Weekend Reminder, Friday, Feb 11, 2011

"You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times.... But I say to you...." - Jesus, Matthew 5:21-22

Receive the teaching of the Master with us this Sunday morning!

"I'll be facilitating three sessions [9 hours total] in the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course ,
Sunday night through Monday night in Wichita and Newton.
I appreciate your prayers that God would use my presence and
words to mobilize more people for world mission. Thanks, pastor Dean"
for more information about Perspectives, navigate to www.perspectives.org

SATURDAY, February 12
8 am Men's Breakfast

SUNDAY, February 13
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Holy Communion (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
1-3 pm Youth Valentine's Coffee - Bethany Home
6:15 pm Genesis for GenXers at the Apels'
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games at Messiah

MONDAY, February 14
6:30 pm Prayer Meeting - 405 N. Chestnut

TUESDAY, February 15
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
6:30 pm Sound System Task Force

WEDNESDAY, February 16
3:30 pm K.I.C.K. and children's choirs rehearse at Messiah Church
5:30 pm Family Meal
6:30 pm Confirmation
6:30 pm Adult Study (13 Apostles)

THURSDAY, February 17
6 pm Executive Committee
7:30 pm Worship and Music Committee

FRIDAY, February 18
6 pm Scrapbooking

SATURDAY, February 19
8 am Men’s Bible Study

SUNDAY, February 20
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games at Messiah

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lindsborg, KS

Matthew 5²¹You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' ²²But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. ²⁶Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
²⁷You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' ²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
³¹It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' ³²But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
³³Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' ³⁴But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Does Jesus here contradict the OT law? If not, what is the significance of His interpretations?

Does the passage imply that human reconciliation a more important priority than worship? How do you prioritize reconciliation in your personal relationships?

What does it mean to "look at a woman [or at a man] with lust"? How might we "guard our hearts" from lust? How can we enlist Jesus' help in this endeavor?

Why do you think Jesus is so categorically opposed to divorce? In addition to the effect of divorce on divorced people, who else is effected by it? How can we strengthen marriage bonds as a way to decrease the incidence of divorce?

What do you like most to talk about? What would happen if we were all more circumspect in our choice of conversation topics? If we used our speech to bless others instead of cursing them; to praise God instead of binding Him?