Fusion: week of 3/16

FAMILY THEME: COMPASSION

HAVE A HEART

Luke 10:25-37

Jesus constantly challenged the social and racial barriers of His day.

He also displayed contempt for hypocritical religious leaders. In the

parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught that true compassion

is blind to race, social standing, and convenience.

1.  Compassion Goes Beyond Mere Knowledge  

     (Luke 10:25 - 29)

     Knowledge of truth is no doubt necessary, but alone it means nothing.

 
2.  Compassion Transcends Social Differences

     (Luke 10:30 - 34) 

     The two who should have helped didn't, and the one who shouldn't

     have did.

 
3.  Compassion Acts Beyond Convenience

     (Luke 10:35 - 37)

     The Samaritan willingly sacrificed time, money, and energy.

Fusion: week of 3/9

FAMILY THEME: JUDGMENT

THE FINAL SEPARATION

Matthew 13:24-30, 34-43

Parables were Jesus' primary means of communicating with

the crowds that gathered to hear Him teach. In the parable of

the weeds, Jesus explained that those who reject Him will be

separated from the righteous and face eternal judgment.

1.  Human Reasoning Won't Fix What is Wrong with Our World  

     (Matthew 13:24 - 30)

     Man's solutions to the problems of our world are always

     insufficient and often harmful.

 
2.  Jesus Revealed the Solution to Humanity's Woes

     (Matthew 13:34 - 35) 

     Jesus' answers will be clear to those who seek Him and

     hidden from those who reject Him.

 
3.  Judgment Will Bring a Final Separation

     (Matthew 13:36 - 43)

     The wheat and the weeds will not always be together.

Fusion week of 3/2

FAMILY THEME: THE WORD

THE SOWER SOWS THE WORD

Mark 4

Jesus used the parable of the sower to explain the various ways

people respond to the Word.

1. Jesus Used Common Events to Teach Uncommon Truth 

     (Mark 4:1 - 9)

     Jesus used things common to His culture, such as farming,

     to drive home His teaching.

 
2.  Jesus Told Parables to Reveal and Conceal Truth

     (Mark 4:10 - 12) 

     It is a mistake to say Jesus' use of parables was a way to

     make it easier to relate to the truth.

 
3.  People Will Respond to the Word in One of Four Ways

     (Mark 4:13 - 20)

     Different people respond to the Word in different ways.

Fusion: week of 2/23

FAMILY THEME: CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

LETTING GO OF THE NON-ESSENTIALS

Romans 14

Roman Christians disagreed about the propriety of eating meat that

had been offered to idols (prior to being sold) and the observance of

certain special religious days. Paul's advice on these issues includes

important principles regarding Christian liberty.

1. We Have Our Convictions, but Our Life is the Lord's 

     (Romans 14:1-9)

     We are to accept and receive other believers.

 
2.  Ultimately, Only God's Opinion Matters

     (Romans 14:10-12) 

     Only one opinion counts: God's.

 
3.  Our Convictions Must Be Tempered by Love

     (Romans 14:13-23)

     We should remove anything that hinders progress in Christian growth.

D6: week of 2/16

FAMILY THEME: SUBMISSION

DEATH, TAXES, AND HIS RETURN

Romans 13

Paul's practical instruction on Christian living included

how to live as a citizen.

1. Believers Must Submit to the Government as God's Servants 

     (Romans 13:1-7)

     Submission to government is a matter of Christian conscience.

 
2.  Believers Must Do No Harm to Their Neighbors

     (Romans 13:8-10) 

     Love fulfills the law of Christ.

 
3.  Believers Must Live in the Light of Christ's Imminent Return

     (Romans 13:11-14)

     Every hour that passes brings us one hour closer to Christ's return.

D6: week of 2/9

FAMILY THEME: CHRISTIAN LIVING

GIVING EVERYTHING TO HIM

Romans 12

Having presented the doctrine of salvation, Paul began to explain

how Christians are to live.

1. Christian Living is Sacrificial Worship 

     (Romans 12:1-2)

     We are to put our entire selves into God's service.

 
2.  Christian Living is Using Our Gifts in Community

     (Romans 12:3-8) 

     Unless we are stranded on a deserted island, Christian living

     always occurs in community.

 
3.  Christian Living is Loving All People, Even Our Enemies

     (Romans 12:9-21)

     We should avoid actions that others might interpret as revenge

     on those who mistreat us.

D6: week of 2/2

FAMILY THEME: EVANGELISM

IT'S NECESSARY TO USE WORDS

Romans 10
In explaining his passion for the salvation of his fellow

Jews, Paul explained why we work to evangelize the

world today.

1. We Evangelize Because Many People Are Zealous, But Wrong 

     (Romans 10:1-4)

     The Jews were zealous, but that very zeal kept them

     estranged from God.

 
2.  We Evangelize by Teaching Faith, Not Works

     (Romans 10:5-13) 

     The requirements for salvation are to confess and believe.

 
3.  We Evangelize by Taking the Word to Those Who Will Listen

     (Romans 10:14-21)

     Good deeds are not, in themselves, the good news of the gospel.