Scripture & Questions for Sunday (4/2/17)

Men's Breakfast Saturday morning 8 AM. Coffee will be on at 6:30 so come early to visit and bring a friend.

We will have a church cleanup following morning worship Sunday, April 2. Bring a sack lunch and dress comfortable.

Bible study Wednesday at 5:30, The Essentials of the Christian Faith.

Scripture
Luke 18:31-19:10 (ESV)  

And taking the twelve, he said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.  [32] For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. [33] And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise." [34] But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. 

[35] As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.  [36] And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. [37] They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." [38] And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" [39] And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" [40] And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, [41] "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me recover my sight." [42] And Jesus said to him, "Recover your sight; your faith has made you well."  [43] And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. 

[19:1] He entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. [3] And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."  [6] So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it, they all h grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." [9] And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." 

Questions for Reflection
1. What does it feel like to be criticized by other people?
2. In what circumstances does the criticism of others not matter to you?
3. How did the crowd respond to the blind man’s actions? (18:39)
4. What did the blind man do in response to the criticism of the crowd? (18:39)
5. What can we learn from the blind man in this account?
6. How is faith involved in Jesus’ miracles?
7. In what situations should you not be concerned about the criticism of others?
8. In what way do we all need healing from the Lord?

Announcements

A new Bible study starts TODAY, Wednesday, March 29th at 5:30 PM, The Essentials of the Christian Faith. We will be going to go through the Apostles' creed line by line.

College Street Church of Christ will have a prayer and lament service tonight, open to anyone in the community. It will begin at 7:00 PM after a meal. All are welcome.

A memorial service for Lexi Cardwell is planned for Thursday, March 30 at 2 PM in the high school stadium.

PLEASE NOTE: In lieu of flowers, the Cardwell family has requested that donations be made to a scholarship fund in Lexi's honor through First State Bank. Checks can be made out to "Lexi Cardwell Memorial Fund" and given directly to First State Bank or to the College Street Church of Christ.

We will have a church cleanup following morning worship Sunday, April 2. Bring a sack lunch and dress comfortable.

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (3/26/17)

There will be a Benefit Supper for Sarah Rotge, daughter of Jeremy & Sandy Rotge on March 25, 2017, at Roosevelt Community Center at 6 PM. Bring a covered dish or dessert. Meat, beans, bread & drink are furnished. Silent Auction from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Items Appreciated. Contact Jane Allison 325-446-2382 or Janis Wiggins 325-446-2313

A new Bible study starts Wednesday March 29th at 5:30, The Essentials of the Christian Faith. We will be going to go through the Apostles' creed line by line.

We will have a church cleanup following morning worship Sunday April 2. Bring a sack lunch and dress comfortable.

Scripture
Luke 16:1-13 (ESV)  

He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. [2] And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.' [3] And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. [4] I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.' [5] So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' [6] He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' [7] Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' [8] The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. [9] And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

[10] "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. [11] If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? [12] And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? [13] No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Questions for Reflection
1. How is a shrewd businessperson viewed in our society today?
2. In what ways does our culture pressure us to love money?
3. What plan did the manager devise to secure his future? (16:4-7)
4. How did the rich master react to the dishonest dealings of the manager? (16:8)
5. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves”?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (3/19/17)

There will be a meet and greet with Dr. Udderback on Sunday, March 19th, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM at our church sponsored by the Kimble Hospital Foundation.

Scripture for Sunday
Luke 15:1-10 (ESV)  

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." [3] So he told them this parable: [4] "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' [7] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 

[8] "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? [9] And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' [10] Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." 

Questions for Reflection
1. What comes to mind when you hear the word “sinner”?
2. What does a conscientious shepherd do when one of the flock is lost? (15:4)
3. What happens when a shepherd returns to his home and flock after finding a lost sheep? (15:6)
4. How does heaven react when a sinner repents? (15:7)
5. How might the one sheep have gotten lost?
6. In what ways do we go astray?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (3/12/17)

Daylight Savings time begins.  Don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour Saturday night. 

Scripture
Luke 13:1-9 (ESV)  

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [2] And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? [3] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? [5] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." 

[6] And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. [7] And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' [8] And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. [9] Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.' " 

Questions for Reflection
1. When was a time you felt that God was letting you suffer because you had sinned?
2. What did Jesus hear about a group of Galileans? (13:1)
3. What explanation for the tragedy did Jesus propose? (13:2)
4. What were Jesus’ listeners to learn from the two stories? (13:3-5)
5. What does it mean to “bear fruit”?
6. Why do we often assume that people suffer because they are uniquely bad?
7. What people or groups of people do we sometimes blame for their suffering?
8. What can we do to keep from judging people by their circumstances?
9. What second chances have you been given?
10. What can we learn from this parable?
11. What does God want us to do?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (3/5/17)

Men's Breakfast Saturday morning 8 AM. Coffee will be on at 6:30 so come early to visit and bring a friend.

On Sunday, we will be taking up a special offering to help with the medical bills of Sarah Rotge

Sunday, we will be celebrating the Baptism of Poppi Mae Stapp and Danielle Carrli Johnson. After worship we will have a covered dish luncheon. Please bring a dish to share. 

Scripture for Sunday
Luke 10:25-42 (ESV)  
    And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" [26] He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" [27] And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." [28] And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
    [29] But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" [30] Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. [32] So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. [34] He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. [35] And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' [36] Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" [37] He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
    [38] Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. [40] But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." [41] But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, [42] but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Questions for Reflection
1. When has someone gone out of his or her way to help you?
2. How did Jesus reply to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” (10:30-35)
3. What did the priest and the Levite do to help the man who was robbed and beaten? (10:31-32)
4. What was the Samaritan’s response to what he saw? (10:33-35)
5. Why did the Samaritan help the beaten man? (10:33)
6. What relationship did Jesus use to characterize the Samaritan’s behavior? (10:36)
7. How did the legal expert define the neighbor in the parable? (10:37)
8. What did Jesus command the expert to do in response to the parable? (10:37)
9. What natural inclinations make it easier for you to act like the priest and the Levite than like the Samaritan?
10. How practical was the Samaritan’s approach to the man in need?
11. How does it feel when someone has mercy on you?