Wednesday Night (8/29) Activities Cancelled

Due to the impending effects of Hurricane Isaac, all regular Wednesday night programs are canceled for this week. There will be no youth devotional, and no Wednesday night Bible study. Stay dry, stay safe, and remain in prayer for all those who lives will be dramatically impacted by the storm!

The Vineyard- August 26, 2012

The Vineyard

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

I Corinthians 11:17-34

- Paul says that their coming together makes things worse, rather than better.  What seems to be motivating the divisions in the church at Corinth?

- Where does Paul say her received the tradition concerning Jesus’ Last Supper?  What does he do with that tradition?  Why is it important?

- Because communion is a celebration of the body and blood of Christ, what does Paul say will happen to those who abuse the meal, or participate in an unworthy fashion?

- When Paul instructs us to discern the body of Christ, what does he mean?  Does he mean the actual body of Christ, or the church as the body of Christ?

Psalm 118:

- What does it mean to say that the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever?

- According to this psalm, where is it best to seek refuge?

- The psalmist states that they shall not die, but live.  What do they resolve to do with their life?

- Who is shown as always acting in this psalm?  What various types of things does the psalm describe God has doing?  How do those things describe the salvation that comes from God?

Prayer Requests: August 26, 2012

Prayer Requests:

Recent Requests:  Eileen Hester, Curtis Billings, Rhonda Welch, Robert Bruner, Joe Ford, Arvis Midkiff, Cindy Saxon, Kayla Austin, Carl & Pam Giles, Carl Holloway, Mike Melder, Kenneth Edwards, Trisha George, Sloan & Madeline McInnis, Johnny DeFee, Don & Lynn King, Mamie Grantham, Claudia Troll, Richard Simmons, Scarlet Shockley, Bobby Joe Peterson, Ashleigh Parker, Doug Johnson, Stacey Reaves, Horace Doyle, Cindy Pace, Candy Gordy, Alton Johnson, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Deborah Fuller

The upcoming elections, those affected by Hurricane Isaac, and the Torch Hill Road Church of Christ

Continuing Requests: Roanne Ballio, Conner Bouchie, Haylee Cornett, Gage Fuller, Michael Fuller, Bill Goree, George Johnson, Darwin Jones, Rita Lemley, Jerianne McPherson & Jon Louis Schneider, Dot Melder, Billy Joe Monroe, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Dewanna Polk, Thelma Polk, Benny Richard, Myrtle Strother, Martha Townsend

Deployed Military:  Horace Greene, Tyler Johnson, all those serving in the military

Cancer Patients:  Allan Babb, Sylvia Bollock, Larry Book, Bonnie Bradley, Leonard Butter, Shirley Cameron, Shirley Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, William Chisholm, Jerry Cole, Sharon Cook, Rodney Cotton, Dorothy Crane, Ava Dore, Ruth Ann Fisher, Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Bob Granville, Gayle Gunter, Allie Harvey, Roger Johnson, Euna Jolibois, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Mattie McReynolds, Christine Midkiff, Bob Morrow, Clark O’Banion, Jeanie O’Rorke, Doug Pinkston, Wes Roberts, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Elaine Simonson, Linda Sipco, Connor Smith, Wally Pullen Smith, Walter Stagg, Glennell Stanley, Jackie Teasely, Sam Tucker, Will Tulos, Dalton Welch, Pam Welch, Shane West, Charles Whitten, Britney Wilson, Geraldine Willis, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Mary Ann Fuller, Tom Fuller, Janie Jenkins, Helen Johnson, John Kenner, C.J. Meyers, Doris Polk

Travelling: Josh Dauzat; Aaron Zee; Sam & Susan Poole; Hunter Dauzat

Deaths: The Sharnoff and Dunnahew families.  Also, the families of Virgin Chamberlain, Carlos Smith, Dollie Holland, Matt Troll, George Lemley, Peter & LaTrishia Shick, Ed Pebbles, Donald Joplin, Baron MacArthur. 

Unspoken Requests

Praise: Iris Lee Martin and Joe Francis are doing better.  Robert Rogers is back safely from his deployment in Afghanistan.   

The Vineyard- August 19, 2012

The Vineyard

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

I Corinthians 10:1-22

- Israel, just like the church, had experienced salvation from the Lord.  They even had their own form of baptism as they traveled through the waters of the Red Sea, and their own religious meal consisting of God-given manna and water.  And yet, they still rebelled by following idols.  What lesson should this teach us?

- When Paul says there is one cup, he means one means of redemption, namely the blood of Christ.  Are you ever guilty of seeking forgiveness or redemption elsewhere?

- When he says there is one loaf, and later refers to the table of the Lord, Paul is speaking of the community of those who follow Christ.  Do you ever follow anyone or anything else and make it the Lord of your life?  Do you associate with groups that do this?

Psalm 116:

- Why does the psalmist love the Lord?  What motivates the love and devotion of the psalmist towards God?

- When the psalmist was in trouble, where did they turn?  What was the outcome?

- Even when in distress, the psalmist still had faith in God (see v. 10).  Do you have faith, even in the difficult times?

- What should be our response to God’s deliverance? (see v. 16-19)

Prayer Requests- August 19, 2012

Prayer Requests:

Recent Requests:  Carl Holloway, Shelby Mason, Mike Melder, Kenneth Edwards, Trisha George, Sloan & Madeline McInnis, Johnny DeFee, Don & Lynn King, Mamie Grantham, Claudia Troll, Richard Simmons, Scarlet Shockley, Bobby Joe Peterson, Ashleigh Parker, Doug Johnson, Stacey Reaves, Horace Doyle, Cindy Pace, Candy Gordy, Alton Johnson, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Deborah Fuller

The upcoming elections

Wildfires in Oklahoma and those affected by the hurricane season

Be praying for the Torch Hill Road Church of Christ

Continuing Requests: Roanne Ballio, Haylee Cornett, Gage Fuller, Michael Fuller, Bill Goree, George Johnson, Darwin Jones, Rita Lemley, Jerianne McPherson & Jon Louis Schneider, Dot Melder, Billy Joe Monroe, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Dewanna Polk, Thelma Polk, Benny Richard, Myrtle Strother, Martha Townsend

Deployed Military:  Horace Greene, Tyler Johnson, Robert Rogers, all those serving in the military

Cancer Patients:  Allan Babb, Sylvia Bollock, Larry Book, Bonnie Bradley, Leonard Butter, Shirley Cameron, Shirley Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, William Chisholm, Jerry Cole, Sharon Cook, Rodney Cotton, Dorothy Crane, Ava Dore, Ruth Ann Fisher, Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Bob Granville, Gayle Gunter, Allie Harvey, Roger Johnson, Euna Jolibois, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Mattie McReynolds, Christine Midkiff, Bob Morrow, Clark O’Banion, Jeanie O’Rorke, Doug Pinkston, Wes Roberts, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Elaine Simonson, Linda Sipco, Connor Smith, Carlos Smith, Wally Pullen Smith, Walter Stagg, Glennell Stanley, Jackie Teasely, Sam Tucker, Will Tulos, Dalton Welch, Pam Welch, Shane West, Charles Whitten, Britney Wilson, Geraldine Willis, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Mary Ann Fuller, Tom Fuller, Janie Jenkins, Helen Johnson, John Kenner, C.J. Meyers, Doris Polk

Travelling: Josh Dauzat; Aaron Zee; Sam & Susan Poole; Hunter Dauzat

Deaths: The families of Dollie Holland, Matt Troll, George Lemley, Peter & LaTrishia Shick, Ed Pebbles, Donald Joplin, Baron MacArthur

Unspoken Requests

Praise: Lisa Yancey is now “officially” a member of our church family!  Also, Daycee Johnson and Claire Cotton are both doing better.  Pat, Michelle, and Wynde have made it back safely.   

  

The Vineyard- August 12, 2012

The Vineyard

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

John 2:1-12

- Jesus miraculously replaces the water in the six stone water jars, water that was used with purification, with wine.  What does wine represent to us as Christians?  What point is Jesus making here?

- How does Jesus turn water into wine?  What is so miraculous about turning water into wine?

- What is it about Jesus’ words that give them power?  How can the words of Jesus have power in our life?

-  The stewards are instructed to draw out the wine, and take it to others.  How can we draw out the wine of Jesus and offer it to others?

- This is the first passage in John where Jesus performs a sign that reveals His glory.  How do Jesus’ actions here reveal something about who He is? 

Pray:

-  As our teachers and children return to school this coming week, I would encourage you to offer up a prayer on their behalf.

- Pray that our teachers may reflect the love of Christ to the children that they teach, particularly those most in need of being loved.  Pray also that God will use their talents to educate our children. 

- Pray that our children will love others as they should, and set good examples of how followers of Christ should act.  Pray that they will resist temptation, and that their efforts to learn will be fruitful.  

Prayer Requests- August 12, 2012

Prayer Requests:

Recent Requests:  Kenneth Edwards, Trisha George, Sloan & Madeline McInnis, Claire Cotton, Johnny DeFee, Don & Lynn King, Mamie Grantham, Claudia Troll, Richard Simmons, Scarlet Shockley, Bobby Joe Peterson, Daycee Johnson, Ashleigh Parker, Doug Johnson, Stacey Reaves, Horace Doyle, Cindy Pace, Candy Gordy, Alton Johnson, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Deborah Fuller, victims of the shootings in Colorado

The upcoming elections

Wildfires in Oklahoma and those affected by the hurricane season

Be praying for the Torch Hill Road Church of Christ

Continuing Requests: Roanne Ballio, Haylee Cornett, Gage Fuller, Michael Fuller, Bill Goree, George Johnson, Darwin Jones, Rita Lemley, Jerianne McPherson & Jon Louis Schneider, Dot Melder, Billy Joe Monroe, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Dewanna Polk, Thelma Polk, Benny Richard, Myrtle Strother, Martha Townsend

Deployed Military:  Horace Greene, Tyler Johnson, Robert Rogers, all those serving in the military

Cancer Patients:  Allan Babb, Sylvia Bollock, Larry Book, Bonnie Bradey, Leonard Butter, Shirley Cameron, Shirley Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, William Chisholm, Jerry Cole, Sharon Cook, Rodney Cotton, Dorothy Crane, Ava Dore, Ruth Ann Fisher, Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Bob Granville, Gayle Gunter, Allie Harvey, Roger Johnson, Euna Jolibois, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Mattie McReynolds, Christine Midkiff, Bob Morrow, Clark O’Banion, Jeanie O’Rorke, Doug Pinkston, Wes Roberts, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Elaine Simonson, Linda Sipco, Connor Smith, Carlos Smith, Wally Pullen Smith, Walter Stagg, Glennell Stanley, Jackie Teasely, Matt Troll, Sam Tucker, Will Tulos, Dalton Welch, Pam Welch, Shane West, Charles Whitten, Britney Wilson, Geraldine Willis, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Mary Ann Fuller, Tom Fuller, Janie Jenkins, Helen Johnson, John Kenner, C.J. Meyers, Doris Polk

Travelling: Josh Dauzat; Pat, Michelle, and Wynde; Aaron Zee

Deaths: The families of Matt Troll, George Lemley, Peter & LaTrishia Shick, Ed Pebbles, Donald Joplin, Baron MacArthur, Alton Peters, Tyler Guillory

Unspoken Requests

Praise: Peyton Thomas and Rocky Ray were married this past weekend in Florida, as were Whitney Midkiff and James Chandler.  Those who travelled for those weddings have returned safely.  Bob Melder is doing better.  

I Thessalonians 5:1-11

I Thessalonians 5:1-11

I.                   I Thessalonians 5:1-3

a.       V. 1

                                                              i.      It’s possible that Timothy had reported the Thessalonian churches struggle with eschatology

                                                            ii.      “times and seasons” is a stock phrase which always refers to eschatology in the scripture

1.      Chronos refers to the quantity of time, while kairos refers to the quality of time

b.      V. 2

                                                              i.      Irony in that they are wanting to know accurately, what cannot be known at all

1.      “thief in the night” stresses suddenness and unexpectedness, but also its unknown timing

                                                            ii.      Cf. Zephaniah 1:14-18; 2:1-3

                                                          iii.      Cf. Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:38-39; II Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; 16:15

c.       V. 3

                                                              i.      The Thessalonians’ enemies would have found safety in the Pax Romana, but the empires might cannot protect them from the Day of the Lord

1.      Cf. Jeremiah 6:14

                                                            ii.      For believers the timing is unexpected, for unbelievers the event itself is unexpected

1.      The “they” of this verse will be contrasted with the “but you brothers” of the next

                                                          iii.      This passage is meant to be an encouragement, not a threat

II.                I Thessalonians 5:4-11

a.       V. 4-5

                                                              i.      Sons of “light” and “day”- Christ is the light, the day points forward to the final realization of God’s kingdom

1.      “Night is the time for thieves, daylight is the time for truth.” – Euripides

                                                            ii.      Cf. Luke 16:8; Ephesians 5:8

b.      V. 6-7

                                                              i.      Paul characterizes the opposition as asleep and drunk, thereby exhorting the Thessalonian Christians to be the opposite, awake and sober

1.      “Sleepers” are careless and indifferent, “drunkards” are profligate and reckless

2.      For Christians, there are 24-hours of daytime

                                                            ii.      Cf. Mark 13:32-37, Romans 13:11-14

c.       V. 8

                                                              i.      The Greek does not have us “putting on” the armor, but rather has us clothed with armor that comes from God

                                                            ii.      “Thus the phrase ‘hope of salvation’ does not refer to a vague ‘hope’ for salvation in the future; rather, this phrase has to do with one’s certain future based on God’s saving work effected by Christ.” – Gordon D. Fee

                                                          iii.      The triad of “faith, hope, and love” occur again

                                                          iv.      Cf. Isaiah 59:17, Ephesians 6:14-17

d.      V. 9-10a

                                                              i.      Converts are to put on the armor “because” God did not appoint them for wrath

1.      “Wrath” is not the lot of believers.  Paul is operating with an OT view of wrath not as an emotional response of God, but as a judicial one

                                                            ii.      “This passage is somewhat like Romans 8:28-29, and in both cases the language of destining is used to reassure Christians, those who love God, about their future.  The subject is not about destining or electing some to be believers.”       – Ben Witherington, III

                                                          iii.      The goalà “the obtaining of salvation”; the agentà “through our Lord Jesus Christ”; the meansà”who died on our behalf”

1.      “Christ became what we are and died, so that we might become what he is and live.” – Ben Witherington, III

2.      Destinies and destinations can change

e.       V. 10b

                                                              i.      The latter part of chapter 4 deals with the deceased, the beginning of chapter 5 with the living, with this clause tying the two “together”

f.       V. 11

                                                              i.      Cf. I Thessalonians 4:18

g.      “Those who believe in the immortality of the soul believe that life after death is as natural a function of man as digestion after the meal.  The Bible instead speaks of resurrection.  It is entirely unnatural.  Man does not go on living beyond the grave because that’s how he’s made.  Rather, he goes to his grave as dead as a doornail and is given his life back by God (i.e. resurrected) just as he was given it by God in the first place, because that is the way God is made…The idea of immortality of the soul is based on the experience of man’s indomitable spirit.  The idea of resurrection of the body is based on the experience of God’s unspeakable love.” – F. Buechner

h.      “Learning how to die has something to do with living each day in full awareness that we are children of God, whose love is stronger than death.” – Henri Nouwen

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

“If then you seek [the deceased Christian], seek him where the King is, where the army of angels is; not in the grave, not in the earth.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on II Corinthians 1:6

I.                   V. 13

-          Cf. Mark 5:39

-          “that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope”- it is not that we don’t grieve as Christians, but that we grieve differently, understanding that death is not final, or permanent (cf. John 11:35)

-          The story of Augustine’s mother Monica

II.                V. 14

-          Ancient philosophers like Plutarch and Seneca would appeal to reason as a comfort in grief, citing universal mortality as a reality in life

-          What does “fallen asleep” mean in light of “bring with him”?  More than likely, based on Paul’s other references to being “absent from the body, but at home with the Lord” (cf. II Corinthians 5:8), it means that the soul is with God, awaiting the resurrection when it will be reunited with the body

-          “In Jesus” could also refer to those who have died as Christians, or have died “in Jesus”.

-          “Jesus died and rose again” is quite possibly a creedal statement, given its assumed truth and the economy of words

-          God is the one who initiates action, but Jesus is the agent through which is happens (consider also creation, in addition to the resurrection which is in view here)

-          “Paul only spoke of the resurrection of Christ in connection with, and as the beginning of, the resurrection of the dead in general…As the overcoming of death it is for [Paul] the beginning of the rule of the one with whom the kingdom of divine freedom begins.” – Ernst Kasemann, The Saving Significance of the Death of Jesus

III.             V. 15

-          The fact that Paul is referring to Jesus as Lord reaffirms a high Christology, or idea of who Christ is.

-          Paul is not saying he will be alive when Jesus returns.  Rather, he is placing himself in the appropriate category for that moment in time.  As he gets older, it becomes clear that he finds it increasingly unlikely that he will be alive for the Lord’s return

-          Paul is seeking to reassure the Thessalonians that those who have already died as not at a disadvantage when it comes to the resurrection

-          The material here has several parallels with Matthew 24:29-51, which could be the word of the Lord Paul is referring to

-          Cf. Daniel 12:1-2

-          Cf. II Corinthians 5:6-10

IV.             V. 16

-          The picture painted is meant to compete with the image of the advent of the emperor in a town

-          Cf. Exodus 19:16-20; Psalm 47:5; Isaiah 27:13; Joel 2:1; Zechariah 9:14; I Corinthians 15:52

V.                V. 17

-          “Together with them” is the first phrase of the sentence in Greek, placing emphasis on this idea

-          For “in clouds” cf. Daniel 7:13; Mark 13:26; Mark 14:62; Acts 1:9

-          The goal of the meeting is to be with Christ, and thus believers are left “in the air”.  Our home is not a geographical location, but a relational one.

-          While rulers are met outside the city gate, the Lord is met in the air, implying the universality of his dominion

-          To be “caught up”, or “snatched” is in this instance a good thing.  Just as death is often referred to as “snatching away” its victims, here we see the Lord “snatching away” death’s victims from death itself

-          “For when a king drives into a city, those who are honorable go out to meet him; but the condemned await the judge within.  And upon the coming of an affectionate father, his children indeed, and those who are worthy to be his children, are taken out in a chariot, that they may see him and kiss him; but the housekeepers who have offended him remain within.” – John Chrysostom, Homily 8 on I Thessalonians

VI.             V. 18

-          The Thessalonians should find comfort, and hope, in these words

I Thessalonians 4:1-12

I Thessalonians 4:1-12

I.                   I Thessalonians 4:1-2

a.       V. 1

                                                              i.      Often translated “finally”, “furthermore” is a better translation

                                                            ii.      Paul commends the majority, while reminding the disobedient minority of their duty as Christians. 

                                                          iii.      “More and more” again implies Christian perfection, or the idea of perfection being the Christian goal, even if it is unattainable

b.      V. 2

                                                              i.      A reminder that the instructions they were given ultimately came from, and have the authority of, Jesus Christ

c.       For Paul, theology and ethics go hand in hand, as we see in this section

d.      There is no reward such as heaven dangled in front of them like a carrot on a stick.  Paul sees pleasing God as its own reward, with heaven of course being God’s dwelling place

II.                I Thessalonians 4:3-8

a.       V. 3

                                                              i.      Cf. Leviticus 19:2

1.      The vocation of God’s people, whether Israel of the Old Testament, or the church of the New Testament, is holiness

                                                            ii.       “There are thus two aspects of sanctification, divine initiative and human endeavor.” – Abraham J. Malherbe

b.      V. 4-5

                                                              i.      What does vessel mean?  Body?  Wife? 

                                                            ii.      “vessel” could be a reference to the body, specifically male sexual organ

1.      Cf. I Samuel 21:56

                                                          iii.      This is one of those instances where Paul’s ambiguity would have been interpreted best by those who knew his teaching already

                                                          iv.       “Not in passionate lust”, to learn sexual restraint would be counter-cultural, as the Roman world of the Thessalonians did not see fornication or adultery as moral issues.

                                                            v.      Immorality is associated with a pagan lacking in terms of knowledge of God

                                                          vi.      Knowledge of the God in whose image we are created gives us a greater understanding of the necessity of restraint

c.       V. 6

                                                              i.      How does this relate to taking advantage of, or wronging ones brother or sister?  Quite possible this is in reference to an adulterous situation involving another’s wife

                                                            ii.      “To each man God has assigned a wife.  He has set boundaries on nature and limits sexual intercourse to one person only.  Therefore, intercourse with another is transgression, and taking more than belongs to one, and robbery.  Or rather it is more cruel than any robbery; for we grieve less when robbed of our riches than when our marriage is invaded…” – John Chrysostom

d.      V. 7

                                                              i.      Sexual ethics, all ethics, is as much about what we do, as what we don’t do

                                                            ii.      A reminder that walking with God entails purity and holiness

e.       V. 8

                                                              i.      Paul often simply refers to “the Spirit”, but referring here to the Holy Spirit is a means of emphasizing both the Spirit’s identity, as well as its nature, holy

                                                            ii.      Cf. Ezekiel 37:6, 14

III.             I Thessalonians 4:9-12

a.       V. 9-10a

                                                              i.      Mutual love=Philadelphia

                                                            ii.      The Christians took a word like Philadelphia, which meant the love of biological siblings, and redefined it to include ones Christian brothers and sisters

                                                          iii.      Cf. Leviticus 19:18, and Luke 10:27 where Jesus refers to this teaching

                                                          iv.      The could be providing lodging for Christians traveling through Thessalonica, or sending financial support to neighboring towns in need of help

b.      V. 10b-11

                                                              i.      “Mind your own business” is a tidy way of summarizing Paul’s instruction, for if they tend to their own work, they will not need to rely on others

c.       V. 12

                                                              i.      How we live our lives and relate to one another, provides an example to others, especially outsiders

d.      The ethics Paul teaches us centers on creating, and then sustaining community