Fusion: week of 12/31

FAMILY THEME: THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION

1 Corinthians 15:20-58

No matter how difficult life is, the believer has hope because

of the resurrection of Jesus.

1.  Jesus Paved the Way for Resurrection

     (1 Corinthians 15:1-34)

     Christ rose and paved the way for all who are in Him

     to be raised when He returns.

 
2.  We Will Have a Body Fit for Heaven

     (1 Corinthians 15:35-49)

     The resurrection body will be quite different from the 

     earthly body planted in burial.

 
3.  The Assurance of Resurrection Motivates Us to Live 

     for the Lord

     (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

     The return of Christ and hope for our future resurrected

     bodies should motivate us to stand firm in our faith and 

     work for the Lord. 

Fusion: week of 12/24

FAMILY THEME: THE GREATEST GIFT

Luke 2:1-21

Luke's straightforward telling of the birth of Jesus grounds it in

history and connects it to prophecy.

1.  Jesus' Birth Fulfilled Scripture

     (Luke 2:1-8)

     Caesar's decree was a fulfillment of Scripture.

 
2.  Jesus' Birth is Joyful Good News

     (Luke 2:9-14)

     The news of Christ's birth is a source of joy for all who

     believe and accept Him.

 
3.  We Spread the Good News of Jesus' Birth

     (Luke 2:15-21)

     When the angels left, the shepherds went to Bethlehem

     and found Mary, Joseph, and the Baby.

Fusion: week of 12/17

FAMILY THEME: THE EXCELLENCE OF LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

How should believers live out a life of ministry using their spiritual gifts?

Paul dealt with this question in 1 Corinthians 13.

1.  Value Love Above All Gifts, Abilities, and Virtues

     (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

     Without love, all our spiritual gifts and virtues are hollow 

     and meaningless.

 
2.  Love is Demonstrated by Attitudes and Actions

     (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

     Love is an expression of trust, hope, and perseverance.

 
3.  Love Will Never End

     (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

     All the spiritual gifts will come to an end. Love, however,

     will never fail.

Fusion: week of 12/10

FAMILY THEME: GIFTED TO SERVE

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Part of the division in the church revolved around the use of spiritual gifts.

Paul used this chapter to clear up the confusion.

1.  There Are Many Spiritual Gifts, All Given by the Same Holy Spirit

     (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

     Spiritual gifts lead to a variety of ways to serve and different

     kinds of good works.

 
2.  There is One Body, Made Up of Many Parts

     (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

     The body of Christ is pictured as unity that depends on diversity.

 
3.  Each Part of the Body Should Fulfill Its Particular Role 

     (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)

     While we don't all have the same function, we are all a part

     of the same body and we all play a unique part in the church.

Fusion: week of 12/3

FAMILY THEME: BODY OF CHRIST

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

The division in the Corinthian church was visible in the way they

observed the Lord's Supper.

1.  Division Damages the Church

     (1 Corinthians 11:17-22)

     Division in the church always damages and hinders the mission.

 
2.  The Sacrificial Love Pictured in the Lord's Supper is God's

     Design for the Church

     (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

     The Lord's Supper should unite church members around their

     common faith in the sacrificial work of Christ.

 
3.  Sacrificial Love Should Guide Our Celebration of the Lord's

     Supper and Our Interaction With Our Church Family 

     (1 Corinthians 11:27-34)

     Our behavior should be consistent with the nature and work

     of Christ.

Fusion: week of 11/26

FAMILY THEME: FREEDOM IN CHRIST

1 Corinthians 8:1 - 9:23

Paul described what it truly means to have liberty in Christ.

1.  We Are Free to Put Others' Well-Being Above Our Own Desires

     (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

     Mature believers should be willing to limit their freedom for the

     sake of less mature believers.

 
2.  We Are Free to Deny Our Personal Rights for the Sake of the Gospel

     (1 Corinthians 9:1-18)

     The centrality of the gospel may make it necessary for believers

     to restrict their rights.

 
3.  We Are Free to Serve Others in Order to Win Them to Christ 

     (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

     Our preferences and traditions are nowhere near as important

     as winning people to Christ.

Fusion: week of 11/19

FAMILY THEME: CONTENT IN CHRIST

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

True contentment is only found in Jesus.

1.  We Are to Cultivate Contentment in Our Marriages and

     Marital Status

     (1 Corinthians 7:1-16)

     Christ calls us to cultivate contentment in our particular

     marital situation.

 
2.  We Are to Develop Contentment in Our Callings,

     Professions, or Circumstances

     (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)

     We should view our profession or circumstances as

     God's calling in our lives.

 
3.  Whatever Our Situation, We Seek Our Ultimate

     Contentment in Serving the Lord 

     (1 Corinthians 7:25-40)

     We can find contentment in serving the Lord no 

     matter our particular situations.

Fusion: week of 11/12

FAMILY THEME: PURITY IN CHRIST

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ;  6:9-11

Holiness is an essential aspect of being a follower of Jesus.

1.  Sinful Patterns of Behavior Among Believers Are to Be

     Grieved and Confronted

     (1 Corinthians 5:1-5,  13)

     Scripture does not give mixed signals regarding purity.

     It is to be dealt with, not ignored.

 
2.  Ignoring Sinful Practices Among Believers Endangers

     the Health of the Church

     (1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

     Just as leaven grows until it overtakes dough, so this

     one sin would affect the entire church.

 
3.  The Church is to Discipline and Disassociate With

     Unrepentant Believers 

     (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

     Though uncomfortable, church discipline is necessary

     at times.

4.  The Work of Christ in Our Lives Cleanses Us From

     Worldly Sinful Habits 

     (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

     A sinful lifestyle is not consistent with the work of

     God in one's life.

Fusion: week of 11/5

FAMILY THEME: UNITY IN CHRIST

1 Corinthians 1:10-31

Unity is an essential element of being a Christian.

1.  God Has Called His Followers to Unity

     (1 Corinthians 1:10-11)

     Believers are to live in unity because of our common

     commitment to and relationship with Jesus Christ.

 
2.  An Unhealthy Focus on Persons or Personalities 

     Often Leads to Divisions

     (1 Corinthians 1:12-16)

     No matter how influential someone has been in our

     lives, our primary allegiance should be to Jesus.

 
3.  Focusing on Our Mission Will Minimize Division 

     (1 Corinthians 1:17-25)

     Division distracts us from our mission of making

     disciples of all nations.

4.  An Honest Assessment of God's Work in Our Own

     Lives Should Cultivate Unity 

     (1 Corinthians 1:26-30)

     God did not choose us on the basis of our ability,

     wisdom, or strength, bur rather because of His

     grace and love.

Fusion: week of 10/29

FAMILY THEME: INTEGRITY IN TEMPTATION

Genesis 39:1-23 ;  45:1-28 ;  50:22-26

Joseph made difficult but wise decisions that led to God's future

blessings.

1.  A Person of Integrity Does the Right Thing in the Face

     of Temptation

     (Genesis 39:1-23)

     Joseph ran from temptation, refusing to sin against God.

 
2.  A Person of Integrity Does What is Right in Light of the

     Big Picture

     (Genesis 45:1-28)

     Joseph recognized God had used what his brothers 

     meant for evil to serve a greater purpose.

 
3.  A Person of Integrity Does What is Right in View of

     God's Promises

     (Genesis 47:27-31 ;  50:22-26 ;  Exodus 13:19 ;

      Joshua 24:32 ;  Hebrews 11:22)

     Joseph had faith that God would continue to fulfill His

     covenant with His people.

Fusion: week of 10/22

FAMILY THEME: INTEGRITY UNDER FIRE

Job 1:13-22 ;  2:1-10 ;  27:1-6 ;  31:5-8 ;  38:1-7 ;  42:1-6

Job maintained his integrity through great pain and adversity.

1.  A Response of Worship in the Face of Suffering and Trials

     Validates Integrity

     (Job 1:1 - 2:13)

     Job trusted and worshiped God, even as his world 

     crashed down around him.

 
2.  Experiencing Discouragement in Difficult Times Need Not

     Invalidate Integrity

     (Job 12:4 ;  8:20 with 9:21-22 ;  4:6 ;  22:3 with 27:5)

     Despite the discouragement of those around him, Job

     knew he had lived with integrity.

 
3.  A Lifestyle of Living Out Godly Principles Validates Integrity

     (Job 31:1-40)

     Job had lived with integrity because he had committed to

     godly principles in his heart.

4.  A Relationship with God Saturated with Trust Validates

     Integrity

     (Job 38:1-7 ;  42:1-6)

     Job may not have been told why he experienced 

     suffering, but he trusted God through it anyway.

Fusion: week of 10/15

FAMILY THEME: INTEGRITY UNDER PRESSURE

Daniel 1:1-21 ;  6:1-27 ;  9:1-23

Daniel followed up his commitment to the Lord with bold action

and living with integrity.

1.  God Honors a Heart Committed to Him

     (Daniel 1:1-21 ;  6:1-27)

     Daniel committed himself to God's laws and ways,

     and God blessed him.

 
2.  God Uses a Mind Devoted to His Truth

     (Daniel 1:17 ;  2:19-28, 45 ;  9:1-2, 22 ;  4:8-9, 18 ;  

      5:11-12, 14 ;  6:3 ;  10:1-2)

     God blessed Daniel and used him because of his

     faithfulness to God's Word and prayer.

 
3.  God Answers the Prayers of Those Who Know Him

     (Daniel 6:10 ;  9:1-23 ;  10:12 ;  11:32)

     Daniel knew the importance of prayer and believed

     in its power, and God answered him.