April 3, 2011

We are continuing along the path with Jesus toward Jerusalem and meeting the persons who he encountered along the way.  This Sunday, he heals a man born blind.  The Pharisees cannot wrap their minds around the fact that Jesus was able to heal him.  They were blind to the possibility of God at work.  Do we do the same today? 

As we prepare for Sunday morning, we should begin to ask these questions:

1.  Why are some people healed while others continue to suffer?  What is our understanding of what it means to be healed?  What is the nature of God’s healing?

2. Why do we sometimes close our eyes to the possibility of God doing a new thing?

3.  Is it possible to see miracles in today’s world?

March 27, 2011

This Sunday we are reading the story from John 4 where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well.  This story challenges us to think about the boundaries that are set up for us and that we set up ourselves in relating to others.  Jesus ignores the boundaries.  Some questions to use as we prepare for the message this week. 

If God knows everything about us, why should we take time to pray? 

How can I overcome the desire to make snap judgments about people who I meet?

Sunday March 20, 2011

This week we will be reading about Nicodemus in John 3:1-18.  We will be talking about being born again or born from above.  We need to get away from what those words have come to mean in our culture and understand what it was that Jesus was really talking about.  In order to be ready for Sunday, here is a question to think about.

• What does someone look like who’s been “born again”?

• Why was Jesus so tough on those who were living the “religious” life?

March 13, 2011

We have entered Lent.  It is the season in which we prepare spiritually  for Easter.  We will be looking at how we can be the church without fear.  We begin this week by looking at temptation–something all of us face.  We will be reading Matthew 4:1-11.  Some questions to use to help get ready for Sunday:

From where does temptation come?

How can I lean on God to help overcome temptation?