CreatingCommunity is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship next weekend. Imagine how much more clear and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion alone, with others, as a family, or over Zoom as a small group.

This devotion is to be done in preparation for this coming weekend's worship.

Please follow these three steps:

1. Read through the text
2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions)
3. Offer a Prayer
Luke 4:14-21

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
  because he has anointed me
    to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
  and recovery of sight to the blind,
    to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
No Experience Necessary Questions:
  1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
  2. What delights me in this text?
  3. What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
  4. What is God up to in this text?
Family Questions (for the entire family):
  1. Is there someone in your family that is well known outside of your family? What did they do? What do you think of them?
  2. The stories of Jesus are told in the New Testament. The words of the prophet are found in the Old Testament. Is it important for Christians to know both? Why do you say so?
  3. In this story, the young man Jesus goes to his hometown church, the faith community he grew up in. What do you imagine it would be like to be a member of the church Jesus goes to? Why do you say that?
Advance Questions:
  1. Why are we told that Jesus was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit? When did that happen to Jesus? When did that happen to you?
  2. Jesus stood up to read from the bible at church. Does that happen where you go to church? What is the person called (besides the pastor) who reads from the bible? Would you like to do that? Let Pastor Lutz know.
  3. Jesus sat down after reading from the bible and everyone was looking at him. What is it called in the Lutheran liturgy when after reading the gospel everyone looks at the pastor to speak? What does the pastor speak about at that time? What does Jesus say about the words from the prophet Isaiah? What do you think he means?
Click here to listen to this week's CreatingCommunity song
"When Jesus the Healer Passed Through Galilee."

Say a Prayer of your own or offer this one.

Holy God, we pray for the Body that is our congregation. As we navigate the waters of change and transition,
help us work together and remind us that we are all on the same team.
Where there are bumps in the road, give us patience. Where there are challenges up ahead, give us courage.
Where there are differences of opinions, give us discernment and respect for one another. Bless us with your presence that we might serve you and the community to which you call us. Gracious God, help us be the Body of Christ. Amen.
Pastor Lutz would love to hear your responses, questions, thoughts about your experience with CreatingCommunity. You can reach him at [email protected]