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Friday, September 26, 2014

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/28/14) ~ Baptism Sunday evening

This Sunday at 4:00 PM we will gather on Curt and Jennifer Kneese's river bank to celebrate the sacrament of baptism for 1 adult, Joey Freeman, and 3 youth, Grayson Bannowsky, Chet and Chainey Weitz. Please come join us.  We will have a reception following if you would like to please bring some cookies to share.

Scripture
Exodus 14:10-14 (ESV)  
When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. [11] They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? [12] Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." [13] And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. [14] The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." 

Exodus 14:21-31 (ESV)  
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.  [22] And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. [23] The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. [24] And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, [25] clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians." 
[26] Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen." [27] So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. [28] The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. [29] But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 
[30] Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. [31] Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. 

Questions for Reflection
1. What did the Israelites cry to Moses when the Egyptians came after them? (14:10-12)
2. How did Moses respond when the Egyptians were bearing down on the Israelites? (14:13-14)
3. What miraculous events took place at the Red Sea? (14:21-31)
4. How do you think Moses felt when God gave him specific directions?
5. How is it hard to follow God when we know He wants to direct us to safety?
6. How do you imagine God felt when the Israelites cried to return to Egypt?
7. How is listening to God tied to our safety and protection?
8. What might the Israelites have felt about their bad attitudes after God rescued them?
9. How can bad attitudes and not listening to God get us in trouble?
10. What do we have to do to be obedient to God even when we don’t feel like it?
11. How has God performed amazing “Red Sea” miracles in your life?

Friday, September 19, 2014

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/21/14)

Scripture
Genesis 39:1-23 (ESV)  
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. [2] The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. [3] His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. [4] So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. [5] From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. [6] So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. [7] And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Lie with me." [8] But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. [9] He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" [10] And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. 
[11] But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, [12] she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. [13] And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, [14] she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. [15] And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house." [16] Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, [17] and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. [18] But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house." 
[19] As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. [20] And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. [21] But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. [22] And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. [23] The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. 

Questions for Reflection
1. What’s your favorite example of “an offer you can’t refuse”?
2. Who were the main people in these events, and what kind of people were they? (39:1-40:23)
3. What did Potiphar observe about Joseph, and what did he do as a result? (39:2-6)
4. What did Potiphar’s wife ask Joseph to do, and what was his response? (39:7-12)
5. How did Potiphar’s wife react when Joseph refused her? (39:13-18)
6. How did Potiphar respond to his wife’s story? (39:19-20)
7. Why is it difficult to trust God when bad things happen?
8. How did Joseph make the most of the bad situations in which he found himself?
9. How can we honor God in our employment?
10. How do you respond when you are mistreated by another person?
11. What attitude do we need when our situation seems hopeless?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/14/14)

Scripture
Matthew 18:21-35 (ESV)  
Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" [22] Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. [23] "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. [24] When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. [25] And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' [27] And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' [29] So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' [30] He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. [31] When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. [32] Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. [33] And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' [34] And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. [35] So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Questions for Reflection
1. What makes forgiveness difficult?
2. What acts of mercy have you seen or heard about recently?
3. What are some situations others have faced that you would find difficult to forgive?
4. How did the king graciously respond to the indebted servant’s desperate plea? (18:27)
5. What did the servant go do after his debt was cancelled? (18:28)
6. How likely are we to forgive someone once, twice, or even three times?
7. In what ways has God shown mercy in forgiving our sins?
8. If God is so willing to forgive us, why are we sometimes unwilling to forgive others?
9. How do we sometimes forgive with strings attached?
10. What should we do if we don’t feel like forgiving others?

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

September 2014 Newsletter

Click on the link to view the newsletter...

September 2014 Newsletter

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/7/14)

Men of the Church Breakfast – Saturday, Sept 6th ~ 8 AM.

Sunday School Kick-off Breakfast on Sunday, Sept 7th ~ gather at 9:45, eat at 10:00 AM.

Scripture
Romans 14:1-12 (ESV)  
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. [2] One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. [3] Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. [4] Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. [5] One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. [6] The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. [7] For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. [8] If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. [10] Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; [11] for it is written,
    "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
        and every tongue shall confess to God."
[12] So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:17-22 (ESV)  
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. [19] So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. [20] Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. [21] It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. [22] The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.  

Questions for Reflection
1. When have you refused to eat something that was put before you?
2. What reasons did Paul give for not judging people on disputable matters? (14:1-12)
3. What issues did Paul believe were not worth fighting over? (13:2, 5)
4. What should be the primary motivation for a person’s decision to eat meat or celebrate a sacred day? (13:6-8)
5. What will each person do when standing before God’s judgment seat? (14:12)
6. What is a Christian’s responsibility for building peace among the other believers? (14:19-21)
7. How should concern for other believers affect our personal choices? (14:21)
8. What responsibility do you have to be a good example for others?
9. What practice would you be willing to give up if it proved to be a bad influence on others?