Habbakuk 1-2 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of lament.

Pause for Reflection:

In this passage, we see the necessity of bringing our questions to God Himself. He is big enough to handle them. How regularly do you bring your questions to God? The alternative is often letting them fester, which usually does not lead to spiritual health.

Are there any questions you need to bring to your Father who loves you today?

Pray for Living Faith Community Groups.

Pray for Church Community Services.

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Lamentations 3 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of lament.

Pause for Reflection:

Hope and grief can exist simultaneously. As you read this passage, try to identify where each are speaking. Are there places in your own life where hope and grief are existing simulataneously? It may be healthy to remind yourself it is good for BOTH to have a voice today.

Pray for the physical health of church members. You can pray specifically for those who are in the hospital right now, fighting an intense battle.

Pray for the Elkhart County Jail Ministry.

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Job 3 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of lament.

Pause for Reflection:

Lament gives us language to express our grief and disappointment in an atmosphere of faith.

In this passage, the Job pours out his lament. Are there any points he makes that you have empathy for, that you can relate to? How comfortable are you expressing the lament in your soul to the Lord? Why do you think that is?

Pray for the Pantry at Living Faith.

Pray for area food banks.

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Psalm 42:1-11 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of lament.

Pause for Reflection:

Lament gives us language to express our grief and disappointment in an atmosphere of faith.

In this passage, the psalmist longs for God wile simultaneously feeling abandoned by Him. biblical faith makes room for both longing and disappointment.

When have you recently experienced disappointment. Were you able to express that to God? If not, what kept you from it?

Pray for the finances of Living Faith.

Pray for the local economy to be strong and healthy, with good jobs available.

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Jude | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." Today's message will focus on the language of tongues.

Pause for Reflection:

Have you been drawn more this week to "build yourself up" in your faith? If so, thank God for it. If not, ask the Lord to create a hunger in your heart to do so.

Pray for today's service at Living Faith. Pray that the word of the Lord will go forth without confusion and that people will receive it with joy.

Pray for area churches to move in spiritual gifts in a loving way that builds up the Body and brings the lost to Jesus.

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Romans 8:18-30 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of tongues.

Pause for Reflection:

Have you ever experienced the "groanings" of the Spirit praying through you? Many people believe this is a reference to a prayer language, or praying in tongues. How can you grow in relying on the Spirit's intercession in your prayer life? 

Pray for the facilities at Living Faith.

Pray for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

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I Cortinthians 14:20-40 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of tongues.

Pause for Reflection:

This passage addresses some of the "messes" the Corinthian church was experiencing in its worship services. It's interesting to note that Paul does not instruct them to stop doing everything that could get "messy." Instead, he instructs them on how to grow in their ability to pursue those things in ways that are more mature and "orderly" way.

Why do you think God wants there to be room in the Body of Christ for these kinds of spiritual activities (prophecy, tongues, etc.) to be experienced?

ADDITIONAL NOTE: If verses 34-35 are troubling to you, you would definitely not be the first to be given pause by them. They are best read through the lense of Paul's entire ministry context, as there is much evidence in other places in his letters that he supported women as pastors and even as an apostle (Junia). If you would like more understanding of this context, Pastor Eric's Her Voice series is a good place to start.

Pray for the Pantry team at Living Faith.

Pray for the Excel Center of Elkhart.

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I Cortinthians 14:1-19 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of tongues.

Pause for Reflection:

This passage seems to compare two different kinds of praying in tongues, a private "prayer language" and a corporate "message for the Body," which could be given as tongues and itnerpretation or through prophesy. Paul seems to indicate that the prayer language is for building up one's inner self, while the corporate messages (either through tongues/interpretation or prophetic words) are obviously for the strengthening for the Body at large.

Have you witnessed either or both of these in action? If not, is that something you would like to experience? It may be time to let God know you are open to His moving that way in your life. Spend some time talking to Him about your thoughts on the subject. Allow room for Him to respond if He wants to!

Pray for the welcome team at Living Faith.

Pray for our Woodland Crossing area neighboring businesses.

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Acts 19:1-4 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of tongues.

Pause for Reflection:

What does the baptism of the disciples in Ephesus teach us about the significance of the Holy Spirit in our faith journey? How did this encounter require humility on the part of the disciples? 

Pray for the worship team at Living Faith.

Pray for local foster care providers and services.

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Acts 10 | Read in  NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of tongues.

Pause for Reflection:

This chapter chronicles the Spirit's activity in the early church, and speaking in tongues was a part of that activity. Can you imagine what this scene looked like? Do you think you would have been drawn to this kind of spiritual activity, including the abundance of signs and wonders? Why or why not? 

Pray for the youth at Living Faith. Our high schoolers just went to a conference on Saturday. Pray that the seeds sown into their lives will blossom and grow.

Pray for Lifeline Youth Ministries.

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Jude | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of tongues.

Pause for Reflection:

Did you find the verse many scholars believe references the gift of tongues? It was verse 20 when Jude referenced "praying in the Holy Spirit."

Whether he is speaking of praying under the influence of the Holy Spirit in general, or specifically praying in tongues, he definitely draws a line between praying in the Holy Spirit and building yourself up. Both kinds of prayers do that, most certainly.

If you could see with your natural eyes building blocks of faith being put into your spirit by the Lord through your prayers, how much more would you pray?

The truth is praying in the Spirit does things we can not see, but are so very necessary for building us up from the inside out.

Spend some time praying in the Spirit today!

Pray for the Living Faith Children's Ministry Team.

Pray for local school boards.

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1 Thessalonians 5 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." Today's message will focus on the language of prophecy.

Pause for Reflection:

The church shouldn't quencth the Spirit or treat prophesy with contempt. But neither should it accept every word without testing what is spoken and holding on to what is good.

Besides being spoken in/through love like we covered in depth earlier in the week, some applicable filters to consider:

Is this the right word?
Is this the right place for it to be given?
Is this the right time for it to be given?

If you are unsure if a word you received or a word you desire to give to someone meets these filters, don't be afraid to reach out to a trusted friend, pastor, teacher, etc. to ask them to listen with you. The Body of Christ can often help each other discern what God is saying. Why? Because God intended us to need each other and work together!

Pray for today's service at Living Faith. Pray that the word of the Lord will go forth without confusion and that people will receive it with joy.

Pray for area churches to move in spiritual gifts in a loving way that builds up the Body and brings the lost to Jesus.

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1 Corinthians 14 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of prophecy.

Pause for Reflection:

Paul encourages believers to desire spiritual gifts, even while he emphasizes that their purpose is to do these things for the church:

- strengthen
- encourage
- comfort
- build up

These are excellent "plumb lines" for the giving and receiving of ministry through spiritual gifts. Think of a way to memorize these four attributes and use them as a filter when you are unsure if your actions or words are appropriate for sharing with others.

Pray for the Living Faith elder board. Pray that all they do will strengthen, encourage, comfort, and build up the church.

Pray for local government officials to have these same attributes as their goal for governing their cities.

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1 Corinthians 13 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of prophecy.

Pause for Reflection:

Love must govern every spiritual gift if it will be effective, or anything beyond "noise," for that matter.

Have you been ministered to without love? How did that work? Compare that with the times you have received love through the gifts of the Spirit. How and why was it more effective?

Open your heart today and allow the Lord to point out any place you are ministering in your gift without love. Ask Him to bring HIS love to fill you up, so that it can overflow to others.

Pray for the Living Faith staff. Pray that all they do will be done in and through love.

Pray for local first responders.

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1 Corinthians 12 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of prophecy.

Pause for Reflection:

Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit that are given "for the common good."

What does it mean to desire greater gifts, and how should this be balanced with contentment in our current roles? How does this chapter influence your understanding of Christian community and your role within it?

Pray for the Richardson family, our missionaries to the Middle East. Pray particularly for their protection today.

Pray for Downtown Ministries. Their annual fundraising banquet is today. Pray that they will receive all that they need to do the work God has called them to do.

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Acts 11 | Read in NIV YouVersion
Acts 21 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of prophecy.

Pause for Reflection:

These two passages both contain stories about the prophet Agabus. However, there were different "results" after people received the message.

Acts 11: God reveals what is coming → the church takes action.
Acts 21: God reveals what is coming → Paul remains faithful.

It is not enough to hear WHAT God says. We must also seek to discern what His word MEANS. This can get complicated because we often bring our own biases, desires, and past experiences to situations where God is speaking.

For example, the people around Paul hear "danger" and conclude "don't go." Paul hears the same word and understands it as preparation for what obedience will cost him.

Spend some time in prayer asking God to sharpen both your ears to hear and your heart to align with His voice above all else. If you have received any prophetic words that you do not yet understand, ask Him to clarify or expound on that word. It's ok to ask Him for help if you are not sure.

If you have never received a prophetic word and would like to, you could ask Him that, too! No matter what His choice is on the matter, it will be for your good---and He definitelty enjoys his kids telling Him they love to hear from Him!

Pray for the women of Living Faith. Pray that they will be encouraged from the inside out today.

Pray for RETA.

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Joel 2 | Read in NIV YouVersion
Acts 2 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of prophecy.

Pause for Reflection:

Pentecost shows us a God who pours out His Spirit generously. Sons and daughters. Young and old. Men and women.

Do you expect God to use only certain kinds of people to speak encouragement, truth, or wisdom into your life? Has God ever challenged that by suprising you with the source of a word from Him? What do you think is the most important characteristic to look for when you are discerning whether a message is from the Lord?

Pray for the men of Living Faith. Pray that they will be encouraged from the inside out today.

Pray for local homeless ministries. We have recently seen an influx of homeless people around the church's neighborhood. Pray for those who encounter these hurting people to be moved with compassion and wisdom in trying to help. Pray that those who need a place to live will be able to find temporary solutions that lead to longterm change.

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Numbers 11 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of prophecy.

Pause for Reflection:

This passage shows that God has long had a pattern of speaking through people. In the Old Testament, it was the primary way he spoke to groups of people, as they did not yet have the Holy Spirit living within them. He would visit one or more people, and those people would share His message with others.

In this story, Moses is not threatened to see that God is using others beside himself in this way.

Have you seen the prophetic ministry be used for personal recognition or gain? That can be discouraging, but it is not God's heart for the use of His voice.

Spend some time allowing Him to show you any place you have grown cynical about this gift that is mentioned throughout Scripture.

Pray for the youth of Living Faith. Pray that they will be encouraged from the inside out today.

Pray for Adult Teen Challenge.

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Revelation 5:6-14 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." Today's message will focus on the language of worship.

Pause for Reflection:

This passage highlights that our worship joins a much bigger song than what comes out of our individual mouths. The worship of the church participates in the great sng of heaven: "Worthy is the Lamb!" Today, we get to sing that song together!

Pray for the service at Living Faith today. Pray that we will have a corporate encounter of His presence.

Pray for area churches as the Body of Christ in Elkhart County gives their worship to the Lamb!

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Colossians 3:12-17 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of worship.

Pause for Reflection:

As your meditate on this passage again this week, focus on the truth that the Lord desires us to sing to one another. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs allow the message of Christ to dwell richly among us. Congregational worship is something we together, but it is also something we do FOR each other. As we worship God together, we are part of the language of worship in the Body of Christ that builds one another up by reminding each other of His goodness.

Have you ever considered the power of the communal nature of worship? Private worship is essential, but corporate worship is also needed for strengthening the Body. Spend some time thanking God for the Body of believers He has connected you with. Worship and pray over any specific faces God brings to mind.

Pray for the children at Living Faith. Pray that they will understand at an early age the power of worship.

Pray for local schools.

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Acts 16:22-34 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of worship.

Pause for Reflection:

Worship speaks in the darkness. Paul and Silas sing hymns in prison,and the other prisoners were listening to them from their own place of pain. Our worship can become a testimony others overhear.

Lift your worship loud today!

Here are some songs that may help:

Always on Time

Firm Foundation

Pray for strong marriages at Living Faith.

Pray for strong and healthy families in Elkhart County.

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2 Chronicles 20:18-22 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of worship.

Pause for Reflection:

Sometimes we worship before the victory. Jehoshaphat's peopled praised God while the battle was still ahead of them. Worship declares God's faithfulness before we know the outcome of the circumstances.

Is there a battle you need to worship over today?

Here are some songs that may help:

Steadfast God

One More Day

Pray for the newly launched Community Groups at Living Faith. Pray that the Lord will cause people's hearts to be for each other and to grow close as they seek Him as a group.

Pray for Church Community Services.

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Psalm 103 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of worship.

Pause for Reflection:

Sometimes we sing to our own souls, so they will remember. If your soul is weary, sing to it today. Sing of His faithfulness, His goodness, His beauty, His glory, His love, His mercy, His kindness, His patience, His compassion, and His majesty!

Here are some playlists that may help:

First Love Worship

Kitchen Table Worship

Pray for the physical health of church members. 

Pray for Elkhart County Jail ministry.

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Psalm 95 | Read in NIV YouVersion
Exodus 15:1-18 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of worship.

Pause for Reflection:

Worship remembers WHO GOD IS.
Worship remembers WHAT GOD HAS DONE.

Write a psalm of thanks for who He is to you and what He has done for you. Be as specific as you can as you chronicle His goodness.

Pray for the Living Faith Pantry. The presence of God has been in our gym on Saturdays at 4 pm. Pray that every person who enters will have an encounter with the Father who loves them so dearly.

Pray for area food banks. 

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Colossians 3:1-17 | Read in NIV YouVersion

We are continuing our series entitled "Body Language: Building One Another up in the Body of Christ." This week's message will focus on the language of worship.

Pause for Reflection:

This passage instructs us that psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are all ways to let the word of God dwell richly among us. Our worship is a vessel for communion with the Father. Start this week with a time of extended worship.

Here are some simple playlists you might enjoy coming back to often this week:

Morning Worship

Evening Worship

Pray for Living Faith finances.

Pray for our local economy and businesses.

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