The Second Week of April

Printable Guide

We Read…

An important theme for our readings this week is responding to God’s presence in our lives. We know that God always wants to do a new and good work in us, and we praise God because of that! God’s work in our hearts and lives makes us more like Jesus, and we thank God for God’s presence. But not every moment is easy or perfect. Sometimes we feel challenged, sometimes we are in a valley, and sometimes we may even suffer, as Paul mentions. No matter our circumstances, though, we’re called to turn to God. We know that God is with us in all moments, even the hard ones, and this can help give us strength to continue moving forward. We don’t need to seek out suffering or pain; that’s not what Paul is trying to say - instead, he’s reminding us that when suffering happens, God is still by our side and worthy of pressing forward. 

Isaiah 43:16-21

16 The Lord says— 

who makes a way in the sea 

and a path in the mighty waters, 

17 who brings out chariot and horse, 

army and battalion; 

they will lie down together 

and will not rise; 

they will be extinguished, 

extinguished like a wick. 

18 Don’t remember the prior things; 

don’t ponder ancient history. 

19 Look! I’m doing a new thing; 

now it sprouts up; 

don’t you recognize it? 

I’m making a way in the desert, 

paths in the wilderness. 

20 The beasts of the field, 

the jackals and ostriches, will honor me, 

because I have put water in the desert 

and streams in the wilderness 

to give water to my people, 

my chosen ones, 

21 this people whom I formed for myself, 

who will recount my praise. 

Psalm 126

1 When the Lord changed Zion’s 

circumstances for the better, 

it was like we had been dreaming. 

2 Our mouths were suddenly filled 

with laughter; 

our tongues were filled 

with joyful shouts. 

It was even said, at that time, 

among the nations, 

“The Lord has done great things 

for them!” 

3 Yes, the Lord has done great things for us, 

and we are overjoyed. 

4 Lord, change our circumstances 

for the better, 

like dry streams in the desert waste! 

5 Let those who plant with tears 

reap the harvest with joyful shouts. 

6 Let those who go out, 

crying and carrying their seed, 

come home with joyful shouts, 

carrying bales of grain! 

Philippians 3:4b-14

5 I was circumcised on the eighth day. 

I am from the people of Israel and the 

tribe of Benjamin. 

I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews. 

With respect to observing the Law, I’m a Pharisee. 

6 With respect to devotion to the faith, I 

harassed the church. 

With respect to righteousness under the 

Law, I’m blameless. 

7 These things were my assets, but I wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. 8 But even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ 9 and be found in him. In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith. 10 The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death 11 so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead. 

12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. 13 Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14 The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. 

John 12:1-8

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. Martha served and Lazarus was among those who joined him at the table. 3 Then Mary took an extraordinary amount, almost three-quarters of a pound, of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, then wiped his feet dry with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. 4 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), complained, 5 “This perfume was worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” (6 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would take what was in it.) 

7 Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me.” 

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 the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?

• Why did Jesus counter Judas’s criticism in John?

• Paul says our righteousness comes from faith, not from the law. Why is this important for our relationship with Jesus, and how do we live it out?

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, a friend or adult that cares for you)?

• What has God made new in your life? In your heart? 

• When have you experienced God’s renewal in your life?

• When have you needed God’s help to press on regardless of your circumstances? 

We Believe…

Judas brings up a fairly good point in John 12. We believe in giving to the poor, sharing resources, and caring for our neighbors, so why did Jesus correct him? Judas had a good point, but his heart was completely wrong. His motives for correcting the woman weren’t centered on God but on greed and pride. He wanted to look better than everyone else, he wanted other people's money, and he wasn’t afraid to shame someone who he deemed lower than himself. But Jesus knew his heart and was quick to correct him. We believe that Jesus wants us to be generous and care for others, not because it makes us look good but because it reflects Jesus’s love. And we also believe that Jesus wants us to worship him with all we have, even if others don’t understand. 

We Practice…

What is something you have felt corrected about recently? Maybe the Spirit nudged you in a conversation or while reading the Bible. What has God challenged you to change? Take a moment to reflect on how this has gone. What steps could you take to practically live out this correction? Who could you invite into a conversation to help guide you or hold you accountable? 

If you aren’t sure of something, consider asking a trusted adult or friend what they think you could grow in. It’s not always easy to hear, but it’s an important part of maturing in life and faith!