Remembering Our Baptism

Greetings, Lake Deaton Family. I hope you are having a super, great week and that the Lord is blessing you in your activities, in your relationships and in your peace. I invite you to watch our video eBlast, and then to read the scripture and think through to the two questions below to prepare yourselves for worship this Sunday. Also, I would like to invite you to our Sack Lunch with the Pastors this coming Wednesday at 11:30, where we will dive deeper into the scripture for this week.

Blessings and see you Sunday!

Colossians 3:1-11 NLT

Col. 3:1    Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ² Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ³ For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Col. 3:5    So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. ⁶ Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.^{a 7} You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. ⁸ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. ⁹ Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. ¹⁰ Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. ¹¹ In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Questions:

1. What do you think it means to be raised to new life with Christ and how do you see that lived out in your life today?
2. In this passage of Scripture Paul is describing the “old” life and the “new” life. Can you see a difference between your old and new life? How is God continuing to grow you into your “new nature?”

It's not about the food!

As you prepare for this week's worship, I encourage you to read through the scripture passage, Luke 10:38-42, and then take time to consider the questions below:

Luke 10:38    As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

Luke 10:41    But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! ⁴² There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. Consider the two characters of Mary and Martha. Who do you resonate more with – Mary the contemplative, or Martha the activist?
2. Martha arguably had the gift of hospitality (Luke 10:38). What is the significance of food and meals and hospitality in the life and ministry of Jesus – how can we develop hospitality and open homes/hearts in our lives?
3. What distracts you from spending time with Jesus?
4. Is there anyone whose relationship with Jesus you are jealous of?

What Does Mercy Look Like Today?

As you prepare for this week's worship, I encourage you to read through the scripture passage, Luke 10:25-37, and then take time to consider the questions below:

Luke 10:25    One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Luke 10:26    Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

Luke 10:27    The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Luke 10:28    “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

Luke 10:29    The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:30    Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

Luke 10:31    “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. ³² A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

Luke 10:33    “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. ³⁴ Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

Luke 10:36    “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

Luke 10:37    The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” 

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Questions for Reflection:

When I read this passage, I cannot separate the overall narrative of the encounter Jesus is having with the expert in religious law, and the parable that Jesus then tells. The expert was doing what religious scholars would do. He is questioning a Rabbi on the law and, I believe ultimately, he is wanting Jesus to support his view on the law. But Jesus does what he often does and turns the situation around to question the expert on his own journey of faith. When we read the subsequent story from this perspective, I think we will find that the first two individuals who encounter the man beaten on the side of the road, do the appropriate action for seeing someone who appears to be dead––they keep themselves ceremonially pure. They live into the regulations of the law. 

1. Why do you think Jesus uses a Samaritan as the one who does the right thing in the story?
2. When Jesus asks the expert, “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits,” why do you think the man answers, “The one who showed him mercy?” Think about the word mercy. What does that mean for you in today's world?
3. Why do you think Jesus is pushing the expert to move beyond his current understanding of the law into an expanded understanding of mercy? How does the law conflict with the idea of mercy, as described within this story?

I hope you have fun studying this passage as we prepare to come together this Sunday for worship!

You want me to do what?

Happy Forth of July to you all. This has been an interesting week of celebration for us in the Divine family as I have traveled with our son Jon and our daughter Christina to help move her to Fort Collins, Colorado. Christina will be starting a three year residency in Equine Reproduction in a couple of weeks. 

I am so ready to be home for the rest of the summer, but have been blessed by our time in Cambridge, London and the time traveling across our beautiful nation.  

This week as you study our scripture passage from 2 Kings 5:1-14 I want to encourage you to do something you may have never done before. First, read through the passage to get an idea of the overall story. Then go back and read the story from the perspective of the King of Aram, then read it a third time from the perspective of Naaman and finally read the story from the perspective of Elisha.  

1. How does the story read differently from the perspective of each of these characters?
2. Why would the King of Aram go to such an expense to try to help Naaman? Have you ever gone out of your way to help a friend?
3. How did Naaman approach Elisha and Elisha’s plan for healing and what did this say about Naaman?
4. How can you serve people who have need that you encounter in your life?

Have fun studying this week and my prayer is that you will hear from God as you dive into this Scripture.  

Passing the Baton

We have had a wonderful time on our trip and in class in Cambridge, England over the past two weeks. Before we jump into our lesson for this week, I want to thank you all for allowing me to have this time to work on my Doctor of Ministry degree. I feel blessed to be able to be part of this program, and believe God is using it to help us continue to grow, as a congregation, into the call for which we have been set aside. 

As you reflect on the message from this week, either on your own or in your Small Group, we encourage you to spend time in the Scripture by reading 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 (printed below) and then work through the questions provided. 

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

2Kings 2:1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. ² And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Bethel.” 

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel.

2Kings 2:6 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to the Jordan River.” 

But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.

2Kings 2:7 Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. ⁸ Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground!

2Kings 2:9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” 

And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

2Kings 2:10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”

2Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.

2Kings 2:13 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. ¹⁴ He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

Thoughts & questions for reflection…

When we read this passage, like many other Old Testament passages, some people get caught up in the events of the miraculous, such as Elijah being taken up to heaven in the chariot led by flaming horses; and they either fight the battle over proving the event or write it off as a fable, but the key in studying this and similar passages is to look at the foundation of what is happening in the text. Here we see a Mentor (Elijah) getting ready to leave his Mentee (Elisha), and within the transition the desire on Elisha’s part to inherit the power and wisdom of his mentor, Elijah. In this, we can all learn.

1. Can you name a mentor in your life who really helped you grow as a person? What made the relationship a mentoring relationship?
2. What was it like to lose that mentor? Did you grieve the loss of the relationship?
3. What are you doing to mentor new mentees for the future? 

I hope you have fun going deeper with God this week through this Old Testament lesson, and that in all things, you seek to grow in Christ as the ultimate Mentor of our faith.

Blessings,

Jim

A Trinitarian Father's Day

This weekend I look forward to being at the Summerhill Campus as we celebrate both Father's Day as well as Trinity Sunday. I look forward to connecting with you all at our Saturday and Sunday Services!

I invite you to reflect on the Sermon and the Scripture from this week's message in your devotional time or within your small group. Below you will find our Scripture passage (John 14:27-28; 15:1-8) and a few study questions to help you in your reflection.

John 14:27    “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. ²⁸ Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.

John 15:1    “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:5    “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Questions for reflection:

1. What is the gift that Jesus leaves us (read all of chapter 14)? What is the significance of the gift of the Holy Spirit for the church today? 

2. What does it mean to be connected to the "vine" in 15:4? How does fruit reveal our connectedness with Christ?

Have a great week and enjoy your time with God. 

Pentecost Sunday

(Hortus Deliciarum, Pentecost and the sending of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles)

This has been a great week for NCUMC! This week we have been part of our Annual Conference in Lakeland, Florida and on Saturday, Pastor Kristyne will be ordained as a Deacon in Full Connection and Pastor Ellen will be commissioned as a Provisional Deacon (if you are new to the UMC you can read more about what it means to be a Deacon in this week’s newsletter). On Sunday we will come together to celebrate Pentecost. 

As you reflect on the Pentecost this week, either on your own or within your Faith Formation Group, we encourage you to spend time in Scripture by reading Acts 2:1-21 (printed below) and then work through the questions below. 

Acts 2:1    On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. ² Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. ³ Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. ⁴ And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Acts 2:5    At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. ⁶ When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

Acts 2:7    They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, ⁸ and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! ⁹ Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” ¹² They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

Acts 2:13    But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

Acts 2:14    Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. ¹⁶ No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

Acts 2:17    ‘In the last days,’ God says,

‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

¹⁸  In those days I will pour out my Spirit

even on my servants—men and women alike—

and they will prophesy.

¹⁹  And I will cause wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below—

blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

²⁰  The sun will become dark,

and the moon will turn blood red

before that great and glorious day of the LORD

  arrives.

²¹  But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD

will be saved.’

Questions for Consideration:

1. Why do you think God sent the Holy Spirit into the church? What was the impact of the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2?
2. What happened in chapter 1 of Acts before the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus?
3. How does the Holy Spirit work within the church today?

Spend some time within your group reflecting on how you are surrendering your life to Christ (or not) and what impact that is having on your life.