Fusion: week of 4/5

FAMILY THEME: SUFFERING OF CHRIST

Mark 14:32-65

Christ was willing to suffer the rejection of His followers, the injustice

of His fellow citizens, the physical pain of death, and even the aban-

donment of His Father in order to purchase our salvation.

1.  Christ Suffered in Order to Accomplish God's Will

     (Mark 14:32-42)

     In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ prayed that His Father

     would remove the "cup of suffering" from Him.

 
2.  Christ Suffered Because His Friends Betrayed and Abandoned Him

     (Mark 14:43-52)

     Even those who were closest to Jesus, His own disciples,

     fled when He was arrested by the Jewish rulers.

     

3.  Christ Suffered Because the World Hates the Truth

     (Mark 14:53-65)

     Though His accusers charged Him with blasphemy and

     condemned Him to death, Jesus spoke only the truth.

Fusion: week of 3/29

FAMILY THEME: CONFIDENTLY HONOR GOD'S WORD

Jeremiah 36:1-32

Although man may reject God's Word and even try to destroy

it in the hearts and minds of others, God will have the last word.

1.  God's Word Calls People to Turn From Sin and Be Forgiven

     (Jeremiah 36:1-10)

     God always gives us a choice to return to Him instead of

     facing punishment.

 
2.  People Will Sometimes Reject God's Word

     (Jeremiah 36:11-26)

     Not everyone receives, or even respects, God's Word.

     

3.  All of God's Word Will Come to Pass Whether People Accept

     It or Not

     (Jeremiah 36:26-32)

     People may ignore or reject God's Word, but It will not

     be destroyed.

Fusion: week of 3/22

FAMILY THEME: JOYFULLY HOPE IN GOD'S PROMISE

Jeremiah 31:1-40

Our relationship with God starts with our repentant heart and His

forgiveness, but blooms with so much more as we grow in Him.

1.  God Will Restore Joy and Peace to His People

     (Jeremiah 31:1-14)

     We can be reunited and restored and have a renewed

     relationship with God.

 
2.  God Will Accept Our Prayers of Reptentance

     (Jeremiah 31:15-22)

     As a loving Father, God comforts us and loves His

     children through the darkest of times.

     

3.  God Desires to Bless and Live With His People

     (Jeremiah 31:23-40)

     A new covenant bridges the way for us to walk closely

     with God.

Fusion: week of 3/15

FAMILY THEME: PATIENTLY TRUST GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

Jeremiah 12:1-17

Why does life seem unfair? How long do I have to wait? We've 

asked those questions too. God hears and answers them by

pointing to Himself - our Sovereign God. He answers us as He

did Jeremiah: "You can trust Me".

1.  Life May Sometimes Seem Unfair

     (Jeremiah 12:1-4)

     God knows our hearts. We can take our questions about

     fairness to our righteous God.

 
2.  God Will Judge the Wrongdoing in Our World

     (Jeremiah 12:5-13)

     The wheels of justice may grind slow but they grind sure.

     

3.  God Offers Forgiveness and Compassion to All Who

     Will Turn to Him

     (Jeremiah 12:14-17)

     The Lord does not want to condemn but to redeem all

     men.

Fusion: week of 3/8

FAMILY THEME: FAITHFULLY SHARE GOD'S MESSAGE

Jeremiah 7:1-34

Jeremiah was given a hard message in this chapter, and God

told him those who heard it would not heed it (verse 27). The

message rebuked God's people for their failure to obey God's

Word even while they continued to perform religious rituals.

1.  Outward Worship Does Not Make Up for Sinful Behavior

     (Jeremiah 7:1-15)

     We need to seek to develop the character of God and

     not outward religious conformity.

 
2.  True Worship Begins With Obedience

     (Jeremiah 7:16-23)

     A right relationship with God requires one's obedience.

     

3.  Ongoing Sin Leads to Judgment and Sorrow

     (Jeremiah 7:24-34)

     God has a remedy for sin, not an excuse to sin.

Fusion: week of 3/1

FAMILY THEME: BOLDLY ANSWER GOD'S CALL

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Even before his birth, God had plans for Jeremiah. He chose

him as a prophet, He knocked down his flimsy excuses, and

He designed work for Jeremiah to do. God has plans for your

life too.

1.  God Calls Individuals to Do His Work

     (Jeremiah 1:1-5)

     God calls people to serve Him and meet the needs

     of others.

 
2.  God Gives Us What We Need to Do What He Calls

     Us to Do

     (Jeremiah 1:6-16)

     God gave Jeremiah a promise and spiritual under-

     standing to proclaim His truth.

     

3.  We Can Trust God to Help Us Do Whatever He Calls

     Us to Do

     (Jeremiah 1:17-19)

     Our confidence for ministry comes from the authority

     of God's Word.

Fusion: week of 2/23

FAMILY THEME: GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR MINDS

Colossians 3:2 ; Joshua 1:8 ; 1 Peter 1:13

We must direct our minds if we are not to become distracted

and deceived by the things of this world. We must use every

means of grace that God gives us to focus on Jesus.

1.  God's Pattern for Our Minds

     (Colossians 3:2)

     God has given us His Son to be our Savior. We can

     completely focus on Jesus because we are complete

     in Him.

 
2.  God's Guide for Our Minds

     (Joshua 1:8)

     The Word of God is truth for the mind and food for

     the soul. Meditation allows the Holy Spirit to take

     the Word of God and apply it to our lives.

     

3.  God's Desired Results for Our Minds

     (1 Peter 1:13)

     We need to prepare our minds to trust in God's grace

     in every situation. No one else will do that for us.