Fusion: week of 7/26

FAMILY THEME: PUT GOD FIRST

Haggai 1:1-15

God desires for us to make Him the top priority of our lives, and when

we do, we tend to see the other things in this world from the right

perspective.

1.  God is Displeased When We Put Our Own Interests 

     Ahead of His

     (Haggai 1:1-6)

     God showed the children of Israel how they had

     valued their own work over His.

2.  Our Top Priority is to Please God and Bring Him Glory

     (Haggai 1:7-11)

     Failing to put God first will result in failing to find 

     satisfaction elsewhere.

     

3.  God is With Us and Works in Our Hearts When We

     Obey Him and Put Him First

     (Haggai 1:12-15)

     Even after we've failed, God can restore and use us

     in His plan.

Fusion: week of 7/19

FAMILY THEME: RELY ON GOD'S JUSTICE

Nahum 1:1-15

Ultimately, God's justice will be done on earth. We do not always 

understand His timing or His methods, but we can always trust Him.

1.  The Lord Displays His Justice in Bringing Wrath Upon

     a Rebellious World

     (Nahum 1:1-2, 3b, 6, 8-12a, 14)

     God's holiness demands justice because He cannot

     overlook sin.

2.  We Witness the Lord's Justice Through His Power

     at Work in the Natural World

     (Nahum 1:3c-5)

     There is nothing out of God's grasp; He can use

     anything to bring justice.

     

3.  God Shows His Justice in Offering His Love to a

     Sinful World

     (Nahum 1:3a, 7, 12b-13, 15)

     Jesus' sacrifice satisfied a just God and brought

     grace to a sinful world.

Fusion: week of 7/12

FAMILY THEME: PRACTICE TRUE RELIGION

Micah 6:1-16

This week's Scripture reveals three great errors within both divisions

of the nation of Israel during the time of the prophet Micah's writing:

idolatry, social injustice, and failure to learn the lessons of Israel's

history.

1.  God Charges Sinful and Ungrateful Believers With Doing Wrong

     (Micah 6:1-5)

     God presents His "legal case" and accusations against the

     children of Israel because they have broken the covenant.

2.  God Invites Us to Walk in His Presence Practicing Justice and

     Kindness

     (Micah 6:6-8)

     Social injustice (sins committed against others) was 

     especially offensive to God - along with both literal and

     material idolatry. In fact, they go hand in hand.

     

3.  Failure to Repent of Sin Will Bring Emptiness, Dissatisfaction,

     and God's Judgment

     (Micah 6:9-16)

     Micah names specific ways by which it is possible to sin

     against God and other human beings. These have a boomerang

     effect - a way of returning on the heads of those who are guilty.

Fusion: week of 7/5

FAMILY THEME: HELP THE HURTING

Obadiah 1-21

Despite the fact that Esau was the firstborn, God chose Jacob

over Esau even before their births - and Jacob manipulated

himself into both birthright and blessing! These seeds of bitter-

ness were never totally resolved between their descendants.

The prophet Obadiah predicted the kingdom of Edom (Esau's

descendants) would come to an inglorious end.

1.  We Must Obey God's Revealed Will or Face Consequences

     (Obadiah 1-9)

     God will ultimately do what He has set out to do. Our pride

     and objections, our plans and protections cannot stand

     against His will.

2.  God's Will is for Us to Help Those in Need However We Can

     (Obadiah 10-14)

     When the kingdom of Judah was being attacked by her

     enemies, the descendants of Esau refused to help them.

     In fact, the Edomites celebrated its destruction and may

     have actively participated!

     

3.  One Day God Will Bring Justice Over All the Earth as

     He Rules as King

     (Obadiah 15-21)

     The concept of the Day of the Lord refers to the end-times

     of world history, including Armageddon and the Second

     Coming of Christ.