Our responses to Ephesians 5: 1-2...

In response to looking the imagery and calling of verses 1 & 2 of Ephesians 5, we offered some practical actions/looks at what it would be instructing us to do.

- Be available

- Welcome interruption

- Setting aside money you were going to spend on personal pleasure to meet someone else's practical need

- Giving time to someone who is going through something

- Not necessarily having an answer to someone's issue but spending time with them praying, going to the One who is the answer... Doing this not just in the moment but over the course of time with them...

- Forgive quickly

- Providing anonymous or unrecognized acts of service

- Have dinner with neighbors

- Keeping up with one another's lives...

How might we help to motivate and hold one another accountable? or even do these things as a family/group?

Therefore, as dearly loved children be imitators of God and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Bible Reading Plan

It's not too late... Start now... Start with February and join us in reading through the Bible this year. This is a great tool that actually I have felt has added freedom in accountability and direction in reading the Bible, which is something I believe we all testify to as being valuable and necessary for our health and life...

Super Bowl Party, Sign Up!

It's time for a reunion, and we thought Super Bowl Sunday would be a great time!

Details...

Who? Silina Small Group, Colonial Small Group, and anyone you want to bring with you!

When? Sunday, February 6th at 5pm
(Kick-off is at 6:30pm, but we'll start partying early!)

Where? The Montgomery's home off of Little Neck Road
912 Lois Circle. Virginia Beach, VA 23452
H 757.340.3132 or C 843.597.3271

Please comment on this post with what type of food you'll be bringing to share! Respond by next Sunday, the 30th, so we'll know what else to buy to make sure we have a full table of dinner and munchies for everyone. Donna has two ovens and a grill that will be available to anyone.

Packers or Steelers? Predictions? :)

See you then!

Ephesians 4: 17-32 - Questions you brought to the table...

We recently looked at the second half of Ephesians 4. You were asked to come up with questions with the text in mind. You all came up with some great questions and we had some good discussion time. Though, as we often do, we had to cut it short.

Here are the questions you all came up with. I'd encourage you to look these over and walk through the scriptures and these questions further. It may seem like a long list, but you can break it up over a couple of days or scan through and pick out questions that hit you. May it be a tool though in your time/walk with God.

In no particular order:

• Do I seek approval from "gentiles"/unbelievers above God?
• Do I envy the way of the "gentiles"/unbelievers?
• Am I proud of the new self, longing for it to be the only thing residing in me?
• Am I truly ready to put aside the old self? Have I resolved to?
• Do I have methods of discipline, support, & accountability to aid me in this?
• How am I actively putting aside the old man?
• (Eph 4: 25-32) Is this easy/pleasant in the moment?
• Is it worthwhile in the end? Do I truly believe it?
• Who am I not being Christlike towards?
• What were my old ways?
• Am I ready and willing to live this way and give up my old ways? Am I committed for life?
• What examples do I have of my old ways and how they have changed by the work of the Spirit?
• Am I supposed to turn my left cheek to those who are not believers and do bad things to me?
• Am I ever tempted to say mean words in anger, be bitter and angry? What helps in these times to behave rightly?
• Why is it so easy to back to the old ways?
• What actions do I need to take to be made new again & to live in true righteousness and holiness?
• What specific ways am I living for my own pleasure or self gratification?
• What are some other scripture passages this reminds me of?
• What might life look like or how would it be different if my attitudes were made new and I put on the new righteous and holy self?
• Using this list of actions as a litmus test, do I think I'm living more like a gentile or a child of God? What would my friends, family, coworkers, or others say?
• Am I accomplishing verse 29? If not, how can I do this? What about us as a group?
• Why does it say, "Do not give the devil a foothold"?
• Give 3 reasons why I should not live like the gentiles.
• What change should occur to those who have Jesus?
• What is the new self?
• What should be done in place of falsehood?
• What's the benefit of no longer stealing?
• What should replace unwholesome words and bitterness?
• How can we help each other in accountability to not be impure or live as the gentiles?
• Is what is coming out of my mouth helpful & uplifting ?
• How can we help each other to get rid of all our rage, bitterness, malice, etc.?
• How have I been giving the devil a foothold?
• What things do I still cling to that would be considered part of the old self?
• What are things that have caused my heart to harden & how can/has Christ overcome this?
• Why do I hold onto grudges sometimes?
• How do I grieve the Holy Spirit?
• What non-physical things have I ever stolen from others?
• Have I fully put off the old self? Am I truly living in the new righteous & holy self?
• Am I still allowing deceitful desires to corrupt me?
• Am I forgiving others as Christ forgave/forgives me?
• In anger, do I sin?
• Do I build others up according to their needs?
• What am I struggling to put off?
• Do I feel separated from God? Why do I feel like this?
• My new self is created to be like God. In what ways can I work out my salvation towards this end?
• What does it mean to be made new in the attitude of God?

t crossing, i dotting

A little bit of housekeeping for the group that meets at Ed's house:

Sunday night timing...

• We continue to aim for a 5 PM start time on Sunday evenings. Help us make that happen!
• The goal for wrapping up the meeting is 6:45, and we are commited to going no later than 7 PM.

mmm. Food

• Continue coming ready to eat after the meeting. Ryan and Dawson made us venison chili last week. It was delicioso.
• If you want to get on the schedule for helping with food, email Sarah as she is keeping that schedule.

Kids Kids Kids

• We plan to start a rotation, having one person stay in with the kids each week, not just to keep them in line but also to do some activities and teaching with them. We want it to be a beneficial time for the kids too! More on this soon.

WELCOME WELCOME

Welcome to our online bulletin board. Hopefully you read the blurb at the top explaining the labels.

Please sign up for email updates on the right side of the page. It is very simple and you can unsubscribe anytime you like.

Starting now, the Silina group (Ed's house) won't be sending out our updates directly through email, but posting everything here instead.

Also please add your comments below the posts to make it more fun and interactive.

Mark