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Friday, December 9, 2011

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

Announcements:
1.    Dress rehearsal and lunch for those taking part in the Christmas Play will follow morning worship.
2.    Community Christmas Cantata Sunday December 11th 6pm at First United Methodist Church
3.    Our Church Family Christmas Breakfast is December 18th at 9:45. Please bring a breakfast dish to share.
4.    The Christmas Play is next Sunday during morning worship.
5.    Also during our morning worship on the 18th Hilario and Courtney Cantu will reaffirm their wedding vows.

Scripture
Mark 2:1-12
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. [2] So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. [3] Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. [4] Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. [5] When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

[6] Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, [7] "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

[8] Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? [9] Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? [10] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." He said to the paralytic, [11] "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." [12] He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Questions for Reflection
1.    What dilemma did the paralytic man and his friends face? (2:2-4)
2.    What do the details of the story tell you about the paralytic man, his friends, and Jesus’ reputation? (2:3-4)
3.    What motivated Jesus to respond to the paralytic man’s plight? (2:5)
4.    What connection is there between a person’s faith and God’s working in his or her life?
5.    What does God require or not require to forgive us of our sins?
6.    How would you compare Jesus’ response in this story to the Pharisees’ attitudes?
7.    What does this story tell you is the difference between true spirituality and counterfeit spirituality?

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/4/11)

Announcements and Prayer Concerns
1.    Pastor Jackson Boyett and his wife were killed Tuesday in a head-on collision in Austin.  Formerly of Telegraph and Junction, he was the pastor of Dayspring Fellowship in Austin since its founding.  They had no close family surviving. Please pray for the congregation of Dayspring Fellowship.
2.    We will have men’s breakfast Saturday at 8:00am

Scripture
Mark 1:1-8 1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Questions for Reflection
1.    How would you prepare for a home visit from your boss or another important person?
2.    Who sent the messenger? Why? (1:2-3)
3.    What were the two aspects of John’s ministry? (1:4)
4.    What reasons to be baptized did John give the people? (1:4)
5.    What was the theme of John’s message? (1:7-8)
6.    What is your reaction to the fact that Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled?
7.    How can we ensure that our lives focus attention on Christ, and not on ourselves?
8.    In what ways can you prepare others for Christ?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/27/11)

Announcements:
Our Advent Bible Study begins Monday @ 6:00pm in the fellowship hall.

Scripture:
Mark 14:24-37 (ESV) 
And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  [25] Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
[26] And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  [27] And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'  [28] But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."  [29] Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not."  [30] And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."  [31] But he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same.
[32] And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."  [33] And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.  [34] And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch."  [35] And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  [36] And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."  [37] And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 

Questions for Reflection
1.    How have your friends helped you through difficult times in your life?
2.    What is it like to have a friend let you down when you really need support?
3.    Who has been a faithful friend to you during difficult times in your life?
4.    Why do you think Jesus chose three disciples to pray with Him?
5.    What does the fact that God did not grant Jesus’ request teach us about prayer?
6.    How does this passage encourage you to react when you feel distressed or troubled?
7.    What about Christ’s humanity can we learn from this event in His life?
8.    How can we trust God with our extremely difficult circumstances?
9.    What does it mean to “watch and pray”?
10. How can we prevent ourselves from falling into temptation?