Pastor Jay //

I am still a bit fascinated by this word. It means “hear.” It is the first word of the daily prayer of the Jews “Hear, O Israel! The LORD our God. The LORD is one!” What would it mean to hear? What if the world really heard from God? What if I really heard from God? I must listen more. He is speaking to me and yet there are still times that I ignore Him. If you had five minutes with God what would you say? Why would you say anything at all? Do we really think that we need to tell God anything? Shema!

God, help me to hear! “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2: 7, 11, 17, 29;  3:6, 13, 22)

Shema in Wikepedia ; An interesting church called Shema Community (not an endorsement)

Note: This is the big day! We will be able to celebrate the Master Plan today. We have been anticipating this day for years.

[Pictured: A section of Nehemiah's Wall]

Nehemiah 8 - Begin with the End Vision

1. What techniques do you use to put together a jigsaw puzzle?
2. How would you describe what you believe the perfect day at church would look like?
3. Who should the leader(s) of the church be? Why?
4. Why is “change” such a difficult word for the church? What kinds of change would God want?

P.R.A.Y.

• P - Praise - John 14
• R - Repent - John 15
• A - Ask  - John 16
• Y - Yield - John 17

1. When someone graduates, they send out invitations. How does it make the graduate feel to have loved ones come to their graduation?

2. Recount about a time when everything seemed to go wrong, but it turned out to be a positive change in your life.

3. When you pray do you tend to ask God to make changes around you or in you? Why?

4. What is God asking you to yield (give up, sacrifice) in your life today? (no one is exempt)

P.R.A.Y.

• P - Praise - John 14
• R - Repent - John 15
• A - Ask  - John 16
• Y - Yield - John 17

1. Tell about a time when you were lost. Did you ask for directions?

2. Have you ever been denied membership from a group? How did you react?

3. When you pray, what do you ask for most often?

4. Tell about a time when God answered your prayer.

5. Share a prayer request of something that you have never asked of God.

You can remember how to pray by remembering a word for each letter.

• P=praise
• R=repent
• A=ask
• Y=yield

This Sunday: John 14 – Praise

Use the following questions as discussion starters with your family to prepare for worship this Sunday.

1. Recount an experience where you were far above the ground. What did you notice about your view to the ground?
2. What did it take for you to get that high above the ground?
3. Did life seem more hectic on the ground or above the ground? Why?
4. How does prayer change your perspective of the world around you?

Our Redemption – Ephesians 1:7-8

1. What item of yours would you never sell?

2. If you were given $1 Million to spend in a year, how would you spend it?

3. If you had to pay your way there, how much is it worth to you to go to heaven?

4. In what ways has your relationship to God cost you so far? (example: job choice, charity, tithing, other choices, etc.)

How would you explain the great gift of salvation? Where do you begin? or end? Paul uses the word indescribable in relation to God’s gift of eternal life. Listen along as I attempt to explain the indescribable.

December 23 - Anticipating the Indescribable Gift (2 Cor. 9:15)

For discussion questions related to this message: click here

December 30 Sermon - Anticipating the Irrevocable Gift (Romans 11:29)

1.       What day do you plan to go to the store to make any returns after Christmas? Why?

2.       How have you or has someone around you changed since last Christmas?

3.       What is one way the story of the Bible changed between Genesis and Revelation?

4.       The Bible says that God does not change (Malachi 3:6). What are 3 things that do not change about God?

5.       What does God want to change about your life before next Christmas?

December 23d* Sermon - Anticipating the Indescribable Gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)

1.       Pick and object in the room and describe as much as you can about it for 30 seconds.

2.       What kind of person would have more knowledge about that object? (scientist, doctor, carpenter, etc.)

3.       Is it easier to describe things or relationships?

4.       How would you describe the Trinity (God is one, but also Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to someone? How about faith?

5.       Describe your salvation experience out loud to someone? Tell about how you came to accept God’s free gift of salvation.

*this sermon was delayed a week because of the ice storm.

Well, it seems that the ice is preventing us from getting together for worship today. Maybe, instead of this being a stumbling block, it can be a stepping stone. Michele and I prepared a “family worship” guide for you to use today. I think you will find it enjoyable and a great way to worship together.

You can get the worship guide here and then print it off to use. It is self-explanatory and should be easy and fun to use. There are no trick questions - it is designed for you to have success in worshipping together as a family.

See you again soon - after the thaw!

Techie update: I noticed that the archive format that I used to create the file can only work in Internet Explorer. So, if you your Firefox or (heaven forbid) some Apple type thing you may have to download this other file.