Come and See!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/22/13)

  • Please be in prayer for the family of LeeAnn Crumbley
  • Our Christmas Eve candlelight communion service will be Tuesday at 6:00pm
Scripture Reading
Luke 2:8-20
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10] And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

[15] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." [16] And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. [17] And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. [18] And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. [19] But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Questions for Reflection
  1. What do you imagine angels look like?
  2. What message did the angel tell the shepherds? (2:10, 12)
  3. Who did the angel say the newborn child really was? (2:11)
  4. By what symbol or sign were the shepherds supposed to identify the Christ child? (2:12)
  5. How many angels did the shepherds hear praising God? (2:13)
  6. What was the immediate reaction of the shepherds after the angels left? (2:15)
  7. What should be our response when we discover what God wants us to do?
  8. What does it mean that Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart”?
  9. Of what significance is it that the shepherds went back to their flocks?
  10. What is the responsibility of those who “discover” the good news about Jesus?

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Announcements, Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/8/13)

Announcements
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  1. Why do people enjoy boasting about themselves and their accomplishments?
  2. Why is it hard to be humble?
  3. What are the characteristics of a humble person?
  4. What did John say about who he was? (1:20-22)
  5. What does the phrase “make straight the way for the Lord” mean? (1:23)
  6. How did John “make straight the way for the Lord”? (1:23)
  7. Why did the Pharisees care that John was baptizing people? (1:24)
  8. Who did John say was coming after him? (12:27)
  9. How can we point others to Christ?
  10.  If you had been John how would you have felt about your role?
  11.  In what way can you be a voice for Jesus?