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About Disciplines

The Upper Room Disciplines provides an opportunity to look more deeply at scripture by offering a week of devotions by a single author on a particular theme.

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Latest Disciplines Devotions

Toward Confession and Forgiveness - July 27, 2021

July 27, 2021

David has broken the moral law. He does not rationalize or blame others for his sinful ways. Nor does he try to cover up what he has done wrong. Instead, he...

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Toward Confession and Forgiveness - July 26, 2021

July 26, 2021

In the Hebrew Bible, we see two portraits of David, who is now seen as one of the towering figures of the Israelite people. In today’s reading, we see a person...

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Just As I Am - July 25, 2021

July 25, 2021

In the verses before this, Paul celebrates that he can bring God’s grace to the Gentiles. Paul, who persecuted Christians and saw non-Jews as on the outs with God, now has...

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Just As I Am - July 24, 2021

July 24, 2021

Imagine the disciples, overwhelmed by a storm, suddenly seeing Jesus right there to help them. They are terrified to see him. They are working hard to handle the water coming into...

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Just As I Am - July 23, 2021

July 23, 2021

All of us—perpetrators or survivors of crimes, sharers or eaters of bread and fish—all of us need time away. There are many bits of scripture like this one, where Jesus withdraws...

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Just As I Am - July 22, 2021

July 22, 2021

David is the greatest king that ancient Israel has ever known. David is a sex offender who is planning to have Uriah murdered. These two things are true at the same...

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Just As I Am - July 21, 2021

July 21, 2021

For several years, I have taken songwriting classes. I enjoy the chance to play with words and find phrases and word patterns that describe ordinary human emotions. It is interesting to...

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Just As I Am - July 20, 2021

July 20, 2021

This story is not uplifting. David, King David, an ancestor of Jesus, has sexual intercourse with a woman against her will. He sees her, he takes her, and he sends her...

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Just As I Am - July 19, 2021

July 19, 2021

Who are you in this story? The boy who is kind enough to share, even though it may not be enough? Are you one of the disciples, more anxious about spending...

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The Compassionate Builder - July 18, 2021

July 18, 2021

The second part of this week’s Gospel follows an interlude in which Jesus has again instructed his disciples to set out in their boat. Jesus himself goes off alone to pray,...

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