THE CAPRANICA http://www.thecapranica.com Reflections on Theology & Life From an Ordinary Pastor Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:58:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 33.708843-116.909484TheCapranicahttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with NewsAlloySubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with Attensa for OutlookSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with FlurrySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily Rotation Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 6:9-10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/xeypT51gPsQ/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/12/01/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-69-10/#comments Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:58:15 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/?p=4910

Carefully Think

  • Read Matthew 6:9-15.
  • Recall last week’s message; what are we praying for when we ask for God’s name to be hallowed?
  • What does it mean to “hallow” God’s name? Who is being asked to “hallow” God’s name?
  • What is God’s kingdom and when is it “coming?”
  • How is God’s will done in heaven? What are we praying when we ask for it to be done on earth?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • In light of Sunday’s opening message on prayer, how have you sought to incorporate it into your own prayer life?
  • When you come to church this Sunday, think carefully about each movement of our time together. What is being emphasized in each part? How coudl this help you as you pray throughout the service?
  • If God is sovereign, why do we pray for His will to be done?
  • Which phrase within this prayer needs more focused attention in your own prayer time?

Intentionally Act

  • How will you specifically incorporate the first three phrases of the prayer in Matthew 6:9-10 into your regular time of prayer? Who will you pray for in this way? About what issues will you incorporate these themes as you pray?
  • On at least three occasions this week, open your Bible to this passage and use it as a guide for your time of prayer. How does it help? What is most challenging in doing it?
  • Use this model prayer in 6:9-13 in praying for our worship service this Sunday.
  • Pray for those who do not know Christ and will be present in our service – that their hearts will be opened to God’s greateness, their needs, and the work of Christ to save them.
  • Pray for those who will be leading the service this Sunday: Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, Elders’ prayer and Scripture reading; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray that they will edify the church body.
  • Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing, and listen to them through the weekend to prepare yourself to sing with the church.

Songs for Sunday

Lyrics

Morning Gathering – December 2, 2012

 

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/12/01/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-69-10/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/12/01/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-69-10/ Re-Cap: Wasted Faith http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/kgy4nuS7T2Q/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/11/26/re-cap-wasted-faith/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:18:36 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/?p=4118

Wasted Faith

Click HERE for ways you can use this tool.

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/11/26/re-cap-wasted-faith/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/11/26/re-cap-wasted-faith/ Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:38-42 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/oTfvg5Fuy0o/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/13/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-538-42/#comments Sat, 13 Oct 2012 13:25:26 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/?p=4101

Carefully Think

  • Read Matthew 5:38-42. Summarize in one sentence what the main idea is.
  • How does Matthew 5:38-42 fit with the idea Jesus expressed in 5:17-20?
  • Read Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; and Deuteronomy 19:21. What are these passages teaching about retaliation? Why would the OT emphasize this?
  • How do these OT passages help you understand what Jesus is referring to in 5:38?
  • Is Jesus contradicting the OT passages in 5:39? Why or why not?
  • List the illustrations Jesus gives about retaliation in 5:39-42. What is the emphasis of each one uniquely (i.e., what is the issue with being slapped verses being sued, etc.)?
  • Is Jesus advocating pacifism in these verses? Are Christians not to defend themselves? Is Jesus suggesting that we not advocate justice? Why – why not?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • How are Christians supposed to apply these concepts in 5:38-42 in day-to-day living?
  • Over what sort of issues are you most prone to seek personal vengeance?
  • How could you cultivate the default attitude of trusting God and not seeking revenge when taken advantage of? What sort of patterns of thinking would you need to develop? How could this affect how you pray for those who are unjustly taking advantage of you?
  • What would help motivate a person to respond the way Jesus is advocating?
  • How does the message of the gospel help cultivate this sort of response? Think back to what Jesus suffered. How did he respond? Why did he respond as he did? How would his responses be helpful in our cultivating a similar response?

Intentionally Act

  • Have you been expressing any personal animosity or vengeful attitudes toward anyone lately? What has happened? What has motivated your responses? What does it suggest about your own trust in God? How could you better exemplify what Jesus advocates in Matthew 5:38-42 and how he himself lived?
  • Confess to God any specific sin of self-preservation and vengeful attitudes. Read Romans 12:17-19. What do you need to do to apply this with a righteous heart?
  • What relationships in your life are most challenged by this passage? What do you need to do to honor God in accordance with Matthew 5:38-42 and Romans 12:17-19?
  • Pray for those who will be leading the service on Sunday: Dawson Bryant, music; Sam Karl, Elders’ Prayer and Scripture reading; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray each will be uniquely edifying to the congregation as they serve. Pray for all who are involved in making Sunday’s service effective for God’s glory.
  • Meditate on the songs we will be singing this Sunday. Listen to them regularly through the weekend as you prepare your heart to join together with the congregation.

Songs for Sunday

Morning
HosannaPraise the LordGreat ThingsSing, Sing, SingJesus, I Am RestingTake My Life
Evening
Your Great Name We PraiseGod You ReignWhat A SaviorJesus, Thank YouI Want to Be Where You Are

Lyrics

Morning and Evening Gathering – October 14, 2012

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/13/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-538-42/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/13/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-538-42/ Tweets for 2012-10-13 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/qDXrRW196VM/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/13/tweets-for-2012-10-13/#comments Sat, 13 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/13/tweets-for-2012-10-13/

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/13/tweets-for-2012-10-13/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/13/tweets-for-2012-10-13/ Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:33-37 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/9xr-IEH_7tw/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/06/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-533-37/#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2012 14:04:05 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/?p=4088

Carefully Think

  • Read Matthew 5:33-37. Summarize in one sentence what Jesus’ main point is.
  • How does this passage relate to what Jesus said in 5:17-20?
  • What are the similarities and differences between this passage and the previous sections (anger: 5:21-26; lust: 5:27-30; divorce: 5:31-32)?
  • Read through the following OT passages: Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21-23. What background to the give to what Jesus says in Matthew 5:33-37?
  • In what ways does Jesus define “do not take an oath at all” in 5:34-36? What does this suggest about the nature of an oath or what is involved in the kind of oath Jesus is referring to?
  • Why does Jesus indicate that one should not take an oath and call heaven, hearth, Jerusalem, or your own head to account for the oath? What is Jesus’ point in bringing up these examples?
  • Instead of taking an oath, what is the primary focus of a righteous person?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • Why does Jesus attack giving oaths? Does this include taking an oath in a court room or for those who serve political office? Why or why not?
  • In the course of daily living, why would an oath be necessary?
  • What are the greatest challenges to honesty? When are you most tempted to lie? Why are we often tempted to hedge the truth in what we say we will do?
  • What would it take for you to be able to live in such a way that your “yes” or “no,” is believably sufficient?

Intentionally Act

  • As you think about the way you approach your own personal commitments, what needs to change in your speech and in your heart so that 5:37 is the primary characteristic of your life?
  • Do you need to correct any situations in which you have created an untruthful atmosphere? With whom? How can you begin to pray about that/those situation(s)? How should you approach changing it?
  • Are you misrepresenting truth in anyway with anyone at work, in your financial life, with neighbors, or family members? Why? How could you pursue what is honest? What would it cost you? What would keep you from pursuing truthfulness?
  • Pray for those leading the service this Sunday: Dawson Bryant, music; Sam Karl, Elder’s prayer and Scripture Reading; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray all who are involved in serving will be edifying.
  • Pray for those who do not know Christ, that their hearts will be convicted of sin and see the magnificence of Christ in salvation.
  • Meditate on the songs we will be singing on Sunday and pray through them and how they will encourage us in greater affection for Christ.

Sunday’s Songs

Sing to the KingLead On, O King EternalCome Thou Fount, Come Thou KingBefore the CrossYour Words of LifeAll I Have Is Christ

Lyrics

Morning Gathering – October 7, 2012

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/06/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-533-37/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/06/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-533-37/ Tweets for 2012-10-06 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/ZibfWJcIUpg/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/06/tweets-for-2012-10-06/#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/06/tweets-for-2012-10-06/

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/06/tweets-for-2012-10-06/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/10/06/tweets-for-2012-10-06/ Tweets for 2012-09-29 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/aztrRXIOELs/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/29/tweets-for-2012-09-29/#comments Sat, 29 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/29/tweets-for-2012-09-29/

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/29/tweets-for-2012-09-29/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/29/tweets-for-2012-09-29/ Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:31-32 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/qVNNl50wMJM/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/27/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-531-32/#comments Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:00:10 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/?p=4081

Carefully Think

  • Read Matthew 5:31-32
  • Where did this instruction originally come from in the Old Testament?
  • What is the connection between 5:31-32 to 5:27-30?
  • What is the connection between 5:31-32 and 5:17-20?
  • Is Jesus contradicting what was said in the OT by his statement in 5:32? Why or why not?
  • Who are the various parties that Jesus indicates are guilty of sin in 5:32?
  • Why would divorce and remarriage except on the grounds of immorality cause someone to commit adultery?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • Divorce is a prevalent and painful subject in our society. What are some of the modern day challenges with what Jesus says about divorce in 5:31-32? Why are they so challenging?
  • What is Jesus saying about marriage in these verses?
  • Why would immorality be legitimate grounds for divorce?
  • Read 1 Corinthians 7:10-24. What grounds for divorce does Paul give?
  • Read Matthew 19:1-9. What are the similarities and differences to 5:31-32?
  • In light of the above passages and considerations, what elements would make for a stronger marriage?
  • If you or someone you know has pursued divorce for unbiblical reasons, how could you helpfully serve them?
  • How could you help a person who has legitimate grounds for divorce think through their heart attitudes and approach to the situation?

Intentionally Act

  • Has God put anyone on your heart in thinking through these issues? Pray for them to have a heart for God and a desire to obey His word. Plan a time to talk with them about what God’s word says on the issue.
  • Do you and your spouse need to talk through what would make for a stronger marriage relationship? What are the issues of weakness now? What could you do to make it stronger?
  • Pray for the many people who will be impacted by the message on Sunday. Pray the church will be edified. Pray that people will be helped, encouraged, and convicted where most needed.
  • Pray for those leading the service on Sunday: Dawson Bryant, music; Rob Stouffer, Elders’ prayer and Scripture reading; Bret Capranica, teaching.
  • Prepare your heart to sing with the church with the songs and lyrics below.

Sunday’s Songs

Morning
HosannaGreat ThingsNothing But The BloodCompassion HymnJesus Lover Of My Soul
Evening
MajesticJesus Paid It AllNone But JesusO Great God

Lyrics

Morning and Evening Gathering – September 30, 2012

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/27/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-531-32/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/27/preparing-for-sunday-matthew-531-32/ Praying for Sunday’s Sermon Preparation http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/wY7EbDXlz84/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/25/praying-for-sundays-sermon-preparation/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:44:34 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/?p=4068

Praying for the pastor who will preach each Sunday is something many Christians eagerly do each week. We realize that the task of teaching Scripture is a difficult one. Ensuring Scriptural accuracy, adequately serving a wide variety of people ethnically, in gender, generationally, socially, etc., all in one gathering is a daunting task. Doing it every week of the year, sometimes multiple times a week, makes the task even more challenging. Not only are the physical elements of preaching daunting, the spiritual challenges are even more pressing. To think in the terms Paul used, when we preach, we are either an aroma of life producing life, or death producing death: eternity is at stake each time we preach (2 Corinthians 2:14-17; 1 Timothy 4:15, 16). Above all the external challenges, the effectiveness of preaching is ultimately a work God must do in our hearts. That’s what makes praying for the preacher and the work of preaching so essential. And again, many Christians are so faithful to pray for their pastors each week as they preach.

Preparation Prayer Teams

For a number of years I have been honored, encouraged by, and helped by a group of people who have committed themselves to pray for me each week in respect to my preaching. But this group of people have not merely prayed in general for me and my preaching on Sunday, they have taken it a step further and have been to committed to pray for me long before Sunday. I’ve been blessed to have a team of people who commit to pray for me on the days and during the hours that I am preparing to preach on Sunday.

After reading Michal Fabarez’s book, Preaching That Changes Lives, then his subsequent booklet, Praying for Sunday (excellent resources), I was convinced to ask people to pray during the week for my preparation. I cannot begin to tell you how important this has been to me and the difference it makes for Sunday’s sermon.

In the past, I would regularly send out an email detailing when I would be studying during the week and what I would be doing during that time of study. I would often receive encouraging e-mails in return assuring me of the intercessions for this vital time of the week. However, over the past number of months, despite how important this prayer team is to me, I have found it increasingly more and more difficult to get these e-mails out to the team. My e-mail correspondence has dramatically increased over time, and just responding to what comes in barely gets done in a timely manner, let alone crafting additional new e-mail. Consequently, I haven’t been too faithful to the faithful folks who have committed to pray for me each week.

And I see a dramatic difference in the spiritual struggle I face each week in the study.

Using Social Media

My desperation for prayer during the preparation time, and my inability to keep up with sending out e-mail consistently have compelled me to find an alternative approach to keeping people up to date and reminding them of when I’m studying and how they can specifically pray.

Beginning this week, I’m going to be making a concerted shift in how I approach appealing for sermon preparation prayer.

I’ve been actively using social media for a number of years. I’ve Tweeted over 7100 times to over 350 people, all of which is automatically posted to my Facebook page broadcasting to over 1,100 people. Twitter and Facebook have a ubiquitous presence, making it easier now than ever to send a quick note to a wide group of people. Harnessing this approach for the use of prayer during the week seems like a natural and helpful tool.

Rather than sending out a group e-mail each week detailing what I will be doing, I will now start posting to Twitter and Facebook during my study time.

Normal Schedule

On most weeks, I devote all of Wednesday and half of Saturday to preparing for my Sunday messages. Wednesday is a day of translating the passage, engaging in grammatical and lexical studies of the text(s), and reading commentaries and related materials. My aim is to have the main idea of the passage(s) clearly in view and how the details of the passage all reflect that main idea.

Saturday morning I work on how I will actually preach the passage that I have studied earlier in the week. The gap between my typical Wednesday study and Saturday preparation helps me to have time to mull over the passage and think through applications and illustrations before I sit down to write out the message. When I do begin the sermon preparation process on Saturday it is usually filled with writing and re-writing the sermon theme, thinking through an outline that supports that theme and is faithful to the main idea of the passage. I then write the introduction of the sermon, the conclusion, and begin writing out the body of the message. My aim is to have the bulk of the message completed by mid-day Saturday.

Sunday morning I generally get up quite early and prepare my heart for the day by meditating on the passage, listening to the music we will be singing, thinking through the connections, and praying for every element of the day. I then start reading through and revising my notes for Sunday. By 8:00 a.m. I am sending my manuscript out to our church’s elders and a number of others who will make use of it on the Lord’s Day.

Of course, not every week works out so nicely. Last week was one of those. My preparation time was scattered to many different days and at some very odd hours. I need an easy way to communicate prayer needs for the preparation time.

Preparation Tweets

Rather than compose a number of e-mail each week, I will begin tweeting through the preparation process. It takes only a few seconds and is broadcast to a good-sized group of people, many of whom I know will pray.

Taking advantage of the way Twitter works, I will mark those tweets associated with my sermon preparation time with the hash tag #SWBCSermonPrayer. You can actually search for this hash tag on Twitter, set it as a bookmark on your browser, and come back to it to see how the details and requests for prayer.

Taking this approach will make it easier for me to involve more people in real time for prayer.

If you would be willing to pray for me during my sermon preparation time, I would be honored. The easiest way to do that will be to go to this page, or follow me on Twitter or Facebook for updates.

I’m grateful for those who pray – I deeply value those who pray. I’m hopeful that this will be a refreshed way to include more people in an easier format for me to update.

As Paul appealed, “brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored . . .” (2 Thessalonians 3:1), so I ask you to pray for me – and for all who are tasked with preaching the word each week.

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/25/praying-for-sundays-sermon-preparation/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/25/praying-for-sundays-sermon-preparation/ Tweets for 2012-09-22 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/yKHhXr8amjk/ http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/22/tweets-for-2012-09-22-2/#comments Sat, 22 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Bret Capranica http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/22/tweets-for-2012-09-22-2/

]]> http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/22/tweets-for-2012-09-22-2/feed/ 0 http://www.thecapranica.com/index.php/2012/09/22/tweets-for-2012-09-22-2/ Links for 2009-08-07 [Digg]http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCapranica/~3/0XMXh0Bjau0/duggSat, 08 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDThttp://digg.com/users/bcapranica//dugg#2009-08-07<ul> <li><a href="http://digg.com/people/Priority_Management_and_Life_Balance">Priority Management and Life Balance</a><br/> Most people believe that somehow, if they can just find the right system, they can get everything done. I think this is a myth bordering on an outright lie. You can&Atilde;&cent;&iuml;&iquest;&frac12;&iuml;&iquest;&frac12;t do it all. Time is a limited resource. In my experience, the key to work/life balance begins by getting crystal clear on your priorities.</li> </ul><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheCapranica/~4/0XMXh0Bjau0" height="1" width="1"/>http://digg.com/users/bcapranica//dugg#2009-08-07