Christmas Cheer

This week, we'll enjoy some Christmas celebrations at our house. Bring something to nibble, and I'll provide the mulled wine.

Bible Study: 1st December

Hi
This week's bible study is on John 4v1-42.

We will look at the passage under these three headings:

A light-bulb: This should be something that shines out from the passage – whatever impacts you most or draws most attention.

A question mark: Anything that is difficult to understand in the passage, or a question you’d like to ask the writer or the people involved.

A thinking man: A personal application for your life.


Looking forward to seeing you there.

Games Night and Nosh

Tomorrow night (23rd November) we're having a games night at the UCCF office (they have a table-tennis table!) and some food.

If you want to bring a board game to play something then please do. There is plenty of parking and we start at 7:30.

Thanks go to Keith and Jenny for organising this.

Here is a map of 38 De Montfort Street, LE1 7GP:


View Larger Map

How are we doing as a Homegroup?

It was good to discuss tonight how we are doing as a Homegroup. Some of the things we mentioned in no particular order:

• We liked
• the informality and the fun
• the sharing out the jobs, hosting, leading etc
• the meetings we have with other groups
• the mix of bible studies and socials
• Growing in openness
• keeping confidences
• sharing openly
• splitting into smaller groups
• Starting with a "worship" session
• a short time to focus us on the Lord
• More directed prayers
• praying for specific items
• praying for world/national events
•  Growing in "community"
• be willing to ask for help (not be proud)
• be willing to offer help
•  Pray for eachother
• remember to pray during the week, not just a Wednesday

Below is a helpful article that is worth a read about how to be a small group member.

How to Be a Small Group Member

Family Meeting: 12th October

12th October is our next family meeting. Pray for Sarah who will be doing some feedback from her Ibiza trip.

See you there!

Bible Study: 6th October

Praying for Growth: Colossians 1:9-14

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Paul hadn’t met the Colossians, but he had heard about their conversion through Epaphras (1:6-8). As a result he begins his letter by giving thanks for their conversion (1:3-5) and he then prays for them (1:9-14).

Verse 9

1.              What ‘reason’ does Paul have in mind in v9? Who does this make this prayer suitable for?

2.              Paul begins by asking that the Colossian Christians will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. What does this mean and how does he say it will happen?

Verses 10-12

3.              From verse 10, why is Paul praying what he does in v9? Does this aim feature in our prayers for others and ourselves?

4.              The rest of v10 and verses 11-12 give us the components of living a life worthy of the Lord. Go through them asking what each of them means.

5.              Give some examples of what praying these things would mean in practice (perhaps for members of the group or for other people in the church).

Verse 13-14

6.              Why does Paul mention rescue and redemption here? How does this fit with the rest of the prayer?

7.              How should this focus on the gospel feature in our praying?

Reflection

8.              Do we think of this sort of prayer as a bit ‘basic’ sometimes?

9.              What can we learn from this prayer to change our own prayer life?

High-jinks at Brocks Hill

Thanks Keith and Jenny for organising tonight - it was fun.

Here are some pictures...

Jenny and Merry on the zip-wire.
Our picnic - yum yum!

23 June Own Programme

This week we are going for a stroll at Brocks Hill, thanks Keith and Jenny for organising.


View Larger Map

You will need decent footwear and maybe a warm coat. If the weather is nice then we'll have somenibbles there or we can come back here for some hot-chocolate. See you there!

Bible Study: Wednesday 16th June

Ezra 4-5


This passage continues the story of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem and the opposition that now arises.

1. What do we know about the group that offer to help in rebuilding? Look at verse 1-2, but also 2 King 17:27-29, 40-41.
   

2. Why do the returned exiles refuse their offer of help?

3. How do they respond in verses 4-5? In what ways are we discouraged by opposition?

NOTE: verses 6-23 are actually an example of opposition from much later when the walls of Jerusalem are being rebuilt. They are put here as an example of opposition; they are not what actually stops the rebuilding of the temple. Verse 24 resumes the narrative from verse 5.  

4. What example of opposition is given in verses 6-23?

5. The temple has ceased to be built; what does God do in response in 5:1? How do the people respond?

6. Opposition begins to appear again in verse 3. What is so comforting about verse 5?

7. This results in a letter being written to King Darius back in Babylon. What do we learn from this letter about how the returned exiles were now thinking?

8. What do we learn about:
• facing opposition?
• God’s sovereignty?
• God’s word?

Term Plan Summer 2010

Here is the plan for this term:

When	What	Who	Where
28 Apr 2010	Bible Study	Chris and Sue's	Keith and Jenny
4 May 2010	Family Meeting
12 May 2010	Bible Study	Kate	Kev and Melissa's
18 May 2010	Own Programme	With Danni and Adam's group	Pub quiz
26 May 2010	Bible Study	Chris and Sue	Chris and Sue's
2 Jun 2010	Own Programme	Skittles	Horse and Trumpet
8 Jun 2010	Family Meeting
16 Jun 2010	Bible Study	Sarah	Marge's
23 Jun 2010	Own Programme	Keith and Jenny	Walk
30 Jun 2010	Bible Study	Kate	Kate and Foggy's
6 Jul 2010	Family Meeting
14 Jul 2010	Bible Study	Chris and Sue	Chris and Sue's