Category: Eyes Opened – Emmaus Disciples

Romans 11:33, 35-36; 12:1-2
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The word translated as “devoted” is an important word in Acts.  It means “to be devoted to,” “to hold fast to,” “to continue in,” or “to persevere in” something.  The point is that the four nouns that follow this verb are not just marginal activities but the primary signs of life in the early church. (Pinter, Dean. Acts (The Story of God Bible Commentary))

Prayer:  Lord, in view of your mercy I offer myself to you anew today.  I devote myself to these things that you have given us in our church.  Fill our churches today to live our calling and lead us into Sunday worship together that is pleasing to you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Let’s worship with thanksgiving for our lives and our churches with the song “Grace is on our Side” by Elevation Worship (click here).

– BR

Luke 24:30-35
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen…”  Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

“The burning of their hearts is only a foretaste of what is to come when the Holy Spirit is poured out on the disciples as tongues of fire.” (Garland, David E.; Clinton E. Arnold. Luke (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament))

Acts 1:3-5, 8
After his suffering, [Jesus] presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He… gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised… You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.”

Prayer:  Lord, please pour out your Holy Spirit upon me and upon your church afresh today, that we may be your witnesses.  Take us, in the power of your Holy Spirit, to others, that they may know that you yourself come to them.  Fill our campus meetings, missional groups, homes, and FoJ, middle school and teen ministries with your presence.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Let’s worship with the song “Here Again” by Elevation Worship (click here).

– BR

 

Luke 24:28-31
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.  But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

It was Jesus himself who came to them, but now, these two disciples urge Jesus to stay with them.  Their desire for more of what Jesus was giving them and their obedience to God’s law led to greater blessing in their lives. 

“Obviously they did not want him to leave and ‘urged him strongly’ to stay with them… This is the way God wishes the event to transpire, with the [two] themselves strongly involved in the action.  The table fellowship is made possible by this request.  Jesus enters their home to stay with them.” (Osborne, Grant R.. Luke Verse by Verse (Osborne New Testament Commentaries))

This is the way that God desires for things to happen in our lives:  as we pray.  Let’s pray that he will touch every part of our lives with his holy presence.

Prayer:   Let’s pray as our Lord Jesus taught us to pray:
“Our Father in heaven,
help us to honor your holy name!”
In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Let’s worship with Holy, Holy, Holy (We Bow Before Thee) by Shane and Shane (click here).

– BR

Luke 24:13-15; 25-27
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.  They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them…
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Jesus himself came up and walked along with these two disciples. “They need to hear the Word of God to clear up the confusion of their own ‘words’ (24:17).”(Garland, David E.; Clinton E. Arnold. Luke (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament))

Because we are his, Jesus also comes to us, by the Holy Spirt, to apply his word at the core of our being – burning away all lies, confusion, hopelessness, despair and mistrust –to apply the truth that in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is our living, our dying, and our new life.

Prayer:  Jesus, you are the risen Lord.  May the truth of that word touch every part of my life.  I also pray for my brother/ sister who is in need of your resurrection power at work in their life.  Will you come and walk alongside them and minister your word of life?  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Let’s worship the Lord in song and declare over our lives with “Jesus is Alive” by Sinach (click here).

– BR

Let’s read aloud together the following passage, creed and prayer:

1 Corinthians 15:2-6 (NLT)
It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message:
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day,  just as the Scriptures said.
He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.
After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time.

Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.
On the third day He rose again.  He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the good news of the gospel.  Thank you that you yourself have come to make it known to me.  Today, may my heart burn with the truth of your life, death, and resurrection for my life and for my world.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Let’s worship the Lord in song with “This I Believe (The Creed)” by Hillsong (click here).

-BR