September 11, 2016

Devotion: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.

O Lord, you create all, you know all, you see all. Have mercy on our shortcomings and release us from our shame. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Read: Read the daily and ask the follow-up questions.

Sunday: Sin in the Garden, Genesis 3:1-19

Monday: Cain and Abel, Genesis 4:1-16

Tuesday: Noah, Genesis 6:11-22

Wednesday: The Tower of Babel, Genesis 11:1-9

Thursday: God Calls Abram, Genesis 12:1-9

Friday: Abram Lies to Pharaoh about Sarai, Genesis 12:10-13:1

Saturday: Abram and Lot Part Ways, Genesis 13:2-18

How do these early stories portray the relationship between God and God’s people?  In what ways do their choices lead to shame and/or vulnerability?

Connect: Discuss the following questions.

What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

Observe the ways in which you experience shame. Observe too, ways in which God’s forgiveness offers you new opportunities for life.

Do: By acting on what we learn we make God’s word come alive.

Identify three things that cause you shame. Choose one to work on this week. Spend time looking at the situation from every angle. What was your part? What makes the event shameful? What can you do differently next time? Share your experience with someone you trust. Then ask God to remove the shame.

Adapted from Clergy Stuff.  Copyright © 2016 Clergy Stuff. Used and adapted with Permission. Find more at http://www.ClergyStuff.com.  Apple image from churchart.com.