Advent Devotions
Advent Devotions
The Board of Christian Education Adult Sub-Group wishes to thank all contributors of devotional writings. Your personal stories and touch give this series greater meaning. Special thanks to Dr. Tom Graves for his selection of scripture passages for each day and gracious willingness to edit. Wishing you a blessed Advent and Christmastide.
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Devotions will be posted below daily at 5:00 a.m. You can access this page at rrcb.org/devotions.
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Print:
A limited number of printed devotions will be in the Narthex on Sunday, November 28, 2021. If you would like a copy, please contact the church office.
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Good Friday Prayer: the hosannas have died away
Today's Scripture: John 19:17-18 17And carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. (NRSV)...
The Suffering Servant
Today's Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 53:4 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was...
Fool’s Day is Every Day
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided,...
For the Greater Joy
Today's Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,2looking to Jesus the...
Light the World with Love
Today's Scripture: Psalm 36:5-11 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgements are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. (NRSV) I enjoy very much scriptures that connect us with nature. We can all look out and...
A Dramatic ‘Parable’ about Peace
Today's Scripture: c 12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the...
On the Way
Today's Scripture: Mark 10:32-34, 46-52 32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him. (NRSV)...
Can You See God’s Light Shining Through Me?
Today's Scripture: Matthew 5:15-16 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory...
Mind, Mime, and Mine
Today's Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should...
From Humble Beginnings
Today's Scripture: Acts 2:14-24 22‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23this man, handed over to you...
Let God’s Ways Be Our Ways
Today's Scripture: Psalm 119:10-16 10 With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. (NRSV) Our text begins with a fervent pledge by the psalmist, "With my whole heart I seek you." Then he prays, "Do not let me stray from your...
Widening the Circle, Sharing a Secret
Today's Scripture: John 12:20-33 20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ (NRSV) This opening conversation records one of the...
Annointed
Today's Scripture: John 12:1-11 3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (NRSV) Click above image for a larger view. The Macklin Bible is an...
The Cosmic Christ
Today's Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-5:4 14Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we...
A Remedy in Forgiveness
Today's Scripture: Psalm 51:1-12 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me...
The Great Reversal
Today's Scripture: Isaiah 60:15-22 18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. 19 The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness...
Does Sin Result in Paralysis or Blindness?
I have often wondered if some sin that I committed as a child or some sin of my parents resulted in my contracting polio at age eleven. I found some interesting stories in the gospel of John to help me resolve this question. The first healing story is about a man...
The Builder and the Servant
Today's Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-6 1Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,2was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also "was faithful in all God’s house."...
The Essential Message
Today's Scripture: John 3:14-21 16For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. (GNB) In my 1st grade classroom I assign weekly jobs to my class, and one of the more popular jobs is...
Consider the Steadfast Love of God
Today's Scripture: Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever. (NRSV) When I read the first verse of Psalm 107, the one word that leaps off the page at me is steadfast. I have a great appreciation,...
Everything in the Universe is Subject to Change
Today's Scripture: Ephesians 1:7-13 11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,12in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for...
Establish, Signify, Remember
Today's Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17 14-15"From now on, when I form a cloud over the Earth and the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll remember my covenant between me and you and everything living, that never again will floodwaters destroy all life." (The Message) As one...
“Moving On”
Today's Scripture: John 14:1-4 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also." (NRSV) For today's devotion, you are invited to contemplate an artwork in progress entitled "Moving...
Love’s as Warm as Tears
Today's Scripture: Galatians 2:15-21 19bI have been crucified with Christ; 20and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (NRSV)...
Living the Christian Life
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (NRSV) Paul's letter to...
Then God Spoke All These Words
Today's Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17 1God spoke all these words: 2I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery. (The Message) Here is an excerpt from a lenten sermon entitled, "Jesus Rolling His Eyes (and also Divorce)" by Rev....
Going to the Mountain
Today's Scripture: Mark 9:2-8 2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them. (NRSV) One spring, when my husband and I were dating, I had the privilege of...
God in Nature and Scripture
Today's Scripture: Psalm 19:1-14 1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; (NRSV) The first six verses...