First Church Williamsport

Reflection Questions By nature, am I more like Mary or Martha? What is it about pausing and breathing before God that is so difficult for me? What can I do to take more time to simply “be” in the presence of God? What is most important in my life? What needs to be? Luke 10:38-42 Reverend Matt Lake June 19, 2016

Reflection Questions Do I believe that God designed me to breathe? Why or why not? What needs to happen in my life so I can begin to breathe?  Am I willing to rely on God’s breath rather than my own? Genesis 2:4-84 Reverend Matt Lake June 12, 2016

Reflection Questions Where are you out of breath or afraid? Where do you need something different? To trust? Where do you need some breathing room? Prayer Lord, this day give me the courage, the trust, and the ability to breathe where I am most afraid.  Amen. Leviticus 19:1-4, 9-12; Deuteronomy 24:19-22 Reverend Matt Lake June 5, 2016

Reflection Questions Which master do I serve: Jesus or finances? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to create more breathing room in my financial life? Am I willing to pursue quality of life over a standard of living? Prayer Lord, help me to take whatever steps I need to in order to create breathing room in my finances. Luke 16:10-15 Reverend Matt Lake May 29, 2016

Reflection Questions Are there areas in your life where are you running around like a pagan? Where in your life do you need to make plans instead of fretting about problems? How will you slow down and live in the moment? Matthew 6:31-34 Pastor DG Giordano May 22, 2016

Reflection Questions When is the last time you witnessed God do something amazing? Do you need to slow down so you have time to breathe in the breath of God? Acts 2:1-21 Reverend Janet Durrwachter May 15, 2016 (Pentecost Sunday)

With God’s perspective, the how of “How to breathe in life” will come. Reflection Questions What do I need to add, and what do I need to remove in my life? What do I need to focus on more? What do I need to focus less on? Psalm 90:1-17 Reverend Matt Lake May 8, 2016

Reflection Questions What “proof” do I need to believe in and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? What is holding me back from taking that step of faith? Where do I see God in creation? Prayer Lord, help me to take a step of faith in you. Help me to see, experience, and follow you so that my life and the lives of others may be transformed in you on the inside and out. 1 John 4:12; 1 Peter 3:13...

Reflection Questions Where do I see suffering in the world? Where am I suffering the most right now? Can I trust that God meets me and us collectively in the suffering? Can I trust that God can even bring redemption out of the suffering I am going through? Am I able to surrender the suffering I see to the loving hands of God? Prayer: May we find comfort in Christ who knows our suffering since Chri...

Reflection Questions What parts of the Bible are the most disturbing for me, and why? What do I most need to remember in relation to those passages? Prayer Lord, help me to remember that Your word is Your word: it is holy, God-breathed, and authoritative for my life. Help me to submit to it, even when I do not fully understand it.  Amen. 2 Timothy 3:10-17 Reverend Matt Lake April 17, 2016

Our approach to faith is that we are informed by Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. Acts 17:24-28a Reverend Janet Durrwachter April 20, 2016

Reflection Questions Why does violence seem like such a natural response for myself and/or others? Do I really believe that Jesus offers an alternative to violence in our world, or does this seem unrealistic to me? What would it take for me to believe and live into the model that Jesus offers towards violence? Do I believe that love and humility are truly stronger than force and violence? Why? Wha...

Reflection Questions Where in my life do I need some answered prayers? Can I trust that the One who defeats even death can answer those prayers? Can I trust that Jesus can bring new life out of any difficult situation? Do I believe that Jesus holds me even when I have not been holding on to Him? Do I know that Jesus knows me, and calls me by name? What would it look like for me to fully trust the...

Reflection Questions Do I seek to conform the Lord’s prayer to fit my life? Or do I conform my life to fit the Lord’s Prayer? Why? What would it take for me to conform my life to the Lord’s Prayer? Who defines the politics of my life? What does it mean for me to live into God’s kingdom rather than my own? What does it mean for me to live into God’s idea of power? What does it mean for me to live i...

Reflection Questions Where in my life am I experiencing temptation? Does anyone else know it?  Where do I need to ask God to lead me?  From what do I need delivered?  Am I willing to share my temptations with others so that I might experience healing? Action Point Pray, “Lord help me to know and be led by you. Lead me not into temptation. Deliver me from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13 Reverend Matt...

Reflections Questions: Who in my life has caused me great pain and sinned against me? Who do I harbor much resentment against? Who is it that I have trouble forgiving? Am I willing to pray the miracle of forgiveness? Am I willing to believe in the power of prayer and the significance of God’s forgiveness in my life, and for the world, as the Lord’s Prayer reminds us?  Do I see how the miracle of p...

Reflection Questions What is it I am truly searching for in my life? Am I finding it? What am I feeding my soul? Am I feasting regularly on Christ as the Bread of Life, or just once a week in worship? Am I consuming garbage in my life? Is Christ the one who truly sustains me and moves me forward in growth? Matthew 6:9-13 Reverend Matt Lake February 28, 2016

The Lord’s Prayer leads us to expand God’s kingdom by inviting God’s reign in our hearts as we put God’s will above our own. Reflection: As we are transformed, think differently, and act differently through the power of the Holy Spirit because we’ve prayed - God’s kingdom becomes that much more present on earth - just as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-13 Pastor Rick Waters February 21, 2016

Reflection Questions How much do I reflect on the meaning of the Lord’s prayer versus simply say the words of it? Do I seek to live out a life with Christ with others or just focus on my own journey? Do I see God as more “Dad” or more “Respected Father?” How can I respond to God in a more balanced way? How can I lift God’s name up more than my own? Action Point Pray the Lord’s Prayer every day at...

Ephesians 6:18-24 Reverend Matt Lake February 7, 2016

Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33 Reverend Matt Lake January 31, 2016

Ephesians 4:17-32 Reverend Matt Lake January 24, 2016

Ephesians 3:1-22 Reverend Janet Durrwachter January 17, 2016

Ephesians 2:14-22 Reverend Matt Lake January 10, 2016

Luke 2:41-52 Pastor DG Giordano December 27, 2015