Job’s suffering ends, not when God restores to him what has been lost, but when Job came to understand his place in the world.  Acceptance is one of the most difficult life lessons to learn, and it is an ongoing lesson.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – One worship at 9:00 a.m.

 

Devotions for this week:

The Lord Challenges Job                                            July 31, 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 38:25-27; 41:1-8; 42:1-6, The Lord Challenges Job

Monday, Job 29-30, Job’s Defense

Tuesday, Job 31, Job’s Defense

Wednesday, Job 32, Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

Thursday, Job 33, Elihu Rebukes Job

Friday, Job 34, Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice

Saturday, Job 35, Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down its tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook?” Job 41:1-2

Job’s journey has been long and wearying. He begins to see the whole of it from his limited perspective, and is led to repent for his impulsive words.

• What does Elihu say about the question of suffering?
• What do you think about God’s response to Job? Is God’s response or attitude consistent with what you know about God?
• Tell a story of a time you were humbled by God’s response to your prayers.
•  

  Watch the news each night this week. Write down two or three stories that seem too big for humanity to fix or heal. Pray for those situations, that God will intervene where humans are too small.

  PRAY:  Long suffering God, your ears are always open to your children. We implore you to hear us with patience and correct us with compassion, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

  BLESS: May God remind you that, although you are small, God is big. Amen.

After Job has cried out in pain, lament, and anger, God speaks and shows Job a different perspective. 

All Worship gatherings this weekend will be in the (air conditioned) fellowship hall.

Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:00 a.m. – Special meeting of the congregation

10:00 a.m. – Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

The Lord Responds to Job                                         July 24, 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 31:35-37, 38:1-11, The Lord Responds to Job

Monday, Job 21, Job Replies

Tuesday, Job 22, Eliphaz Speaks

Wednesday, Job 23-24, Job Replies

Thursday, Job 25, Bildad Speaks

Friday, Job 26-27, Job Replies

Saturday, Job 28, Where Wisdom Is Found

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?” Job 38:4-5

At last, God answers Job’s challenge and replies. It might not be the response Job was looking for. It’s time to bring some perspective to the whole situation; of what significance are humans in the vast space of the cosmos?

• Does God answer prayer? Why or why not?
• Tell a story of a time you prayed and God did not respond the way you hoped God would.
• Listen for God this week. Keep a small notebook, journal, or sketchpad with you. Write or draw each time you find evidence of God’s presence or God’s answer to prayers.

PRAY:  Almighty God, you stretched the heavens and harnessed the seas. Regard us, your creatures, with mercy and incline your ear to our feeble cries, for the sake of Jesus who loves us. Amen.

BLESS:  May God show you the many ways God responds to your prayers. Amen.

Job has lost everything. Or so it seems. Here, after friends and health have deserted, can he find hope for rebirth out of the ashes of grief?  When we are at a low point in our lives, where do we find faith, hope and strength to go on?

Worship with Holy Communion 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:   Job’s Prayer                                                     July 17, 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 14:7-15; 19:23-27, Job’s Prayer

Monday, Job 15, Eliphaz Speaks

Tuesday, Job 16, Job Replies

Wednesday, Job 17, Job’s Prayer

Thursday, Job 18, Bildad Speaks

Friday, Job 19, Job Replies

Saturday, Job 20, Zophar Speaks

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” Job 19:25-27

Job has lost everything. Or so it seems. Here, after friends and health have deserted, can he find hope for rebirth out of the ashes of grief?

• How does Job respond to his friends’ accusations?
• What kinds of things can you pray for? Is there anything that is off limits concerning prayer? Why or why not?
• Tell a story of a time you prayed boldly. What was the outcome of your prayer?
• Pray boldly for things that you have been reluctant to pray for. (Healing, relief from financial stress, mending of a broken relationship) Pray as if there is nothing you cannot pray for.

PRAY:  Gracious God, you guide us through the most difficult times of our lives. Give us hope in Christ that we, like he, will rise again. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

BLESS: May God receive your prayers with patience and love. Amen

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.