COMMITTEE DEVOTIONS FOR August 16th – September 17th
Reading the Scripture not only for information, but for “formation.”
Scripture – Ephesians 4:11-16
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church; the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
A Litany of Names for the Church
L. We are God’s Chosen People.
R. Help us, O God, to fulfill your intentions for us as people who are called for a special ministry of love
and compassion for the whole world.
L. We are a Household of God.
R. Bind us together as a family who recognize Christ as our head and who welcome others to join with us
at his table.
L. We are a New Creation.
R. You have renewed us with a vision of hope for peach and justice, and you have empowered us by your
Spirit to be your witnesses in our community and throughout the world.
L. We are a Community of Disciples.
R. O God, continue to call us to serve you and equip us to live as faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
L. We are the Salt of the Earth.
R. May we be so enriched by the presence of your Spirit in our lives that we bring a special flavor of life
and love to all whom we meet and with whom we live.
L. We are the Light of the World.
R. Bless us, O God, with the desire and the courage to stand up, to speak out, and to show forth your
truth and your love so that others may know and honor you.
L. We are Branches of a Vine.
R. Dear God, help us to keep Jesus Christ as the center of our life and may we receive all the wisdom
and strength through our connection to him.
L. We are the Body of Christ.
R. Thank you, O God, for the wonderful gift of yourself to us, for joining us into one Body, and for
endowing each one of us with special gifts that are to be used in your service. Amen.
