Fusion: week of 12/27

 FAMILY THEME: JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE

Matthew 3:13 - 4:11

Jesus is our example in humility (John 13:15),

in suffering (1 Peter 2:21), and in righteous

choices and interaction with others. We want

to be like Christ in all we do.

✞   Jesus Set the Example in Baptism

     (Matthew 3:13-17)

     Although He had nothing to repent of,

     Jesus offered Himself as a model to

     follow in baptism. God spoke, acknow-

     ledging Jesus' authority and identity as

     His obedient Son, when Christ was

     baptized.

✞   Jesus Set the Example in Overcoming Temptation

     (Matthew 4:21-11)

     Jesus overcame temptation by knowing

     and applying God's Word. He used 

     Scripture relating to the specific temp-

     tations as defense against Satan's

     attacks.

Fusion: week of 12/20

FAMILY THEME: THE PROMISED MESSIAH IS BORN

Matthew 1:18 - 2:12

We marvel at the way God set the stage for

Jesus' birth.

✞   Jesus' Birth Was Miraculous

     (Matthew 1:18-21)

     Joseph knew he was not the father of the

     baby Mary carried. God revealed to him in

     a dream that the baby was the son of God.

✞   Jesus' Birth Was Promised in the Old Testament

     (Matthew 1:22-25)

     The Scripture foretold the Messiah's birth 

     over and over. The Jewish people had

     eagerly anticipated it.

✞   Wise Men Worshiped the Promised Savior

     (Matthew 2:1-12)

     Even as a newborn, before He had done

     any good deeds or miracles. Jesus was

     worthy of worship. The wise men from far

     away followed the star, gave gifts of tribute,

     and acknowledged Jesus as King.

Fusion: week of 12/13

 FAMILY THEME: CONSIDER THE SOURCE

Psalm 119:89, 142, 160 ; John 17:17 ; 

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ; John 8:31-32

In a world system that embraces relative truth, as 

Christians we have truth that is absolute and sure.

✞   God's Word is Always True

     (Psalm 119:89,142, 160 : John 17:17)

     Truth is rooted in the character of God. My 

     opinion of the truth does not change it.

✞   Life and Freedom are Found in God's Word

     (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ; John 8:31-32)

     God's truth isn't just for our minds, but it

     changes our hearts and our actions too. His

     Word is true and life-giving.

Fusion: week of 12/6

 FAMILY THEME: TRUTH WE CAN TRUST

Hebrews 1:1-2 ; 2 Peter 1:21 ; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ; Hebrews 4:12 

The truth we believe as Christians is not something we have

made up; it finds its source and foundation in God.

✞   The Bible Reveals Truth About God

     (Heb. 1:1-2)

     God has not hidden Himself from us, but instead

     He has shown us who He is in a variety of ways-

     especially in His Word.

✞   The Bible is Inspired by God

     (2 Peter 1:21 ; 2 Timothy 3:16a)

     Men didn't fabricate God's Word, but instead were

     led by His Spirit to write the Scriptures.

✞   The Bible Gives Truth for Everyday Life

     (2 Timothy 3:16b-17 ; Heb. 4:12)

     The entire Bible works to change our lives into the

     likeness of Christ. We don't stand in authority over

     God's Word. Instead, It stands over us.

Fusion: week of 11/29

FAMILY THEME: WHEN LIFE REALLY HURTS

Genesis 1:31 ; Philippians 2:5-8 ; Hebrews 4:15 ; 

Romans 5:3-5 ; Job 2:11-13 

Our response to suffering and pain may be our best chance

to reflect God's love.

✞   Place Blame Where It Really Belongs

     (Gen. 1:31)

     God created this world to be good, but sin opened

     the door to pain and suffering.

✞   Know That Jesus Understands Our Suffering

     (Phil. 2:5-8 ; Heb. 4:15)

     Jesus can identify with the pain and suffering of the

     entire world.

✞   Let God Shape Us Through Suffering

     (Rom. 5:3-5)

     Scripture encourages Christians to see suffering as

     a catalyst for growth and change.

✞   Comfort Others Who Are Suffering

     (Job 2:11-13)

     The subject of suffering requires much more than

     answers; it requires a listening ear and a mournful

     spirit. We can share the hope of Christ with others.

Fusion: week of 11/23

   FAMILY THEME: WHEN IT ALL FALLS APART

Job 1:1 - 2:3 

Heartache, difficulties, and tragedy interrupted Job's life.

He grieved, but stayed faithful to God.

✞   Walk with God Before Trials Come

     (Job 1:1-5)

     A lifestyle of faith and godliness helps believers

     overcome the temptation to turn away from God

     when facing loss and suffering.

✞   Know Your Enemy

     (Job 1:6-19)

     Though he is not on the same level as God (and

     is subject to Him), Satan interacts with God over

     the lifestyles of believers and intends to turn us

     against God.

✞   Trust God No Matter What

     (Job 1:20 - 2:3)

     When we withstand Satan's temptations, we

     bring glory to God by holding on to our faith

     and integrity in the face of terrible difficulty.

Fusion: week of 11/15

  FAMILY THEME: EVEN DEATH OBEYS!

John 11:1-44 

Where is Jesus when we are suffering? Does He care? Why

doesn't He answer in the time we think He should? John 11

gives us some insight into these questions.

✞   Trust Jesus' Timing

     (John 11:1-16)

     When Jesus heard Lazarus was sick He did an

     unusual thing - He waited two days.

✞   Trust Jesus for Resurrection and Life

     (John 11:17-29)

     Christ wanted Martha to understand that He is

     the Son of God and that resurrection and eternal

     life are through Him.

✞   Trust Jesus' Compassion and Power

     (John 11:30-44)

     Jesus cared deeply about the brokenness and 

     pain that sin has brought into the world.

Fusion: week of 11/8

 FAMILY THEME: AN ENDLESS SUPPLY

John 6:1-14  ;  Matthew 14:13-21

The feeding of the 5,000 is the only specific miracle recorded

in all four Gospels before the resurrection of Christ.

✞   Know That Jesus Cares

     (Matthew 14:13-14 ; John 6:1-5)

     In spite of His own need for rest, when Jesus saw the

     multitudes, He recognized they were hungry and needy.

✞   Take Problems to Jesus

     (Matthew 14:15-16 ; John 6:6-7)

     The disciples did not have resources to meet the needs

     of the multitudes, but Jesus was not limited in His

     resources.

✞   Trust Jesus' Miraculous Power

     (Matthew 14:17-21 ; John 6:8-14)

     The One who could multiply a little lunch and have 12

     basketfuls left over is still able to meet every need we

     have.

Fusion: week of 11/1

FAMILY THEME: QUENCHING OUR THIRST

John 4:1-42

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

someone who had a physical and spiritual need.

✞   All People Matter to Jesus

     (John 4:1-9)

     Jesus demonstrated that God loves all people and 

     wants them to be saved.

✞   Our Deepest Needs are Spiritual

     (John 4:10-26)

     Jesus revealed that He was the Messiah who could

     meet the woman's deepest needs.

✞   Share Jesus with Others

     (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. When the 

     woman at the well understood Jesus' offer of living

     water, her first response was to share it with her

     neighbors.

Fusion: week of 10/25

 FAMILY THEME: THE ONLY WAY

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.

✞   We Must Be Born Again

     (John 3:1-15)

     Being born again is a spiritual transformation from above

     through the work of the Holy Spirit.

✞   God Sent Jesus to Save Us

     (John 3:16-21)

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

     penalty for our sins. Christ was lifted up on a cross

     to provide salvation to all who look to Him in faith.

     We can have eternal life only through faith in Jesus

     Christ.

Fusion: week of 10/18

FAMILY THEME: GOD IN FLESH AND BLOOD

John 1:1-18

Like a coin has two sides, Jesus has two natures. Jesus is

both God and man. John's purpose in writing this account

was to show that Jesus is God so that people could believe

and be saved.

✞   Jesus is the Eternal Creator

     (John 1:1-3)

     Jesus eternally exists as the revelation of all God is.

✞   Jesus is Life and Truth

     (John 1:4-13)

     Jesus is light (morally and spiritually), embodying

     all that is good, right, and true.

✞   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. He showed us God in

     terms we could understand and left us a pattern

     for godly living.

Fusion: week of 10/11

FAMILY THEME: TROUBLE AT THE TOWER

Genesis 11:1-9

How did the human race, all beginning from one family,

become so divided? Where did all the different languages

of the world originate? These questions are answered in

Genesis 11.

✞   Don't Let Pride Hinder Obedience

     (Genesis 11:1-4)

     Noah's descendants were commanded to spread

     out and fill the earth. Instead they collaborated in

     a building project to honor themselves. (Gen.9:1, 7)

✞   God Will Accomplish His Will

     (Genesis 11:5-9)

     God sometimes uses disorder and things that are

     troubling to us to bring about His will. No matter 

     how far sinful man drifts away from God's will, the

     Almighty's plans will come to pass.

Fusion: week of 10/4

 FAMILY THEME: STARTING OVER

Genesis 6:1 - 7:5

By the time of Noah, humanity had become so corrupt

that God would destroy the world in judgment. Yet even

in the midst of great wickedness there was a man who

found grace in the sight of God - Noah. Noah's faith in

God led him to obey God and be saved from the 

judgment to come.

✞   Sin Grieves God

     (Genesis 6:5-7)

     God is emotionally invested in humankind, so

     when we resort to evil thoughts and actions,

     it grieves His heart.

✞   Faith and Right Living Please God

     (Genesis 6:8 - 7:5)

     Noah was a faithful man whose life backed up

     his faith, causing him to find favor with God.

     God used Noah's obedience to provide an

     escape from the consequences of judgment.

Fusion: week of 9/27

FAMILY THEME: WHERE WE WENT WRONG

Genesis 3:1-13

If you have ever looked at the world and thought, Wow, what

a mess! You've also likely wondered why the world is in the

shape it's in. God, in His goodness, has given us the answer

to this question in Genesis 3.

✞   We Struggle With a Tempter

     (Genesis 3:1-6a)

     The act of sin begins with the temptation to sin.

     The Devil and our own desires bait us to disobey

     God's rules. We think we can find satisfaction

     some other way.

✞   Giving in to Temptation Brings Consequences

     (Genesis 3:6-13)

     Eve gave in to temptation when she chose to

     reach out and take some of the forbidden

     fruit. Adam and Eve's sin damaged their

     relationship with God and led them to further

     sin and punishment, and their penaly affected

     all of the human race. But God always offers

     a way to escape temptation.

Fusion: week of 9/20

  FAMILY THEME: FOLLOWING THE BLUEPRINT

Genesis 1:26-28 ; 2:18-24 ; Matthew 19:3-6

God's fingerprints are all over you. From the very beginning,

He has had a good plan.

✞   Embrace God's Design For Us

     (Genesis 1:26-28)

     God's culminating act of creation was the creation of

     humans, both male and female. They were made in

     His image and given provision for sustaining and re-

     plenishing life.

✞   Understand God's Purpose for Marriage

     (Genesis 2:18-24)

     The old Bible sholar, Matthew Henry, described

     Genesis 2 as an appendix to Genesis 1 - a more

     detailed account of the history of creation. Here 

     God gave more details about the creation of woman

     and the institution of marriage.

✞   Accept Jesus' Affirmation of God's Design

     (Matthew 19:3-6)

     When some religious professionals tried to trap

     Jesus in a discussion about divorce, Jesus 

     immediately went back to the creation account

     in Genesis to affirm God's foundational plan for

     marriage between a man and a woman.

Fusion: week of 9/13

 FAMILY THEME: EVIDENCE ALL AROUND US

Genesis 1:1 ; Rom. 1:19-20 ; 2:12-15 ; Psalm 19:1 ; Heb. 10:16

The Bible teaches that God is from everlasting to everlasting.

If you have difficulty comprehending that truth you are not

alone. All of us at times have been perplexed by the existence

of God. Both the Scriptures and the world around us give us

reasonable evidence to believe God exists.

✞   Something Caused It All

     (Genesis 1:1)

     Movies begin and end with credits to all the people

     who make them possible. The Bible begins with One

     credit. "In the beginning God created..."

✞   Design Indicated a Designer

     (Romans 1:19-20 ; Psalm 19:1)

     The more complicated the design, the more skilled

     the designer. In this world of electrons and quarks,

     glaciers and mountains, brain cells and bloostreams,

     and infinite variety and interlocking systems, we have

     strong evidence of a Designer.

✞   Our Sense of Right and Wrong Point to a Righteous God

     (Romans 2:12-15 ; Hebrews 10:16)

     Right and wrong matter to everyone. If you do not

     believe that, just observe the reaction of people

     when they think they are mistreated. Our sense of

     morality and justice point to a Creator who is moral

     and just.