Come and See!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (3/18/12)

The presence of Jesus is sufficient to conquer our fears!

Scripture
Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV) 
A Psalm of David
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Luke 8:22-25 (ESV) 
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they set out, [23] and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. [24] And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. [25] He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?"

Questions for Reflection
  1. What is it like to fear for your physical safety?
  2. How do you react to someone else’s utter calm when all you feel is panic?
  3. How did Jesus react to the growing storm? (8:23)
  4. What did the disciples think of the turn of events? (8:24)
  5. How and how quickly did the situation change? (8:24)
  6. After the storm was calmed, what did Jesus ask the disciples? (8:25)
  7. What is faith?
  8. If you had been in the boat that day, would you have been more like Jesus or like the disciples? Why?
  9. Would you have been reassured or angered by Jesus’ calmness?
  10. How would you respond if Jesus asked you, “Where is your faith?”

Friday, March 9, 2012

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (3/11/12)

Scripture
Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

John 10:1-10
"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. [2] The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. [3] The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. [5] But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." [6] Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

[7] Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. [8] All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. [9] I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What motivates God to guide His people? (23:3)
2.    How has the Lord guided you through difficult times?
3.    What did Jesus say He was? (10:7)
4.    To whom did Jesus say the sheep did not listen? (10:8)
5.    What did Jesus say would be the result of entering through Him? (10:9)
6.    How did Jesus contrast His coming with the coming of a thief? (10:10)
7.    In what way is Jesus like a gate?
8.    How has Jesus been a gate in your life?
9.    In what way is Jesus like a shepherd?
10.  How are we like sheep?
11.  In what way is Jesus your shepherd?
12.  How would you describe your relationship with Jesus?
13.  What tempts people to follow a stranger? Why?
14.  How can we better hear the voice of Jesus?

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (3/4/12)

Announcements:
1.    Saturday morning Men’s Breakfast at 8:00am. The menu will be scrambled eggs, biscuits, cream gravy, bacon, sausage, grits and fried potatoes. Bring a friend we are cooking a bunch.
2.    Sunday evening at 5:30 we will have a potluck dinner and a hymn sing in the fellowship hall. Come with your voices ready and your favorite hymns in mind.
3.    Don’t forget that the St. Jude’s Basketball tournament is going on this weekend.

Scripture
Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [26] Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
[27] "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
[28] "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Questions
1.    If you had one week of vacation in which to recharge your physical and emotional batteries, where would you go to rest, relax, and get rejuvenated?
2.    What promise did Jesus make to those who would accept His offer? (11:28)
3.    In what ways does God “restore our souls”?
4.    In your eyes, what about Christ seems so obvious that everyone ought to be able to see it?
5.    In what ways do you feel weary and burdened right now?
6.    What aspects of the Christian life do you find especially taxing or burdensome?
7.    What is it like to experience the promised “rest” of Christ?