Author Archives: Elizabeth Franklin

Sunday in Review – 12/16/18

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Today, the Wolfe’s hosted, Justin read the story, and Simeon preached.

The story–

David is still living in the cave with his men and they are hungry. They went to a rich farmer named Naval who lives nearby and he doesn’t help them, but his wife, Abigail does! Abigail sends food back with David and when Naval finds out, he has a heart attack and dies. Abigail then marries David.

The sermon–

“Jesus Creed” by Scot McKnight

Scot McKnight talks about believing, abiding, surrendering, and restoring.

This is the third week of Advent and the theme is joy. Gaudete! (rejoice!)

What does joy mean?

  • happiness (a lot of it)
  • happiness and peace
  • contentedness
  • a deeper happiness
  • a state or way of being
  • love

Joy is more than just eating a good burger or seeing a beautiful sunset. You can’t just be joyful on command.

Where does joy come in Scripture?

  • Mary’s Magnificat
  • Paul’s epistle
  • Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again, I say, rejoice!

We read….

  • Mary’s Magnificat; Luke 1:39-55
  • Luke 2:25-33

In these passages, Mary, Elizabeth, and Simeon are happy/joyful because they are part of God’s plan.

God is doing something that is bigger than us and it is for everybody!

Everyone has known Jesus is coming, but actually getting to personally be apart of the plan is truly amazing.

We should look for personal ways that help us feel more connected with God.

People who live the Jesus Creed will be restoring, “putting things back right”

We want to restore relationships with people and God. Apply the theme of restoring to yourself! Finally, we read Psalm 51.

Sunday in Review – 12/9/18

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Today, the Franklin’s hosted, Simeon read the story, and Justin preached.

The (Advent) story–

Brother Angelo is tidying up the hermitage for Christmas! Brother Francis comes home and Brother Angelo tells him how three robbers came to the door for food, but he turned them away. Brother Francis rebukes Brother Angelo and Brother Angelo goes to find the robbers with some food. He finds them, gives them supper, and asks for their forgiveness. In a legend, it says that the three robbers later came down to the hermitage and lived there.

The sermon–

Today is the second week of Advent. It’s about peace and preparation.

  • Eliza read Isiah 40:1-5
  • The above passage is quoted in Luke 3
  • We also read a letter wrote roughly one thousand years ago by St. Bernard
  • Mark 14

God loves us and we can have peace that Jesus will come.

The coming of Jesus as a baby isn’t the only important coming. The other one is the coming of Jesus into our lives!

Sunday in Review – 12/2/18

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Good morning! It’s December!! Today, the Wolfe’s hosted, Justin read the story, and Simeon preached. Big crowd today.

The story–

King Saul is jealous of David who is now in charge of 1000 soldiers. Saul threw a spear at David, but missed. He tries to kill him several other ways too, but never succeeds. Then David marries the king’s daughter, Michael. Jonathan helps David run away from Saul. David cuts a piece of Saul’s robe in a cave and Saul forgives David, but David and his men still don’t trust Saul.

The sermon–

“Jesus Creed” by Scot McKnight

We looked at the theme of surrendering today and talked Advent. This is the first Sunday of Advent. We focus on the coming of Jesus.

What does surrender mean?

  • give up
  • lay down

What context do you use it in?

  • war

What pops into your mind when you hear the word?

  • the hymn–I Surrender All

The word surrender is only found in the Bible a few times.

Josh read Mark 8:34-38

Surrender is submission to God’s will which we do daily when we say the Lord’s Prayer.

  • Mark read Mark 8:27-33
  • Stephanie read Luke 18:18-30

You have to give it all to God!

Do you want to surrender?

  • We read Philippians 2

God won’t ask you to do anything He wouldn’t do.

God will act as our Father. He knows what makes us happy. He knows what’s good for us.

How does this tie back to Advent?

This week’s theme is hope.

The Baby already came to Earth and now we’re waiting for Him to come back again!

Sunday in Review – 11/25/18

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Today the Franklin’s hosted, Simeon read the story, and Justin preached.

The story–

Jesus heads to Jerusalem for the Passover and drives all of the money changers out of the temple.

The sermon–

We started by reading Ephesians 1:1-14

God will bring everything into unity and harmony.

There is a lot of upset these days. God will fix it all.

Then we read Matthew 5. You should apply this passage to yourself. Next Justin read a few parts from a George MacDonald essay.

Sunday in Review – 11/18/18

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Today the Wolfe’s hosted, Justin read the story, and Simeon preached the sermon.

The story–

We read the story where David went to the war camp to give food to his brothers. In the end, David kills the giant Goliath and becomes friends with the king’s son, Jonathan!

The sermon–

“Jesus Creed” by Scot McKnight

abide- stay, dwell; bearing patiently; remain; wait; to live; to continue the memory without fading

We read Psalm 91, John 8, 12, and 14, and 1 and 2 John which all talk about abiding.

So ‘abide in Christ’. What does that mean?

  • part of it is faith

We read John 15 and John 15:5 really sums it all up.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Loving Jesus involves making Jesus our Friend and Master.

We then read Luke 10:38-42

We should study and read the Scriptures and have fellowship with other believers.

Sunday in Review – 11/11/18

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In today’s service, the Franklin’s hosted, Simeon read the story, and Justin preached the sermon.

The story–

We read a story about Jesus, Mary, and His disciples. The wedding they attended ran out of wine to serve the guests and Jesus helps out by turning water into wine–His first miracle.

The sermon–

It is Veteran’s Day today. The topic is non-resistance.

What do we mean when we say Christian non-violence?

  • not be dormant and do nothing, but try to be a peacemaker of the situation
  • Use as little force as possible. Try to seek a peaceful outcome.

Specifically think about not resisting with force. This flies in the face of heroism. People do great things while at the same time doing great damage.

Take our president for example. You punch me, [the president] I punch harder!

We read Romans 12.

Romans 12:14 – Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

When we want to fight back, God will provide for us, He will help us! When we refuse to take the matter into our own hands, we show a confidence that God will make it right.

Confidence vs. Cowardice

Some people think that if you face a burglar without a gun, you are a coward. That is not true. That is confidence that God will help you.

We have confidence in Christ. He went through the same things.

Just because we practice non-violence does not mean that there are not bad people. Just because we want to be peaceful does not mean that war will disappear.

Some people think: “This is impractical. If there isn’t a strong arm, what is life?”

Then we read Romans 13.

Which kingdom is most important?

How is practicing non-violence not merely an expression of cowardice or convenience?

It’s more about taking someone’s life. We are not going to do that. When you call the police, is that just handing the violence over to someone else?

This is part of expressing our lives as Christians. Do you have confidence that God will make it right?

We read 1 Corinthians 9 and closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Sunday in Review – 11/4/18

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After an absence of some of our members, we are back again! This morning, the Wolfes hosted, Justin read the story, and Simeon preached.

The story–

Saul and Jonathan go to attack the Philistines. Saul is ready to give up when he found out it was his army of 600 vs. thousands. Jonathan and his armor bearer then go to fight the Philistines by themselves because God gave them a sign. God helped them by sending an earthquake. The two-man army won!

The sermon–

“Jesus Creed” by Scot McKnight.

We’re talking about believing this morning. What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

  • trust? More trust that Jesus can do everything.

We read the following Scripture passages.

  • Mark 1:15
  • Matthew 15:21-28
  • John 4:46-53
  • John 6:53-69

There are many different angles on belief.

To continue to pursue our belief with Jesus, we must be committed to following Him.

Sunday in Review – 10/14/18

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Today, the Franklin’s hosted, Simeon read the children’s story and Justin preached the sermon.

The Story–

Jesus is starting to do His Father’s work. He comes to the place where John is preaching and both times, John points Him out in the crowd. Andrew and John follow Jesus and become disciples. Then they bring Simon and Jesus re-names him Peter. After that, Philip and Nathaniel come to Jesus too. Jesus is starting His preaching ministry.

The Sermon–

Last week, we read about the anointing of Saul and this week, we started off the sermon by reading of David’s anointing. (1 Samuel 16)

What does it mean that God can see the inside of you?

  • He can see your thoughts
  • God looks at your character.
  • He can see your potential.

Again, God does not look at your outward beauty, but at your heart!

So how should that impact our daily life and what we do?

  • God will see your heart whether or not you’re actually trying to glorify Him.
  • Psalm 139 — we can’t fool God, but we can fool ourselves.
  • There is no point in trying to pretty up the outside when the inside is the thing that needs the attention the most.

God is not judging our lives on how many people we bring to Him, or how much money we donate to the church or other causes.

God did not come to save the rich or beautiful. We should try to look at people the way God judges them.

Sunday in Review – 10/7/18

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Today, Tracy and Mary hosted, Justin read the story, and Simeon preached.

The Story-

Israel decides that they want a king and Samuel anoints Saul.

The Sermon-

Simeon is still going through Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

What does it mean to love God? We can think about it means to love people. How do we know?

  • Those are the ones you care about
  • They’re your priorities
  • You like to spend time with them
  • You’re fond of them

What is your heart?

  • The seat of your emotions
  • Your conscience
  • Your inner-self/the real you
  • Central key element
  • The fount of your personality

What is your soul?

  • The eternal thing
  • Your essence

Your mind?

  • How you think

Your strength?

  • Your energy
  • With your all

We read through…

  • Stephanie read Luke 7:36-50 — you need to realize all that Jesus has done for you!
  • Tracy read John 15:8-15 –we are more than servants, we are friends of Jesus!

Love leads to obedience and joy — happiness! We find happiness in loving God.

Making a habit of praying before meals, and memorizing scripture are good ways to turn back to God. Communion (another way) is a thing that calls our hearts back to God.

The Jesus Creed encourages us to pursue loving God.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Sunday in Review – 9/30/18

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Today was the last service of September. The Franklin’s hosted, Simeon read the story, and Justin preached the sermon.

The Story-

Jesus is now full of the Holy Spirit and disappears into the wilderness to pray to His Father. He stays there 40 days and nights without eating and then Satan shows up. Satan tempted Jesus three different times, but He refuses every one.

The Sermon-

What does it mean that God loves us?

  • Josh read Exodus 34:5-9
  • April read Hosea 2
  • Stephanie read Hosea 11
  • Simeon read Hosea 14

Back to the original question: What does it mean that God loves us?

  • He is still with us no matter what we do.
  • He does good and kind things for us even if we don’t understand.
  • We don’t know the right things and He needs to guide us.
  • We then talked about the metaphors between Israel and God — Husband and wife, Father and child.

Josh read Hebrews 12:3-10

I think we tend to look at God’s love as stoic or merely benevolent, but it’s actually very passionate! God is continually seeking our gain, He wants us pure! God loves us all equally.

This connects with the lost sheep parable. The sheep was being fervently sought for and once it was found, they celebrated!