Impact will continue this Thursday, September 16th by looking into ways we hear from the Lord. We'll meet at 7:00 PM: 700 Santa Cruz, Menlo Park (around the back of 700 Ace Hardware). We'll also have Alfred Jude and Nancy Epling share about their experiences at Signs of Hope Camp, and Janet Somes will share about her move to help plant a church.
Small Group Signups
This is the last week for small group signups! You are encouraged to join a small group because participating in a small group increases your sense of belonging to a community and allows you to grow with a few consistent brothers and sisters on your journey to better know the Lord. You may sign up for a small group right now by sending Christl Kirchner an email:
christlclear@gmail.com
Calendar:
- September 16th - Sharing; Ways to hear from the Lord
- September 23rd - TBA
What is the Lord doing with you in the word lately, what is He teaching you? What is it you're doing to grow your faith?
I drew a blank because I wasn't really in the word. I was reading once a week right before Impact started, more focused on how I could look good and answer the questions than I was really feasting on the spiritual milk that is God's word.
Scott really believes that the life we experience with Jesus is proportional to the amount of time and emphasis we put in His word. He compared reading the Bible to a meal, referring to scriptures like Hebrews 5:11 and 1 Peter 2:1-3. He continued by telling us that God will speak to us through His word, but we have to read it. The Bible is a gift to you. It is your meal, a meal that will feed your soul daily. He continued to compare scripture to a meal: When you eat lunch, you feed yourself by going out and getting food. If you're not being fed spiritually, some of the places you can go to find food is to your Church, to your brothers and sisters and to the Bible.
How do you read God's word?
There are many methods and systems to study God's word. Scott proposed the S.O.A.P.S method, which is identical to the method we used to use at Impact. I usually read in small portions, like a chapter or less.
1. Start with Prayer - invite Jesus to be with you
2. Review your previous 24 hours - What are you thinking about? Use a notebook/Journal to write down some of the things that are coming to your mind - even your distractions, so you can ultimately focus on being with the Lord.
3. Use the S.O.A.P.S = Scripture, Observations, Applications, Prayer, Sharing
- Scripture - write down a few things that stood out to you
- Observations - (don't use words like I, me or my), write down what the writer was trying to say or what you see in the text.
- Application - Write down how this scripture applies to your life. You could write "I should..." but this is where God's word becomes transformative. Try writing "I will..."
- Prayer - (A.C.T.S adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication)
- Sharing - This is where Impact comes in really handy! If you have a table group that is deeply committed to doing a method such as this, you will have the opportunity to share your answer to the question above: What is the Lord doing with you in the word lately?
Scott Simmerock, Church on the Hill, Services 10/12/08 and 3/1/09
Blessings,
Christian
Events
You are strongly encouraged to host an event and make announcements! If you would like to host an event like lead a hike or hold a pie-eating contest, simply fill out the form on our blog:
http://www.impactevents.blogspot.com/
then click "Request Form" under "Request Event or Announcement"
- Monday Night Hikes - Next Hike September 27th
- Fleet Week Hike to Sausalito - Saturday, October 9th
Details coming soon
From Tim Walters:
As most of you have probably heard, my mom passed away suddenly last Wednesday night. The overflowing love and support that I have been receiving from everyone has been so comforting during this time. Please let everyone know my heartfelt appreciation for each and everyone who has showered us with prayers and thoughtful words of sympathy. I'm so blessed to have such a Community through Impact. I miss everyone and hope they can all come to the memorial service to celebrate with me my mom's life. She was an incredible woman who has touched so many lives in a unique and special way. I'm so blessed to have been her son and have her as my mom.
Below is family's home address and information on the memorial service that you can pass onto the Impact Family or post to the blog:
Memorial Service for Audreanna Walters:
Date: Friday September 17, 2010 at 7:00pm
Location: Bridges Community Church (fka First Baptist Church of Los Altos)
625 Magdalena Avenue
Los Altos, CA 94024
Walters Family
10141 Parlett Place
Cupertino, CA 95014
