Staying Connected Through Crisis

* On _____________ we remember all the _________ made by those defending our country.

* We also remember over 116 died in Joplin, MO, 300 died in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

* ELCA Disaster Response is on the scene

1. When crisis strikes tell God how you _________.

Lamentations 2:19b (NLT) 19bLift up your hands to him in prayer. Plead for your children as they faint with hunger in the streets.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NLT) 11Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.

2. ____________ God in all ______________.

Job 13:15 (NLT) 15God might kill me, but I cannot wait. I am going to argue my case with him.

3. ______ God for ____________ and _________ others.

Psalms 105:4 (NLT) 4Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.

4. Keep ____________on _________and _______________.

2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18 (NLT) 16That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

John 16:33 (The MSG) “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

* All ___________ are ________________.

* God will _________ a crisis for __________ purpose.

* Keep your __________ fixed on the ___________.

The Giving Connection

Questions we ask…

If God has everything and is the creator of all why do we need to (give) anything?

If Jesus abolished the requirements of the Law, why do we even talk about (tithing)?

Isn’t talk about ____________ going to __________ ______________ off?

• ___________ is mentioned in the very first _________ of the __________.

Genesis 14:18-20:Abraham tithed long before it was found in the Law Moses handed down as a response to God’s love and faithfulness.

• When God delivered Israel from ______________ in _____________ they responded by __________.

Deut 26:8-10: And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. 9And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God.

• ________ is one of the ways God keeps us _______ to Him and teaches us to become more _________.

Malachi 3:10: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

• Does the Bible have any _______________ for Christians about being ___________?

2 Cor. 9:6: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly,

• God’s __________ is not _________.

Acts 14:22: strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,”

• We are called to ________ ___________ the old ways of doing things.

Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

• ________________ is intended to be a _________ ____________ response to God’s generosity.

2 Cor 9:12-13: This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for ____________ the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

• _________ God and not your _______________.

1 Tim 6:17-19: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Sermon Study May 8

1. Today's Gospel even takes place ___________ . They are on the road because it is time

to ___________ and ___________ . They are joined by ___________ . It is

___________ .

Did they recognize him? ___________

John Sculley was president of ___________ . He left it to work for ___________ .

Why did he change jobs? With Apple he saw an even greater ___________ .

Do we see the vision ___________ has for us? Do we walk in his presence but do not ___________ him?

2. That morning the women told their story of seeing Jesus at the tomb. These two

intelligent fellows ___________ . As they walked with the Risen Lord, they did not

___________ him.

3. Why didn't they recognize him? Sometimes we just will not let ourselves ___________ or

___________ .

There are signs along the way reminding us ___________ . Millions have.

On their journey, the Lord taught the two doubters about the Scriptures and how the events of Holy Week had been ___________ . Still they did not ___________ .

4. Sometimes we question why we do not ___________ .

Dan Wakefield says that belonging to Church gave him a sense of living in a larger context,

of being part of something greater than what I could see through the tunnel vision of my

personal concerns.........He had a hunger and thirst for spiritual understanding.

Like the two on the road, can we be in the presence of the Risen Lord and ___________ ?

In the house at eventide, Jesus takes bread, blesses it, gives it to them, and ___________.

When the man with the mask removed it, he found _______________________________.

Jesus, our Lord, ___________ and is __________ .

He comes to us in ___________ and ___________ .

He stand before us in the form of our___________ and ___________ and ___________ .

Do you ___________ ?

Connected with God Part 1

2 Kings 6:1 - 7 (NLT) 1One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. 2Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.” “All right,” he told them, “go ahead.” 3“Please come with us,” someone suggested. “I will,” he said. 4When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. 5But as one of them was chopping, his ax head fell into the river. “Ah, my lord!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!” 6“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water. Then the ax head rose to the surface and floated. 7“Grab it,” Elisha said to him. And the man reached out and grabbed it.

1. ___________ you’ve lost it.

Revelation 2:4 (NLT) 4But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

2. ________ where you __________ your _________.

3. ____________ that God can _____________ it.

Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT) 19The LORD replied, “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman. You are to influence them; do not let them influence you!

The discipline of a tithe

Malachi 3:10 (NLT) 10Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!

God know what’s ________________ to us.

Matthew 6:21 (NLT) 21Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.

How _____________ is ___________ to us?

Your Will Be Done

OK OK - Fuel was great and some of you have to be gone this weekend I really want to find a way to stay connected. That is why I'm writing these blogs. I'd like you and event the confirmation kids to read them and comment on them. Am I dreaming too big? "Thy will be done" is a BIG topic because it can encompass so much. Earth, heaven, God's Will, etc, where should we even begin?

What kind of BIG risk have people taken? What kind have you taken? What about that movie, "National Treasures: Book of Secrets," Nicholas Cage trys to kidnap the president - pretty risky. What about Martin Luther, standing up to the Pope with the risk of excommunication and being burned at the stake - pretty risky. What are you willing to take risks for - things that matter or things that are just to have a thrill? How do we even begin to understand God's will for our life?

Well, how about brain storming some things: daily quiet time for prayer, reading the Bible, serving people who are needy, signing up for the mission trip, helping out around the church, helping an elderly neighbor, interview some people around church about what they think God's will is - take notes and report back. Look up some bible passages that talk about God's will and write them down and post them around church. Give me some feedback when you get a chance. Thanks to all the teachers who love the Lord and are serving the youth of our congregation. Thanks to the kids for being here and to the parents who help make confirmation real at home too. God will bless you for your efforts.

Fuel Worship

This Sunday is the Fuel Worship - you have an option as teachers to attend the Fuel Worship Service or to have class. At least two of the students will be part of the band that morning. Our focus will be on Trust - which really fits with the next session which is "your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Please mark your calendars for October 25th at 7:00PM. I'd like us to have a conference call meeting to discuss how things are going, what we can improve, and any needs we have. Also please try to be at the Confirmation Service on the 31st at 10:45AM worship. Thanks for your ministry to the kids and for sharing in this important ministry. I will look forward to hearing from you and receiving input on how things are going. I will also be doing a video sometime in the next month on the Lord's Prayer that you might be able to show via DVD or YouTube during class time. I will keep you posted as to when that is available. Blessings.

Your Kingdom Come

WE have no real reference point for a King in our society so this comes across as a little strange. But as adults we understand "boss", CEO, commander, leader, and so forth. What would it be like if Jesus ruled. There is a funny YouTube video with kids asking questions about what Jesus would do. I can send you the link if you want - let me know. But the question of how Jesus would rule or run things is a good one. You could study New Testament readings about Jesus and leadership - Google - Jesus and Leadership and see what you get. Talk about the President and Leadership or world leaders and compare them to the way Jesus would run things.

Have the kids create a Jesus cabinet. What would their job be if Jesus was in charge and they were his disciples - what would he have them do? If they were his ambassadors and workers how would they behave during the week and what would they do?

Download some pictures of world leaders and see if they can identify the picture. Look at Jesus footwashing of the disciples and ask how this is a King's Job and what Jesus intended to teach by doing that. Maybe even conduct a footwashing. Go to another class and ask to wash the feet of a teacher or another student as a sign of what Jesus asks us to do for one another. What is another "Servant Event" they could do together? Consider packing some Operation Christmas Child Boxes as a class project - Baby King Jesus Celebration. Ask Cindy Biernacki to come in and talk about OCC.

Amy Hartson will also be stopping by one of these weeks to talk about offering and what we do with our offering and what they as students can do to give to God's work.

Make crowns for one of the elementary kids classes and tell them that Jesus makes them special people through baptism. Maybe consider working on a puppet show for the little kids sometime. http://www.puppetresources.com/resources_links.php

Talk about the Kingdom of Darkness that Satan rules and how dangerous that is. I'm working with someone right now who is really struggling with this as a young person. It's real and kids dabble in this stuff. Teach them to be careful - only God is our true King but Satan wants to have a victory by taking kids away from faith. This might be something to explore.

This was a pretty cool site also -----

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wL1IvMuWo&feature=related

Well there you go - week three - tell me if these blogs are helpful

PD