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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/26/14)

Sunday January 26th following our annual congregational meeting we will have a covered dish luncheon to honor and say thank you to Nancy Nunns and Edith Allen for their many years of service to this congregation.

Scripture
Matthew 4:12-23
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Questions for Reflection

  1. If you could pass on some skill or knowledge to an apprentice, what would you want to pass on?
  2. What kind of leader do you prefer to follow?
  3. What were Simon and Andrew doing when Jesus approached them? (4:18)
  4. What exactly did Jesus say to Simon and Andrew? (4:19)
  5. How long did Simon and Andrew deliberate over Jesus’ offer? (4:20)
  6. What does it mean to be a “fisher of men”?
  7. How risky was it for Peter, Andrew, James, and John to drop everything (jobs and families) to go with Jesus?
  8. What thoughts do you think were racing through their minds as they headed off down the beach with Jesus?
  9. How do you think you might have responded had you been fishing with these men and heard Jesus direct this challenge to you?

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/19/14)

On Sunday, January 26th, following our annual congregational meeting, we will have a covered dish luncheon to honor and say thank you to Nancy Nunns and Edith Allen for their many years of service to this congregation.

Please be in prayer for Jay Johnson, Jodi Murphy and their families on the loss of their father Steve Johnson. Also, Jean Garrison, Becky Stapper's mother, has been put on hospice.

Scripture
Psalm 139:1-24 (ESV)  
    To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
    O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
    [2] You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
        you discern my thoughts from afar.
    [3] You search out my path and my lying down
        and are acquainted with all my ways.
    [4] Even before a word is on my tongue,
        behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
    [5] You hem me in, behind and before,
        and lay your hand upon me.
    [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
        it is high; I cannot attain it.
    [7] Where shall I go from your Spirit?
        Or where shall I flee from your presence?
    [8] If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
         If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
    [9] If I take the wings of the morning
        and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
    [10] even there your hand shall lead me,
        and your right hand shall hold me.
    [11] If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
        and the light about me be night,"
    [12] even the darkness is not dark to you;
        the night is bright as the day,
        for darkness is as light with you.
    [13] For you formed my inward parts;
        you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
    [14] I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
     Wonderful are your works;
        my soul knows it very well.
    [15] My frame was not hidden from you,
    when I was being made in secret,
        intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
    [16] Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
    in your book were written, every one of them,
        the days that were formed for me,
        when as yet there were none of them.
    [17] How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
        How vast is the sum of them!
    [18] If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
        I awake, and I am still with you.
    [19] Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
        O men of blood, depart from me!
    [20] They speak against you with malicious intent;
        your enemies take your name in vain!
    [21] Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
        And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
    [22] I hate them with complete hatred;
        I count them my enemies.
    [23] Search me, O God, and know my heart!
         Try me and know my thoughts!
    [24] And see if there be any grievous way in me,
        and lead me in the way everlasting!

Questions for Reflection
1. What is something about you or your personality that is totally unique?
2. How did David describe God’s knowledge of him? (139:1-6)
3. What main prayer request is presented to the Lord in this psalm? (139:1-24)
4. What attitude did David have toward himself and the Lord? Why? (139:1-24)
5. Why did God know David so well? (139:13-15)
6. Why did David want the Lord to examine his heart? (139:23-24)
7. In light of this passage, what attitude should we have toward ourselves? toward the Lord?
8. In what area of your life do you desire God’s leading?

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/12/14)

Scripture
Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV)  
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" [15] But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; [17] and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Questions for Reflection

  1. How would you feel if the world’s leading, most renowned expert in your field publicly solicited your help?
  2. How did John react to Jesus’ request? (3:14)
  3. How did Jesus respond to John’s reluctance? (3:15)
  4. How did the Spirit of God play a role in the baptism of Jesus? (3:16)
  5. Why do you think John felt awkward about baptizing Jesus?
  6. What do we tell the world by being baptized?
  7. What could you do today for Christ out of obedience and respect for Him?


Friday, January 3, 2014

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/5/14)

Don't forget that we are having men's breakfast tomorrow morning. Come and join us.

Scripture for Sunday
John 1:1 (ESV) 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

John 1:10-18 (ESV) 
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. [11] He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [15] ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.' ") [16] And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Questions for Reflection
  1.  Why didn’t the world recognize the light? (1:10)
  2. What is the benefit of receiving or believing in the Word? (1:12)
  3. How and why did the Word make His dwelling among us? (1:14)
  4. Whose glory did the Word reveal? (1:14)
  5. What insights can you gain from seeing Jesus as God’s Word?
  6. How did Jesus reveal God’s glory to us?
  7. What will you do this week to better enjoy your status as a child of God?