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"All  Scripture  is  God - breathed  and  is  useful  for  teaching,  rebuking,  correcting  and  training  in righteousness, so  that  the  servant  of  God  may  be  thoroughly  equipped  for  every  good  work.”  

 2 Timothy  3: 16 - 17  (NIV)


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APRIL 5, 2026
   LectionarY Scripture Readings

Resurrection of the lord

Old Testament:  Jeremiah 31: 1 -6
Psalms:  Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
New Testament:  Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4,
John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:1-10

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SPRING   2026   SUNDAY  SCHOOL   LESSONS

SOCIAL TEACHINGS  OF  THE CHURCH
Unit 1 : Fulfilling Our Obligations to  Family and Community
April  5  -  Resurrection:  The  Future  Hope - 1 Corinthians 15: 13 - 20, 51 - 58
April  12  - Authority:  Belonging to God - Mark 12: 17, Romans 13: 1, 6 - 8;  1 Peter 2: 13 - 17
April 19  - Children:  Gift and Model -  Mark 9: 36 - 37, 42; 10: 13-16
April  26  - Family:  Distinct and Obedient  - Deuteronomy  6:  3 - 9;  Matthew  19: 3 - 9

“Making  a  Change  to  Grow  Closer  to  God”

Just as Jesus was led by the Spirit as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11,  The Holy Spirit was with us as we walked through our personal Lent journeys for forty (40) days working on transforming our lives.  On Palm Sunday,  the Lenten journey was summarized as it pertained to the final week of Lent ,  Week 6 - Fasting from Self , Our Surrender.   
SURRENDER encompassed our full forty (40) day journey: 
  • Surrendering our Disobedience to Obedience
  • Surrendering our Speech to Others and Ourselves
  • Surrendering our Actions
  • Surrendering our Negative and Distracting Thoughts
  • Surrendering our Temples
  • Surrendering  it ALL to God
When we completely surrender to God, it opens us up to discern, to heal and live our purpose.  We have a mission - to become closer to God.
Scroll down to re-read our Lenten devotionals, click on the dropdowns

2026 Lenten devotionals

We encourage you to spend time reflecting on your personal surrender and growth to become Closer to God.  May you continue to be led by the Holy Spirit.
Week 1 - Fasting from Procrastination (Obedience Without Delay)
Fast From:
  • Postponing, delaying, not making time for prayer, forgiveness, assignments, obedience, and spiritual disciplines.

Replace With:
  • Immediate obedience- say yes to God immediately without delay, without second-guessing, without fear
  • Daily prayer & planning- plan your devotional time and don’t allow distractions to get in the way. Make it a priority!
  • Intentional time with God- be INTENTIONAL with your time with God, whether it is 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour.  Allow that time to be about you and God, no distractions, no procrastinations, no delay
 
Scripture Focus:
  • Proverbs 6:6–11- Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise.  It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?  When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
  • Ecclesiastes 11:4-Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
  • James 4:17- If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your grace, and forgive me for delaying what You have already instructed me to do. I surrender my time, my priorities, and my obedience to You. Teach me, show me, guide me, Oh Lord, to walk in discipline and diligence so that I may honor You in my daily life. Amen.
Week 2 - Fasting from Cursing & Ungodly Speech (Speaking Life)
Fast From:
  • Profanity
  • Gossip, rumors, sharing harmful information
  • Negative, hurtful, or destructive speech to self and to others
Replace With:
  • Uplifting Words of encouragement to self and to others
  • Prayerful speech
  • Speaking Scripture
Scripture Focus:
  • Ephesians 4:29- Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
  • Proverbs 18:21-The tongue has the power of life and death,
       And those who love it will eat its fruit.
  • James 3:9–10- With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
Prayer:
God, set a guard over my mouth.  Let my words bring healing, peace and encouragement.  Remove anything in me that dishonors You or wounds others and fill my mouth with praise.  Amen. 
Week 3 - Fasting from Actions Not of God (Holy Living)
Fast From:
  • Disobedience
  • Attitudes and habits that pull you away from God
  • Compromising situations
Replace With:
  • Righteous actions
  • Accountability
  • Intentional holiness
Scripture Focus:
  • Galatians 5:16–17- So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
  • Romans 12:1–2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world,  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing , and perfect will.
  • 1 Peter 1:15–16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Prayer:
Father, cleanse my hands and my heart. Help me walk in holiness and choose righteousness over comfort. Lead me away from temptation and into Your perfect will. Amen.
Week 4 - Fasting from Negative & Distracting Thoughts (Renewing the Mind)
Fast From:
  • Fear
  • Anxiety
  • Self-doubt
  • Negative self-talk
Replace With:
  • God’s promises
  • Scripture meditation
  • Praise and gratitude
Scripture Focus:
  • Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  • 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
  • Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Prayer:
Lord, I surrender my thoughts to You. Remove every lie, fear, and distraction that keeps me from Your peace. Renew my mind and fill it with Your truth. Amen.
Week 5 - Honoring Our Temple (Stewarding the Body God Gave Us)
Fast From:
  • Overeating
  • Harmful habits
  • Neglecting rest, hydration, and movement
Replace With:
  • Healthy food choices
  • Drinking water
  • Rest, exercise, and prayer
 
Scripture Focus:
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.
  • Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
  • 3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for my body. Help me to honor You in how I eat, move, rest, and care for myself. Teach me to treat my body as Your holy temple. Amen.
Week 6 - Fasting from Self (Surrender)
Fast From:
  • Pride
  • Control
  • Self-centered thinking
Replace With:
  • Servanthood
  • Humility
  • Obedience
Scripture Focus:
  • Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
  • Galatians 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
  • Matthew 20:26–28  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
 Prayer:
Jesus, I decrease so that You may increase in me. Teach me to walk in humility and to serve with love. My life belongs to You. Amen 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS

AME Church Daily Vitamin
Today's Daily Devotional

Waiting   For   Hope   to   Bloom

Spring never rushes, even when we want it to.

Before anything blooms, there is work happening beneath the surface. Buds start forming on branches that still look bare. Winter is still doing what winter does, and yet something new is already in motion.

Grief can feel like that too.

Honestly, sometimes I want to skip ahead. I want to get to the part where I am okay and the weight has lifted and I am not thinking about loss with regularity. But I understand that healing has its own appointed time.

Just like those spring buds, there are signs of hope even now. A moment that feels a little lighter. A memory that does not sting as much. Something small, but different.
Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time… though it tarry, wait for it.”

So I am learning to wait. And in that waiting, God does not leave us alone. He sends warmth and comfort right when we need it. Sometimes it looks like a text or a call. Sometimes it is just stepping outside and noticing that the air feels different.

None of it is random. The buds will bloom in their appointed time. And in time, so will we.

Dr. Tanya Upthegrove Gregory