CURRENT EVENT – FEBRUARY 26, 2012

I read a story this week about the problems American soldiers are having when they return from combat zones across the globe and attempt to reenter “normal life.”

REFERENCE SHELF – FEBRUARY 26, 2012

The Sermon on the Mount 5.1-7.29: The Sermon on the Mount, evoking Moses on Sinai, contains material scattered throughout Mark and Luke as well as sayings unique to Matthew. Luke 6.17 presents much of this material in the “Sermon on the Plain.”

MINISTRY WITH YOUTH – FEBRUARY 26, 2012

Jesus startled the people who held traditional ideas about the Messiah God would send. As you read the following word studies, keep in mind how odd these words and phrases would have sounded to people hearing them for the first time.

REFERENCE SHELF – FEBRUARY 19, 2012

6.10-20: A call to arms and prayer for strength to proclaim truth. 14: Ephesians 4.25. 17: Helmet of salvation, Isa 59.17. The sword of the Spirit, the word of God, the only offensive weapon.

MINISTRY WITH YOUTH – FEBRUARY 19, 2012

Do you know what ministry opportunities exist outside your church doors? Have your youth create a survey or questionnaire to help them discover who the neighbors of the church really are. Choose a day to have them go into the neighborhood and fill out the surveys.

CURRENT EVENT – FEBRUARY 12, 2012

In churches today, just as in the world as a whole, a great number of people deal with health concerns. One way that people are dealing with their health concerns is by turning to their “faith community nurses.”

REFERENCE SHELF – FEBRUARY 12, 2012

The ascended Christ as the prime minister of the church gives gifts of grace, varying with the individual, designed to equip all the saints for ministry. The receiving church is thus to be the serving church, both means and goal in the purpose of God.

MINISTRY WITH YOUTH – FEBRUARY 12, 2012

Please do not let the topic of spiritual gifts overwhelm you! It seems that every year a special Bible study on spiritual gifts is offered for adults. In fact, my home church recently offered a six-week study on this topic, but after two weeks no one attended!

CURRENT EVENT – FEBRUARY 5, 2012

Construction on the Seneca County courthouse was completed in the year 1884. Part of that construction included the laying of the cornerstone in the front of the building. Before laying the cornerstone a copper box, serving as a time capsule, was put inside. Recently, the cornerstone was removed and the time capsule saw the light of day for the first time in more than 100 years.

REFERENCE SHELF – FEBRUARY 5, 2012

19: Household of God: For the patriarchal writer, God is father over the social relations in the believers’ family (1.3, 17; 2.18; 3.14; 4.6; 5.20; 6.23). 20: Paul speaks of Christ as a foundation (1 Cor 3.10-15), but not apostles and prophets. Cornerstone or keystone, a messianic term (Isa 28.16, perhaps Ps 118.21-23).