Thanks for joining us for this morning's gathering!
Because the video goes live at 10:30 AM we recommend getting to the worship, giving, and scripture reading around 10:00 AM so you will be ready to jump right into the teaching with us at 10:30! This way you can join others in the live chat when the teaching premiers!
Just click on the video link below under "Teaching"!
Make sure you have your Bibles handy as you work your way through this morning's service.
All in all, take time with your family this morning to seek Jesus and engage in worship, prayer, and the renewing of your mind through the scriptures. Follow the gathering order outlined below! Be creative and dedicate this time to Jesus:
Because the video goes live at 10:30 AM we recommend getting to the worship, giving, and scripture reading around 10:00 AM so you will be ready to jump right into the teaching with us at 10:30! This way you can join others in the live chat when the teaching premiers!
Just click on the video link below under "Teaching"!
Make sure you have your Bibles handy as you work your way through this morning's service.
All in all, take time with your family this morning to seek Jesus and engage in worship, prayer, and the renewing of your mind through the scriptures. Follow the gathering order outlined below! Be creative and dedicate this time to Jesus:
Worship:
- Don't skip this part! If you have someone in your home who can lead in singing praises do that!
- You can follow this link and sing along with some of our normal Sunday Worships songs.
- Read a hymn or a Psalm together to direct your hearts and minds in worship towards God.
Give:
- Part of our regular worship is giving generously as we know the Lord blesses those in our church and outside our church community with what we give.
- You can give by clicking the box below.
- You can mail offerings to the offices as well.
Scripture || Exodus 16
- Take some time to read slowly together or on your own.
- The point of the reflection time here is not to "study" this passage, but allow it reflect to you your own tendencies towards God and his character driven responses to you.
- Allow the story to become your story, picture yourself in this scenario (anywhere in this long passage) seeing yourself respond to the LORD in ways that figures in this chapter responded to him. Ask Jesus to show you how parts of this story parallel your own life.
- Allow your heart to be moved to thankfulness, confession, joy, grief, or whatever it might be as the Spirit illuminates the text as a mirror to your own life.
- Share these reflections with those around you if you can!
Teaching:
- Check out the video for today's update and teaching.
- If you go to our YouTube Channel to watch this teaching, we will have alive chat for interaction, prayer, and comments! Just click on the video below and it will take you there if you'd like.
Discussion and Prayer:
Take some time after the sermon to discuss and process with your family, roommate, or a friend over the phone. Use these questions from Pastor Kurt as a guide to your conversation:
Be sure to end your gathering time with prayer.
As you go forward from this time, don't rush into "other activities". Take time for lunch together, and let the morning time dwell a bit!
Take some time after the sermon to discuss and process with your family, roommate, or a friend over the phone. Use these questions from Pastor Kurt as a guide to your conversation:
- Prior to this message, what were your thoughts/feelings/understandings about the practice of fasting? Did you (do you) think it was weird? Were you (are you) fearful of fasting? Why or why not?
- Have you ever had a significant life event when eating food became unimportant to you? Why do you think food is less of a concern when we are going through difficult and/or emotional situations?
- Come up with a list of the types of serious moments (Scot McKnight calls them “sacred moments”) when breaking away from food might seem obvious and timely.
- Think about some reasons why Jesus fasted right AFTER his baptism (which marked Jesus’ official, public ministry). Think about some reasons Jesus fasted BEFORE he was tempted by Satan? For reference, check out Matthew 3:13-Matthew 4:11.
- Finally, process the idea that fasting is more about responding to God in difficult times than getting God to do things for us. In the message, the two questions we considered were, “Do we fast so God will fix things, or do we fast because we need more of God in times of trial?"
Be sure to end your gathering time with prayer.
- Pray for concerns in the family and your community/world.
- Pray for direction in how to respond to today's teaching.
- Pray for wisdom and discernment in your interactions with others.
- Pray for Spiritual growth in the midst of new daily rhythms.
As you go forward from this time, don't rush into "other activities". Take time for lunch together, and let the morning time dwell a bit!