The Journey/Bible Scholars

The Journey

March 7

Our Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) consultation weekend is less than a week away. The HCI is a process to guide us in being more effective as the Body of Christ in our corner of the world. The consultants have received our self-study materials that give them a basic understanding of our values, our history and how we reach out as the hands and feet of Jesus. Now they want to meet us and hear our stories. Each one of us has our own story of how we came to Trinity UMC and what that has meant to us. Each one of us has our own understanding of what it means to be the “church” in our world today.

We also know what it means to be the “church” together as we serve God through risk-taking mission and service. We’ve taken a risk when we provided treated nets for our sister church in Mozambique so the Mucuacua congregation will be protected from malaria. We’ve taken a risk by providing a offering of $2125 to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We’ve taken a risk when we had two Mission Blitz experiences in 2009 so others know that people really do care. We’ve taken a risk by giving our shoes to Soul to Soul. We’ve taken a risk to offer needed items to foster children we will never meet. We’ve taken a risk so many times when we say “yes” to God without knowing exactly what God will require of us. And each time we are so humbled at how God works through us to bring God’s kingdom to earth.

And here we are again and it’s time to take another risk for God. Perhaps you’re not sure what the Healthy Church Initiative is all about. Maybe you have other plans for the weekend of March 5-7. Possibly you’ve been parts of other “programs” that are to revitalize the church and nothing much happens. All of that may be true…yet, I invite you to be a part of this important weekend to discover how God’s Spirit is moving among us in new and exciting ways. Will there be risk involved? Most likely. Will there be some sacrifice? Probably. Will God guide us in discovering new ways to be the “church” in our corner of the world? Definitely. Will it be worth it? No doubt in my mind.

We have the most amazing opportunity to be more together than we could have ever imagined as we live into God’s vision for the people of Trinity. I pray you will join us on Friday evening, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 6 from 10:00-3:00 p.m. to learn more about how God is moving among us.


Trinity Bible Scholars


1. What does God’s vision mean to you? _____________________________


2. How do you live out God’s vision in your every day life? _______________


3. How do you see Trinity living out God’s vision? _______________________


4. What is one way that Trinity can live out God’s vision in a new way? _________________________________________________________(20 points)

The Journey/Bible Scholars

The Journey

Romans 8:38-39

Scripture for February 28

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word love? Is it the love you receive from someone or the love you give someone? Love is about giving and receiving, isn’t it? Sometimes we offer our love to someone who does not love us in return and that is one of the most difficult things for us to understand. Love can be so complicated. Our love for God can be complicated for us, too. Are there ever times we think God doesn’t love us? Do we ever do things that put a barrier between God and us? Does God ever turn away from us? Perhaps you can take some time to think about your love for God. Do you feel God’s love? Are there times it feels like God’s love is conditional? In other words, do you sometimes feel that God doesn’t do what you think needs to happen so you turn away? Yes, love can be complicated…


Oh God, I don’t want to think Your love is conditional, but I admit it feels that way sometimes. Help me to understand that nothing separates Your love from me. Amen.


Trinity Bible Scholars
February 28

Answers are from the Letter to the Romans.

1. “If God is for us, _____ _____ _____ _____?” (Answer is four words)



2. Who or what will separate us from the love of God? _________________



3. How many areas does Paul mention that will NOT be able to separate us from God? ___________________



4. What separates you from God? _______________________



5. Did Paul start a church in Rome before he wrote this letter?

____________

All About the Love at Trinity

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Journey/Bible Scholars

The Journey

John 13:31-35

Scripture for February 21

We’ve been talking about love’s simple choices the last two weeks. We know that love is an amazing feeling that is hard to define and even talk about sometimes. And we know that love is more than a feeling; it’s a way of living our lives. We live a life of love when we love one another, as our Scripture for this week tells us. When we follow Jesus loving one another is not an option, it’s an opportunity. How will you live a life of love this week? How can you reach out to someone to show God’s love? Remember you might be the only Bible someone every reads.

Well God, I know You give me opportunities to share Your love but sometimes I am too distracted. Help me to be Your love this week. Amen.


Trinity Bible Scholars

February 21

Answers are from the Gospel of John.

1. What is the new commandment? _________________________


2. How does someone know we follow Jesus? ___________________


3. What did Jesus do earlier in chapter 13 that was so unusual? ________________________________________________



4. How does the answer in #3 show the disciples how to live out the answer in #1? ____________________________________________



5. OK, #4 was kind of tricky, so you get 20 points for #4!!!

Prayers Requests

Please remember the following in prayer this week.

Gorty Aslin Bonnie Watson Betty McFerron

Allison Arnold Bill Harris Sherry Mortenson

Linda Talley Fonnie McLain Mary Stevens

Harvey Washer Sarah White Effie Dodd

Charlie, Vicky and Charlie Glass

Terry Woods Patrick Merick

Brenda Scowden Mucuacua UMC

The Journey/Bible Scholars

The Journey

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

Scripture for February 14

So, what does love mean to you? Love is a word we use in so many ways. We love popcorn and we love our kids. We love that movie and we love our parents. Love is not easy to define. Love means we like something and it also means we’re in love with someone. Sometimes we even use the word sarcastically, “boy I love how you make fun of me!” We use the world love to mean such different things. Yet, each one of us knows what we mean, even if no one else understands. Perhaps you can think about the various ways you use the word love. How many of those ways are meant to show someone how much you care? How many ways are meant to show you like something? Do you ever use the word sarcastically? As we think about love, how often do you say, “God, I love you.” That may sound kind of weird to us, but God yearns to hear those words from us, just like our family members do, too.

Well, God, saying, “I love you,” is kind of strange for me. But it does help me to focus on You. Amen.


Trinity Bible Scholars

February 14

Answers are from the 1 Corinthians.


1. Where is Corinth? _____________________



2. Who is Paul writing this letter to? __________________



3. Most people think 1 Corinthians 13 is written about the love between a man and a woman. But as you read through 1 Corinthians, who is Paul talking to about love? ____________________(you get 20 points for this question!)



4. In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, which is the most difficult area of love for you? _____________________________________________________

A Light in the Window

Susan Hoyle, pastor Trinity United Methodist Church

February 14 is the official day of love. Oh, we know we don’t need an “official” day. But if you have ever forgotten Valentine’s Day and have received a rather cool response from a loved on, then you know it really is important and an official day! Love is that feeling that is so amazing and it’s also difficult to describe. But we sure know it when we feel it, don’t we? But love is more than a feeling, love is a way of life.

So how do we live a life of love? We begin with the Scripture in Mark 12:28-34. People have gathered around Jesus. Some of them want to see this person so many people are talking about. Others want to learn from him. Still others hope he will say something that goes against Jewish law so they can run him out of town. A man asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest. He responds with an important passage from Deuteronomy 6. “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and all of your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Yes, love is more than a feeling, living a life of love includes all of who we are.

Offering ourselves to God completely, heart, soul, mind and strength is the beginning of love. Love for God is to be our foundational love, before others and before love of ourselves. It isn’t easy for us to love God. We may think God is out there somewhere. Yet God is as close as the next breath we take. Our sin and dark places may keep us from loving God. Yet, we learn to love God first because God loves us first. God has loved us before we even knew there was a God. God loves each one of us in spite of ourselves. When we put our love for God first, then we can love others and ourselves more fully.

After we love God first, then we are to love ourselves. That isn’t easy for all of us either. There may be voices from the past that tells us we are unlovable. Our sin may be a barrier that keeps us form loving ourselves. There are all kinds of reasons that we don’t love ourselves. Yet, when we remember that God loves us in spite of our sin, in spite of our darkness, we can begin to love ourselves. Why? Because if God can love us, just because, we honor God by loving ourselves.

Then we are to love others. Again, this isn’t always easy but when we live a life of love we go beyond our own biases, our own anger, our own resentments. We take that step beyond who we are into that risky place that God calls us to be. We love others even when it doesn’t make any sense to the world. We love others who the world sees as unlovable. We love others because we know Jesus loved us so much, Jesus gave Himself for you and for me.

Living a life of love is hard work. But as it becomes a part of our every day lives, it becomes a natural part of who we are. As we become a love offering to God, not only do we change, but so does the world around us. Now that’s what love is really all about…

The Journey/Bible Scholars

The Journey

Mark 12:28-34

Scripture for February 7

When we think of February, we think of Valentine’s Day. And when we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of love. Well, love is the theme for this month’s worship series, Love’s Simple Choices. Yet simple doesn’t always mean easy, does it? Let’s think about our Scripture for this week that tells us how we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Just four words, simple, right? No, not really. What that tells us is that we are to love God with our whole being and we know that may sound simple but it is difficult to live out in our everyday lives. What does loving God with your whole heart mean to you? What about loving God with your soul? With your mind? With your strength? No, not simple things to think about, but so important as we walk closer with our God.



I admit I want it easy, God, even my relationship with You. I want You there when I want You there, but if I get busy and don’t think about You, that’s just supposed to be ok with You, right? OK, I know better than that, I know You want me close all the time. Help me, God, help me…amen.


Trinity Bible Scholars

February 7

Answers are from the Gospel of Mark.

1. What does loving God with all your heart mean to you? _________________________________________



2. What does loving God with all your soul mean to you? __________________________________________



3. What does loving God with all your mind mean to you? ___________________________________________



4. What does loving God with all your strength mean to you? ___________________________________________



5. What does loving your neighbor mean to you? ___________________________________________