Thursday, March 7 - 40 Days Luke

Thursday, March 7, 2019 

Don’t Be Afraid

Welcome to the second day of emails, the first day of reading. One of the most important things about this study is going to be the importance of finding a routine.  I know in my own personal Bible reading time if I try to commit to read and study without routine I often fail.  I encourage you to think about when and where you are going to participate in this study each day.  If you miss a day, it is okay.  Just catch up the best that you can.  The important thing is to not quit and to keep on moving forward.  A routine takes a while to establish. 

Activity for the Day:  Write down in your journal (Do you have a journal yet?  If not just use a piece of paper) when and where you are going to participate in this study each day.  Make a commitment between yourself and God to establish this routine of daily study.     

Now, hopefully, you are in a comfortable spot, possibly with a cup of coffee or tea and you have established when you will study.  It’s time to start.  Sit back, say a little prayer for your heart and mind to be open, and then open your Bible and let’s see what God has planned for you in these 40 days.  

Read: Luke 1:1-56

Questions to Consider:

1.     How do you think you would respond if you saw an angel? 

2.    What is the same and what is different in how Zechariah and Mary responded to the angel? 

3.    Have you ever been asked to do something that seemed impossible?  How did you react? 

Blessings, 

Kristyne

Wednesday, March 6 - Ash Wednesday - 40 Days Luke

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 – Ash Wednesday 

Welcome to Lent!  Welcome to 40 days in the Book of Luke!  

As I said in my welcome video, I am passionate about the Means of Grace and I want us all to grow in our ability to connect with and love God. Elaine Heath, in her book Five Means of Gracesays that the Means of Grace are “a pathway for her to encounter the healing, peaceful, loving presence of God.”  Our goal during this study is to develop a daily habit of Bible reading. Throughout this study we will also learn about the other Means of Grace and how to incorporate them into our lives.  

As a reminder, each day you will receive an email from Pastor Jim or myself.  Each email will include a reading assignment, a video to watch, some questions for you to consider and a daily activity for you to complete.  If you ever have any questions during the study or do not receive your daily email, please email me at kyoung@ncumcfl.com.  

If you do not have a Bible yet, today is the day to go and get one. 

·     If you are new to reading the Bible I would encourage that you read from the NLT (New Living Translation).  If you have been reading the Bible for a while I suggest that you read from the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version).  

·     You might want to use a Study Bible.  I enjoy usingThe HarperCollins Study Bible(NRSV), the New Interpreter’s Study Bible(NRSV) or Life Application Study Bible(NLT)

Your activity for today is to watch this link about Lent and then to attend our Ash Wednesday service at 6pm.  If you woke up early there may still be time swing by Lake Deaton in your golf cart or car for drive-thru ashes.  Pastor Jim and I will be out on the golf cart path and in the parking lot starting at 7am until 8:30am.  I am truly excited about this journey we are taking together.  

Blessings, 

Kristyne 

Love Never Gives Up and Endures Forever

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.  

1 Corinthians 12:12-22, 26-27

Discussion Questions: 

1. It is a hard thing to love people.  Is there a time in your life when someone has struggled to love you?  How did this make you feel?  Share about this.
2. We all struggle to love someone.  Who do you struggle to love?  How can you make your circle larger and grow in love for those you struggle to love?  
3. What gift might "the other" bring to the Body of Christ that you are not able to bring?  
4. What is your dream for our local church?  

Sunday, December 30

Psalm 8:  Divine Majesty and Human Dignity

Want to know more about Epiphany?  Click here to watch this fun and short video!  

Before your group talks about the discussion questions please take out a Bible and read Psalm 8.

Also, talk about an aha moment from the sermon on Sunday and a moment that challenged you.   

Small Faith Group Discussion Questions

1. What fun things have you been doing for the 12 days of Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus?  
2. Have you every had a time when you have seen the stars and the moon, or some other part of nature and been overcome by the glory of Gods creation?  Tell about that time.  
3. What do you think it means that we have dominion over creation?  What is our responsibility towards creation?  
4. What are 2 or 3 things you can do in 2019 to reduce your footprint in creation?  
5. We are also called to have responsibility for all of humanity, what can you do in 2019 to love other people?  

Journey to Joy - Third Sunday of Advent

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  ~Hebrews 11:1-2

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.  ~John 1:14

There are no sermon discussion questions for this week.  This week simply tell stories.  Tell your stories of faith.  Tell your stories of Eisenhower Rec. Center.  Tell your stories of Lake Deaton.  Tell your stories of Jesus.  And listen to the stories of others.  

Thankful Heart

Colossians 3:12-17

¹² As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. ¹³ Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  

Small Faith Group Discussion and Questions

In Sunday's sermon I talked a bit about how we are the image of God.  If you would like to unpack that a little bit I recommend that you and your group click here to watch a video from the Bible Project about The Image of God.  This will help you better understand what it means that you are the Image of God.  When you are finished watching talk with your group about your aha moments from the video.  

Discussion Questions from the sermon

1. Share with your group your most memorable Christmas. 
2. Share with your group things you are most thankful for.
3. Has there been a time in the last month when you have taken off the garment of Jesus?  Tell about that time to the group.  
4. What practices in your live could you take up to help you keep on the garment of Jesus?  
5. What are you going to do during Advent to be a blessing to those who are less fortunate than you? 
6. Have you signed up for Journey to Joy?  If not click on this link and sign up now. 

In your devotion this week or as you meet with your Faith Group discuss the following Wesley Challenge question:  Is Jesus real to me? (p. 19)

Would you like to know more about the book of Colossians?  Click on this link and watch this Bible Project video. 

Made for Shalom: Heart of Peace

Heart of Peace

Matthew 5:43-48 (NRSV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Watch this TED talk about 10 ways to have a better conversation.  While you are listening write down the 10 ways.  When you finish talk with your group about the 10 ways. 

1. Which ways are you good at? 
2. Which ways are you not so good at?
3. Why is it important to have better conversations?

Take turns with a partner having a better conversation.  Talk about why you are a Christian. Make sure you follow the 10 ways. 

From the Sermon

1. When have you treated a person as an object?  Share about this time. 
2. How could that time have been different if you had a heart at peace?
3. What could you do this week to shift the energy level of the planet? 

In your devotion this week or as you meet with your Faith Group discuss the following Wesley Challenge question:  Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward, or disregard? (p. 117)