1/15 "Time in a Bottle"

THIS WEEK'S PLAY LIST: YOUTUBE 

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS  Jan. 8 - 15,   John 1:26-51,

NEXT WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS  Jan. 8 - 15,   John 2:13-25,

TEXT: John 2:1-12

IN A NUTSHELL: It is popular to approach Jesus story of “the Water into Wine” as rehearsing the power Jesus has over nature.  Today I want us to notice how people struggle with needs that Jesus can address, and at the moment of need He can meet those needs if we just follow His lead.  The key is spending enough time with Him that we heed His lead.  Jesus was just attending a wedding with the family, you know “doing life,” then Mary asked Jesus for some help with a very embarrassing situation.  Jesus changed his mind spontaneously doing this miracle and the disciples response was to believe, “wanting to spend more time with Him… they believed!

HIS LIGHT AND LIFE:

1.      What day is this from Jesus first calling his first disciples to “come and see”?  Jn. 1:35,43; 2:1

2.      Where was Nathanel from? Jn. 21:2 What may have been an attitude between the people of Cana & Nazareth? Jn. 1:46

3.      How specifically did Jesus respond to Mary’s inquiry? Jn. 2:3,4

4.      How might Jesus, being the first born in the family affect the dynamic of this situation?

5.      Is there any indication in this story that Jesus is moving from a “family” priority to “God’s plan” priority? How does Jesus’ mother react to that transition?

6.      So here we have at least 4 disciples that have invested 3 days away from work, maybe family, “hanging” with Jesus, his mother and brothers. Do you think they felt it was worth it?

HIS LIGHT IN MY LIFE:

1.      When was the last time you took one day, let alone three to “hang with Jesus”?

2.      How would you feel if Jesus were your son and responded to your request the way he did to Mary? Remember that by now you knew those in your home town were very skeptical of Jesus (Lk. 4:14-30), and stress was beginning to build between Jesus and his brothers. (John 7:3-5; Mark 3:21)

3.      Can you identify a stressful event or season in your life when in hindsight was an amazing work of God?

4.      Are you paying attention today? What elements of struggle today could be God’s set up to build your faith?

Objective:  To invite the worshipper to look deeper into everyday life to see how God is wanting us to see Him at work, challenging us in everyday situations, building faith in who He is and what He can do. It’s kind of like trying to keep time with Him in a bottle for eternity!

Outcomes: for the worshipper to live in a daily walk with Jesus. To want to see the eternal in our celebrations and our struggles.  He can take our embarrassments and show us eternity… if we are watching.  His gift, our choice!

BULLETIN BLANKS

  • If I could save time in a bottle I would save every day till eternity passes to spend them with you. - Jim Croce, 1973
  •  “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
  •  “Do whatever he tells you.”
  •  This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee… And his disciples believed in him.
  • We all have an opportunity to choose every day whether we will see a crisis or an opportunity.
  • The difference is who we want to spend our time with, who we believe in and what we look for... 

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