Fusion: week of 10/28

FAMILY THEME: FREED FROM SIN

Romans 6:1-23

Scripture teaches that all people are slaves to sin before

coming to Jesus. When we are united with Christ, we are

freed from sin and alive to God.

1.  We Are Dead to Sin and Alive to God Through Union

     With Christ

     (Romans 6:1-11)

     Just as Christ was raised to new life, so also our

     lives are to be new and different.

 
2.  We Can Give Ourselves to God Rather Than to Sin

     (Romans 6:12-14)

     Now that we are dead to sin and alive to God, we

     must not allow sin to control us.

 
3.  We Are Free to Serve Christ's Purposes

     (Romans 6:15-23)

     Christ has not only broken the power of sin in our

     lives, but He has also freed us to do something

     radically different.

Fusion: week of 10/21

FAMILY THEME: JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

Romans 5:1-21

Justification is when God declares a believing sinner to be

righteous. This lesson will highlight some of the many blessings

that come through justification by faith.

1.  Justification by Faith Gives Us Peace With God

     (Romans 5:1-8)

     Peace with God indicates a relationship where all the

     hostility and barriers that were created by our sin are

     now removed from the relationship. When we are

     justified before God, we are no longer His enemy.

 
2.  Justification by Faith Saves Us From the Wrath of God

     (Romans 5:9-11)

     While we were once subject to God's wrath, our

     justification in Christ keeps us from the eternal

     punishment we deserve.

 
3.  Justification by Faith Gives Us Access to Abundant

     Grace in our Lives

     (Romans 5:2  ;  12-21)

     Through Christ, we have abounding grace,

     righteousness, justification, and eternal life.

Fusion: week of 10/14

FAMILY THEME: THE CURE FOR SIN

Romans 3:10-31

Few people disagree with the fact that humanity is sinful and

can be horribly depraved. The news testifies to this every day.

The main disagreements are about the way to overcome this.

Scripture gives us the answer.

1.  Apart From Christ, No One Meets God's Perfect Standard

     (Romans 3:10-18)

     Scripture declares, and experience confirms, the entire

     human race is lost in sin. All of the good works we do

     are never enough to meet God's perfect standard.

 
2.  The Law Was Designed to Reveal Our Sinfulness, Not

     Remove It

     (Romans 3:19-20)

     Rather than leading to salvation, the Law reveals

     condemnation. The Law was never meant to save 

     us, only to show us our need for a Savior.

 
3.  Faith in Christ is the Only Way to Be Justified and Made

     Righteous in God's Sight

     (Romans 3:21-31)

     Just as all people have sinned and earned the wage 

     of sin, all people can be saved from that penalty through

     faith in Jesus.

Fusion: week of 10/7

FAMILY THEME: THE CURSE OF SIN

Romans 1:16-32

Many times humankind has tried and failed to create a utopian

society. This lesson explains why the presence of humans 

guarantees the presence of sin.

1.  The Gospel is the Only Solution to Our Sin Problem

     (Romans 1:16-17)

     The gospel reveals God's power and willingness

     to save sinners.

 
2.  Choosing to Reject God Makes People Subject to

     His Wrath

     (Romans 1:18-23)

     Righteousness comes through receiving the

     gospel; wrath comes from rejecting the gospel.

 
3.  Rejecting God Leaves People Abandoned to Their

     Sinful Nature

     (Romans 1:24-32)

     God will allow those who continue to resist and

     reject Him to have their way. Without God's mercy

     and grace, we are left to ourselves and are without

     hope.

Fusion: week of 9/30

FAMILY THEME: STANDING FOR TRUTH

1 Kings 18:19-46

There's not a better Scriptural example of someone so brave,

with such tremendous faith, capable of standing alone against

the majority than the prophet Elijah.

1.  We Will Often Be in the Minority When Standing for the Truth

     (1 Kings 18:19-24)

     Though he felt outnumbered, Elijah boldly challenged

     the false prophets.

 
2.  God Honors Our Bold Stance for the Truth

     (1 Kings 18:25-40)

     The frantic pleading of the hundreds of false prophets

     could not compare to Elijah's direct petition for God's 

     power. God came through, leaving no doubts about 

     who was the false god and Who was the true God.

 
3.  God Hears His People When They Pray

     (1 Kings 18:41-46)

     Elijah is an example for us in praying because of his

     sincerity and his confidence in God.

Fusion: week of 9/23

FAMILY THEME: CONFRONTING SIN

1 Kings 16:29 - 17:7 ; 18:1-8

God used the great prophet Elijah to demonstrate the folly of

idolatry, contrasting it with the wisdom of relying on God's power,

provision, and principles. Elijah was used to call a nation back

to worshiping the one true God!

1.  Sin Leads to Devastation

     (1 Kings 16:29 - 17:1)

     Obedience leads to life and blessing. Disobedience or sin

     ultimately ends with death or destruction. This is true for

     an individual, a family, or a nation. The sins of Jeroboam

     and Ahab were extremely destructive on every level.

 
2.  God Takes Care of Those Who Follow His Will

     (1 Kings 17:2-7)

     When Elijah stood for God, God provided for Elijah. He

     has His eyes on His children!

 
3.  May God Place Us in a Position to Confront Sin

     (1 Kings 18:1-8)

     Love, courage, truth, the power of the Spirit, and

     circumstances converge providing an opportunity

     to speak to others about Christ.

Fusion: week of 9/16

FAMILY THEME: FOLLOWING WISE COUNSEL

1 Kings 12:1-33

After the pinnacle of peace and prosperity, celebrating the

new Temple in Jerusalem and the worldwide fame of Solomon,

Israel's descent into idolatry and rebellion began with Rehoboam's 

reign and the division of the northern (Israel) and the southern

(Judah) kingdoms.

1.  Be Careful Whom You Listen To

     (1 Kings 12:1-15)

     Solomon's son lacked his father's wisdom. King Rehoboam

     listened to the wrong counselors.

 
2.  Rejecting Wise Counsel Often Leads to Division

     (1 Kings 12:16-24)

     When Rehoboam added to the tax burden and workload

     of the Israelites, they rebelled and ten tribes seceded from

     the union.

 
3.  Division Among God's People Hinders the Advance of

     His Kingdom

     (1 Kings 12:25-33)

     Though this separation was prophesied, the division of

     the 12 tribes left them vulnerable to false religion and 

     to enemy attack.