A Weekly Word
March 2, 2022
Today is Ash Wednesday today’s sermon is A Beautiful
Resistance – Know the Enemies of Your Soul.
This Sunday, March 6 is the First Sunday of Lent.
This week’s sermon will be: Knowing the Enemies of Your Soul – The Devil pt. 1
This week’s readings are:
Message: Devotion Defined
Lent – A Time of Special Devotion
But, what is devotion?
I grew up with a mental model of devotion that looks like
this:
- Set aside a special time – usually morning, but could be evening.
- Read the Bible – alone.
- Often some kind of commentary – a story or illustration to “explain” the reading.
- Pray – alone.
- Very individualistic.
That is an example of a devotional habit.
- The church has pursued many devotional habits over the centuries.
- There is a great degree of freedom and variety.
Devotion Defined
“Devotion is the deep reverence of an individual for a particular article of the Christian faith, often expressed in a variety of contemplative and active practices that manifest the working of the Spirit in that time and place.” – Rev. Dr. David Schmitt, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Let’s break that down.
1. Deep reverence to a teaching of Scripture
a.
This begins with God’s Word.
b.
Some things in God’s Word move us differently.
c.
Above is an example of a reverence for Scripture
and Prayer.
2. Often expressed in a variety of ways.
a.
Contemplative
i. This
fits the example above.
ii. Our
cultural individualism prejudices us toward contemplative – Me and Jesus
iii. Could
be corporate, though – Bible Study, Prayer Circle
b.
Active
i. Sometimes
people are moved by the word to do things.
ii. Examples:
Feeding the hungry, Fasting, Evangelism
3. Manifests the working of the Spirit.
a.
Whatever is happening, it shows that the Spirit
is at work.
b.
Spirit’s work
i. Call,
gather, enlighten.
ii. Sanctification
iii. Grace
That last point is very important - it manifests grace.
- Too often acts of devotion flow from a sense of “ought.”
- Explore some devotional habits that are rooted in grace.
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