1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (New International Version)
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Footnotes:
a.1 Corinthians 12:13 Or with; or in
Romans 12:4-8 (New International Version)
4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[a]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Footnotes:
a.Romans 12:6 Or in agreement with the
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Faith Questions - Church
We are on a new series of questions. These questions pertain to the church. The first two questions were "Why do we sing in church?" and "Why do we worship on Sunday?"
This week we will be exploring "Why do you go to church if you believe in God?"
The Bible readings are: 1Corinthians 12: 12 - 26 and Romans 12: 4-8
Maybe I will see you Sunday!
This week we will be exploring "Why do you go to church if you believe in God?"
The Bible readings are: 1Corinthians 12: 12 - 26 and Romans 12: 4-8
Maybe I will see you Sunday!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Bible Reading - How do I forgive?
Genesis 50:15-21 (New International Version)
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Week 5 Bible Readings
Matthew 18:21-35 (New International Version)
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[b] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Footnotes:
a.Matthew 18:22 Or seventy times seven
b.Matthew 18:24 That is, millions of dollars
c.Matthew 18:28 That is, a few dollars
Proverbs 17:9 (New International Version)
9 He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[b] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Footnotes:
a.Matthew 18:22 Or seventy times seven
b.Matthew 18:24 That is, millions of dollars
c.Matthew 18:28 That is, a few dollars
Proverbs 17:9 (New International Version)
9 He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
Forgiveness Week 4
• Have you ever thought God was unfair? If so, what was the situation?
• How far do you think God’s mercy extends? Is anything unforgivable?
• What situation needs to experience God’s extravagant mercy? How can your family help?
Forgiveness Week 4
• Have you ever thought God was unfair? If so, what was the situation?
• How far do you think God’s mercy extends? Is anything unforgivable?
• What situation needs to experience God’s extravagant mercy? How can your family help?
Forgiveness Week 4
There are several scripture readings this week.
The question for the week is: "Is Anything Unforgivable?"
Matthew 20: 1-15; Jonah 3:5, 10; 4: 1-11
Matthew 20:1-15 (New International Version)
Matthew 20
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5So they went.
"He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'
7" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.
"He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'
8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'
9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'
13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
Jonah 3:5 New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Jonah 3:1010 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 4:1-11 (New International Version)
Jonah 4
Jonah's Anger at the Lord 's Compassion
1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
4 But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"
5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."
9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"
"I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die."
10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
The question for the week is: "Is Anything Unforgivable?"
Matthew 20: 1-15; Jonah 3:5, 10; 4: 1-11
Matthew 20:1-15 (New International Version)
Matthew 20
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5So they went.
"He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'
7" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.
"He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'
8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'
9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'
13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
Jonah 3:5 New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Jonah 3:1010 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 4:1-11 (New International Version)
Jonah 4
Jonah's Anger at the Lord 's Compassion
1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
4 But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"
5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."
9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"
"I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die."
10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
Friday, March 26, 2010
David and Bathsheba
Have you read the story??? What do you think? What does this story tell us about sin and forgiveness? Things to think about:
Are there consequences for sin?
Can we stray from God's grace?
How do we receive the newness of life that is ours in Christ?
Don't forget to also read Romans 6: 1-4.
Are there consequences for sin?
Can we stray from God's grace?
How do we receive the newness of life that is ours in Christ?
Don't forget to also read Romans 6: 1-4.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Biblegateway link
Oops, the link is on the left. Once you get to Bible Gateway you must type in the book with chapter and verses that you are searching for as well as the version in which you wish to read it. You might want to try New International, New Living, or Contemporary English.
Good luck and let me know how it goes. This is the story of David and Bathsheeba - it's pretty racey stuff!
Grace
Good luck and let me know how it goes. This is the story of David and Bathsheeba - it's pretty racey stuff!
Grace
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Question for the week & Bible readings
If we are all so bad,why doesn't God just start over in another world?
2 Samuel 11:1 - 12:14
Romans 6: 1-4
Try the Bible Gateway link on the right to find the Bible verses!
2 Samuel 11:1 - 12:14
Romans 6: 1-4
Try the Bible Gateway link on the right to find the Bible verses!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Forgiveness, Bible reading
Here is an additional Bible reading for the week. It is Psalm 51. I will post it in Today's English Version. See what you think. I personally love the Psalms. Somehow they always "speak to me".
Psalm 51
(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)
A Prayer for Forgiveness
1You are kind, God!
Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
Please wipe away my sins.
2Wash me clean from all
of my sin and guilt.
3I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
my terrible guilt.
4You are really the one
I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
to correct and punish me.
5I have sinned and done wrong
since the day I was born.
6But you want complete honesty,
so teach me true wisdom.
7Wash me with hyssop [a] until I am clean
and whiter than snow.
8Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
now let them celebrate.
9Turn your eyes from my sin
and cover my guilt.
10Create pure thoughts in me
and make me faithful again.
11Don't chase me away from you
or take your Holy Spirit
away from me.
12Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
make me want to obey!
13I will teach sinners your Law,
and they will return to you.
14Keep me from any deadly sin.
Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
about your power to save.
15Help me to speak,
and I will praise you, Lord.
16Offerings and sacrifices
are not what you want.
17The way to please you
is to feel sorrow
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won't refuse.
18Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
and to rebuild its walls.
19Then you will be pleased
with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
on your altar once again.
Footnotes:
a.Psalm 51:7 hyssop: A small bush with bunches of small, white flowers. It was sometimes used as a symbol for making a person clean from sin.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
Psalm 51
(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)
A Prayer for Forgiveness
1You are kind, God!
Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
Please wipe away my sins.
2Wash me clean from all
of my sin and guilt.
3I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
my terrible guilt.
4You are really the one
I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
to correct and punish me.
5I have sinned and done wrong
since the day I was born.
6But you want complete honesty,
so teach me true wisdom.
7Wash me with hyssop [a] until I am clean
and whiter than snow.
8Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
now let them celebrate.
9Turn your eyes from my sin
and cover my guilt.
10Create pure thoughts in me
and make me faithful again.
11Don't chase me away from you
or take your Holy Spirit
away from me.
12Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
make me want to obey!
13I will teach sinners your Law,
and they will return to you.
14Keep me from any deadly sin.
Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
about your power to save.
15Help me to speak,
and I will praise you, Lord.
16Offerings and sacrifices
are not what you want.
17The way to please you
is to feel sorrow
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won't refuse.
18Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
and to rebuild its walls.
19Then you will be pleased
with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
on your altar once again.
Footnotes:
a.Psalm 51:7 hyssop: A small bush with bunches of small, white flowers. It was sometimes used as a symbol for making a person clean from sin.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
Monday, March 15, 2010
Family Connections
Here are some discussion questions for you and your family. After you read the Bible selections in Genesis and Ephesians maybe you can discuss these - or perhaps just meditate upon them by yourself!
• What would the world be like if there was no sin and therefore forgiveness wasn’t necessary?
• What do you wish you’d never done? How can you release it into God’s mercy and forgive yourself?
• Is forgiveness—by God, or of one another—dependent on repentance?
• What impact does our salvation in Christ have on the earth and its inhabitants?
• What would the world be like if there was no sin and therefore forgiveness wasn’t necessary?
• What do you wish you’d never done? How can you release it into God’s mercy and forgive yourself?
• Is forgiveness—by God, or of one another—dependent on repentance?
• What impact does our salvation in Christ have on the earth and its inhabitants?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Why did God make humanity so sinful?
Bible verses for the week are Ephesians2: 1-10; Genesis 2: 15- 18; 3:1-13
Ephesians 2:1-10 (New International Version)
Ephesians 2Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Footnotes:
a.Ephesians 2:3 Or our flesh
Genesis 2:15-18 (New International Version)
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Genesis 3
The Fall of Man
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Ephesians 2:1-10 (New International Version)
Ephesians 2Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Footnotes:
a.Ephesians 2:3 Or our flesh
Genesis 2:15-18 (New International Version)
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Genesis 3
The Fall of Man
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Friday, March 12, 2010
Psalm 103
What is your favorite verses in this Psalm? I like the last verse 22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
This psalm could be divided into 4 sections(as per The New Interpreters Study Bible).
section 1 vs 1-5 soliloquy on God's goodness and mercy
section 2 vs 6-14 recital of God's demonstrated love protection and forgiveness
section 3 vs 15-18 a meditation contrasting human fraity to God's steadfastness
section 4 vs 19-22 summons to the entire universe to join in praise to God.
This psalm could be divided into 4 sections(as per The New Interpreters Study Bible).
section 1 vs 1-5 soliloquy on God's goodness and mercy
section 2 vs 6-14 recital of God's demonstrated love protection and forgiveness
section 3 vs 15-18 a meditation contrasting human fraity to God's steadfastness
section 4 vs 19-22 summons to the entire universe to join in praise to God.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Anybody out there?
I keep thinking that I will open up this blog one morning and see that someone else has written a comment. Maybe someone can join the "conversation". How about it high school students????
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Questions for the week
Session 1
• Why does God love? What motivates God to continue loving us?
• How have you experienced God’s steadfast love and mercy?
• How have you experienced God’s forgiveness?
• How would we, in our own family, treat each other if we viewed each other through God’s eyes?
• Why does God love? What motivates God to continue loving us?
• How have you experienced God’s steadfast love and mercy?
• How have you experienced God’s forgiveness?
• How would we, in our own family, treat each other if we viewed each other through God’s eyes?
What motivates God to keep loving us?
This week starts a new quarter and also a new set of questions. The topic is "Forgiveness" and this week's question is "What motivates God to keep loving us?"
The Bible verses for this week's study are listed below.
Psalm 103 (New International Version)
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
John 3:16-17 (New International Version)
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Footnotes:
a.John 3:16 Or his only begotten Son
The Bible verses for this week's study are listed below.
Psalm 103 (New International Version)
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
John 3:16-17 (New International Version)
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Footnotes:
a.John 3:16 Or his only begotten Son
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Grocery Bags
I ordered re-recyclable grocery bags this morning. I am not 100% sure this is a good use of resources because it takes so much to make these bags, but I am going to give them a try. The idea is to keep them in your car and take them into the store and then you don't need those "paper or plastic" ones. We shall see if they work for me........as long as I remember to take them into the store with me.
Monday, March 1, 2010
What can you recycle this week?
I think Jesus would want us to recycle. he might even prefer us to buy used clothes. But wow! That would be hard to do. This week I am washing out those bi-metal cans. I guess I'll start doing that again until I get cut. What are you doing this week to conserve?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Feb 28, 2010 Bible verses
Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)
Do Not Worry
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Footnotes:
a.Matthew 6:27 Or single cubit to his height
Do Not Worry
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Footnotes:
a.Matthew 6:27 Or single cubit to his height
What would Jesus recycle?
The scripture for today's question is Matthew 6: 25-34.
There are several questions to consider when applying this to our modern life.
What is jesus saying in these verses about our priorities in life?
Many people say we should live simply. What does that mean with regards to how we use the earth's resources?
Jesus says that many people worry about what they eat
and drink, what their body looks like, and what they
wear. Do you know people like this? Are you like this?
Why do you think people can be like this?
• What does a follower of Jesus Christ care about when
it comes to buying clothes or food?
• What are some normal cultural comforts that you use
that are not so good for the earth or for other people
in the world? What are some product choices or food
choices that you have made in order to be a good ecosteward?
• This passage says that God takes care of the birds and
flowers. Is God still caring for nature, or has God given
up, or have humans overwhelmed God, or what?
• If, as Jesus says, we are of more value than birds and
flowers, can we trust that God will fix the environmental
problems of our world?
• If you really trust God, as this passage also urges, why
should you do anything to conserve?
• Some people might think that verse 34 tells them not
to worry about how creation will be taken care of in
the coming generations. What do you think this verse
means?
Express
Use the following questions to help the young people
express what they’ve learned. Also, consider discussing the
questions from Engage again to see if anyone has any new
perspectives after exploring the Bible passages.
• How many of your friends and family members
regularly recycle as many items as possible?
• Is recycling a regular part of your lifestyle? Why or
why not?
• Do you consider recycling an “eco-mandment” (an
ecological commandment we learn from the values
expressed in the Bible) or just something extra to do?
• Should we expect everyone to recycle? Is it sinful to not
recycle?
(I just was able to cut and paste. Hope you enjoy this post!!! Peace and love,
Grace)
There are several questions to consider when applying this to our modern life.
What is jesus saying in these verses about our priorities in life?
Many people say we should live simply. What does that mean with regards to how we use the earth's resources?
Jesus says that many people worry about what they eat
and drink, what their body looks like, and what they
wear. Do you know people like this? Are you like this?
Why do you think people can be like this?
• What does a follower of Jesus Christ care about when
it comes to buying clothes or food?
• What are some normal cultural comforts that you use
that are not so good for the earth or for other people
in the world? What are some product choices or food
choices that you have made in order to be a good ecosteward?
• This passage says that God takes care of the birds and
flowers. Is God still caring for nature, or has God given
up, or have humans overwhelmed God, or what?
• If, as Jesus says, we are of more value than birds and
flowers, can we trust that God will fix the environmental
problems of our world?
• If you really trust God, as this passage also urges, why
should you do anything to conserve?
• Some people might think that verse 34 tells them not
to worry about how creation will be taken care of in
the coming generations. What do you think this verse
means?
Express
Use the following questions to help the young people
express what they’ve learned. Also, consider discussing the
questions from Engage again to see if anyone has any new
perspectives after exploring the Bible passages.
• How many of your friends and family members
regularly recycle as many items as possible?
• Is recycling a regular part of your lifestyle? Why or
why not?
• Do you consider recycling an “eco-mandment” (an
ecological commandment we learn from the values
expressed in the Bible) or just something extra to do?
• Should we expect everyone to recycle? Is it sinful to not
recycle?
(I just was able to cut and paste. Hope you enjoy this post!!! Peace and love,
Grace)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
What does the Old Testament say about taking care of creation?
Bible selections to read:
Genesis 13:2-12
Leviticus 25:1-7
Isaiah 32:16-20; 40:10-12
Sorry I can't cut and paste these for you into this post but I will try to copy a link to a Bible site so you can look them up on-line. Let's see if it works
http://www.biblegateway.com
Genesis 13:2-12
Leviticus 25:1-7
Isaiah 32:16-20; 40:10-12
Sorry I can't cut and paste these for you into this post but I will try to copy a link to a Bible site so you can look them up on-line. Let's see if it works
http://www.biblegateway.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Hi there!
Dear Senior High Students,
I hope you can access this blog. I also hope and pray that we can use this site to discuss issues of faith and perhaps study the Bible together.
This site has been set up to be open only to the people whose email address is entered into the security setting. SO if you are viewing this, you have given me your e-mail address.
Our first topic for this blog will be "Creation". I am basing my entries on the curriculum series called "Faith Questions".
Peace and Love,
Grace Caves
I hope you can access this blog. I also hope and pray that we can use this site to discuss issues of faith and perhaps study the Bible together.
This site has been set up to be open only to the people whose email address is entered into the security setting. SO if you are viewing this, you have given me your e-mail address.
Our first topic for this blog will be "Creation". I am basing my entries on the curriculum series called "Faith Questions".
Peace and Love,
Grace Caves
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