What’s Happening at Good Shepherd
Ongoing Ministries
Missionary Update The CHE Association, Nicaragua, thanks everyone so much for their prayers for the CHildren’s CHE training – it went very well, and the women from the 3 new communities came, and were very enthusiastic. Last week we had a great training on Servant Leadership, by trainers from Development Associates International. It was a wonderful Bible study on Jesus’ Leadership, it was concrete and practical. it was inspiring. Several of the leaders present left with plans to reproduce the training amongst their own community leaders, or in church groups. Anne was fortunate to spend the day with Pastor Antonio (whom Good Shepherd supports) as he went around some of the communities meeting with discipleship groups, patiently and lovingly helping them work through the studies. He is 78: we went through the heat, the dust clouds, the little rivers, on motorcycles. He is such an example of the love of Jesus. Blessings, Anne and Bill.
Thanks so much to all those who helped with and prayed for the Saratoga Youth Center Easter Party which took place last Tuesday. Jeremy the Illusionist again awed the children with amazing tricks before arriving at the most important part of the show a powerful articulation of the gospel WITH invitation to receive Christ as savior. We then served fresh fruit and cookies and ended the party with a game of Easter BINGO. The children each went home with a goodie bag which included an Easter coloring book of the resurrection and a kid friendly salvation tract. Please pray that God blesses our efforts and that these dear children always follow Jesus Christ!
Health Fair and Ice Cream Social 2016. This year all participants in the event are required to agree with our statement of faith; a change which we pray will both protect us from the inclusion of groups which would oppose our beliefs, and also provide a venue for us and for other bible- believing Christians to proclaim our faith in words and deeds while promoting health of body, mind, and soul. This change also demands that we ALL take part in this effort. Please ask yourself what you can do to help and who you know who might be willing to participate. This event will include health screenings and information, holistic health professionals, Christian groups such as the Salvation Army, haircuts, skincare, facepainting, dance and athletic demonstrations, children’s crafts, music, food, and much more! Please let me know how YOU would like to help!
Bread and Wine If you are interested in joining a group of moms for a monthly supper and discussion of women in the bible, please contact Liz Hull. The next meeting will be on April 23rd.
Health and Wellness Our bodies are “the tents” that the Lord has given us to house our souls. Begin to take care of the body which God Has given you. Check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight every Sunday in the Parish Hall 9-10AM. Please see Dolly Shaller or Carmen Swoffer-Penna for more details.
Good Shepherd Food Pantry Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and all your mind,’ and, love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)
We are all neighbors trying to live our lives as God commanded us to do, and it only goes to say that helping others less fortunate than we are is the right and good thing to do. By keeping our Member Food Pantry stocked we can always help those in our congregation that have the need to put good healthy meals on their tables to feed their families.
Food Needs: Peanut Butter, Tuna fish brands other than Bumblebee, Turkey, Beef, Chicken, or Ham-canned meats, Bottled Juice other than cranberry or grapefruit, One Box Meals or Stews, Kid foods like Spaghetti O’s etc,.Spaghetti Sauce, 1 lb packages of white or brown rice, Assorted cookies and crackers , Powdered Milk Packets, and anything else you’d like to bring.
Thank you to all who contribute so generously every week. Your contribution is greatly appreciated!
Last Week
Last week’s sermon ‘Comparing Faith Alone to a Faith that is Alone’ was based on James 2:14-26. It can be listened to or downloaded here.
Mission Group Discussion Questions
James 2:14-19
Main Idea(s):
James contrasts two kinds of faith in this section: (1) “faith” that is no more than intellectual agreement, which is no different than demons (v. 19) and is dead (v. 17) and (2) true faith that is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8) and is proved by good works (v. 18) that God prepared for us to do (Eph. 2:10)
1) What good is it, or what benefit comes from, claiming to have faith in Christ, but not demonstrating it?
- What is the point being made by the series of rhetorical questions from verses 14 through 16?
- Why does James include the hypothetical situation in verses 15 and 16?
- In verse 17, what does it mean that “faith by itself…is dead”?
- What does verse 17 imply about works and true faith?
2) What conclusions can be drawn about true faith from verse 18?
- Is it even possible to “show your…faith apart from your works”? Why or why not?
- How is the faith shown by works different than the faith by itself?
- Can true faith and works exist exclusively from each other? Why or why not?
3) In verse 19, what does the phrase “you believe that God is one” mean?
- What is implied by the phrase “you do well”?
- Why is mere belief in the facts about God not true faith?
- Why does the demons’ belief in God make them shudder?
- How is a believer’s reaction to the truth of God different than the demons’ reaction?
Tuesday Morning This Tuesday’s Bible Study was called ‘Let Not Sin Reign’. It was based on Romans 6. You can view it here, or watch it below. Missed a study? You can catch up on the last month of the Tuesday morning Bible studies you might have missed here.
This Week
This week’s sermon is based on James 2:20-26.
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:20-26 ESV)
Team Galations is working on the altar this Sunday with Jerry Shriver.
The readings for this Sunday are: Acts 13:14b-16; Acts 13:26-39 and James 2:20-26.
The PDF Bulletin for this Sunday’s 10:30 service can be downloaded here.
Have an item for the Update or an Announcement?
Email the secretary at:
gs.binghamton@gmail.com
by Monday night.