The Vineyard- February 19, 2017

The Vineyard- February 19^th, 2017

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

Pray for God to speak to you through the reading of His word. 

Read Matthew 5.38-48

-          Passive Love

o   Refuses to Seek Vengeance

§  The Old Testament allowed vengeance, within limits, but Jesus seeks to do away with vengeance altogether. 

§  Passages to Consider: Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-20; Deuteronomy 19:21

o   Isn’t Provoked by Pride

§  Jesus encourages us not to “hit back,” to not allow our pride to lead us to repay evil for evil. 

§  Passages to Consider: Proverbs 20:22; 24:29

o   Gives More than Is Required

§  Jesus is telling them to go beyond what is legally required, and to give what could never be expected. 

§  Passages to Consider: Exodus 22:25-27; Deuteronomy 24:12-13

o   Does More than is Asked

§  Jesus says to do more than what could be expected of us.  We see the same language used to describe Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus’ cross. 

§  Passages to Consider: Matthew 27:32

o   Never Says “No”

§  Jesus says not to withhold what we have from others, whoever they may be. 

§  Passages to Consider: Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Matthew 26:39

-          Active Love

o   Shows No Partiality

§  Jesus says to love not only our neighbor, but our enemy. 

§  Passages to Consider: Leviticus 19:18; Luke 10:25-37

o   Prays for Enemies

§  Jesus, as well as Stephen, pray for those who are killing them. 

§  Passages to Consider: Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60

o   Imitates the Father

§  Jesus perfectly imitates what he sees the Father doing. 

§  Passages to Consider: Psalm 145:9; John 5:19; I Peter 1:14-16

Pray for the ability to love passively, by not returning evil for evil. 

Pray for the ability to love actively, by seeking to do good even to your enemies. 

In short, pray that you can be more like Jesus. 

Prayer Requests- February 19, 2017

Prayer Requests

Praise:  Ben Mealer, Deanna Wall, and Doris Barron got to go home.  Monique Clark, Lisa Yancey, and Scarlett Shockley had successful surgery.  Carol Jean Fuller, Justin Fuller, Laurie Andrus, Bill Gunter, Dylan Richey, and Olivia Leonard are doing better.  Laken Moreau is in remission, and Carol Willis is cancer free! 

Recent Requests:  Sabrina Norsworthy, Scotty Potts, Scarlett Shockley, Lisa Yancey, Dawson Renfrow, Pam Bowling, James Chandler, Emmy Langston, Parker Marcase, Monica Marcase, Dylan Prestridge, Wanda Millsap, Becky Dauzat, Wayne Mason, Elaine Melder, Deanna Wall, Buddy Ortego, Alice Mays, Michelle Fuller, Bridgette Smith, Jill Ramsey, Ila Dunn, Shirley Bratton, Evelyn Walters, Ruthie & Jamie Burgins, Barbara Gilchrist, Madison Strother, Jade Doyle, Richard Polk, Bill Walding, Sandra Wells, Bobby Dousay, Sr., Jordan Strother, Paul Bailey, Priscilla Ackaret, Terry Seal, Jimmie Banks, Glenda McGilvray, Maverick Sepulvado; Macy Peebles; Bob Mellon; Kerry Page; Jordan Pollard; Samantha Gunter; Christine Taylor; Ashley Stallings, Jason Guillot’s father, Michael Clark

Pray for the persecuted Christians, missionaries, victims of violence, and your enemies.  (Matthew 5:44)

Pray for our elected and appointed leaders, as well as world leaders. 

Pray for our students, faculty, staff, and administration at the school, especially their safety.    

Pray for victims of natural disasters, and the explosion at Boise in DeRidder. 

Continuing Requests: Brent Anderson; Dale Anderson, IV; Kowyn Austin; Allan Babb; Roanne Ballio, Makenzie Bankston, Ruth Barbe, Doris Barron, Conner Bouchie, Dixie Brooks, Carl Chellette, Haley Chisholm, Ronnie Chisholm, Monique Clark, Flo Conway, RC Conway, Claire Cotton, Sampson Doyle III, Clyde Dunn, James Otis Dunn, Kimmy Fix, Elaine Ferguson, Robert Gough, Carolyn Gray, Dan Gray, Carl Holloway, Darlene Holt, Mary Ruth Hubbard, Mike Irwin, Aline Johnson, Candy Johnson, Sylvia Johnson, Darwin Jones, Andrew Juneau, Mascel Keith, Dennis LeDoux, Mattie McReynolds, Ben Mealer, Mark Melder, Mike Melder, Arvis Midkiff, Sue Moore, Laken Moreau, Kayla Murphy, Geneva Norsworthy; Jim Owens, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Luther Paul, Sue Peters, Dewanna Polk, Ivan Polk, Kirby Roy, Eric Sipco, Halyn Smith, Betty St. Andrie, Aiden Stewart, Erica Gillette Stewart, Lacy Storey, C.W. Strother, Joel Taylor, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Anna Thibadoux, Azaria Thompson, Randy Tucker, Toun Vilsaysack; Jeanie Winegeart

Deployed Military:  Tyler Bankston; Kelvin Griffin, and those in the military

Cancer Patients:  Heather Ashworth, Marvin Banks, Ronnie Bedgood, Sylvia Bollock, Ashley Brown, Barbara Brown, Hedy Butler, Shirley Cameron, Mark Cary, Raymond Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, Jerry Cole, Sally Crooks, Tyese Davis, Danny Doughy, Donna Dyson, Billy Ellington, Ruth Ann Fisher, Sherry Fontenot, Murray Ganson, Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Steve Hawkins, Cheresa Hudson, Mr. Kelly, Vivian Kirby, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Linda Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Warren LeBlanc, Bonnie Lee, Kaylee Lesta, Billie Linzay, Rodney Linzay, Braeden Lyberski, Neda Lyberski, Joy Mancil, Roy McDonald, Levaso Monk, David Monroe, Otis Monroe; Joe O’Neal, Jeanie O’Rorke, Myra Page, Kyle Pearson, Evelyn Sandell, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Richard Simmons, Connor Smith, Carolyn Spears, Donna Spears, Walter Stagg, Varnell Stanley, Carol Stewart, Leann Switzer, Jackie Teasely, Cliff Thornton, Jean Valdeterio; Troy Verheyden; Shirley Wagoner, Brenda West, Charles Whitten, Ervin Willis, Britney Wilson, James Wood, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Eloise Babb; Minnie Chelette; Mary Ann Fuller, Aline Johnson, John Kenner, Bessy LeDoux

Travelling:  Those traveling for work

Deaths: The families of Linda Sipco, Ray Reich, Floyd Savage, Wayne Earl, Henry Millsap, Beau Lester, Rome Dixon, and Cooter Davis

Unspoken Requests

The Vineyard- October 23, 2016

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

Pray for God to speak to you through the reading of His word. 

Read Exodus 14:1-31

God’s Great Reversal

-          Why was Pharaoh so keen to pursue the Israelites?  What did Pharaoh believe about the Israelites situation?

-          How did God bait a trap for Pharaoh and his army, even before they attempted to cross the Red Sea in pursuit of Israel?

-          How did God reverse the situation, from Israel appearing to be trapped, to Pharaoh’s army being actually trapped?

-          How did God reverse the situation in the instance of Jesus and the cross?

-          What did the world think would happen when it killed Jesus?  What actually happened?

-          Passage to Consider: I Corinthians 15:54-55

Recreation for God’s Creation

-          What elements of nature does God use to achieve Israel’s liberation?

-          What common elements does the story of the Red Sea crossing have with the story of creation, and the flood in Noah’s time?

-          How does God create a path for us, seemingly out of nowhere? 

-          What similarities are there between the Israelites crossing of the Red Sea, and baptism?

-          Passage to Consider: Romans 6:1-4

From Fear to Faith

-          When things appear to be going badly, do you typically respond with fear or with faith? 

-          Fear drives us back to what?

-          Faith comes from recognizing the work of God in our lives.  How has God been at work in your life?

-          Fear of the world drives us away from God, but fear of the Lord brings us closer to him.  Which fear is setting the agenda in your life?

Praise God for reversing our fortunes through the cross of Christ!

Thank God for providing a path for us, even when it seems there is none. 

Pray that your life might be directed by a fear of the Lord, rather than a fear of this world.  

Prayer Requests- October 23, 2016

Praise:   Kayleigh Dauzat, Morgan Strother, Makenzie Fee, Denise Wright, Jaycee Fuller, and Jordan Wiggins are all doing better.  Charlene Babb & Marie Cook made it home safely. 

Recent Requests:  Dennis Johnson, Terry Seal, Robert Johnson, Champion McNett, Rylan Clark, Aubrey Buller, Bill Gunter, Jimmie Banks, Sharry Johnson, Glenda McGilvray, Maverick Sepulvado; Doris Morgan; Macy Peebles; Haley Billings; Bob Mellon; Kerry Page; Jordan Pollard; Samantha Gunter; Christine Taylor; Ashley Stallings, Jason Guillot’s father, Michael Clark, Drew Broussard, Robert Garcia, Dave Butler, Jehtt Wilmore, Dillard Fontenot, Rob Woodard, Ashley Strother, Mrs. Jimmie Banks, Elaine Melder, Melvin Lucas, Danielle Cloud, Deborah Cloud, Heather Hensley, Twiggy Johnson, Edna Woodard, Dorothy Browning, Elizabeth Bailey-Paul, Keith Monroe, Lisa King

Pray for the persecuted Christians, missionaries, victims of violence, and your enemies.  (Matthew 5:44)

Pray for our elected and appointed leaders, as well as world leaders. 

Pray for our students, faculty, staff, and administration at the school, especially their safety.    

Pray for those affected by Hurricane Matthew, and the flooding in south Louisiana.

Continuing Requests: Brent Anderson; Dale Anderson, IV; Emma Armour; Kowyn Austin, Allan Babb, Roanne Ballio, Makenzie Bankston, Ruth Barbe, Conner Bouchie, Carl Chellette, Haley Chisholm, Ronnie Chisholm, Flo Conway, RC Conway, Claire Cotton, Sampson Doyle III, Clyde Dunn, James Otis Dunn, Kimmy Fix, Briley Fuller, Robert Gough, Mamie Grantham, Carolyn Gray, Dan Gray, Carl Holloway, Darlene Holt, Mary Ruth Hubbard, Mike Irwin, Aline Johnson, Candy Johnson, Sylvia Johnson, Darwin Jones, Andrew Juneau, Mascel Keith, Dennis LeDoux, Drake Martin, Iris Lee Martin, Mattie McReynolds, Dot Melder, Felix Melder, Mark Melder, Mike Melder, Arvis Midkiff, Sue Moore, Geneva Norsworthy; Jim Owens, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Luther Paul, Dewanna Polk, Kirby Roy, Estelle Simmons, Eric Sipco, Halyn Smith, Betty St. Andrie, Aiden Stewart, Erica Gillette Stewart, Lacy Storey, C.W. Strother, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Anna Thibadoux, Azaria Thompson, Martha Townsend, Randy Tucker, Toun Vilsaysack; Jeanie Winegeart

Deployed Military:  Tyler Bankston; Taylor Denegal, Kelvin Griffin, Tyler Johnson, and those in the military

Cancer Patients:  Heather Ashworth, Marvin Banks, Ronnie Bedgood, Sylvia Bollock, Ashley Brown, Hedy Butler, Shirley Cameron, Mark Cary, Raymond Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, Jerry Cole, Sally Crooks, Tyese Davis, Danny Doughy, Donna Dyson, Billy Ellington, Ruth Ann Fisher, Sherry Fontenot, Murray Ganson, Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Steve Hawkins, Cheresa Hudson, Donnie Johnson, Mr. Kelly, Vivian Kirby, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Linda Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Warren LeBlanc, Bonnie Lee, Kaylee Lesta, Billie Linzay, Rodney Linzay, Braeden Lyberski, Neda Lyberski, Joy Mancil, Roy McDonald, Henry Millsap, David Monroe, Otis Monroe; Laken Moreau, Joe O’Neal, Jeanie O’Rorke, Myra Page, Les Paul, Kyle Pearson, Evelyn Sandell, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Richard Simmons, Linda Sipco, Connor Smith, Carolyn Spears, Donna Spears, Walter Stagg, Varnell Stanley, Carol Stewart, Leann Switzer, Jackie Teasely, Cliff Thornton, Jean Valdeterio; Troy Verheyden; Dalton Welch, Brenda West, Charles Whitten, Carol Willis, Britney Wilson, James Wood, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Eloise Babb; Mary Ann Fuller, John Kenner, Bessy LeDoux

Travelling:  Those traveling for work; Linda Sipco; Sloan Johnson; Ricky Martin; David Johnson; Eraine Clark

Deaths: The families of Dorothy Browning, Daniel Huenink, Clyde Holloway, Kenneth Wayne Polk, and Donald Pender

Unspoken Requests

The Vineyard- October 2, 2016

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

Pray for God to speak to you through the reading of His word. 

Read Exodus 7:8-10:29

The One True Lord

-          What was God’s purpose in sending the plagues on Egypt?

-          In demonstrating that he alone is Lord, God was extending an opportunity to the Egyptians.  What was that opportunity?  Did any of them take advantage of it?

-          The Egyptian magicians were able to do similar miracles to the plagues.  What were they unable to do?  How did God finally demonstrate his superiority to them?

-          How does God’s display of superiority in Exodus encourage you when you engage in spiritual warfare?

-          Do we have false gods today?  What are our cultures gods of prosperity?  Or security? 

Why are You Sorry?

-          What prompted Pharaoh’s repentance? 

-          Why is repentance generated by fear inferior to repentance generated by a transformed heart? 

-          What are some characteristics of false repentance in a Christian?

-          Do we ever qualify our repentance and submission to God?

-          Are there things you have yet to submit to God in your life?  How can you move toward a more complete submission?

Tell Your Children

-          Why is the story of the exodus out of Egypt important for Christians to tell their children? 

-          What else has happened since the exodus that it is important for our children to know about?

Pray that the world might come to know God as the one, true Lord, and Jesus his Son.   

Pray for a heart of genuine repentance. 

Make an effort to tell your children God’s story this week. 

Prayer Requests- October 2, 2016

Praise:   Gary Kurtz and Todd Mason is doing better. 

Recent Requests:  Sharry Johnson, Glenda McGilvray, Jaycee Fuller, Jordan Wiggins, Hudson family, Maverick Sepulvado; Doris Morgan; Macy Peebles; Haley Billings; Makenzie Fee; Morgan Strother; Lydia Holloway; Bob Mellon; Denise Wright; Pat Paul; Kerry Page; our families impacted by flooding; Denham Springs Church of Christ; Jordan Pollard; Samantha Gunter; Christine Taylor; Ashley Stallings, Jason Guillot’s father, Michael Clark, Drew Broussard, Robert Garcia, Dave Butler, Jehtt Wilmore, Dillard Fontenot, Rob Woodard, Ashley Strother, Mrs. Jimmie Banks, Elaine Melder, Melvin Lucas, Danielle Cloud, Deborah Cloud, Heather Hensley, Twiggy Johnson, Edna Woodard, Dorothy Browning, Elizabeth Bailey-Paul, Keith Monroe, Lisa King, Clyde Holloway

Pray for the persecuted Christians, missionaries, victims of violence, and your enemies.  (Matthew 5:44)

Pray for our elected and appointed leaders, as well as world leaders. 

Pray for our students, faculty, staff, and administration at the school, especially their safety.    

Pray for those in south Louisiana impacted by the flooding.

Continuing Requests: Brent Anderson; Dale Anderson, IV; Emma Armour; Kowyn Austin, Allan Babb, Roanne Ballio, Makenzie Bankston, Ruth Barbe, Conner Bouchie, Carl Chellette, Haley Chisholm, Ronnie Chisholm, Flo Conway, RC Conway, Claire Cotton, Sampson Doyle III, Clyde Dunn, James Otis Dunn, Kimmy Fix, Briley Fuller, Robert Gough, Mamie Grantham, Carolyn Gray, Dan Gray, Carl Holloway, Darlene Holt, Mary Ruth Hubbard, Mike Irwin, Aline Johnson, Candy Johnson, Sylvia Johnson, Darwin Jones, Andrew Juneau, Mascel Keith, Dennis LeDoux, Drake Martin, Iris Lee Martin, Mattie McReynolds, Dot Melder, Felix Melder, Mark Melder, Mike Melder, Arvis Midkiff, Sue Moore, Geneva Norsworthy; Jim Owens, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Luther Paul, Dewanna Polk, Kirby Roy, Estelle Simmons, Eric Sipco, Halyn Smith, Betty St. Andrie, Aiden Stewart, Erica Gillette Stewart, Lacy Storey, C.W. Strother, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Anna Thibadoux, Azaria Thompson, Martha Townsend, Randy Tucker, Toun Vilsaysack; Jeanie Winegeart

Deployed Military:  Tyler Bankston; Taylor Denegal, Kelvin Griffin, Tyler Johnson, and those in the military

Cancer Patients:  Heather Ashworth, Marvin Banks, Ronnie Bedgood, Sylvia Bollock, Ashley Brown, Hedy Butler, Shirley Cameron, Mark Cary, Raymond Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, Jerry Cole, Sally Crooks, Tyese Davis, Danny Doughy, Donna Dyson, Billy Ellington, Ruth Ann Fisher, Sherry Fontenot, Murray Ganson, Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Steve Hawkins, Cheresa Hudson, Donnie Johnson, Mr. Kelly, Vivian Kirby, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Linda Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Warren LeBlanc, Kaylee Lesta, Braeden Lyberski, Neda Lyberski, Joy Mancil, Roy McDonald, Henry Millsap, David Monroe, Otis Monroe; Laken Moreau, Joe O’Neal, Jeanie O’Rorke, Myra Page, Les Paul, Kyle Pearson, Evelyn Sandell, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Richard Simmons, Linda Sipco, Connor Smith, Carolyn Spears, Donna Spears, Walter Stagg, Varnell Stanley, Carol Stewart, Leann Switzer, Jackie Teasely, Cliff Thornton, Jean Valdeterio; Troy Verheyden; Dalton Welch, Brenda West, Charles Whitten, Carol Willis, Britney Wilson, James Wood, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Eloise Babb; Mary Ann Fuller, John Kenner, Bessy LeDoux

Travelling:  Those traveling for work; Linda Sipco

Deaths: The families of Ron Saxon, Lucy Gravett, Maudye Bedsole, Grady Harper, James Savage, and Francis Polk

Unspoken Requests

The Vineyard- September 18, 2016

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

Pray for God to speak to you through the reading of His word. 

Read Exodus 4:1-31

Belief or Unbelief?

-          Moses was given tangible signs of God’s power.  How does the empty tomb serve as a tangible sign of God’s power for us?

-          How does the sign of the empty tomb show us that God controls the future?

-          What is the purpose of signs?  How do they point beyond themselves to God?

-          Passages to Consider: John 4:48; 20:30-31

Too Much “I,” Not Enough I AM

-          What is one thing you would change about yourself?  How could God accomplish things through you without changing a thing?

-          Name some ways that a lack of talent in speaking can actually be an asset in ministry.

-          Why should God, the great I AM, be our focus when ministering to others?

-          Passages to Consider: I Corinthians 2:1-5; II Corinthians 10:10

Worship on This Side of the Sea

-          What was the ultimate purpose of God delivering Israel from slavery?  What is the purpose of our salvation?  What are the secondary effects?

-          How is our worship similar to Israel’s worship prior to being led out of Egypt to their freedom?

-          How is worship and expression of faith?

When you read of God’s wondrous acts in the Bible, ask what the act reveals about the God who is capable of performing it.

As you seek to serve others, focus on the great I AM, rather than yourself. 

As you worship God this side of heaven, consider God’s promise of eternal life as it is demonstrated through the sign of the empty tomb.