- No Men's Breakfast Saturday. This is from Ted Sandlin: The outlook for the weather this weekend is poor, according to the NWS conference call this afternoon. Plunging temperatures Thursday night along with freezing rain are projected for our area, with accumulation of 1/4". Temperatures should be in the 20's, so not only will overpasses freeze, but most exposed roadway surfaces will accumulate ice, along with trees and power lines. Conditions will persist through late Friday/early Saturday, with a break in the weather and slightly warmer temperatures late Saturday. A new round of cold temperatures will occur Sunday and last into early next week. The weather guys said this air mass is the coldest they have seen in several years; much worse conditions than our last round of winter weather.
- Check Out FPC Shirts, T-shirts and Other Fun Items for Sale!! We have had catalogs printed that have all sorts of items for sale to raise money for the mission trip this summer. In them your will find, T-shirts, button down shirts – both short and long sleeve, sweat shirts and pants, a fleece jacket, a stadium blanket, iphone cover and a hat. T-shirts and sweatshirts come in youth sizes as well. All items have either FPC Junction and/or the Presbyterian cross on them. If you are interested, there are copies of the catalog in the sanctuary, hallway and in the office. Also, most of the youth will have one as well. Take a look and see if anything interests you. For every individual item we sell, we get to keep $4-$9 depending on how many total items…the more we sell, the more we get to keep. We did this several years ago and the items we received them were of very good quality. All orders must be received by December 17th (a week later than what is printed on the catalog)! Payment is due at the time you place your order. Unfortunately, they will not be processed in time to arrive before Christmas. Call or come by the office during the week or check out the catalog the next two Sundays. This will be a fun and stylist way to support our Mission Team and spread the news of our congregation to other folks. We thank you for considering to support our work.
- Advent Bible Study Wednesdays at noon starting today. Laurie will be leading today's lesson. I will be going to make a hospital visit in San Antonio.
Scripture for Sunday
John 1:1-8 (ESV)
In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the
beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was
not anything made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the
light of men. 5] The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [6] There was a man sent from
God, whose name was John. [7] He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light,
that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear
witness about the light.
John 1:19-28 (ESV)
And this is the
testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask
him, "Who are you?" [20] He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed,
"I am not the Christ." [21] And they asked him, "What then? Are
you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the
Prophet?" And he answered, "No." [22] So they said to him,
"Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you
say about yourself?" [23] He said, "I am the voice of one crying out
in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah
said." [24] (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) [25] They asked
him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor
Elijah, nor the Prophet?" [26] John answered them, "I baptize with
water, but among you stands one you do not know, [27] even he who comes after
me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." [28] These things
took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Questions for Reflection
- Why do people enjoy boasting about themselves and their accomplishments?
- Why is it hard to be humble?
- What are the characteristics of a humble person?
- What did John say about who he was? (1:20-22)
- What does the phrase “make straight the way for the Lord” mean? (1:23)
- How did John “make straight the way for the Lord”? (1:23)
- Why did the Pharisees care that John was baptizing people? (1:24)
- Who did John say was coming after him? (12:27)
- How can we point others to Christ?
- If you had been John how would you have felt about your role?
- In what way can you be a voice for Jesus?
