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Summer Update – Iron Range Vineyard
When will the building re-open?
Read the letter from Pastors Don & Bonnie Guttormson – CLICK HERE
5/31/2020 – Join Us in Worship
(available Sunday anytime)
5/31/2020 – Let God Be God, part 7
(available Sunday anytime)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Have you ever experienced God opening your understanding to a situation? What was it?
2) How does seeing things from God’s perspective change us?
3) Have you ever felt like God changed your mind about something? Explain.
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Luke 9:27 NIV “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
2 Kings 6:8-10 NIV Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
2 Kings 6:11-12 NIV This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
2 Kings 6:13-14 NIV “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
2 Kings 6:15 NIV When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
2 Kings 6:16-17 NIV “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:18-19 NIV As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
2 Kings 6:20 NIV After they entered the city, Elisha said, “ LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
2 Kings 6:21-22 NIV When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.”
2 Kings 6:23 NIV So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
5/24/2020 – Join Us in Worship
5/24/2020 – Let God be God, part 6
Samuel 22:28 NIV
You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
Kings 5:1 NIV
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
Kings 5:2-3 NIV
Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
Kings 5:4-5 NIV
Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing.
Kings 5:6-7 NIV
The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
Kings 5:8 NIV
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
Kings 5:9-10 NIV
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
Kings 5:11-12 NIV
But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
James 4:6 NIV
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Kings 5:13-14 NIV
Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
2 Kings 5:15-16 NIV
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” The prophet answered, “As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.”
2 Kings 5:17 NIV
“If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD.”
Questions to discuss:
1. Have you ever felt like Naaman? How? or Why?
2. Why is pride an issue with God?
3. In what ways can you “take dirt home” when God does something
amazing?
5/17/2020 – Join Us in Worship
5/17/2020 – Let God Be God, part 5
“When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
2 Kings 2:3 NIV
The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
2 Kings 2:4-5 NIV
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that he LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”
2 Kings 2:6 NIV
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.
2 Kings 2:7-8 NIV
Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
2 Kings 2:9-10 NIV
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”
2 Kings 2:11-12 NIV
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
2 Kings 2:13-14 NIV
Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had falclen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the loak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.”
Matthew 7:15-17, 20-21 NIV
““Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit… Thus, by their fruit you will ecognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Questions:
1- Is there a “Plan A” you’ve neglected in your life? What is God saying to you about it?
2- Who do you identify with more in this story? Elijah or Elisha?
3- What defines real prophets or real disciples? Why?
4- How can the story about Elijah and Elisha impact your faith?
5/10/2020 – Join Us in Worship
5/10/2020 – Let God be God – Part 4
“So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
1 Kings 19:21 NIV
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”
Luke 5:27-29 NIV
“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi (Matthew) sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.”
Acts 2:38-39 NIV
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Colossians 2:12 NIV
“having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Discussion Questions:
What are some “bridges” that may need to be burned if you are accepting God’s call in your life?
What is the significance of the words “”repent” and “be baptized”? How does that relate to the Elijah / Elisha story?
What separates token religious practices from devout faith?
Talk about how CALL, CHANGE, & CELEBRATION relates to you in comparison to Elijah (Old Testament) and Levi (New Testament)
5/3/2020 – Join Us in Worship
5/3/2020 – Let God Be God, Part 3
1 Kings 19:1-4 NIV “Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.’ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’”
Questions for discussions:
1. How is our faith like a roller coaster?
2. What separates “real prayer” from “whining in the Name of Jesus”? Or is it ALL prayer? Explain your thoughts…
3. Why is it important that we receive BOTH comfort and direction from God in troubling times?
4/26/2020 – Join Us in Worship
4/26/2020 – Let God be God, part 2
1 Kings 17:8-11 NIV “Then the word of the LORD came to him: ‘Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.’ So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, ‘Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?’ As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.’”
1 Kings 17:12 NIV “’As surely as the LORD your God lives,’” she replied, ‘I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.’”
1 Kings 17:13-14 NIV “Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’”
1 Kings 17:15-16 NIV “She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.”
Questions for discussion:
1. Is there anything about the widow that may have been a factor in God choosing her to help Elijah, and experience a miracle?
2. Did the widow’s feeling of hopelessness have anything to do with God’s ultimate provision? Explain your thoughts.
3. What do you feel was an “act of faith” on the part of the widow? Why?
4/19/2020 – Let God be God, part 1
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’”
Matthew 6:21-24 NIV
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If hen the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate
the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Joshua 24:15 NIV
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Discussion Questions:
Making wise choices is part of a healthy faith life. Here’s some points to discuss and pray about…
1. Is there anything that is competing with God’s rightful place of importance in my life? Explain.
2. How can broken worship be healed?
3. What choices are the most difficult for me to follow through on when it comes to my faith and worship?
4. If I were to ask for prayer concerning my choices, I need prayer for…
4/12/2020 – Easter… Follow the Model
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life…”
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Easter is about the way God continually brings life out of death, hope to hopelessness and victory when it seemed all was lost. As you celebrate Easter at home today –
invite the Holy Spirit to continue to work in your life and through your life.
Remember… God wants you to thrive.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is Supernatural Love? Supernatural Mission? Supernatural Unity?
2. Why is it more important to focus on the person being served than the person doing the serving?
3. In what ways did Jesus set an example in serving? How does that apply to us?
4/10/2020 – Good Friday Communion
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
4/5/2020 – Living Satisfied
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NIV “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.”
Discussion Questions:
1) Can you identify any of God’s goodness you experienced in the past, present?
or even the future?
2) Do you have an ongoing, all day conversation with God?
3) What can you be thankful for?
4) How can your present situation help to grow your faith?
3/29/2020 – Bring it Home
Often people think of church like a restaurant – they come to be served…
but God turns it around – He wants you to be the server.
Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”
After this video, here’s a few things to discuss… and pray about.
1) What fears do a struggle with right now?
2) In what ways can I “do church” at home?
3) How can God use this current interruption?
4) What is God wanting to change/shape in me?
3/22/2020 – The Treadmill of Daily Bible
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.