Come and See!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Scripture and Questions for Sunday (9/26/10)

Announcement
Church on the River will be Sunday October 3rd at 10:30am at Curt and Jennifer Kneese’s house. It is on South 377 about 1 mile past the South Llano State Park on the left. Look for the sign. The meat, tea and beans will be provided. Those attending are asked to bring salads, vegetables or desserts.

1 Tim. 6:6-19 (ESV)
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, [7] for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. [8] But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. [9] But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. [11] But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. [13] I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, [14] to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, [15] which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, [16] who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. [17] As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. [18] They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, [19] thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Questions for Reflection
1. Why do you think most people are or aren’t content with what they have?
2. What brings us great gain?
3. What do we bring into the world?
4. What will we take out of the world?
5. How do people attempt to use Christianity for their own profit?
6. Why is it hard to be content?
7. About what situation in life will you ask God to help you be more content each day this week?

Friday, September 17, 2010

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/19/10)

Luke 16:1-13 (ESV)
He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. [2] And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.' [3] And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. [4] I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.' [5] So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' [6] He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' [7] Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' [8] The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. [9] And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. [10] "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. [11] If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? [12] And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? [13] No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

“Why Church? Reason Two: Real People”

The dishonest manager is a model of what Christians are not. He fits Jesus’ negative application of the parable. Christians should strive for its positive application: being faithful in little and in much.

Back in 1889, John Hunter, a Scottish Congregational pastor, penned a few lines about the gap between the Christian profession and practice, which he later published as a hymn. What’s encouraging about his treatment of the subject, however, is that it isn’t about a guilt trip but about continuing to follow the light of Jesus. His hymn is “Dear Jesus, in Whose Life I See”:

Dear Jesus, in whose life I see
all that I would, but fail to be,
let thy clear light forever shine,
to shame and guide this life of mine.

Though what I dream and what I do
in all my weak days are always two,
help me, oppressed by things undone,
O thou whose deeds and dreams were one!

That’s what Jesus does for us, and we come to church to keep our eyes on that light. But in church, we also find people much like ourselves, in whom we see glimmers of that light as we work together at being faithful in things both small and great. Sometimes the light of Jesus shows so strongly through their actions that it both shames and guides us.

Questions for Reflection
1. How did the rich man respond to the manager who was “wasting his possessions”?
2. What plan did the manager devise to secure his future?
3. How did the rich master react to the dishonest dealings of the manager?
4. Who are the “people of light” to whom Jesus referred?
5. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves”?
6. How can we be sure that we will be “welcomed into eternal dwellings”?

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Scripture and Questions for Sunday (9/12/10)

Luke 15:1-7 (ESV)
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." [3] So he told them this parable: [4] "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' [7] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Questions to Reflect Upon
1. As a child, when was a time you got lost from your family or a group?
2. Why did Jesus choose a parable about sheep to make His point?
3. In what ways do we go astray?
4. How does the picture of “rejoicing in heaven” over repentance make you feel?
5. How does it feel to return to the fold?
6. Why do you or don’t you go to church?

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

September 2010 Calendar of Events

Saturday, Sept 4th
  • Men of the Church Breakfast, 8 AM
Sunday, Sept 5th
  • Communion
  • Care Center Service, 4 PM
Wednesday, Sept 8th
  • Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM
Sunday, Sept 12th
  • Church School Kick-Off Breakfast, 9:30 AM
Monday, Sept 13th
  • Fitness Class, 3:30-4:30 PM
Tuesday, Sept 14th
  • PW Circle, noon
  • Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM
  • Session, 6 PM
Wednesday, Sept 15th
  • Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM
Saturday, Sept 18th
  • PW Hill Country Cluster in Fredericksburg, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday, Sept 21st
  • Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM
Wednesday, Sept 22nd
  • Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM
Monday, Sept 27th
  • Fitness Class, 3:30-4:30 PM
Tuesday, Sept 28th
  • Elementary After School Program, 3:30-5 PM
Wednesday, Sept 29th
  • Youth Group, 5:30-7 PM