Teach us to pray.

Lesson & Discussion for September 25, 2008

Hey everyone! Hope you are all having a great week. This Thursday, we will be discussing prayer. Specifically, the Lord’s prayer from Matthew 6:5-13. Read through it. Pray through it. Come ready to discuss this model prayer, and also any other questions, challenges, thoughts, or concerns in the area of prayer.

Follow up from 9/11 Meeting

Last week was a great meeting! Thanks to the Harty’s for opening up their home. The food, stories and discussions were all very good. We missed the folks that couldn’t make it. Our next meeting will be Thursday, 9/25 at Lisa Hoyle’s home. I just confirmed it with her, and she is very excited to have us. More details will be coming soon.

Here are the prayer requests. Feel free to post comments, updates, encouraging words, etc.

WILLIFORD’S: asked for prayer for wisdom in making decisions regarding Jake’s school.

MONTERROSA’S: asked us to remember the victims of the recent hurricanes.

HARTY’S: asked for prayer for God’s will regarding Keith’s new job opportunity, and they gave a praise about one of Keith’s co-workers (unnamed) whose marriage is on the road of restoration.

KORI BAILEY: asked for prayer for wisdom and patience regarding an upcoming job change.

BONNIE: asked for prayer for a neighbor’s (unnamed) battle with her HOA.

Put To Death The Deeds Of The Body

Lesson & Discussion for Thursday, September 11, 2008

Howdy! Hope you are all having a great weekend. I am loving my Saturday afternoon of college football and rest, mixed in with wrestling and playing football with my boys, and trying to avoid getting in Jen’s way as she cleans the house!!

I’m reading a new book right now by a 17th century Puritan theologian named John Owen, called “The Mortification of Sin”. It is intensely insightful and inspiring, as well as a painfully slow read. Here is the thesis of the book: “The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought to make it their business, all their days, to mortify the indwelling power of sin.”

It’s a great book so far, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in deepening their trust in the cross of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in their journey to put to death the deeds of the body. So, this is what I feel urged to discuss this coming Thursday.

Main verse we are basing the discussion on:
Romans 8:13
Other supporting verses:
Galatians 5:16-17
Romans 6:5-6
Romans 6:22-23

Discussion:

• What is it to live after the flesh?
• What is it, in this context, to die?
• How are we to put to death the deeds of the body?
• What are the promises for the saints that put to death the deeds of the body?

So, here we have it. Remember that childcare is available beginning at 6pm at our home, and this week the Harty’s are hosting, so watch for their email regarding dinner. Can’t wait to see you all.

For Jesus,
tw

A New Semester

Fall is on it’s way, and with it – all the great things about North Texas. High temps in the high 90’s instead of 100’s, 1 Billion school zones to navigate through every morning and afternoon, and most of all…my personal favorite – High School Football. I’m 35, but for some reason, I still (and probably always will) view my year in semesters and summers. So, with all that – this new Fall Semester, brings about some very exciting changes to our LIFE GROUP as well.

Topping that list of changes is this new blog. My intentions are that this blog will serve to meet a few needs:

1. People who are interested in attending our LIFE GROUP can be directed here for some pertinent information.
2. We can dialogue further about prayer requests, topics we discuss on Thursday nights, and other important issues that come up along the way.
3. It can be a central point of all information that we need as a group – i.e. maps, directions, addresses, phone numbers, updates to the schedule, events outside of the meetings, etc.
4. Anyone in the group can make a post. To do this, just email your post to me with a few basic rules:

*Don’t make it too long – preferably 300 words max. (“brevity is the soul of wit”)
*Proof it for errors before sending it to me.
*Understand that it might not make the blog, and don’t get your feelings hurt if this happens.

The other obvious change is childcare and moving to a multi-location format.

CHILDCARE

Childcare is going to take place in our home for each Thursday meeting. This will allow the kids to have a night where they can enjoy themselves, rather than feeling like they are being sent to an hour long “time-out” in Jake’s room. We have secured a couple of regular (1 adult/1 older teen) babysitters that are planning on being there every time we meet on Thursday nights. They will be there from 6-9, and are being paid for their services. PARENTS SHOULD BRING A SACK LUNCH FOR THEIR KIDS, OR FEED THEM BEFORE YOU DROP THEM OFF. SNACKS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED. Everyone will have an opportunity to contribute to this “childcare” fund – BUT WITH NO OBLIGATION! The total cost for 8 meetings this semester will be $48 per night. If we don’t collect it all – it’s covered by a trust fund specifically set up for such a time as this. (jk) So the moral of the childcare story is – count it as a blessing, pay for it if you can, but if you cannot, then don’t even think twice about it, because it’s there to help us all have a great time!

MULTI-LOCATION

The schedule, locations, and maps are laid out on this blog. Just check back frequently for any updates along the way. The host home will still send out emails regarding dinner details. It will be a nice change of pace and scenery for us all.

So, with that said (and I realize the post was lengthy) here’s to a great Fall semester of journeying onward to Christlike-ness with each of you beautiful people!

For Jesus,
tw