“Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?
Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you;
I’m ready to tell you all I know.”
Proverbs 1:22-23 The Message Version
ROMANS 8: 26-27 The scripture that Kim asks us to reflect on.
In the same way, the Spirit comes alongside and helps us in our weakness.
We don’t know what to pray for as we ought to; but the same Spirit pleads on our behalf, with groanings too deep for words.
And the Searcher of Hearts knows what the Spirit is thinking, because the Spirit pleads for God’s people according to God’s will.
Pastor Kim’s message on the first Sunday of Lent retells the story of Elijah and Jezebel in I Kings 19:1-18 Elijah needs to flee from Queen Jezebel, traveling for 40 days and 40 nights, and finds refuge in a cave where he hears a still small voice. Where do you need to find a cave to hear God?
Christians use this time to seek to grow in love and hope as Christ’s disciples. What makes that happen for you? It could be making a commitment to Sunday worship, daily Bible reading and prayer, weekly study group, or service to others.
Take up something that draws you closer to Christ. See our Website Next Steps section for devotional suggestions. Or borrow an NT Wright commentary in Fellowship Hall to read through a book of the New Testament with a few short pages of commentary.
Or give up something that is drawing you away from Christ. Give up worry, fear, hating or judging others, spending too much, nursing rather than dealing with anger, inability to forgive self or others, any addiction – we all have addictions – that keeps you from being your best.
On the Sunday before the start of Lent, Pastor Kim talks about the transfiguration and lists some questions to reflect upon during Lent. You can find the scripture for the transfiguration in Luke 9:28-36
The questions were as follows:
While Pastor Kim was on a spiritual growth and worship planning retreat, Ted Marcy (her spouse) gave the message. The scripture was from Luke 10: 25–28 in which a religious authority asks Jesus a big question that we still ask in different forms today.
Based on Selections from: 1 Samuel 18 and 20
So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NLT)
To grow ____________, you have to be connected ______________. Andy Stanley
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)
What are the obstacles that keep me from living in community?
8 Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2 as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them[a] out of their resources. Luke 8:1-3 NRSV
Based on Matthew 2: 1-12, which tells the story of the pagan Magi who follow a star in joy.
