September Daily Prayer and Bible Reading

                                                            
 
In September the pastor will continue his series of sermons based on Paul’s letter to the Romans.  Each Sunday on the back of the Sermon Notes are questions for next week’s sermon and for your personal study of the scriptures related to themes the sermon will address. Each Saturday will be the scripture which you will study in Sunday school. Please pray each day for the specific prayer requests.  In order to encourage one another to love and good works, you might want to call the person you prayed for or send them a card to let them know you prayed for them. Thank you!

"The Gift of Grace"
Monday, September 1    Read Titus 2:11-14
Why has the grace of God appeared? What does grace train us to do?
What do we learn about Jesus Christ? Why did Jesus give himself for us?
Prayer: Lord, on this Labor Day we thank you for the gift of work and we pray for all those in our community who need jobs.

Tuesday, September 2          Read 2 Timothy 1:8-10
What does Paul ask of Timothy? Why? What did God do through Jesus?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we lift up our political process to you and ask for wisdom and grace for those running for office and for those running their campaigns.

Wednesday, September 3    Read Ephesians 5:1-10
How are we to live as Christians? Who do we imitate? How?
What are we to get rid of? What are we to replace it with? How does Paul describe our identity?
Prayer: Today we give thanks for our United Methodist Men’s group.  Be with Bob Koons as he leads them.

Thursday, September 4         Read 2 Thessalonians 2:16
What is Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians? What insights do we gain about God our Father and Jesus our Lord? What do they offer?
Prayer: Lord, we pray for Willie and Addie Bonham and ask you to bless them with your grace and peace.

Friday, September 5              Read James 1:2-8,12
What should our attitude be when experiencing trails? What do we do if we lack wisdom?  Why are we blessed if we endure trails?
Prayer: Father, we lift up Greg and Lynn Wilson to you and ask you to give them your strength and your joy!

Saturday, September 6         Read Mark 1:1-8; Matthew 3:1-3
How does the gospel begin? Who is the messenger who prepares the way? What does he say about Jesus?
Prayer: Father, we ask for your blessings on those who come to community meal - both those who come to serve and those who need your help.

Sunday, September 7            Read Romans 5:1-11
What are the results we experience in being justified by faith?
Prayer: Lord, we lift up Jeanette Akin as she leads a new study today on Spiritual Gifts.  Be with this group as they study and grow together.

"Dead to Sin, Alive to God"
Monday, September 8    Read Ephesians 2:1-10
What has God done for us through Christ? Describe our condition before God made us alive in Christ. What else has God done? Why? How are we saved?
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for Lela Brown and ask you to bless her and encourage her.

Tuesday, September 9           Read  Titus 3:3-8
What is life like before we came to Christ? What happened when God our Savior appeared on the scene? What benefits do we experience in salvation? How were we saved? What are we to apply ourselves to now?
Prayer: Lord, we lift up the Women’s Bible Study as they start a new study today on Becoming a Vessel God Can Use.  Help us all be vessels that you can use!

Wednesday, September 10   Read  Colossians 3:1-11
Since we are raised with Christ, what are we supposed to do? Why? What are we to “put away”? Why?
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for our new choir director and organist, Micah and Julie McBay, and their children, Alex and Meaghan.  Bless their ministry among us!

Thursday, September 11        Read Ephesians 6:10-20
How do we stand strong in Christ? What kind of battle are we engaged in? Meditate on each piece of armor, are you wearing it?
Prayer: Holy Father, help us to be strong in you and put on the full armor that you offer us that we might stand firm against the schemes of the evil one.  Help us to pray at all times.

Friday, September 12             Read Galatians 4:3-7
What did we used to be before placing our faith in Christ? (see verse 3)
Why did God send Jesus? What has God done for us since we turned to Christ?
Prayer: Father, we lift up Stephanie Pool to you and ask you to bless her and encourage her.  Give her your peace and your strength. 

Saturday, September 13        Read Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2:13-15 
What do we learn about the birth of Christ?
Prayer: Lord, we lift up the Hardy float in the Four States parade today.  We pray that this would be a good time of fellowship and outreach.

Sunday, September 14           Read Romans 6:1-14
What does Paul teach about being a Christian?  How does he describe our life in Christ in relation to sin?  What should we consider ourselves dead to? Alive to? What are we to do?
Prayer: Lord, thank your for our Hand Bell Choir and their commitment to serving you through music. 

 "New Life in Christ"
Monday, September 15    Read  1 John 4:13-21
How do we know that we abide in Christ? What do we testify to? (verse 14) What happens to a person who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son? What affirmations are made about God’s nature? How do we grow in reflecting God’s love? How does this relate to others?
Prayer: Father, we thank you for our UMW circles which are meeting today.  Continue to use these women for your kingdom. 

Tuesday, September 16          Read  2 Peter 1:3-8
What has God’s power granted to us? What has God called us to? How? Why? What are we to do? What happens as we do those things?
Prayer: We give thanks for our new members Debra and James McDaniel.  Bless them with your joy and peace.

Wednesday, September 17   Read  Philippians 2:12-13
What are we to “work out”?  Why?
Prayer: Lord, help us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is you that are at work within us, both to will and to work for your good pleasure.

Thursday, September 18        Read  Colossians 1:9-23
What does Paul pray for the church at Colossae? Pray this prayer for Hardy United Methodist.
Prayer: Father God, we lift up Tom and Beverly Gray to you and ask for your strength and peace in their lives.

Friday, September 19             Read  Hebrews 1:1-4 
How does God speak to us? What affirmations are made about Jesus Christ?
Prayer: Lord, we pray for Flo and Buddy Nettles and ask you to bless them your joy and your strength.

Saturday, September 20        Read Matthew 5:1-16
Meditate on the meaning of these Beatitudes.  Describe the life of a disciple who lives under the rule of Christ. How are you doing in each of those areas?
Prayer: Lord, we continue to bring before you the sale of our property and the decisions being made about our new building.  Keep us on your path for Hardy!

Sunday, September 21           Read Romans 7:14-25
What does Paul say about his inner struggle? Who will deliver him from this?  Who will deliver you?
Prayer: Lord, we lift up our early morning Prayer and Praise service to you and ask that we would grow in numbers and in our ability to worship you.

"Set Free in the Spirit"
Monday, September 22    Read Galatians 5:1-15
What does Paul ask the Galatians to do? Why?
What really matters? (Verse 6) What was the problem Paul addressed?
Prayer: Today the New Horizons group is scheduled to meet.  Bless them and give them a great time of fellowship together.

Tuesday, September 23         Read  Hebrews 10:19-25
What gives us confidence to enter the sanctuary? Because of what Jesus has done and because Jesus is our high priest, what are we to do? Why?
What holy habits should we practice? (see verses 22-25)
Prayer: Father God, this week our staff is attending workshops in Shreveport.  Watch over them and give them new ideas for our church.

Wednesday, September 24   Read  Ephesians 2:11-22
How does Paul describe the condition of Gentiles before they came to Christ?  What did Jesus do? How did he change things? What did Jesus do for both groups?
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the Wednesday night Bible study group and for Rev. Masterson as he leads them.  We also thank you for Bryan Fountain and his faithfulness to play the piano for them.

Thursday, September 25        Read  Galatians 5:16-26
We are to live under the control of God’s Spirit.  What prevents us from living that way? What are the works of the flesh? What is the fruit of the Spirit? What does it mean to live and walk by the Spirit? Are you?
Prayer: Lord, help us to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh and to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in our lives- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Friday, September 26              Read  Galatians 6:7-8
What are we to sow to? Why?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we lift up Amy Mohon and Ellie and Audrey to you and ask for your blessings in their lives.

Saturday, September 27         Read Matthew 20:17-28
What does Jesus say to his disciples in verses 17-19? What did the mother of James & John ask? Why? How did the other disciples respond when they discovered her request? Why? What is the secret of greatness in God’s kingdom?
Prayer: Lord, we pray for our youth and ask that you would draw them closer to yourself.  Strengthen their faith, that they may stand strong in you.  Be with Phyllis Jackson as she leads them.

Sunday, September 28            Read  Romans 8:1, 6-7,12-17
What benefit do we have in Christ? (verse 1) What does living according to the Spirit have to do with our mind? What are we to do by the Spirit’s power? (verse 13) How does the Spirit help us? Why?

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  We praise you for your grace!

Stewardship

Monday, September 29          Read Matthew 6:19-21

Prayer: Father, help us not lay up treasures for ourselves here on earth, where things don’t last, but help us lay up treasure in heaven.

Tuesday, September 30         Read Proverbs 3:9-10

Prayer: Lord, we lift up George and Kristi McCasland and Kristin to you and ask you to pour out your blessings on them.