Opening Prayer: Almighty God, as I grow into the fullness of Your plan for me, may I gain a maturity of faith that can only come from Your Spirit’s work in me. Amen.

Read: 1 Timothy 4:6-16

Reflect: Is Paul describing only leaders in the church or the image of all mature disciples of Jesus? In what ways do you see yourself fulfilling the image Paul presents of the servant of Jesus? In what areas do you see room for growth according to this standard?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Dear Lord and Father of Us All”
Dear Lord and Father of us all,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in you rightful mind,
In purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O cal of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
The silence of eternity,
Interpreted by love!

Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our sols the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.

Breathe through the pulses of desire
Thy coolness and thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm. Amen.

Closing Prayer: You have been in communion with your Lord. Go forth now in the strength and assurance that the Lord Jesus Christ goes with you. Amen.