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This Week at First

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July 7: Peace


One of the most desirable things in life is a sense of inner peace. This inner peace can be one of the benefits of the Christian faith. We will explore how to achieve this peace as we look at both 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 and Matthew 6:25-34. The message is titled “Peace.”


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

2 Corinthians 12:2-10


 2 I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.  3 And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—  4 was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.  5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.  6 But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,  7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep[a] me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.[b]  8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,  9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[c] is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 


 

Matthew 6:25-34


Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,[a] or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[b]  28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,  29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.  30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’  32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  33 But strive first for the kingdom of God[c] and his[d] righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

   

 







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June 30: Dealing with Disagreements


In our world we seem to be divided. We often fail to get along with the people who disagree with us. This week, we will look at how David honored the man he was at odds with and whom he ultimately replaced. We will also look at how Jesus dealt with those who interrupted his plans. Our scriptures will be 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 and Mark 5:21-43. The message is titled “Dealing with Disagreements.”


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27


David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.  



17 David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan.  18 (He ordered that The Song of the Bow[a] be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said:

 

19 Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places!    How the mighty have fallen!20 Tell it not in Gath,    proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon;or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,    the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.

 

21 You mountains of Gilboa,    let there be no dew or rain upon you,    nor bounteous fields![b]For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,    the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more.

 

22 From the blood of the slain,    from the fat of the mighty,the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,    nor the sword of Saul return empty.

 

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!    In life and in death they were not divided;they were swifter than eagles,    they were stronger than lions.

 

24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,    who clothed you with crimson, in luxury,    who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

 

25 How the mighty have fallen    in the midst of the battle!

Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.26     I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;greatly beloved were you to me;    your love to me was wonderful,    passing the love of women.

 

27 How the mighty have fallen,    and the weapons of war perished! 


 

Mark 5:21-43


A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat[a] to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea.  22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet  23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”  24 So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.  25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years.  26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse.  27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.”  29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.  30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”  31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’”  32 He looked all around to see who had done it.  33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.  34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

 

35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?”  36 But overhearing[b] what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”  37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.  38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.  39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.”  40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.  41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!”  42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.  43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

   

 







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June 23: How Should We Respond to Obstacles?


Facing obstacles is part of life. Creating obstacles for others is a choice. Sometimes, obstacles appear before us as we attempt to do ministry and at other times, we create the obstacles ourselves. “How Should We Respond to Obstacles?” will be our theme of the day based on both 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 and Mark 3:20-35.


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

2 Corinthians 6:1-13


6 As we work together with him,[a] we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.  2 For he says,

“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,    and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!  3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,  4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,  5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;  6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,  7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;  8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;  9 as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed;  10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

 

11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you.  12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours.  13 In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.  


 

Mark 3:20-35


 20 and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.  21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.”  22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.”  23 And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?  24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.  26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come.  27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

 

28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter;  29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—  30 for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

 

The True Kindred of Jesus

31 Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.  32 A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters[a] are outside, asking for you.”  33 And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”  34 And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!  35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

   

 







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