Daily Scripture: Matthew 25:1 “The Kingdom of Heaven at that time will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 The foolish ones took lamps with them but no oil, 4 whereas the others took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Now the bridegroom was late, so they all went to sleep. 6 It was the middle of the night when the cry rang out, ‘The bridegroom is here! Go out to meet him!’ 7 The girls all woke up and prepared their lamps for lighting. 8 The foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both you and us. Go to the oil dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But as they were going off to buy, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11 Later, the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they cried, ‘Let us in!’ 12 But he answered, ‘Indeed! I tell you, I don’t know you!’ 13 So stay alert, because you know neither the day nor the hour.
Reflection Questions:
The great Yankee catcher Yogi Berra once succinctly said baseball “ain't like football. You can't make up no trick plays.” Jesus told this sobering parable to teach a similar point—that there are no “trick plays” for entering heaven. We can’t borrow someone else’s spiritual training and preparation—we need to have prepared ourselves. Then we can be ready for the bridegroom (Jesus) whenever he calls us to join him.
- We know that we cannot do most of life’s most important tasks at the last minute. When exam day comes, it’s too late to start studying for the exam. In reading this parable, did you identify more with the prepared or the unprepared bridesmaids? What steps can you take each day so that, like the prepared bridesmaids, you will be at the “wedding banquet of the Lamb” (see Revelation 19:1-9)?
Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting me to your “wedding feast,” and not as a guest, but as an active participant. Help me value that privilege highly, and stay connected with you every day. Amen.
Family Activity:
As a family, discuss how you prepare for events or activities. Do you save money for a vacation, study for a test, practicing batting for baseball or walk often to build stronger muscles? Typically when we prepare, we are able to handle the event or activity in a more healthy and helpful way. Since life will bring about times of struggle and challenge, we can prepare now by growing stronger in our faith. Talk about how you might do this as a family (consider learning Scripture, praying more, serving others, being in worship and sharing in Christian community). As a family, choose one or two ways you can build your “faith muscles” this baseball season! Commit to following through and pray, asking for God’s help as you grow.Insights from Jason Gant
Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting me to your “wedding feast,” and not as a guest, but as an active participant. Help me value that privilege highly, and stay connected with you every day. Amen.
Family Activity:
As a family, discuss how you prepare for events or activities. Do you save money for a vacation, study for a test, practicing batting for baseball or walk often to build stronger muscles? Typically when we prepare, we are able to handle the event or activity in a more healthy and helpful way. Since life will bring about times of struggle and challenge, we can prepare now by growing stronger in our faith. Talk about how you might do this as a family (consider learning Scripture, praying more, serving others, being in worship and sharing in Christian community). As a family, choose one or two ways you can build your “faith muscles” this baseball season! Commit to following through and pray, asking for God’s help as you grow.Insights from Jason Gant
Jason Gant is the Campus Pastor at Resurrection West.
Preparation and practice can be thought of as a spiritual discipline, just as important as personal devotional time, prayer, worship, fasting, and more. When I was a teenager, I participated in scouting. The Boy Scout motto is to “be prepared.” I remember learning this motto and applying it to all places of my life, especially my walk as a disciple of Christ.
We have been learning through this baseball series what it takes to play at the major league level. We’ve learned that hours upon hours of practice helps players to prepare for the moment when the team needs them the most.
I’m not sure about you but I can find excuse after excuse as to why I haven’t taken the time to practice my faith. Yet we can and should be practicing our faith throughout our day in all circumstances. All too often we think our faith exercises as separate from our daily walk of life. It should, in fact, be the foundation of our daily walk.
I remember talking with my oldest daughter after a difficult loss in one of her soccer games (she’s 9 years old). I found myself reminding her that our greater call is not always to experience a win on the field, but to do our best and show God’s light and love through the game–especially when we are facing the toughest moments, like an emotional loss. The prophet Micah speaks and gives specific directions about the offerings to bring to God’s Holy temple. It’s all about bringing the best we have to offer! The best we have to offer means practice and preparation. I shared in last Sunday’s sermon at Resurrection West Alex Gordon’s incredible practice and preparation routine before each game the Royals play. He arrives 7 hours before so he will “be prepared” for the game and for when the team needs him most.
I want to encourage you to join me in an intentional practice and preparation routine when it comes to our faith. This could mean an increased focus on your personal devotional time, increased prayer time, signing up for an upcoming class like Alpha or some other small group, or serving at Faithworks. These are just a few ways you can increase your practice and preparation so that when a difficult moment comes that feels like an emotional loss, you will look deep within and know that you brought your best and were prepared to share the light and love of Christ through it!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Preparation and practice can be thought of as a spiritual discipline, just as important as personal devotional time, prayer, worship, fasting, and more. When I was a teenager, I participated in scouting. The Boy Scout motto is to “be prepared.” I remember learning this motto and applying it to all places of my life, especially my walk as a disciple of Christ.
We have been learning through this baseball series what it takes to play at the major league level. We’ve learned that hours upon hours of practice helps players to prepare for the moment when the team needs them the most.
I’m not sure about you but I can find excuse after excuse as to why I haven’t taken the time to practice my faith. Yet we can and should be practicing our faith throughout our day in all circumstances. All too often we think our faith exercises as separate from our daily walk of life. It should, in fact, be the foundation of our daily walk.
I remember talking with my oldest daughter after a difficult loss in one of her soccer games (she’s 9 years old). I found myself reminding her that our greater call is not always to experience a win on the field, but to do our best and show God’s light and love through the game–especially when we are facing the toughest moments, like an emotional loss. The prophet Micah speaks and gives specific directions about the offerings to bring to God’s Holy temple. It’s all about bringing the best we have to offer! The best we have to offer means practice and preparation. I shared in last Sunday’s sermon at Resurrection West Alex Gordon’s incredible practice and preparation routine before each game the Royals play. He arrives 7 hours before so he will “be prepared” for the game and for when the team needs him most.
I want to encourage you to join me in an intentional practice and preparation routine when it comes to our faith. This could mean an increased focus on your personal devotional time, increased prayer time, signing up for an upcoming class like Alpha or some other small group, or serving at Faithworks. These are just a few ways you can increase your practice and preparation so that when a difficult moment comes that feels like an emotional loss, you will look deep within and know that you brought your best and were prepared to share the light and love of Christ through it!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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