Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/27/19)

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Emmaus Community and friends will be providing a lunch at the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall for family and friends of Dennis Land on Monday, January 28, at noon following Dennis’ Funeral at 11:00 AM at the Methodist Church.  Donations of food are needed for chips, sandwiches, desserts, etc. for the lunch.   Please text or call Tammy Bundick at (830) 459-7888 to volunteer for providing food.  The food will need to be taken to the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, starting at 9:00 AM on Monday, January  28.  Your help will be appreciated.  

Scripture for Sunday
Luke 4:14-21   

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.  15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.  17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,  18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,  19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."  20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  21 And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." 

Psalm 19:1-14  

1 For the choirmaster Psalm Of David The heavens declare the glory of God, the vault of heaven proclaims his handiwork,  2 day discourses of it to day, night to night hands on the knowledge.  3 No utterance at all, no speech, not a sound to be heard,  4 but from the entire earth the design stands out, this message reaches the whole world. High above, he pitched a tent for the sun,  5 who comes forth from his pavilion like a bridegroom, delights like a champion in the course to be run.  6 Rising on the one horizon he runs his circuit to the other, and nothing can escape his heat.  7 The Law of Yahweh is perfect, refreshment to the soul; the decree of Yahweh is trustworthy, wisdom for the simple.  8 The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes.  9 The fear of Yahweh is pure, lasting for ever; the judgments of Yahweh are true, upright, every one,  10 more desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, that drips from the comb.  11 Thus your servant is formed by them; observing them brings great reward.  12 But who can detect his own failings? Wash away my hidden faults.  13 And from pride preserve your servant, never let it be my master. So shall I be above reproach, free from grave sin.  14 May the words of my mouth always find favor, and the whispering of my heart, in your presence, Yahweh, my rock, my redeemer.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What is your favorite outdoor scene?
2.    What do you think of when you hear the word law?
3.    In what ways does nature impact your everyday life?
4.    What do the heavens and skies have to say to us? (19:1)
5.    On what two themes did David focus in this psalm? (19:1-14)
6.    How can people who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ still learn about God?
7.    What has nature taught you about God?
8.    What attitude did David have toward God’s law?
9.    What role does God’s Word play in your everyday life?
10. What steps could you take to be more open to God’s Word?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/20/19)

• Lawson Swift (grandson of Charlie and Joanna Swift) has been diagnosed with leukemia, please keep him in your prayers.
• Laurie hurt her knee at practice on Wednesday. We went to the ER in Fredericksburg Wednesday afternoon and surgeon yesterday. She will have an MRI next week. 

Scripture for Sunday

John 2:1-11 (ESV) 

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. [2] Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.  [3] When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." [4] And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." [5] His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

[6] Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. [7] Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. [8] And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. [9] When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom [10] and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." [11] This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What makes an event miraculous or supernatural?
2.    What supernatural or miraculous events have you witnessed?
3.    What did Jesus’ mother say to Him? (2:3)
4.    What was Jesus’ response to His mother? (2:4)
5.    How did Jesus’ mother respond to His reply? (2:5)
6.    Why did Jesus perform this miracle? (2:11)
7.    How did Jesus’ disciples respond to this miracle? (2:11)
8.    What is something you would like Jesus to change in your life?
9.    What recent miracle has Jesus done in your life?
10. How does Jesus reveal His glory to us today?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/13/19)

Scripture for Sunday
Luke 3:15-22 (ESV)  

[15] As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, [16] John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 

[18] So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. [19] But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, [20] added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. 

[21] Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, [22] and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

Questions for Reflection 
1.    What mental image comes to mind when you hear the word "baptism"?
2.    How were Jesus, the dove, and the voice all related in Jesus’ baptism? (3:21-22)
3.    To whom did the voice from heaven speak during Jesus’ baptism? (3:22)
4.    What did the voice from heaven actually say about Jesus? (3:22)
5.    What was Jesus doing when the Holy Spirit descended on Him? (3:22)
6.    What about Luke’s description of Jesus’ baptism leads us to think of God in terms of three persons—the Trinity?
7.    Since Jesus was sinless, what made His baptism necessary?
8.    How does Jesus’ baptism demonstrate His willingness to identify with our human condition?
9.    How are repentance, baptism, forgiveness, prayer, the Holy Spirit’s presence, and God’s blessing all important in the life of a Christian?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/6/19)

• Men's Breakfast Saturday morning 8 AM. Coffee will be on at 6:30 so come early to visit and bring a friend.
• Sunday during morning worship we will be ordaining and installing elders for the class of 2021. Laurrie Allen, Paul Bierschwale and Arthur Leistikow. 
• Following worship we will be undecorating the church bring a sack lunch if you would like to eat before taking down the decorations.

Scripture for Sunday
Matthew 2:1-12 

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, [2] "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him." [3] Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem. [4] He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. "Where did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?" he asked them. [5] "In Bethlehem," they said, "for this is what the prophet wrote: [6] 'O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah,for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.' "

[7] Then Herod sent a private message to the wise men, asking them to come see him. At this meeting he learned the exact time when they first saw the star. [8] Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!" [9] After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! [11] They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [12] But when it was time to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Questions for Reflection
1.    Why do we give gifts at Christmas?
2.    If you could give any gift to anyone, what would you give, to whom, and why?
3.    What prompts people to make great sacrifices for others?
4.    Why was a powerful king disturbed by the presence of a helpless baby? (2:3-6)
5.    How did the Magi react upon seeing Jesus? (2:11)
6.    How would you define worship?
7.    What sort of activities does worship involve?
8.    What are some various "presents" we might give to Christ?