Fusion: week of 4/19

FAMILY THEME: ASCENSION OF CHRIST

Luke 24:44-53

There were only 40 days between Jesus' resurrection on that first

Easter Sunday morning and His ascension back to the Father's 

right hand in Heaven.

1.  The Old Testament Scriptures Foretold Jesus' Death and

     Resurrection

     (Luke 24:44-46)

     The resurrected Jesus deliberately revealed the prophecies

     of His death and resurrection from the Old Testament Law,

     Psalms, and Prophets.

 
2.  Jesus Empowered His Followers to Proclaim the Gospel

     to All Peoples and Nations

     (Luke 24:47-49)

     The power of the gospel saves us. The power of the Holy

     Spirit guarantees an adequate means to deliver it.

     

3.  Jesus Ascended into Heaven, Having Completed His

     Earthly Ministry

     (Luke 24:50-53)

     Luke summarized his gospel account of the life of Christ

     as a transition to writing the Book of Acts.

Fusion: week of 4/12

FAMILY THEME: RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

Mark 15:16 - 16:8

We see the pain. We see the humiliation and injustice. But at the

cross of Jesus, if we do not also see the great love of a great

Savior, we have missed the point.

1.  Jesus Was Mocked and Nailed to a Cross for Our Salvation

     (Mark 15:16-32)

     With a thorny crown and scornful salutes, the soldiers

     pretended to give worship to the condemned prisoner.

     They took Jesus to Mount Calvary, and others joined 

     in their mockery.

 
2.  Jesus Died and Was Buried to Make Our Salvation Possible

     (Mark 15:33-47)

     Jesus' burial proved that He was unmistakably dead and

     removed Him from life in this world for three days.

     

3.  Jesus Was Raised From the Dead to Guarantee Our Salvation

     (Mark 16:1-8)

     On Sunday, everything changed. The stone was rolled

     away, the tomb was empty, and Jesus was risen!

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.