CreatingCommunity is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship next weekend. Imagine how much more clear and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion alone, with others, as a family, or over Zoom as a small group.

This devotion is to be done in preparation for this coming weekend's worship.

Please follow these three steps:

1. Read through the text
2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions)
3. Offer a Prayer
John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
No Experience Necessary Questions:
  1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
  2. What delights me in this text?
  3. What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
  4. What is God up to in this text?
Family Questions (for the entire family):
  1. Have you ever been to a wedding? What was it like? What happened there? How was it different from other family gatherings?
  2. Jesus' mother asks him to do something. At first, he refuses. But then he does what is asked of him. What do you think that is about? Have you ever done such a thing?
  3. Do you believe in miracles? How would you describe a miracle? Tell of a miracle you experienced?
Advance Questions:
  1. "The wine is running out." Could that be a way to describe our patience during this ongoing pandemic? We had hoped that by January surely things would be closer to ‘normal’. Is there a miracle coming? Where have you seen Jesus at work?
  2. This miracle comes about through the repurposing of stone jars. What are we currently using for our piety that might need to be repurposed for us to see Jesus's glory and believe in him?
  3. What does it say to you that Jesus was at a wedding? Where does that suggest we might see Jesus and experience miracles today? Give examples.
Click here to listen to this week's CreatingCommunity song
in memory of Bob Saget, Full House's "Forever".

Say a Prayer of your own or offer this one.

Lord God, source of every blessing, you showed forth your glory and led many to faith by the works of your Son, who brought gladness and salvation to his people. Transform us by the Spirit of his love, that we may find our life together in him, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Pastor Lutz would love to hear your responses, questions, thoughts about your experience with CreatingCommunity. You can reach him at poppastorpaul@sbcglobal.net