leaders joyfully and humbly as their leaders follow Christ. When pastors lead like Jesus, everyone flourishes. How have you been blessed by the hard work of faithful pastors who serve like Jesus? How can you seek to make their job a joy and not a burden?