Wesley Study Notes

[Rev. Ellen Ely]

Good evening friends,

 

Attached and copied into this email you’ll find the Wesley Study Notes for your preparation for our time of worship this week.  I hope you can join us online and very soon, in person! Stay tuned!

 

Blessings

Ellen

 

Rev. Ellen Ely

Senior Pastor

First United Methodist Church

1101 Bluebonnet Dr.

Marble Falls, TX 78654

(830) 693-4341 Office

(830) 265-0761 Cell

 

Wesley Groups Study Lesson

Week of August 9, 2020

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Countdown of Our Favorites!

Theme: “I Want to Meet that Boy!”

 

Opening Prayer:

Dear God, we thank you for this amazing lesson that reminds us of your power as exhibited by Jesus.  Every time we read your Word we “hear” a new message that you have for us. Lord, please open our hearts to hear this week the message you intend for us. Quiet our minds to focus on you. Amen.

 

Overview:  This week we continue our sermon series: “Our Favorite Bible Stories”. Thanks to all who voted! This week we study the #4 favorite New Testament story: The Feeding of the Multitudes.

 

Questions for reflection:

1. This lesson is unique in that it is included in each of the four Gospel accounts. Locate it and read each one. Then return to the lesson for today from John. Read it with the others in mind.
2. What is different in John’s account? Do you prefer one account of this story over another? (From the other gospel lessons.)
3. Discuss and reflect on the characters in John’s account. Who are they? What do you see in each one of them? How do they respond differently to Jesus and to the situation? Why is that?
4. Why do you suppose Jesus asked Philip the question about feeding the crowd? The lesson tells us that Jesus knew exactly what he was going to do before he asked. What do you think about Philip’s reply?
5. How do you think he knew about the boy with the barley loaves and fish? What do we know about that boy? I want to meet him. What about you? I have a few questions to ask him. What do you think we can learn from him?

 

Closing Thoughts on Scripture Lesson: Discuss anything else that you noticed in this lesson that speaks to you, or anything that jumped out at you for the first time.

 

Sharing of Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

 

Closing Prayer: Mighty God, we see your hand at work in this lesson and we marvel at how you use those who allow themselves to be used, that you might be glorified. O God, help us always be open to what you set before us, and make us willing to be used by you. Amen!

 

 

[Rev. Ellen Ely]

Good evening friends,

 

Attached and copied into this email please find the Wesley Study Notes for your preparation for our IN PERSON WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY! I’m so excited that we will carefully worship together at 10am, wearing masks and adhering to social distancing protocols, but we will be together! Remember, if you are not feeling well, please remain safely in your home and watch via livestream on our website fumcmarblefalls.com and let us know anyway we can help you get to feeling better!

 

I look forward to seeing as many as possible and celebrating and worshiping God together at 10am.

 

Blessings

Ellen

 

 

Rev. Ellen Ely

Senior Pastor

First United Methodist Church

1101 Bluebonnet Dr.

Marble Falls, TX 78654

(830) 693-4341 Office

(830) 265-0761 Cell

 

Wesley Groups Study Lesson

Week of August 16, 2020

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Countdown of Our Favorites!

Theme: “A Tree Top View”

 

Opening Prayer:

Dear God, we thank you for reminding us of this lesson from our childhood! We can’t help but hum the tune as we read the story. What joy that gives to us! May we realize the depth of this childhood lesson, and not miss the message you have for us this week. Amen!

 

Overview:  This week we continue our sermon series: “Our Favorite Bible Stories”. Thanks to all who voted! This week we study the #3 favorite New Testament story: Zacchaeus

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Read this lesson from your study Bible and then read it from at least one other translation (NIV, KJV, NRSV, NLT, The Message, etc.). Compare the similarities and differences in the ways in which the story is told. Do you have a preferred translation? Why?
2. Recall the first time you heard this story. Were you a child? A teen? An adult? Remember if you can, the context of your first hearing. Were you in Sunday School? Vacation Bible School? Who were you with? Did anything stick in your mind as your favorite part of the lesson? What was it and why did it speak to you at that time in your life? How has that changed, or has it? Discuss in your groups.
3. Who was Zacchaeus? What do we know about him? What do we assume about him? Why? What do we know about his job? What was his physical hinderance?  Why was he disliked?
4. Why do you suppose he decided to climb up in a tree to watch as Jesus was expected to pass through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem? What happened? What did Jesus do? What did he say? How did the crowd react?
5. How was Zacchaeus’ life changed in this encounter with Jesus? What difference does it make in our lives today?

 

Closing Thoughts on Scripture Lesson: Discuss anything else that you noticed in this lesson that speaks to you, or anything that jumped out at you for the first time.

 

Sharing of Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

 

Closing Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for this time to sit down, read your Word, discuss and study with our friends. As we prepare for worship on Sunday, help us continue to reflect on our discussions and how this lesson speaks to us individually. Help us to be changed because of it! Amen!