Come and See!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (6/19/11)

Announcements:
Tony Huerta went home to be with his Lord yesterday after a long fight with cancer. Please be in prayer for his family.

The countywide Women's Conference to be held on Friday and Saturday, June 24 & 25 at First Baptist Church Junction.  More information and tickets can be found in the church office.

Scripture
John 3:1-17
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Questions to Reflect Upon
1.    When have you felt like you wanted to start life all over again?
2.    What is required to enter the kingdom of God? (3:5-6)
3.    How did Jesus compare the wind to the Spirit? (3:8)
4.    What is the result of believing in the Son of Man? (3:15, 18)
5.    How did God demonstrate His love for the world? (3:16)
6.    Why did God send His Son into the world? (3:17)
7.    How would you describe what it means to be born again to someone?
8.    What were some of the circumstances that led you to Jesus?
9.    What were some of the things that caused you to believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
10.  How does God’s gift of His Son affect our lives?

Friday, June 10, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (6/12/11)

Scripture
Acts 2:1-21 (ESV)
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. [2] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. [3] And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. [5] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. [6] And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. [7] And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? [9] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, [11] both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." [12] And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" [13] But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." [14] But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. [15] For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. [16] But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: [17] " 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; [18] even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. [19] And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; [20] the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. [21] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

Questions for Reflection
1. What was celebrated on the day of Pentecost? (2:1)
2. What group of people was gathered together? (2:1)
3. When the Holy Spirit filled the believers, what did they do? (2:4)
4. How did the God-fearing Jews visiting Jerusalem react when they heard Christians speaking their languages? (2:6-11)
5. Besides being amazed, how did the crowd react to the unusual happening they witnessed? (2:12-13)
6. If you saw the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, how do you think you would have responded? Why?
7. How does God use us to witness to others?
8. When has God enabled you to do something that you didn’t think you could do?
9. How can you be more open to seeing, hearing, and feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit in your prayer and Bible reading?

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (6/5/11)

Announcements

1. Men’s breakfast at 8:00am this month we invite the women of the church to join us. There will be a group washing windows after breakfast.
2. Middle School and High School youth are invited to go to Six Flags Fiesta Texas Wednesday July 6th. We will leave the church parking lot at 9:00am and will return at 9:00pm. Cost will be $25.00 per person. My newsletter article said June 8th but July 6th is the correct date.

Scripture
Acts 1:1-12 (ESV)
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, [2] until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. [3] To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. [4] And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; [5] for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." [6] So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" [7] He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. [8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." [9] And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. [10] And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, [11] and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." [12] Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.

Questions to Reflect Upon
1. If you could take a trip somewhere far away, where would you go?
2. What kind of reading material would you take along on a lengthy trip away from home?
3. What gift did Jesus promise to the apostles? (1:4-5)
4. What did the apostles misunderstand? (1:6)
5. How did Jesus answer the apostles’ question? (1:7-8)
6. What task did Jesus assign the apostles? (1:8)
7. When is a time you wanted to move on from a location, job, or difficult relationship but were held back by God’s leading?
8. How do we know when the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives?
9. What specific means (abilities, opportunities, relationships) has God given you to carry out the task of being His witness?