Come and See!

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/31/16)

Scripture
Mark 6:1-13 (ESV)  
He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.  [2] And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? [3] Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. [4] And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." [5] And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. [6] And he marveled because of their unbelief.
And he went about among the villages teaching.[7] And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. [8] He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— [9] but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. [10] And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. [11] And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." [12] So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. [13] And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. 

Questions for Reflection

  1. What does the cliche “Familiarity breeds contempt” mean?
  2. Why did the people of Nazareth react negatively to Jesus’ visit? (6:2-3)
  3. Why did the people of Nazareth talk among themselves about Jesus’ family background? (6:3)
  4. What did Jesus say to the people who scoffed at Him? (6:4)
  5. What did Jesus do in Nazareth? (6:5)
  6. What prevented Jesus from doing more than a few miracles in Nazareth? (6:5-6)
  7. What can we do to prevent ourselves from having the same lack of faith that the people in Nazareth had?
  8. In what ways do you think we prevent Jesus from working miraculously in our own lives?

Announcements!!


  • Funeral services for Dorliska Rolston, (Hazel Mansfield's sister), will be tomorrow (1/29/16) at 2:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Rock Springs. Rev. Lewis Allen will be officiating.
  • Youth Group Sunday Evening (1/31/16) we will be going to Roosevelt for worship. Please meet at the church at 5:30.  We will return by 7.  Eat before you come, no dinner will be provided.
  • Souper Bowl Sunday will be February 7th.  Please bring canned soup for our local food bank.
  • Sunday, February 14th at 6 pm we will be having an Italian-themed Covered Dish Dinner and will host mission co-workers Charles and Melissa Johnson of San Antonio. They will give a presentation on their upcoming trip to Africa.


Friday, January 22, 2016

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/24/16)

Presbyterian Youth Fellowship will meet Sunday, 5:30 to 7 PM. Dinner will be provided.
Kids for Christ will resume meeting Tuesday January 26th 3:30 to 5 PM.

Scripture 
Mark 5:21-43 (ESV)  
And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea.  [22] Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet [23] and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live."  [24] And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.  [25] And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years,  [26] and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.  [27] She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.  [28] For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well."  [29] And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.  [30] And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my garments?"  [31] And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?' "  [32] And he looked around to see who had done it.  [33] But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.  [34] And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." 
[35] While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"  [36] But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."  [37] And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.  [38] They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.  [39] And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping."  [40] And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.  [41] Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  [42] And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.  [43] And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. 

Questions for Reflection

  1. When has the Lord ever healed you or someone you knew?
  2. What connection is there between a person’s faith and whether God heals him or her of a sickness?
  3. How does Jesus’ treatment of the sick woman and Jairus offer comfort to us today?
  4. Why do you think the bleeding woman was afraid to admit she was the one who had touched Jesus?
  5. When have you ever felt afraid of God, like the woman who touched Jesus?
  6. In what way is it good for a person to be afraid of God?
  7. In what way do we need to feel that God is approachable?
  8. In what situations do you need God’s help?

Friday, January 15, 2016

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/17/16)

Announcements

  • We will have our annual congregational meeting Sunday following worship. We will hear reports from the pastors, clerk of session and the treasurer.
  • Presbyterian Youth Fellowship will resume meeting Sunday January 17th 5:30 to 7. Dinner will be provided.
  • Kids for Christ will resume meeting Tuesday January 26th 3:30 to 5.
  • Our 1st Session meeting of the year will be Tuesday January 19th.

Scripture for Sunday
Mark 4:3-20 (ESV)  
"Listen! A sower went out to sow.  [4] And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.  [5] Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil.  [6] And when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.  [7] Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.  [8] And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."  [9] And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 
[10] And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.  [11] And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,  [12] so that "they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven." [13] And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?  [14] The sower sows the word.  [15] And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.  [16] And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.  [17] And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while. Then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.  [18] And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,  [19] but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  [20] But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." 

Questions for Reflection

  1. What three words would you use to describe your spiritual life?
  2. To what was Jesus referring when He said, “The farmer sows the word”? (4:14)
  3. What did Jesus want us to understand about God from this parable? (4:14-20)
  4. What are some obstacles that prevent people from accepting the gospel or hanging on to their faith? (4:15-19)
  5. What happens to those who hear the truth about Christ and accept it? (4:20)
  6. What kind of soil do you think represents you?
  7. What can you do to increase your fruit as a Christian?

Friday, January 8, 2016

Scripture for Sunday (1/10/16)

Announcements

  • Ordination and Installation of Elders for the class of 2018 will be Sunday, January 10th during worship.
  • This week the 11th through the 14th, Jim will be at Mo-Ranch for a Conference called Congregational Leadership in Polarizing Times.
  • Presbyterian Women will meet Tuesday, January 12th at 9:45. 
  • Presbyterian Youth Fellowship will resume meeting Sunday, January 17th 5:30 to 7. Dinner will be provided.
  • Kids for Christ will resume meeting Tuesday, January 26th 3:30 to 5.
  • Our 1st Session meeting of the year will be Tuesday, January 19th.
Scripture for Sunday
Mark 2:1-12 (ESV)  
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.  [2] And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.  [3] And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.  [4] And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.  [5] And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven."  [6] Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,  [7] "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  [8] And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts?  [9] Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'?  [10] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the paralytic— [11] "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home."  [12] And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" 

Questions for Reflection
1. What motivated Jesus to respond to the paralytic man’s plight? (2:5)
2. Why did the Pharisees accuse Jesus of blasphemy? (2:6-7)
3. How did Jesus respond to the thoughts of the Pharisees? (2:8-9)
4. How did Jesus show that He had authority to forgive sins? (2:9)
5. What did Jesus mean by “Son of Man”? (2:10)
6. Why do you think Jesus chose to forgive the man’s sins before healing him physically?
7. Which is it easier for us to do—forgive others or care for them when they’re sick?
8. How is God’s viewpoint different from ours regarding the forgiveness of sins?
9. What connection is there between a person’s faith and God’s working in his or her life?

Thursday, January 7, 2016

January 2016 Newsletter

Check out this month's newsletter.  Click on the link.

January 2016 Newsletter

Have a great day!
Carmen

Monday, January 4, 2016

Scripture for Sunday (1/3/16)

Announcements:

  • Ordination and Installation of Elders for the class of 2018 will be next Sunday January 10th during worship.
  • Presbyterian Youth Fellowship will resume meeting Sunday January 17th 5:30 to 7. Dinner will be provided.
  • Kids for Christ will resume meeting Tuesday January 26th 3:30 to 5.
  • Our 1st Session meeting of the year will be Tuesday January 19th.
Scripture for Sunday

Mark 1:21-45 (ESV)  
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.  [22] And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.  [23] And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,  [24] "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are— the Holy One of God."  [25] But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"  [26] And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.  [27] And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."  [28] And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. [29] And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  [30] Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.  [31] And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. [32] That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons.  [33] And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  [34] And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. [35] And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.  [36] And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,  [37] and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you."  [38] And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out."  [39] And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. [40] And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."  [41] Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean."  [42] And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.  [43] And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once,  [44] and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them."  [45] But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.