by Bret Capranica | Jul 15, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think This Sunday we will be finishing up with Exodus 19-40. Our focus will be from chapters 32-40. Read through these chapters and see if you can identify and write down the main idea for each of them. Read Exodus 32 again. Note carefully, who did Israel and Aaron say the golden calf represented? How does Israel”™s sin relate to any of the Ten Commandments? Chapters 25-31 and 36-40 describe the construction of the Tabernacle. Why do you think this was so important in Israel”™s life? What indications do you see in the text? Prayerfully Meditate From reading chapters 32-34, what lessons was Israel to learn about themselves and about relating to God? How would those lessons correlate to us? In what ways do we pursue idolatry as Israel did in chapter 32? How would you relate your passion for God”™s glory to Moses”™ passion for God”™s glory as seen in 33-34? Intentionally Act From what you have been seeing both last week and this week, how should Exodus be impacting your approach to worship with God”™s people each Sunday? What needs to be enhanced, stopped, changed ““ in your personal approach to corporate worship? Spend some time praying for those who will be leading the service on Sunday (Bret Capranica, teaching; Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, prayer and Scripture reading). Pray that they will be thoughtful, focused, encouraging, helpful to the body, and full of Christ in their leadership. Pray for others who will be participating in the worship service ““ that they will have servant”™s hearts, affection for Christ that encourages others, focus on how their...
by Bret Capranica | Jul 13, 2011 | Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Video
How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message In this week’s Mid-Week Minutes: This is VBS week – thank you to Stacy McCommon for the devoted leadership and to all who have given so much of their time and energy to teach Scripture to our kids. How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message: Re-read the passage Review the Main idea of the message Rehearse the main points that unfold the main idea Think through an application grid of questions on each point How seen in salvation history? Impact on the lost? Impact on the culture Impact on a Christian Impact on our Church Application Grids: Example filled out Blank...
by Bret Capranica | Jul 6, 2011 | Pastoral Ministry, Video
How Are You Intentionally Assimilating the Truth You Hear Each Week?
by Bret Capranica | Jun 30, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry
Carefully Think Read through Exodus 1-19. As you read begin underlining and make a list of the actions you see from the following: God (what does the text say he does), Moses (how does he respond to God, Israel, and Pharaoh), Pharaoh (how does he respond to Moses and God), and Israel (how do they respond to Moses and God). If you are limited for time, concentrate on the plague accounts of chapters 7-12. What is the chief purpose behind God”™s bringing the plagues (pay attention to the “so that” phrases)? How would you summarize the theme of Exodus 1-19? Prayerfully Meditate What do you learn about how God works within the actions of people from reading Exodus 1-19? What does this suggest is true about how God is presently working in our world and in your life? What do you learn from Israel”™s responses to Moses and God throughout these chapters? In what ways do we respond similarly or differently? What was God revealing to Moses, Israel, and Egypt about Himself? How should that impact you? Intentionally Act Pray in response to what you have learned from Exodus 1-19. What sin should you confess? How could you respond in unique praise for who God is? How would any of these lessons impact the way you are currently praying for others? Consider how what you have learned about God should impact the way you worship Him with God”™s people this Sunday. Write out a few responses. Pray for those in our gathering this Sunday who do not know Christ. Pray that they will see God”™s greatness and their need...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 29, 2011 | Christian Living, Pastoral Ministry, Video
Don’t Waste Your Summer
by Bret Capranica | Jun 23, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think We didn”™t finish our tour of Genesis last week, so try and read through Genesis 32-50 and see if you can summarize each chapter”™s theme. As you read, look for and perhaps underline the activity you see God doing directly. Read again Genesis 50. Who was behind all of the negative events of Joseph”™s life? Think through this one carefully. What was Joseph”™s response to these circumstances and those involved? Prayerfully Meditate What lessons would you write down from what you have read in the latter part of Genesis (32-50)? How have you been responding to the events in your own life? How much like Joseph have your responses been ““ or unlike? Why? What is it that keeps you from responding like Joseph? What has helped your responses to resemble his that you could capitalize on even more? What lesson what God teaching the original writers of the book of Genesis? How should we apply that lesson today? Intentionally Act List unique events that have occurred in you or your family”™s life over the past year. Spend a moment meditating on how God has been involved and what you have learned about Him (and about yourself) through them. Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for His providence, confessing any sin for failed responses, seeking wisdom on how to respond to current issues unique to you. Pray for those in our gathering this week who do not know Christ. Pray that God will awaken their hearts through His word and bring them to the knowledge of Christ. Pray that the entire body will be strengthened in...
