House Church
We meet in each others homes on Thursday Nights. Last week was at Jeff and Theresa’s house (Thanks). This week it’s at the Tufts-Ludwig household.
Here’s what you can expect:
- A commitment to respect, challenge by choice, and community.
- A light snack and a beverage
- Time to talk/listen
- A discussion, centered around a section of scripture and three broad questions (What? So What? Now What?)
- A chance to be pray/be prayed for.
- Ending at 8:30pm or earlier.
Last week we talked about Jesus’ message. This week it’s baptism. Our scripture will be Mark 1:1-11Mark 1:1-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
The Gospel According to Mark
1
1 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the prophets,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
Who will prepare your way before you.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord!
Make his paths straight!’”
4 John came baptizing To baptize means to immerse in water . This baptizm is not just to cleanse the body, but as an outward sign of an inward spiritual cleansing and commitment. in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.
5 All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
7 He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.
8 I baptized you in The Greek word translated here as “in” could also be translated as “with” in some contexts. water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
9 It happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11 A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
In following weeks, we will talk about:
Prayer: Matthew 6:5-15Matthew 6:5-15
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
8 Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Reading the Bible: 2 Timothy 3:14-172 Timothy 3:14-17
English: World English Bible - WEB
14 But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
15 From infancy, you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
16 Every writing inspired by God literally, God-breathed is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Communion: 1 Corinthians 11:17-281 Corinthians 11:17-28
English: World English Bible - WEB
17 But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.
19 For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.
20 When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s supper.
21 For in your eating each one takes his own supper before others. One is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly, and put them to shame who don’t have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you.
23 For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.
24 When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”
25 In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.
Living Generously: Matthew 5:38-42Matthew 5:38-42
English: World English Bible - WEB
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.
41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.; 2 Corinthians 8:1-152 Corinthians 8:1-15
English: World English Bible - WEB
8
1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;
2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
5 This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
10 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.
15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Sharing the message: Matthew 28:16-20Matthew 28:16-20
English: World English Bible - WEB
16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.
18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19 Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Worship/Church: Acts 2:40-47Acts 2:40-47
English: World English Bible - WEB
40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common.
45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
You are welcome to join! Please call the church/email/comment if you need directions.