The sermon for this week from the series “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God” is titled “Rescue Me“.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• What’s the first thing that comes to mind for you when you hear the word “saved”?  The word “salvation”?
• Have you ever saved or rescued someone who was in trouble?  Have you ever been saved or rescued by someone (not including Jesus!)?

STUDY IT – Matthew 1:18-21, Luke 2:25-32, Philippians 2:12-13

• Read Matthew 1:18-21 and Luke 2:25-32 out loud.  What do these verses have in common in terms of what they say about who Jesus is?  (See in particular Matt. 1:21 and Luke 2:30.)
• What does it mean to say that “Jesus is salvation”?  How would you put this statement into your own words?
• Look again at Matt. 1:21.  What does Jesus save us from?  What does this mean?  Why is this important?  How does this relate to forgiveness?
• Read Philippians 2:12-13.  What does it mean to “work out your salvation”?  Is salvation dependent on our works?
• Do you think these verses are referring to salvation past (saved from the penalty of sin), salvation present (saved from the power of sin), or salvation future (saved from the presence of sin)?  Why?
• What do Phil. 2:12-13 have to do with transformation?  What does it mean to be transformed?
• LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life
• How have you experienced Jesus as someone who saves us?  (This could be in terms of being saved “from sin” or being saved in other ways in your life.)
• Do you feel like you’ve experienced God’s forgiveness (“the front end of salvation”)?  Why or why not?
• Do you feel like you are in a process of transformation (“being saved from the power of sin”)?  Why or why not?

PRAY IT

• Application:  Go around the group and have each person say one of the following prayers: 1) “Thank you for saving me from the penalty of sin,” or 2) “Thank you for saving me from the power of sin,” or 3) “Thank you that you will save me from the presence of sin.”
• Joys and Challenges:  What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster:  Pray for our Worship SERVICE Sunday next week!  Pray that we will make a real impact on our neighborhood.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for our neighbors whom we will be blessing through our Worship SERVICE Sunday.

The sermon for this week from the series “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God” is titled “Shields Up!“.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• Have you ever had (or do you have) anyone in your life that you trust completely? Why was that person trustworthy?
• Have you ever had friends that you didn’t completely trust? Why didn’t you trust them?

STUDY IT – Ephesians 6:16, Hebrews 11:1

• Read Ephesians 6:16 out loud. What stands out for you in this verse? What questions do you have?
• In what way is faith a “shield”? How have you experienced faith as a “shield”?
• What are “the flaming arrows of the evil one”? How have you experienced “the flaming arrows of the evil one” in your life?
• Read Hebrews 11:1 out loud. What stands out for you in this verse? What questions do you have?
• What are some things that you hope for and are sure of? What are some things that you are certain of, but can’t see?
• How might this understanding of faith help us to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”?

LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• What are some verbs or adjectives that describe your present level of faith? Why these?
• How has your life changed as a result of your faith in God? What has your faith cost you? How has your faith affected your neighbors (friends, family, co-workers, etc.)?
• What is one simple step you could take to help you grow in your faith? Is this something you’re willing to do?

PRAY IT

• Application: Spend a few moments praying silently about whatever step God might be asking you to take to help you grow in your faith.
• Joys and Challenges: What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Pray for the Session and the deacons as they lead and care for the ministry of Northminster. Ask God to give them guidance, wisdom, and compassion.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for Floresta, that they would be able to help poverty-stricken communities become self-sufficient. Pray for those communities, that they would discover the love of Jesus as Floresta works with them.

This is the fifth sermon in the series titled “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God”.

Theme – God has given us the “shield of faith” to help us stand in the midst of “flaming arrows” that would try to knock us down.  Faith alleviates our anxiety, gives us confidence, and credits us with righteousness.

The text for the sermon was taken from Ephesians 4:16 and Hebrews 11:1.

 

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June marks the end of our regular Women’s Association  Calendar until the end of summer. Our Women’s Association meetings will resume in September with the following schedules.

During the months of September through June:

Circle Bible Study groups will  meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in various locations at 9:30 am and 7:00 pm.

Our Women’s Association Board Meeting will be held on the 1st Monday of each month, and  a meeting of the

Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery will be held on the 4th Friday each month, at various church’s in San Diego area.  Northminster will host this group in the month of February, 2010.

Please join us on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 9 am for an “All Ladies Day” at Northminster.  The day will start off with coffee, juice and greeting.  Alice Niederost will lead us in the first activity entitled GUIDED IMAGERY.

Peggy Brown will be our our music facilitator, keeping us in the spirit of the activities and devotions.

Rev. Sonja Wieland, Hospice Chaplin, will deliver a presentation called “Women Taking Care of Themselves”, which she will illustrate using scripture.

Reservations for participation and childcare can be made by calling the church office by June 10th at (858) 490-3995.

We look forward to growing and fellowshipping with you on this lovely day!

The sermon for this week from the series “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God” is titled “Feet Fitted“.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• Have you ever gotten into a debate/argument with someone over a particular issue (political, religious, economic, etc.)? Who won the debate? How did you and the other person feel when the debate/argument was over?

STUDY IT – Genesis 15:1-6, Romans 4:1-5, 18-25

• Read Ephesians 6:14-15 out loud. The most literal translation of v. 15 is: “and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.” How clear is verse 15? What questions do you have?
• The NIV and TNIV translate v. 15 as, “and your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” The NRSV translates v. 15 this way, “As shoes for your feet, put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.” What’s the difference between these translations? What’s the relationship between “readiness” and “the gospel of peace” in each translation? What do we need to be ready for according to each translation (for NIV, see Eph. 6:11)?
• Read 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 1 Peter 3:15, and Colossians 4:5-6. What do these passages have in common?
• How do these passages portray the way in which one ought to “proclaim the gospel of peace.”

LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• In what way does “the gospel of peace” (peace with God and peace with each other) help you to “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph. 6:11)?
• Do you feel “ready to proclaim the gospel of peace”? Why or why not?
• What are some steps you could take to help yourself become “ready to proclaim the gospel of peace”?

PRAY IT

• Application: Think of someone in your life (friend, family member, co-worker, etc.) who needs to hear “the gospel of peace.” Have each group member pray for their person by simply saying, “Lord, please make your ‘gospel of peace’ known to _____________________.”
• Joys and Challenges: What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Pray for Northminster’s Worship Band. Let’s thank God for all their hard work preparing music to help us worship each Sunday. And ask God to encourage and guide them as they continue to lead us in worship each week.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for Reality Changers, a Christian organization in San Diego that helps at-risk teens be the first in their families to attend college.

This is the fourth sermon in the series titled “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God”.

Theme – As followers of Jesus, we are called to always be ready to share the good news—the gospel.  What is this good news?  It’s the good news that we can have peace with God and peace with one another.

The text for the sermon was taken from Ephesians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 14:1-6, and 2 Timothy 4:1-2.

 

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The sermon for this week from the series “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God” is titled “Perfect Credit“.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• When you were growing up, what chores were you expected to do around the house? Did your parents pay you?

STUDY IT – Genesis 15:1-6, Romans 4:1-5, 18-25

• Read Genesis 15:1-6 out loud. What stands out for you in this passage? What questions do you have?
• Based on this passage, what do you think Abram fears most?
• How is “faith” related to “righteousness” (v. 6)? Which comes first? Which comes from God? Which is indispensable to a right relationship with God?
• Read Romans 4:1-5 and 18-25. What stands out for you in this passage? What questions do you have?
• What is the difference between a wage and a gift? What makes a gift special? Is righteousness from God a wage or a gift?
• How would you sum up the Gospel (the message about Jesus) from verses 23-25?

LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• What does it matter to you—practically or emotionally—whether a right relationship with God is a gift to be received or a prize to be earned?
• In what area of your life do you need to take a lesson from Abraham and focus not on “working” but on “believing”?
• How is the message that God credits us with righteousness impacting your life? How might it impact your life?

PRAY IT

• Application: Thank God that we don’t have to earn our way to eternal life. Thank God for the gift of eternal life, which we receive when we place our faith in Him.
• Joys and Challenges: What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Pray for Northminster Preschool. Ask God to be with the kids, the parents, and the teachers, and that God would demonstrate his love for them in each of their lives. Pray that we in the church would be a blessing to the kids, parents, and teachers.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for Nate Landis’ organization, Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC). Pray for the Christian lunch clubs at high schools and middle schools all over San Diego. Pray specifically for the 3 lunch clubs that Northminster works with: Madison High School, University City High School, CPMA Middle School.

This is the third sermon in the series titled “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God”.

Theme – Are we good enough? No. But because God loves us, he “credits” righteousness to us when trust him and follow him, just as he “credited” righteousness to Abraham when he believed God.

The text for the sermon was taken from Ephesians 6:14, Genesis 15:5-6, and Romans 4:18-25.

 

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I am looking forward to leading this congregation as we launch the 2009 Vacation Bible School. VBS is a wonderful legacy of Northminster that is known throughout San Diego. That being said, I want you ALL to know any and all volunteer efforts are encouraged and extremely welcome! This is not a VBS just for the Northminster friends and families who have elementary age children. This is a project of love that connects many generations here at Northminster!

Recently, several of you have stopped and asked me about VBS plans, so I wanted to give you all an update.

The reason you have heard very little from me regarding VBS is because I do not want to detract from our Alley Beautification project coming up on June 14. I think this is a wonderful thing our church is doing and I want it to be the focus.

My current plan is to have our first volunteer meeting following this project on June 14th. I am tentatively planning to have us all meet at noon. Since we will all be there working on the alley, we can move the time earlier or later if necessary.

We are well on the way with our registration. As of now we have 90 of the available 140 spots filled. If you are planning on volunteering and having your children participate, or if you are just planning on registering your children please do so soon! To give you an idea of the kind of outreach this program is, of the 90 children currently registered, only 49 of the children listed a church home and only 13 listed Northminster as their church home. That’s pretty amazing!

This year’s theme is Crocodile Dock. It is a Bayou theme and promises to be tons of fun for everyone involved! Keep your eyes peeled for crocodiles, turtles, opossums, fireflies, mosquito nets, lanterns, etc.

Pastor Marcus needs a tall pair of rubber wading boots if anyone has those handy!

I will see you all at the volunteer meeting on June 14th! If you cannot be at the meeting but are interested in volunteering, please send me an email.

Also, if you have any ideas you would like to share, send me an email.

Thank you and God bless!

Korin