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. 

Prayer Requests- September 18, 2016

Praise:   Estelle Simmons was able to go home.  Ruth Sheltman is back home and doing well.  Kerry Page had successful surgery.  Melinda Carruth, Lillian Ryles, and Russ Reeves are doing better.

Recent Requests:  Doris Morgan; Macy Peebles; Haley Billings; Makenzie Fee; Morgan Strother; Gary Kurtz; Lydia Holloway; Bob Mellon; Denise Wright; Pat Paul; Kerry Page; Geneva Norsworthy; 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, Todd Mason, 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. 

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, Maudye Bedsole, 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, 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, Peggy Middleton, Henry Millsap, David Monroe, Otis Monroe; Laken Moreau, Joe O’Neal, Jeanie O’Rorke, Myra Page, 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 Grady Harper, James Savage, Francis Polk, and Darrell Prestridge

Unspoken Requests

The Vineyard- September 11, 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 3:1-22

Where

-          Moses encounters God in a place that could be classified as wilderness, while he is about the everyday business of shepherding sheep. 

-          How might we encounter God in unexpected places, while doing things that are simply part of our routine?

-          The place where Moses encounters God is called Horeb, or also Sinai.  It will become a holy place for Israel, as the place of not only Moses encounter, but also Israel’s encounter with God.  It will be the place where God gives the Law to Israel. 

-          Horeb, or Sinai, is called the mountain of God because of Moses and Israel’s experiences there.  What places are holy to you because of how you have experience God in that place?  Church?  Camp?  A tree stand?

Who

-          It is interesting to consider all the ways that God identifies himself to Moses. 

-          First, he identifies himself as the God of Moses’ father, and his ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

-          Would God be able to speak to our children this way?  Would he be able to identify himself as the God that has already been a part of their family’s story?

-          Next, he identifies himself as the one who has seen or experienced the plight of his people.  God is not indifferent to their suffering. 

-          How has God experienced our suffering as human beings? 

-          Finally, he tells Moses to tell the people that his name is “I AM WHO I AM.”  God reveals himself as reality.  He exists, and thus we exist.  Without God, there is nothing.

-          How much is your life centered on the ultimate reality, God?

Why

-          God reveals his purpose as being twofold.

-          First, he intends to deliver them from something.  They have cried out because of the burden they are bearing as slaves in Egypt.  God will bring them up out of Egypt. 

-          What has God delivered you from?  What trials in this life?  What things of eternal consequence has he saved you from?

-          Second, God intends to deliver them to something.  God will not only save them from a land of slavery, he will deliver them to a land of milk and honey. 

-          God saves you from things, but he also saves you for things.  What purpose does God have for your life?  What place will God deliver you to?

Consider the normal places where you might encounter God. 

Praise God for being a God who has seen our plight, and who is the ultimate reality, the Great I AM!

Think not only of what God has saved you from, but what he is saving you for!

Prayer Requests- September 11, 2016

Praise:   Charles Peters is doing better and is cancer free.  Melinda Carruth, Lillian Ryles, Russ Reeves, Philip Orr; Jessie Fuller; Jaycee Fuller, Hunter Anderson, Ruby Ulmer; Zayne Pate; and Kathryn Ryles are doing better.  Sloan Johnson made it home safely.     

Recent Requests:  Denise Wright; Pat Paul; Kerry Page; Geneva Norsworthy; 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, Todd Mason, 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. 

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, Grady Harper, 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, Jim Owens, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Luther Paul, Dewanna Polk, Kirby Roy, Ruth Sheltman, 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, Peggy Middleton, Henry Millsap, David Monroe, Otis Monroe; Laken Moreau, Joe O’Neal, Jeanie O’Rorke, Myra Page, 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 James Savage, Francis Polk, Darrell Prestridge; Myrtle Strother

Unspoken Requests