Devotion for the Week
5 Day Reading Plan
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Day 1: Read back through Mark 2 again and look for all of the “Wait, what?” moments. Hint: 2:9-10; 2:17; 2:19; 2:21-22. Which one is hardest for you to accept? Which one is hardest for you to put into practice? Write out that verse and read it through and think about it each day this week. Watch for the ways God may provide for you to put it into practice.
Day 2: Read this other version of Mark 2:1-12 “Wait, what?” passage from Matthew 9:1-7. Does it tell you anything different? Are there different words that help the story come to life? Are there different words that make you think of the truth in a different way? Explain.
Day 3: Read this other version of Mark 2:13-17 “Wait, what?” passage from Matthew 8:9-13. Does something different come to your mind?
Day 4: Read this other version of Mark 2:18-22 “Wait, what?” passage from Matthew 8:14-17. What is different? Does it help you think differently about the truth?
Day 5: Read Mark 3:1-6. It is another “Wait, what?” story. What is the key verse in this passage? Write it out and think through how you use your “Sabbath” – what we now just call “my day off.” Does it line up with what Jesus is saying the Sabbath is for?
 
Remember our regular questions:

1. What do I learn about Jesus?

Nini nimejifunza kuhusu Yesu?

1. What do I learn about people?

Nini nimejifunza kuhusu watu?

1. So what? (What is God saying to me in this passage? How does this apply to my life?)

Sasa je? (Ni nini Mungu ananizungumuzia kwa neno hili? Namna haya yapata na maisha yangu?)

1. Who can I tell this week about what I learned?

Ni nani nawez kueleza haya nilyojifunza kwa juma hii?

Listen to and download Pastor Joanna's full sermon here:

We were very priviliged to host the Bishop of the Democratic Republic of Congo on September 23. Bishop Lubunga Wehusa visited us with his wife, Esther, and Pastor Isaac Bujambi. Listen to his two challenging sermons given at 8:30 (English) and 11:00am (English and Swahili).

Devotion for the Week:
Read Mark 1:14-45

If you want to break it up over 6 days try this:
Day 1: Read all of Mark 1 like you would read a story. Feel how the individual stories flow together instead of seeing them all separately. Feel the excitement of all that is happening. Think about what someone who is observing Jesus do all these thing might be thinking. What words would you use to describe Jesus from this chapter?

The next 5 days read these small sections of Mark 1 and each day answer the 4 questions following.
Day 2: Mark 1:14-20
Day 3: Mark 1:21-28
Day 4: Mark 1:29-34
Day 5: Mark 1:35-39
Day 6: Mark 1:40-45

Questions:
1. What do I learn about Jesus?
2. What do I learn about people?
3. So what? (What is God saying to me in this passage? How does this apply to my life?)
4. Who can I tell this week about what I learned?

Try something different:
If you have a smartphone, you can download the YouVersion Bible app. Not only does this app give you many different versions of the Bible to read and compare, but it also has the Bible in many languages... including Kiswahili. AND many of the versions have audio as well! So you can drive and listen, walk and listen, or do dishes and listen. It's a great way to get God's word into your heart and mind.

In English we like the Common English Bible (CEB) and New Living Translation (NLT). NLT has audio.

In Kiswahili we like the Biblia Habari Njema (BHN) version which uses different voices, music, and sounds.

Next week:
Mark 2:1-17

Listen to and download the sermon here:

Walking with Jesus: A Study in Mark begins today with week one's sermon and study: preparation.

Devotion for the Week:
Read Mark 1:1-13

Devotion for the Week
Double Challenge!

Challenge 1:
I challenge you to begin praying now for church next Sunday. And continue praying every day. Here are 3 things I encourage you to pray about:
1. Pray that you will hear from God.
2. Pray about whether you will commit to read through the book of Mark as we go through Mark on Sundays.
3. Pray that every person who walks through the doors of our church next Sunday will hear from God.

Challenge 2:
Read this verse 3 times. At least one time out loud.

Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters."

Zaburi 24:1 "Nchi na vyote viijazavyo ni mali ya Bwana, Dunia na wote wakaao ndani yake."

Now go take a walk. If possible, take a walk in a mostly natural place. Look, really look at the created world around you.
Notice the many shades of green.
Listen. What natural sounds do you hear?
Breathe deeply.
Praise God for his creativity!

Read the verse again after your walk.

Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters."

Zaburi 24:1 "Nchi na vyote viijazavyo ni mali ya Bwana, Dunia na wote wakaao ndani yake."

What pictures come to your mind now as you read those words?

Bonus: Take a picture and post it on the church Facebook page or just share it with someone else.

Listen to and download the full sermon here: