Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/30/18)

Scripture for Sunday
Mark 11:27-33 (ESV) 
27  And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him,
28  and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?”
29  Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30  Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.”
31  And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
32  But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.
33  So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Questions for Reflection
1.    What are some examples of authority?
2.    In what ways should a Christian’s values differ from those of "the experts"?
3.    How did the religious leaders challenge Jesus’ authority? (11:28)
4.    What do Jesus’ actions tell you about His attitude toward the religious leaders of His day? (11:28-33)
5.    How did Jesus answer the challenge put to Him? (11:29-33)
6.    What were the priorities of the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders who confronted Jesus?
7.    In what ways do human authorities challenge God’s authority?
8.    How can we ensure that we follow God’s authority rather than the "authorities" who challenge His Word?
9.    When have you ever questioned God’s authority in your life?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/16/18)

Scripture for Sunday
ESV  James 3:1-12  

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.  2 For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.  3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.  4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.  7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,  8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?  12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Questions for Reflection
1.    If you could hear a tape recording of everything you said last week, what would you want to edit out?
2.    How do you react when you hear someone cursing and using abusive language?
3.    How can a person be hurt by the words of others?
4.    What can you learn about a person by listening to him or her speak?
5.    If a person were never at fault in what he or she said, what would that show about the person? (3:2)
6.    What is significant about the way we talk? (3:2)
7.    What is so difficult about taming the tongue? (3:7-8)
8.    How is our speech influenced by others around us?
9.    What practical advice would you give someone who wanted to control his or her tongue better?
10. What weaknesses in our lives does our speech often expose?

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

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

Scripture for Sunday
James 2:1-17 (ESV) 

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  [2] For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,  [3] and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet,"  [4] have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  [5] Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?  [6] But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?  [7] Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

[8] If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.  [9] But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  [10] For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.  [11] For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  [12] So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.  [13] For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

[14] What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  [15] If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  [16] and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  [17] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Questions for Reflection
1.    For what reasons might a person think he or she is more important than another person?
2.    Where do you see prejudice being practiced?
3.    What practical example did James use to illustrate how favoritism was practiced in the church? (2:1-4)
4.    What does the church do to the poor person when it shows favoritism toward the rich? (2:6)
5.    Why should we be merciful? (2:13)
6.    How have you shown favoritism or prejudice toward other people?
7.    How do we use physical appearance, job status, and athletic ability to show favoritism toward people?
8.    In what practical ways can we show genuine love to people of different races, cultures, and economic standing?
9.    Why is favoritism or prejudice often overlooked as a sin?