Shine Like Stars

Thanks to everybody who joined us last night for our first meeting of 2014.  I hope you enjoyed our study of Philippians as much as we did.  As we discussed, our meeting next month will take place in the Shawnee Room at Tiffin Tower.  We will serve lunch to the residents Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 and then hold our regular Bible study with any of the residents who would like to join us.  Details to follow.

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."  Philippians 2:14-15 (ESV)

The Book of Joy

Paul's letter to the believers at Philippi is often referred to as The Book of Joy, with good reason.  In it, the great apostle encourages readers and offers practical advice on finding contentment in our circumstances and living joyfully as we are called to do.

Tonight, we'll study Philippians with a focus on starting the New Year the right way...God's way.  7 PM, in the chapel.  Bring a friend!

Acts 2 Study Group - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Our first meeting of 2014 will be held this Sunday, January 12 at 7 PM in the Chapel.  We will hold our regular Bible study and brainstorm for service and outreach projects for the new year.

See you then!

Got Relationships?

This month, our Bible study will be based on Tom Holladay's The Relationship Principles of Jesus (available for purchase here if you're interested!) to coincide with our series Got Relationships?  It's Complicated at Walnut St UMC.

Our meeting this month will be held Sunday, July 7 at 6 PM in the lounge.  Bring a friend!

On Relationships

I know a guy whose friend Mark died last week at the age of 48 of a massive heart attack.  I knew Mark, though not well...he was more acquaintence than friend to me.  But I knew a little about him.  When I saw him, Mark was always smiling and laughing, and always quick with a joke.  He was a hard worker.  He was reliable and trustworthy.  He loved his family.  He was a good friend.

We were standing in the driveway talking to my friend the day after Mark died.  He was so clearly shaken and upset...he choked up several times talking about it.  One thing he told us really stood out to me.  He said, "Mark was such a friendly, nice person.  You could tell he really cared about people.  Sometimes I think that's why God put Mark in my life...I haven't always been that way."  I can relate.  Maybe you can too.

My wife and I went to Mark's calling hours last night.  Afterward, we agreed that the world would be a better place if there were more people like Mark in it.  I kept thinking about what my friend said...and how it applies to each of us.  God put us here, and God gave us relationships and each other.  What we do with these relationships is a sign of the strength of our Christian faith.  In his book The Relationship Principles of Jesus, Tom Holladay writes:

"[...]In the beginning, God created you for relationships.  He made you to relate to him and to others.  Miss out on relationships, and you're missing the core reason for which God put you on this planet.  And in the end, nothing is more important, because nothing will last longer than relationships.  Your relationships with God and others will last all the way into eternity..."

How perfect.  How true.  May it someday be said of each of us, "You could tell he (or she) really cared about people..."  This is such an important part of God's will for our lives.  One that we would be foolish to overlook.

"Jesus said, 'The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.'”  Mark 12:29-31 (MSG)

Tiffin Tower Cookout!

Here's a reminder to mark your calendar for Friday, June 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM for the Tiffin Tower cookout!  We'll take a grill, hot dogs, chips and water down the street to host a cookout for the residents.

More on this to come in the days to follow...

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

"He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

On Acts: The Mission of the Holy Spirit

Mark Driscoll:

"[...]The mission of the Holy Spirit, as we see throughout Acts, is to bring people to faith in Christ.  As Jesus says to his first followers at the outset of the book: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth' (Acts 1:8).

[...]Throughout the book, we learn to recognize evidence of the Holy Spirit at work:

Bold evangelism (4:15, 31, 33)

Passionate worship (2:47, 4:21)

Generous, sacrifical giving (2:45)

Participation in the life of the church (2:46)

Baptisms (2:41, 8:12)

Lives changed (3:8, 4:36-37)

That’s what I want for our church. That’s what I want for Christians everywhere and for non-Christians who are actually going to be Christians (but, in the providence of God, they just don’t know it yet)..."

Body of Christ: Pray for OK, Give to OK

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ."  Galatians 6:2

"But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving."  2 Corinthians 8:7

This Sunday at Walnut St, we will accept cash and check donations for the victims of this week's Oklahoma disaster in week 2 of our series, "Walking the Walk."  What better way to walk the walk of the Christian life than to help those in their darkest hour of need?  If you would like to make a credit card donation to the United Methodist Committee on Relief - US Disaster Response, please click here.

Every Member, a Minister

"A group of people were discussing their churches not so long ago, and one of the people in our congregation was part of the bunch.  Apparently, people judge the size of a church by the number of ministers it has, so they were comparing notes.  One church had two.  Another had three, and still another four.  Then they asked the man from our church how many ministers his church had.  Without hesitation, he said 'A little over seven thousand.'  He hit the nail on the head - at our church, every member is a minister.  Every person is called to serve."

- Treasures of the Transformed Life, John Ed Mathison (Abingdon Press, p. 249)*

Join us this Sunday at Walnut St UMC for the second week in our latest series, "Walking the Walk," 8:15 (Traditional), 9:30 (Contemporary) and 11:00 AM (Blended).  We hope to see you there!

*Thanks to Martin Quanci for sharing!

Living Water, Real Power

"But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  John 4:14 (ESV)

Last night at the final meeting of our Just Walk Across the Room small group, a young woman (fairly new to our church) spoke candidly about her struggle to lose weight.  She told us that being overweight was causing some potentially serious health problems and that she had recently become convicted that she needed to lose weight - to get into a better state of health and, more importantly, to better honor the God who created and loves her.

She told us about how proud she was that in the last six weeks, she has only missed her daily exercise routine once (last Friday; she had doctor's appointments and attended her friend's Mother's funeral).  And we were incredibly proud and happy for her.  You can really hear in her voice how serious she is about losing the weight.  Very powerful.

She shared two Scriptures with us that she has continually prayed over since making the decision to lose weight and get into better physical shape:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

"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."  John 15:5

Don't these really say it all about the Christian life?  In a world that offers false hope and disappointments daily, God promises power and strength in Jesus Christ for our lives.  And it's amazing the difference He makes in our lives when we walk with Him, along His path.  Why go it alone?  We don't have to!  Pray this prayer today:

"Lord, it's another day, to be filled with challenges to meet and decisions to be made.  Lord, I pray that you will fill me with your Spirit so I might make wise decisions and honor you today.  Thank you for Jesus, Lord.  Thank you that I don't have to go it alone, in my own power.  Thank you that you share your power with me in Jesus Christ.  Through you, I can do all things.  Bless me to your service today, Lord.  Amen!"

Welcome, "Just Walk Across the Room" Small-Groupers!

Welcome to the Acts 2 Study Group blog! We are a small group of Christians at Walnut Street United Methodist Church in Chillicothe, Ohio, committed to helping make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

The Acts 2 Study Group meets the first Sunday of each month from 6 to 7:30 PM at Walnut Street UMC.  Child care is provided.  Wherever you are in your walk with Jesus, from novice Christian to senior believer, please accept our invitation to join us as we explore God's Word and the history of the early church.  It will change your life.

For more information, please E-mail WalnutStActs2@gmail.com or contact Jeff Lehner at 740-851-7090.  And if you would like to sign up for daily E-mail updates, please enter your E-mail address in the box in the upper right corner of the page.

Acts 2:47

"...praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

The Acts 2 Study Group meets the first Sunday of each month from 6 to 7:30 PM at Walnut Street UMC. Child care is provided. Wherever you are in your walk with Jesus, from novice Christian to senior believer, please accept our invitation to join us as we explore God's Word and the history of the early church. It will change your life.

For more information, please E-mail WalnutStActs2@gmail.com or contact Jeff Lehner at 740-851-7090!

Welcome to the Acts 2 Study Group Blog!

Welcome to the Acts 2 Study Group blog! We are a small group of Christians at Walnut Street United Methodist Church in Chillicothe, Ohio, committed to helping make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

The Acts 2 Study Group meets the first Sunday of each month from 6 to 7:30 PM at Walnut Street UMC.  Child care is provided.  Wherever you are in your walk with Jesus, from novice Christian to senior believer, please accept our invitation to join us as we explore God's Word and the history of the early church.  It will change your life.

For more information, please E-mail WalnutStActs2@gmail.com or contact Jeff Lehner at 740-851-7090.