Rhythm: The First Week in January
What is Rhythm?
Rhythm is a weekly lectionary reflection guide designed with students in mind! Each week you'll find lectionary readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and Gospels, along with different types of questions and readings to reflect on. Rhythm will help students connect with God and each week’s readings in various ways, challenging students to put what they’re hearing into practice throughout the week.
Rhythm is broken up into five sections, each with a unique purpose. In We Read, students are guided in reflecting on an initial reading of the week’s passages. In We Think… students are encouraged to engage scripture on a deeper level by asking questions about the text. We Feel invites students to engage their emotions, bringing their feelings into conversation with God’s word. In We Believe, students are invited to connect what they’ve read in scripture to the larger Wesleyan theological heritage. Finally, We Practice guides students in discovering the practices they might use to help develop a rhythm of life shaped by scripture and the community of faith to which they belong.
Rhythm: A Weekly Reflection Guide for Students can be used in a small group setting, as a guide for youth group time, or even with adults! We hope you find Rhythm as something that leads you and your students into a deeper faith.
We read…
Throughout the week, read each of the passages listed below. You can read all of the passages each day, or spread them out throughout the week. Read the passages once and slowly. If a passage seems familiar, pay extra attention to each word, stopping to reflect on anything you might not have noticed before. After you’ve read the passage the first time, review the questions below and then read the passage with those questions in mind.
How does our image of God reflect how we live in the world? There are plenty of places in Scripture that can lead us to see God in a variety of ways.
Does God hate the world? Does God love the world? Does God care for us, or does God simply put up with us?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-131
There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens: 2 a time for giving birth and a time for dying, a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted, 3 a time for killing and a time for healing, a time for tearing down and a time for building up, 4 a time for crying and a time for laughing, a time for mourning and a time for dancing, 5 a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones, a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces, 6 a time for searching and a time for losing, a time for keeping and a time for throwing away, 7 a time for tearing and a time for repairing, a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking, 8 a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from all their hard work? 10 I have observed the task that God has given human beings. 11 God has made everything fitting in its time, but has also placed eternity in their hearts, without enabling them to discover what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there’s nothing better for them but to enjoy themselves and do what’s good while they live. 13 Moreover, this is the gift of God: that all people should eat, drink, and enjoy the results of their hard work (CEB).
Psalm 81
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! You made your glory higher than heaven! 2 From the mouths of nursing babies you have laid a strong foundation because of your foes, in order to stop vengeful enemies. 3 When I look up at your skies, at what your fingers made— the moon and the stars that you set firmly in place— 4 what are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them? 5 You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur. 6 You’ve let them rule over your handiwork, putting everything under their feet— 7 all sheep and all cattle, the wild animals too, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish of the ocean, everything that travels the pathways of the sea. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth (CEB)!
Revelation 21:1-6a
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. 5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring (CEB).
Matthew 25:31-46
“Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left. 34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who will receive terrible things. Go into the unending fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’ 45 Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life" (CEB).
Even in the verses for this week, we could find a wide range of answers. But look at the recurring theme throughout these four passages. God sees our needs, God cares for our needs, and God calls for us to go out and do the same for others.
In Ecclesiastes, we read that there is a time for joy and celebration, but there is also a time for mourning and experiencing the depth of our emotions. We aren’t supposed to ignore our hurt or push it all away; instead, we’re supposed to bring it to God. A full life, truly enjoying life, isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about being in the presence of God.
God is making all things new. God’s name is declared majestic throughout the world; these are images of a good and caring God.
So, if this is who God is, if these are God’s plans for creation, how are we called to live?
Matthew 25 gives us Jesus’s answer. We’re called to live out God’s love in the world with our actions.
We think…
What stands out to you in these verses?
Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or in the church?
What are you considering?
What questions come to mind?
We feel…
What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
Where have you seen God today or this week?
What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, maybe a friend or adult that cares for you)?
What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
Where have you experienced the church feeding the hungry or helping the poor?
What causes are you passionate about?
Where has the Lord called you to serve?
We believe…
We believe that God has called the church to be more than a nice building or a group that tries to escape the world. God has called us to be present and active in the world, present and active in bringing new life into the here and now! The good news of Jesus is good news for all people.
We practice…
How can we apply these passages and reflections to our lives this week?
What is one thing you can do to show God’s love to someone else this week?
Maybe this is reaching out to a person you think could use a friend; maybe you can donate your money or time to help someone else who needs it. How can you start this week and this year in a way that reflects God’s love in the world?
Tell an adult or a friend about how you will do this and invite them to join you.
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