Monday, December 27, 2010

Winter Equip 2011 at Zion of Petroleum Valley

FAITHFUL, ABUNDANT, TRUE Promo Video from LifeWay Media on Vimeo.



Winter 2011 kicks off at Zion of Petroleum with a women's class featuring "Faithful, Abundant and True" on Wednesday, January 5th. This Video series features the teaching of Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arther. Workbooks are $15. For more information check out Zion's website following the Equip link at www.zionlife.com.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Advent Week Five: Bible Study Questions for Discussion and Reflection




Isaiah 9:7a, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

Isaiah saw Jesus’ First Advent and Second Advent as one. So did some of Jesus’ first follows, which explains why they asked, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” following the resurrection. Jesus answers, “It is not for you to know the times for dates.” (Acts 1:6-7) We don’t know the when, but we have assurance Jesus will reign. Much of what follows in the book of Isaiah describes the “yet” of the “now but not yet.”

What do the following passages from Isaiah reveal about Jesus’ future reign?

Isaiah 32:1-8—

Isaiah 44:1-5—

Isaiah 63:1-6—

Isaiah 65:17-25—

Read Luke 4:16-21. (Notice Jesus did not quote Isaiah 61:2, “the day of vengeance of our God” as this will not fully take place until the Second Advent).

How did Jesus fulfill these promises at His first Advent? (See also Mark 1:29-34 and Acts 3:1-10)

Look back over your responses to the Scriptures describing Jesus’ future reign. What differences ought these observations make to your present life? How will you apply this?

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas



“The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic His giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.” Quote attributed by legend to Saint Nicolas

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas is... December 24th, 5 and 7 p.m.

Christmas is...
Christmas Eve at Zion (Zion of Clarion County and Zion of Petroleum Valley), Friday December 24th. 5 & 7 p.m.

"The Hope of Christmas" is one of my favorite videos... Way to go Blake and Zion Media!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Advent Week Three: Bible Study Questions for Discussion and Reflection

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

Explore more fully these names and attributes of Jesus.

Wonderful Counselor

Luke 2:32—

John 3:19-21—

John 8:12—

John12:46—

Mighty God

Hebrews 1:3—

John 14:9—

2 Corinthians 4:4—

Colossians 1:15—

Everlasting Father

Revelation 11:15—

Luke 1:33—

Hebrews 1:8—

Psalm 45:6—

Prince of Peace

Isaiah 2:4—

Isaiah 11:4-5—

Romans 14:17—

How are these names of Jesus relevant to your life right now?

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Advent Week Two: Bible Study Questions for Discussion and Reflection



Isaiah 9:1-7 records the last part of a message given by the Prophet Isaiah to the people of Judah living under King Ahaz. King Ahaz received news of a planned attack from King Pekah of the northern kingdom of Israel and King Rezin of Syria if he did not join their alliance against Assyria. Isaiah relays a message to Ahaz from God telling him “not loose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood”—because God would soon use Assyria to deal with these two nations. Rather than put his trust in God, King Ahaz takes matters into his own hands and seeks to form an alliance with the king of Assyria by bribing him with silver and gold from the Temple (2 Kings 16:8). Not only would this “alliance” ultimately fail and Judah thrust into captivity, King Ahaz lead the nation into full scale idolatry (2 Chronicles 28:22-26).

Despite this, the words of Isaiah 9:1-7 were words of hope, that though “people walk in darkness… a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2). The sign for this hope is a “virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The promise is that one day this “child” will “reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever” (Isaiah 9:7).

Compare Isaiah 9:1-7 with Matthew 4:12-17. According to the Matthew passage, how did Jesus begin to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy?

Read Isaiah 9:4-5. On what basis does Isaiah urge confidence in God fulfilling His promise?


See also Judges 6:1-9; 7:19-25; 8:10-21—

Read Ephesians 2:12-14. How did Jesus “enlarge the nation”?


Are there areas of life where you are you trusting your own “schemes” rather than God’s Word? What would it look like to have complete confidence in God?

What hope does Jesus’ name “Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 & Matthew 1:23) provide?