The Vineyard- April 28, 2013

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

Acts 4:1-22

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

Read the passage.

-          The disturbing nature of the gospel!

o   According to Acts, why are Peter and John arrested?  When they are arrested, what are Peter and John told to do? 

o   Why do you think that rather argue than over the resurrection, the authorities simply order them to stop speaking about it? 

o   Could it be that the world knows it cannot dispute the facts of the resurrection?  Could it be that the best chance the world has of defeating the gospel is by silencing those who would speak of Jesus’ resurrection?

-          Who do you listen to?

o   The world wants to tell us to be quiet, to not speak of God, or the hope we have in Jesus Christ.  What can the world threaten you with if you fail to remain silent? 

o   Are you allowing the world to bully you into silence?  Do you care more about what the world thinks, than God?

Pray that we may be faithful to the gospel proclamation that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead.  Pray that this proclamation will be a source of hope for those around us. 

Pray that we will care more about pleasing God, and being faithful witnesses, than about pleasing the world.  

Prayer Requests- April 28, 2013

Prayer Requests:

Recent Requests: Donna Willis, Diane Townley, Rita Lemley, John Crawford, Dot Morgan, Harold Robinson, Gabe & Monica Sharpe, Angela Foster, Mrs. LeJeune, Herbert Winegeart, Gene Welch, Robert Gough, Azaria Thompson, Travis Gillespie, Virginia Warner, Cynthia Philips, Rosa Brownlee, Bill Goree, A. G. Winegeart, Sarah Martin, Jeffrey Cecil, Lois Nesmith, Chris Cloud, Larry Randolph, Mike Nunnally, Darlene Holt, Claudette Ferrier, Sally Crooks, Arvis Midkiff, Horace Doyle, Cindy Pace, Deborah Fuller

Continuing Requests: Priscilla Ackaret, Kowyn Austin, Roanne Ballio, Grayson Bieber, Conner Bouchie, Ray & Joyce Burge, Sharon Cook, Michael Fuller, Robert Gunter, Kathryn Hardy, George Johnson, Darwin Jones, Butch Manuel, Drake Martin, Philip Mayeaux, Sloan McInnis, Bob Melder, Dot Melder, Mark Melder, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Bob Peterson, Dewanna Polk, Thelma Polk, Carter Poole, Johnny Roberts, Pete& Eva Stewart, Myrtle Strother, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Martha Townsend

Deployed Military:  Tyler Bankston, Joey Fix, Horace Greene, Tyler Johnson, Lance Ramsey, and all those serving in the military

Cancer Patients:  Yvonne Bass, Sylvia Bollock, Myrtis Bond, Larry Book, Angela Brenton, Leonard Butter, Shirley Cameron, Kennette Campbell, Shirley Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, Ronnie Chenevert, William Chisholm, Jerry Cole, Rodney Cotton, Dorothy Crane, Donna Dyson, Ruth Ann Fisher, Ronald Golmon,Sr., Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Bob Granville, Gayle Gunter, Peggy Sue LeDoux Johnson, Roger Johnson, Euna Jolibois,Tessela Laborde, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Mattie McReynolds, Bob Morrow, Clark O’Banion, Jeanie O’Rorke, Lisa Osman, Doug Pinkston, Grace Roberts, Wes Roberts, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Richard Simmons, Connor Smith, Wally Pullen Smith, Walter Stagg, Glennell Stanley, Diane Stevens, Jackie Teasely, W. H. Terrell, Danny Thompson, Sam Tucker, Will Tulos, Dalton Welch, Shane West, Charles Whitten, Britney Wilson, Geraldine Willis, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Aunt Charlene Babb, Eloise Babb, Mary Ann Fuller, Tom Fuller, Janie Jenkins, Helen Johnson, John Kenner, C.J. Meyers, Doris Polk; Danny “Tiny” Townson

Travelling: Sylvia Johnson, Ricky Martin, Nathan Orr

Deaths: The families of Norma Jean Prather, Isabelle Martin Philips, Marie Horton, Diane Stevens, Nerry Lawson, and Stacey Lynn Reeves

Unspoken Requests

Praise:  Willie Yancey is doing better.  Michael Melder & Kelly Joplin were married this past weekend.  Britney & Brody Laird are both doing better.                  

The Vineyard- April 21, 2013

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

Acts 3:1-26

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

Read the passage.

-          Peter and John deliberately engage other

o   Acts tells us that Peter and John look directly into the eyes of the man who asks for help.  They don’t brush him off, but give him their full attention.  Do we focus on those we help, or do we treat them more as a nuisance we just want to leave us alone?

o   The man asks for money, but Peter and John don’t have any.  Instead, they find a way to help the man by giving him what they have.  Do we look for ways to help other people?  Do we give them what we have?

-          Another chance with Jesus

o   Just like the people Peter preaches to, we have all rejected Jesus because of our sin.  What does it feel like to know that you have rejected Jesus, the Author of Life?

o   In addition to mercy, or forgiveness, God offers us grace, season of refreshing.  What does it say about God that he not only shows mercy, but gives grace?

Pray that we may deliberately engage others, and give them what we have in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.      

Thank God not only for his mercy in saving us from hell, but also for his grace in opening up heaven to us.  

Prayer Requests- April 21, 2013

Prayer Requests:

Recent Requests: Donna Willis, Diane Townley, Michael Melder & Kelly Joplin, Rita Lemley, John Crawford, Britney & Brody Laird, Dot Morgan, Harold Robinson, Gabe & Monica Sharpe, Pete Stewart, Angela Foster, Willie Yancey, Mrs. LeJeune, Herbert Winegeart, Gene Welch, Robert Gough, Azaria Thompson, Travis Gillespie, Virginia Warner, Cynthia Philips, Rosa Brownlee, Bill Goree, A. G. Winegeart, Sarah Martin, Jeffrey Cecil, Lois Nesmith, Chris Cloud, Larry Randolph, Mike Nunnally, Darlene Holt, Claudette Ferrier, Sally Crooks, Arvis Midkiff, Horace Doyle, Cindy Pace, Deborah Fuller

Continuing Requests: Priscilla Ackaret, Kowyn Austin, Roanne Ballio, Grayson Bieber, Conner Bouchie, Ray & Joyce Burge, Sharon Cook, Michael Fuller, Robert Gunter, Kathryn Hardy, George Johnson, Darwin Jones, Butch Manuel, Drake Martin, Philip Mayeaux, Sloan McInnis, Bob Melder, Dot Melder, Mark Melder, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Bob Peterson, Dewanna Polk, Thelma Polk, Carter Poole, Johnny Roberts, Myrtle Strother, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Martha Townsend

Deployed Military:  Tyler Bankston, Joey Fix, Horace Greene, Tyler Johnson, Lance Ramsey, and all those serving in the military

Cancer Patients:  Yvonne Bass, Sylvia Bollock, Myrtis Bond, Larry Book, Angela Brenton, Leonard Butter, Shirley Cameron, Kennette Campbell, Shirley Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, William Chisholm, Jerry Cole, Rodney Cotton, Dorothy Crane, Donna Dyson, Ruth Ann Fisher, Ronald Golmon,Sr., Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Bob Granville, Gayle Gunter, Peggy Sue LeDoux Johnson, Roger Johnson, Euna Jolibois,Tessela Laborde, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Mattie McReynolds, Bob Morrow, Clark O’Banion, Jeanie O’Rorke, Lisa Osman, Doug Pinkston, Grace Roberts, Wes Roberts, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Richard Simmons, Connor Smith, Wally Pullen Smith, Walter Stagg, Glennell Stanley, Diane Stevens, Jackie Teasely, W. H. Terrell, Danny Thompson, Sam Tucker, Will Tulos, Dalton Welch, Shane West, Charles Whitten, Britney Wilson, Geraldine Willis, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Aunt Charlene Babb, Eloise Babb, Mary Ann Fuller, Tom Fuller, Janie Jenkins, Helen Johnson, John Kenner, C.J. Meyers, Doris Polk; Danny “Tiny” Townson

Travelling: Nathan Orr

Deaths: The families of Norma Jean Prather, Isabelle Martin Philips, Marie Horton, Diane Stevens, Nerry Lawson, and Stacey Lynn Reeves

Unspoken Requests

Praise:  Azaria Thompson had successful heart surgery. Donovan Billings is doing better, and was able to come home from the hospital.  Carl and Lydia Holloway returned safely from their trip.             

"Tongues of Fire"

Check out the "tongues of fire" our little darlings made this morning during the children's sermon.  We pray that one day each one of our children will be filled with God's Holy Spirit!!

Prayer Requests- April 14, 2013

Prayer Requests:

Recent Requests: Donovan Billings, Norma Jean Prather, Donna Willis, Diane Townley, Michael Melder & Kelly Joplin, Rita Lemley, John Crawford, Britney & Brody Laird, Dot Morgan, Harold Robinson, Gabe & Monica Sharpe, Pete Stewart, Angela Foster, Sharon Cook, Willie Yancey, Mrs. LeJeune, Herbert Winegeart, Gene Welch, Robert Gough, Azaria Thompson, Travis Gillespie, Virginia Warner, Cynthia Philips, Rosa Brownlee, Bill Goree, A. G. Winegeart, Sarah Martin, Jeffrey Cecil, Lois Nesmith, Chris Cloud, Larry Randolph, Mike Nunnally, Darlene Holt, Claudette Ferrier, Sally Crooks, Arvis Midkiff, Horace Doyle, Cindy Pace, Deborah Fuller

Continuing Requests: Priscilla Ackaret, Kowyn Austin, Roanne Ballio, Grayson Bieber, Conner Bouchie, Ray & Joyce Burge, Michael Fuller, Robert Gunter, Kathryn Hardy, George Johnson, Darwin Jones, Butch Manuel, Drake Martin, Philip Mayeaux, Sloan McInnis, Bob Melder, Dot Melder, Mark Melder, Harvey Paul, Harvey Paul, Jr., Bob Peterson, Dewanna Polk, Thelma Polk, Carter Poole, Johnny Roberts, Myrtle Strother, Jolee Rayne Terrell, Martha Townsend

Deployed Military:  Tyler Bankston, Joey Fix, Horace Greene, Tyler Johnson, Lance Ramsey, and all those serving in the military

Cancer Patients:  Yvonne Bass, Sylvia Bollock, Myrtis Bond, Larry Book, Angela Brenton, Leonard Butter, Shirley Cameron, Kennette Campbell, Shirley Causey, Gleeta Chamberlain, William Chisholm, Jerry Cole, Sharon Cook, Rodney Cotton, Dorothy Crane, Donna Dyson, Ruth Ann Fisher, Ronald Golmon,Sr., Jared Gordon, Stacy Gough, Bob Granville, Gayle Gunter, Peggy Sue LeDoux Johnson, Roger Johnson, Euna Jolibois,Tessela Laborde, Johnny LaHay, Dot Langston, Mariliyn Lavisphere, Mattie McReynolds, Bob Morrow, Clark O’Banion, Jeanie O’Rorke, Lisa Osman, Doug Pinkston, Grace Roberts, Wes Roberts, Joan Schneider, Donny Shows, Richard Simmons, Connor Smith, Wally Pullen Smith, Walter Stagg, Glennell Stanley, Diane Stevens, Jackie Teasely, W. H. Terrell, Danny Thompson, Sam Tucker, Will Tulos, Dalton Welch, Shane West, Charles Whitten, Britney Wilson, Geraldine Willis, Charles Young

Nursing Homes:  Aunt Charlene Babb, Eloise Babb, Mary Ann Fuller, Tom Fuller, Janie Jenkins, Helen Johnson, John Kenner, C.J. Meyers, Doris Polk; Danny “Tiny” Townson

Travelling: Carl and Lydia Holloway, Nathan Orr

Deaths: The families of Marie Horton, Diane Stevens, Nerry Lawson, Stacey Lynn Reeves, Geneva Robinson, Bud Roach, Lynn King, Kenneth Vickers, Imogene Stroud

Unspoken Requests

Praise:  Sylvia Johnson and Justin Simmons returned safely after travelling to visit family.  Estelle Simmons’ wrist has healed, and she was released from physical therapy.  Thomas and Jennifer Morrison were married on Saturday!         

The Vineyard- April 14, 2013

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

Acts 2:1-47

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

Read the passage.

-          Being the New Testament Church

o   One of the marks of the church we read of in Acts was their devotion to the teaching of the Apostles.  How often do you study the word of God?  Do you take advantage of the opportunities provided to study the word with others?

o   Another mark was the celebrating of communion together.  Do you regular gather with your church family to remember Jesus?

o   The church was a family.  No one suffered alone, or went without what they needed.  How do you help the church meet the needs of others?  Are you willing to rely on the church to help you during difficult times?

o   The early church was devoted to prayer, both as individuals, and collectively.  The continued to meet in the temple during the day for set hours of prayer.  Do you take prayer seriously?  Do you schedule, or set aside time for prayer?

Pray that we may be the church not just on Sunday, but every day. 

Pray that our community may see in us the same joy, the same love, the same fellowship, that it saw in those early Christians.