Job has reached his limit, how do we respond when things go wrong for us?  How do we accompany others in hard days?  The struggle in dark days in present in every age, how do express our pain and grief in the face of hardship?  It is important to come together and give room to those expressions of hurt, even when the solutions are not always easy or apparent.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

11:00 a.m. Potluck picnic at the church – all invited!

Devotions for this week:

Job Curses His Life                                                                July 10, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday, Job 3:1-10; 4:1-9; 7:11-21, Job Curses His Life

Monday, Job 8, Bildad Speaks

Tuesday, Job 9-10, Job Replies

Wednesday, Job 11, Zophar Speaks

Thursday, Job 12, Job Replies

Friday, Job 13, Job Replies

Saturday, Job 14, Job’s Prayer

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

Job said: “Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man-child is conceived. Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, or light shine on it.’” Job 3:2-4

After losing not only his property and his children, Job loses his health. He has reached his breaking point. In his suffering he curses his life, yet still he refuses to curse the Creator who gave him life.

• How do Job’s friends explain the question of suffering?
• What do you think is an appropriate way to communicate with God? Is it ok to be angry? Is it ok to curse one’s life in prayer? Why or why not?
• Tell a story of a time you were angry with God or angry with a situation in your life.
• Make two lists. On one list write all the things about your life that cause you pain or suffering. On the other list write all the things about your life that cause you joy or peace. Add to your list all week. At the end of the week surrender the things of suffering to God. Consider how your perspective might be shifted so that the list of joyful things becomes more prominent in your mind.

PRAY: Lord, you listen to our every grief with patience and love. Give us confidence to approach you, knowing that you will never turn us away, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

BLESS:  May God hear your laments and respond with love. Amen.

Saturday worship at 5:00  p.m. in Sanctuary

Sunday – One worship service at 9:00 a.m.

This week we begin an exploration of the book of Job. 
Job’s story explores the question of undeserved suffering. The question of why bad things happen to good people continues to haunt us today.

Devotions for this week:

Satan Challenges Job                                                             July 3, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday, Job 1:1-12, Satan Challenges Job

Monday, Job 1:13 – 2:13, Job Loses Property and Children

Tuesday, Job 3, Job Curses His Life

Wednesday, Job 4, Eliphaz Speaks: Job Has Sinned

Thursday, Job 5, Job is Corrected by God

Friday, Job 6, Job Replies

Saturday, Job 7, Job Complains

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Job 1:1

Job is an upright servant of God. Blessed with many riches, he enjoys the good life, but never neglects to offer the thanksgiving and worship due to his maker. But will his piety persist when serious tragedy strikes?

• What happens to Job? Why?
• What do you believe about Satan? What do you believe about evil? What do you believe about suffering?
• Tell a story of a time you came face to face with unexplainable suffering. What happened?
• Identify an area of your life where you are suffering. What could you do to take one step toward healing? Take that small step. Also, pray about your situation daily. At the end of the week, take notice of what you learn about your situation, and about how your suffering might be relieved.

PRAY:  God of our lives, we have nothing to our names, but only what you have granted us. Draw us always to your altar of thanksgiving, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BLESS: May God relieve your suffering. Amen.

We’ve all met people who are stingy, and those who are generous.  Generosity is a gift that can’t help but share, from smiles and kind words, to time, to monetary gifts, they all flow from the same loving Spirit that is ours by faith.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:

Generosity                                                                 June 25-26, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Sunday, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Generosity

Monday, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, Paul and the False Apostles

Tuesday, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle

Wednesday, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Paul’s Visions and Revelations

Thursday, 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Church

Friday, 2 Corinthians 13:1-10, Further Warning

Saturday, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Final Greetings and Benediction

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have.        2 Corinthians 8:12

Generosity is itself a gift. God’s overflowing abundance of gifts to us trigger our own desire to show generosity whenever we are able. Paul clarifies God’s vision for believers: that no one may have too much or too little.

• What does it mean to be generous? What kinds of gifts can you share?
• Tell a story of a time you received generosity from someone. Tell of a time you were generous to another.
• Consider what gift you could give to someone in need. It could be money, food, or clothing. It could be time, a listening ear, or a ride to an appointment. Give what you can this week. Take notice of how the experience affected you.

PRAY:  Generous God, for our sake you became poor, so that we might enjoy the riches of your grace. Teach us so to empty ourselves and be filled with your generosity. Amen.

BLESS:  May God fill your life with generosity and with generous people. Amen.

Worship this week:

Saturday  – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

6:30 p.m. – worship gathering on the church lawn with Sugar Creek Bible Camp Staff

Devotions for this week:

Reconciliation                                                                       June 18-19, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Sunday, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, Reconciliation

Monday, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Reconciliation

Tuesday, 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1, The Temple of the Living God

Wednesday, 2 Corinthians 7:2-16, Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance

Thursday, 2 Corinthians 8:16:24, Commendation of Titus

Friday, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15, The Collection for Christians at Jerusalem

Saturday, 2 Corinthians 10:1-18, Paul Defends His Ministry

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.          2 Corinthians 5:18

Paul gives the Corinthians a reason to boast: the love of Christ! He invites them to look – and live – beyond themselves and what they once knew was possible. Everything is different now. Reconciliation with God is a game changer.

• What kinds of social tensions exist within your community? What truths do you find in both sides? How can you be change for your community?
• Tell a story of a time you were isolated or alone, and then were reconciled with people who love you.
• Consider someone who has been outcast or shunned from your community. Call them on the phone to let them know they are still loved.

PRAY:  Reconciling God, you make everything new. Show us your vision, that we might see the world as you do, loving all and serving all, for the sake of Christ. Amen.

BLESS:  May God reconcile you with the community of God’s beloved children. Amen.

Because we live in response to God’s love and promise, we can persevere regardless of the events of each  day.  The truth about our lives is not determined by the headlines, or any particular hardship, or even the opinion of others.  Instead the truth that sustains us is the love of God we find in Jesus.

Worship this week:

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week:

Walk by Faith Not Sight                                       June 11-12, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Sunday, 2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:10, Walk by Faith Not Sight

Monday, Romans 7:14-24, The Inner Conflict

Tuesday, Colossians 3:1-17, The New Life in Christ

Wednesday, Romans 8:18-30, Future Glory

Thursday, 2 Peter 1:3-15, The Christian’s Call and Election

Friday, Hebrews 11:8-22, The Faith of Abraham

Saturday, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, The Gift of Love

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight.                              2 Corinthians 5:6-7

Paul is on a roll. He puts life in perspective for the Corinthians. While we live upon the earth, what we do here matters. One day we will no longer live on this earth. Our forever home is a heavenly one which cannot be destroyed.

• What does it mean to “walk by faith, not by sight”? How do you walk by faith? How do you walk by sight?
• Tell a story of a time you trusted God, even when trusting was hard.
• Try this: Make a sandwich blindfolded. Prep your space with all the ingredients you need. Then put on the blindfold and make your sandwich. Eat your sandwich with the blindfold on. Take notice of what you hear, feel, smell, and taste. What did you learn from the experience?

PRAY:  Loving God, you renew us when we feel our strength waning. Point us to your eternal promise, in which we are secure, through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

BLESS: May God guide you as you walk by faith. Amen.