We are back!

I will begin posting on this blog again on a weekly basis. I hope to create interest in sharing the word of God with those who are un-churched, forgotten demograpics and those who have not had the opportunity to say yes to the gospel.  We will proclaim Jesus!  Look for our up and coming musings.

Follow the Leader

Lesson 7

What Did Jesus Know?

Titles or Towels Lesson 2

Discussion Guide

8-3-2014

Text: John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God

Synopsis:

Jesus knew that all power had been given to yet he still took off His outer garments and proceeded to wash His disciple’s feet.  Jesus knew the best strategy for leading people is to serve them first.  Jesus tells us to be first we must be last.  So it is in the Church.  Leaders must be willing to serve all people.  

Scriptures used in today’s lesson. John 13:3             1 Tim 5:17 1 Timothy 3:1-7  1 Thess 5:12 ff Acts 20:28           Heb. 13:17 1 Peter 5:2

Discussion Questions

1.     Picking up a towel is not a religious act, rather it is demonstrating ______ by doing the ___________.

2.     Service has nothing to ______, nothing to_______ and nothing to _______.

3.     What are the 4-c’s of leadership and the corresponding verses which teach them?

4.     What are some of the titles in the New Testament?

5.     How are two of the titles made more distinctive?

6.     An elder is an  ____ ______ charged with the _______ and  _______ ________ of the congregation.

7.     Elders must be willing to pick up a _________.

8.     What are four aspects of an elder?

9.     What are the admonitions to the elders from scripture?

10. What are the admonitions to individual members concerning the elders?

God's Great Passion Is To Be With YOU!

Chapter 1 The Story

Some movies start at warp speed.  Case in point: Star Trek.  From the opening scene to the end it barely lets you breathe.  If you slip out for popcorn you were sure to miss something important.  And yet, people did. 

This disturbs me greatly since I believe that you buy the food and then you stayed glued to the seat.  I think the way to maximize the movie-going experience is to be in your seat at least 20 minutes early.  Have you ever done that?  Then next time you go to a movie look around and spot the person that is in the prime seat — dead middle, eye level with the center of the screen.  That’s what 20 minutes early gets you. The perfect seat and the prime experience.   Popcorn and drink in hand, nothing except for an earthquake could move this person from their secured spot.

That’s where you need to be for God’s story.  Its opening scene also starts with a relentless pace that doesn’t let up.  The first line reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). 

Right off the bat we find the main character in the story is not you or me.  It’s God.  And the rest of The Story will unfold out of the nature and person of this character.  Just ten words in and there is enough action to leave you breathless. 

It doesn’t take long to find out what God’s great passion is.  Birds?  Nope.  Animals?  Not quite. Sun, moon or stars? Bright guess.  No, in Genesis 3:8 we find that God is walking in the Garden with Adam and Eve in the “cool of the day.” 

Sounds nice if you are in a hot, dry desert climate, doesn’t it?  And yet the “cool of the day” is not the focus.  God is, and he is near.  He is right with Adam and Eve.  And he is right here with us.  His simple vision for his creation was to spend time with them every day, to take a walk with them.  God’s supreme passion is to be with us.  

Some of you have lived your life with the idea that God is some angry cosmic kill-joy who sits in the heavens and watches you, waiting for you to make a mistake so he can zap you.  Or, you feel he is distant and doesn’t care or has simply forgotten you.

But from the beginning he has shown us this is not the case.  He wants to be with you.  He has not forgotten you.   In fact, this might be the perfect time for you to go for a walk.

*Thanks to Rick Brown for sharing these articles concerning the story. We are adapting his articles to help us in our study of the Bible as we journey through the story. Look for a new article each week.  Rick was one of the co-authors of the book, "Me Addiction," along with Jer and Glenn Villanueva.

Don't Quit Before The Miracle

Don't Quit Before The Miracle

Discussion Guide

6-10-2012

Text:    Hebrews 12:1-13

1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God

Lesson Summary

There are many things in this world that cause us to quit God.  Many times it boils down to distractions that cause us to lose focus.  Many times just we are about to have a breakthrough moment with God, the distractions cry out to us and we lose focus.  When we lose focus, we then swirl about and look for something new to grasp, usually it is not Jesus.  The sad thing about this process is that if we had allowed the breakthrough to happen we would have not had to struggle through all the issues.

Discussion Questions

1.         Have you ever experienced a breakthrough in your Christian walk where you feel like      you have taken it to the next level for Jesus?

2.         Have things of the world cried out to you and caused you to slide backwards away from God?

3.         Have you ever worried more about others issues and lives than your own?

4.         What are some "sin" issues that could get you off track?

5.         When you have gotten off course how can you come back to God?

6.         How do you keep running the race and not quit?

7.         What is the miracle worth waiting for?

Scripture

Hebrews 12:1-2

1 Corinthians 9:24

Isaiah 40:31

Youth and Family Integration Minister

Youth & Family Integration Minister

Are you ready to try a new approach to youth ministry?
Has God blessed you with a passion for youth? Are you frustrated by the tremendous number of youth that we lose to the world after high school?
Davis Park Church of Christ in Modesto, CA, a congregation of 350, is looking for an experienced youth and family minister, who is a team player and has a servant's heart, to partner with us as we redesign our approach to developing deep, lasting faith in our youth, children and their families. We believe that numerous authentic, enduring, cross-generational relationships between youth and the rest of the congregation, incorporating youth into the work of the church, and equipping families are keys to lasting faith. In addition to developing programs to achieve these and related goals, we expect that our new minister will share in pulpit duties as needed.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an effective record of:

·           Scriptural Integrity – reverent treatment of God’s word in interpretation       and    application.
·           Personal Integrity – honesty, trustworthiness, reliability.
·            Relationship Building – loving, compassionate, sincere; across generations   but especially strong with youth.
·           Influence – ability to lead and be lead with or without authority.
·            Motivation – drive, energy and passion; able to self-motivate.
·           Organization & Planning – efficient and focused.
·           Effective Communications – one on one, classroom, small groups, pulpit,      and impromptu.

            Salary will be commensurate with experience.

                Please respond with a resume and a video of a presentation of a class or a sermon.

            Davis Park Church of Christ

            901 W. Rumble RD.

            Modesto, CA 95350                            email: davisparkcoc@sbcglobal.net

            Attn: Minister Search