Fusion: week of 12/27

FAMILY THEME: THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US

John 14:15-27;  15:26-27

God provided the Holy Spirit to bring us comfort, truth, and to testify of Jesus.

1.  The Holy Spirit is Our Helper and Comforter, Living Within Us

     (John 14:15-21)

     Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us live for Him.

 
2.  The Holy Spirit Teaches Truth, and Brings Peace to Receptive Hearts

     (John 14:22-27)

     The Holy Spirit gives believers insight and understanding of truth, and

     reminds us of God's Word.

 
3.  The Holy Spirit Testifies of Jesus

     (John 15:26-27)

     The Holy Spirit points people to Christ, and helps believers share the

     truth about Him with others.

Fusion: week of 12/19

FAMILY THEME: THE SAVIOR IS BORN

Luke 1:26-45;  2:1-7

The Holy Spirit was active in the birth of Jesus Christ, proving that it was

only by God's power that this could happen.

1.  The Holy Spirit Enabled Mary to Conceive Jesus

     (Luke 1:26-38)

     Believers have the power of the Holy Spirit available to them for

     whatever God calls them to do.

 
2.  The Holy Spirit Enabled Elizabeth to Understand the Importance of

     Mary's Child

     (Luke 1:39-45)

     The Holy Spirit gives us understanding and a special bond with

     other believers.

 
3.  The Holy Spirit Accomplished What He Had Begun

     (Luke 2:1-7)

     God is able to work out His plan for our lives just as He did in the

     birth of Jesus.

Fusion: week of 12/12

FAMILY THEME: THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES US

Galatians 5:16-26

When we live under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit, He

produces godly character in us.

1.  The Way of the Spirit and the Way of the Flesh Represent Different

     Ways of Life

     (Galatians 5:16-18; 24-26)

     Believers can choose to follow the leading of the Spirit, or the desires

     of the flesh.

 
2.  The Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit Represent Different

     Results

     (Galatians 5:19-23)

     When followed and obeyed, the Holy Spirit produces new attitudes

     and actions in the lives of believers.

 
3.  The Two Ways of Life and Two Sets of Results Bring Us to One Choice

     (Galatians 5:24-26)

     Believers can choose to set aside the desires of the sinful nature and

     live under the control of the Spirit.

Fusion: week of 12/5

FAMILY THEME: THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US

1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 139:7; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19

The Bible makes it clear our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

1.  The Holy Spirit Was Present and Active in the Old Testament

     (1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 139:7; Isaiah 63:10)

     The Holy Spirit has always led and empowered God's people.

 
2.  Believers, as a Congregation, Form a Temple for the Holy Spirit

     (1 Corinthians 3:16)

     Believers, together in a local congregation, are a temple of the

     Holy Spirit.

 
3.  Individual Believers are Temples of the Holy Spirit

     (1 Corinthians 6:19)

     All believers have the Holy Spirit in them to help, guide, and

     empower them.

Fusion: week of 11/29

FAMILY THEME: JESUS MEETS OUR DEEPEST NEEDS

John 4:1-42

In John 4, Jesus crossed religious and social barriers to reach

someone who had a physical and spiritual need.

1.  Jesus is Willing to Meet Anyone's Needs

     (John 4:1-9)

     Jesus demonstrated that God loves all people and desires

     that they be saved.

 
2.  Our Deepest Needs Are Spiritual, and Are Met Only Through Jesus

     (John 4:10-26)

     Jesus revealed that He was the Messiah Who could meet the 

     woman's deepest needs.

 
3.  Sharing Our Experience With Jesus Can Change Lives

     (John 4:27-42)

     Jesus reminded His disciples that doing God's will is the highest

     priority, and that many people were ready to come to Him for

     eternal life.

Fusion: week of 11/22

FAMILY THEME: JESUS OFFERS NEW LIFE

John 3:1-21

John 3 focuses on salvation - Jesus explained that you must be born

again, that God so loved the world, and that faith in Him is the key to

receiving eternal life.

1.  All People, Even the Very Religious, Must Be Born Again

     (John 3:1-8)

     Being born again is a spiritual transformation from above through

     the work of the Holy Spirit.

 
2.  Jesus, the Son of Man, Came to Die in Our Place

     (John 3:9-15)

     Christ was lifted up on a cross to provide salvation to all who took

     to Him in faith.

 
3.  Jesus Did Not Come to Condemn, but to Redeem

     (John 3:16-21)

     God's love motivated Him to give His Son to pay the penalty for our

     sins.

Fusion: week of 11/15

FAMILY THEME: JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY

John 2:13-24

In a rare display, Jesus demonstrated His authority by cleansing the

temple. The temple was the house of God. As the Son of God, Jesus

had the right to correct those who were keeping people from His Father.

1.  Jesus Had Authority to Demand Pure Worship

     (John 2:13-17)

     Jesus confronted those who were corrupting the true worship of

     God in the temple.

 
2.  Jesus' Resurrection Confirmed His Authority

     (John 2:18-22)

     The Jewish leaders demanded a sign to confirm Jesus' authority.

 
3.  Jesus Exercised Authority by Rejecting Insincere "Faith"

     (John 2:23-25)

     Jesus' many miracles cause many to believe in Him.

Fusion: Week of 11/8

FAMILY THEME: JESUS SHOWED HIS POWER

John 2:1-11

John 2 shows us the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry. Jesus

attended an ordinary even and then did something extraordinary

to demonstrate His power and glory.

1.  God Has a Plan and a Timetable

     (John 2:1-5)

     Jesus lived by the Father's schedule and timetable, and always

     did the Father's will.

 
2.  Jesus Allows Us to Take Part in His Miraculous Works

     (John 2:6-8)

     Jesus asked the men to do something, and then did something

     extraordinary through their actions.

 
3.  The Works of Jesus Reveal His Heart and His Glory

     (John 2:9-11)

     As always, Jesus' miracle was about more than the act itself.

Fusion: week of 11/1

FAMILY THEME: JESUS IS GOD

John 1:1-18

A coin has two sides: Jesus has two natures. Jesus is both God

and man. John's purpose in writing this account was to set forth

Jesus as God so that people could believe and be saved.

1.  Jesus is the Timeless, Creator God

     (John 1:1-3)

     Jesus eternally exists as the revelation of all God is.

 
2.  Jesus is the Light That Enlightens People and Gives Eternal Life

     (John 1:4-13)

     Jesus is Light (morally and spiritually), embodying all that is good,

     right, and true.

 
3.  Jesus is God's Grace, Truth, and Glory in Human Form

     (John 1:14-18)

     Jesus revealed God's grace, truth, and glory and made Him

     known to us.

Fusion: week of 10/18

FAMILY THEME: WHY DOES HELL EXIST?

Matthew 10:28;  Romans 1:18-23;  2 Thessalonians 1:9

There is nothing about the subject of Hell that is pleasant. But, while

the subject is not pleasant, the conversation is important.

1.  Why Believe in Hell?

     (Matthew 10:28;  Mark 9:43)

     Although it may be an uncomfortable topic, the Bible clearly

     teaches that Hell is real.

 
2.  Defining Hell

     (Matthew 13:42, 50;  25:30, 41;  2 Thessalonians 1:9)

     Hell is the absence of the presence, goodness, and love of God.

 
3.  Who Goes to Hell? 

     (Romans 1:18-23;  6:23)

     Hell is the natural place for people who do not want to embrace

     Christ as Savior and Lord.

4.  Answering Questions About Hell

     (Romans 3:23)

     Knowing the truth about Hell does not soften the impact or reality

     of the knowledge that people we know may spend eternity there.

Upcoming Stuff from our Party Planner

Our church is hosting a concert Oct 24th featuring Mark Trammel Quartet, Stan Whitmire, Taranda Green, 7 Jim Brady Trio. Tickets are $18-24. Get them this weekend.

Dress up party Oct 31st. Come as your favorite movie character! Have you ever wanted to be superman or batman? well, here is your chance! We will have food and fun and lots of laughs! Invite friends, the more the merrier!

 

There is STILL time to get aboard the cruise in January! Its not too late and its a fun group going from our class. See Penny R. or Brian T. for details.

Opry Tonight!

Fusion: week of 10/11

FAMILY THEME: WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING?

Job 2:11-13; Romans 5:3-5

Our response to suffering and pain may be our best chance to 

reflect God's love.

1.  When It Hurts: How Can We Help Those Who Are Hurting?

     (Job 2: 11-13)

     The subject of suffering requires much more than answers;

     it requires a listening ear and a mournful spirit.

 
2.  Even Jesus Had Questions About Suffering

     (Luke 22:42)

     Jesus can identify with the pain and suffering of the entire world.

 
3.  The Transformational Power of Suffering: 

     God Uses Suffering to Shape Us

     Scripture encourages Christians to see suffering as a catalyst 

     for growth and change.

4.  The Bankruptcy of Suffering in Other Worldviews:

     We Have True Hope in Christ

     (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 11:25-26, 35-36)

     Why can Christians have hope even in the midst of suffering?

     (Romans 8:37-39)

5.  The Suffering God: Jesus Understands Our Pain

     (Phillipians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:15)

     In what ways can Jesus sympathize with us?

Fusion: week of 10/4

FAMILY THEME: WHY DOES EVIL EXIST?

Genesis 3; 50:20

Few subjects make Christians as uncomfortable as the existence

of evil, but it doesn't have to be that way.

1.  Emotional vs. Intellectual: Two Ways We Deal With Evil

     (Romans 5:12; 8:20-23; 2 Corinthians 5:2)

     We don't just think about evil, we also feel evil and its effects.

     Most people are not really struggling with evil intellectually,

     but emotionally.

 
2.  Is There Good Without God?

     (Genesis 3:1-7)

     Without God as the standard for evaluating actions, calling

     any action good or bad is meaningless. There are no true moral

     judgments if there is no moral judge.

 
3.  The Intellectual Problem: Would a Good God Allow Evil to Exist?

     (Genesis 2:16-17)

     God gave humanity a free will, which allows us to choose

     something over Him.

Fusion: week of 9/27

FAMILY THEME: LIFE AFTER SIN

Genesis 4

Things are different now that sin has entered the world. How do

we deal with wrong desires? How can sinful people serve a holy

God? Genesis 4 helps us answer these questions.

1.  Bring Your Best to the Lord in Faith

     (Genesis 4:1-5)

     All that we can offer God is of little value to Him if we bring it

     for any motivation other than faith, devotion, and love.

 
2.  Be Master Over Your Sin or Your Sin Will Master You

     (Genesis 4:6-12)

     Every person should become aware of what leads him or her

     to sin.

 
3.  Do Your Best to Live for God in a Fallen World

     (Genesis 4:13-26)

     A fallen world makes living for God difficult, but not impossible.