Fusion: week of 12/29

FAMILY THEME: HOPE FOR THE NATIONS

Isaiah 49:1-26

God loves the entire world of nations without exception. He 

invites them to become part of His family!

1.  God Pursues All People Through the Servant Messiah

     (Isaiah 49:1-13)

     God commissined His Son, Jesus Christ, not only to

     be Israel's Messiah. He also became the Savior of

     all people and nations - Jews and Gentiles alike.

 
2.  God Never Forgets His People

     (Isaiah 49:14-21)

     During Israel's history, it seemed as if God had forsaken

     them or no longer cared. The enemies of the Lord's 

     people and His purposes often appear to be too strong,

     our sins feel unredeemable, and the outcome seems

     hopeless. However, God's commitment to our success

     never changes.

     

3.  The Future is Bright Because God is in Control

     (Isaiah 49:22-26)

     Our God is sovereign over all things; absolutely nothing

     can ultimately defeat Him or His purposes. He sits on

     His throne in Heaven, the control tower of the universe,

     in perfect control of all spiritual, material, and temporal

     reality!

Fusion: week of 12/15

FAMILY THEME: THE GIFT OF PEACE

Isaiah 26:1-21

In this song of salvation, God promises comfort and peace 

to those who trust in Him in spite of the impending judgment

to come.

1.  Trusting God Leads to Peace and Overall Well-being

     (Isaiah 26:1-6)

     God promised to keep the person who keeps his mind

     on God in peace, peace. That's like peace on steroids -

     perfect peace!

 
2.  God Brings About Our Good for Those Who Trust Him

     and Walk in His Ways

     (Isaiah 26:7-15)

     God will provide peace and righteousness to those

     who trust Him, yet the wicked refuse to submit to His

     provisions of grace.

     

3.  We Can Have Hope Even in Difficult Times

     (Isaiah 26:16-21)

     Although God's hand would continue to protect and

     bless His people in the future, He would also continue

     to punish His enemies.

Fusion: week of 12/8

FAMILY THEME: WARNING OF JUDGMENT

Isaiah 24:1-23

God will eventually judge all people. Because of this,

believers can rejoice, but sinners should repent.

1.  God Will Judge the Whole Earth

     (Isaiah 24:1-13)

     God will judge all people by His holy standard.

 
2.  The Righteous Will Rejoice

     (Isaiah 24:14-16)

     Even in the midst of judgment, God's people

     have reasons to rejoice.

     

3.  Punishment Awaits the Wicked

     (Isaiah 24:17-23)

     Punishment will follow those who walk contrary

     to God's nature.

Fusion: week of 12/1

FAMILY THEME: CALL FOR REPENTANCE

Isaiah 1:1-31

God offers hope and restoration, even to those in the midst of

devestation and rebellious living.

1.  Rebellion Against God Leads to Devestation

     (Isaiah 1:1-9)

     Our rebellious actions have serious consequences.

 
2.  Religious Activity is Worthless if Done with Sinful,

     Rebellious Hearts

     (Isaiah 1:10-20)

     God cares not only about our external actions, but

     also our internal motivations.

     

3.  Correction Leads to Repentance and Hope or to

     Further Rebellion and Judgment

     (Isaiah 1:21-31)

     God offers hope and restoration to those who

     will accept it.

Fusion: week of 11/24

FAMILY THEME: MODELING THE FAITH

Titus 2:1-15

New life in Christ corresponds with new thinking and specific 

changes in behavior.

1.  Discipleship is a Way of Life

     (Titus 2:1-8)

     Christian life is wholistic, affecting the entire person. It 

     transforms our personality, external behavior, and even

     the culture around us. It changes not only who we are

     and how we think but also how we live!

 
2.  People of All Ages Should Willingly Accept Instruction

     (Titus 2:2-4, 6, 9)

     The definition of the word incorrigible is "the inability

     or refusal to receive instruction or be taught anything".

     

3.  Believers Have the Authority to Teach and Correct 

     Each Other

     (Titus 2:1, 4, 6, 15)

     Few would deny the centrality of teaching as an

     essential component of discipleship. The Great

     Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, The Pauline

     version in 2 Timothy 2:2, and this week's encour-

     agements in Titus prove this beyond question.

Fusion: week of 10/17

FAMILY THEME: NURTURING FAMILY FAITH

Ephesians 6:1-4

Embedded within this brief passage are abiding spiritual family

principles originating with the giving of the Ten Commandments

and later affirmed by Christ, that remain extremely relevant to

modern familes.

1.  Children Should Obey Their Parents Because It Is Right and

     Pleases the Lord

     (Ephesians 6:1)

     The virtue of obedience is an acquired skill essential to

     human relationships extending to almost every relationship

     in life. This is also true vertically in our relationship with God.

 
2.  Honoring Our Parents Will Bring Blessings

     (Ephesians 6:2-3)

     The blessings of honoring one's parents in the Lord lead to

     a life well-lived.

     

3.  Train Your Children Instead of Provoking Them

     (Ephesians 6:4)

     Balance. It is never enough to simply rebuke or discipline

     a child for acts of disobedience. There ought also to be

     generous amounts of loving affirmation and instruction.

Fusion: week of 11/10

FAMILY THEME: HONORING GOD'S WORD

Nehemiah 8:1-18

God's Word is powerful and can change our lives if we will

ingest it.

1.  God's Word Should Be Respected and Read

     (Nehemiah 8:1-6)

     God's Word is truth, and it should be revered as such.

 
2.  God's Word Should Be Taught and Studied.

     (Nehemiah 8:7-8, 12)

     When God's Word is tough to understand, He sends us

     helpers to discern Its message.

     

3.  God's Word Should Be Obeyed and Celebrated

     (Nehemiah 8:9-18)

     Even though God's Word reveals to us our sin, It also

     shows us His strength.

Fusion: week of 11/3

FAMILY THEME: EVERYDAY DISCIPLESHIP

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 ; Luke 9:23

As disciples of Christ we should, in turn, disciple others.

1.  Discipleship is Learning How to Please God

     (Deuteronomy 6:1-3)

     God's instructions were applicable to more than one

     generation.

 
2.  Spiritual Growth is Part of Life Each Day

     (Luke 9:23)

     The first step toward following Christ is not the last step.

     

3.  It is the Privilege and Duty of Parents to Teach Their

     Children to Love and Follow Christ

     (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

     God's Word will make an impression on your life and on

     the lives of those you influence.

Fusion: week of 10/27

FAMILY THEME: GOD SHOWS COMPASSION

Jonah 4:1-11

God generously pours out His grace and mercy toward all who 

repent and believe. Jonah, however, showed us not everyone

is always happy about that.

1.  God Cares About Those Whom We Would Consider to be

     Worthy of Judgment

     (Jonah 4:1-3)

     God is gracious and merciful and desires that all sinners

     repent and be saved.

 
2.  God Wants to Teach Us Compassion for the Lost

     (Jonah 4:4-10)

     We should care far more about lost people than our

     own comfort.

     

3.  God Has Compassion for the Lost Because They

     Are Spiritually Ignorant and Deceived

     (Jonah 4:11)

     God wanted Jonah to see the Ninevites the way

     He saw them, as helpless and ignorant of the truth.

Fusion: week of 10/15

FAMILY THEME: GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

Jonah 2:1-10

What do we do when we've blown it and are sitting in the 

midst of a mess of our own making? We can do what

Jonah did; we can pray.

1.  God Hears and Answers the Humble Prayers of His People

     (Jonah 2:1-2)

     In distress and at death's door, Jonah cried out to God,

     and God heard and answered him.

 
2.  God Hears and Answers Prayer When We Acknowledge

     We Need Him

     (Jonah 2:3-7)

     Jonah was in humiliating, deperate circumstances, yet

     God delivered him.

     

3.  Thanksgiving, Worship, and Obedience Are Proper

     Responses When God Answers Prayer

     (Jonah 2:8-10)

     Jonah ended his prayer with worship and devotion.

Fusion: week of 10/7

FAMILY THEME: GOD PURSUES THE DISOBEDIENT

Jonah 1:1-17

One of the most famous stories in Scripture is Jonah and the

"whale". The familiar story has much to teach us about our

God and our relationship with Him.

1.  Running From God is Never a Good Idea

     (Jonah 1:1-6)

     The best way to respond to God is with obedience.

 
2.  Our Disobedience Affects Those Around Us

     (Jonah 1:7-10)

     It is very common for disobedient people to say some

     variation of "My sin only affects me". This, however,

     is a myth.

     

3.  God Disciplines Us With Grace When We Disobey

     (Jonah 1:11-17)

     God loves us too much to leave us alone when we

     disobey. He always works to get us back on the

     right track.