Daily Discipleship Guide for 22-JUN-2010

We are all sons and daughters of God and, as such, have received (hopefully) or at least heard the message of the Father to each son:

 To the younger, "My child was dead but now is alive! Let's celebrate because my child whom I love is with me!"

  To the older, "My child you are with me and all that I have is yours. I love you!"

Are you able to hear these words to you from your heavenly Father?

  Please read the story again in Luke 15:11-32 and while doing so place your name into the text wherever it says "son."

What happens for you when you do that?

Daily Discipleship Guide for 21-JUN-2010

Henri Nouwen in his book, The Return of the Prodigal Son, suggests that we are each, at one time or another, like both of the sons in Jesus' famous parable in Luke 15:11-32

Can you think of a time when you were like the younger son?  Even if you did not go as far as he did, are there aspects of him to which you can relate?  What are they?

How about the older son? Can you relate to him at all? Have you ever felt like your 'goodness' has gone unnoticed?  You are under- appreciated?  Please write down your thoughts and feelings as they relate to the older son.

Feed Children @ The Bethlehem Center

We need your help to make this summer a wonderful summer for more than 100 kids.

 The Bethlehem Center V-TEAM Literacy & Leadership Academy provides a faith-based organized, six-week summer program to enhance reading, math & leadership skills. Low-income at-risk students will be engaged in a variety of enrichment activities. The program offers a safe and wholesome environment along with positive role models in the heart of Alton Park in inner-city Chattanooga.

 

In order to provide these services we must also feed the students while they are here. We have two United Methodist Churches and one sorority that are donating food during the six week summer program, but we still have to provide lunches on three more weeks and two days. Please consider donating food for the children at the Bethlehem Center for one week during the summer program.

 

As a mission organization of the United Methodist Church, we rely on the church members and pastors to help the students at the Beth as a labor of love. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ is the center of all the teaching at the Bethlehem Center. Some churches use this opportunity as a home mission project to get their mission team involved with hands on mission to serve Christ and their fellow man.  Please strongly consider this, we need your help. We still need a church mission team to provide food from June 28th to July 2nd or July 6th through 8th. You can contact me at 423.266.1384 x32 if you have any questions or to make plans for your donation.

Help Needed Saturday, 19-JUN-2010

Hi all,

This Saturday, June 19th, we are having a work day to split firewood and clean up the area around the wood storage.  There is a job for everyone- we need to spread a bunch of mulch, knock back a lot of invasive vegetation, rake up debris, and split as much firewood as possible! (We have hydraulic splitters).  I you can help, please come.

Bring a wheel barrow, rake, pitch fork, chainsaw, work gloves, drinking water, or just a willingness to work. 

We will meet at 8:30 and work until lunch.

See you on Saturday,

Jeff Simmons

Daily Discipleship Guide for 25-MAY-2010

As the missional movement gains momentum it will become more and more difficult to think of church as something we “go to” or “participate in” or “join" or “attend.”

Can you imagine such a form and expression of Christianity?  How would you describe “church” to someone with out using the words in quotation marks above?

What would you say?  Please think of some ways you would describe our “church” to people.   You can leave a comment below, Tweet your ideas to @scumc, or leave a comment on SignalCrest's Facebook page.

Daily Discipleship Guide for 24-May-2010

Pentecost: The First Missional Church Movement

 

The word “missional” is a big buzz word in church circles right now.  Church leadership authors are saying that there is a movement afoot, a movement that churches are becoming missional.

 

These authors define missional as BEING the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.  Missional is a way of living, not an affiliation or activity.  To think and to live missionally means seeing all life as a way to be engaged with the mission of God in the world.  It is not church-as-usual.  It is being said of the rise of the missional church that it is the single biggest development in Christianity since the Reformation.

 

We might want to pay attention to this.  A church that is missional takes on its supernatural role of being in on the action of God.

How does what is being described above make you feel? (excited? scared? skeptical? resistant? angry? inspired? wishful? hopeful?...)

 

 

Where would you rank Signal Crest on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being not at all, and 5 being we are a 100% missional church?

 

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Daily Discipleship Guide for 20-MAY-2010

Today read I Corinthians 3.  What did Paul call many of the people Corinth?

Are there similarities between chapter 3 and chapter 1?

Did you notice a difference in the two chapters? 

Briefly look at chapters 4-11.
What other things are the Corinthians struggling with?

What happens when gifts of the Holy Spirit are used for personal gratification?

How can gifts be used to cause divisions in the church?  Friendships?

What did God intend for us to do with gifts from the Holy Spirit?

What are some things you have learned this week that will help you live differently?

You might be asking, “How do I claim my gift?”
Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Read scripture identifying gifts: Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11; I Corinthians 12:27-31; Ephesians 4:11-13.
Look at your passions.  What is lying heavy on your heart?  Pursue that path.
Seek to serve in a variety of places.  Your gift will be revealed.

Please close this session by writing a prayer of thanks to God for the gift or gifts God has given to you.

Children's Ministry Positions Available at Christ United Methodist Church

Christ UMC has several positions available in Children’s Ministry. The following positions are posted at our website – www.christplace.org under Job Opportunities:
  • Full time Children’s Ministry Director
  • Part time Assistant Children’s Ministry Director
  • Part time Children’s Ministry Events Coordinator

Thanks,

Dr. Cathy Turner

Director of Education

education@christplace.org

Christ United Methodist Church

8645 E. Brainerd Rd.

Chattanooga, TN 37421

Phone: 423.892.9363  Ext 119

ASP Spots available for June 13-19

Signal Crest Congregation,

I am writing to let everyone know that we still have 5 ASP spots available for those interesting in attending.  The dates are June 13-19 and the cost is $250.00.  Our group is traveling to Buchanan County, Virginia this summer and hope to take a total of 30 youth and adults.  If you are interested in attending the trip, then please contact me as soon as possible to grab your spot!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Kristin Robertson