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Posted below are the Small Group notes that have been passed out for study this week, please review and I will share my story at the end. WORD: Notes for leading Small Group based on Sunday preaching Date: 16/05/04 Basic Aim: To encourage us to understand, seek and experience the baptism of the Spirit Ice Breaker; Either use your own, or here's a suggestion... Someone think of a person and everyone else in the group takes it in turns to ask yes/no questions (no more than 20 in total) and the person who guesses correctly wins. Bible Reading: Acts 19:1-7...

"Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. And I say to you, that many shall come from east and west, and relcine at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 8:10b-12 (NASV) Can we assume from this passage that least three people are going to be in heaven who lived before the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ? And,...

BIBLE STUDY TIPS AND TECHNIQUES “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” Matthew 28:19, 20a What is Bible study? “Bible study…is the regular, careful, systematic examination of the Scriptures themselves, with an alert mind and a prayerful, open heart, and with the intent to understand and live God’s Word.”(1) Daily devotional reading is not Bible study. Neither is Bible memorization or even hearing a verse-by-verse sermon or lecture by a pastor, teacher, or in...

INTRODUCTION On the Sunday morning of February 17, 1991, then President George Bush went to his usual church, the First Congregational Church in Kennebunkport to worship during a regular Sunday service. It was not, however, a regular Sunday. It was exactly one month into Operation Desert Storm, the massive U.S. led air offensive against Iraq and a week before what would be known as Operation Desert Saber, the Allied ground offensive. The country was embroiled in a conflict the size of which it had not seen since Vietnam. About 10 minutes into the service, the Reverend Patricia Adam invited members...

In all these posts where Calvinists refute Arminians and Arminians refute Calvinists, can I ask, is there ever any real progress made? Do people come away after 100 or 200 posts (or more) and say, "Wow, I never thought of it that way before!" If not, could I suggest that maybe, in the spirit of The Christian Chronicles thread (20,000+ posts) that, instead of cluttering up the place with brand new posts discussing the same old issues, that the whole Calvinist vs. Arminian debate be relagated to one thread (hence: SMACKDOWN!) where y'all can post to your hearts content? Just...

Introducing “A Rosary of Peace” By Robert Llewelyn “A Rosary of Peace” introduces the rosary principle of prayer to Anglicans and others who may not be familiar with it. It makes use of the Catholic instrument of the rosary both on account of its suitability and availability, and it uses all the scriptural devotions of the Catholic rosary, but not the Hail Mary. It needs to be gladly affirmed, however, that for very many Christian people throughout the world, the traditional rosary is a joyful and fruitful devotion through which their prayer life is daily nourished and renewed. Yet, it...