Sunday in Review – 10/14/18

Today, the Franklin’s hosted, Simeon read the children’s story and Justin preached the sermon.

The Story–

Jesus is starting to do His Father’s work. He comes to the place where John is preaching and both times, John points Him out in the crowd. Andrew and John follow Jesus and become disciples. Then they bring Simon and Jesus re-names him Peter. After that, Philip and Nathaniel come to Jesus too. Jesus is starting His preaching ministry.

The Sermon–

Last week, we read about the anointing of Saul and this week, we started off the sermon by reading of David’s anointing. (1 Samuel 16)

What does it mean that God can see the inside of you?

  • He can see your thoughts
  • God looks at your character.
  • He can see your potential.

Again, God does not look at your outward beauty, but at your heart!

So how should that impact our daily life and what we do?

  • God will see your heart whether or not you’re actually trying to glorify Him.
  • Psalm 139 — we can’t fool God, but we can fool ourselves.
  • There is no point in trying to pretty up the outside when the inside is the thing that needs the attention the most.

God is not judging our lives on how many people we bring to Him, or how much money we donate to the church or other causes.

God did not come to save the rich or beautiful. We should try to look at people the way God judges them.

Sunday in Review – 10/7/18

Today, Tracy and Mary hosted, Justin read the story, and Simeon preached.

The Story-

Israel decides that they want a king and Samuel anoints Saul.

The Sermon-

Simeon is still going through Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

What does it mean to love God? We can think about it means to love people. How do we know?

  • Those are the ones you care about
  • They’re your priorities
  • You like to spend time with them
  • You’re fond of them

What is your heart?

  • The seat of your emotions
  • Your conscience
  • Your inner-self/the real you
  • Central key element
  • The fount of your personality

What is your soul?

  • The eternal thing
  • Your essence

Your mind?

  • How you think

Your strength?

  • Your energy
  • With your all

We read through…

  • Stephanie read Luke 7:36-50 — you need to realize all that Jesus has done for you!
  • Tracy read John 15:8-15 –we are more than servants, we are friends of Jesus!

Love leads to obedience and joy — happiness! We find happiness in loving God.

Making a habit of praying before meals, and memorizing scripture are good ways to turn back to God. Communion (another way) is a thing that calls our hearts back to God.

The Jesus Creed encourages us to pursue loving God.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Sunday in Review – 9/30/18

Today was the last service of September. The Franklin’s hosted, Simeon read the story, and Justin preached the sermon.

The Story-

Jesus is now full of the Holy Spirit and disappears into the wilderness to pray to His Father. He stays there 40 days and nights without eating and then Satan shows up. Satan tempted Jesus three different times, but He refuses every one.

The Sermon-

What does it mean that God loves us?

  • Josh read Exodus 34:5-9
  • April read Hosea 2
  • Stephanie read Hosea 11
  • Simeon read Hosea 14

Back to the original question: What does it mean that God loves us?

  • He is still with us no matter what we do.
  • He does good and kind things for us even if we don’t understand.
  • We don’t know the right things and He needs to guide us.
  • We then talked about the metaphors between Israel and God — Husband and wife, Father and child.

Josh read Hebrews 12:3-10

I think we tend to look at God’s love as stoic or merely benevolent, but it’s actually very passionate! God is continually seeking our gain, He wants us pure! God loves us all equally.

This connects with the lost sheep parable. The sheep was being fervently sought for and once it was found, they celebrated!

Sunday in Review – 9/2/18

Hello! Today the Wolfes hosted, Justin read the story, and Simeon preached.

The story–

Today’s story talked about Samuel working in the tabernacle. God calls out to Samuel in the night and prepares him to be a great prophet.

The sermon–

“Jesus Creed” by Scot McKnight

Jude read Mark 1:9-15 and Simeon read a few other verses with Kingdom references.

Questions: What do Jesus’ audience think about Him and His teachings?

Simeon recommends reading through all of Matthew 13 sometime – we read Matthew 13:31-35 and Matthew 13:44-46.

We talked about how Jesus references the Kingdom of God: Stop waiting for the Kingdom to come. The Kingdom is alive around you!