The Pastor’s Blog
Home Study for February 25 through March 2, 2013
Monday – Read Isaiah 55:1-9
Why are God’s ways and thoughts different from ours?
What difference does it make in our lives to know the God knows us and He knows the future?
If our thoughts and ways are in conflict with God’s thoughts and ways what should we do?
Tuesday – Read Proverbs 3:5-8
Why should we trust God rather than our own understanding?
What happens when we trust our understanding without consulting God? Has that ever happened to you?
What does God promise if we see and trust Him?
Is there anything in your life that you need to trust to God today?
Wednesday – Read Hebrews 11:1-10
How is faith different from hope?
Using these verses, write your own definition of faith.
How can faith in Jesus and in God’s plan for our lives transform the way we live?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read I Corinthians 3:10-15
What is the only foundation on which we can confidently build our lives?
In what way are our lives and work revealed for what they are?
How would you measure what you are building in your life?
How would God measure it?
How does this challenge you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Luke 18:18-30
Why was it so hard for the rich young man to follow Jesus?
What else can get in the way of following Him?
What has Jesus promised to everyone who radically follows Him?
What is Jesus saying to you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read John 3:1-21
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Home Study for February 18 through 23, 2013
Monday – Read Romans 12:1-8
What is significant about being a living sacrifice?
How do we live our lives as a sacrifice to the Lord?
How can we know God’s will for our lives?
What are we called to do in verses 3-8?
How are you doing?
Tuesday – Read Romans 12:9-16
What in these verses is the biggest challenge to you?
By whose power can we live this way?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Romans 12:17-21
How should we respond to those who have hurt us?
By whose power are we able to do that?
What comfort does verse 18 give you?
If put into practice, how could these verses transform our lives, family, community or the world?
Thursday – Read Romans 13:1-7
How do these verses apply to how we respond to the governing authorities in our lives, community and nation?
What are some ways we can express our concerns with the people over us but still lives up to the call in these verses?
How is God challenging you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Romans 13:8-14
Why are we as Christians to live in love and show love to all people?
This is simple to understand yet hard to do in our own power and love, so how can we do it?
Why does God call us to live in way that we can’t do on our own?
How are we to live in light of the times we live in? Why?
How might such a lifestyle help people to see Jesus?
Saturday – Read Nehemiah 12:27-47
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“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13
Faith, hope and love are three of the key words in all of scripture, which is not too surprising when we consider the roles of faith, hope and love in our lives and relationship with Jesus.
Faith is believing in what we have not seen. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Hope is looking forward to something with confident expectation. Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
The Greek word for love here is agape, God’s love, an unselfish love; a love that isn’t based on our worthiness to be loved but on God’s desire to love us. In Romans 5:8 we read, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Faith, hope and love are all key elements in our relationship with God, each is of major importance in its own right, and while everything else that seems so permanent in the world is gone, only those three things will remain. And yet, I Corinthians 13:13 tells us that the greatest is love.
The greatest is love because, as I John 4:16 tells us, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” Faith and hope are based on God while God is love, which truly makes love the greatest.
As we seek to grow in faith and hope, may we continually seek to know God better and be filled with more of His love, so we are able to reveal God to the people whose lives we touch.
God’s Grace and Peace,
Mark
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Impact Athletics invites you to a SUPERBOWL PARTY at the Circle Youth Ministry Center at Joy Christian Fellowship. Sunday, February 3, 2013. Doors open at 3 p.m. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. Join us for fun, games, and prizes along with a special halftime presentation. Admission is free. For more information call Dave Gomez.
Sunday, February 3, 2013 is Scout Sunday!
Scouting is 103 years old and Cubbing is 83! May God continue to bless the scouts in our Pack & Troop and throughout the world.
Watch for a display of scout items in the foyer this Sunday.
- An Opportunity to Serve
For years MFC has sponsored a Cub Scout Pack as a means of ministering to boys in our neighborhood. At the present time the pack is 3 enthusiastic and wonderful boys but we need more adult leaders and committee members. This is a great Hands and Feet of Jesus ministry and if you would like to serve in this ministry and touch the lives of boys in our neighborhood, or have questions, please contact Rita Bingham.
Blanket Drive Thank You
During our January blanket drive over four boxes of blankets and sleeping bags were given by our church body and delivered to ministries and agencies that work with homeless people in our community. Thank you for giving so generously and for helping to bring warmth into someone’s life.
All Church Potluck Sunday, February 17th
Please join for a time of fellowship after the Sunday School hour in the fellowship hall. Bring your favorite main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share. Our committees will be giving reports after we eat.
Ladies meetings for the month of February
Friends Women All ladies are invited and welcome to join us for sharing & caring fellowship. We will meet on Tuesday, February 12th, the meeting will be at the home of Dawn DuLong. Pam Shinn is co-hostess.
FWMF (Friends Women Missionary Fellowship) Our time together is spent in fellowship and learning about the work of our missionaries, their needs and the people to whom they minister. All ladies are welcome to join us at the home of Phebe McManama, Thursday, February 21st, at 10 a.m. A buffet luncheon will follow the meeting.
Financial Report
As was reported in worship on January 6, 2012, due to some generous end of the year giving, the updated report for December 2012 and year-to-date 2012 is as follows:
December 2012 Year-to-date
Income $35,379.82 $220.457.53
Expenses 17,776.84 220,053.37
Difference 17,602.98 404.16
We planned to balance our 2012 budget by using $6,000 from savings but going into December we had a deficit of $17,270. Thanks to some incredibly generous end of year giving we were able erase that deficit and end the year with a positive cash flow without touching our savings at all. Thank you to God who provides for all of our needs and thank you to everyone who gave to the ministries of Medford Friends Church as God has provided for you and prompted you to give.
January 2013
Income $13,492.00
Expenses 18,173.46
Difference -4,681.46
It is not unusual to begin a new year with a deficit and we are thankful to everyone who contributes to Medford Friends, sharing your time, talents, gifts and resources in the ministry of Jesus so we may fulfill God’s plan for us as His church.
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