Christmastime is Here!

It's Christmastime! Oh what fun, right? Ugly sweaters, hallmark movies, caroling, white elephant parties, shopping trips, snow and of course (the thing - aside from Jesus - that holds our Bible study together) hot coffee! I don't know about you girls, but I love Christmas. It's no secret that I start decorating immediately after Halloween and keep it all going strong til January.

It's ironic, though, that the most wonderful time of the year easily becomes the busiest and craziest time of the year. Everyone starts getting sick, practices get more serious for concerts and competitions, teachers start piling on the homework and study guides for semester finals and what's the thing we start to let slide? I don't know about y'all, but for me it can be my relationship with Jesus.

Jesus came to earth so we could have a relationship with Him because God loves us (John 3:16)  and we celebrate this at Christmastime. This week at small group we're gonna talk about some ways to keep our eyes on Jesus this Christmas and keep our hearts open for ways to love others in His name.  He's the reason this time of year is truly wonderful.

Here are a few things I like to do to keep focused on Jesus during Christmastime:

1. Christmas Scripture

http://www.craftywife.com/pintastic-fridays-chalkboard-printables-roundup/12/2013/a-child-is-born

Printables on Pinterest make it easy to find a verse to memorize. When I was in high school we looked for verses from scriptures we were studying and then made our own nice looking post cards and picture frames (which could still be a fun thing to do for a DIY night... now that I think about it..) The great thing about all the free printables on Pinterest is that you can print them and put them in a cute frame for a gift or even screen shot it on your phone for a reminder whenever life gets hurried.

2.  Christmas Music

Glory in the Highest by Chris Tomlin

Traditional Christmas carols are fun to listen to, but I like to hear new Christmas songs too. This album by Chris Tomlin is one of my favorites. I like to listen to it when I'm getting ready in the morning, reading my Bible or even when I'm making dinner or wrapping gifts.  Christmas music is so great for keeping my mind focused on Jesus during the holiday season.


3.  Christmas DIY nights

http://mypassionjourney.com/how-to-make-easy-peasy-diy-christmas-gifts/

There are few things more fun than a DIY night with some friends to make gifts for your family or to take to a nursing home. Getting together with friends (or your small group) to bless others is one of the best parts of Christmastime. I really depend on my friends to keep me focused on Jesus and the conversations we have about what God's been teaching us while we do some DIY projects really means a lot to me during the busy Christmas season.

What are some things you do to stay focused on "The Reason for the Season" during the business of the holidays?

Love, Kate

The constant.

Oh girls! I could not be more excited to start this fall semester with you all! I love fall! When I was in high school (and maybe still) I loved getting back to school clothes, school supplies, and I loved seeing all my friends again (and seeing their back to school clothes, and school supplies...)

I love all the changes that come with a new school year, but sometimes change can be intimidating.  For some of you, this year will bring changes like a new school (college!) maybe even in  a new town.  Maybe some of your friends have already graduated, and now the high school you remember from last year has changed.  Maybe you got a car this summer, and now your responsibilities have changed. Maybe you made a decision to be different (in Jesus' name) this summer and your friends have noticed that you've changed!

This year is going to be full of changes.
That might sound silly to you, I mean, can you remember any year that wasn't full of changes?

Today marks the anniversary of a big change, in our country. On 9/11/2001, I was a senior in high school. I was walking to jazzercise (P.E. ... I waited til my senior year to take my one required semester of P.E....) and before I got to class a boy stopped me and said, "did you hear that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center in New York?" I thought he was lying to me, so I joked about it, but he insisted it was true. When I got to class, my teacher turned on the t.v. and we watched the 2nd plane crash into the 2nd tower.  Even though I didn't really understand what was happening, i felt a pit in my stomach.
I knew things were changing.

Maybe tonight you are feeling that same pit in your stomach because,of the changes you are facing.


During this next semester, and the next few months and years we're going to experience a lot more changes.  Already this year, you girls and I have experienced some big changes at our church. 

What other kind of changes are on the way? I wish I knew-- but here's what I do know!

In the middle of all these changes, our God is constant! He is like a rock we can stand on in the wild storms of this life!  He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. And you know what else!? Our God has shown us exactly who He is because (think about this!) According to The Bible, He was Jesus! We have a living breathing picture of God in the Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) Our God is constant and He is Jesus.

This semester, we'll be studying the Gospel of Luke and asking the question, "Who is Jesus?"

My prayer for you is that you would come study with us this fall, and see for yourself the goodness, kindness, and steady-ness of our God Jesus!

Love, Kate

Ask Kate Night

Well, girls, you asked and I tried my best to answer!  

In case you couldn't be there last Wednesday, I really wanted to share my answers on our blog!  Feel free to comment any further questions, or if something is unclear, or if you just want to be the first person to comment on the blog :)

THREE QUESTIONS

You girls wanted a night to ask questions and we only got three!!!!  However, ya'll covered a pretty broad spectrum with your three questions; love, evil/free-will and creation!  Philosophers and theologians have been trying to answer these questions since the beginning of time, so I'm glad yall have confidence in me! I just read a great quote from Andrew Louth that said, "The purpose of theology is to safeguard against misunderstandings that frustrate a life of prayer."  I hope that you realize that as we answer these questions, our purpose in life isn't just to find answers, but to know God.  

So, anyway, the questions and answers:

1. Do you really love me?  The short answer is, YES!  I love you girls so much!  I'm so thankful for each of you!  The book of 1John, talks a lot about love (remember our "Summer of Love" study over 1John?) and 1John 4.19 says, "We love because He first loved us."  Girls, because God showed me unconditional love, I can show unconditional love to the world.  As a side note; we show love by our actions (1John 3.16-18, 4.20; James 2.26). If someone tries to make you feel bad for disagreeing with them or correcting them by telling you, "you don't love me," then they are trying to manipulate you.  Love isn't always easy and it's not always popular, sometimes we have to confront people's sin because we love them. I'm thankful for the times that friends called me out on lust or laziness or pride, those are times that I leaned into God and learned to trust Him in my weakness.  I'm so thankful for the friends who took a risk to hold me accountable because they loved me.

2. What was God's motive for allowing all the evil things to happen to the Jews in the holocaust?  Again, I'm glad you think I can answer this, I'll do my best. I think 1John has some insight for us on the subject of God's involvement in evil when it says, "Do not let anyone lead you astray.  He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning." (1John 3.8a) I think Scripture is pretty clear that people who pursue evil things are actively pursuing the enemy, when people pursue God, they actively pursue righteousness. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy us, but we see in John 3.8b that the only thing Jesus came to destroy is the devil's work.  Where Jesus is, there is freedom and life.  So, with awful events like the holocaust, I tend to lean away from God allowing those things to happen and I think those things break God's heart.  Hitler was depraved, crazy with power and totally absorbed in ungodly ideas which produced an unimaginably ungodly event.  As for God "allowing" it and other evil things to happen (I think you already know where I'm going) I think it goes back to The Garden in Genesis.  Because Adam and Eve chose to believe the serpent's lie over God's word to them (Genesis 3) we learn that God loved us enough to let us do what we desired.  God created us that we will desire Him, but he allows us to have free will so we might choose to love Him-- the flip-side of course, is that we also have free will to listen to the lies of the enemy and choose to sin against Him.  I heard a preacher recently say, "Sin isn't a matter of being 'good' or 'bad' it's a matter of being 'alive' or 'dead'" Satan has always led us away from God into sin saying, "you won't die..." but we see in Genesis that he lies-  Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the LIFE." I hope that is a helpful answer.  I know I skirted around it a little, and I know that there are many instances in the Old Testament where God instructs that people be killed, I'd love to talk about this more in a face-to-face, Bible-open conversation. (Really, I'd love that!)

...and finally #3!

3. Why did God create us? Was He that bored? In Genesis 1.2, we see the Spirit of God hovering over the formless, empty waters of the earth when he says, "Let there be light." God goes on to create 

E V E R Y T H I N G

then in Genesis 1.26 "God said, 'Let US make man in OUR image, in OUR likeness..."

God said to God... ???

The way I've heard this explained is that God the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one God who live and reign eternally together in Heaven.  So in their creative community they decided to create humanity.  Scripture doesn't really say WHY God decided to create us, but we do see that He wanted to do it and so He did.  Later we see that He wanted to know the people He created, He spent time with them in the garden (Gen 3.8) He and Adam worked together to name all the animals (Gen 2.19+20) and it seems like God genuinely liked to be with humanity.  So I think based on all that, God created us because He wanted to :)

I hope that the Lord is helping you all to work through all the questions you have as you seek Him in prayer and in His word.

Keep seeking Him! He wants to be found by you!

Love, Kate

O V E R C O M E

well, girls, it's revival week!  i know i'm so excited to spend the next few days learning from James Hauser and worshiping with Terry Pepple and our praise band.  our revival theme this year is "overcome" and i know it's going to be a great week!

if you weren't there this morning, you missed a great message from James... but lucky you, it's up on the  NTCC website

i hope you can come tonight through wednesday night to hear from God through James' messages!
it's gonna be a great week!!!

love.

John 9

Before you get started in your study, take some time to quiet yourself before the Lord and pray: Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see You in Your word. You are Almighty and You are worthy of my time, help me to seek You.  Thank you for finding me.  Amen

Read John 9.1-3

Just so you know: It was a common belief in Jesus' time that physical suffering (like blindness) was caused by sin.  So, the question the disciples ask isn't uncommon or insensitive, they probably just wanted to know.

What reason does Jesus give for the man being born blind? ____________________

Read v.3 again, Spend some time in prayer and ask God if there is any place you feel compassion that he wants to move into action for His glory. _______________________________

Read John 9.4-7

What is Jesus doing while he's answering the disciples' question? ____________________

Just so you know: While smearing spit/mud in someone's eyes sounds disgusting to us, historians tell us that saliva was believed to be medicinal.

Read John 7-12

When Jesus tells the man to "go" what does the man do? ____________________

What was the man-who-was-blind's neighbors ask him when they see him? ______________

If you could speak with someone who had once been blind, but now they could see, what would you ask them? _____________________________________________________________________

How does the man-who-was-blind explain what happened (v.11) ___________________________

Read John 13-16

What day was it when Jesus healed the blind man? ___________________________

Just so you know: The Jewish people followed strict rules about what could and could not be done on the Sabbath.  This isn't the first time Jesus has healed someone on the Sabbath, and in this instance (according to oral tradition) Jesus has broken two rules 1.making mud and putting it on the man's eyes 2.healing someone on the Sabbath.

The pharisees say, "this man is not from God" in v16, why do they say that? ______________

Some Pharisees defend Jesus, what is the reason they give in his defense? ___________________

The Pharisees ask the man-born-blind how he received his sight, what is his story in v.15? _____________________________________________________________

Read John 17-23

Since the Pharisees don't believe the man-born-blind, who do they call in v18? ________________

When the man's parents are asked about who healed their son, what do they say? _______________

Read v22 again, the man's parents seem scared as they dodge the question and give a weird answer.  In contrast to his parents, the man-born-blind is incredibly bold.  Why do you think the man is so bold?

________________________________

Read John 24-25

How many times have they questioned the man-born-blind about his healing? ____________

how does the man-born-blind answer their question this time? _________________________

What does he say he knows in v. 25 _____________________

Read John 26-34

The Pharisees are asking a lot of questions, but in v 27 the man-born-blind asks them a question-- what does he ask? ______________________________

How do the Pharisees respond to that? ______________________

What do the Pharisees eventually do to the man in v34? ________________________

Read John 35-41

What is the first thing Jesus asks the man when he finds him? (v.35) ____________________

Look at v36+37, the man-born-blind is finally face to face with Jesus!  Seeing Him for the first time, how does the man respond when Jesus reveals himself as his healer? ____________________

How do you worship? ______________________________________________

maybe you're still learning what it mean that Jesus was God's son.  Pray and ask God to help you understand what it means for Jesus to be the son of God.  maybe it's time to find a Christian you trust and ask them to talk about these things with you.

in v.40, how does Jesus respond to the Pharisees' question? ________________________

"Those who admit their blind ignorance, come to Jesus and receive spiritual sight.  But those who rely on their own arrogant erudition are blinded by God from seeing the truth." -Mark E. Moore

Be encouraged by this chapter

Isn't it amazing to know that Jesus came and healed the blind man?  He didn't have to do that, you know?  God wanted this man to be healed.  While the disciples were compassionate (they felt bad, and wished they could help somehow) Jesus was moving into action and deciding how to help.  

When i think about Jesus' "compassion into action"lifestyle, I think about a story I heard from my friend, Tony.  Tony was on a mission trip in a remote village when his team encountered a little boy playing in the dirt, naked and by himself.  This kind of thing is somewhat common in third world countries, so the team saw him and felt compassion for him but kept walking.  Then a woman with them noticed the boy had a head wound.  As the team tried to reunite the boy to his family, they discovered he had been abandoned.  Someone from the village gave them authority to take the boy to the hospital where during treatment, the woman began making arrangements for the boy to be adopted.  When they left, she had given him a new name and adopted him into her family.  Occasionally I see a picture of the boy and every time I'm completely blown away by how happy and healthy he looks-- all because someone let their compassion become action by asking, "how can we help?"  

This is the heart of God-- He longs to give us a family where we experience real love and true life.

ask God to give you spiritual eyes to see what He has done for you and begin to pray for a heart of worship.  We serve a good God, He is worthy of all our praise!

John 10

NTCCgirls

John 10

Before you get started: Take some time to find a quiet place in your home, or outside (if it's nice out!) spend a little time praying and thanking God for His word.  Ask him to lead you through this text and help you to know Him more.

Lord, You are worthy of my time.  Thank you for stepping into this world to save me. Help me to hear Your voice through Your word.  Thank You for loving me.  Amen.

Read John 10.1-5

Who is "the thief" v.1 _____________________________

Who is "the shepherd" v.2 ______________________________

Read John 10.6-10

What does Jesus say He is in v.7 __________________

What happens to those who enter through Him v.9 _______________________

What does "the thief" come to do v.10a _____________________________

What does Jesus come to do v.10b ___________________________

Read John 10.11-13

Make a list comparing "the good shepherd" to "the thief" using these verses and any of the previous verses in chapter 10.

The Good Shepherd + The Thief

Similarities                             Differences

Which of these two men is Jesus? ______________

Your Story: Has your opinion of Jesus changed as you've read this text about "the good shepherd"?  Why or Why not? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read John 10.14-18

Just so you know: Jesus tells us in v14 that HE is the good shepherd he's been talking about in this passage.  He says that like the shepherd he will lay his life down for his flock (that's us). 

Is your relationship with God like the relationship the sheep had with the Shepherd?

God never intended for us to be alone and wondering where to go, He sent Jesus to lead us through this life and most importantly to lead us back to himself.

Read John 10.18-21

What are the people in the crowd saying/thinking about Jesus now?

____________________________________________________________

Read John 10.22-30

Just so you know: The feast of dedication (v.22) is Hanukkah, or the Feast of Lights.

What do the Jews tell Jesus to do in v.23?_________________________

Jesus says, "I've already told you, but you don't believe..." Why don't they believe? (v.26) _________________

What two things do sheep do according to v. 27?

1.

2.

What does Jesus give to his sheep according to v.28? ___________________________________________

Read John 31-33

How do the Jewish people respond to Jesus plainly telling them that He and the Father are one? (v.31)______________________________________________________________

What is their reason for stoning him? v.33 ___________________

Read 10.34-39

Dig into the text:  v.34 is a reference to a verse in Psalms 82.6-- flip to Psalms and read that verse. 

This word "gods" in v.34 is translated from the Greek word "Theos" This word is used of Divinely appointed judges in Israel, as they are representing God in His authority.  John 10.34 as quoted from Psalms 82.6 indicates that God sits in judgement on those whom he has appointed (Vines, blueletterbible.org). 

NOW, what that all means is this: the Jewish people are getting upset about the claim of a man to be God (10.33) and Jesus is reminding them, again, of their own recorded history when men were called gods because God had appointed them to representhim. 

In verse 37, Jesus says, "Don't believe me unless _______________________________________________."

Why do you think he said that? ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your story: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, and his actions proved it.  If you claim to be a Christian, what kinds of actions will back up your claim?  Use scripture in your answer if you can. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How do the people respond to Jesus in v.39? _____________________________

Read John 10.40-42

Just so you know: When Jesus goes across the Jordan, he is legally safe from the authorities in Jerusalem where he was just attacked.  He is free to teach without fear of being arrested.

What happens in the place where John had been baptizing in the early days of Jesus' ministry? v.42 ________________________________________________

BE ENCOURAGED

How sweet is it that our Lord refers to himself in this passage as a “Good shepherd?”  I love it.  I think sheep are really cute, but I’ve heard that up close they’re not really that cute… they’re really super stinky and dirty and dumb.  I’ve HEARD that on top of being stinky and dirty and dumb, they’re also vulnerable. They get attacked by other animals, and sometimes wander off from the flock of sheep and get lost or even hurt.  I was reading Mark Moore’s commentary over this text and He said that most shepherds treated sheep like the stinky, dirty, dumb animals that they are, and they just herded them around and didn’t care much about them, but the shepherd Jesus refers to LED the sheep and talked to them and even would put his life in danger of death for them!  If I were a sheep, I’d want the  shepherd Jesus describes to be my shepherd. 

Like I said, I don’t know much about sheep but I think we have a lot in common with them.  Lucky for us, we have the best shepherd.  When you feel like you’re dirty or dumb or vulnerable, remember that you have the best shepherd leading you.  Listen for his voice in His Word.  He is calling you even now, are you listening?

FINALLY

In Chapter 10, we learn that Jesus has come to us to LEAD us. He also reminds us that there is a thief among us who wants to destroy us. The sheep in this parable listened for the Shepherd then followed, they ignored other voices.  God’s word is the place to hear our shepherd Jesus’ voice. Most of the times when I feel lost or abandoned or like God isn’t speaking to me, I find that it’s because I haven’t been listening, I haven’t been seeking Him in his word.  In 10.27, we see that a shepherd’s sheep listen and follow. That seems simple enough to do in our walk with God; listen and follow.  But we get really distracted by the thief-- he’s sneaky.  We need to know our shepherd’s voice reeeeaaallly well.  We get to know our shepherd Jesus’ voice when we listen to him, and when we know his voice, we won’t fall for the tricks of the thief any more. 

Ask God to lead you like a shepherd, and listen for His voice!  He’s a good shepherd!!!

ITS SNOWING!!!!

I can't believe how much it's snowing tonight.  I heard it was only supposed to snow like one inch!  I think it's already passed that, and it doesn't look like it's stopping.  Hope you've got some warm jammies and a good movie, cause you might not be going anywhere this weekend!
Getting snowed in isn't always a bad thing, though.  Sometimes it's nice to stop, isn't it?

Last week I felt so rushed and busy, and on top of my crazy schedule it seemed like my phone was constantly buzzing with texts and updates and things, which is fine, but it was all happening at once and it wasn't stopping!
I really needed a break.  So I put my phone on airplane mode and opened up my Bible, it was nice to spend some time with God in the middle of a super busy day.  I turn to Jesus when life is hectic simply because He's constant.  He's the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13.8) and when it feels like everything is spinning, I need to put my feet on some solid ground.

In Matthew chapter 11, Jesus is teaching a group of people when he says,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11.28-30)

Before he says this, He's talking about repentance.
When I studied with Donnie Smith, she related this verse to repentance by saying, "If we're going to put on Jesus' yoke, it makes sense that we would have to take off whatever yoke we're carrying." Repentance is simply explained like you're driving, then pull a U-Turn, and drive in the opposite direction.  A 180 turn is an example of repenting from sin, because it illustrates going toward sin, realizing it's wrong, stopping and turning around from it, then running away from sin...180.

Running from sin is only possible when we realize we're running toward it in the first place, and repentance only happens when we turn AWAY from sin and leave it behind.  When we turn away from sin but try to carry some of it with us, we're not really repenting.  Jesus tells us to throw sin away and pick up what He's got for us.  When we come to Jesus we trade sin for salvation, worry for peace, fear for boldness, weakness for strength, temporary for eternity...

So maybe while it's snowing and you're stuck at home this weekend, it would be the perfect time to turn your phone off, and quiet down.  Spend some time in prayer and ask Jesus to take your burdens.  Get into John 9 (I'll post the study guide soon!) and ask Jesus to teach you whatever He wants to.  His yoke is way easier than whatever you've been trying to carry and his burden is a million times lighter than trying to deal with your sin on your own.

Be safe on these snowy roads!
Love!