Come and See!

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (5/22/16)

Don't forget the potluck lunch Sunday after church. We will be celebrating our graduate Carli Jackowski and the baptism of Saydee Elizabeth and Jackson Layne Meadow. Please bring a dish to share.

Scripture for Sunday
2 Cor. 1:1-11 (KJV)  
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: [2] Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; [4] Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. [5] For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. [6] And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. [7] And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. [8] For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: [9] But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: [10] Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; [11] Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 

Questions for Reflection
1. How do you normally react to hardship or suffering?
2. How did Paul describe God? (1:3)
3. Why do you think Paul began his letter by praising God? (1:3)
4. What does God do when we are troubled? (1:4)
5. How does God involve Himself in our troubles? (1:4-5)
6. How does God want us to help one another in difficult circumstances?
7. Who do you know who is experiencing hardship?
8. How can you help other Christians who are suffering?

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (5/15/16)

Sunday we celebrate the birth of the Christian church, Pentecost, wear red to celebrate. 
 For Christians, Pentecost is a holiday on which we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus. Before the events of the first Pentecost, which came a few weeks, 50 days, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church.” Thus, from an historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. This is also true from a spiritual perspective, since the Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it. Thus Pentecost is the church’s birthday.

Scripture
Acts 2:1-21 (ESV)  
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  [2] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  [3] And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. [5] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.  [6] And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.  [7] And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  [8] And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?  [9] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,  [11] both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."  [12] And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"  [13] But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." [14] But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.  [15] For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.  [16] But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 
    [17] " 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
        and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
        and your old men shall dream dreams;
    [18] even on my male servants and female servants
        in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
    [19] And I will show wonders in the heavens above
        and signs on the earth below,
        blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
    [20] the sun shall be turned to darkness
        and the moon to blood,
         before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
    [21] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

Questions for Reflection
1. What was celebrated on the day of Pentecost? (2:1)
2. What group of people was gathered together? (2:1)
3. Where did a violent wind come from? (2:2)
4. What did the followers of Christ hear and see? (2:2-3)
5. What was the importance of the wind and fire? (2:2-4)
6. If you saw the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, how do you think you would have responded? Why?
7. Why is the coming of the Spirit associated with wind, fire, and different languages?
8. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
9. How does God use us to witness to others?

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (5/8/16)

Scripture for Sunday 
1 Cor. 15:1-11 (ESV)  
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. [9] For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. [11] Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 

Questions for Reflection
1. How do people pass on their beliefs and traditions to others?
2. What do you think is important to pass on from one generation to the next?
3. What do you want others to remember about you?
4. Why did Paul pass on what he had received? (15:3)
5. How did Christ’s life fulfill the Scriptures? (15:3)
6. What are the key points of the gospel? (15:3-8)
7. What has God’s grace accomplished in you?
8. How does Christ appear or make Himself known to us today?