Opry Tonight!

Fusion: week of 10/11

FAMILY THEME: WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING?

Job 2:11-13; Romans 5:3-5

Our response to suffering and pain may be our best chance to 

reflect God's love.

1.  When It Hurts: How Can We Help Those Who Are Hurting?

     (Job 2: 11-13)

     The subject of suffering requires much more than answers;

     it requires a listening ear and a mournful spirit.

 
2.  Even Jesus Had Questions About Suffering

     (Luke 22:42)

     Jesus can identify with the pain and suffering of the entire world.

 
3.  The Transformational Power of Suffering: 

     God Uses Suffering to Shape Us

     Scripture encourages Christians to see suffering as a catalyst 

     for growth and change.

4.  The Bankruptcy of Suffering in Other Worldviews:

     We Have True Hope in Christ

     (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 11:25-26, 35-36)

     Why can Christians have hope even in the midst of suffering?

     (Romans 8:37-39)

5.  The Suffering God: Jesus Understands Our Pain

     (Phillipians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:15)

     In what ways can Jesus sympathize with us?

Fusion: week of 10/4

FAMILY THEME: WHY DOES EVIL EXIST?

Genesis 3; 50:20

Few subjects make Christians as uncomfortable as the existence

of evil, but it doesn't have to be that way.

1.  Emotional vs. Intellectual: Two Ways We Deal With Evil

     (Romans 5:12; 8:20-23; 2 Corinthians 5:2)

     We don't just think about evil, we also feel evil and its effects.

     Most people are not really struggling with evil intellectually,

     but emotionally.

 
2.  Is There Good Without God?

     (Genesis 3:1-7)

     Without God as the standard for evaluating actions, calling

     any action good or bad is meaningless. There are no true moral

     judgments if there is no moral judge.

 
3.  The Intellectual Problem: Would a Good God Allow Evil to Exist?

     (Genesis 2:16-17)

     God gave humanity a free will, which allows us to choose

     something over Him.

Fusion: week of 9/27

FAMILY THEME: LIFE AFTER SIN

Genesis 4

Things are different now that sin has entered the world. How do

we deal with wrong desires? How can sinful people serve a holy

God? Genesis 4 helps us answer these questions.

1.  Bring Your Best to the Lord in Faith

     (Genesis 4:1-5)

     All that we can offer God is of little value to Him if we bring it

     for any motivation other than faith, devotion, and love.

 
2.  Be Master Over Your Sin or Your Sin Will Master You

     (Genesis 4:6-12)

     Every person should become aware of what leads him or her

     to sin.

 
3.  Do Your Best to Live for God in a Fallen World

     (Genesis 4:13-26)

     A fallen world makes living for God difficult, but not impossible.

Fusion: week of 9/20

FAMILY THEME: SIN ENTERED THE WORLD

Genesis 3:1-13

If you have ever looked at the world and thought, "Wow, what

a mess!", you've also likely wondered why the world is in the

shape it's in. God, in His goodness, has given us the answer

to this question in Genesis 3.

1.  Sin Started With Temptation

     (Genesis 3:1-6a)

     The act of sin begins with the temptation to sin.

 
2.  Sin is Caused by a Choice and Brings Guilt

     (Genesis 3:6-7)

     Eve gave in to temptation when she chose to reach out and

     take some of the forbidden fruit.

 
3.  Sin Damages Relationships and Spawns More Sin

     (Genesis 3:8-13)

     Adam and Eve's sin damaged their relationship with God.

Fusion: week of 9/13

FAMILY THEME: CREATION OF MAN AND WOMAN

Genesis 2:4-25

Humans are a special creation of God, made in His image to

fulfill His purposes. This gives our lives value and significance.

1.  We Are Her Because God Made Us

     (Genesis 2:4-7)

     Our being, our breath, and our very life come from God.

 
2.  God Has a Job for Us to Do

     (Genesis 2:8-17)

     It's important to understand what work is God's design and

     is not a part of the fall.

 
3.  We Are Here to Have Meaningful and Lasting Relationships

     (Genesis 2:18-25)

     The marriage relationship goes deeper than a friendship or

     a kinship. It is an intimacy where there is a melding of

     personalities and purpose.

Fusion: week of 9/6

FAMILY THEME: GOD CREATED THE WORLD

Genesis 1:1 - 2:3

Where did we come from? Written by Moses, the book

of Genesis answers this critical question.

1.  God is the Master Designer and Creator of our World

     (Genesis 1:1-25)

     The very first page of the Old Testament introduces

      us to God and reveals His power.

 
2.  Human Design has a Heavenly Pattern

     (Genesis 1:26-30)

     Humans are made in God's image, an expression 

     used of no other part of the creation.

 
3.  Our God is Very Good

     (Genesis 1:31 - 2:3)

     We have an almighty God who has formed a majestic

     creation and designed us to be like Him in character

     and purpose.