A Holy Nation: Bible Study The Fifth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Year Four - Kingtomtide Rev. Francine A. Brookins, Esq. and Rev. Jennifer S. Leath, Ph.D., Editors 1st Edition Introduction to a Holy Nation: Bible Study ......12 Contributors ....................................................................................................................13 1 ..........................................................................14 In the Meantime and In-Between Times: Sowing in Sorrow & Reaping Sheaves of Joy .................14 Rev. M. JoDavid Sales, Ph.D. Pastor, Bethel AMEC (Marysville, CA) Chair, CA Conference Christian Education Committee 2 ..........................................................................17 The Kingdom of God and the Anti-Kingdom: Which One Do We Mediate? ..............................17 Rev. M. JoDavid Sales, Ph. D. Pastor, Bethel AMEC (Marysville, CA) Chair, CA Conference Christian Education Committee 3 .........................................................................20 The Lord’s Prayer ..............................................20 Rev. Betty Hanna Witherspoon, D.Min. Pastor, Primm AMEC (Pomona, CA) 4 ..........................................................................21 The Lord’s Prayer ..............................................22 Rev. Betty Hanna Witherspoon, D.Min. Pastor, Primm AMEC (Pomona, CA) 5 .........................................................................24 Bloom Where You Are Planted .........................24 !2 Rev. Debra A. Whitlock Lax, M.Div., D.Min. (ABD) Association Minister, St. Paul AME Church (Berkeley, CA) 6 .........................................................................26 Bible Study .........................................................26 Rev. Francine Brookins, J.D., M.Div. Pastor, Bethel (Fontana, CA) 7 .........................................................................28 Transforming Power .........................................28 Rev. Carolyn Baskin-Bell, M.Div. Pastor, Second AMEC (Los Angeles, CA) President, Fifth District Women in Ministry 8 .........................................................................30 Lessons Learned From A Suffering Servant .....30 Rev. Carolyn Baskin-Bell, M.Div. Pastor, Second AMEC (Los Angeles, CA) President, Fifth District Women in Ministry 9 .........................................................................32 That’s My Jam ...................................................32 Rev. Swayne Cofield Pastor, Rose of Sharon AMEC (Norwalk, CA) 10 ........................................................................34 Show Me The Kingdom! - Kingdomtide ..........34 Rev. Sandra E.H. Smith Blair Associate Minister, St. Paul AMEC (Berkeley, CA) !3 11 ........................................................................37 Attention: Pastors, Prophets, Priest! .................37 Rev. Debra A. Whitlock Lax, MDiv, DMin (ABD) Association Minister, St. Paul AME Church (Berkeley, CA) 12 ........................................................................39 Choosing To Be Blessed .....................................39 Rev. Barry Settle, D.Min. Pastor, Allen Chapel (Riverside, CA) 13 ........................................................................41 Worth The Investment .......................................41 Rev. Terry McCray Hill Pastor, Bethel AMEC (Portland, OR) 14 ........................................................................43 Bold Belief.......................................................... 43 Rev. Marvin L. McKenzie, M.B.A., M.Div. Pastor, Walker Temple AMEC (Los Angeles, CA) 15 ........................................................................45 Check Your Posture — Stand Tall .....................45 Rev. Quantá M. Crews Historic Tanner Chapel AMEC (Phoenix, AZ) 16 ........................................................................48 “He Included Me . .” ........................................48 Rev. Terry McCray Hill !4 Pastor, Bethel AMEC (Portland, OR) 17 ........................................................................50 Surviving The Struggle of Suffering — Kingdomtide ......................................................50 Rev. Sandra E. H. Smith Blair Associate Minister, St. Paul AMEC (Berkeley, CA) 18 ........................................................................53 Prescription for Life ...........................................53 Rev. Dr. Gloria Barrett Pastor, Hope Community AMEC (Tucson, AZ) 19 ........................................................................55 Waiting for Restoration .....................................55 Rev. Dr. Gloria Barrett Pastor, Hope Community AMEC (Tucson, AZ) 20 .......................................................................57 TAKE ME BACK ................................................57 Rev. Barry Settle, D. Min. Pastor, Allen AME (Riverside, CA) 21 ........................................................................59 A Parable of a Mustard Seed (faith, hope, perseverance) .....................................................59 Rev. Patricia Freeman Associate, Bethel AMEC (Fontana, CA) 22 ........................................................................61 !5 Liberating World Changers ...............................61 Rev. Dr. Gloria Barrett Pastor, Hope Community AMEC (Tucson, AZ) 23 .......................................................................63 Where Is The Love? ...........................................63 Rev. Damon Powell, Ph.D. Associate Pastor, Brookins AMEC (Oakland, CA) 24 .......................................................................66 Don’t Worry, I Got You .....................................66 Rev. Damon Powell, Ph.D. Associate Pastor, Brookins AMEC (Oakland, CA) 25 .......................................................................68 Among Us ..........................................................68 Rev. Jennifer S. Leath, Ph.D. Pastor, Campbell Chapel AMEC (Denver, CO) 26 .......................................................................70 Holy/Hole-y Traditions .....................................70 Rev. Jennifer S. Leath, Ph.D. Pastor, Campbell Chapel AMEC (Denver, CO) 27 ........................................................................72 An Odd Refusal, A Bold Response ....................72 Rev. Rochelle Settle, M.Div. Allen Chapel (Riverside, CA) !6 28 .......................................................................75 The God of The Void ..........................................75 Rev. Renita Marie Green, M.Div. Pastor, St. James AMEC (Cape Girardeau, MO) 29 .......................................................................78 Tear Down Every Idol ........................................78 Rev. Dr. Brenda J. Hayes Pastor, Ebenezer AMEC (Kansas City, MO) 30 .......................................................................80 Double For Your Trouble ..................................80 Rev. Dr. Brenda J. Hayes Pastor, Ebenezer AMEC (Kansas City, MO) 31 ........................................................................82 Friends With Jesus ............................................82 Rev. Carole Nelson Ingram, M.Div. Bethel AMEC (Fontana, CA) 32 .......................................................................84 Hidden Treasure ...............................................84 33 .......................................................................87 In The Eye of The Beholder ...............................87 Rev. Joyce Reece Kitchen Pastor, Emanuel Turner AMEC (Los Angeles, CA) 34 .......................................................................89 !7 You Have Permission To Be A Copycat ............89 Rev. Joyce Reece Kitchen Pastor, Emanuel Turner AMEC (Los Angeles, CA) 35 .......................................................................92 Keep Crying Out ................................................92 Rev. Carole Nelson Ingram, M.Div. Bethel AMEC (Fontana, CA) 36 .......................................................................94 Living Our Best Life ...........................................94 Rev. Mary S. Minor, D.Min. Pastor, Brookins-Kirkland Community AMEC (Los Angeles, CA) 37 ........................................................................97 Free At Last ........................................................97 Rev. Mary S. Minor, D.Min. Pastor, Brookins-Kirkland Community AMEC (Los Angeles, CA) 38 .....................................................................100 The Struggle .....................................................100 Rev. Rochelle Settle, M.Div. Allen AME (Riverside, CA) 39 ......................................................................103 Now or Later ....................................................103 Rev. Barry Settle, D. Min. !8 Pastor, Allen AME (Riverside, CA) 40 .....................................................................105 Live In Me Jesus ..............................................105 The Rev. Francine A. Brookins, J.D., M.Div. Pastor, Bethel AMEC (Fontana, CA) 41 ......................................................................107 Without Meaning There is No Psalm… ...........107 Reverend Terry McCray Hill Pastor, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Portland, OR) 42 .....................................................................109 Detoxify Yourself .............................................109 Rev. John D. Hill, D.Min. Pastor, Walker Chapel AMEC (Oceanside, CA) 43 .......................................................................111