Food For Thought for the week of September 13, 2020 PDF Version
Food for Thought
For the week of September 13, 2020
(Questions and Scriptures for further study & discussion)
NOTE TO LEADERS: Community Group Kick-Off! Sept. 18, 7:00-8:15 pm Please join us for a night of celebration, discussion, training, prayer and more via zoom. This is a required training event for ALL leaders and hosts.
WHAT’S YOUR HIGHLIGHT?
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or something that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
YOUR STORY
1. There are a variety of ways to refresh and recharge our batteries when life is hitting us hard. What do you do (or wish you did) to get your energy and focus back on track?
2. When we face difficult times, there are often a variety of initial indicators. What are some of the typical indicators that stressful or tough times have arrived?
DIGGING DEEPER
1. This week, Pastor JJ gave us Psalms for us to reflect on when going through fear, anxiety, grief and desperation. The Psalms contain suggestions for what we can meditate on. In the following verses, identify what some of those are.
Psalm 48:9
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. [NIV]
Psalm 145:5
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [NIV]
Psalm 119:148
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. [NIV]
Psalm 119:27
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. [NIV]
In what circumstances or situations could mulling on each of these suggestions be helpful?
Can you think of any things people often mull on that are not helpful to their spiritual or emotional health?
2. David is an example of someone who often found himself in hard times yet prayed the right kind of prayers. As we walk through hard times, how do these psalms help us to“tell God exactly what you want” and also “thank God for all he’s already done”?
Psalm 13:1-6
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
[2] How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
[3] Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
[4] my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
[5] But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
[6] I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me. [NIV]
Psalm 54:1-7
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”
Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.
[2] Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.
[3] Strangers are attacking me;
ruthless men seek my life–
men without regard for God.
Selah
[4] Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
[5] Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
[6] I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
[7] For he has delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes. [NIV]
Can you think of any ways David’s prayer could help you pray about the things that are causing you anxiety in your life right now? If so, explain.
TAKING IT HOME
Below is the Serenity Prayer, a well known prayer that was written to help people experience God’s peace. As you read this prayer, how does it affirm what you’ve learned from this week’s teaching and homework?
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.
— Reinhold Niebuhr
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Women’s Bible Study – Sept. 14, 7:00pm – Nov 16, 2020 8:45pm OR September 15, 9:30am – Nov. 17, 2020 11:15am
Join us this fall for Jen Wilkin’s “Better,” her latest 10-session study of the book of Hebrews! Jen Wilkin explores how God “provided something better for us” in the person of Jesus Christ. Hebrews calls us to fix our gaze instead on the resurrected Christ as we run the race set before us. In Him alone, we have hope and salvation … He alone is better. Register
Go Team Training for Disaster Relief Sept 15th from 6-7 p.m.
Zoom for our Disaster Relief training in partnership with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief! If you want to get a head start on the certification process, you can complete your background check and registration. Please click here to get to the links you need: More Info
Community Group Kick-Off! Sept. 18, 7:00-8:15pm
Group leaders, you’re invited to kick off a new semester of community groups with us on September 18 on Zoom. Please join us for a night of celebration, discussion, training, prayer and more. This is a required training event for ALL leaders and hosts.We will have lots of fun and surprises in store. See you then!
Celebrate Recovery – Every Thursday, 6:30-8:30.
There is hope. Celebrate Recovery is a safe, confidential place to share your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. No one needs to do life alone. Check us out on FB/IG @crtampa or at www.crtampa.com