Meeting Summary - November 3

We had a great time at this week's Thursday morning JAVA meeting. As always, we thank Reed and Toni Kerr for allowing us to meet in their home and providing amazing, and much needed coffee. Amy Murrell provided a yummy breakfast casserole, and Jennifer Green brought pumpkin muffins to get us all in the spirit of the season.

This week we covered James 2:1-13 in our John MacArthur study of the book of James, specifically discussing the topic of favoritism in the church. MacArthur cited the following familiar quote, "It has been said that the most segregated time of the week in this culture is the Sunday morning worship hour." We discussed certain ways we see segregation in the American church at large, and some responses included financial, racial, theological, educational and age (season of life) segregation. One question posed in our discussion was, "Is cultural/racial segregation bad?" On the surface, it seems that segregating based on race and culture is automatically bad; however, it is important to look at the heart of the people involved. Understanding the language used, physical location, comfort and connection are all important for people when they choose a church to attend. The problem with segregation based on race and/or culture is when the heart of the people is closed to others who have differences.
Along with the discussion of segregation within the church, we also discussed prejudices that are common among bodies of believers. We have to be careful not to make assumptions about others based on their outward appearances. Regardless of their financial state, culture, parenting style, disability, or style of dress, people need to be treated with Christ's love when they enter the doors of the church. We all have needs, regardless of our successes or failures in life. We all need each other in the body of Christ. That couple I am afraid to approach may have a specific need. How is ignoring them fulfilling the purpose of the body of Christ?
Despite missing a few ladies due to travel, illness, and busy schedules, we had a tremendous time of study and fellowship this week at our JAVA meeting. Ladies, we would love to have you join us on November 17th at 9:30am! If you have any prayer requests you would like to send to our group, please feel free to leave a comment below.  


Thanks to Heather Viets, who has been faithful to serve as our JAVA blogger!

Meeting Summary - October 20th

Our Thursday morning JAVA Bible study is such a great time of fellowship, food, and encouragement. It is such a relief to a busy week to have time to sit down with like minded Christian women and hear how what the Lord is revealing to each of us through the study of His word. We want to extend a big thanks to Libby Mills for bringing a delicious egg and spinach casserole, and to Reed and Toni Kerr for allowing us to meet in their home and drink their coffee! Currently, we are going through the book of James, and last Thursday we concentrated on the James 1:19-27 passage.
     "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
     But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
      If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
Much of our discussion centered around James 1:22, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Jana Verstraete led our study, asking the question, "How can we be blessed to bless others if we're not doers of the word?" Anyone can hear God's word, but it takes obedience and faith to step out and do what he says. When we tell our children to do something, we not only expect them to hear the directive, we expect them to obey and do what we've asked them to do. Toni Kerr pointed out that it is a joy to obey someone we love. Jesus said in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we will do what he commands. We also discussed our temptation to be doers of the word, and not hearers. So many of us spend our days doing so many things for the Lord that we forget to take time and hear from the Lord. Jen Guthrie commented that it takes balance. We can be doing good things for the Lord and not hearing Him, and we can be hearing Him, and not doing what He tells us to do. There has to be both hearing and doing. Additionally, we have to keep our hearts clean, and repent of our sins, to be able to clearly hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us.
In preparing for our study, Jana said that she gained a new understanding of James 1:19, " Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." She, like many of us, thought this passage was referring solely to our communication with other people. However, in studying it further, she realized that this passage is referring how we approach God and His word. We are often so quick to talk to Him, but we fail to listen, sometimes because we are busy, and sometimes because we are afraid of what we will hear.
If you are able to join us, we would love to have you at our next JAVA meeting. We meet the first and third Thursday of each month. It is an amazing time of fellowship and renewal. We meet directly across the street from the Redeeming Grace Baptist Church, and childcare is provided! If you wish to send a prayer request to our group, or would like more information about our JAVA study, please leave a comment below.  We hope to see you there!




Thanks to Heather Viets, who has been faithful to serve as our JAVA blogger!

Don't forget!

JAVA Decaf begins tonight (9/13)!  We're meeting at 7pm in the Bistro room at the church.  For those of you unfamliar with the church layout: Enter through the parlor entrance (with the metal staircase above it), and there will be a sign directing you where to go.  We'll be covering the Introduction in our study guide.

JAVA is this Thursday (9/15)!  We're meeting at 9:30am in the parsonage!  Feel free to pack a lunch and eat with us afterward under the pavilion.  The weather will be delightful for this!  We'll be covering Chapter 1 in our study guide.

Mill Mountain Zoo Trip (9/19)!  Join us for a trip to the Mill Mountain Zoo!  Contact Laura Leger for details.

Introduction - A Summary from our 9/1 Meeting



Today in JAVA we began our study of James, using John MacArthur's study guide. Jen facilitated the conversation, guiding our discussion through the book's  basic background information. Using the introduction found in MacArthur's book (pages 1-2), we considered the authorship, dating, setting, and theme of James' writing.  We all agreed that by studying who James was, when and where he was writing, his audience, James' writing style, and his themes that we already feel more prepared to understand the book as a whole.  Specifically, by noting the severe persecution and trials that his audience faced, we can now understand the weight of James' encouragement to "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds" (James 1:2). While the section we read in our study guide was brief, the discussion was still filled with questions and interesting observations concerning the background of James. Jen also took the opportunity to lead us through a timeline of the events surrounding the book of James, with each of the ladies taking turns reading relevant verses out loud to the group.  This was a wonderful time for discussion and fellowship! Join us on September 15 at 9:30 in the parsonage as we study James 1:1-12 using chapter 1 of the study guide.



Many thanks to Toni Kerr for posting a summary of our last meeting!

JAVA Begins!

Today was the first JAVA meeting of the year!

If you missed it, don't despair - we want you to join us in knowing the LORD deeper.

It is our JOY to serve you,

Our HONOR to know you,

and our deepest DELIGHT to exalt His name!

Our meeting times are as follows:

JAVA (with childcare) - 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 9:30am-11:30am

JAVA Decaf - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7:00pm-9pm

(Stay tuned for a recap of the Introduction of our study guide, from today's meeting.)

JAVA Happenings

Thursday, August 25: The last playground fellowship of the summer.  Bring a lunch and fellowship with us at 10am under the pavilion.  This has been such a wonderful time to get to know each other better.

Thursday, September 1:  The first JAVA meeting for our new book study of James (led by Jen Guthrie and Jana Verstraete.)  Childcare is provided.  Meet at the parsonage at 9:30am.  If you haven't received your study guide yet, please see Laura Léger or Jen Guthrie.  Books are $6.00.

Tuesday, September 13:  JAVA Decaf, the alternate evening study, will meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays.  This is an excellent opportunity for those who aren't available during the day -- or can't make it to a meeting of JAVA.  The same subject matter will be studied, and we will be meeting at 7pm in the church parlor.  See Meg Morrison for details or sign up in the welcome center.

Any prayer requests?  Contact Heather Viets, who keeps track of all requests.  She sends them out periodically via email.  If we don't have your email address, let Heather know so we can add you on to the list!

We need babysitters for JAVA!  If you know of any, please let Jennifer Green or Jen Guthrie know.  There is a small remuneration and/or Christian Service credit available.  It is strongly preferred that they are regularly attending RGBC.

Make a point to be involved in the ladies' ministry at RGBC!  You will be blessed, and become better equipped to bless and serve those around you!

JAVA Brunch

Please join us for our JAVA Brunch tomorrow from 9:30 - 11:30 am as we kick off our year.  We'll be meeting in the parsonage.  Be sure to pick up your book from Jen or Laura for the James study, if you have not yet (the cost of the book is $6).

Bring a dish to share.  Childcare is provided.

And yes, there will be scones involved.