Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Good Morning!

We are planning to have a Sunday School get together on Friday, October 21 at Monica and Joey's house. I'll send some more information along later today, and I'll have the info on the web site.

The new unit for this week is Unit 24, The Way Methodists Live

Focus Scripture for the Week:

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Today's Scriptures: Acts 11:19-30

Today's Discussion:

-- today's scripture actually answers an interesting trivia question -- when did Christians start to be called Christians? Verse 26 of today's passage has the answer.

-- in the context of the unit we are studying, I think there are two things to note:

-- one is the idea/importance of bringing others to the faith, and the roll of "example" in accomplishing this. In the passage today, in verse 24, it talks about Barnabas, how he was a good man, full of faith, and the implication is that his example helped to bring many to the faith. So the takeaway that lines up with this week's lesson is that by living a Methodist life, a Christian life, we help bring others to the faith.

-- the second takeaway from the reading today is the idea of the connectional church. At the end of the passage, they talk about how Christians in Antioch provided help for the other Christians living in Judea during a severe famine. This idea of living out your faith by helping others in need is a key Methodist thought, and then the idea of a connectional church, where Christians in one area feel connected and responsible for Christians in another area, is another distinguishing idea.

-- the example given in the scripture, of the church in Antioch helping out the church in Judea, is no different than our church in McCalla helping out the church and community in Bayou La Batre.

Question for Sunday:

-- if living in "connection" is a key Methodist idea, how have you felt the connection with other Christians, or specifically, other Methodists? Is there a program that exists, or an event that you have attended, that has fostered that sense of connection with other Methodists?

Today's prayer request: Someone in need of Christ

Think of someone at your work place that you know is not a Christian, or perhaps a Christian but who has fallen away, and pray for them to tune into the way that God is calling them, and for God to use you in helping them find their way to God.

Today's class member prayer:

Brandon Herring

Have a great day.

Jay