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Friday, November 18, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/20/11)

Announcements
1.    Practice for the Christmas Play has begun. We need the youth and children of the church who will be participating to come to church at 9:30 each Sunday for practice.
2.    We will be decorating the church Sunday at 6:00pm. Chili and cornbread will be provided please bring a desert to share. We can use lots of help, hope to see you there!

Scripture
Matthew 25:31-46 (ESV) 
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. [34] Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' [37] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? [38] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? [39] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' [40] And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

[41] "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' [44] Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' [45] Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' [46] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Questions for Reflection
1.    What are some ways we label or categorize others?
2.    What are some common examples of separating clean from dirty, fresh from spoiled, or good from bad?
3.    What will Jesus say to those on His right? (25:34-36)
4.    Why will the group on Jesus’ right be blessed? (25:35)
5.    How will the “sheep” respond to Jesus’ words on that day? (25:37-39)
6.    What criterion will Christ use to judge people? (25:40)
7.    How do people usually determine whether they will be nice to somebody?
8.    How would your behavior change if you treated each person in your life as if he or she were Jesus?
9.    In what specific ways has your faith in Christ changed you?

Friday, November 11, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/13/11)

Scripture
Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV) 
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.  [15] To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.  [16] He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.  [17] So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.  [18] But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.  [19] Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  [20] And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'  [21] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'  [22] And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'  [23] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'  [24] He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,  [25] so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'  [26] But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed?  [27] Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.  [28] So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.  [29] For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.  [30] And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Questions for Reflection
1.    What are some typical images people have of God?
2.    How did the master react to the report of the first servant? (25:20-21)
3.    What was the response to the report of the second servant? (25:22-23)
4.    What excuse did the third servant give for not investing his talent? (25:24-25)
5.    How did the master respond to the third servant’s explanation? (25:26-27)
6.    With what talents or resources has God entrusted you?
7.    Besides money or material possessions, what are some resources God has placed in our care?
8.    What thoughts or attitudes cause us to be lazy in carrying out our Christian responsibilities?
9.    What are the risks of investing our gifts for God’s service?
10.  What are the rewards of investing our gifts for God’s service?
11.  In what ways can you be a “good and faithful” servant?

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/6/11)

Announcements:
1.    We will have Men’s breakfast Saturday morning at 8:00am come and join the fun.
2.    The time changes Sunday remember to set your clocks back an hour.
3.    Please be in prayer for Molly McMillan, Sandra Wilson, Suzi Kothmann, and Jennifer Kneese. They will spend this weekend ministering to women in prison in Gatesville.
4.    Laurie and I will be at Mo-Ranch through Friday.

Scripture
Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  [2] Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  [3] For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,  [4] but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.  [5] As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.  [6] But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'  [7] Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.  [8] And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  [9] But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'  [10] And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  [11] Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'  [12] But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'  [13] Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Questions for Reflection
1.    How do you react when you are made to wait?
2.    Why were some of the virgins described as “foolish”? (25:3)
3.    How did the wise virgins respond when asked to help the ones who weren’t prepared? (25:9)
4.    What did the foolish virgins discover and do when they returned? (25:11)
5.    How did the bridegroom respond when some virgins wanted to come to the wedding late? (25:12)
6.    With what warning did Jesus conclude this parable? Why? (25:13)
7.    What responsibility does each Christian have before God?
8.    Why is continual preparation for Christ’s return better than “last minute cramming”?
9.    Why do we tend to think (and act like) we have all the time in the world to get ready for Christ’s return?
10. What are the possible consequences of putting off thinking about Christ and spiritual growth until later?