Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/2/18)

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

Scripture
James 1:17-27 (ESV)  

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creation. 

[19] Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. [21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 

[22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. [24] For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. [25] But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 

[26] If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Questions for Reflection
1.    How does it affect you when a person is caught doing what he or she tells others not to do?
2.    When are you most likely to lose your temper?
3.    What instruction did James give about the relationship between speaking, listening, and anger? (1:19)
4.    What is the relationship between anger and righteous living? (1:20)
5.    What should a Christian clean out of his or her life? (1:21)
6.    What makes it hard for us to be good listeners?
7.    How can being quick to speak and quick to anger get you into trouble?
8.    How do displays of anger and temper affect the witness of a Christian?
9.    What attitudes and habits can inhibit our growth as disciples of Christ?
10. What makes it hard for us to practice what we know to be good?
11. How does our speech reflect our relationship with God?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (8/26/18)

Sunday School Kick-Off

We will be having breakfast during the Sunday School hour Sunday, September 9th at 9:45 AM in the fellowship hall. Please bring a breakfast dish to share. The church will be providing milk, juice and coffee.

• August 26, Matthew 25:31-46
• September 2, James 1:17-27
• September 9, James 2:1-17
• September 16, James 3:1-12
• September 23, James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
• September 30, James 5:13-20

Scripture
Matthew 25:31-46 (ESV)  

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  [32] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  [33] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  [34] Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  [35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'  [37] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  [38] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  [39] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'  [40] And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' 

[41] "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  [42] For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'  [44] Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'  [45] Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'  [46] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Questions for Reflection
1.    According to Jesus, how will the people of the earth be divided? (25:32-33)
2.    How will Jesus divide humanity? (25:33)
3.    What will Jesus say to those on His right? (25:34-36)
4.    What criterion will Christ use to judge people? (25:40)
5.    What will Jesus say to the “goats” on His left? (25:41)
6.    How do people usually determine whether they will be nice to somebody?
7.    How would your behavior change if you treated each person in your life as if he or she were Jesus?
8.    In what way does this parable motivate you to tell your friends about Christ?
9.    How would you counter the idea that this passage teaches salvation by good works?
10. What change does true faith make in a person’s life?

Memorial Services for Jack Hoggett

Jack Carleton Hoggett went home to be with his Lord Monday August 13th. Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at the First Presbyterian Church in Junction, Texas. Reverends Jim and Laurie Barker officiating. There will be a reception following the service in the Fellowship Hall.

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (8/12/18)

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

Scripture
Micah 6:6-8

"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Questions for Reflection
1.    How did Israel propose to make up for its sins? (6:6-8)
2.    What did God desire from His people? (6:8)
3.    How do the sins of the church today compare with the injustice of God’s people during the time of Micah?
4.    What does it mean to act justly? love mercy? walk humbly with God?
5.    In what way does God want us to be a force for good against evil in the world?
6.    If all Christians were spiritual people who always obeyed God faithfully and acted justly, how might our society be different?
7.    What is the difference between punishment for sin and the consequences of sin?
8.    When have you, like Micah, felt depressed by all the troubles around you?

Scripture for Sunday (8/5/18)

• Laurie and Jim will be at Bloys Camp meeting in Ft. Davis Thursday August 2 through Wednesday August 8.
• Men's Breakfast will be Saturday August 11th 8 AM. 
• Sunday, August 5, Lewis will be preaching from Genesis 4:1-14. 
• Sunday August 12 Laurie will be preaching from Micah 6.

Scripture for Sunday
Genesis 4:1-14 (ESV)  

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord." [2] And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. [3] In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, [4] and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, [5] but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. [6] The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? [7] If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." 

[8] Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. [9] Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" [10] And the Lord said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. [11] And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. [12] When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." [13] Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. [14] Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."