August 2
Exodus 16:2-4,9-15 (manna)
Psalm 51.1-12 OR Psalm 78:23-29
Ephesians 4:1-16 (calling, unity and spiritual gifts)
John 6.24-35 (Jesus bread of life)
Theme: Option 1: God’s hungry people longed for the slave food of Egypt & he opened the doors of heaven and rained down manna. He feeds us with the bread of life, so we can taste eternal life and lead lives worthy of our calling (what is our calling?). Option 2: The gifts of God to each of us are for the purpose of building up the body of Christ in unity and love through Christ.
August 9
1 Kings 19.4-8 (God gives Elijah food)
Psalm 130 OR Psalm 34.1-8
Ephesians 4:25-32 (anger not sin, rules for new life)
John 6.35,41-51 (more Jesus bread of life)
Theme: The Bread of life taught us to put away bitterness and anger, and with tenderhearted kindness to share from our work with the needy, to not sin in our anger, and to forgive each other.
August 16
1 Kings 2.10-12,3.3-14 (Solomon asks for wisdom)
Psalm 111 OR Psalm 34.9-14
Ephesians 5:1-2, (6-14a)15-20 (live wise, make most time, give thanks all times)
John 6.51-58 (more Jesus bread of life)
Theme: The Bread of life is the giver of wisdom and true discernment; the Lord equips us to make the right choices, to make the most of the time.
August 23
Joshua 24.1-2a,14-18 (choose whom you will serve)
Psalm 84 OR Psalm 34.15-22
Ephesians 6.10-20 (armor of God)
John 6.56-69 (Jesus bread of life, spirit gives life)
Theme: Stand! Pray! Choose your sides in the battle! God equips us with what we need to stand.
August 30—children join family upstairs
Note for leaders & parents: Although we are focusing on what the early believers looked like and what they did, it is important to remember that there is not a “gap” between then and now, that these elements of the church did not stop at the end of Acts. Indeed, when we stand as part of the “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12.1), we will discover that these elements have been essential to the identity of the Church for the past 2000 years (although they may appear in different expressions in various cultures/times). These elements help us find our identity (together) in Christ, connecting us with fellow believers in different times and in different lands.
July 5: Prayer
2 Chronicles 6:10-40
1 Samuel 2
Daniel 9:1-19
Psalm 25
Matthew 6:9-13
[Acts 2:42]
Theme: Like the early believers, we need to devote ourselves to talking to & listening to God
July 12: Offering & Communion
offering:
Genesis 28:19-22
Leviticus 27:30-32
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
[Acts 2:44-45]
communion:
Exodus 12.1-3, 6-14, 24-27a
Mark 14.(12-)22-25 OR Matthew 26.(17-)26-29
1 Corinthians 11:23-26(-29)
[Acts 2:43]
Theme: Like the early believers, we need to give ourselves & what we have to God and receive/celebrate what God has given us through Jesus’ sacrifice
July 19: apostles’ teaching, evangelism, togetherness (fellowship/unity)
apostles’ teaching:
1 John 1:1-4
[Acts 2:42]
Lord added to their number (evangelism):
Matthew 28:16-20
Acts 8:26-40
[Acts 2:47]
Togetherness (fellowship, unity, etc.):
John 17:20-23
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
[Acts 42,44, 46]
Theme: Like the early believers, we need to listen to the apostles’ teaching (scripture), share the good news of Jesus with others, and be united through our relationship to Jesus
July 26: Worship
lots of Psalms
Psalm 95
Psalm 100
Colossians 3:12-16
Mark 14:22-26
[Acts 2:46-47]
Theme: Like the early believers, we need to stand before God and give him glory, honor and praise, for who he is, and what he has done (is doing) in the world
