Category: Starting Friday study

One of my favorite biblical passages is the story of the Prodigal Son.  We all know the outcome; the son who had become “lost” returns back home to the open arms of  his heart-broken father.  The father runs across the field when he sees him coming from a distance.  They kill the fattened calf and celebrate the son’s return.

Most look at the story from the eyes of the father or from the “other” son….drawing some conclusions about forgiveness.  But is it not also a story about what happened in the first place to put the prodigal son into such a bad spot?  Both sons were given a share of their father’s inheritance, leading one son to invest it wisely while the other put it all to bad use, instead choosing to live in the moment.

The situation about the best and worse use of money is also the focus for this week’s lesson:  Chapter 4: Money Guilt or Money Greed?  It has often been said that if you want to know the true measure of someone’s heart, then look no further than where they are spending their money.  The book of Luke says:

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Luke 12:34

It’s a tough call, however.  Jesus lived a life of poverty so that we might be right.  Does our heavenly Father want us also to be “poor”….or, like many of us, does He not want the very best for His children?

Join us this week as we unpack those answers and more….with a lesson on “money”.

Mike is back this week to lead us in Chapter 4 from “Jesus Outside the Lines”.  Gather at 7:30 am at the Cornwell Center.  Fellowship begins at 7:45 am..

Peace!

We’re cruising along with the new study, “Jesus Outside the Lines” by Scott Sauls.  This week, we’ll tackle our third chapter, “Personal Faith or Institutional Church?“.  When I first read the chapter’s title, I was thinking this was all about recent divides within church communities where religious groups at national levels have taken specific stands, and thereby caused division within the faith families at local levels.

However, I learned this this is not necessarily the case with this chapter.  What is true, is that with the ease of technology, for example, church attendance across the nation and across many denominations, is declining as people would rather stream a church sermon over the internet instead of sitting in the pews.  And why not?  I can go up the street to my Starbuck’s, get a grande Pike latte, and return home to watch my digital preacher while still in my pajamas.

The flip side of this, however, is that we’re losing a key element of “church”….and that’s the community of faith, the building of relationships, the tackling of real problems, that flails away.

So what’s the right answer?  Once again, Rev. Sauls offers some perspective.  Rob Miller will lead us this week in what’s sure to be a great debate and discussion!

Join us on Friday beginning at 7:30 am.  Rob kicks things into gear at 7:45 am.

See you in fellowship on Friday!

Peace!

Welcome to a new study that we’ll kick off this Friday, APR 13th.  Our new book is called “Jesus Outside the Lines” by REV. Scott Sauls.  Hopefully, you’ve already picked the book and read Chapter 1 which is our focus for this week.  The chapter is titled, “Red State, Blue State” and guides us in some Christian thoughts around having to choose (or not) between two majority political parties in our country.

What did Jesus have to say about choosing sides in a political debate?  What did he do?  One example we’ll touch on might be familiar from our last study if we look at Judas (Iscariot) and Matthew (Roman tax collector).  Certainly those two disciples represented two opposing viewpoints of the political spectrum of the time.

Jason Schubert will lead this week.  Don’t worry if you haven’t read or purchased the book yet.  Your participation in the dialog is always welcome regardless!

See you in the morning at the Cornwell Center.  Please gather starting at 7:30 am.  Jason kicks off the lesson at 7:45 am.

Peace!

Signups slots are now available for our next study series, “Jesus Outside the Lines”.  This will be a 10-week study plus a Friday off for the Memorial Day weekend.  We’ll kick things off NEXT Friday, April 13th, with Chapter 1: Red State or Blue State?  The series will culminate with a wrap-up discussion and breakfast at The Charlotte Cafe on June 29th.

Here’s the link to sign up —–>  SIGN UP LINK

See you next Friday as Mike introduces the new series, starting with Chapter 1!

Peace!

Quick reminder that FMMF Charlotte is taking a “break” this week…..Spring Break, more likely.  We’ll gather next Friday, April 13th, to kick off a new series:  “Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides” by Scott Saul.

If you haven’t ordered the book yet, please do that in advance.  Mike will lead the first week’s session, giving an overview of the book and our planned schedule for the study.  Rumor has it that he’s also bringing Dunkin’ Donuts Munchkins for the “kick-off”. There’s some additional motivation!

Who can you invite to join us as we start a new series?  Extend out the invitation to a friend, family member, or work colleague today!

In the meantime, enjoy the week off!  We’ll see you NEXT Friday….in Fellowship!

This Friday, we’ll gather in fellowship at the Charlotte Cafe in the Park Road Shopping Center to celebrate wrapping up another great series!  Please gather at the normal time….around 7:30 am.  I will be their briefly, but have to be behind a computer screen at 8:00 am to sign up our boys scouts for this year’s summer camp.  Registration for merit badge classes opens up at 8:00 am so I’m committed to getting that done for our troop.

Unless there’s any objection, I’d like to recommend we tackle our next study by exploring the book, “Jesus Outside the Lines” by Scott Sauls.  Great topic for our world that seems more and more polarizing every day!  The author explains how to find Jesus without having to “choose sides”.  Please order the book at your earliest convenience.

Lastly, next week is Holy Week so we won’t meet on Good Friday.  And we’ll take the following week off as well since that’s Spring Break here for many schools around Charlotte.

Our next gathering after this Friday will be on April 13th at the Cornwell Center.  Think about who you’d like to invite to join us for our new series staring in April!

I look forward to seeing the gang Friday at the Charlotte Cafe!

Peace!

This week marks the formal end of our study of “Twelve Ordinary Men” as we cover the twelfth disciple, Judas –the traitor.  It’s been a great study, not just from my point of view, but by the comments many have responded to me.  And this week, we cover the “outsider” within the group of apostles; the one, solely responsible for the betrayal of Jesus.

The quote, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer” probably has a few different origins.  However, it’s famous from the movie, The Godfather 2.  But why would we keep our enemies closer to us than our friends?  Is this to say that we should treat those unkind to use, our enemies, much better than those who are kind to us?

One might say that the reason you keep your enemies closer is because it gives that “enemy” a false sense of security.  It allows them to drop their guard.  So, of course, in that regard we should always keep our enemies closer.

Jesus knew well in advance that Judas would betray Him.  Yet, he allowed him to become close to all the disciples.  And maybe in this way, Jesus too was keeping his enemies closer.

We’ll find out this week as Aaron Harper leads us in the final week’s discussion.

As for next week, we’ll wrap up the book, informally, by gathering at The Charlotte Cafe off Park Road for breakfast.

But that’s next week…..

This Friday, meet at The Cornwell Center beginning at 7:30 am in fellowship.  Aaron will kick things off around 7:45 am.

Have a great week until then!

Peace!

Ironically, as we lean forward towards another NCAA basketball playoff tournament, we are also down to our own “final four” when it comes to our study of the twelve disciples.  This week, we’ll look at three of the last four, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (not Iscariot).  Let the “March Madness” begin!

Chapter 9 is a fairly easy read with much of the focus on the durability of the disciples’ faith, especially as it relates to the final group where not much is written about them.  This chapter, more so than the others, is really about drawing out some extrapolations based on what “IS” written.  Big word, I know…..extrapolation…!

Final three weeks also means we need to start thinking about our next study.  Come with a few ideas, if you want.

Rob Miller leads us this week.  Gather at 7:30 am.  Rob will lead us beginning at 7:45 am

Have a great week until we meet on Friday!

Peace!

This week brings us not just one, but two disciples for discussion:  Matthew and Thomas.

As you read through this week’s assignment, Chapter 8 of our study, two passages from scripture may guide your focus.

First, with respect to Matthew, the despised tax-collector, the scribes and pharisees question Jesus after attending a gathering arranged by Matthew that included other tax collectors and sinners.

“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (they said to Jesus).

Jesus replies, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”  LUKE 5:29-32

And for Thomas, aka “doubting Thomas”….the says early on in scripture:

“Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples: ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’ ” JOHN 11:16

Jonathan Smith leads us this week in our discussions about the transformations of both Matthew and Thomas.

As always, please gather at the Cornwell Center starting at 7:30 am.  Jonathan kicks things off at 7:45 am.

Peace!

Our study this week leads us to Nathanael, aka “Bartholomew“.  Yes….another week, another disciple, another name, I mean, other name!  Nathanael is buddies with Phillip, who we learned about last week.  And this pairing marks the third group of friends:  Simon/Peter and Andrew; James and John; and now, Phillip and Nathanael.

Unique to Nathanael is perhaps that he is already very versed in scripture, especially the Old Testament.  And while he knew the Messiah would be coming, he is somewhat taken back when Phillip comes racing to him one afternoon saying, “We have found Him of whom Moses, in the law, and also the profits, wrote…” (John 1:45)

But, instead of feeling overjoyed and elated, when Nathanael hears where Jesus is from, he’s taken back and says:

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

This week’s lesson peels back onion to reveal this disciple’s deep rooted prejudices.  And we’ll talk about that.

Is it possible to teach an old dog new tricks?

That answer and more will be our focus for this Friday.  Short reading of Chapter 7: Nathanael – The Guileless One.

Mike Lenhart leads the conversation about Nathanael.  Join us starting at 7:30 am in fellowship, with the lesson kicking off at 7:45 am.

Have a great week!

Peace!