Rise Daily: March 14
THIS WEEK’S THEME & PASSAGE
Public Faith – John 4:27-42
This week’s sermon from the series “Where We are Going: The City and the Mission“
THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE
Memorizing scripture is a way to keep God’s word close to our hearts. Each week we will select one verse of scripture to remember as a community.
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
THE WORD
Each day’s devotion will focus on one part of the week’s passage.
John 4:25–26, 28–30, 39–42
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
MEDITATION ON THE WORD
In our busyness and distraction, it is easy to skim through our reading rather than taking it in. Yet we believe this is the inspired word of God. Take a moment to pause, thank God for the scriptures and ask him to speak to you through them today.
This passage is a jubilant postscript to the story we contemplated last week. The Samaritan woman had met Christ, and her joy was overflowing. She was so excited that she didn’t even bother to take her old water jar with her. Her story was conveyed with such enthusiastic conviction that many from her town dropped what they were doing to experience this Jesus for themselves. And from the catalyst of her testimony, many heard, believed and proclaimed him the Savior of the world.
When a lifetime of unfulfilled longings, even the longings we can’t quite identify, are suddenly realized, how can we keep it to ourselves? The awe we experience can’t be contained. Sharing your excitement about anything comes from an overflow of joyful appreciation. You simply can’t help it.
As you remember that Jesus has really brought healing into your life, you’ll want to express it outwardly—to God in thanksgiving, and to others in praise.
THIS WEEK’S RISE REFLECTION
The Rise season is not only a defining moment for Redeemer, it can also be a defining moment for you. We can’t reach a tipping point by making Redeemer bigger, we need a people-driven movement of New Yorkers sharing the gospel in our neighborhoods, workplaces and relationships. Consider how God is calling you to rise and share your faith.
TODAY’S PRAYER
For your Heart: Take a moment of silence to reflect and praise God for areas in your life that he in the past, or is currently confronting and restoring.
For your Church: Pray we would not hold back in sharing all that he has done to redeem us individually and collectively as a church in our city.
For our City: Pray for conversations this week with friends (who do not identify as Christian). Conversations that help you see how God is confronting and restoring them in his love and grace.
Our vision is a city renewed by the gospel. This vision needs all of us.
We are calling on everyone at Redeemer to rise and say “I’m in” to pray, engage, and give as part of a gospel movement for the good of the city. Are you in?
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