February 2020 Newsletter

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February 2020 Newsletter

Have a great day!!
~ Carmen

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (2/2/2020)

Saturday, February 1st | Men’s Breakfast | 8 AM; Coffee will be on at 6:30.

 Sunday is Souper Bowl of Caring - Please bring cans of soup for our food bank.

Scripture
Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV) 

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What are some ways people typically try to find happiness or fulfillment in life?
2.    What was the setting for this sermon? (5:1)
3.    What unexpected command is given to Christians who are insulted, hassled, and lied about? (5:11-12)
4.    What people in history have endured nasty persecution? (5:12)
5.    What do you think it means to be poor in spirit?
6.    What does it mean to be meek?
7.    How would a person behave if he or she were hungering and thirsting after righteousness?
8.    What are some examples of showing mercy?
9.    How does society’s list of admirable virtues compare and contrast with these kingdom virtues?
10. How (if at all) does the promise of future blessing affect us in the present?
11. Which of these promises means the most to you today? Why?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/26/2020)

Scripture
Matthew 4:12-22 (ESV) 

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Questions for Reflection
1.    If you could pass on some skill or knowledge to an apprentice, what would you want to pass on?
2.    Where did these particular events take place? (4:18)
3.    Who did Jesus see as He walked by? (4:18)
4.    What exactly did Jesus say to Simon and Andrew? (4:19)
5.    What was Simon and Andrew’s response to Jesus’ words? (4:20)
6.    How long did Simon and Andrew deliberate over Jesus’ offer? (4:20)
7.    In what activity were James and John involved? (4:21)
8.    What did Jesus do when He saw the two brothers, James and John? (4:21)
9.    How did James and John react to Jesus’ challenge? (4:22)
10. What does it mean to be a "fisher of men"?
11. How risky was it for Peter, Andrew, James, and John to drop everything (jobs and families) to go with Jesus?
12. What are some reasons people make career changes?
13. Why did Jesus handpick blue-collar fishermen to be the leaders of the Christian church?
14. What does it mean for you to follow Jesus?

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

Scripture
John 1:35-42 (ESV)  

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, [36] and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" [37] The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. [38] Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" [39] He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. [40] One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. [41] He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). [42] He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

Questions for Reflection
1.    What nicknames have you had over the years?
2.    Who besides Jesus had disciples? (1:35)
3.    What did John say when he saw Jesus? (1:36)
4.    How did John identify Jesus for his disciples? (1:37)
5.    What did John’s disciples do when John identified Jesus? (1:37)
6.    What was the first thing Andrew did after he had followed Jesus? (1:40)
7.    What nickname did Jesus give to Simon? (1:42)
8.    What does it mean to follow Jesus?
9.    What must we leave to follow Jesus?
10. To what friends and relatives could you introduce Jesus?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/12/2020)

Scripture
Luke 3:1-22 (ESV) 

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” 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 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 was John’s basic message? (3:3)
2.    What Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled by John the Baptist? (3:4)
3.    How sensitive was John’s welcome of the crowds who came to hear him? (3:7-8)
4.    What responses did John expect from his listeners? Why? (3:8-9)
5.    What attitude did John warn the people not to have? Why? (3:8-9)
6.    How did people react to John’s message? (3:10)
7.    What advice did John give those in the crowd who wanted to respond to his message? (3:11)
8.    What practical examples of repentance did John use to help people who asked for direction? (3:11-14)
9.    How did John describe Jesus? (3:16-18)
10. What is repentance?
11. When we are confronted with a call to repent, why do we tend to accept or reject the invitation strongly?
12. What connection is there between repentance and forgiveness?

Christmas tree to Easter Cross

Last Sunday (1/5), the junior high and high school Sunday school class turned a Christmas tree into a Cross.  This is a class favorite and we usually start the new year with it. 

We celebrate the birth of Jesus during Christmas and foreshadow His victory over death on the cross as Easter approaches.

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (1/5/2020)

Happy New Year!

Saturday, January 4th - Men’s Breakfast at 8 AM; coffee will be on at 6:30.

 Sunday, January 5th - We will be un-decorating the church following morning worship.

Scripture
John 1:1-18 (ESV) 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Questions for Reflection
1.    Who is the Word? (1:1)
2.    What is the relationship between the Word and God? (1:1-2)
3.    What was the Word’s role in creation? (1:3)
4.    What was John’s role in relation to the light? (1:6)
5.    How did the light give light to every person? (1:9)
6.    Why didn’t the world recognize the light? (1:10)
7.    What is the benefit of receiving or believing in the Word? (1:12)
8.    How and why did the Word make His dwelling among us? (1:14)
9.    Whose glory did the Word reveal? (1:14)
10. What did God give us through Moses? (1:17)
11. What did God give us through Jesus? (1:18)
12. What happens when we receive or believe in the Word?
13. What insights can you gain from seeing Jesus as God’s Word?
14. How should being a child of God affect our lives?