Growing Deeply

Sunday Sermon

a daily scripture guide

Week of April 11 April 16

MONDAY: John 8:2-11 Stand before the accusers

She was made to stand in the presence of her accusers, I believe, creating shame
and further humiliation. Imagine the scene: Jesus is sitting, along with those
gathered teaching in the temple. She, however, is standing on display.
CONSIDER: Shame says, I am bad. It focuses on the self, not the behavior, with
the result of feeling alone. (Brene Brown, from The Daring Way)
TUESDAY: John 8:2-11 Jesus bends down & writes
The womans offense was as much about her as it was about Jesus. In bringing her
to Jesus they were looking to set him up by speaking against the law. He responds
by bending down, writing on the ground, and standing up. He says the one without
sin is to cast the first stone. He is heard. Both the written words, images in the
ground and his verbal words.
PRAYER: Make me slow to speak when my first thought, when I am being set up,
is to reply harshly or to get even. I do not know what you wrote on the ground, but
I am reminded that when people to seek to hurt others, God knows who they are
and what they do. Its not always about me.
WEDNESDAY: John 8:2-11 Standing in Jesus presence
With Jesus before her, she is not condemned rather forgiven. In the presence of
God in Christ, she is not shamed for her accusers, likewise sinners, have left her.
SONG: Your Presence Lord by Jesus Culture
THURSDAY: Genesis 3:1-11 Freedom
Humanity, given the gift of freedom, has choices; and among them, choices for
good and evil. Freedom lends itself to possibilities as part of humanitys journey.
CONSIDER: How do you make decisions? Whats important in your decision making?

Real People - April 10

Scripture: John 8:2-11 (NRSV)

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to
him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees
brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand
before all of them, they said to him, Teacher, this woman was caught in
the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us
to stone such women. Now what do you say? They said this to test him, so
that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and
wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he
straightened up and said to them, Let anyone among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her. And once again he bent down and wrote
on the ground.When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning
with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before
him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no
one condemned you? She said, No one, sir.And Jesus said, Neither do I
condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.

My Notes:

FRIDAY: Genesis 3:1-11 Freedom and knowledge

The pursuit of knowledge from the tree could speak to our desire of self-exaltation.
(The Torah: A Modern Commentary) However, the pursuit of knowledge alone does
not make us like God as the serpent (a representation of pleasure) says.
PRAYER: Make me like you God, in word, thought, and deed.
SATURDAY: Genesis 3:1-11 Freedom and the presence of God
Earlier this week, we spoke of the woman caught in adultery being restored in the
presence of God. Again in Genesis we read about Gods presence. This time Adam
and Eve hid themselves from the presence. Adam said it was because they were
naked. But much like the previous scripture, perhaps they hid in shame of their
actions. They were physically covered, but perhaps emotionally exposed.
SONG: Listen again to the song Your Presence Lord by Jesus Culture. What
difference does this scripture have on what you heard?
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Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.

Read or subscribe to the full weekly

Growing Deeply Guide at moumc.org/grow
Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.