Sunday, April 19, 2020 - Rest, Renew, Refocus

Rest, Renew, Refocus

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Luke 24:13-35

The Walk to Emmaus

¹³ That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. ¹⁶ But God kept them from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. ¹⁸ Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

¹⁹ “What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people.²⁰ But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him.²¹ We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

²² “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. ²³ They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! ²⁴ Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

²⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.²⁶ Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” ²⁷ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, ²⁹ but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. ³⁰ As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

³² They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” ³³ And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, ³⁴ who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”

³⁵ Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.

Questions for Discussion

1. What are you doing to rest and take care of yourself during this time of pandemic?
2. What acts of renewal have you done during this time?  What is important to you now? What is not so important? 
3. What will you do to refocus?  What do you feel Jesus is calling you to plan to do?  

Sunday, February 23 - Just Listen

Just Listen 

Matthew 17:1-5 The Message (MSG)

17 1-3 Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.

4 Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”

5 While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”

1.  Have you ever had an experience in your life when suddenly you realized that something extraordinary was happening?  How did you react?  

2.  Jesus and his disciples are getting ready to move towards Jerusalem.  It is important for them to “just listen”.  Look ahead in your Bibles in the book of Matthew (past chapter 17), what messages do you think were particularly important for the disciples?

3.  It is important for us to “just listen” today.  What message do you think Jesus has to give us today?  

4.  How can we better listen for the voice of Jesus during this Lenten season?

January 26, 2020 - Prayer

Common Prayer 

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

Check back later this weekend for discussion questions. 

Sunday, December 29 - God is Near

Sunday, December 29

God is Near - God is Here 

John 1:1-14 (NLT) 

Personal Refection and Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. Reflect or share about your Christmas.  How does this Christmas compare with your other Christmas experiences?  
2. Reflect on the winters of your life.  If you are comfortable share about these winters experiences with others.  
3. Reflect on Kate Bowlers statement..."What if rich did not have to mean wealthy, and whole did not have to mean healed?  What if being people of 'the gospel' meant that we are simply people with good news?  God is here.  We are loved.  It is enough."  What do those words mean to you?
4. What season are you in right now?  

Sunday, November 24 - Being Thankful

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Colossians 

1:3-6 (NLT) 

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

If you listened to my sermon you know that I suggested either reading the Book of Colossians or watching a video about it.  Click here to go to the Bible Project webpage about the Book of Colossians.  As you scroll down on that page you will see the video.  Click on the video and enjoy a wonderful overview of the book.  

Now back to the content of the actual sermon.  Below are some question to think about on your own, with your family or your small group. 

1. Do you remember when you first understood the Good News of Jesus Christ?  How did this "Good News" change your life?  
2. What are some practical ways that you can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others during Advent and Christmas? How can you love your neighbors?  
3. In the sermon I talked about Jen Hatmaker's book, 7 Days of Christmas: A Season of Generosity.  The sever ares were the kitchen, fashion, stuff, streaming, tossing, spending and stressing.  Which of these areas get a little of our control for you in your life?  How can you take them back during Advent and Christmas?  How can you be more generous with the world and with others in these areas?  

Sunday, September 22 - Dinner Church 2.0 - What's Your Label?

What's Your Label? 

Mark 2:13-17 (NLT)

13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

From the sermon..."We look at each other and put labels on each other…some labels are not meant to hurt…like seasonal resident or Villager…but sometimes when we give a label it does hurt…on the surface there is nothing harmful about the label…progressive or conservative.  But I have seen these labels used in the most hurtful ways…and then sometimes we give a label and we mean for it to hurt…there is no mistaking that when we call someone a failure what we mean by that…we also give ourselves labels…as an excuse for why we can’t do something but we hurt ourselves..."

1. What labels have you given others? Why did you give others those labels? 
2. What labels have other given you?  How did the labels make you feel?  Do you still carry these labels?  
3. What labels have you given yourself? Why did you give yourself these labels?  Do you still carry them?  

Jesus was all about and is all about helping people lose their labels and discover that the only label they need is "loved".  

1. What is one thing you can do today to help other people know they are love? 
2. What is something you can do to be more like Jesus?  To get out into the world?
3. Have you put the Pot Luck on your calendar yet?  

Friday, October 4 at 6 p.m. — Christian Life Center 

As we prepare to celebrate World Communion Sunday and our connection with people around the world, join us for a pot-luck dinner (bring a dish for sharing that serves 10 people), great fellowship, and a Mission & Outreach Fair. We will have information about our projects, along with inspiring stories about the difference God is making in people’s lives around the world through our Outreach & Mission. Bring a dish to share, an expectant heart, and don’t forget to bring a friend! For more information, contact Donna & Jonathan Baker at jonbaker@comcast.net.

Sunday, August 18 - Raise a Hallelujah

Raise a Hallelujah

Hebrews 11:29-12:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

1. What was your favorite Bible Story from your childhood?  Why was this story your favorite?  What does the story teach you about faith?
2. If you only every hear stories that have “happy endings” from the Bible how might this affect your view of God or your concept of faith?
3. Who is in your “great cloud of witnesses”?  Do you have a Ms. Joyce story you can tell your small group or a friend?  If so share that story.
4. In my sermon I talked about leaning into the Means of Grace (prayer, reading and studying scripture, gathering in small groups, worshiping, taking communion and serving), what can you do this week to lean into these practices?