Friday, November 30, 2007

Priorities

As we began our sermon series on Samson this week (“Stay Strong”) we looked at the importance of setting priorities and focusing on God’s purpose. This week’s studies will help us see the priorities God wants us to set in our lives.


MONDAY: GOD’S #1

A “priority” is something that is precedes other things in importance. Pleasing God is to be the priority in our life. Today we will look at why God should be the priority of our life. Read the following Scriptures and write down what you learn about God.

Psalm 24:1-2, Psalm 27, Nahum 1:7, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16.

FAITH STEP: Find three other Bible verses that show why God is to be the priority in our life. Share them with your small group our family.

TUESDAY: SEEK GOD FIRST

1. Read Matthew 6:25-34. What is Jesus discussing when he commands his disciples to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?
2. How can worry keep us from being focused on God? How can seeking God first help you deal with worry?
3. What does it mean to seek first “(God’s) kingdom and righteousness”?

FAITH STEP: Write down your top three worries. Now pray about them. Can you find a promise from God to counteract these worries? In what area’s of your life do you need to seek God’s righteousness? Who can help you do that?

WEDNESDAY: EXCUSES

1. Read Luke 14:15-24. What excuses did those invited to the banquet make? What areas of their lives took precedence over God?
2. Read verse 24. Why did those who rejected the invitation lose the blessings of being at the banquet? In what areas of your life have you rejected God’s invitation?
3. What implication does verse 23 have for our lives today?

FAITH STEP: List five excuses that people often use to say “no” to God’s invitation. What answer would you give those people? Who do you know that you can invite this week to the “banquet”? Make an effort to do so before Sunday.

THURSDAY: PRIORITIES OF A DISCIPLE

1. Read Luke 17:1-3. According to Jesus what is one priority that we are to have? What does Jesus mean when he says “watch yourself”?
2. Read 1 Timothy 4:12. In what five areas are we to set examples?

FAITH STEP: Review and rate yourself in regards to the five areas we are to set good examples in. Using a scale of 1 to 5, with five being never and 5 being always how would you rate the example you set to your family and co-workers when it comes to the five areas mentioned in Timothy. What changes do you need to make in your habits, actions, relationships or attitude in order to set a better example?

FRIDAY: PRIORITIES OF A DISCIPLE – Part 2

1. Read again Luke 17:1-6. Why should rebuking a fellow believer, caught in sin, be a priority? (See James 5:20)
2. Read Galatians 6:1-2. What attitudes should we have in confronting someone in sin? What words would describe the opposite attitude?
3. Why do you think the disciples in Luke 17:5, after hearing Jesus’ commands ask for an increased faith?
4. In verse 6 Jesus encourages them by stating that to do what he is commanding takes little faith. Instead of focusing on our small faith we should focus on the great God who is the object of our faith.

FAITH STEP: Do you know someone who is trapped in sin and needs to gently and lovingly be confronted? What do you need to do?

SATURDAY: JESUS IS LORD

Define the word “lord”. Take the letters L-O-R-D and (maybe as a family or small group project) develop an acrostic using the letters L-O-R-D, coming up with four words or phrases that describe the lordship of Christ. What does your acrostic teach you about the lordship of Jesus?

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

LOVING LIKE CHRIST

“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

The above verses were quoted by Jesus at the Last Supper. It was there after washing the disciples’ feet and prior to his crucifixion that he laid down the principle that was to become the church’s guide in developing relationships and reaching a lost world. This was a new command one that when obeyed would change the world. We are going to look at this command in detail this week.

MONDAY: A NEW COMMAND

1. Compare Leviticus 19:18 with John 13:34. What difference made Jesus’ command new?
2. Read Romans 5:6-10. What words describe our situation when Jesus died for us? How would you describe Christ’s love for you in these verses? 3. If we are to love each other like Jesus loves us, then what attitudes and actions, according to these verses, do you need to change in your relationship with others?

FAITH STEP: Begin memorizing John 13:34-35. Write it on a card and take it with you this week.

TUESDAY: THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST’S LOVE

1. Read John 13:1-13. What example of love does Jesus leave for us? How would you have felt if you were Peter? Judas? John?
2. Read Philippians 2:5-7. How did Jesus “make himself nothing”? In what relationships do we need to “make ourselves nothing”? What do you think “makes yourselves nothing” means?

FAITH STEP: As a family or a LIFE group do you have enough faith to literally wash someone’s feet? What did you learn about yourself? Jesus?

WEDNESDAY: THE MEANING OF CHRIST’S LOVE

1. What issues were the disciples concerned about as Jesus was preparing them for his death? (Luke 22:24; Mark 10:35-45)
2. Why did Jesus wash the disciples feet (John 13:15)? This action had to be a shock to the disciples. Jesus’ action threatened them, convicted them of their selfish pride and violated their cultural tradition. Their relationship with each other had been a competition for position as they attempted to outdo and control one another. Jesus came along and said love one another by serving one another.
3. Read John 15:12-13. How does Jesus describe great love?

FAITH STEP: Write down five things you have done in the past two weeks that demonstrated Christ’s love to someone else. Ask God to help you look at people, interruptions and problems as opportunities to reflect Christ’s love by serving others.

THURSDAY: LETTING THE WORLD KNOW

1. According to John 13:35 how will the lost world recognize followers of Jesus?
This is a awesome responsibility because by this command Jesus is saying that he is choosing to show the world his love through the way his people treat each other. Our first step in evangelism is to love each other like Jesus loves us.
2. After reading the following Scriptures write down one thing from each passage that shows how we are to love each other. (Romans 12:10, I Peter 4:8, Ephesians 4:2, I Corinthians 13:4-7)

FAITH STEP: Review the qualities you listed from the Scriptures above. Rank them in order with one being the quality your are best at showing and the last one being the quality where you need to show the most improvement. What does your actions and words say to the world about your love for ALL your fellow Christians?

FRIDAY: LOVING ONE ANOTHER

1. "Love" is an action word. It is seen in our attitudes and actions toward one another. Today we are going to look at some one another verses that the world can observe and see the love we have for each other.
2. Read the following Scriptures, write down the command and then write beside it a name of someone you need to love by fulfilling that command. (Romans 12:10b, Romans 15:7, Galatians 5:13, Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 5:21, Colossians 3:13, I Thessalonians 5:11, I Peter 4:9)

FAITH STEP: Pick one of the names you wrote down and this week do something to fulfill that command towards that individual.

SATURDAY: LOVING ONE ANOTHER AS A FAMILY

Locate your role(s) and rate yourself after reading the Scripture 1 to 5 with “one” being I never do that and “five” being usually.

HUSBANDS: (Ephesians’ 5:1-2, Ephesians 5:25, I Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:21, I Corinthians 7:4, 5, Philippians 2:4, 7)
WIVES: Ephesians 5:1-2, Ephesians 5:22, I Corinthians 7:4, 5, I Peter 3:4 Philippians 2:4, 7)
PARENTS: Colossians 3:21, I Thessalonians 2:11-12, Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
CHILDREN: Ephesians 6:1, Ephesians 6:2, Proverbs 23:22, Leviticus 19:32, Proverbs 20:20)

Thursday, November 15, 2007

GOOD NEWS

MONDAY: THE DAY OF GOOD NEWS

1. In 2 Kings 6 and 7 we read the story of Aram’s King Ben- Hadad laying siege upon Samaria. The siege was so severe that people resorted to eating their on children (6:28). Read 2 Kings 7:3-9 to see how the siege ended.
2. Why did the leper’s say “they were not doing right” (verse 9). What was the good news?

FAITH STEP: What good news do we have as Christians? (See John 11:35, John 3:16, Romans 8:1). Make a list of the blessings we have found in the above verses. Than write the name of someone you know who could benefit from theses blessings. Have you kept the good news from them? Ask God to give you the opportunity to share Christ with that person.

TUESDAY: PROCLAIMING GOOD NEWS - PHILIP

1. Sometimes we can become sidetracked by peripheral issues when it comes to discussing spiritual issues with others. Today we want to look at one of the Bible’s great soul winners and see what the crux of his message was.
2. Philip the evangelist was sent to Samaria and to a desert road. What did he proclaim according to Acts 8:5,35? What Old Testament Scripture was the eunuch reading? Who was the Scripture talking about?
3. What good news do you think Philip found in the Isaiah passage being discussed?
4. How do we know that Philip’s message included water baptism?
5. How did the eunuch respond after his baptism?

FAITH STEP: Write a sentence or to on why and how you rejoiced after your came to Christ. What three words would you write down if someone asked you how your life has changed since you became a Christian? Share with someone this week, maybe in your family or small group, the reasons you can rejoice since you have become a Christian.


WEDNESDAY: PROCLAIMING GOOD NEWS – SAUL OF TARSUS IN DAMASCUS

1. Read the story of the Conversion of Saul in Acts 9:1-19 (if you have children you may want to act this story out or draw a picture of the event together). What example of Paul do you see that you should apply in your life?
2. What did Paul preach in Damascus after his conversion (9:20)?
3. How did his listeners first react (9: 21-22)

FAITH STEP: If someone asked you, “How do you know Jesus is the Son of God”, what would you say? This website, Apologetics Press (http://www.apologeticspress.org/) has some good information including free on line Bible lessons. Also check out the Does God Exist site. http://www.doesgodexist.org/ It has an article on Jesus being the Son of God.

THURSDAY: PROCLAIMING GOOD NEWS - THE APOSTLE PAUL

1. We know that Saul of Tarsus changed his name to Paul. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul tells us what his message consisted of. According to I Corinthians 2:2 what did Paul preach about?
2. Read Matthew 27:33-50. What three words would you use to describe the crucifixion of Jesus? The article at this website: http://www.carm.org/misc/crucifixion.htm can explain the physical torment of the crucifixion

FAITH STEP: Read the following Scriptures then write down from each Scripture what blessing that you have received because of the death of Jesus: Isaiah 53:5, I Peter 3:18, Revelation 5:9, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Titus 2:14, Revelation 1:5

FRIDAY: PROCLAIMING GOOD NEWS - THE APOSTLE PAUL – Part 2

1. Read II Corinthians 4:5. What did Paul say he preached?
2. Look up the definition of “lord”. What do you find?
3. According to Romans 10:9 what is a condition of salvation?
4. According to Matthew 7:21, what does lordship involve?

FAITH STEP: How can you better reveal Jesus as Lord at work/school? Home? Church? If your friends were asked who had the ultimate authority in your life – how would the answer?

SATURDAY: One way to proclaim Jesus is to tell people what he has done in your life. Write a short paragraph answering the following questions. What was your life like before you met Jesus? How did you become A Christian (who influenced you, taught you etc.) How has Jesus made your life better? Find someone with whom you can your story. After all proclaiming Christ is nothing more than sharing your story on how he saved you.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

LEARNING FROM COLOSSIANS

Colosse was a city in decline during the time of Paul. It was near the growing cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. Paul probably never visited the city but heard about it through Epaphras, the evangelist who planted the church. Paul wrote the letter, at the request of Epaphras, because of some strange teachings that de-emphasized the Supremacy of Jesus. This false teaching is described in Colossians 2:8, 16-23. It involved some old Jewish teachings (2:16f), the worship of angels (2:18) and extreme asceticism (reaching a higher spiritual state through self-punishment). The theme of the book is that Jesus is sufficient – we need no one else or nothing else but Him for salvation. This week we will read the book of Colossians. After reading the assigned passage answers using the S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. questions below for each day. Record your answers and look for ways to put what you learn into practice. Is there any … Sin for me to confess?
Prayer for me to pray
Attitude for me to change?
Command for me to obey?
Example for me to follow?
Promise for me to claim?
Error for me to avoid?
Truth for me to believe?
Something to thank or praise God for?

MON: Colossians 1:1-14 - Paul begins the letter with giving thanks for the Colossian Christians (3-8) and offering a prayer for their maturity (9-14).

TUES: Colossians 1:15-23 – The first six verses of this section is a hymn celebrating the Godhood of Christ. Paul attacks the false teaching that attempts to persuade folks to worship angels and obey Jewish law by declaring the supremacy of Jesus. The last three verses apply the truths about Jesus found in the hymn to our lives.

WED: Colossians 1:24-2:5 – Paul continues to fight the false doctrine being taught in Colosse. He begins by sharing how he has served the church (1:24-2:5). Sharing the sacrifices he made for Christ gives Paul credibility as he teaches the Colossians that Jesus and only Jesus is Lord and Savior.

THURS: Colossians 2:6-23 – Paul warns the Colossians not to be deceived and continue to look to Jesus as Lord. He emphasizes the Deity of Jesus and in verse 16 and following describes the elements of the false teaching as he points the Colossians to Christ.

FRI: Colossians 3:1-4:1 – In chapter 3 Paul contrasts true Christian living with the heresy being taught. Notice the first four verses focus on Jesus versus the angel worship etc. being taught. Notice most if not all of these virtues deal with relationships.

SAT: Colossians 4:2-18 – Paul closes the letter asking for prayer for himself as he class the readers to a more devoted prayer life. He closes the letter with final instructions and greetings.

Friday, November 2, 2007

STAYING FOCUSED IN A CYNICAL WORLD

This past Sunday we studied how cynicism can rob us of joy, peace and God’s blessings. A “cynic” is someone who is inclined to question the sincerity and goodness of a person’s motives and actions. They are often sarcastic, judgmental and negative. We all can fall victim to cynicism. Often cynical people have been hurt, lost hope, been disappointed and/or have felt mistreated or taken for granted. This week we are going to review the various ways a cynic may react and how we can help prevent becoming cynical.

MONDAY: JUDAS THE MORALIST

1. Read John 12:1-11. Where was Jesus eating dinner? What amazing event had recently happened there?
2. Who was Mary (See John 11:28-43)? What act of extravagance did she do? Why did she do it?
3. What did Judas say should have been done with the perfume? What was his motive?
Sometimes cynics can come across as moral when in reality their concerns are rooted more in selfishness than in selflessness.

FAITH STEP: One group that is a constant target of cynicism is politicians. Cynics generally feel all leaders are buffoons or crooks. Read I Timothy 2:1-2. Make a list of leaders in your community, nation and world. Regardless of your political philosophy, or your opinions on the war economy etc take your list and pray for these men and women. Did you include the President? What about the leader of Iraq? Iran? Your mayor? Congressman? Governor? Senator? One consequence of cynicism is that it keeps us from praying for our leaders.


TUESDAY: FELIX THE PROCRASTINATOR

Read Acts 24:1-27

1. What charges were made against Paul by his enemies?
2. Who was Felix? Why did Felix keep putting Paul off (verse 26)? Why do you think Felix was afraid? Why did he leave Paul in prison?

FAITH STEP: Cynics often try to intimidate by procrastination. Sometimes the motive is fear (they are afraid to try something new so they discourage others from going ahead). Sometimes the motive can be greed (They do not want to make a commitment they may cost them something so they resist the change). What commitment are you putting off that you know God wants you to make? Maybe you are using some of these excuses? “Nobody will listen to me if I teach”; It won’t do any good anyway”; I am not ready yet”, Take a step of faith for God this week.

WEDNESDAY: ELIAB THE SHAMER
1. Read 1 Samuel 17:1-58. Who was Eliab? Why did he burn with anger? Why do you think he was angry at David (verse 11, 16)?
2. Look at how the cynic Eliab treated David (verse 28): How did he make David feel as if he didn’t belong? How did he try to hurt his self-esteem? How did he question his motives? Why might Eliab be cynical towards David (See I Samuel 6:6-13)?
3. How did David react to the cynical attack made on him (verses 29-37)? What was his motive for fighting Goliath?

FAITH STEP: Cynics are often dream killers. We may have an idea or feel as if God is leading us into a certain direction in our life and cynicism will attack it. That idea will never work, who do you think you are to try that? That is an absurd idea. If possible use this story and have your family or life group act it out as someone narrates. Reflect on how Eliab’s attitude differed from David’s and what we can learn from that. Another option is to read the story and write down three words that describes Eliab’s attitude and three words’ that describe David’s. Now write down a “giant you are facing in your life: A relationship giant? Bad habit? A struggle? Which of the two lists (Eliab’s are David’s) best describe your attitude toward the giants in your life? How can you better face these giants? Who can you talk to help you in facing your giants?

THURSDAY: SANBALLAT AND TOBIAH THE RIDICULERS

Nehemiah was commissioned by God to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. Opposition to this project was swift and intense but under Nehemiah’s leadership the task was successfully completed. The opposition to the building project began in Nehemiah 4. Read verses 1-15.

1. Look up and write down the definition of “ridicule”. What tactics did Sanballat and Tobiah use to ridicule the builders? Can you name at least three ways they ridiculed the builders?
2. How did Nehemiah deal with the ridiculers? What prayer did he pray? What plans did he change? What encouragement did he give the people?

FAITH STEP: The old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt” is a myth. Words can hurt. Can you think of some “names” you received in the past or are receiving presently? The best way to fight fear and hurts is to claim the truth. Read the following verses and write down the verses and replace the personal pronouns or subject nouns with your name in all capitals. (Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-5, I John 3:1, I John 3:16, ) What did you learn about God’s feelings for you? How can these facts help you better handle ridicule?

FRIDAY: SANBALLAT AND GESHEM THE FEAR MONGERS

1. Read Nehemiah 6:1-9. Why did Nehemiah’s tormentors want to meet with him (verse2)?
2. How did Nehemiah answer the request (verse 3)?
3. What was the intent of sending an unsealed letter (verses 6-9)?
4. How did Nehemiah respond the cynics’ attempt to distract him by fear (Verses 3, 8, 10)?

FAITH STEP: Pull out your schedule and calendar. Sometimes we can become sidetracked. Nehemiah’s enemies tried to get him to stop building the walls in order to meet with them. Often Satan can get us involved in so many things – some of them good – that we don’t have time for what is best. A neat exercise is to take a weekly calendar and write down what you would like to do that week (Daily quiet time, Life Group etc), than go back over it at the end of the day and write in red what you did do. What did you discover about your time management? Did you waste more time than you thought? Look for ways to rearrange your schedule so you have more time for God in your life.
Ask God to remove any fears you may have in your life that is keeping you from glorifying him with your life.

SATURDAY: We learned this past Sunday that Anna was able to overcome a cynical world by perseverance, daily prayer, praising God and promoting Jesus to others. Re read Luke 2:36-38. Praising God is an important part of staying focused in our world. Play Alphabet praise today. This game is played by filling in the blank to this statement… “God is _____” Start with “A” and go through “Z” Make it a family game and make a list of the attributes you came up with and then offer a prayer of praise to the Father.