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.

God loves us, though we are flawed, enough to bestow God’s treasure within us.   As we worship and live each day, we ask God to help us to recognize the treasure that each person is in God’s eyes.

Worship this week with Holy Communion:

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:

Treasure in Clay Jars                                                           June 4-5, 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 4:1-15, Treasure in Clay Jars

Monday, Colossians 1:15-23, The Supremacy of Christ

Tuesday, Genesis 1:1 – 2:4, Creation

Wednesday, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Proclaiming Christ Crucified

Thursday, Hebrews 13:1-19, Service Well-Pleasing to God

Friday, Galatians 6:11-18, Final Admonitions and Benediction

Saturday, Romans 8:31-39, God’s Love in Christ Jesus

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”

                                                                                 2 Corinthians 4:7

Paul builds up the Corinthians, motivating them to persevere in the zeal of their mission. We may be imperfect, damaged, downtrodden – but never destroyed. For we possess the one thing which cannot be suppressed: the life of Jesus.

• What does it mean to you that “we have this treasure in clay jars”? What is the treasure? What is the clay jar?
• How does God’s power work in and through your life? Tell a story of a time you felt God’s power within you.
• Try this: Get a chunk of clay from a craft store. Create something that reminds you that God values you enough to store God’s treasure within you. Display your artwork somewhere that you can be reminded daily that you are valuable to God.

PRAY:  Creator of all, you have made us fragile, yet unbreakable in your trustworthy hands. Give us good courage to persevere in your mission, with Christ always alive in us. Amen.

BLESS:  May God fill you with God’s power and treasure. Amen.