Make a list of things that demand your time, your attention, and your
energy.
Which item on the list above is most important and which is least
important?
What must you do to seek God’s way and participate in the present and
future reign of God?
How often must you (I) focus on God?
What happens when we focus on ourselves and our needs instead of focusing
on God?
Matthew 6:24
Do we every worry? What causes us to worry? What do we worry about?
Matthew 6:25-34
What happens when we realize God is present in our lives?
Who is God?
How might we attend to God’s presence?
Once we know God and know what God desires, we can what?
What is first and foremost with God?
How can the worries of this world distract us from a relationship with
God?
How do the birds and wildflowers celebrate God?
In church we celebrate that God cares for us. How does this celebrating
bring us closer to God?
Challenge (must have name of person and scripture (book/chapter/verse)
posted on facebook, along with answers to questions above): What lady
waited four score and 4 years to meet Jesus, and how did she honor
God?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Expanding Our Boundaries - February 20, 2011
What does it mean to be mature?
Do you ever try to “get even” with anybody?
What usually happens when we retaliate?
How can we seek justice without retaliating?
Matthew 5:38-42
Do you go the extra mile? Give examples.
What gives you the power to choose to do more than is required of you?
Do you regularly greet people you don’t know? How?
Who do you usually pray for?
Matthew 5:43-48
Who should we love?
Who should we be sure to pray for?
What prayer might we pray if someone has hurt or offended us?
Leviticus 19:9-18
Which of these commands catches your minds attention?
Why does it catch your attention?
Who is your neighbor?
What is difficult about being a good neighbor?
Bonus Challenge: To win a $20 gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse, you
must be the first partnership team to post all answers to the questions
above on the church’s facebook discussion page (Church of the Good
Sheperd-NB), plus give the correct answer and scripture to the following.
What company has a motto of being a good neighbor? AND
What story does Jesus tell of a person being a good neighbor to someone
outside his circle of friends?
Do you ever try to “get even” with anybody?
What usually happens when we retaliate?
How can we seek justice without retaliating?
Matthew 5:38-42
Do you go the extra mile? Give examples.
What gives you the power to choose to do more than is required of you?
Do you regularly greet people you don’t know? How?
Who do you usually pray for?
Matthew 5:43-48
Who should we love?
Who should we be sure to pray for?
What prayer might we pray if someone has hurt or offended us?
Leviticus 19:9-18
Which of these commands catches your minds attention?
Why does it catch your attention?
Who is your neighbor?
What is difficult about being a good neighbor?
Bonus Challenge: To win a $20 gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse, you
must be the first partnership team to post all answers to the questions
above on the church’s facebook discussion page (Church of the Good
Sheperd-NB), plus give the correct answer and scripture to the following.
What company has a motto of being a good neighbor? AND
What story does Jesus tell of a person being a good neighbor to someone
outside his circle of friends?
Sunday, February 6, 2011
From the Heart - February 13, 2011
Where does God live in the world today?
If Jesus lived with you, ate breakfast with you, rode to school or work with you, was your best friend all day long, and came home with you at night to study, relax and sleep, would you have to change anything you say or do, or do you live as if he is with you all the time? What might you have to change?
What does it mean to you to be loyal to someone?
Matthew 5:27-30
What does Jesus tell us about our thoughts and our actions?
When you speak is it more important to be polite and friendly, or to say exactly what you mean?
Matthew 5:33-37
What does Jesus tell you about what you say?
What does this scripture say to you about being honest?
What can you tell me about being angry?
Do you think God ever gets angry?
Matthew 5:21-26
What does Jesus say in this scripture about never being angry?
Is it possible for good people to do bad things?
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
What choices do we have to make according to God in this reading?
What is really fun and exciting when you worship the Lord your God?
Challenge--
Find the scripture (chapter and verse) which states:
“I seek you with all of my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.”
Hint: It comes out of the longest chapter in the Bible.
If Jesus lived with you, ate breakfast with you, rode to school or work with you, was your best friend all day long, and came home with you at night to study, relax and sleep, would you have to change anything you say or do, or do you live as if he is with you all the time? What might you have to change?
What does it mean to you to be loyal to someone?
Matthew 5:27-30
What does Jesus tell us about our thoughts and our actions?
When you speak is it more important to be polite and friendly, or to say exactly what you mean?
Matthew 5:33-37
What does Jesus tell you about what you say?
What does this scripture say to you about being honest?
What can you tell me about being angry?
Do you think God ever gets angry?
Matthew 5:21-26
What does Jesus say in this scripture about never being angry?
Is it possible for good people to do bad things?
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
What choices do we have to make according to God in this reading?
What is really fun and exciting when you worship the Lord your God?
Challenge--
Find the scripture (chapter and verse) which states:
“I seek you with all of my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.”
Hint: It comes out of the longest chapter in the Bible.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Restoring Beauty - February 6, 2011
Restoring Beauty
Take a moment to think about Thanksgiving dinner, homemade Christmas
cookies, Grandma’s cooking, something that someone has added special
flavor to, that you have tasted. What is one thing that you get really,
really, really hungry for?
What is something that you think God gets really hungry for? Why?
Do you know anyone who seems to think like God, or like God would want
them to think? What do you notice, or feel, or think when you are around
them?
Matthew 13:44
God loves a joyful giver, which seems to be a challenge at times. What
is something that is really hard to give up, even for God or your best
friend?
Read Matthew 5:13-16
Draw a big circle on a sheet of paper. Think of words that others have
used to describe you and write those words outside the circle on the
paper. Write the words that you would use to describe yourself inside
the circle (at least 5 inner and 5 outer positive descriptions).
Place salt and light outside the circle. Reflect together, on ways in
which descriptions can either limit us or free us in terms of what we can
do and be.
Salt
God describes us as salt. Remember that salt was used to both preserve
food and to add flavor to food. How might you not only preserve life but
add flavor to life, especially for those around you?
Light
Isaiah 58:2, 6-10
What does this passage say about you living as “light in the world”?
What is one thing that you can do to let your light shine?
Win a gift certificate by being the first one to find the Scripture where
God used 300 men because they lapped up water with their tongue like a
dog. (Answer on facebook, blog, or email.)
Take a moment to think about Thanksgiving dinner, homemade Christmas
cookies, Grandma’s cooking, something that someone has added special
flavor to, that you have tasted. What is one thing that you get really,
really, really hungry for?
What is something that you think God gets really hungry for? Why?
Do you know anyone who seems to think like God, or like God would want
them to think? What do you notice, or feel, or think when you are around
them?
Matthew 13:44
God loves a joyful giver, which seems to be a challenge at times. What
is something that is really hard to give up, even for God or your best
friend?
Read Matthew 5:13-16
Draw a big circle on a sheet of paper. Think of words that others have
used to describe you and write those words outside the circle on the
paper. Write the words that you would use to describe yourself inside
the circle (at least 5 inner and 5 outer positive descriptions).
Place salt and light outside the circle. Reflect together, on ways in
which descriptions can either limit us or free us in terms of what we can
do and be.
Salt
God describes us as salt. Remember that salt was used to both preserve
food and to add flavor to food. How might you not only preserve life but
add flavor to life, especially for those around you?
Light
Isaiah 58:2, 6-10
What does this passage say about you living as “light in the world”?
What is one thing that you can do to let your light shine?
Win a gift certificate by being the first one to find the Scripture where
God used 300 men because they lapped up water with their tongue like a
dog. (Answer on facebook, blog, or email.)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Vision Beautiful - for January 30, 2011
First, think about these questions:
• If you had to take a friend to the most holy place you ever saw or visited or felt, where would this most holy place be?
• What is one thing in life that people chase after which is supposed to bring great happiness?
Read Matthew 5:1-12
Now, think about these questions:
• Which one of these blessings seems to be the most challenging?
• Why is it so challenging or what is so challenging about it?
• What surprises you about this teaching from Jesus?
• For whom are these words good news?
• For whom might these words be frightening?
• Once we commit to God...by depending on Him, or being humble, or merciful, or making peace, or by wanting to obey God, etc....He blesses us with great happiness. What seems to bring you great happiness?
Now, read Micah 6:1-8
A few more questions:
• What does God require of us?
• Who has been an example for you of doing these things?
• What super hero has the qualities God wants us to exhibit in life?
• What weakness does this super hero have?
• What is one thing that people should do to make this world a better place for those who live here?
Look into your partner's heart. What quality has God placed there that makes life more exciting, enjoyable, and beautiful?
Extra Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:9-14
Just for fun (and a prize), the clue for a specific day and time we'll meet at McDonalds for further conversation can be found in Esther 5:12. Call or email Mike or Pastor Susan if you have any questions. Remember, we post this guide on Sunday (Jan. 23), so don't wait to begin reading.
• If you had to take a friend to the most holy place you ever saw or visited or felt, where would this most holy place be?
• What is one thing in life that people chase after which is supposed to bring great happiness?
Read Matthew 5:1-12
Now, think about these questions:
• Which one of these blessings seems to be the most challenging?
• Why is it so challenging or what is so challenging about it?
• What surprises you about this teaching from Jesus?
• For whom are these words good news?
• For whom might these words be frightening?
• Once we commit to God...by depending on Him, or being humble, or merciful, or making peace, or by wanting to obey God, etc....He blesses us with great happiness. What seems to bring you great happiness?
Now, read Micah 6:1-8
A few more questions:
• What does God require of us?
• Who has been an example for you of doing these things?
• What super hero has the qualities God wants us to exhibit in life?
• What weakness does this super hero have?
• What is one thing that people should do to make this world a better place for those who live here?
Look into your partner's heart. What quality has God placed there that makes life more exciting, enjoyable, and beautiful?
Extra Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:9-14
Just for fun (and a prize), the clue for a specific day and time we'll meet at McDonalds for further conversation can be found in Esther 5:12. Call or email Mike or Pastor Susan if you have any questions. Remember, we post this guide on Sunday (Jan. 23), so don't wait to begin reading.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Called Together!!
This week we are reading from the gospel of Matthew - Matthew 4:12-23. This is the beginning of Jesus' active ministry, seemingly triggered by the arrest of John the Baptist. Jesus moved to Capernaum, and began to preach. He also called together some fishermen, and invited them to follow him, and begin to "fish for people."
Simon (later to be known as Peter), Andrew, James, and John were invited to follow Jesus, learn God's ways, and share with others the good news of God's love. It seems to be a call to be together - and in ministry.
In what ways are we called to be together?
What are we called to do?
Are we living into those calls?
To post your own comment:
- click on "comments" and type in your notes,
- include your name at the bottom
- click the box next to "Comment as:" and select "Anonymous"
- then click on "Post Comment"
You can also reply by email to pastorsusank@gmail.com.
Simon (later to be known as Peter), Andrew, James, and John were invited to follow Jesus, learn God's ways, and share with others the good news of God's love. It seems to be a call to be together - and in ministry.
In what ways are we called to be together?
What are we called to do?
Are we living into those calls?
To post your own comment:
- click on "comments" and type in your notes,
- include your name at the bottom
- click the box next to "Comment as:" and select "Anonymous"
- then click on "Post Comment"
You can also reply by email to pastorsusank@gmail.com.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Jeremiah 18:1-4 The Work of God's Hands
In this text, Jeremiah the prophet is called by God to go to the house of a potter. There he observes the potter at work - beginning a creation, finding it not to his liking, collapsing the vessel, compressing the clay, and beginning again. And the word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah, making the work of the potter a metaphor for the way God works with (in this case) communities and nations.
If we read a little further, we hear Jeremiah sharing both a word of warning and a word of encouragement. If Israel turns from evil, God "will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring upon it"; but then, if Israel does evil, God will again change course, and not bring about the intended good.
Usually, we hear this passage in an individual way - God is the potter, and we are the clay. Surely, that is true. But it is also true that in this case, the text really addresses the community - the nation of Israel. Thus we are invited to think about the sovereign power of God, the issue of free will, and the possibility that God might change course in mid-stream (in response to human action?).
So what do you think?
- Is God's "plan" a fixed and determined course of events?
Then what about our free will?
- How does this text speak to your life individually?
What about our life together as a church?
- What does this say about the covenant, the promise, God has made
to be God, and to claim the people as God's own?
To post your own comment:
- click on "comments" and type in your notes,
- include your name at the bottom
- click the box next to "Comment as:" and select "Anonymous"
- then click on "Post Comment"
You can also reply by email to pastorsusank@gmail.com.
If we read a little further, we hear Jeremiah sharing both a word of warning and a word of encouragement. If Israel turns from evil, God "will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring upon it"; but then, if Israel does evil, God will again change course, and not bring about the intended good.
Usually, we hear this passage in an individual way - God is the potter, and we are the clay. Surely, that is true. But it is also true that in this case, the text really addresses the community - the nation of Israel. Thus we are invited to think about the sovereign power of God, the issue of free will, and the possibility that God might change course in mid-stream (in response to human action?).
So what do you think?
- Is God's "plan" a fixed and determined course of events?
Then what about our free will?
- How does this text speak to your life individually?
What about our life together as a church?
- What does this say about the covenant, the promise, God has made
to be God, and to claim the people as God's own?
To post your own comment:
- click on "comments" and type in your notes,
- include your name at the bottom
- click the box next to "Comment as:" and select "Anonymous"
- then click on "Post Comment"
You can also reply by email to pastorsusank@gmail.com.
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