Scripture for Study and Reflection: A team from GLUMC is participating in a reentry grant program through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections; training, mentoring and grant reporting has been facilitated by All In Community. 1. What is a reentry coalition? It is a group committed to helping people reintegrate into society after in…

Scripture for Study and Reflection: Read Romans 15: 1-6, 12-13. 1. What does “hope” mean to you? Why is hope important? What is life like without hope? 2. What is your hope for Grand Lake UMC as we go forward? 3. Read Isaiah 43: 19. How does that verse make you feel? Can you see it relating to Grand Lake UMC? 4. Read Romans 8: 28. Does that verse g…

Read Philippians 2: 3-8. 1. What does humility mean to you? Why is humility important, especially in the church? 2. What does it mean to truly forgive? Why is forgiveness important, especially in the church? 3. Do you ever find it hard to ask for forgiveness and/or forgive others? If so, why do you think that is? 4. Pastor Mick said that forgivenes…

Scripture for Study and Reflection: A lot of attention is given to Easter's Sunrise, celebrating the Risen Lord; however if we read a little further, we see a powerful interaction later that Easter at sunset. 1. Read John 20: 19-21. What were Jesus' first words to his disciples? 2. How did the disciples react? What were the disciples to do? 3. Read…

توسط Pastor Matt Overman

توسط Pastor Deb Ketcham

Scripture for Study and Reflection: Friday before Palm Sunday, Arrival in Bethany – John 12: 1-11 Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover to spend time with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Sunday, The Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday) Matthew 21: 1-11, Mark 11: 1-11; Luke 19: 28-44; John 12: 12-19 On the first day of the week, Jesu…

1. What chaos is in your life, or affecting you? 2. Read: James 1:19-20 Colossians 2:7 John 10:10 Romans 5:4-5 Mark 8:34-35 Deuteronomy 30:19 3. After reading these, how can you let Jesus calm your chaos? 4. What repeated mistakes or same choice, are you continuously choosing, over and over, that is affecting your life in a negative way? 5. Will yo…

1. Read Psalm 22: 1-22. In what ways have you felt these same ways? 2. Read Psalm 22: 23-31. Have you ever praised God in the midst of being forsaken, despised, mocked, insulted, and/or bullied? It’s hard. How does the Psalmist respond? 3. As we approach Holy Week, what parts of Psalm are parts of the Passion Story (of Jesus’ suffering and death)? …

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. What is your idea of a better life? 2. What does Jesus want for you? 3. What has Jesus done for you? 4. Have you had a spiritual experience? What happened? What was it like? Read Romans 8: 1-6. 1. In what ways have you been set free through Jesus Christ? Read Hebrews 12: 1-2. 1. In what ways is G…

Read 1 John 1:1 – 2:11. 1. In what ways have you been living in the darkness? 2. What have you done differently to live into the light? 3. What else might you do? 4. What is stopping you? Read Matthew 11:28-30. 1. John Wesley taught his followers to ask one another, “How is it with your soul?” So how is it with your soul? 2. In what ways are you we…

Read Ephesians 4:4-7, 11-17 and Mark 7:1-23. Communication is like 'a process by which information is confused by individuals through a conflicting system of emotions, behaviors, backgrounds, and desires.' The six distinct messages heard when we speak are: 1. What we mean to say; 2. What we actually say; 3. What the other person hears; 4. What the …

Read Matthew 5: 23-24. 1. Have you witnessed anyone going to another during a worship service to make amends? 2. How would you feel if someone came up to you during the offering to make an apology? Read Hebrews 12: 14-15. 1. What are some of the disagreements, issues, and problems which have spread throughout our church? 2. How did they make you fe…

Read Matthew 6: 5-15 1. The Lord’s Prayer is broken down into four sections, regarding how one should pray to God. Jesus taught the first thing is to offer praise to God. Do you begin your prayers with praise, or do you get right down to the reason for your prayer? How might your prayers begin if you began with praise? 2. The second part of Jesus’ …

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. What is the hardest thing you have ever done or been asked to do? 2. Read 1 Samuel. Have you heard God speak to you audibly or in your head? What did God say? 3. Read the Book of Jonah found between Obadiah & Micah in your Bible. What country would you refuse to go to if God wanted you to go to t…

1. Read Daniel 1. When have you stood fast in your faith, yet worked in an environment that was different? What was that like? 2. Read Daniel 3. Have you considered whether you would suffer or die for your faith? Would you stand fast, no matter what? Why or why not? 3. Read Daniel 6. When has God rescued you? 4. Read Psalm 34. How do you glorify Go…

Read John 1: 6–28 and Matthew 3: 1-17. 1. What surprises you about these accounts? 2. Have you been baptized? When were you baptized? Where were you baptized? What led you to be baptized? 3. How did you feel? If you were an infant, how did you feel today as you reaffirmed your baptismal covenant? 4. In what ways have you lived out your baptismal co…

Read Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:10-14; Micah 5:2-5a; & Matthew 2:1-12. 1. These are the prophetic scriptures and the story from Matthew - to the Jewish people - to show from scripture Jesus was the Messiah. Write down how you are certain that Jesus is the Messiah. 2. What new background information, regarding the time of Jesus’ birth, did…

توسط Matt Overman

Decide How You Want Your Holidays to Look: 1. List words or phrases of how you’d like your life to look from Thanksgiving to the New Year: 2. List words that describe how you do not want your holidays to be/ look: 3. List what you like the most about the holiday season. What do you absolutely love or want to do? 4. Consider/admit what you don’t lik…

1. Read John 14. 2. Verses 1-4 are often read at funerals. In what ways do these verses give you comfort and assurance that Jesus will guide you to the place He is? 3. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life; and the only way to the Father.” Do you believe this as a foundational Christian principle of faith? 4. How would you explain th…

1. Read Matthew 14: 13-21. 2. What would you have said if Jesus asked you to feed 20,000 people? 3. How did one offering become a miracle? 4. Read Luke 14: 16-24. This parable is more than a meal; it’s about accepting God’s invitation to include others. 5. When have you included people in your home gatherings that are not of your family or friends?…

1. What is your favorite Christmas memory? 2. What is your least favorite memory? 3. Why are the holidays so difficult for you or another? 4. What is your focus regarding the holidays? 5. Read Mark 13: 24-37. Jesus said to expect His return - at any time. If He comes at 5:00pm today, will you be ready? Why or why not? 6. Have you done as He asked? …

Why Are You Here? Four traits explain the apostles’ witness in the book of Acts—boldness, humility, tenacity, and urgency; these same four traits should characterize our witness. Peter and John constantly went around reminding the religious leaders that they had killed Jesus, a fact they were less than thrilled to recount. Their boldness astonished…

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. Read Luke 10: 25-37. 2. Who are you in this story, and why? 3. Read Luke 17: 11-19. 4. When all seems lost, who do you turn to for help? 5. What do you need to give up control over? 6. Why is this so hard? 7. Where is our “Go?” 8. Read Isaiah 40: 21-31. 9. What are God’s promises to you? Prayer f…

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. In what ways do you serve Jesus in and through Grand Lake United Methodist Church? 2. Are you aware there is a program in and through the United Methodist Church which helps equip and empower people in the church? Lay Servant Ministries has a multitude of classes that can equip and enhance your s…

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. What stories have your heard that have given you the hope and promise there really is life after death? 2. As Christians, we believe in the resurrection of the body, (stated in the Apostle’s Creed). Do you believe in the resurrection of the body or only a spiritual body? Why? 3. Read 1 Corinthian…

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. When is the first time you remember hearing about giving money to the church? What were your thoughts? 2. Over the years were you taught to give to God, or did your giving depend upon what was left over by Sunday morning? 3. Why do you think people become apprehensive when we talk about money in …

1. Why do you come to worship? 2. Who taught you to worship? 3. In what ways do you prepare for worship: Saturday night, Sunday morning, on the drive over, and as you arrive? 4. Do you come with the expectancy to worship, or to see what you can ‘get’ out of worship or the sermon? 5. Read Romans 12: 1. In what ways do you offer yourself in spiritual…

1. Why do you come to worship? 2. Who taught you to worship? 3. In what ways do you prepare for worship: Saturday night, Sunday morning, on the drive over, and as you arrive? 4. Do you come with the expectancy to worship, or to see what you can ‘get’ out of worship or the sermon? 5. Read Romans 12: 1. In what ways do you offer yourself in spiritual…

Wesley Covenant Prayer: I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield…

Spiritual Gifts: Apostleship – Read Acts 13: 1-5; Romans 1: 1-6; & Ephesians 4: 11-13. 1. What is an apostle? 2. What is their Spiritual Gift? 3. Who do you know that has this gift? Evangelist – Read Acts 8: 26-40 and Isaiah 53. 1. In what way was Philip drawn to the Egyptian eunuch? 2. What didn’t the Egyptian not understand? 3. How would you expl…

The Spiritual Gift of Miracles – Read John 2: 1-11; John 20: 30-31 and Matthew 11: 20-24. 1. Jesus performed many miracles. What miracles have you witnessed? What miracles are you aware of? In what way(s) did these deepen your faith? 2. The Gospels are filled with miracles. What other miracles can you find? Which one is most meaningful to you? The …

Discernment Read Acts 5: 1-11. 1. Have you considered, when you aren’t truthful, you are more importantly lying to God? 2. In what ways will this new understanding affect you? Shepherding Read Ephesians 4: 11-16. 1. What stands out to you in these verses? 2. How will you continue to move forward toward maturity in Christ? Hospitality Read Hebrews 1…

1. Read Mark 2: 6-8; John 1: 45-50. What knowledge does Jesus have about the people in each of these settings? 2. Read 1st Corinthians 2: 12-13 & 12: 8; Jeremiah 9: 23-24. How is wisdom understood in these scriptures? 3. Read Acts 6: 1-17 & Exodus 18. Why is the gift of administration important when working with a large group of people? 4. Read Luk…

Today I shared an overview of Tongues, Interpretation, Intercession and Prophecy found in 1 Corinthians 14. 1. What stood out to you? 2. What surprised you? 3. Read 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10. What are the nine Spiritual Gifts listed in Paul's letter? 4. Read 1 Timothy 2: 1-2. What Spiritual Gift is listed in Paul's letter to Timothy? 5. Read Exodus 31…

Read James 5: 1-6. - How does wealth destroy people? Read James 5: 7-11. - The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. In what ways have you experienced God's compassion and mercy? Read James 5: 12. 1. Compare this to Matthew 5: 33-37. How does Matthew's expanded version help your understanding? 2. What does swearing an oath accomplish, over a mere y…

Read James 4: 1-2, 7-12. 1. Who do you fight or quarrel with the most? Why? 2. When you don’t get something you want, how do you usually respond? 3. Why are we to submit to God? 4. What keeps you from submitting wholeheartedly to God? 5. What are your plans for the next 5 years? Read James 4: 13-17. 1. What does the person in 4: 13 presume about hi…

Read James 3: 1-12. 1. Think of a time when you regretted something you said. How did you resolve it? 2. Sometimes we deceive ourselves, saying we are not gossiping, when we say something like, “Mimi, you’ll never guess who needs our prayers and why!” Most have gotten entrenched in gossip at some point in our life, especially if it is really GOOD. …

1. Read James 2: 1-13. What are examples of when you have seen or experienced favoritism? What happened? How did it make you feel? 2. Someone once asked Mark Twain, “Doesn’t it bother you that there are so many parts of the Bible that you don’t understand?” Quick on his feet, Twain replied, “What bothers me most are the parts that I do understand!”…

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. Read James chapter 1, verses 1-18. Which of James’ proverb type statements stand out to you? Why? 2. Read James 1: 19-27. What stands out to you? Why? 3. Read James 1: 19-27 out loud this time. Now what stands out to you? 4. In what ways do you ‘just look’ regarding your relations? Your occupatio…

Read 1 Peter 4: 7-8, 1 John 4: 16b-21, 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8a & 13. 6 Greek words for love: 1. Eros is physical love or sexual desire. Eros is the type of love that involves passion, lust, and/or romance. 2. Philia is affectionate love. Philia is the type of love that involves friendship. 3. Agape is often defined as unconditional, sacrificial love…

Scripture: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” –Luke 10:27 Questions: 1. How do I love God with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind? 2. How am I called to love my neighbor? (Read: John 13: 34-35) 3. Who is a neighbor to me this w…

Read Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. Grief is the set of conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior. (The Grief Recovery Handbook by John James & Russell Friedman page 3) Grief is the gift that keeps on giving. We know that we cannot muscle through or run from our grief and that we will have to deal with grief in our…

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. Think of an event that created a major shift in your life. How did you feel? Did you reach out to God? What was the outcome? 2. Think of a time when God whispered to you, asking you to step out in faith. Did you? Why or why not? 3. If you did not, did someone else step up, or was that mission or …

Dear Grand Lake UMC, One of my favorite hymns has always been, Here I Am, Lord. Here is the refrain: Here I am, Lord Is it I, Lord? I have heard You calling in the night I will go, Lord, If You lead me I will hold Your people in my heart Four years ago, when I heard God calling me out of my career as a teacher, I told Him I would go where He led me…

Father’s Day Prayer A Prayer about Fathers Our Father in heaven, you have made yourself known to us through Jesus Christ and have invited us to pray to you as our Father, that we may pray boldly and confidently to you. We pray for fathers. Give them wisdom. Give them patience. Give them the ability to love in a way that reflects your love. We pray …

1. Read Matthew 5: 10-12. What does verse 10 state is the reason a believer should be persecuted? How do you interpret what Jesus is saying? What does verse 11 give as a reason for being blessed? Is this an area in your life where you have been blessed? How so? Verse 12 gives reason for rejoicing. Why is it important that the prophets who came befo…

Read Matthew 5: 1-12 – The Beatitudes. 1. The “Main Idea” this week is that God has placed us in specific places and around specific people so that we can bring peace into our broken world. In what ways is our world broken. How can you help bring peace? 2. Pastor Mick had some fun using the transitive property from mathematics (if a=b and b=c, then…