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Friday, June 24, 2016

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (6/26/16)

Irene Andrews is in the hospital in San Angelo, please keep her in your prayers.

Scripture for Sunday
2 Cor. 6:1-13 (ESV) 
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  [2] For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. [3] We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, [4] but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, [5] beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;  [6] by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love,  [7] by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; [8] through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; [9] as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; [10] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. [11] We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. [12] You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. [13] In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What do you consider to be distinctive about members of your family?
2.    What images does the word “hardships” bring to mind?
3.    What price did Paul pay for following Christ? (6:4-10)
4.    In what way was Paul poor yet rich? (6:10)
5.    How do you think Paul was able to keep an attitude of sincere love for people when so many opposed him?
6.    What do you think caused the Corinthians to withhold their full loyalty from Paul?
7.    What can we learn from Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians that can help us deal with friends who frustrate us?
8.    How can you guard against causing other Christians to stumble in their faith?

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Grace Place Work Day (Wed, June 22nd)

Work day to clean windows at Grace Place will be tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5 PM. 

Monday, June 20, 2016

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (6/19/16)

Scripture for Sunday
2 Cor. 5:1-17 (ESV)  
For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  [2] For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,  [3] if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.  [4] For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  [5] He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. [6] So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,  [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight.  [8] Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  [9] So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.  [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. [11] Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.  [12] We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.  [13] For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.  [14] For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;  [15] and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. [16] From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.  [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  

Questions for Reflection
1. What common cliches do you frequently hear when people talk about heaven?
2. Why did Paul long for heaven? (5:2-3)
3. For what purpose has God made us? (5:4-5)
4. How does the Spirit guarantee what is to come? (5:5)
5. What is true as long as we are alive on this earth? (5:6)
6. What should be the believer’s goal? (5:9)
7. What does it mean to live by faith and not by sight?
8. How often do you long for the heavenly body promised to believers at the resurrection?
9. What comfort or satisfaction can we derive from knowing that the Holy Spirit guarantees our future in heaven?

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Prayer meeting for Aikman

Today, Wednesday, June 8th, at 5:15 PM we will meet in the fellowship hall of the First Presbyterian Church to have a time of prayer for Aikman Smith.  Aikman is the grandson of Diane Colston.  Aikman just turned 3 years old and has been diagnosed with an invasive form of E. Coli. which is now caused Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).  He is in Children's Hospital in Dallas.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Scripture for Sunday (6/5/16)

Prayer Request - Diane Colston's 3 year old grandson, Aikman Smith, is very sick. He is in Children's Hospital in Dallas. Please keep Aikman and his family in you

Saturday, June 4th - Men's Breakfast, 8 AM

Sunday, June 5th - Wedding Shower and Pot Luck Luncheon for Kimberlee Kathleen Allen and Dustin Tyler McLeod.  The Church will provide the drinks.

Scripture for Sunday
2 Cor. 3:7-18 (ESV)  
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,  [8] will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?  [9] For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.  [10] Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.  [11] For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. [12] Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,  [13] not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.  [14] But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.  [15] Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.  [16] But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  [17] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  [18] And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Questions for Reflection
1. What glorious sights have you seen in nature?
2. What is the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant? (3:11)
3. What hope did Paul have? (3:12)
4. Why was Paul bold? (3:12)
5. What does the Spirit of the Lord offer believers? (3:17)
6. How is it possible for us to reflect the Lord’s glory? (3:18)
7. How have you experienced the Spirit’s freedom in your personal life?
8. In what ways do you see the Lord’s glory reflected in your life?
9. In what ways do you struggle to allow the Holy Spirit to control your life?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (5/29/16)

Saturday, June 4th -  Men's Breakfast, 8 AM

Sunday June 5th - Wedding Shower and Pot Luck Luncheon for Kimberlee Kathleen Allen and Dustin Tyler McLeod.  The Church will provide the drinks.

Scripture for Sunday
2 Cor. 2:1-10 (ESV)  
For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.  [2] For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?  [3] And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.  [4] For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. [5] Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.  [6] For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough,  [7] so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  [8] So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.  [9] For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.  [10] Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,  

Questions for Reflection
1. When is it most difficult to forgive someone?
2. How did the Corinthians finally respond to the person who hurt Paul? (2:6)
3. What was the man’s reaction to the Corinthian’s discipline? (2:7)
4. What advice did Paul give the Corinthians regarding the man who had sinned? (2:7-8)
5. Why was it important that the Corinthians forgive the man whom they disciplined? (2:10-11)
6. When have you ever grieved a fellow Christian?
7. What should you do if you feel wronged by another person?