Good afternoon,
After the holiday hiatus, I really enjoyed seeing our Bible Study Groups/Sunday School back together this weekend. Just last week I was telling someone how the Sunday School class we attended in 2007 was unlike any Bible Study we'd ever been a part of. The in–depth, honest, and informed discussion of the Scriptures was one of the main reasons we decided to join South Woods in 2007. We wanted to be part of, and learn from, a culture of discipleship like that.
Speaking of, we're so grateful to have David Johnson in the office with us today, eager to lend a hand in our efforts to make disciples at South Woods. Do continue praying for him as he steps into this new role and for his family as they move into a new home over the next week or so.
 
Tomorrow night David will kick off Nate Pickowicz's book on studying the Bible with the teenagers. Make sure to read the introduction, students! We had a wonderful initial class last week with the adults on Practicing Affirmation. The word "practicing" in that title is masterful, as it's certainly not a skill learned overnight. Affirming others in a God–centered way is something we must work on, and be encouraged to practice, by others. Join us tomorrow night as Chris leads a discussion on the second chapter of that book.
We barely scratched the surface in the introduction of James last weekend. But, if you missed that sermon and want to get an aerial view of the book, you can read or watch it here (Overview of James). This coming Sunday I'll preach the first four verses of the letter, including that out of the ordinary juxtaposition, Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials (James 1:2). The next verse––verse 3––helps explain how we might do such a countercultural thing, having joy in trials. And the following verse tells us the goal of it. We'll also observe the Lord's Supper together. A number of folks from our recent membership class will be joining on Sunday too. Let's pray that the Lord might nourish and encourage us during that time together.
Tomorrow night: Chick–fil–a at 5:30; children's, youth, and adult classes at 6:30. See you then!
Matt
|
|
|
