©ROOTSforChurchesLtd2019 www.rootsontheweb.com Live your faith FindoutaboutsomepersecutedChristians(e.g.throughthework ofOpenDoors,inover70countries).Considerhowwhatyoulearn caninspireorhelpyouinlivingoutyourfaith–especially‘whenthe goinggetstough’. A prayer of approach O Lord, we enter into your steadfast love, asking that you will respond to our prayers; we trust in your abundant mercy and ask that you will come to us. O Lord, make your presence known to us; draw near to us; redeem us, set us free; for we seek to be your faithful disciples. Amen. A prayer for others We pray for those whom you have called to service far from their homes – doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and many more… We pray for those who serve you by telling your story – those who teach, lead assemblies, speak at meetings, preach the gospel, and many more… We pray for our own discipleship, that we may face our challenges with courage and help to establish your promised kingdom. And we pray for all whose service, often at risk to themsleves, is helping us, helping the whole world, in its battle against the spread and consequences of the corona virus pandemic. We pray, Lord, that you will protect and bless them all. Amen. A personal prayer Praise God who made me. Praise Jesus who has called me. Praise the Spirit who empowers me. Amen. Questions for reflection ▶ How would you feel about facing a challenge like this? ▶ How would you finish the sentence ‘When the going gets tough…’? ▶ How can you support one another through the challenging realities of being a disciple of Jesus? Notes on the Bible readings • InthispassagefromMatthew,weseeJesus preparinghisdisciplesfortheirmission.He warnsthemofthethreatsandchallenges theyarelikelytoface.Theyarecalledtogo outandtakeontheirmissioncompletely reliantonGod,inorderthattheymightbuild uptrustandrelationshipwithhim. • Jesuswarnsthatfollowinghimwillnot beeasy,butthatGodwillalwaysbewith them.Hetellsthemnottofearallthese things,includingdeath,asnooneispowerful enoughtodestroybothbodyandsoul. Godvaluesusenoughtoknowhowmany manyhairswehaveonourheads,andsowill protectandkeepus. • BeingadiscipleofJesusdoesn’tmean thatallourproblemswillvanish,butour challengeistocontinuestrivingtobea discipleeventhroughthehardship,knowing thatJesuswillwalkalongsideus.Weare valuedbyhimandrewardedthrough relationshipwithhim. Read, pray, reflect at home this week This week’s Bible readings Jeremiah20.7-13 • Romans6.1b-11 • Matthew10.24-39 When the going gets tough Live your faith 21-27 June 2020 Up and down Howdoyoumakelifestylechoices? Loyaltycomeswithacost–e.g.following asportsteamwillhavehighsandlows; financialinvestments‘maygodownas wellasup’. Lookthroughaselectionofnewspapers andmagazines,and/orsearchthe internet,tofindexamplesoflifestyle offersandchoicesthataredesignedtobe appealinganddrawusin.Howdoyou respond?Howdoyoumakelifestyle choicesandlifechangingdecisions? FREE worship at home resources,includingup- to-the-minutereflectiononthisweek’sBible reading,availableat: www.rootsontheweb.com

When the going gets tough...‘When the going gets tough…’? How can you support one another through the challenging realities of being a disciple of Jesus? NotesontheBiblereadings

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Page 1: When the going gets tough...‘When the going gets tough…’? How can you support one another through the challenging realities of being a disciple of Jesus? NotesontheBiblereadings

Live your faithFind out about some persecuted Christians (e.g. through the workof Open Doors, in over 70 countries). Consider how what you learncan inspire or help you in living out your faith – especially ‘when thegoing gets tough’.

A prayer of approachO Lord, we enter into your steadfast love, asking that you willrespond to our prayers; we trust in your abundant mercyand ask that you will come to us.O Lord, make your presence known to us;draw near to us; redeem us, set us free;for we seek to be your faithful disciples.Amen.

A prayer for othersWe pray for those whom you have called to service far from theirhomes – doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and many more…We pray for those who serve you by telling your story – those whoteach, lead assemblies, speak at meetings, preach the gospel,and many more…We pray for our own discipleship, that we may face our challengeswith courage and help to establish your promised kingdom.And we pray for all whose service, often at risk to themsleves,is helping us, helping the whole world, in its battle againstthe spread and consequences of the corona virus pandemic.We pray, Lord, that you will protect and bless them all.Amen.

A personal prayerPraise God who made me.Praise Jesus who has called me.Praise the Spirit who empowers me. Amen.

Questionsfor reflection▶ How would you feel about facing

a challenge like this?▶ How would you finish the sentence

‘When the going gets tough…’?▶ How can you support one another

through the challenging realitiesof being a disciple of Jesus?

Notes on the Bible readings

• In this passage from Matthew, we see Jesuspreparing his disciples for their mission. Hewarns them of the threats and challengesthey are likely to face. They are called to goout and take on their mission completelyreliant on God, in order that they might buildup trust and relationship with him.

• Jesus warns that following him will notbe easy, but that God will always be withthem. He tells them not to fear all thesethings, including death, as no one is powerfulenough to destroy both body and soul.God values us enough to know how manymany hairs we have on our heads, and so willprotect and keep us.

• Being a disciple of Jesus doesn’t meanthat all our problems will vanish, but ourchallenge is to continue striving to be adisciple even through the hardship, knowingthat Jesus will walk alongside us. We arevalued by him and rewarded throughrelationship with him.

Read, pray, reflect at home this week

This week’s Bible readings Jeremiah 20.7-13 • Romans 6.1b-11 • Matthew 10.24-39

When the going gets tough

Live your faith 21-27 June 2020

Up and down

How do you make lifestyle choices?

Loyalty comes with a cost – e.g. followinga sports team will have highs and lows;financial investments ‘may go down aswell as up’.

Look through a selection of newspapersand magazines, and/or search theinternet, to find examples of lifestyleoffers and choices that are designed to beappealing and draw us in. How do yourespond? How do you make lifestylechoices and life changing decisions?

FREE worship at home resources, including up-to-the-minute reflection on this week’s Biblereading, available at: www.rootsontheweb.com