29/04/2018: A Step of Faith
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 34
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
READING 1
2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 (NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
MATTHEW 19:26 What is impossible with men is possible with God.
EPHESIANS 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
1: OIL CRISES
READING 2
2 KINGS 4: 1 – 7
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
- What’s more trouble having credit cards or not having them? Have you ever felt like cutting them up?
- What do widows represent? Why does the widow obey? What are her alternatives?
- Discuss the “multiplication response” of the widows “step of faith”
- What has her “step of faith” got to do with it? Is this a miracle or is there another explanation?
2: FOOD CRISES
READING 3
MARK 8: 1 – 10 NIV
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied.
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfull of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. Jesus had previously fed 5,000 people in a similar situation (Mark 6: 30-44) why was it important for Mark to include both of these accounts?
- Jesus had previously fed 5,000 people in a similar situation (Mark 6: 30-44) why was it important for Mark to include both of these accounts?
- Do you sometimes doubt Jesus’ ability to meet your needs? How are you discovering that He really is Jehovah Jireh (my provider)
- Are you prepared to let someone in crisis or trouble lean on you as you help them take a “step of faith?” Do you need someone to lean on?
PRAYER TIME
Read the Call to Worship Psalm together: Psalm 34
Blessings: Colleen