MAY Study - week #4

REMINDER: Comment Incentive on the facebook group and blogsite – for every comment you get entered into a drawing for a gorgeous basket of flowers!

God’s time and our time … not the same!


READING: Genesis 16
Q's
• Was this episode before or after God’s promise to Abraham?
• How old was Sarah & Abraham at this time?
• What was the consequence in the relationships in Abraham’s household?

READING: James 1:3-4
Q's
• What comes to mind when you think of patience?
• Do you think patience could be developed without trials? Why or why not?
• How can patience contribute to us being “perfect and complete”?

ACTIVITY
Prayer: 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. Amen.

MAY Study - week #3

REMINDER: Comment Incentive on the facebook group and blogsite – for every comment you get entered into a drawing for a gorgeous basket of flowers!

God’s time and our time … not the same!


READING: 1 Samuel 13:1-4
Q's
• How long did Samuel say it would take him to get there?
• Why do you think Saul got impatient?
• Is here another story in the Bible that reminds you of this moment with Saul? (Think “golden calf”)

READING: Isaiah 40:31
Q's
• What would the opposite of this verse look like?
• Which one would you choose?
• How committed would you be to that choice?

ACTIVITY
Write out five things you are waiting on the Lord for. It could be intervention in a relationship, healing, finances, bad hair day – anything. For each write if Yes I am waiting patiently, or No I haven’t given God complete control. Next to that, what would it look like for you (your day, well-being, emotions, relationships) if your answer went from No to Yes.

MAY Study - week #2

REMINDER: Comment Incentive on the facebook group and blogsite – for every comment you get entered into a drawing for a gorgeous basket of flowers!
God’s time and our time … not the same!


READING: Job 1, 2, and 42
Q's
• Who was Job’s real enemy?
• What was Job’s reaction to the trials?
• How did it affect those around him? His wife, friend, whole household.
• How did God respond to Job in the end?

READING: James 1:2-4
Q's
• Do you think Job’s story continued to influence others?
• How do your responses to trials influence others?

ACTIVITY
Think back over the last six months. Has there been a trial you’re enduring? Write a letter to yourself filled with encouragement to persevere. Read it when your day gets overwhelming. Then think of a friend who is going through trials and send an encouraging note or even call to cheer them on.

MAY Study - week #1

REMINDER: Comment Incentive on the facebook group and blogsite – for every comment you get entered into a drawing for a gorgeous basket of flowers!
God’s time and our time … not the same!


READING: GENESIS 37, 39
Q's

• How many years did Joseph have to endure from capture to second-in-command status? (Gen 37:2, 41:46)
• If you had been Joseph, what would have been your reaction to the pit? • What is your impression of 37:25?
• Even though Joseph was a slave, the Lord was with him and made him successful (39:2). Have there been situations in your life you knew the Lord was with you even though you weren’t where you thought you‘d be? How’d it turn out?

READING: PSALM 5:3
Q's

• Is there anything you are waiting for in expectation to hear from the Lord?

ACTIVITY

Draw a fuel guage with the indicator line pointing to how full or empty you feel energetically when you feel there is resistance coming against you while waiting for the Lord. You may not have brothers waiting to throw you in a pit and sell you in slavery, but there can be challenges when you’ve laid something before the Lord.

Scripture Sisters Meeting Times: 2nd Sundays and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Sacred Grounds. Blogsite: http://gccscripturesisters.blogspot.com. Weekly email version of this study available – contact Christy Smallwood (csmallwood@blueriver.net). Join our group on facebook too! Scripture Sisters Meeting Times: 2nd Sundays and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Sacred Grounds. Blogsite: http://gccscripturesisters.blogspot.com. Weekly email version of this study available – contact Christy Smallwood (csmallwood@blueriver.net). Join our group on facebook too!

April Study - week #4

READING: RUTH 4
Q's
• When Ruth & Boaz have a son, how do the townswomen react? How do they treat Naomi?
• What is their opinion of Ruth at this point? How did Ruth’s character effect them even though she was a foreigner?
• Solomon wrote Proverbs 16:7. Do you think his great-grandma, Ruth, contributed to this piece of wisdom?


READING: Luke 1:39-56
Q's
• What kind of comfort and encouragement do you think Mary & Elizabeth found with each other during the three months they were together?
• Who has been an Elizabeth or Mary to you in a particularly critical life stage?

ACTIVITY
As followers of Jesus, we have an incredible reason to celebrate others as we get glimpses into all that God is doing in our friends’ lives. Pick one friend and throw an appreciation party. It may be as simple as a surprise meal or outing. Consider inviting a few other friends to join in. Let the person know how much you appreciate them!

Scripture Sisters Meeting Times: 2nd Sundays and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Sacred Grounds. Blogsite: http://gccscripturesisters.blogspot.com. Weekly email version of this study available – contact Christy Smallwood (csmallwood@blueriver.net). Join our group on facebook too!

Comment Love Incentive!

Hey Scripture Sisters! to intice you to interact via the blog and facebook group, I've got a basket with your name on it on reserve at the greenhouse. For each of you that posts a comment here or at the facebook group (GCC Scripture Sisters), your comment will be thrown into the basket. a drawing will be held on Sunday, May 30 for someone to receive a gorgeous basket of flowers.

This picture is a freshly started basket - it'll be three times this size come May 30! Whoever wins will have a custom basket - either solids or a mixture of colors. The red, purple and neon yellow is simply outstanding. Plus, there's one I named specially: Rays of sunshine. It's a mixture of yellows. Anyway... Post your comments ladies! Let us know what you think of the study, what your findings are, how God's working in your life. Share, share, share....

April Study - week #3

READING: RUTH 3
Q's
• What was Naomi’s concern for Ruth?
• In today’s culture, what would have been the equivalent of Naomi’s plan?
• How much trust did Ruth have of Naomi?
• Have you ever been concerned for a loved one and made “plans?”

READING: 1 Kings 3:16-28

Q's
• Sometimes it’s hard to recognize when selfishness creeps into a situation or relationship, but the fruit is all too often conflict and heartache. Which of the women was clearly selfish about the living son? How was the selfishness displayed?

READING: James 3:14-18

Q's
• According to this passage, what are some of the fruits of selfishness? And the fruits of wisdom?
• How are we supposed to live?

ACTIVITY
Love is a powerful force. Think of three friends and do something especially kind for them to encourage them. Show your love in words, actions, or deeds.

Scripture Sisters Meeting Times: 2nd Sundays and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Sacred Grounds. Blogsite: http://gccscripturesisters.blogspot.com. Weekly email version of this study available – contact Christy Smallwood (csmallwood@blueriver.net). Join our group on facebook too! (NOTE: for Sunday in April it will be the 18th due to 72 Project rescheduling)

April Study - week #2

READING: RUTH 2

Q's

• How do you think Ruth was received by Naomi’s old friends in Bethlehem – being she was a foreigner?
• How do you think Naomi would have talked about Ruth to her friends?
• Based on Ruth & Naomi’s relationship, how do you think Ruth would have gotten along with the girls in Boaz’ field?

READING: 1 Tim 1:2, 2 Tim 1:2

Q's

• What does Paul’s description of Timothy reveal about the closeness of their friendship?
• Why do you think it’s important to have someone who mentors you as well as someone you mentor?
• Who has been a Paul in your life? Who has been a Timothy?

ACTIVITY
You have many sisters in Christ: women who have come along side of you and enrich your life’s journey. They challenge you, encourage you, and help you become all you were created to be in more ways than you can imagine. When you think about people who have enriched your life simply because you know them, who comes to mind? Next to their names, write out their strengths and what they’ve taught you.

Scripture Sisters Meeting Times: 2nd Sundays and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Sacred Grounds. Blogsite: http://gccscripturesisters.blogspot.com. Weekly email version of this study available – contact Christy Smallwood (csmallwood@blueriver.net). Join our group on facebook too! (NOTE: for Sunday in April it will be the 18th due to 72 Project rescheduling)

April Study - week #1

Welcome to Scripture Sisters!
APRIL 2010 … week 1

This month it’s all about sister-friends.

READING: Ruth 1

Q's:

• There are many life-changing events that come into our lives. List all the life-changing event events you find in Chapter 1.
• What life-changing events have you experienced?
• Who helped you through these events?
• What kind of counsel did you receive?

READING: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Q's:

• Can you think of a time when you found this passage to be true in your own life?
  

ACTIVITY
On a blank piece of paper, make a list of seven things you consider essential in a good friend. Examples include compassion, trustworthiness, and honesty. Over the course of the next week, spend time searching for scriptures that identify God with one of these qualities. Ask God to reveal Himself to you in new and unexpected ways.

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Scripture Sisters Meeting Times: 2nd Sundays and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Sacred Grounds. Blogsite: http://gccscripturesisters.blogspot.com. Weekly email version of this study available – contact Christy Smallwood (csmallwood@blueriver.net). Join our group on facebook too! (NOTE: for Sunday in April it will be the 18th due to 72 Project rescheduling)

Scripture Sisters Revamped!

Hey ladies!

Scripture Sisters is a unique opportunity for women ages 18+ to connect with other women in a variety of ways: group time, one-on-ones, and internet. Each month we will study a new subject that will inspire ladies to develop a lifestyle of worship in Christ while enjoying girl-time. Meeting times are the second Sundays and third Thursdays of each month, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the High School Sacred Grounds building and facilitated by Christy Smallwood. (NOTE: due to the change of 72 Project Sunday in March, the Scripture Sisters will meet on the 3rd Sunday, April 18). Scripture Sisters will not meet the months of June, July, and August to allow for summertime flexbility. Weekly Girl-Time sheets can be found in the Fellowship Hall, and contact Christy to receive the emailable version.

This blog site will be used as well as the facebook group to give us the opportunity to comment together about what we are studying each month. It'll be great to see how scripture impacts all of us in different ways! AND, there will be incentives for comment love!

Piece of Patsy

Just a little clip from 2008's Women of Faith conference of Patsy Clairmont. She's great - funny and full of God's grace and revelation. We are still in her study of "I Second That Emotion" on the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7p in the Sacred Grounds house.

Stocking the shelves...

We are still in the Patsy Clairmont study of Emotions. Good stuff - engages us in good discussions about life and it's nice to have girl-time with fellow sinners who love Jesus. By the way - CONGRATULATIONS ANGIE!!! We're all excited to have a Jake-clone soon!

Monday night we discussed Abigail from 1 Samuel (read her story). This was a lady praised for her beauty AND intelligence. She had it all - including a scoundrel of a husband. Talk about rude. He refused to honor David by paying in food/supplies for services rendered by his men protecting Nabal's flocks. David was literally ready to kill. Abigail, however, was wiser than her husband and took supplies to David asking him not to kill anyone. Well, it all works out to God's Glory in the end. But the point that I had always skipped over was how much Abigail took to David.

Patsy - via dvd - pointed out that Abigail had been stocking her shelves for this moment. She HAD to have been to take 200 loaves of bread, wine, 5 dressed sheep, 5 bushels of roasted grain, 100 cakes of raisins, & 200 cakes of pressed figs. Now - this part starts out, "Abigail lost no time..." She was prepared. Patsy said she probably also took off her shelves faith, courage, etc. These she also had prepared.

The question was asked - how are we prepared when crisis comes into our lives? Well, are you prepared?

Emotional Study!

The next two study sessions will be on Patsy Clairmont's book, "I Second That Emotion." For any of you who attended the Women of Faith Conference - you know how good Patsy is! This book will give great encouragement for all of us who start to feel a little "unraveled" in our emotions. There's a video and Kim will lead - so just bring you! Remember, we have new nights now - TONIGHT is the first night (Monday, August 11 at 7:00p.m.) - and the 2nd and 4th Mondays from here-on-out.

New Revelations!

Last night we studied Acts 10 - Cornelius and Peter. Fascinating stuff! Cornelius is a gentile (solider in the Italian Regement) who is devoted to God. And God heard his prayers - Cornelius' prayers and gifts to the poor were sent up to God as a memorial offering - that's what the angel told him. And while God is putting in motion for Cornelius to send for Simon Peter - God is giving Peter a vision of his own - sheets with all kinds of animals on it. He tells Peter to "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." And Peter's response? "Sureley not, Lord!" See, Peter was devout in his Jewish ways - he did not eat anything unclean. And God was preparing him to go to Cornelius' household, a gentile household. God tells Peter, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

Well, Peter finally catches on when the three guys Cornelius sent for him showed up. Peter goes to his house and shares the good news of Jesus. Then it says starting in verse 44: While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

What!?!?! I thought you could only have the Holy Spirit if you were baptized? Kim had prayed hard over this passage in preparation for the onslaught of confused looks and questions. HOWEVER, she is teaching us well. We meditated over the context. We read and re-read each word with meaning. We flipped back to the Holy Spirit at Pentacost and then Peter's first sermon. Kim read from the commentary book to get a scholar's insights. And within 5 minutes we got it.

The Holy Spirit CAME ON all who heard. When we are baptized we RECEIVE THE GIFT (holy indwelling) of the Holy Spirit. This was a clear example of the Holy Spirit moving / nudging those who are not saved. He was giving Cornelius and his household a taste - beckoning them to come into the family. So immediately Peter ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. As we studied - it was just that obvious to us.

I've got to tell ya - it's awesome to be in a study where we can be of one-mind and heart - just like the first church. Now, don't get me wrong - there are still plenty of different opinions and questions - we are just able to work out our salvation together. It's great! And I highly encourage those that are reading to join us starting August 11 at 7p.m. at Sacred Grounds. And spread the word - tell all the ladies you know!

Meeting night's are changing!

Hey all! Starting August 11 Scripture Sisters will be meeting the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7:00p.m. We meet at Sacred Grounds - and if anyone needs childcare just let me or Kim know and we can get that arranged.

Invite all the ladies you know! See you there!

Welcome to Scripture Sisters!

Welcome to the newest blog in the GCC blog-verse!

Scripture Sisters is the name of the initial group of ladies that meet at Sacred Grounds for Bible study every other Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. (The next lesson is June 26). This group study is being currently led by Kim Kane and we are gleaning a LOT from her and her studies at Louisville Bible College!

We are studying Acts through the Summer - no study guides - just the Bible. If you are looking for a fun group to study the Bible with - please join us! And if childcare is an issue - please let us know. We're trying to work on that so more of you can attend. We want everyone to be in the Word with us!