Come and See!

Friday, July 24, 2015

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (7/26/15)


  • Tomorrow Morning (Saturday July 25th) at 8:00 AM a group of us are going to cut up and haul off the tree that has fallen by the main parking lot. If you would like to help please come.
  • Vacation Bible School is July 28-30 6-8 PM each evening, please Contact Zee Wootan if you are willing to help.
  • The family of Thelma Kinnard would like to invite you to celebrate her 90th birthday on August 1, 2015 from 2:00-5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall at the First Baptist Church.  ALL ARE WELCOME!
  • We will have Men's Breakfast Saturday August 1st 8:00am
Scripture

Acts 25:1-12 (ESV)  
Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. [2] And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, [3] asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. [4] Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. [5] "So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him." 
[6] After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. [7] When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. [8] Paul argued in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense." [9] But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?" [10] But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourselves know very well. [11] If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar." [12] Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go." 

Questions for Reflection
1. What did the Jewish leaders want? (25:2)
2. Why did the leaders want Paul transferred from Caesarea to Jerusalem? (25:3)
3. How did Festus reply to the request to transfer Paul? (25:4-5)
4. In what way did Paul’s enemies try to manipulate circumstances to serve their own ends?
5. What made Festus appear to be a fair ruler?
6. When have you been called on to defend yourself?
7. What was Paul’s style in communicating to the court?
8. How do you express yourself when you are on the defensive?

Monday, July 13, 2015

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (7/12/15)

The youth of the church are leaving for Fun In the Sun in South Padre Sunday and we will return on Friday July 17th.

Vacation Bible School is July 28-30 6-8 pm each evening.  Please Contact Zee Wootan if you are willing to help.

Scripture
Acts 23:1-11 (ESV)  
And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day." [2] And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. [3] Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?" [4] Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high priest?" [5] And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.' " 
[6] Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial." [7] And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. [8] For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. [9] Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?" [10] And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. 
[11] The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome." 

Questions for Reflection
1. When was the last time you had to deal with an overbearing person?
2. When you’ve just about had it, how do you express your anger?
3. When was the last time you said something that caused misunderstanding or conflict?
4. How did those standing nearby challenge Paul? (23:4)
5. Why did Paul respond the way he did to the challenge? (23:5)
6. How did Paul disrupt the proceedings? (23:6-9)
7. Why did the high priest react so strongly to Paul’s statement about fulfilling his duty to God?
8. Why would Paul have needed the Lord’s support and comfort?
9. When do you often need the Lord’s support?
10. When you feel attacked or discouraged, how can you draw encouragement from the Lord?

Thursday, July 2, 2015

July 2015 Newsletter

Click on the link to view this month's newsletter.

July 2015 Newsletter

Have a Happy 4th of July!!
Carmen