Come and See!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (5/29/11)

Scripture
Acts 8:26-40 (ESV)
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place. [27] And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship [28] and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. [29] And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." [30] So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" [31] And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. [32] Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
[33] In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth."

[34] And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" [35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. [36] And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?" [37] And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." [38] And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. [39] And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. [40] But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Questions to Reflect Upon
1. What reading material do you find difficult to understand?
2. What did the angel tell Philip to do? (8:26)
3. Whom did Philip meet on the desert road? (8:27)
4. What was the eunuch’s problem? (8:28-34)
5. How did believing in Christ affect the eunuch? (8:39)
6. What was the eunuch’s attitude as he went on his way? (8:39)
7. How does the Holy Spirit lead us?
8. When has the Holy Spirit led you to speak to someone?
9. How does God use us to take the message of Christ to others?
10. When was the last time you explained the Scriptures to someone else?
11. What fears prevent us from telling others about Christ?
12. What barriers prevent us from helping others understand the message of Christ?

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (5/22/11)

Announcements:

1. Angela Ervin putting together a bake sale for the Junction Fire Department next Saturday May 28th from 8-12 noon. If anyone wants to help or donate baked goods, please contact her at 446-6124.

Scripture:
Psalm 31:1-24 (ESV)
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! [2] Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! [3] For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; [4] you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. [5] Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. [6] I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. [7] I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, [8] and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. [9] Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. [10] For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. [11] Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. [12] I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. [13] For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. [14] But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." [15] My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! [16] Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! [17] O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. [18] Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. [19] Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! [20] In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. [21] Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. [22] I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. [23] Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. [24] Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

Questions to Reflect Upon:
1. To you, what’s the best example of strength?
2. Whom would you describe as a strong person? Why?
3. Why did David appeal to the Lord for help? (31:1-5)
4. How did David describe the Lord in this passage? (31:2-5, 16, 19-24)
5. How is the Christian view of strength different from the world’s?
6. When have you felt the same emotions that David describes in this psalm?
7. When is it most difficult for you to trust in the Lord?
8. How can we demonstrate our trust in the Lord during difficult times?
9. What does it mean to follow David’s instructions to “be strong and take heart”
10. What do you want to remember the next time you feel overwhelmed or overstressed?

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (5/15/11)

Announcement
Kimble County Residents Honor Our Own Heroes Sunday, May 15, 2011, 1:00 - 3:00 PM Courthouse Lawn Bring a dessert, ice cream or watermelon and your lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. This is a great opportunity to say "THANK YOU!" all together as a group to those who fought the Oasis Wildfire.

Scripture
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Questions to Reflect Upon
  1. What possessions do you have that you enjoy sharing with others?
  2. Which of your belongings would you not want to share with anyone else? Why?
  3. What were the activities of the early church? (2:42)
  4. Why might the early Christians have had “everything in common”? (2:44)
  5. What were the early believers actually doing when they “broke bread”?
  6. When do you most enjoy spending time with other believers?
  7. How is the celebration of Communion meaningful to you?

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (5/8/11)

Announcements

1.    Laurie and I are leaving town today at noon for a meeting of the Synod of the Sun. This includes all of the presbyteries in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. We will return Saturday evening.
2.    Today (Thursday, May 5, 2011), the National Day of Prayer is being observed at City Hall on Main Street at 12 noon under the shade trees. The purpose is to join with government leaders and people in communities all around the country to lift our needs and concerns for America before the Lord. All members of the community are encouraged to come and participate in this time of prayer. Please pass the word to your friends and neighbors.
3.    Men's Breakfast will be this Saturday morning at 8 AM!

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35 (ESV) 
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. [16] But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. [18] Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" [19] And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. [21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. [22] Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, [23] and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. [24] Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." [25] And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
[28] So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, [29] but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. [31] And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. [32] They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" [33] And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [34] saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Questions to Reflect Upon

1.    When have you ever suddenly understood a truth that had earlier confused you?
2.    What is it like to have an event turn out differently than you had expected?
3.    How had the events of the last few days crushed the expectations of the two men talking with Jesus? (24:21)
4.    What did the men recall after they reflected on their conversation with Jesus? (24:32)
5.    How did these men respond to their encounter with Jesus? (24:33-35)
6.    Why are we so often “slow of heart to believe”?
7.    What great truths has God taught you that you failed to understand at first?
8.    What could you do in the future to prevent yourself from failing to recognize God’s voice?