The Pastor’s Blog
Home Study for October 22 to 27, 2012
Monday – Read John 1:4-5, John 8:12, II Corinthians 4:6
What does it mean that Jesus is the “light of the world?”
Whose light does He shine? What does He give light to?
What light is to shine out of us?
How do you need Jesus to shine His light in your life? Ask Him.
Tuesday – Read I John 3:7-10
Why did Jesus come?
What is the devil’s work?
How did Jesus destroy it?
How does this apply to the world?
How does this apply to your life?
What do you want/need to say to Jesus today?
Wednesday – Read I Corinthians 15:3-11
How many people did Jesus appear to after His resurrection and before His ascension into heaven? Why is this important?
How do you think the lives of these people were changed?
How was Paul changed when Jesus appeared to Him?
Where do you need Jesus to work in your life in these days?
Invite Him to come into that area of your life.
Thursday – Read Acts 16:16-43
How did Jesus use Paul and Silas in this jail?
How did they shine the light of Jesus in that dark place?
How did Jesus use them to step into the lives of other people?
How does Jesus want to use you to share His love and truth with the people in your life?
What is Jesus saying to you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Matthew 5:13-16
How are we as the followers of Jesus the salt of the earth?
How are we the light of the world?
What do we need in our lives to be effective salt and light?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Nehemiah 1:1 to 2:9
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OREGONIAN’S IMPACT ON 30 NATIONS DURING THE OLYMPICS
October 24 at 7pm
grad, Rich Swingle (1987), tells how his performances and workshops reached people
from at least 30 different countries and every populated continent during the London
Games. It will be presented for the first time to a public audience on October 24, 7pm, at
Medford Friends Church, which Swingle attended throughout high school. Admission is
free. An offering will be taken to raise funds for Swingle’s upcoming performances
throughout Africa.
Beyond the Chariots (www.RichDrama.com/BeyondTheChariots) and taught drama
workshops in Puerto Rico, Romania and London.
of Fire story: How, after refusing to run on a Sunday in the 100m and breaking the world
record in the 400m at the 1924 Paris Olympics, Eric Liddell left fame and fortune behind
to be a missionary in China. Swingle’s one-man play shows Liddell teaching and
coaching track until the Japanese Invasion. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Allied
nationals were interned throughout China. In the documentary Swingle shares how an
encounter with Liddell’s daughters at the Eric Liddell Awards inspired a new ending to
the play he’s been performing since 2004. The Eric Liddell Awards honored two
Olympians.
translation. Swingle’s documentary shows the power of drama across language
barriers.
stops on Swingle’s journey, and the focus is how powerfully drama can impact people
from a wide variety of cultures.
In London Swingle received invitations to perform and teach in South Africa,
Malawi and Nigeria. Swingle hopes to add those stops to a trip to Kenya to perform and
teach at a conference at the Rift Valley Academy, where his grandparents, Dr. Clifford
and Hilda Miller served as dorm parents. The Millers, now deceased, were both active
in the Rogue Valley. Dr. Miller taught history at Southern Oregon State University, and
Hilda Miller spoke through Women’s Aglow. Swingle’s mother, Judy Swingle, was a
student at Rift Valley Academy. She continues to work as a medical transcriptionist at
the Rogue Valley Medical Center.
Swingle has performed and/or taught in 25 nations on five continents, but this will
be his first trip to Africa.
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Home Study for October 15 through 20, 2012
Monday – Read Matthew 28:16-20
What changed the disciples’ doubt to confidence and action?
In whose power were they, and are we, called to serve?
What confidence and hope does it give you to know that Jesus is with us always?
What does this inspire you to do for Him?
Tuesday – Read John 14:1-13
What promises does Jesus make to us here?
What do we need to do to allow these promises to be a reality in our lives?
What does Jesus want to do through you?
What will you do?
Wednesday – Read John 17:20-26
What does Jesus pray for us here?
Why doesn’t He pray for God to take us out of the world?
What id Jesus’ plan for our lives on earth and in eternity?
What can you do to better partner with Him in that plan?
Thursday – Read Romans 8:28-39
As we walk with Jesus, in what kinds of situations are we more than conquerors?
What does it take for us to live in that kind of victory?
How complete is God’s love for you?
What does this mean to you?
How can you live more fully in His love and power?
Friday- Read Hebrews 13:1-8
What does God call us to do in these verses?
What does He promise us?
How does knowing that God will never leave nor forsake us empower us to do what He calls us to here?
What can you do to better live in the reality of God’s presence in your life?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read John 20:24-31
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Home Study for October 8 through 13, 2012
Monday – Read I Corinthians 12:1-13
What should be the defining character quality of believers?
What good are our good works without it?
Why does God give us such a clear definition of love?
Why is love the greatest?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read Luke 6:43-45
Why are our words so powerful? Why is this especially true in the context of marriage and family?
If we don’t like the words we hear coming out of our mouths what should we be examining?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read James 3:13-18
From where/who do we get true wisdom and understanding?
What kind of fruit should God’s wisdom produce in us?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read James 4:1-10
What causes fights and quarrels?
What can we do to break the cycle?
How do love and respect help us to communicate more effectively?
Why does humbling ourselves before the Lord also improve the quality of our lives and relationships?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read I Peter 4:7-11
How does this passage apply to the relationship of marriage?
How does it apply to our other relationships?
How is the love shown by believers a witness to Jesus in our lives?
How can we be sure that we’re speaking and serving as God desires?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 3:13-17
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