Come and See!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Questions & Scripture for Sunday (8/1/10)

Luke 12:13-21 (ESV)
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." [14] But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" [15] And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." [16] And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, [17] and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' [18] And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' [20] But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

Questions
1. How did your family regard possessions while you were growing up?
2. What signs of greed can show up in a person’s life?
3. With what parts of the parable can you identify?
4. What parts of the parable make you uncomfortable?
5. What is one step you can take this week to become less dependent on your possessions?

Friday, July 23, 2010

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (7/25/10)

Vacation Bible School has gone very well this week.  Please come join us tonight for a Program and Family Fish Fry beginning at 6:00pm.


Luke 9:28-36 (ESV)
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. [29] And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. [30] And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, [31] who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. [32] Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. [33] And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"— not knowing what he said. [34] As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. [35] And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!" [36] And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

Questions to reflect upon:
1. What special events in your life do wish could have lasted forever?
2. If you had been with Peter, James, and John, how might you have felt?
3. In describing Peter’s suggestion about the shelters, why did Luke say, “He did not know what he was saying”?
4. Why do you think the disciples told no one what they had seen that day?
5. What can you do in your private devotions to help you listen to God’s Son?

Monday, July 19, 2010

VBS

Don't forget...
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Tuesday, July 20th - Friday, July 23rd
6:00 - 8:00 PM

Registration on Tuesday begins at 5:30 PM.
Friday evening we will be having a Family Fish Fry.

Everyone is invited. Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (7/18/10)

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. [40] But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." [41] But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, [42] but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Questions
1. What is your home like shortly before guests arrive?
2. What is your home like shortly before guests arrive?
3. What did Jesus think of the sisters’ choices?
4. If you had been Martha in this situation, how would you have reacted to your sister’s choice?
5. What events or opportunities are coming up in which you can focus on being a student of Christ?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Scripture and Questions for Sunday (7/11/07)

Matthew 22:15-22 (ESV)

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his talk. [16] And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. [17] Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" [18] But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? [19] Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. [20] And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" [21] They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." [22] When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

Questions
1. What qualities mark a person of integrity?
2. How did Jesus respond to all the false adulation He received in this incident?
3. What do you think Jesus called us to do when He said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s”?
4. What responsibilities do you have to the government?
5. What might be the first step in better living up to your obligations as a citizen of God’s kingdom?

This Week the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is being held in Minneapolis from July 3-10, 2010. Here is a link to see what all is going on.
http://ga219.pcusa.org/

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Announcements, Scripture and Questions for Sunday (7/4/10)

Announcement

On July 7th we will meet in the fellowship hall at 5:30 to finalize the plans for VBS. I am hoping all of you can be there. Our material is all in and it looks like lots of fun. The dates for VBS are July 20 thru 23, 6pm to 8pm.

So far the following stations are manned:
  • Opening - Sing and Play Splash - Laurie, Diana & Marvin
  • Crafts -Clipper Ship Crafts & Missions - Donna & Sandra
  • Food - Goodies from the Gallery- Zee & Laurrie Allen
  • Games - Ship Rec Games - Jeannette & Luke
  • Bible Voyage - Barbara McGuinney
  • Susan Curry and Irene Andrews are helping arrange food for those teachers who will have to come directly from work.
  • Jim is in charge of the fish fry for Friday night.
  • Molly is on deck with the decorations.
Please let me know if you cannot make it and I will get you the finalized plans. Please let me know if I have missed e-mailing someone. Thank you one and all.

Donnette, 979-571-8331 or dd115@suddenlink.net

Scripture
2 Cor. 12:2-10 (ESV)
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. [3] And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—[4] and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. [5] On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. [6] Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. [7] So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Questions
1. Why are we typically afraid to disclose our weaknesses to each other?
2. What can we learn from Paul’s example about dealing with physical discomfort or hardship?
3. How can you allow the Lord’s power to take over where you are weak?
4. How does the Christian perspective on power and weakness differ from that of the world?
5. In what area of your life do you want to rely more on God’s strength and power, rather than your own?