Scripture for Sunday (12/2/18)

• Practice for the Christmas play has begun. Please have your children at church 9:45 AM each Sunday for practice.
• Men's Breakfast Saturday morning 8 AM. Coffee will be on at 6:30 so come early to visit and bring a friend.

Scripture for Sunday
Jeremiah 33:14-16 (ESV) 

14  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15  In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16  In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

Scripture for Sunday (11/25/18)

Scripture for Sunday
Psalm 46:1-11 (ESV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/18/18)

Practice for the Christmas play has begun. Please have your children at church 9:45 AM each Sunday for practice.

Scripture for Sunday
Hebrews 10:16-25 (ESV) 

16  “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17  then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18  Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20  by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21  and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Questions for Reflection
1.    Who has encouraged you the most in the last six months?
2.    Why did the author say that those under the new covenant could draw near to God? (10:19-22)
3.    What has Jesus done for those under the new covenant? (10:20)
4.    What privilege comes to those who are part of the "house of God"? (10:22)
5.    What must happen before a person can draw near to God? (10:22)
6.    How could someone best spur you on "toward love and good deeds"?
7.    How do you personally feel about going to church or involvement in Christian groups?
8.    What is behind the ups and downs in your spiritual journey?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/11/18)

Scripture for Sunday
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (ESV)

12  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14  For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15  If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17  If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18  But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19  If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20  As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21  The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22  On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23  and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24  which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25  that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27  Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28  And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30  Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31  But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Questions for Reflection
1.    When have you felt insignificant in an organization?
2.    In what way are Christians like a human body? (12:12-13)
3.    Why should outward appearances or status not matter to us? (12:13)
4.    What unifies all Christians? (12:13)
5.    What makes Christians unified and dependent on one another? (12:13)
6.    *What lessons are there in seeing the church as a human body? (12:14-17)
7.    How might you compare your place in the body of Christ to a part of the human body?
8.    How well do you interact with other members in the body of Christ?
9.    When have you felt like an important or insignificant part of the body?
10. What part do you serve in the body of Christ?
11. *How can you treat the "weaker" members of your fellowship as indispensable?

Scripture for Sunday (11/4/18)

• Men's Breakfast Saturday morning 8 AM. Coffee will be on at 6:30 so come early to visit and bring a friend.
• I will be needing help after men’s breakfast setting up tables and chairs for Sunday’s lunch as well as deboning the turkeys for lunch.
• Our annual Thanksgiving Dinner will be Sunday, Nov. 4, following church. Turkey, dressing and giblet gravy will be furnished. Please bring a side or dessert to share!

Scripture for Sunday
Matthew 25:1-13 (ESV)

1  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9  But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.