Weekly Practices

Ryan Stahl Ryan Stahl

Weekly Practice 6/8/26

Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.

Scripture


Matthew 9:1-13 MSG

Back in the boat, Jesus and the disciples recrossed the sea to Jesus’ hometown. They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, “Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins.” Some religion scholars whispered, “Why, that’s blasphemy!”


Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why this gossipy whispering? Which do you think is simpler: to say, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or, ‘Get up and walk’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . .” At this he turned to the paraplegic and said, “Get up. Take your bed and go home.” And the man did it. The crowd was awestruck, amazed and pleased that God had authorized Jesus to work among them this way.


Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him.


Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and misfits?”


Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”

Practice

Witness

This week, watch or listen to this episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Witness 02: Practice Hospitality. Then, reflect on the following questions:

  • How might you slow down to allow more space for spending with others? 

  • Are you a good listener?

  • What might hospitality look like “in the contours of your actual life”?

Wide Awake

As promised, our friends at Wide Awake have shared slides you can post as a carousel set on social media. This helps to shine a light on the work they do. You can also support them by:

  • Praying—For the Johnson family, for their team, for their work, for the boys and men they serve, for Ukraine. 

  • Staying Connected—Sign up for their newsletter to learn more and get updates.

  • Donating—Consider supporting Wide Awake financially.

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Ryan Stahl Ryan Stahl

Weekly Practice 6/1/26

Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.

Scripture


Matthew 9:35-38 NLT

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Practice

Witness

This week, watch or listen to this episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Witness 01: Begin With Love. Then, reflect on the following questions:

  • What has your experience of witness/evangelism been like? Would you say it’s been motivated by love?

  • Does thinking of witness/evangelism as a “long relationship of love" with others encourage you? Challenge you?

  • How does, or could, this kind of witness/evangelism fit into your own life?

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Ryan Stahl Ryan Stahl

Weekly Practice 5/25/26

Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.

Scripture


Psalm 63 NLT

O God, you are my God;

    I earnestly search for you.

My soul thirsts for you;

    my whole body longs for you

in this parched and weary land

    where there is no water.

I have seen you in your sanctuary

    and gazed upon your power and glory.

Your unfailing love is better than life itself;

    how I praise you!

I will praise you as long as I live,

    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

You satisfy me more than the richest feast.

    I will praise you with songs of joy.


I lie awake thinking of you,

    meditating on you through the night.

Because you are my helper,

    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;

    your strong right hand holds me securely.


But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.

    They will go down into the depths of the earth.

They will die by the sword

    and become the food of jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God.

    All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,

    while liars will be silenced.

Poem

“LXIII Deus, Deus meus” by Malcolm Guite

For love lifts time into eternity,

Kisses each passing moment into life,

Gives us a glimpse of your unfading glory.

We fall away like every falling leaf

But even as we fall we yearn for you.

Our prayers are passing and our blessings brief,

Yet each one reaches deeply into you

For you yourself are reaching into us

To breathe your life in us and make us new;

The barren wasteland is made glorious

With blossoms, breathing an eternal spring

And even as this first world fades from us,

We step into the true world and we sing

A joyful song, for there at last we see

Our heart’s desire: our risen Lord and King.

Practice


A Posture of “Yes”

Saying “yes” to Jesus can be a moment of decision, a step of discernment and obedience into a holy invitation. Most of the time, it’s simply keeping your heart and mind and body aimed towards God. It’s prayer without ceasing. It’s abiding. It’s something only possible as the Holy Spirit enables you. A posture of continual “yes” before God is what prepares you for the moments when decisions must be made.


This week, be simple and persistent with your “yes” to Jesus. Start each morning with him: silence, scripture, prayer. Set times throughout each day to pause and recenter in his presence. This shouldn’t be a big flex, but it does take sincere effort. Ask God to help you to remain in him. Trust that his power shines even brighter when he works within our limitations.

Accompanying soundtrack

Here are a couple of songs to go along with this week’s practice:

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