Lent Devotional 2019

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About Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Become a Student

Certificate Programs

Special Programs

Faculty

In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.

Events

The Seminary hosts a wide range of events—many of them free!—on topics of faith including church planting, mission, vocation, spiritual formation, pastoral care and counseling, archaeology, and many more. Visit our calendar often for a listing of upcoming events.

Visit PTS

Interested in the Seminary? Come visit us!

Stay in Touch with PTS

Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Church Planting Initiative (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!

Lent Devotional MARCH 18, 2019

Scripture

John 4:27-42

27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” 30 They left the city and were on their way to him. 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36 The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

Devotional

The Rev. Debbie Smith, M.Div. / Pastor, Liberty Presbyterian Church, Liberty Boro, Pa.

The account of the woman at the well tells a story of unexpected abundance and harvest. After encountering Jesus, this woman leaves her water jug behind and invites the town to “come and see.” Jesus has sown the seeds of hope during their conversation and reaps the harvest of new discipleship. The woman is transformed: formerly an outsider, now she is an exuberant follower, so excited about meeting Jesus that she sows seeds of Good News among the townspeople, thus bringing them to abide with Jesus. What a harvest we see here! Outsiders recognizing what many insiders had not: Jesus is the Savior of the World—a world that includes even Gentiles! Praise God for unexpected sowers and reapers who can see what others have not yet seen!

Prayer

Gracious Lord, who plants seeds of grace in our hearts, give us the courage to sow the seeds of our experience of the Good News with those you place in our path. Lead us to expect an abundant harvest that draws people to you as it nourishes us and brings more seeds, more sowers, and more reapers. In the name of Christ our Savior, amen.

Lent Devotional MARCH 18, 2019

Scripture

John 4:27-42

27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” 30 They left the city and were on their way to him. 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36 The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

Devotional

The Rev. Debbie Smith, M.Div. / Pastor, Liberty Presbyterian Church, Liberty Boro, Pa.

The account of the woman at the well tells a story of unexpected abundance and harvest. After encountering Jesus, this woman leaves her water jug behind and invites the town to “come and see.” Jesus has sown the seeds of hope during their conversation and reaps the harvest of new discipleship. The woman is transformed: formerly an outsider, now she is an exuberant follower, so excited about meeting Jesus that she sows seeds of Good News among the townspeople, thus bringing them to abide with Jesus. What a harvest we see here! Outsiders recognizing what many insiders had not: Jesus is the Savior of the World—a world that includes even Gentiles! Praise God for unexpected sowers and reapers who can see what others have not yet seen!

Prayer

Gracious Lord, who plants seeds of grace in our hearts, give us the courage to sow the seeds of our experience of the Good News with those you place in our path. Lead us to expect an abundant harvest that draws people to you as it nourishes us and brings more seeds, more sowers, and more reapers. In the name of Christ our Savior, amen.

About Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Become a Student

Certificate Programs

Special Programs

Faculty

In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.

Events

The Seminary hosts a wide range of events—many of them free!—on topics of faith including church planting, mission, vocation, spiritual formation, pastoral care and counseling, archaeology, and many more. Visit our calendar often for a listing of upcoming events.

Visit PTS

Interested in the Seminary? Come visit us!

Stay in Touch with PTS

Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Church Planting Initiative (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!