Preview for Sunday, February 27th with Discussion Questions

Often in life, things do not work out the way we would want, or the way we think they should. At times we do not even see it coming. The painful moments in life hit and leave us feeling desperate and crying for help. This week we will be looking at the NOOMA video RAIN that examines the reality of these situations in our lives. Essentially in life, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ it will rain, but ‘when’ it rains. Of course, when it rains, we may feel like, how can God let this happen? Where are you God? But maybe through these painful situations, God is closer than we think and He is there to remind us how much He loves us.


Tartu International Fellowship – February 27, 2011

NOOMA – Rain

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever had a moment in your life where you wish you could just freeze it? What would that moment be?

2. But as wonderful as those moments can be, the rain will come. Simply put, we all go through hard times. Are you struggling right now? Do you think God intentionally puts us through trials? Is there an easier way for us to learn?

3. Have you ever felt like God failed to come through for you?

4. What about the junk in our lives – the fears, failures, insecurities, etc. Have they ever stopped you from crying out to God?

5. Do you have anyone in your life who you would do anything for? Do you think that is how God feels about you?

For Personal Reflection During Your Week:

- Read and reflect on Matthew 7:24-27 – Think about the impact of Jesus’ words in your own life. How does that impact you today, tomorrow, and for years to come?

- Read the following passages from the book of Psalms – Ps. 34:17, 55:17, 72:12, 84:2, 88:1. In the midst of life’s struggles, notice to whom these people call on.

February 20, 2011 NOOMA – Trees Discussion Questions

1. When you look at the world, do you see it getting better or getting worse?

2. What does it mean to you to live how God created you to live?

3. If we believe that God’s way is the best way to live, why is it so hard for us?

4. Do you think creation happened, or is happening?

5. How can we help God in taking care of the world?

6. Does your faith help you understand the world we live in? Does it make your life easier or more difficult on a day-to-day basis?

7. What are some places in the world where you see God?

8. What does it mean to be partnering with God in making this world the kind of place he intended for it to be?

For Personal Reflection During Your Week:

- Living Between the Trees: Scriptures to reflect on Genesis 2-3 & Revelation 22:1-5

1. Are you helping God take care of the world?

2. Are the choices you are making now shaping you into the kind of person you’ll be forever?

3. Are you leaving some of your fingerprints on the world? What are they?

4. Are you partnering with God to make this the kind of world he intended for it to be?

This Coming Sunday...

Starting this Sunday, TIF will start meeting weekly on Sunday evenings at 6:00pm at Salem Church located at Kalevi 76 (use side entrance). I'm really excited about our time together each week. Not only will we be able to connect and fellowship with other English speakers, but I believe we will have a chance to learn and grow as people.

During our time of discussion in the coming weeks, we will be watching a short video from Rob Bell's NOOMA series. These videos are very deep and thought provoking. I know they will challenge you to think differently about yourself and the world around you. They have certainly challenged me to think about how I use the one life that I have.

This week we will be watching a video called Trees. It talks about meaning in life. We all want to know if our life has meaning, if it really matters. We want to know if the choices we make are really shaping our lives in the world around us. It's true isn't it? No matter who we are, we want our lives to matter! Let's come together on Sunday evening and talk about these things.

Perhaps you've been to a TIF event a while back, or maybe you have never been before. We would love to be able to see you on Sunday evenings. My hope is that you will find the people at TIF to be open and trustworthy. So come see us, and let's experience life together!

Our Next Time Together...

Greetings!!!

For some of you, welcome back to Tartu! Others of you have braved the colder temperatures over the last several weeks and have endured. My name is Greg Jones and my family and I have been in Tartu for almost six weeks. We are excited to be here and help with Tartu International Fellowship also known as simply TIF!

Many of you we have not yet met, but we are hopeful we get that opportunity soon. Over the next few months, TIF will be expanding its efforts by providing you with more opportunities to connect with fellow English speakers, but to also help you grow as a person so you can understand more clearly who God created you to be! Many of you will be in Tartu only a short amount of time, but your experience here will carry on throughout your lifetime. TIF wants to be instrumental in this process as you seek purpose and direction for your future. Our purpose is to connect you with a multi-ethnic community that consists of people who are curious about faith in Jesus, growing to understand what it means to trust Jesus, and seeking to influence the world through the way God showed us how to live through Jesus.

Our next time together will be Sunday, February 20^th at 6:00 pm. We will meet at SalemChurchlocated at Kalevi 76. During this time we will have food and fellowship as you will have opportunities to connect or reconnect with people from all over the world. We also want to encourage you to bring a friend to this meeting. If you have an English speaking or even Estonian friend, invite them to join us! I will also take the opportunity to share a little more about myself and why I believe Tartu International Fellowship is important to this city.

During this spring, we will have the opportunity to meet on a more frequent basis through worship services, home groups, and service opportunities. So be looking in your email for an upcoming schedule of TIF’s weekly events. In the meantime, if there is anything that my wife or I can do for you to help you while you live in Tartu, please let us know. We are here for you!

Blessings Today,

Greg Jones

Tartu International Fellowship

Phone: 53586216

Email: gjones51@gmail.com

Our Next Time Together