D6: Week of 12/30

FAMILY THEME:  OBEDIENCE

JUST DO IT!
Joshua 6

God's battle plan for conquering Jericho may have seemed
contrary to human reasoning, but Joshua obeyed the divine
instructions to the letter.

1.  Obey God - Even When It Seems Illogical  (Joshua 6:1-16) 

     God's orders must have seemed odd but those

     instructions won the battle.

2.  Obey God - Even When It Seems Harsh  (Joshua 6:17-25)
     Israel was to spare no one but Rahab and her family.

3.  Proclaim God's Message - Even When It Promises Judgment

     (Joshua 4:10-24)     

     The ruins of Jericho were to serve as a warning against

     standing in God's way.

D6: Week of 12/23

FAMILY THEME:  FULFILLMENT

PROMISES, PROMISES
Genesis 12:1-3 ; Acts 3:22-26 ; Luke 1:26-33 ; 2:1-7

God's promises in the Old Testament were fulfilled in 
Jesus Christ.

1.  Jesus Fulfilled the Old Testament Promises 

     (Genesis 12:1-3 ; Acts 3:22-26) 

     Peter proclaimed that Jesus was the Prophet

     of Whom Moses had spoken.

2.  Jesus Fulfilled the Angelic Promise  (Luke 1:26-33)
     The angel informed Mary that she would bear a 

     Son and name Him Jesus.

3.  Jesus Was a Real Man  (Luke 2:1-7)     

     The miraculous conception resulted in a completely

     human birth.

Reminder

We will have our Christmas party during the Sunday School hour this week.

Please bring hats, gloves, etc. to benefit Mission Tulsa and the homeless.

There will also be a "money tree" for our fearless leaders!

D6: week of 12/16

FAMILY THEME: MIGHTY GOD

RIVER, ROCKS, AND REMEMBRANCE
Joshua 3-4

God parted the Red Sea to get the Israelites out of Egypt.

Forty years later, He stopped the Jordan River to move them

into the Promised Land.

1.  Expect God to Act  (Joshua 3:1-13) 

     God placed the people in a situation where it was 

     impossible to obey unless He acted.

2.  Obey God's Instructions  (Joshua 3:14-4:9)
     God expects the kind of obedience that could only be

     explained as the result of faith.

3.  Build a Memorial to God's Might  (Joshua 4:10-24)     

     At God's command, Joshua built a memorial of their

     miraculous crossing.

D6: Week of 12/9

FAMILY THEME: FAITH

RISKY BUSINESS
Joshua 2

God calls Joshua to replace Moses as the leader of Israel.

1.  Faith Empowers Us to Take Risks  (Joshua 2:1-7) 

     For the spies and Rahab, exercising faith in God led them

     to places where their lives were in danger .

2.  Faith Responds to the Fear of God  (Joshua 2:8-13)
     When we are convinced of God's power and of His intent

     to exercise judgment, then seeing His mercy is the most

     rational act we could imagine.

3.  Faith Takes Action to Help Others  (Joshua 2:14-24)     

     Rahab's actions helped the spies, the Israelites, and her

     own family.

Holiday Fun

This video will expire on 1/1/13, so enjoy it while you can!!

http://host-d.oddcast.com/elfyourself2012/?mId=45223816.3

D6: week of 12/2

FAMILY THEME: COURAGE

BE OF GOOD COURAGE
Joshua 1

God calls Joshua to replace Moses as the leader of Israel.

1.  Courage Relies on God's Promises  (Joshua 1:1-5)
     Christian courage comes from reliance on God's promises

     and His faithfulness.

2.  Courage Is Empowered Through God's Word  (Joshua 1:6-9)
     God did not tell Joshua what he should hope to do;  He told 

     him what he would do.

3.  Courage Is Demonstrated  (Joshua 1:10-18)     

     Whatever misgiving Joshua may have had at first, there was

     no trace of them as he gave the orders to prepare to cross 

     the Jordan.

D6: week of 11/28

Family Theme:  Virtue

THE WOMAN OF EXCELLENT CHARACTER
Proverbs 31:10-31

Excellent character is not standard equipment for human beings.

Solomon praised the woman of excellent character as a rare and

priceless treasure. Note: Ancient tradition identifies King Lemuel

(verse 1) as Solomon.

1.  She Inspires Confidence  (Proverbs 31:10-12)
     Her great worth and strength of character cause her husband to

     trust her completely.

2.  She Is Industrious  (Proverbs 31:13-27)
     Although she is hardworking and industrious, the virtuous woman

     is also kind and benevolent.

3.  She Deserves Praise  (Proverbs 31:28-31)     

     Her moral strength, hard work, and dedication to her family

     culminate in her children rising up to proclaim her praises.

D6: week of 11/18

Family Theme:  Integrity

INTEGRITY? PRICELESS!
Proverbs 6:1-19

If you ask people to define integrity, they may struggle to do so.

In reality, integrity is a very practical concept, as Solomon

revealed in this chapter.

1.  Break Free From Friend's Debts  (Proverbs 6:1-5)
     Solomon strongly warned against what we would call co-

     signing for someone else's debt.

2.  Wake Up and Be Wise  (Proverbs 6:6-15)
     No matter what one's profession, hard work is required to

     achieve any level of economic security.

3.  Avoid the Big Seven  (Proverbs 6:16-19)     

     In spite of what some believe, there are certain things the

     God of love hates.

D6: week of 11/11

No Sunday School due to "Friend Day", but Fusion allows us

to continue our Bible studies! 

Family Theme:  Obedience

OBEY GOD
Proverbs 3:1-35

In this chapter, Solomon addressed some of the practical benefits

of obedience and wisdom.

1.  Follow God's Instructions  (Proverbs 3:1-12)
     Fearing the Lord and obeying Him produces practical results

     in every significant area of life, whether physical or spiritual.

2.  Value Wisdom  (Proverbs 3:13-26)
     Nothing on earth can compare with true wisdom; it is a treasure

     more valuable than any other.

3.  Be a Good Neighbor  (Proverbs 3:27-35)     

     If there is a need, and we have the ability to meet that need, we

     must act.  To do less is to act unwisely and disgracefully.

REMINDER

There will be no Sunday School class next week (November 11th) due to "Friend Day".

D6: Week of 11/4

Family Theme:  Wisdom

FEAR GOD
Proverbs 1:1-33

Solomon's wise advice began with this counsel: The fear

of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

1.  Fear the Lord  (Proverbs 1:1-7)
     True wisdom comes with proper reverence for the

     almighty Creator.

2.  Do Not Listen to the Advice of the Ungodly  (Proverbs 1:8-19)
     The wise son will not follow those who try to lead him

      into sin.

3.  Listen to Wisdom  (Proverbs 1:20-33)     

     Wisdom cries out from every corner of creation urging

     mankind to fear the Lord and follow Him.

D6: week of 10/28

Family Theme:  Protection

HE'LL BE WATCHING OVER US
Psalm 121-124

Psalms 120-134 are called "songs of ascent" because the Jews

sang them as they made the uphill journey to Jerusalem for 

worship.  Psalms 121-124 celebrate God's protection.

1.  Rest! God Is Up Anyway  (Psalm 121)
     God alone can be our help in time of need because He 

     never fails.

2.  Rejoice! We Are Going to God's House  (Psalm 122)
     David felt joy at the thought of going to the house of the

     Lord to worship.

3.  Escape!  God Delivers Us  (Psalm 124)     

     Whatever the circumstance that prompted the writing of

     this psalm, were it not for the mercies of God, all would

     have been lost.

D6: Week of 10/21

Special thanks to Art Roslewski for teaching this morning!

 

Family Theme:  Sovereignty

REJOICE! OUR GOD REIGNS
Psalm 96-97

Psalms 96-97 celebrate the sovereignty of God and encourage

His children to worship Him with joy and gladness.

1.  Rejoice, Sing of God's Glory and Majesty (Psalm 96: 1-6)
     We should proclaim God's glory in a celebratory manner to

     all the nations of the earth.

2.  Rejoice, the Lord is a Righteous Judge (Psalm 96: 7-13)
     Our worship should lead us to carry God's message

     throughout the earth.

3.  Rejoice, the Lord Reigns (Psalm 97: 1-12)     

     Since Yahweh reigns, let all the earth rejoice.

D6: Week of 10/14

Family Theme:  Eternal King

TRUST OUR ETERNAL KING
Psalm 89:1-37

This psalm celebrates God's promises to David and his

descendents - one of whom is Christ, our eternal king.

The psalm is a great reminder of the supremacy and

faithfulness of God.

1.  Trust God's Promises (Psalm 89: 1-4)
     God's goodness and kindness are ever present and He is 

     faithful in all situations.

2.  Look to Creation to Glimpse God's Power (Psalm 89: 5-18)
     The God we serve is so awesome and great that we scacely

     imagine His splendor.

3.  Trust and Obey (Psalm 89: 19-37)
     God's promises make obedience necessary.  Anything

     less would be foolhardy and disrespectful.

D6: Week of 10/7

Special thanks to Derek Chute for being our fearless leader today!
 
Family Theme:  Deliverance

Psalm 69

WHEN ENEMIES ATTACK

1.  Cry Out to God
     Psalm 69:1-18
     In the midst of struggles, David dedicated himself to
     praying and trusting that God would act in His timing.

2.  Implore God to Act
     Psalm 69:19-28
     Out of frustration, David prayed that God would turn the
     table on his enemies but he did not ask God for permission
     to attack them.

3.  Praise God Even in Suffering
     Psalm 69:29-36
     Despite the suffering he was enduring, David declared that
     he would sing songs of praise to God.

D6: Week of 9/30

Family Theme:  Repentance

WHEN WE SIN
Psalm 51

After his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12), David expressed 
sorrowful repentance in Psalm 51.

1.  Appeal to God's Mercy (Psalm 51: 1-6)
     Sin is so serious that only God's mercy is great enough to
     cover our guilt.

2.  Ask for God's Cleansing (Psalm 51: 7-12)
     Sin has so deeply stained us that only God can cleanse us and 
     create a right spirit within us.

3.  Respond With Joy (Psalm 51: 13-19)
     The cleansing David received from God motivated him to
     godly action and holy praise.

D6: Week of 9/23

Family Theme:  Prayer

WHEN IN PAIN, PRAY

Psalm 44

1.  When in Pain, Remember God's Past Faithfulness
     Psalm 44:1-8
     Since God has proven Himself faithful in the past, 
     we can trust Him to be faithful in the present.

2.  When in Pain, Be Honest With God
     Psalm 44:9-22
     The psalmist plainly laid out his questions and 
     concerns before the Lord.

3.  When in Pain, Cry Out Desperately to God
     Psalm 44:23-26
     This psalm ends with a cry for God to rise up
     and help His people.

D6: Week of 9/16

Family Theme:  Faithfulness

Psalm 37

YOU CAN COUNT ON HIM!

1.  Pay Attention to God, Not the Wicked
     Psalm 37: 1-11
     God's children should not fret over evildoers or be jealous 
     of the wicked.

2.  Trust God and Consider the Fate of the Wicked
     Psalm 37: 12-22
     There is a distinct contrast between the blessings of the righteous 
     and the fate of the wicked.

3.  Wait for the Lord and Do What Is Right
     Psalm 37:23-40
     God's children should foresake evil, do what is good, and trust
     their sovereign Lord.

Additional relevant verses:  James 2:14, 18 ; Matt. 5:5 ; I Peter 1:1

D6: week of 9/9

Family Theme: Provision  Psalm 23

OUR GREAT SHEPHERD

In this famous psalm, David presented the Lord as our all-sufficient Shepherd.

1.  The Lord Is Our Source of Satisfaction  (Psalm 23:1-3)

     Since Yahweh is our Shepherd, His sheep will not be in want.

2.  The Lord Is Our Source of Protection  (Psalm 23:4)

     Regardless of the form in which our "valley of the shadow of death" 

     may come, our Shepherd is with us.

3.  The Lord Is Our Source of Provision  (Psalm 23:5-6)

     David illustrated God's grace by picturing Him as a Lord who gives

     His child a place of honor at a grand feast, including anointing with fine oil.

 

D6: Week of 9/02

Family Theme: Praise  Psalms 8, 24, 100

PRAISE THE LORD!

Psalms were sung in the worship of God.  These three are known as psalms of praise.

1.  Our Majestic Creator Deserves Our Humble Praise  (Psalm 8)

     Psalm 8 is a call to worship our eternal, self-existent majestic Creator.

2.  Our Mighty King Deserves Our Holy Praise  (Psalm 24)

     This strong and mighty God deserves to be praised through the holy live of His worshipers.

3.  Our Loving Shepherd Deserves Our Glad Service  (Psalm 100)

     Our worship of God should include service to Him.

Reminders

We will be having BREAKFAST next week!!

If you have a prayer request, please email it to Val Lewis.  :-)

God's Global Purpose for Our Lives

Thanks to our friend Matt Conder (missionary from Mexico) for teaching this morning!

Missions are not just for missionaries; we are in the place we need to be.  We all impact lives around the world.

We do it to glorify God's Name.  He doesn't NEED us for His work; He WANTS us!

In Gen. 12:1-3, God called Abram and he was willing.

God called the three boys to stand against bowing to the king's statue; even when they were cast into the furnace, He was there with them!

Moses was called to lead the people across the Red Sea and he was willing.

Rom. 1:14-15

God blesses us so that we may be a blessing to others!

Class Activity

            Jimmy Willis:  We love you, but you are ON YOUR OWN in this adventure...  :-D

D6

Today we had combined Sunday School class in the Sanctuary to discuss "D6".  D6 is derived from Deut. 6:5-7 and is intended to keep "every age on the same page".

First we looked at Matt. 28:19-20.  Verse 19 tells us to "teach" or make disciples, and "baptize" as a sign of obedience.  Verse 20 tells us to "teach" or give instruction, for three reasons:  
1.  Biblical reason (obedience)
2.  Cultural reason (protection of the Truth, since cultures can be toxic)
3.  Personal reason (application to our own lives)

We believe in the historical (context), grammatical (God-inspired Word), literal (unless there is a symbol, then we figure out what it means) interpretation of the Bible.

Connect
Learn
Explore
Apply
Respond

1.  Education for God's people...information for transformation by application
2.  Unity in the local Church...being on the same page
3.  Connection with other people...doing life together
4.  Fun times and memories...generation to generation
5.  Glorify the Lord...ultimately

Transformation, not just information

Unique Elements of D6 Curriculum:
* Great Commission Elements
* Family-Friendly Studies
* "Home Connection"
* "Splink" :  register at   d6family.com/splink/register
* Home Devotional Magazine (will receive next week to begin the following Sunday)

 

Reminder

Next week (August 19th), we will all be meeting in the Sanctuary for a Sunday School Rally.

See you there!!

Rev. 1:1-10

We reviewed Rev. 1:1-3

Verses 4-6 show the Source of Revelation to John

7 is the number of perfection: 7 churches symbolize perfection: 

7 Spirits show the perfect Holy Spirit: this message is from the Trinity; it is complete.

V.5 addresses three titles: "Faithful Witness" (ref. Rev. 3:1); "First Begotten of the Dead" (Superiority, also found in Col. 1:18); "Prince of the Kings of the Earth" John 18:37.

Notice the last part of v. 5 is written in the past tense; see John 3:16.

"Washed" is the Greek word for released.

Verse 6 shows the purpose of believers: we are to be kings and priests.

We are royal priesthood. I Peter 2:9

Verses 7-8 are the message of His coming

("Behold" tells us to LOOK!)

Other related verses: Matt. 24:30 ; Luke 21:27 ; I Thes. 4:17 ; Acts 1:9-11 ; Zech. 12:10-11

Verse 8 states that He is the Alpha and Omega.

Verses 9 and 10 show that John described himself as a brother and companion in tribulation. He was stuck on an island for sharing his faith; why is it so difficult for us to share our faith when we are free to do so?

Verse 10 shows that he was In the Spirit on the Lord's Day; he was allowed to see the events of the future and told to write them down in a Book.

Some Things Change, Some Things Stay the Same...

                                                 ( picture swiped from Facebook)
We are so grateful to Jimmy Willis for stepping up to become our new Teacher! (What a brave soul you are!!)  We will dearly miss Jim and Lori Eller, but also know that we are in good hands (sorry Jimmy, if that sounds like a commercial for AllState...)

As per Pastor, our 'fresh start' will begin with a Sunday School rally in two weeks; following that, all Sunday School classes will be addressing the same topics to unify our Bible studies.

Today we discussed His Power and Who He Is

Rev. 1:1-3
Revelation was written to give us hope as Believers (and as a warning for the unsaved). John was given the message by an angel.

In verse 3, there are three types of people mentioned:  he who reads, those who hear the words of prophecy, and those who keep those things which are written.

How close are we to the events written in Revelation?  "the time is near" 


He is waiting on more people to be saved.  II Peter 3:9


God's time is not our time.  Psalm 94


No one knows what hour; the last days will be as the days of Noah; be ready for the Son of Man to come back in a day and hour we do not expect.  Matt. 24:36-44


Jesus told us to watch and be ready!!
Will YOU be ready?!?


Blessed is the servant whose Master finds him serving when He returns...
 

Our Position in Jesus Christ

Special thanks to Lance Harrington for preparing and delivering the message for today!

Col. 3:1-2
Paul is in prison as he writes to the Church, challenging them through their difficulties. (He had never even visited there.)  No matter where he was, he lived out the Will of God.  He encouraged others instead of being discouraged by his own circumstances.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit knew Their positions in the Trinity.
Psalm 110:1;  II Sam. 7:12;  Luke 22:69  

The verb in Col. 3:1 means "co-resurrected".

We forget our position when we fail to feed the Spirit.  As Believers, we sometimes lean on our own understanding, walk by sight instead of faith, fail to pay attention to consciously include God, allow pride to stand in our way, etc.

"Seek those things which are above..." (His glory, His will, His power, patience, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, etc. :  eternal things)

Sometimes we live in sin because we take God's grace for granted.

Sin does not have power over us; our position in Christ leads us to righteousness.

When we take a stand then "play out of position", people notice.  When we stumble and fall, we should repent, apologize, take responsibility, then be accountable, transparent, and humble.

Paul wrote from prison  to remind and encourage the Church of its position in Christ, and to set its sights on eternal things instead of temporary things.

"Let Him speak in and through you..."  Luke 22

Ruth

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."  I Tim. 5:8

Ruth's family stood in contrast to the other families of the time.

Ruth sacrificed to stay with the family.

Ruth eventually became the Great-Grandmother of King David.

Guarantees that God gives to us: Love

Thanks to Ken Idleman for today's lesson!

I John 4:16

There are many kinds of love: friends, family, sexual, unconditional ("Agape")

"Others will catch a glimpse of God through you."

Guarantees:

*He chose us.  John 15:16

     If we do God's work, He promises to equip us with what we need.

*He loved us first.  John 4:8-10

     His love cannot be earned or increased.

Rejoicing in Heaven

Max and Debbie Harmon: Missionaries to Peru {Col. 4:2-6}

Since 1982, the Harmons have been in the missionary field of Peru. Their sending church is Fellowship Baptist Church of Perryton, TX; however, Friendship Baptist Church has offered support since its foundation.

Special thanks to Max Harmon for his presentation to our class this morning!

Theirs is a work of faith in the field; our faith promise is a work of faith on our part.  Rom. 14:22-23

He became a Pastor at the ripe old age of 23 in Illinois (1978-1982); our Pastor Slayden came to be their song leader and his Mom was treasurer for the church, and Miss Carla can play the piano beautifully!  I Tim. 4:12

We all have to be led by the Spirit to our own "missions".  Luke 4:1

"Project Peru" has been very successful in assisting struggling churches financially.  (More will be discussed at evening service.) 
 

Check them out:


http://bbfi-southamerica.org/Harmon_M/

Grace and Truth

Special thanks to Dan Jeffers of Park Street Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, FL, for being our guest teacher this morning!

What is grace and how does it apply to me?
Grace is favor, kindness, and graciousness.

As an example of one receiving grace, Noah was just, perfect in generations, and walked with God. Heb. 11:7

There is merited favor and grace (assuming there is already a relationship with God). Ps. 84:11 ; Prov. 3:4 ; James 4:6-8 ; II Cor. 9:8

Grace as defined as "unmerited favor" is received upon Salvation. Eph. 2:4-10 {v.8: "...and that not of yourselves..."}

Grace should be the motivation for everything we do.  A list of laws will not please God without the relationship first. Rom. 5:1-2, 6-10, 12-17, 19-21

Truth: is it absolute or relative?  John 1:1-4, 14
Grace allows us to present truth in a gracious way. Truth without grace is often rejected.

Spiritual Living in a Secular Society

We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.  Heb. 12:1-10

There are many challenges and conflicts in the world: war, generational, racial, religious

Daniel was distinctively different in his society.  Dan. 1:1-7

*Study to be continued next week...

Special Project

Penny has been her creative self and come up with a wonderful idea!  We are going to use one gallon Ziploc bags as "blessing bags" for Mission Tulsa...just fill one up with the following suggestions or whatever else the Lord would lay on your heart.  These can be put in the Mission Tulsa boxes or given to Penny. Thanks so much for being a blessing!

Blessing Bags for Mission Tulsa

List of suggested things to put in a 1 gallon Ziploc bag

Chap Stick                                                                Packages of tissues

Toothbrush & Toothpaste                                            Comb

Soap or hand wipes, or baby wipes                            Trail Mix

Granola Bars                                                             Snack Crackers

Pack of Gum                                                             Band Aids

Alcohol Free Mouthwash                                            Hand Wipes

Pair of Socks                                                             Instant Coffee Packets

Washcloth                                                                 Fruit Cups

Juice Packets                                                             Nuts

Beef Jerky                                                                  Tuna Packets

Sample Size Shampoo                                                 Pudding Cup

Hard Candy                                                                Notepad and Pen

Deodorant                                                                  (We will add tracts.)

If you are vacationing, keep your hotel lotion, small soaps & shampoo, for the bags!  If you want to donate some items but not a whole bag, we will add items before we distribute.  I am thankful that I am not homeless and want to have compassion on those who are.  Let’s be a blessing! 

Note:

Next week we will be meeting in the Sanctuary for Sunday School hour with Jimmy DeYoung. He will be presenting Bible prophecy.

Life with a Purpose

Sowing to the Spirit and Reaping a Purposeful Life

You need HOPE to COPE.
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Prov. 13:12

"Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee..." Is. 26:3

Knowing God's will gives meaning, simplifies, and makes our lives purposeful; it motivates us.
Keep focused on the goal; the past isn't our prison. Phil. 3:12-15
Purpose produces passion:  recognize who we are, what we're called to do, and don't let the weights of the world distract us.  Heb. 12:1-2
We'll have a good testimony through faith. Heb. 11:39-40

What have you done with what God has given you?

1.  We need to have enough faith to accept whatever God designs for our lives.  Jer. 18:16


2.  We need to have a life so yielded to God that we realize His purpose for us.  Phil. 1:6

3.  We need to have gratitude enough to be thankful for His blessings and mercies.  Rom. 11:33

4.  We need to have patience enough to not be bitter.

5.  We need God's smile and approval in all we say and do.

6.  We need grace enough to be sweet under all circumstances.  II Tim. 4:2 

Our Purpose: What Drives You?

(continued from last week)

What drives your life?
*Some are driven by guilt
*Some are driven by anger and resentment
*Some are driven by fear
    (This is a self-imposed prison.)
*Some are driven by materialism
    (Our value is not determined by our valuables.)
*Some are driven by a need for approval
    (Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.)

Key verses:  Ecc. 7:9 ; Matt. 10:19-20 ; Rom. 12:3 ; Matt. 6:33 ; Rom. 8:32 ; Matt. 6:24 ; Prov. 12:3

Without God, life is trivial and fruitless.

Of all the words
from speech or pen,
The saddest of these:
"It might have been."

"Our Purpose"

Special thanks to Jim Eller, our fearless leader, for making our class what it is today...we are all blessed from being touched by you!!!

What drives the life of the unbeliever?
What drives your life?

"A man without the Lord is like a ship without a rudder."

*We need wisdom
*We need to serve a life of purpose and be Christ-like
*We need to imitate the apostle Paul as he imitated Christ
*We need to have a purpose, such as Timothy

Key verses:
Psalm 90:1-2, 12 ; II Tim. 2:5-6 ; I Cor. 4:15-16 ; I Tim. 4:12

We are soldiers who need to refuse the distractions of this world. II Tim. 2:4
Godliness with contentment is great gain; we brought nothing into this world and will leave with nothing. I Tim. 6:6-7
Lack of satisfaction with life makes it look like everyone else has it better. Ecc. 4:4

"Much of our activity these days is a cheap anesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life."
What drives YOU?
Many people are driven by guilt. Psalm 32:1-5  (We are forgiven!!)  :-)
Many people are driven by anger and resentment.  Ecc. 7:9


To be continued...
 

To Better Understand God's Word

Thanks to Jimmy Willis for preparing today's lesson!

1.  We must have faith
     *through faith we understand
     *Enoch didn't see death because of his faith
     *without faith we cannot please Him
     *Noah built the ark because of his faith
     *it will open our eyes

     Key verses:  Heb. 11:3, 5, 6, 7 ; Psalm 119:169

2.  We must live a pure life
     *We must be cleansed from our secret faults
     *everything we say, do and think
     *Lord will not hear us if we regard sin
     *We must lay aside malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, evil speakings
     *We must delight in the Lord and He will give us the desires of our hearts
     *Wisdom from above is pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to understand

     Key verses:  Psalm 19:12-13, 14, 66:18 ; I Peter 2:1-3 ; Psalm 37:4 ; James 3:17


3.  We must study
     *received in readiness and found out the truth
     *diligence
     *Scripture is trustworthy
     *taking a chance on being deceived if we don't
     *renew our minds through worship of God


    Key verses: Acts 17:11 ; II Tim. 2:15 ; Eph. 4:14 ; II Tim. 3:16-17 ; Rom. 12:1-2

The Riches of God's Grace

Grace = God's Riches at Christ's Expense

*He helps those who are tempted

*We can find grace in a time of need

*All things are open (revealed) to Him

*A soft answer will turn away wrath

*Better to have vegetables with love than meat with hatred

*Enemies will be at peace with us

*Better a dry morsel with quietness than feasting with strife

*A man of great wrath will suffer punishment: bail him out once and you will have to do it again

*We are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world

*He promises to display us as the trophies of God's grace

*Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more

Key verses:

Heb. 2:16-18 ; Heb. 4:16 ; Heb. 4:12-13 ; Prov. 11:29-30 ; Prov. 15:1 ; Prov. 15:17 ; Prov. 16:7 ; Prov. 17:1 ; Prov. 19:19 ; Eph. 1:3-8 ; Rom. 5:20

"Chickens in the Fake Tree" Matt. 10:29 (ask Jim!)

God's Grace

*There is a God-shaped hole in all our hearts
*Creation shouts for us to live for Jesus
*Sometimes Christians lose focus and take His grace for granted
*Noah found grace in the midst of challenging times

Key verses: Rom. 1:20 ; Rom. 8:19, 22 ; Rom. 6:1 ; Eph. 2:7 ; Gen. 6:5-8


Characteristics of God's Grace:

*Every good and perfect gift is by His grace
*He made us acceptable: freely, instantaneously (upon Salvation), and eternally
*Grace is a gift of God
*Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ

Key verses: James 1:7 ; Eph. 1:6-8 ; Eph. 2:8-9 ; Rom. 8:35-39

Worry Less
Pray More
Trust Always