Scripture & Writing Series: Week 3

Source: modernekklesia.com

For those of you who can't join us in person, we offer the next best thing -- a blog version of our lesson, so that you can do it at home. This series is called: Scripture & Writing.

Week Three: Words of Worth - prepared by Brianna Renshaw

Devotional: Words of Worth by Brianna Renshaw
Whether we write for an audience of one or of millions, our words have power. Take for instance a special woman in our congregation. She kept a private journal, which provided comfort and encouragement for her husband and family after she died. During her memorial service, her husband shared some of her entries and in turn, provided encouragement and wisdom to an entire congregation.

When we write, we may not know who our audience will be, but God does. He has a plan for us and that includes our writing. If we feel the slightest nudge to write, we should trust that God is calling us to write. And if He has called us to write, He has prepared us to write. Our efforts may not be rewarded with publication; our only reward may be to simply know we are doing His will, but that is reward enough.

Prayer: Lord, may we avoid the trap of writing only for what we consider a 'worthy' purpose -- like getting published. May we see the value in every word we write whether it's descriptions of the world around us, our children, our memories or a simple list of what we did today. God, help us to always write for You and to write from our hearts.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

"God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus He has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do."

Questions about the Scripture:

1. Do you believe God made you a writer? Do you feel God calling you to write? Did you enjoy writing as a child or a teenager? Did you lose your passion or is writing a new passion for you?

2. How can writing be a 'good deed'? Can our writing do good? How can we use our writing to do good?

3. If you believe God has called you to be a writer, are you prepared? Do you have the words, an idea? What do you have to do to become prepared?

In response to the third question, our group had the following to say:

• You are prepared because God made you unique. No one else can write like you. Your perspective and experiences can reach someone else.
• You are prepared because God is in you. You are not writing alone.
• Pray before you write, while you write, after you write. God will do the rest.
• Make time to write.

Writing Prompt: Write for 10 minutes using all of the following words. (You'll have to write fast on this one!)

flashlight, magic wand, compass, hand, light bulb, mail, left, question, cellphone  

Homework Assignment: Look out one of your windows. Write for 10-15 minutes on what you see.