Fusion: week of 8/17

FAMILY THEME: FAITH

BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT

II Corinthians 4 - 5

Paul taught the Corinthians what it means to live by faith.

1.  Faith Changes Our Outlook

     (II Corinthians 4:1-15)

    Paul's faith in Christ changes his outlook on life and service

    to God.

 
2.  Faith Makes Our Eternal Hope More Tangible

     (II Corinthians 4:16 - 5:10) 

    Jesus enables us to focus on what we will receive by faith

    rather than what we can see.

 
3.  Faith Motivates Us to Share the Message of Reconciliation

     (II Corinthians 5:11-21)

     As Christ's ambassadors, we share the message of   

     reconciliation with all who will listen.

Fusion: week of 8/10

FAMILY THEME: RESURRECTION

A NEW AND IMPROVED MODEL

I Corinthians 15

Paul explained the certainty and importance of the resurrection

of Jesus.

1.  The Resurrection is Central to How We Share the Gospel

     (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

    The Resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith,

    so it ought to be at the forefront of our witness.

 
2.  The Resurrection is Essential to Our Faith

     (1 Corinthians 15:12-34) 

    Everything about Christianity changes if Jesus' resurrection

    is not true.

 
3.  The Resurrection is Proof that God Can Give Eternal Life

     (1 Corinthians 15:35-58)

     Our bodies will be raised as a result of Christ's resurrection.

Fusion: week of 8/3

FAMILY THEME: LOVE

MORE THAN A VERB

I Corinthians 13

Like our modern culture, the Corinthian society promoted many 

distortions of love. Paul taught the Corinthians what true love

looks like.

1.  Love is More Important Than Gifts or Sacrifice

     (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

    Actions and words are meaningless without love.

 
2.  Love Puts the Other Person First

     (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) 

    People often say they love others but act selfishly. Selfish

    love is an oxymoron.

 
3.  Love is Eternal

     (1 Corinthians 13:9-13)

     When spiritual gifts are no longer needed or used there

     will still be love.

Fusion: weekof 7/27

FAMILY THEME: SPIRITUAL GIFTS

EVERY MEMBER MATTERS
I Corinthians 12

The Corinthians struggled to understand the proper place

and purpose of spiritual gifts, so Paul provided some

instruction.

1.  We Are Different, but One

     (1 Corinthians 12:1-6)

    The Spirit makes us one, but the Spirit's gifts make us

    different in a positive sense.

 
2.  We Are Gifted for the Good of the Body

     (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) 

    We are given spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the

    benefit of others.

 
3.  We Have Our Own Gift, but We Need the Gifts of Others

     (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

     While each believer possesses a spiritual gift, none can

     thrive without the rest of the body.

Fusion: week of 7/20

FAMILY THEME: SELFLESSNESS

REMEMBERING HIS SACRIFICE
I Corinthians 11:17-34

The divisions in the church at Corinth were revealed in

their observation of the Lord's Supper. Paul addressed

this issue in 1 Corinthians 11.

1.  The Lord's Supper Teaches Us Unity and Edification

     (1 Corinthians 11:17-22)

    There is no love of Christ without the love of others.

 
2.  The Lord's Supper Teaches Us Rememberance of Christ

     (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) 

    We remember Christ's blood and body symbolically with

    bread and cup.

 
3.  The Lord's Supper Teaches Us Self-Examination

     (1 Corinthians 11:27-34)

     We should be sure we are free from prideful arrogance

     and are remembering Christ.

Fusion: week of 7/13

FAMILY THEME: TEMPTATION

BEATING TEMPTATION
I Corinthians 10

Paul warned the Corinthians about the dangers of yielding to 

temptation and taught them they keys to overcoming it.

1.  Scripture Warns Us About Temptation

     (1 Corinthians 10:1-12)

     All believers at times have had to deal with temptations.

 
2.  God Gives Us Strength to Defeat Temptation

     (1 Corinthians 10:13-22) 

     Every Christian can overcome every temptation.

 
3.  God's Glory Guides Our Freedom

     (1 Corinthians 10:23-33)

     Just because we are allowed to do something doesn't 

     mean we should do it.

Fusion: week of 7/6

FAMILY THEME: CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

GIVING UP OUR RIGHTS

I Corinthians 8-9

Paul taught the Corinthians ways to exercise and limit their

liberty in Christ.

1.  We Limit Our Freedom to Protect Others From Stumbling

     (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

     There are times when mature Christians restrict their liberty

     for the sake of newer believers.

 
2.  We Limit Our Rights in Order to Keep the Gospel Primary

     (1 Corinthians 9:1-18) 

     Believers should be willing to forfeit certain rights to keep

     the gospel the primary focus.

 
3.  We Forgo Our Cultural Preferences to Reach People

     (1 Corinthians 9:19-27)

     The salvation of the lost is far more important than our

     preferences and traditions.