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 12:6-8 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times. You, Lord, will guard us; you will protect us from this generation forever. The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.
Read the entire Psalm
The words of the Lord are pure – Praise God that He has revealed Himself through His word. His words are pure. Thank Him that His words are not watered down or tainted with partial truth.
Scripture Reading
Psalm 67:1-2 English Standard Version
67 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – English Standard Version
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Matthew 28:16-20 – English Standard Version
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Give thanks to God for His gifts and His goodness.
- 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 Youth Horizons. Ask God to provide mentors for children on their waiting list.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Look again at Matthew 28:16-20. What do you notice about the setting? Where did the disciples meet Jesus? They met him on a mountain. Not just any mountain, it was the mountain where he told them to go. When Jesus came to the disciples there was mixed response. Some of the disciples worshiped and some doubted. Matthew does not elaborate on what this means, some have speculated that some of the disciples just did not recognize Jesus because he was approaching from a distance. Others think it has something to do with the condition of their hearts. Whatever the case, Matthew says some worshiped and some doubted. After Jesus came to the disciples on the mountain, he delivered his final instructions to them. Go and make disciples of all nations. The disciples began this encounter with Jesus with simple obedience. They went to the place where Jesus told them to go. I have always envisioned this Great Commission passage as grand and glorious… you know smoke billowing… Jesus speaking in an authoritative and commanding voice… the disciples awe-struck, but it seems the setting was not dramatic. The disciples go to a designated spot, just the eleven of them. Some of them don’t know how to respond, but they have obeyed by coming. Jesus comes close to them almost like he’s huddling with his friends one last time. What makes the Great Commission grand and glorious is the fact that the God of creation is with us and called us to go and tell of what he has done. But, sometimes carrying out the mission is not grand and glorious. Sometimes carrying out the mission entails just simple acts of obedience. Today ask God for the strength to obey. Simple and honest obedience is what he asks from us.