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Monday, November 26, 2012

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?

Friday, November 9, 2012

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?

Monday, November 5, 2012

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?