October 2019 Newsletter

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October 2019 Newsletter

Have a great day!
~Carmen

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/29/19)

• A graveside service will be held for Joyce Brown 10 AM Saturday morning at the Noxville cemetery.
• This Sunday, September 29th following worship, we will have a Mexican themed covered dish lunch to celebrate the upcoming marriage of William Whitworth to Katie Wesneski. Please bring a dish to share.

Scripture
ESV Matthew 6:25-34

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What are your top three worries?
2.    What three worries did Jesus discourage among His followers? Why? (6:25)
3.    Why is food a trivial matter? (6:26)
4.    According to Jesus, how do clothes stack up as a subject of great concern? (6:26)
5.    What creatures did Jesus use to illustrate God’s reliability as a provider? Why? (6:26)
6.    Why are God’s creatures consistently "fed and clothed"? (6:26)
7.    What benefits does worry bring? (6:27)
8.    What priorities should we have in life? (6:33)
9.    Why is it silly to fret over the future? (6:34)
10. If God is really in control of the universe, why do we worry so much about so many things?
11. How do you think worry is affecting you emotionally, physically, and spiritually?
12. What is the difference between planning for the future and worrying about the future?
13. What worries do you struggle to keep under control?
14. What can help you entrust your worries to God?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/22/19)

• Wednesday, September 25th we will begin a new Bible study on the Gospel of John, 5:30 PM in Grace Place.
• Coming Soon! Sunday, September 29th following worship we will have a Mexican themed covered dish lunch to celebrate the upcoming marriage of William Whitworth to Katie Wesneski. Please bring a dish to share.

Scripture
Luke 16:1-15 (ESV) 

1 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.” 

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

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.    How can the love of money hurt a person?
4.    What plan did the manager devise to secure his future? (16:4-7)
5.    How did the rich master react to the dishonest dealings of the manager? (16:8)
6.    Who are the "people of light" to whom Jesus referred? (16:8)
7.    How does Jesus want us to use money? (16:9)
8.    What main principle should govern the way we use our resources? (16:10-12)
9.    Why is it impossible to serve two masters? (16:13)
10. What did Jesus mean when He said, "Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves"?
11. Why is it so difficult to keep a proper perspective on money?
12. What can you do to demonstrate your devotion to the Lord?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/15/19)

Scripture
Luke 15:1-32 (ESV) 

1 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.” 

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Questions for Reflection
1.    Who had gathered to hear Jesus? (15:1)
2.    What were the Pharisees and teachers of the law doing? (15:2)
3.    Why were the Pharisees and teachers of the law grumbling? (15:2)
4.    What did Jesus do instead of directly rebuking the religious leaders? (15:3)
5.    What does a conscientious shepherd do when one of the flock is lost? (15:4)
6.    How does heaven react when a sinner repents? (15:7)
7.    What causes God to rejoice most? (15:7)
8.    Why did the religious leaders miss the point of what Jesus’ ministry was about?
9.    What does God consider important?
10. What is a "sinner who repents"?
11. In what ways does God’s value of people differ from ours?
12. How do you feel when other people get rewards greater than they deserve?
13. What people do you tend to think don’t deserve God’s mercy?
14. How have you personally experienced the forgiving love of the Father?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/8/19)

Saturday - 8 AM Men’s Breakfast coffee will be on at 6:30. Come join us.

Sunday - 9:45 AM Sunday School Kick-Off Breakfast please bring a breakfast dish to share.

Kids for Christ (KFC) our elementary after-school group resumes meeting Tuesday September 10th. We will pick the children up after school and we will finish at 5:00.

Scripture for Sunday
Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Questions for Reflection
1.    What makes forgiveness difficult?
2.    What acts of mercy have you seen or heard about recently?
3.    What question did Peter ask Jesus? (18:21)
4.    How did Jesus illustrate His answer to Peter’s question? (18:23)
5.    To what did Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven? (18:23)
6.    What did the indebted servant do? (18:26)
7.    How did the king graciously respond to the indebted servant’s desperate plea? (18:27)
8.    What did the servant go do after his debt was cancelled? (18:28)
9.    How did the onlookers respond when they saw the first servant throw the second in jail? (18:31)
10. How did the king react to the news he heard? (18:32-34)
11. How did Jesus apply this parable to His followers? (18:35)
12. How likely are we to forgive someone once, twice, or even three times?
13. Why is an unforgiving spirit so deadly?
14. In what ways has God shown mercy in forgiving our sins?
15. If God is so willing to forgive us, why are we sometimes unwilling to forgive others?