Grace and Peace Be Unto You!
The Book of Job
Our Church theme for 2024 is “Why?”
Prayer: “O God, author of the world’s joy, bearer of the world’s pain, make us glad that we are men/persons, and that we have inherited the world’s burden; deliver us from the luxury of cheap melancholy; and at the heart of our trouble sorrow; let unconquerable gladness dwell; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Amen
Henry S. Nash
A Riddle
If God is will
And will is well,
Then what is ill?
God still?
Dew tell?
“J.B.: A Play in Verse”
by Archibald MacLeish (p. 78-79)
Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity. Please continue to stay connected with us each week. May God Bless You, Pastor Jones
Monthly Emphasis: Labor Day, 15th Annual Tailgating/Car Show, Homecoming/Revival, & Intergenerational Sunday
September Monthly Scripture Readings:
Week of September 1st (Holy Communion)
Weekly Readings, Job28.12-28, Job continues
Scriptures:
* Pro. 1.1-7, To learn of God one must listen.
-- 3.1-8, Be cautiously careful not to depend on your own understanding.
-- 4.1-9, You are always lacking with getting understanding
* St. Luke 24.44-49, An open mind is essential to understanding
* Ephesians 4.17-24, New thinking is the foundation for new behavior.
* Romans 12.1-2, the conversion of the mind
Questions:
1. Where is the place of understanding?
2. Why do I think like this?
3. Is wisdom still available?
4. Where do I start to acquire wisdom?
Thought: As long as you live, stay enrolled in UW – University of Wisdom.
Week of September 8th
Weekly Readings, Job 29.1-25, note use of personal reference “I”, 19 times. Job continues, final response.
Scriptures:
* Psalm 25.1-10, Lord, would you lead and guide me?
* Jeremiah 1.1-13, Lord, is my “I” yours?
* I Cor. 6.12-20, Does God really own me?
* Philippians 3.12-21, Lord, how long is it going to take to be a mature Christian?
* I Peter 1.17-21, How do I go about repaying God or what Jesus has done for me?
Questions:
1. What is it like to be led by the Spirit of God?
2. Was I worth all that God has done for me?
3. Will I ever be out of God’s indebtedness?
4. What is it like to be a free slave in the kingdom?
Thought: Even if I could, I am not sure I would do for me what God has done for me!
Week of September 15th (Homecoming)
Weekly Readings, Job 30.1-31, esp. 15-30, Job’s final response continues
Scriptures:
* Psalm 22.1-8, Commit your ways to the Lord, not only your circumstances.
* Jeremiah 4.19-31, troubling times ahead
* St. Matt. 25.31-46, Far too often the least are neglected.
* Romans 12.9-21, outdoing evil by doing good
* II Cor. 12.1-10, Pain and weakness enhances one’s seeking the Lord.
Questions:
1. Why do people think I‘ve done wrong as things go wrong in my life?
2. How responsible am I for the least I know?
3. How to find the strength in my weakness?
4. Why should I be kind? Is it appreciated?
Thought: There are Godly expectations that far exceed human thanks and appreciation.
Week of September 22nd
Weekly Readings, Job 31.1-40 (the words of Job end. Note the use of the word “if”, esp. vs. 16-40), Job continues
Scriptures:
* Psalm 49.1-13, All have the same ending, different times and places – death.
* St. Mark 10.17-31, …”with God all things are possible.”
* Romans 5.6-11, Christ at the right time died for the ungodly.
* I Timothy 6.10, 17-19, There is a difference when faith is your financial planner.
* I Joshua 3.11-23, Authentic love flourishes when shared through mission.
Questions:
1. When is the right time to do right?
2. Oh, why won’t God hear me?
3. If I do better, will things get better?
4. What do you do when there is no rhyme to the irrational reason?
5. If God asks me about … what will I say?
Thought: I hope God is pleased with how I am striving to serve and live.
Week of September 29th
Elihu, the Buzite, the young who speaks to Job (chps. 32-37), of the family of Ram (Ruth 4.19, I Chron. 2.9-10) from the same region of Job and his friends.
Weekly Readings, Job 32.1-22, esp. 15-22, The speech of Elihu
Scriptures:
* Gen.22.21 and Jeremiah 25.23, reference to buy
* Proverbs 24.13-22, My child, learn to listen before you speak.
* Ecclesiastes 3.1-8, finding the appropriate time
* I Cor. 2.6-16, Allow the spirit of truth to guide your tongue.
* II Tim. 3.10-17, esp. 16, Be inspired and speak
Questions:
1. Is there an age limit on truth?
2. When is it appropriate to listen?
3. When is it appropriate to speak?
4. When is the appropriate time to stop speaking?
Thought: One can only know truth at their level of maturity and exposure to knowledge, a gift of the Holy Spirit.
*Books for the Month: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis,