Fusion: week of 12/30

FAMILY THEME: WISDOM IN DAILY LIVING

Proverbs 10:4-5 ; 21:23 ; 23:4-5 ; 14:29

Applying God's wisdom to your life is the key to a successful life

and successful relationships.

1.  The Wise Have a Strong Work Ethic

     (Proverbs 10:4-5)

     Hard work produces not only provision or riches, but also a

     sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

 
2.  The Wise Guard Their Words

     (Proverbs 21:23)

     When we choose our words wisely, we are able to bring

     good things like peace, healing, grace, and encouragement.

 
3.  The Wise Handle Money Generously and Carefully

     (Proverbs 23:4-5)

     Money and riches do not last; so don't make gaining

     wealth a priority in your life.

4.  The Wise Keep Their Temper Under Control

     (Proverbs 14:29)

     Out-of-control emotions can lead to devastating effects.

Fusion: week of 12/23

FAMILY THEME: WISE MEN SEEK HIM

Matthew 1:18 - 2:12

God's leading in our lives and in the lives of others who believe in Him

is quite miraculous! If we follow His lead, we may see incredible out-

comes.

1.  Wise People Are Open to God's Leading

     (Matthew 1:18-21 ; 2:1-2 ; 12)

     God's children have a choice to make: follow our own path

     and will, or follow what God has prepared for us.

 
2.  Wise People Follow God's Leading

     (Matthew 1:22-25 ; 2:1-2 ; 12)

     Understanding and knowing God's will for our lives should

     change the priorities and focus in all that we do.

 
3.  Wise People Worship the Savior Who Came to

     Live and Die for Us

     (Matthew 2:1-11)

     Even as a newborn, before He had done any good deeds

     or miracles, Jesus was worthy of worship.

Fusion: week of 12/16

FAMILY THEME: WISDOM IN RIGHTEOUS LIVING

Proverbs 23:24-25  ;  19:1  ;  29:23  ;  5:1-8

Wisdom is not a somewhere-out-there concept.

Biblical wisdom has everyday application. It 

makes a difference in our homes, our attitudes, 

our businesses, and even our sex lives.

1.  Righteous Living Starts at Home

     (Proverbs 23:24-25)

     The Church and the home are united in

     teaching us about God.

 
2.  Righteous Living Includes Honesty

     and Integrity

     (Proverbs 19:1)

     As Christians, we should live consistently

     righteous lives both publicly and privately.

 
3.  Righteous Living Includes Humility

     (Proverbs 29:33)

     God gives grace to those who are humble

     before Him.

4.  Righteous Living Includes Sexual

     Purity

     (Proverbs 5:1-8)

     God calls all Christians to avoid

     sexual immorality.

Fusion: week of 12/9

FAMILY THEME: THE NEED FOR WISDOM

Proverbs 8:5 ; 12:15 ; 29:16 ; 3:21-23

Proverbs describes four kinds of people: the simple, the fool,

the evil person, and the wise person. The first three desperately

need wisdom, and the fourth is able to demonstrate the blessings

of wisdom.

1.  The Simple Need to Learn God's Ways

     (Proverbs 8:5)

     God gives us wise instruction if we simply

     ask for it.

 
2.  The Fool Needs to Be Willing to Listen 

     and Change

     (Proverbs 12:15)

     True wisdom requires us to listen to hard 

     truth.

 
3.  The Evil Person Needs to Turn From Sin

     and Follow God's Ways

     (Proverbs 29:16)

     Sin will always lead us away from God 

     and His plan for us.

4.  The Wise are Blessed as They Live Out

     God's Wisdom

     (Proverbs 3:21-23)

     True joy comes in following God's wisdom

     for our lives.

Fusion: week of 12/2

FAMILY THEME: THE SOURCE OF WISDOM

Proverbs 1:1-33

Good judgment, fairness, discretion, peace, joy, and strength

all come as benefits of gaining godly wisdom. The book of

Proverbs sets out the collected wisdom of history's wisest

man for our instruction.

1.  God is The Source of Wisdom

     (Proverbs 1:1-7)

     True wisdom is only found in God.

 
2.  The Wise Avoid the Enticements of Sinners

     (Proverbs 1:8-19)

     Those who are wise know to avoid the smooth talk of

     the foolish.

 
3.  Rejecting God's Wisdom Leads to Dire Consequences

     (Proverbs 1:20-33)

     God gives us wisdom to help us avoid hardship.

Fusion: week of 11/25

FAMILY THEME: LIFE-ALTERING CIRCUMSTANCES

Matthew 3:1-17  ;  14:1-12  ;  11:2-15

God had big plans for John the Baptist, yet these plans might

not be what he would have chosen for himself. Even when

things don't got the way we planned, God is still in control, and

we can trust Him.

1.  It Is Normal to Have Big Dreams in Life

     (Matthew 3:1-17)

     John the Baptist had a huge task: prepare the way for

     the Lord.

 
2.  Our Dreams Are Sometimes Dashed

     (Matthew 14:1-12)

     John spoke the truth and was thrown in prison because

     of it. That wasn't the end of his story, though.

 
3.  Trust in God's Love and Faithfulness When Disappointment

     Comes

     (Matthew 11:4-19)

     Sitting in prison, John wanted answers from Jesus. Today,

     you may have questions for Him too.

Fusion: week of 11/18

FAMILY THEME: DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

1 Kings 19 ; James 1:2-4 ; 1 Peter 5:7 ; Revelation 21:4

Life on this earth can certainly bring heartache. How comforting

to know that God can bring joy on this journey and bring growth

to make us stronger.

1.  The Trials of Life Can Lead to Depression and Anxiety

     (1 Kings 19)

     Sometimes it may seem that burying our heads in the

     sand, or hiding in a cave like Elijah did in today's 

     passage, would be the best alternative for facing

     life's difficulties.

 
2.  God Uses the Trials of Life to Help Us Grow

     (James 1:2-8)

     James had a positive outlook when it came to 

     facing trials, confident that they would have

     purpose in our lives.

 
3.  Cast Our Anxiety on Christ When Facing the Trials of Life

     (1 Peter 5:7 ; Revelation 21:4)

     God cares for us more than we can imagine!

Fusion: week of 11/11

FAMILY THEME: THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE

Acts 12:1-5 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ; Romans 8:38-39

Scripture teaches that believers do not grieve like those who

have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13), but we still grieve at

the death of a loved one. Even at our times of greatest loss,

God's Word gives us strength and comfort.

1.  The Death of a Loved One is One of the Most Difficult

     Losses of Life

     (Acts 12:1-5)

     We should accept that death can come unexpectedly

     but remember it is no surprise to God.

 
2.  There Are Necessary Steps for Processing the Most

     Difficult Losses of Life

     (James 5:7-11 ;  Romans 8:38-39)

     We must be patient in the process of grief, certain

     that the Lord has promised never to leave or

     forsake us, especially in the loss of a loved one.

 
3.  Christians Have Reason to Hope Through the Most

     Difficult Losses of Life

     (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ; Psalm 46)

     We should never forget our resurrected Savior has

     sent the Holy Spirit it be our ever-present Comforter.

     God's Word gives us security and hope even in loss.

Fusion: week of 11/4

FAMILY THEME: BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

Matthew 18:15-20 ; Luke 15:11-19

God created us to value and need relationships with others.

But in this fallen world, our relationships are affected. How

does a believer deal with painful broken friendships, family

situations, work relationships, and even marriages?

1.  Broken Relationships Are Inevitable and Painful

     (Matthew 18:15)

     We should value others by seeking to be at peace

     and harmony with them.

 
2.  Broken Relationships Follow a Process

     (Luke 15:11-19)

     Thinking of others will begin the process of solving

     a breach in any relationship.

 
3.  There Are Biblical Guidelines for Addressing 

     Broken Relationships

     (Matthew 18:15-20 ; Luke 15:20-25)

     The steps of discerning and reconciling a division

     between believers should be faithfully followed.

Fusion: week of 10/28

FAMILY THEME: FREED FROM SIN

Romans 6:1-23

Scripture teaches that all people are slaves to sin before

coming to Jesus. When we are united with Christ, we are

freed from sin and alive to God.

1.  We Are Dead to Sin and Alive to God Through Union

     With Christ

     (Romans 6:1-11)

     Just as Christ was raised to new life, so also our

     lives are to be new and different.

 
2.  We Can Give Ourselves to God Rather Than to Sin

     (Romans 6:12-14)

     Now that we are dead to sin and alive to God, we

     must not allow sin to control us.

 
3.  We Are Free to Serve Christ's Purposes

     (Romans 6:15-23)

     Christ has not only broken the power of sin in our

     lives, but He has also freed us to do something

     radically different.