Getting Ready for Sunday, July 5, 2015

Join us this Sunday at King’s Cross as we continue our series, “Pray Like Jesus: The Lord’s Prayer”

“Your Kingdom Come”

Read these scripture passages: Isaiah 9:6-7, Revelation 11:15-16
and consider the following questions:

–How do you feel about Kings? Is it possible for there to be a good King?

–Why does Jesus spend so much time talking about the Kingdom of God? If Jesus is the King of this Kingdom how does that shape your view of him?

–How do we call for Jesus to change our circumstances, other people, our culture if we are not willing to be changed ourselves? What are some areas that you are resisting that Jesus wants to change in you? What areas can you see Jesus extending his rule over in your life?

–The purposes of God’s Kingdom have been misunderstood since Jesus’ day? How are Christians  misunderstanding it today? What are the effects of these misunderstandings in our culture today?

Songs we’ll sing include: 

Let us Love and Sing and Wonder, Indelible Grace

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Have Mercy by Sandra McCracken

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Lead on O King Eternal, Indelible Grace

Getting Ready for Sunday, June 21, 2015

“Father & Daughter” by Shanna Bruschi

Our Father…

Join us this Father’s Day at King’s Cross as we celebrate our good good Father in Worship. This is our second week in our series, “Pray Like Jesus: The Lord’s Prayer.”

The words of the Lord’s Prayer are beautiful in their simplicity yet powerful in their application to the whole of life. This week, we continue our look at the phrases contained within this well known prayer so that we can see both the richness of each distinct part and the fullness of the whole prayer. It will be our goal to understand what Jesus was teaching his disciples and how what he taught them can be of great help to us in our daily lives.

Father Is Listening
Matthew 6:9a, Galatians 4:6

Questions to consider:
1. What are the popular views of Fathers in our culture today? Are they positive or negative? How does this impact our cultures view of Fathers?
2. Read Matthew 6:9. How does Jesus’s directing us to call God Father impact the way we approach God in prayer?
3. How do your views of your Father impact how you think about God?
4. Read Galatians 4:6. How does this verse inform you about your relationship to God? How might you pray different thinking about God as your Father?

Songs we’ll sing include: 

In the Hours

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Lay My Burdens Down

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Beautiful Things

Getting Ready for Sunday, June 14, 2015

This Sunday at King’s Cross, we begin our Summer Series, “Pray Like Jesus: The Lord’s Prayer.”

The words of the Lord’s Prayer are beautiful in their simplicity yet powerful in their application to the whole of life. For the next 12 weeks we will look at the phrases contained within this well known prayer so that we can see both the richness of each distinct part and the fullness of the whole prayer. It will be our goal to understand what Jesus was teaching his disciples and how what he taught them can be of great help to us in our daily lives.

Matthew 6:5-8
“Teach Us to Pray”

Read Matthew 6:5-8 and think about the following questions:

–What warning does Jesus give us about our motivation for doing good/righteous things?

–How is Jesus calling us to consider our motivations and search for approval?
What is the difference between the the hypocrites and gentiles prayers and how Jesus calls us to pray?

–If Jesus wants us to look to God as our Father as we pray then how should we look at ourselves as we pray to him? What difference could how we look at ourselves change the way we pray and live?

Songs we’ll sing include: 

Let us Love and Sing and Wonder

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Approach my Soul the Mercy Seat

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Beautiful Scandalous Night

Getting Ready for Sunday, June 7, 2015

Walking on Water by Anne Cutri

    This Sunday at King’s Cross, we will visit the Gospel of Mark one more time before we begin our new summer series on prayer. As you prepare for Sunday, read the following scripture and think about these questions: 

Mark 6:45-56 Questions: 

–There are three times in Marks’s gospel that Jesus leaves to pray. Why do you think Jesus is compelled to pray in this account? Was it a time of crisis? What happened before or after?

–Did Jesus know that the disciples were going to encounter a storm? What lessons are we to learn from the storm at sea?

–How does the crowd’s response on shore show their view of Jesus? When had Jesus been to this region before?

–What have we learned from Jesus so far in the Gospel of Mark? He feeds people miraculously. He walks on water and calms a storm. Yet he is not even welcome in his hometown and constantly rejected. This man is full of irony. The God King will suffer on a cross. What are the many ironies of Jesus’ life so far? Express some of the beauty of this God-Man Jesus as you encounter his intriguing character,

Songs we’ll sing include:

Jesus, Savior Pilot Me

In Need

Jesus Lover of My Soul

Getting Ready for Sunday, May 24, 2015

This Sunday at King’s Cross, we will look at a tale of Two Kings in Mark 6:14-29. As we prepare for Sunday, make sure and read the passage and think about the following questions.

The Gospel of Mark records the longest account of John’s death of any of the Gospels. What might be Mark’s reason for this?

What is Mark seeking for us to understand?

What are the differences between Jesus and Herod as Kings?    

Songs we’ll sing include:

Lay My Burdens Down, by Ryan Long

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God the Spirit by Matt Boswell

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Have Mercy by Sandra McCracken

 

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Getting Ready for Sunday, May 17, 2015

This Sunday at King’s Cross, we continue in our series “Glimpses of Good News: The Gospel According to Mark.”  This week, we will look at how Jesus was seen as an offensive king. Read Mark 6:1-13 and think about the following questions as you prepare for Sunday.

 

1. In Mark 6:2-3,why were the people from Jesus’s hometown ”offended” by Jesus? Why did they find it so hard to believe in him?

2. How is Christ and His message still offensive in this way today? What are some ways in which people still do this today?

3. In verses 5-6. what is Mark teaching us about the role of faith in the ministry of Jesus? How does our faith effect the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our personal lives, our church and our community?

4. What is Jesus preparing his followers for in verses 7-13? Are there principles behind these directives that can help us in ministry today?

Songs we’ll sing include:

Greater Than Our Hearts  

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Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken  

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Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts

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Getting Ready for Sunday, May 10, 2015

from the Jesus Storybook Bible. 

This Sunday at King’s Cross, we will conclude the story of Jairus and his daughter. We will have a special song with our kids this week, so make sure and scroll down and listen to “I am Jesus’ Little Lamb.”  To prepare for our time together, read Mark 5:21-43 and consider the following questions: 

–How is Jairus’s faith in Jesus evident? What does the interruption of ministry to Jairus teach us about Trusting Jesus?

–Why does Jesus say the little girl is sleeping and not dead? 

–How might the disciples lives have been changed after witnessing these events? 

–How can our lives change as a result of believing the truth found in this passage?  What would it look like for us to be a people trusting Jesus, believing Jesus and living on mission with Jesus?

Songs we’ll sing include: 

I am Jesus’ Little Lamb

Jesus Loves Me (Tomlin)

Getting Ready for Sunday, May 3, 2015

This Sunday at King’s Cross, we continue in the Gospel of Mark as we look at the account of Jesus healing the woman and Jarius’ daughter in Mark 5:21-34. To prepare for Sunday, read the passage and think about the following questions: 

 

–How is Jesus’ actions in this section of Scripture shape our understanding of his Kingdom and how he operates as a King? How is Power used in his Kingdom?

–In verses 25-26, what are the causes of the woman’s suffering? How does this impact our understanding of dealing caring for others who are experiencing suffering and brokeness?

–After reading verses 24,30-32. Consider if a large crowd was “pressing” all around him why did know one but the woman with the hemorrhage experience the surge of Jesus’ power? What does this teach us about faith?

–What are the ways where the woman’s faith is weak and in error?  What are the ways in which her belief is pure and right? How does this effect the way  we evaluate faith in ourself and others? 

–Why does Jesus call her be open and vulnerable before the crowd?

Songs we’ll sing include: 

Sing to Jesus

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Oh to Be Loved Thad Cockrell

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Beautiful Things

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Our God 

Getting Ready for Sunday, April 26, 2015

This Sunday at King’s Cross, continue in our series “Glimpses of Good News: The Gospel of Mark.” This week we look at Mark 5:1-20, the story of the Gerasene demoniac. Take time this weekend to read the passage and consider the questions below:

-How does Mark 3:22-30 relate to Mark 5:1-20?
-What are some of the characteristics described in this passage of the demonized man?
-How does this passage help us understand the complexity of evil? 
-Why do you think the people asked Jesus to leave their region? What motivates the man to go and tell so many people about Jesus? 

Songs we’ll sing this week include:

Have Mercy on Me- Sandra McCracken

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All Must Be Well- Matthew Smith

Getting Ready for Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015

This Sunday at King’s Cross is Palm Sunday. Our guest speaker will be Juan Carlos Martinez, RUF campus minister at Rice University. Together, we will be looking at Mark 15:1-20, events in the Passion week of Christ.  Read the passage and think about the following questions:

1.  What about this passage is disconcerting?

2.  Why did the crowd choose Barabbas? How is that relatable to our own choices?

3.  What ways do you choose popular opinion over God?

Songs we’ll sing include:

All Glory Laud and Honor
Traditional Palm Sunday song.

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Sing to Jesus

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Jesus I Come