Starting a new study

Hey everyone,

We will start a new study this coming Monday. We will be going through 1 Peter 1. The study will take us up to our Christmas Party which we will mention more on Monday. I updated the schedule (left) so that it covers through the end of the year.

Don't forget, we have the gym at the church this Friday, if you are able to come, that would be great.

We will let you know what we are bringing for dinner.

Final Study on Political Issues

Well, I think we had another great discussion. Next week, we will finish up our political study. We will discuss war and women in leadership. If we have time, we will start another topic, but I doubt that we will.

The link to the documents on the candidates that Nina had on Monday is:
http://www.christianvoterguide.com/

For our next study, we will "probably" do an Andy Stanley study called "The Best Question Ever", but as always, that is subject to change. Here is the info on it:
http://resources.northpoint.org/store/shop.do?cID=44&pID=572

Also, remember we have the gym from 6:30 to 8:30 this Friday.

That is all for now,

See you on Columbus Day.

More Issues

Great job on discussing the issues we talked about this past week everyone. This week we will pick up right where we left off, discussing capital punishment. Please read Romans 13:1-7 as those were the verses that were in question when we ran out of time. Other issues we are still planning on discussing are:

War
Stem cell research
Taxes
Women in leadership roles (such as President)

Please continue to think about how you feel about these and what the Bible says about them.

Feel free to bring up candidates during our discussions. I was originally planning on talking about them last, but it seems to fit more as we discuss specific issues.

Dinner is finger foods and appetizers. We will let you know what we are bringing.

Later

Seeing issues of the world with a Biblical Worldview

Now that we have set up the foundation for our study with a Biblical worldview, we can get into discussing some issues. If you get a chance this weekend, think about how you feel about the following issues (and find some verses to see if the Bible matches your feelings):

Environmental Issues
Abortion/Pro-Life or Choice
Taxes
Gay Rights
Any other issues you think of and would like to discuss

Also, consider whether some issues are more important to God than others.

Great job on the first discussion of the study.

For dinner, I don't know yet what we are bringing, but we will put it into the replies of this post.

Share and Prayer

This week, we will be getting together to talk about what God is doing in our lives. Also, if there is anything you are wanting to learn or any questions you want answered from our next study, please let me know.

For dinner, we are having "hidden ingredient" night. We are making Sloppy Joe Pizza.

See you all on Monday.

1 John 4-5

Here are the questions for 1 John 4-5 that I plan on asking.

1. Do you submit your ideas and beliefs to the Word of God?? How do you handle situations where your current beliefs and ideas differ from the Word??
2. What areas of your life are you most fearful of dedicating to God?? What are you most afraid of losing??—reputation, face, a friend, money, your image, etc.
3. When was the last time you really sensed God’s presence??
4. How do you know something is God’s will?? How do you seek God’s will??
5. If God has given each of His children the ability to pray for anything, it only follows that He expects us to rightly use this power of prayer to accomplish His great and glorious will. How important is prayer to you?? What happens if the prayers we could make are not made??
6. How should we live with so many idols among us??
7. What did you learn during the week??

We will let you know in the comments for this post what we are making for dinner. (Who am I kidding?? Shannon will let you know what she is making for dinner. She is so good to me.)

See you on Monday.

1 John 2:18-3:24

Here are the questions I plan on asking this coming Monday:

1. What are some ways the world and society see love?? Does it look like God’s??
2. If someone asked you what a Christian looked like, how would you answer them??
3. What are some activities you did and decisions you made this week because the seed of righteousness is in your life?? Did you feel the battle of the evil one??
4. Some people are frustrated with their Christian life because they are not close to God and therefore do not reflect Him well. What steps are you taking to get closer to God??
5. Do you struggle with being confident before God??
6. Why is it that Christians seem to leave the church when a personal problem develops?? Is that a sign of absence of love?? How can we deal with such people??
7. What did you learn this week that you can apply to your life??

We are bringing PB&J sandwiches and chips & salsa.

See you all on Monday.

1 John 2:3-17

Here are the questions I plan on asking for 1 John 2:3-17.

• How do your measure spirtual maturity??
• From verse 5: What does John mean by God’s love being made complete (or perfect) in him??
• SWORD DRILL--Bring your Bible (or your memory)
• (from verses 9-11) Would you say it is obvious that your actions are characterized by Jesus’ new commandment, and that people could tell that you walk in the light??
• Why is it written in the order: little children, fathers, and then young men??
• Verse 15 says to not love the world or anything in it; however, we are commanded to love as God loves, how do you reconcile these two commandments??
• How would gauge your own spiritual maturity??

Hopefully we will have another good discussion. We will let you know what we are bringing as soon as we figure it out.

Thanks Halls for hosting our last meeting.

See you all on Monday!!!!

Back to Studying

After a too long hiatus (for me anyway), we are going to get back to studying this coming Monday with 1 John 1:1-2:2. Here are the questions I intend on asking:

1. What does the first four verses mean??

2. What are some ways people view God as having darkness?? Do you view God as having some darkness??

3. In Chapter 2, John starts to talk about God’s love. Why do you think he talks about God being light before he talks about God being love??

4. What is your perspective on confession to God and to others??

5. What does propitiation mean??

6. Do you allow Jesus to be the propitiation for your sins, or do you still hold on to guilt??

7. How would you respond to someone who lives as the world, but justifies with ‘Once saved, always saved.’??

8. What did you learn from this section of scripture?? How can you apply it to your life??

If you have any questions that you thought of while doing your studying this week, please feel free to ask.

Special thanks to the Hancock's for hosting our get together last week, as well as Nina making our new quiet time folders and Len organizing our roster.

For dinner, we are having breakfast foods (sorry Dan). We are bringing a "Skillet Breakfast Casserole."

See you on Monday.

Summer Plans

Well, we finished this study this past Monday. Now, onto the plans for the summer. Next week we will be having a share and prayer evening. For dinner, bring something that is wheat-free.

After that, we will meet every other week or so to either do some service project or to just hang out and spend some time cultivating the relationships that we have. Some plans for the summer include: cooking for the Ronald McDonald House and the hospital's Family House and volunteering at Chestnut Mountain Ranch. If you have any other ideas for service, please let me know. Also if there are any studies you would like to do in the future, please let me know that too.

I will try to keep the schedule on this page as up to date as I can, so you will know what is coming up.

Forgive Those that have Broken Your Trust

This week we talked about forgiveness. Since God has forgiven us and shown us how to do it, we have the ability to forgive others, even though it is not the easiest thing to do.

Next week, for dinner, we are having things you had at your wedding reception. We will bring 'lil smokies. Good luck.

Make Friends for God's Kingdom

This past week we discussed the importance of friendship and what it takes to really have a real friendship. Not just lots of good acquaintances.

For dinner, we are having Cinco de Mayo foods. See you on Monday.

Focus on What's Important

This past week we discussed what is important to God, and therefore what should be important to us. For dinner this coming week, we are having pizza. I don't know where we will get it from, but I will try to get varying toppings. What kind of pizzas do you like? I am partial to just pepperoni and cheese.

Glorify God in All We Do

Last week we learned about glorifying God in all we do--doing everything as we are doing it for the Lord. This week we will learn to focus on what is important. Hopefully the scripture from 1 Samuel will fit the study a little bit better. But whether the scripture fits the topic or not, whether the questions are good discussion questions or not, you guys will make it a great study and a great discussion. You always do. I greatly appreciate that.

For dinner, our theme is Stuff It! We are bringing a stuffed ham and cheese sandwich.

Easter

Last night was a great time. Thanks again to Israel for leading us in worship. Next week we will meet at the Clemmer's estate for a fun night. (Directions will be sent via email). Our next study on 1 Samuel will begin the following week. I will give you more details on Monday. For dinner, we are having "Ring Night".

Happy Easter!!
Let's Go Mountaineers!

Box Talk

"As a husband or a wife, you can learn everything there is to know about how relationships work and how God designed marriage. But sooner or later, the success of your marriage hinges on the quality and effectiveness of your communication as you work through the details of life together. If communication is clear and honoring, adn if there's plenty of it, then both parties gain a tremendous ability to understand and appreciate each other. They can learn how to anticipate each other's needs and they tend to place a sincere value on their spouse's desires."

Practical tips on how to discuss with your spouse what is in your desire box:
1. Confess . Take responsibility for turning desires into expectations.
2. Ask. Creatively find out what she desires. Don't ask them to dump everything in the box on you (you will probably regret it).
3. Reward your spouse. The problem with expectations are that we don't reward them. They are supposed to do it. So when your spouse meets your desires, reward that. What gets rewarded, gets repeated.

That pretty much sums up what the last session of IMarriage was about. Next week we are having another time where we can talk about what God has been doing in our lives. For dinner, bring something you have never made before.

See you next week.
Let's Go Mountaineers!!!

Love Machines

Well, coming into this study, I doubt many of you (including myself) thought that we are God's tool to pour out His love on our spouse. Wow, that is a tough measuring stick. I know that I haven't always showed my wife Christ's love. Now, I have a different perspective. I am to show her God's love, because of the love He showed me (out of reverence for Christ).

I hope this study is helping everyone as much as it is helping me. It is kind of putting in my place (which isn't first--where I tend to put myself).

CONGRATULATIONS Morelands on Joel's arrival. We are all excited for you.

For dinner this coming week, I know Dan and some others will be disappointed--we are having BREAKFAST for dinner. We are bringing biscuits and gravy and Corrin's (sp?) mom is bringing chocolate chip pancakes.

The Greatest American Heroes

In the very early 1980s, there was a TV show called the Greatest American Hero. This was a guy who was given an alien suit that gave him super-human abilities (i.e. the ability to fly). However, he lost the instructions to the suit, and had to learn how to use it by trial and error which was not always a success as you can imagine. Picture Wile E. Coyote in one of his Acme costumes.

God gave us instructions on how to be a husband or wife, yet too often we go by the trial and error method, instead of following the Creator’s guidelines. Our selfish nature prohibits us sometimes from submitting to our spouses, but if we keep Christ in our hearts and minds it becomes easier. We submit out of reverence for Christ, not because of whether our spouse deserves it.

Special thanks to Len Hancock for the Greatest American Hero analogy. Next week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we are having Mexican for dinner. We are bringing spicy chicken chili.

When Expectations Collide

This past week we talked more about expectations and the effect that they have. If we can turn those expectations into desires (its a fine line) we will be more appreciative of our spouse and be able to better love them the way the God loves us.

This coming Monday, we will be discussing Session 3 of our study. For dinner, make something that has no eggs and no milk included. Maybe we can give Nina some good ideas of some things she can make in the future.

Great Expectations

This past Monday we started our iMarriage session on a great note. I know the guys had a really good discussion. One issue; however, was the issue of compromise. Andy Stanley says "compromise can backfire when you are more committed to your marriage than your partner." I watched the video we missed (sorry about that) to gain a little more understanding. To further explain his point, he was not talking about compromising on a little issue here or there. Compromising is not all bad, however, if your marriage is based on it, that is not good, and not biblical. If it is all "I will if you will" your relationship becomes contractual and not as much as a covenant.

Next Monday we will be doing the next session. Our dinner theme is based upon the Super Bowl. Patriot or Giant themes.