​Jesus says, “where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.”

Can you gather virtually with 2 or 3? Of course.
Can you gather on a Sunday morning with 2 or 3 (or a couple hundred)?  Of course.
Can you gather with 2 or 3 at a coffee shop?  Of course.
Can you gather with 2 or 3 at your work?  at school?  In your home?  Of course.
The point is to gather.  To not go through life alone or think you can make it on your own.  However you’re gathering these days, don’t give up meeting.

Questions for further thought:
1. How is Jesus with you when you gather with 2 or 3 other followers?

2. Why do you think Jesus points out the importance of being in agreement with what they ask for?

Challenge:
Who are you gathering with today?  A zoom call with coworkers.  Teaching your students.  Dinner with your family.  A call with a friend.  As you gather with people, how can you gather “in Jesus’ name”?

​2020 challenged our definition of the word “church.” For some, church is a physical gathering on Sunday morning.  So, when the experience changed and moved online (and later to a limited in person experience with signups and masks), then church itself changed.    

For others, church is the Sunday sermon, or the message, or the content, or the preaching the word.  So, when the church went online, it was great because they still got fed and encouraged.  But as churches have reopened their doors and called their folks back to a physical gathering, some are content to opt out and continue to get their church from the comfort of their own home.  

For me, church has elements of those two above items (gathering and message), but church is about actively serving other people.  It’s why so many churches went into action in 2020 and cared for health care workers.  And fed hungry people.  And encouraged teachers.  Churches were the literal hands and feet of Jesus in a year when it was most needed.

Questions for further thought:
1. For you, is church more gathering with people or the message you hear?

2. How can you serve someone else today?


Challenge:
The 3rd Wednesday of each month Hillcrest hosts a food distribution for Feeding South Dakota.  Join other Hillcresters January 20th to be the church in action.

​There were so many opinions in 2020.  Masks or no masks?  Open or close the schools?  Worship online or physically in the worship center?  Are our freedoms being limited or are we all in this together for the good of humanity?  Those and other questions solicited so many opinions:  articles, tweets, Facebook posts, text messages, and who knows what else.  I’ve always loved this proverb that reminds us when there’s lots of words, when there’s lots of talk, sin isn’t far behind.  

The proverb doesn’t put a quota or time limit to a discussion.  It just recognizes that when there’s lots of words, there’s a good chance those words are either sinful (gossip, lying, slander, etc.) or those words are preventing you from actually doing something about what it is you’re complaining about.    


Questions for further thought:
1. What’s something from 2020 that you had a strong opinion about?

2. How are you susceptible to getting into trouble with your words?


Challenge:
Do something with your opinion today.  If you’re pro-masks, send an email to an elected official and thank them for their stance.  If you’re in favor of schools remaining open, thank your child’s teacher or administrator.  

​One of the common themes I heard from Christians in 2020 was an honest questioning if the world was ending.  Politics, racism, unrest, and a pandemic all contributed to this trance-like despair felt by some Christians.  Peter says in today’s verse to give a reason for the hope you have, but the verse assumes your faith has hope.  That your faith has given you something to hang onto during tough times (and most of 2020 certainly qualifies as a tough time!).  But if your faith looks more like discouragement (or judgment, or worry), then it doesn’t have the hope the people in your life you need.  Of course, this doesn’t mean you’re always happy or positive, but it does mean our faith needs to have hope on more days than not.    


Questions for further thought:
1. What was most challenging for you this past year?

2. How did your faith sustain you through that challenge?


Challenge:
Another journal prompt of mine each day is: someone I could surprise with a note, gift, or sign of appreciation is . . . ?  Who could you encourage today and share your hope with?

​Yes, Christmas is already behind us, but it’s interesting how the main characters in the story are all told to not be afraid.  Zechariah was with the news his wife was pregnant with John the Baptist.  Mary was.  Joseph was.  And also the shepherds.  One of the consistent themes throughout scripture is to not be afraid.  To not be afraid when God asks you to do something or when things aren’t turning out the way you wanted them to.


Questions for further thought:
1. Which of the 4 characters (Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds) who were told to not be afraid do you identify with the most?

2. What might God be asking you to do in this new year?  


Challenge:
A journaling prompt I answer most mornings goes as follows: one thing I could do today that is a little outside of my comfort zone is to (try, ask for, express something, etc.) . . . ?  How would you answer this question?

Those in authority are to submit to God as they are under God’s authority.  We are all to serve with fear and trembling.  This fear is out of reverence for who God is and in recognition of his power and authority over everything. If we are able to be reverent to God’s authority, it makes it possible for us to respect other authority.

Questions for further thought:
1. Does obedience come naturally to you?  Why or why not?


2. What steps do you need to take? 

Challenge: 
Trusting authority may not come easily.  We can follow Jesus’ example.  Read Phil 2:5-8.

Serving and obeying God can be difficult and inconvenient.  In the Old Testament, the Jews were exiled to Babylon as punishment for worshiping other gods.  They were then being forced to bow down to a golden image of the king.  Several Jews refused and were thrown into a furnace.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego declared their God was able to rescue them from the fire, but even if he didn’t – they would not worship an image of any kind. While the fires raged, there was another in the fire with them.  They were removed unharmed and did not even smell of smoke.

Questions for further thought:
1. How do you respond to unanswered prayers?


2. Are you able to remain a faithful follower when God doesn’t answer your prayer the way you want?

Challenge: 
Unanswered prayers can give us time to keep praying, to seek God’s will, and consider what else God may want for us.

Yesterday’s verses showed us God places those in authority.  Following Pentecost, Peter and John were preaching about Jesus and healing people.  The religious leaders put them in jail and brought them before rulers, elders, and teachers to ask them by whose power or name they were acting.  They declared it was in Jesus’ name.  The leaders commanded them to stop.  The apostles’ response was telling the leaders to judge for themselves whether it was right in God’s sight for them to obey men rather than God.

Questions for further thought:
1. When you get conflicting directions from your boss or parents, who do you follow and why?


2. How do we know when to disobey those in authority?

Challenge: 
It can be difficult to know what to do in times of conflict with authority.  If following the government means disobeying God, we must follow God.

These verses tell us those in authority have been established by God and deserve our submission. To rebel is rebellion against what God has established. We must obey laws.  We must pay taxes. In addition, we are to pray for those in authority so we may live peaceful lives in godliness and holiness. This can be challenging when we do not agree or respect those in authority or the decisions they make.

Questions for further thought:
1. How do you struggle with those in authority?


2. What do you do when you disagree with your boss or your parents?

Challenge: 
It can be hard to accept that we are to submit to authority.  Pray for wisdom for your boss or your parents – that they can be the leader God desires. 

The Wise men followed the star in search of the king to be born as a baby.  They went with the intention to worship this new king.  They first met with the current king expecting he would know and desire to worship the baby as well.  The wise men were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod, so they did not obey the king as the dream brought the truth out into the open.  Herod’s secret was brought into the light, and the newborn King was spared.

Questions for further thought:
1. Are you better at keeping secrets or telling secrets?


2. Do you have things that need to be brought into the light?

Challenge: 
If you have something keeping you awake at night, ask God for direction.