Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/16/12)

Scripture
Luke 3:1-20 (ESV) 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,  [2] during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.  [3] And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  [4] As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

    "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    Prepare the way of the Lord,
        make his paths straight.
    [5] Every valley shall be filled,
         and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
    and the crooked shall become straight,
        and the rough places shall become level ways,
    [6] and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

[7] He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  [8] Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.  [9] Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

[10] And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?"  [11] And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise."  [12] Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"  [13] And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do."  [14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."

[15] As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,  [16] John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

[18] So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.  [19] But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,  [20] added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What was John’s basic message? (3:3)
2.    Where did John the Baptist carry out his ministry? (3:3)
3.    What Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled by John the Baptist? (3:4)
4.    How sensitive was John’s welcome of the crowds who came to hear him? (3:7-8)
5.    What responses did John expect from his listeners? Why? (3:8-9)
6.    What attitude did John warn the people not to have? Why? (3:8-9)
7.    How did John describe Jesus? (3:16-18)
8.    What is repentance?
9.    When John explained repentance to people, how did it relate to the work they did in life?
10. What connection is there between repentance and forgiveness?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/9/12)

Scripture
Luke 12:35-48 (ESV) 

"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,  [36] and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.  [37] Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.  [38] If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!  [39] But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.  [40] You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

[41] Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"  [42] And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?  [43] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.  [44] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.  [45] But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,  [46] the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.  [47] And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.  [48] But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

 

Questions for Reflection

1.    What is it like to wait for someone without knowing when he or she is coming?
2.    What did Jesus tell His disciples to do? (12:35)
3.    According to Jesus, what are the two traits of the one who is ready? (12:35)
4.    How long should the servants have been willing to wait? (12:38)
5.    When do important things often happen? (12:39-40)
6.    How should we act while waiting for Jesus to return?
7.    What do we learn of God’s fairness here?
8.    How much have we, individually and collectively, been given and entrusted with?
9.    How can we use wisely what God gives each of us?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/2/12)

Scripture
Luke 21:25-36 (ESV) 

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26] people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." [29] And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. [30] As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. [31] So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. [32] Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. [33] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [34] "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.  [35] For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  [36] But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Questions for Reflection
1.    What do you think of people who make predictions about the future?
2.    What do you already know about your future?
3.    For what purpose did Jesus tell the parable of the fig tree? (21:29-31)
4.    What final advice did Jesus give? (21:34-36)
5.    What does this passage teach us about the trustworthiness of Jesus’ promises?
6.    Why should we not allow our hearts to be weighed down with the anxieties of life?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/25/12)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Scripture
Psalm 100:1-5 (ESV) 
    A Psalm for giving thanks.
    Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
        [2]  Serve the Lord with gladness!
         Come into his presence with singing!
    [3] Know that the Lord, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
    [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!
    [5] For the Lord is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

Questions for Reflection
1.    When do you feel like shouting for joy or singing?
2.    When (in what situations or for what acts) do you expect a thank you or acknowledgment of a favor you’ve done?
3.    What attitude is recommended to accompany the praise of God’s people? (100:1, 4)
4.    Who is called to worship the Lord? (100:1-3)
5.    Why is the Lord worthy of praise? (100:1-5)
6.    How does the psalm writer describe the relationship God has with His followers? (100:3)
7.    What message comes through most clearly to you in this psalm?
8.    What does this psalm advise us to do?
9.    What should motivate us to worship God?

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

Scripture
James 5:13-20 (ESV) 

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. [14] Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. [19] My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,  [20] let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What are some situations in life when most people pray?
2.    What should a person do when he or she is in trouble? Why? (5:13, 15)
3.    What should a person do when he or she is happy? Why? (5:13, 15)
4.    What should a person do when he or she is sick? Why? (5:14-15)
5.    Why is prayer important? (5:15)
6.    What is the effect of a righteous person’s prayers? (5:16)
7.    What hinders Christians from praying with confidence?
8.    What hinders Christians from confessing sins and praying for each other?
9.    If we confess our sins to God, why should anyone else have to know about it?
10. What circumstances beyond our control can we affect through prayer?

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

Scripture
James 5:7-12 (ESV) 

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. [8] You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. [9] Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. [10] As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. [11] Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. [12] But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What kinds of experiences try your patience?
2.    What good things in life are worth waiting for?
3.    What do we need to do as we wait for the Lord’s return to earth? (5:7)
4.    In what ways does God help us when we must endure suffering? (5:11)
5.    How does God use others to build patience in our lives?
6.    What makes it hard to wait on God’s timing?
7.    What kind of changes does God want to make in us over an extended period of time?
8.    What does it mean to stand firm as a Christian?
9.    What lessons from Job’s experience can we apply to our lives?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/28/12)

James 5:1-6 (ESV) 

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. [2] Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. [3] Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. [4] Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. [5] You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. [6] You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Questions for Reflection
1.    How much does it take to be considered rich in your community?
2.    Whom did James address in this passage? Why? (5:1)
3.    What warning did James give to rich people? (5:1-3)
4.    What misfortune lies ahead for the wealthy? (5:1-3)
5.    Who should “weep and wail”? Why? (5:1-6)
6.    How do money and riches affect our relationship with God?
7.    What does God think about people who are rich?
8.    What problems are solved by being rich?
9.    What problems are not solved by being rich?
10. How does God want us to handle money?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/21/12)

James 4:13-17 (ESV) 

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— [14] yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. [15] Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." [16] As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. [17] So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Questions for Reflection
1.    If you knew you had just three months to live, what are some things you would want to do?
2.    Whose attention did James want to get? (4:13)
3.    What warning did James give to those who make plans for the future? (4:13-14)
4.    What is the best way to plan ahead? (4:15)
5.    What should we say when we are making plans? (4:15)
6.    What responsibility does God want us to take in planning our lives?
7.    What is the best use we can make of our lives?
8.    How can we make plans for business or living which are pleasing to God?
9.    Given how long you think you could live, how can you plan for the future with humility and faith?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/14/12)

Please be in prayer for the family of Bill Higginbotham (Barbara McGinney's Father) who went home to be with his Lord this past Tuesday night.

Scripture
James 4:1-12 (ESV) 

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? [2] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. [4] You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [5] Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? [6] But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. [11] Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.  [12] There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Questions for Reflection
1.    What do families and friends commonly fight about?
2.    What is the root cause of fights and quarrels between people? (4:1-3)
3.    Why don’t people have what they want? (4:2)
4.    Why doesn’t God give some people what they ask for? (4:3)
5.    What does friendship with the world do to our relationship with God? (4:4)
6.    When does God give us grace? (4:6)
7.    How did James describe the way we should come to God? (4:7-10)
8.    What do most people think God wants from them?
9.    What do we want from God most of the time?
10. Why do we hesitate to give our lives to God?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/7/12)

Announcements

1. We will have Men's breakfast Saturday morning at 8:00am, come and bring a friend. Menu scrambled eggs, biscuits, bacon, sausage, grits and fried potatoes

Scripture
James 3:13-18 (ESV)
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. [15] This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. [17] But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Questions for Reflection

1. What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
2. What kinds of jobs or occupations require wisdom or discernment?
3. How can a person demonstrate wisdom and understanding? (3:13)
4. What is wrong with the “wisdom” of a selfish and bitter person? (3:14-15)
5. How is a person’s character related to his or her ability to discern? (3:14-16)
6. What is the difference between earthly wisdom and God’s wisdom?
7. What life experiences increase our wisdom?
8. What are the marks of humility in a person?
9. What godly characteristics are present in our speech when we are pursuing God’s wisdom?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/30/12)

Announcements

1.    Maci Hope Murphy will be baptized Sunday and we will have a luncheon following morning worship. Please bring a side dish or a dessert  to share.

2.    As of this weekend Jim and Laurie will be residents of Cleo for the next 4 months while the manse is remodeled. If you need us please call our cell phones the manse number will be on vacation hold. Jim 325-215-9017 and Laurie 830-459-7950

 

Scripture

James 3:1-12 (ESV) 

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. [2] For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. [3] If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. [4] Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. [5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. [7] For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. [11] Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? [12] Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

 

Questions for Reflection

1.    If you could hear a tape recording of everything you said last week, what would you want to edit out?
2.    How can a person be hurt by the words of others?
3.    If a person were never at fault in what he or she said, what would that show about the person? (3:2)
4.    What is significant about the way we talk? (3:2)
5.    What similarity does a person’s tongue have to a horse’s bit, a ship’s rudder, and a spark of fire? (3:5)
6.    What are the ways we sin with our speech?
7.    Why are sins of speech often overlooked as not serious?
8.    What weaknesses in our lives does our speech often expose?
9.    In what times or places can your tongue be used for good?
10. How can you change your daily speech to reflect its importance in your life?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/23/12)

Scripture

James 2:14-26 (ESV) 

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? [17] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. [18] But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! [20] Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar  [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"— and he was called a friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. [25] And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? [26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What is the difference between someone who talks about a problem and someone who does something about the problem?
2.    What is wrong with having faith without deeds? (2:18-26)
3.    What do the demons believe about God? How does it affect them? (2:19)
4.    What did Abraham do to show his faith? (2:21-23)
5.    What made Abraham righteous? (2:23)
6.    How is being a Christian supposed to change the way we live?
7.    What is one way to tell if a person has a real, living faith?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/16/12)

Scripture
James 2:1-13 (ESV) 

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. [2] For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, [3] and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," [4] have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? [5] Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?  [6] But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? [7] Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? [8] If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. [9] But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. [10] For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. [11] For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. [12] So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. [13] For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Questions for Reflection
1.    For what reasons might a person think he or she is more important than another person?
2.    Where do you see prejudice being practiced?
3.    What practical example did James use to illustrate how favoritism was practiced in the church? (2:1-4)
4.    What does the church do to the poor person when it shows favoritism toward the rich? (2:6)
5.    What is the royal law found in Scripture? (2:8)
6.    What does practicing favoritism do to a person who is trying to keep the law? (2:9)
7.    By what standards should a person speak and act? (2:12)
8.    In what ways have you been a victim of favoritism or prejudice?
9.    How have you shown favoritism or prejudice toward other people?
10. Why do we often treat rich people as more important than poor people?
11. How do we use physical appearance, job status, and athletic ability to show favoritism toward people?
12. How can we welcome poor people in our church?
13. Why does God have a special concern for poor people?
14. In what practical ways can we show genuine love to people of different races, cultures, and economic standing?
15. Why is favoritism or prejudice often overlooked as a sin?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/9/12)

Sunday School Kick Off Breakfast
Sunday @ 9:45am - Please bring a breakfast dish to share.

Scripture
James 1:19-27 (ESV) 

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. [21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. [22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. [24] For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. [25] But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. [26] If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Questions for Reflection
1.    How does it affect you when a person is caught doing what he or she tells others not to do?
2.    What instruction did James give about the relationship between speaking, listening, and anger? (1:19)
3.    What is the relationship between listening to God’s Word and doing it? (1:22)
4.    What analogy did James use to describe a person who does not do what the Bible says? (1:23-24)
5.    What makes it hard for us to be good listeners?
6.    How can being quick to speak and quick to anger get you into trouble?
7.    How do displays of anger and temper affect the witness of a Christian?
8.    What attitudes and habits can inhibit our growth as disciples of Christ?
9.    What makes it hard for us to practice what we know to be good?
10.  How does our speech reflect our relationship with God?