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Friday, September 30, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/2/11)

Announcements:
1.    The men of the church will have breakfast Saturday morning at 8:00am.
2.    Don’t forget that we have Sunday School for all ages every Sunday morning at 9:45.

Scripture
Exodus 20:1-20 (ESV)
And God spoke all these words, saying,
[2] "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  [3] "You shall have no other gods before me.  [4] "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  [5] You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,  [6] but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. [7] "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.  [8] "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  [9] Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,  [10] but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.  [11] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.  [12] "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.  [13] "You shall not murder.  [14] "You shall not commit adultery.  [15] "You shall not steal.  [16] "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  [17] "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's." [18] Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off  [19] and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die."  [20] Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin." 

Questions for Reflection
1.    How do you feel when you tell someone something and he or she completely ignores what you say?
2.    Why do governments establish laws and policies?
3.    To whom does God express His love? (20:6)
4.    Why was God so specific in giving the Law?
5.    How do you think God feels when we worship things other than Him?
6.    Why does God not want us to commit sins against Him and others?
7.    What people, things, and other loyalties sometimes captivate your attention more than God?
8.    How do we put space between us and God?
9.    Why is it important to honor and respect God when we come to Him in worship?

Friday, September 23, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/25/11)

Scripture:
Acts 11:1-18 (ESV) 
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. [2] So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, [3] "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them." [4] But Peter began and explained it to them in order: [5] "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. [6] Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. [7] And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' [8] But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' [9] But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.' [10] This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. [11] And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. [12] And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. [13] And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; [14] he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.' [15] As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. [16] And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' [17] If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?" [18] When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."

Questions for Reflection
1.    What did the apostles and Christians in Judea hear? (11:1)
2.    When Peter went to Jerusalem, who criticized him? (11:2)
3.    Who were the “circumcised believers”? (11:2)
4.    Why did the circumcised believers imply that it was wrong for Peter to eat with Gentiles? (11:3)
5.    How did Peter explain his actions? (11:4-17)
6.    How did Peter’s argument prove convincing? (11:18)
7.    How did Peter’s step of including non-Jews affect the church? (11:18)
8.    How was the criticism against Peter helpful to the church?
9.    Whom do you find “unacceptable”?
10.  What principle of accepting others do you want to copy from Peter’s example?

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Dude Jarvis

Surrounded by family, friends and God’s love, Kennon “Dude” Beasley Jarvis passed away Tuesday evening, Sept. 6, 2011, in Austin, Texas.
A memorial service celebrating Dude’s life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Junction on Saturday September 10, 2011 at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the First Presbyterian Church in Junction, Nurses of Kimble County, or a charity of your choice.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/4/11)

Announcements:
1.    Men’s Breakfast Tomorrow morning (Saturday, September 3rd) 8:00am.
Menu: Scrambled eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Biscuits and Grits
2.    Tony Morales funeral will be Saturday at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church Junction.  Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 8 PM at Kimble Funeral Home.

Scripture
Matthew 18:15-20
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  [16] But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  [19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  [20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Questions for Reflection
1.    What societal forces work to divide families, friendships, and churches?
2.    What did Jesus set forth as the first step in resolving conflict? (18:15)
3.    What positive consequences can result from resolving conflict? (18:15)
4.    Why is it best to resolve conflicts in private?
5.    What attitudes can eliminate or help reduce friction in disagreements?
6.    How can a third party help resolve a conflict?
7.    If Christ is with us always (Matthew 28:20), in what unique way is He with us when we gather in His name?
8.    Why is praying in a group a good idea?