Fusion: week of 8/16

 

FAMILY THEME: GOD RULES IN THE KINGDOM OF MEN

Daniel 5:1-31

Pride has been the downfall of man including Belshazzar.

Thinking himself safe, he exalted himself against God and

learned God alone is to be glorified.

1.  God Can Use Any Means Necessary to Humble Those

     Who Disregard Him

     (Daniel 5:1-6)

     God used supernatural means to humble Belshazzar

     and strike fear into his heart.

2.  God Uses His People to Share His Truth With the

     Lost World

     (Daniel 5:7-16)

     The king and his rulers were greatly alarmed by the

     writing on the wall, and none of his wise men could

     interpret what was written.

     

3.  The Sovereign God Humbles the Proud

     (Daniel 5:17-31)

     The written message was that time had run out for

     Belshazzar. His kingdom would be given to others.

Fusion: week of 8/9

 

FAMILY THEME: STANDING AGAINST IDOLATRY

Daniel 3:1-30

One of the hardest temptations to resist is the temptation to

fit in. This isn't merely true for children and teenagers, but 

for adults as well. In Daniel 3 we learn how to stand out 

instead of fitting in.

1.  Remaining Faithful to God May Put Us in the Minority

     (Daniel 3:1-7)

     King Nebuchadnezzar had an enormous golden image

     made and set up, and gathered all the officials of his

     empire to dedicate it.

2.  Remaining Faithful to God May Put Us at Risk

     (Daniel 3:8-23)

     Some of the Chaldeans came to the king to report

     that three Hebrew appointees refused to worship

     the king's golden image.

     

3.  Remaining Faithful to God is a Witness to Those

     Around Us

     (Daniel 3:24-30)

     The Hebrews' faithfulness provided and opportunity

     for God to be glorified.

Fusion: week of 8/2

FAMILY THEME: CHOOSING RIGHT IN AN UNGODLY CULTURE

Daniel 1:1-21

Daniel lived in a world hostile to his faith and devotion to God.

While there was a very real temptation to conform to the world

around him, Daniel stood strong.

1.  An Ungodly Culture Will Seek to Make Us Like Them

     (Daniel 1:1-7)

     The Babylonians sought to assimilate the Israelite 

     captives into their culture and to train them for service

     to the king.

2.  Honor God by Choosing What Pleases Him, Rather

     Than Following the Ways of the Lost Culture

     (Daniel 1:8-16)

     Daniel and the others exemplified how Christians 

     should choose what pleases God, rather than 

     becoming like the ungodly culture around them.

     

3.  God Will Use Us for His Glory When We Put Him

     First in Our Lives

     (Daniel 1:17-21)

     God blessed them with wisdom and skill they could

     use to serve the king.

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.