Welcome to the Prime Timers A.B.F.

Please join us in the Payne Education center, second floor, rooms 210-212 each Sunday from 10:10 am until 10:50 am. The Prime Timers Adult Bible Fellowship is following a program from the National Council of Churches. We are currently in a 13 week section "Called to Be God's People".

The smiling face belongs to our speaker, Jackie Rose. She was accepted at Perkins School of Theology, SMU to pursue a Master's Degree in Theological Studies.

Overcoming Pride

The session this week began with the wonderful announcement from Martha Ann Linden that this was the day, fifty years ago, when Bill and her were married. Congratulations Martha Ann and Bill.

On another happy note, Jackie Rose was accepted at the Perkins School to pursue her Masters in Theological Studies. This must be a relief to her since she announced to us when she applied to the program a month ago. Congratulations and good studying.

The lesson for this week is the story of Naaman, the general who swallowed his pride to be cleansed. His story is from 2 Kings. As background, Kings 1 and Kings 2 exist because the book was too big to fit on a single scroll! It follows two tracks, a political an prophetic.

The first describes in some detail the 9th to the 6th centuries BC when Judea and Israel were divided kingdoms. There are stories of the Kings and battles.

The second part concerns the work of prophets, largely Elijah and Elisha. Today's reading involved the prophet Elisha.

Naaman's name means fair and gracious. He is not a bad man. His story is framed by youth:  the young servant girl who suggests to Naaman's wife that he go see the prophet to be cleansed, and his body, which is cleansed "clean like that of a young boy".

This led to a discussion of pride and a nice story from the Rev. Bob Brown about his experience at the river Jordan, where he witnessed first hand the joy of some Ethiopian parishioners as they were baptized.

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Co-Leaders

The Rev. Rusty Goldsmith is our new mentor. He gave the sermon at services this morning and spoke to us as well.

Good News indeed as Martha Ann Linden announced that today (Feb. 13) is Bill and her 50th Wedding anniversary!

The Lesson for Sunday, February 20 is titled "Overcoming Uncertainty"

Key Verses:  John 3-5-6

Focus of the Lesson:  People often ask questions about their relationship to God. How do we find these answers? Jesus told Nicodemus that the answers are found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The reading is John 3:1-16. This text is from the New Revised Standard Version.

1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ 3 Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ 4 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’
5 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ 10 Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11 ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.