Blessing Journal 2015

#BLESSED ���� Blessing Journal 100 W. 86th st.

Indianapolis, IN 46260

Find our stories at #blessedstlukes stlukesumc.com

Introduction to the series #Blessed – Cute, clever, and potentially confusing.

The phrase, “I’m so blessed __________,” shows up often in our culture. What it means, to God and to us, is what we’ll spend the next 5 weeks exploring.

The # is simply a way that people share their answers and stories on social media. We’re using that form of communication to share our stories at #BlessedStLukes.

Our hope for this journal is that you’ll do something a little less public. To spend time every day reflecting on blessing in your own life and how God might use you to bless others.

HOW TO USE THIS JOURNAL This isn’t a big book. But its content is powerful.

You’re invited to daily encounter God through Scripture and to simply listen for God speaking to you. You’ll find the full text for each week on Sunday and then excerpts each day. We hope you’ll record what you hear, what you think, what you feel and be open along the way to be surprised. Blessing is everywhere – I find the struggle is often to slow down enough to experience it. That is my prayer for you in the weeks to come.

- Rev. Eric Burton-Krieger

Sunday | Oct. 11, 2015 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLESSED? Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. *Consult a Study Bible for more background on these verses.

Monday | Oct. 12, 2015 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:2-3

How do these words help you understand blessing?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Tuesday | Oct. 13, 2015 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. -Matthew 5:4-5

How do these words help you understand blessing?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Wednesday | Oct. 14, 2015 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. -Matthew 5:6-7

How do these words help you understand blessing?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Thursday | Oct. 15, 2015 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. -Matthew 5:8-9

How do these words help you understand blessing?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Friday | Oct. 16, 2015 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

-Matthew 5:10-11

How do these words help you understand blessing?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Saturday | Oct. 17, 2015 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. -Matthew 5:12

How do these words help you understand blessing?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Sunday | Oct. 18, 2015 What does the church owe me?

Malachi 3:6-12 (NRSV)

6 For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.

7 Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

8 Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In your tithes and offerings!

9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you!

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.

11 I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts.

12 Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

*Consult a Study Bible for more background on these verses.

Monday | Oct. 19, 2015 For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished -Malachi 3:6

How do these words challenge you?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Tuesday | Oct. 20, 2015 Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.

But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ -Malachi 3:7

How do these words challenge you?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Wednesday | Oct. 21, 2015 Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! -Malachi 3:8-9

How do these words challenge you?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Thursday | Oct. 22, 2015 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. -Malachi 3:10

How do these words challenge you?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Friday | Oct. 23, 2015 I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts. -Malachi 3:11

How do these words challenge you?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Saturday | Oct. 24, 2015

Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. -Malachi 3:12

How do these words challenge you?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Sunday | Oct. 25, 2015 How is sacrifice rewarding?”

Matthew 19:23-30 (NRSV)

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’

27 Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’

28 Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. *Consult a Study Bible for more background on these verses.

Monday | Oct. 26, 2015 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved? -Malachi 3:10

In what ways do you struggle with these words?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Tuesday | Oct. 27, 2015

But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ -Matthew 19:26

In what ways do you struggle with these words?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Wednesday | Oct. 28, 2015

Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ -Matthew 19:27

In what ways do you struggle with these words?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Thursday | Oct. 29, 2015 Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. -Matthew 19:28

In what ways do you struggle with these words?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Friday | Oct. 30, 2015 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. -Matthew 19:29

In what ways do you struggle with these words?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Saturday | Oct. 31, 2015

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. -Matthew 19:30

In what ways do you struggle with these words?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Sunday | Nov. 1, 2015 Where will you make a difference?

John 13:12-17 (NRSV)

12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?

13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.

14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.

17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

*Consult a Study Bible for more background on these verses.

Monday | Nov. 2, 2015 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? -John 13:12

How do these words help you understand service?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Tuesday | Nov. 3, 2015

You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. -John 13:13

How do these words help you understand service?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Wednesday | Nov. 4, 2015

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. -John 13:14

How do these words help you understand service?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Thursday | Nov. 5, 2015 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. -John 13:15

How do these words help you understand service?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Friday | Nov. 6, 2015 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. -John 13:16

How do these words help you understand service?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Saturday | Nov. 7, 2015 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

-John 13:17

How do these words help you understand service?

Where have you encountered God’s blessing?

Who might God bless through you?

Sunday | Nov. 8, 2015 What’s in your wallet?

1 Timothy 6:11-19 (NRSV)

11 But as for you, people of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. *Consult a Study Bible for more background on these verses.

100 W. 86th st.

Indianapolis, IN 46260

stlukesumc.com