Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Character of the Lord
Jonah 4:2I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
- Jonah knew the Character of the Lord ~ Mt. 12:41 & Lk. 11:32
2 Peter 3:9 ~ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
To seek to be Christ-Minded & Christ-Like is to examine and study the life and ministry of Jesus: Character Traits ~ your Inside (invisible) coming Outside (visible)
How Pastor J. summarizes the character / ministry of Jesus:
Boldly Loving & Uncompromisingly Obedient
Can you have one without the other? What happens if you do?
If we only Love Boldly ~ There is no NEED for forgiveness (the cross)
If we are only Uncompromisingly Obedient ~ There becomes no ROOM for forgiveness (the cross)
We can't (because Jesus didn't) simply go around abusing grace by loooooooooooving without the truth of God's word motivating and dictating our love. Jesus was boldly loving of the sick, poor, sinners, outcasts, and the unclean... BUT he loved without compromising the truth of God! He would love so much that God's truth would help others understand their need for Him and to be forgiven, healed, delivered, and restored! He loved so boldly and was uncompromisingly obedient to the truth of God that he would not stand for inconsistencies, false teaching, or self-righteousness! Do you see that BOTH WORK TOGETHER, yet... both fail on their own!You CAN NOT SEPARATE these character traits as a Christ follwer (because Jesus didn't)!
See for yourself: Jesus & The Paralytic ~ Luke 5:17-25 / Jesus & Peter ~ Mark 8:31-34
How is seeking to live with this kind of character challenging for a teenage Christ follower? Student Answers:
It makes you Vulnerable to Others / You may become well-intentioned but Overbearing in your witness / There's a lot of Peer Pressure & Fear of being rejected socially
What Social Issues are challenging because of this?
Clique's / Being Yourself (your Christ Following self) around others / BF & GF Relationships / Sexuality / Understanding the Biblical stance on the sin of Homosexuality and the healing & redemption offered (Romans 1:24-27 & 1Cor. 6:9-11) / Politics & War / Relationships with our Parents
Monday, June 9, 2008
Park Place (Betts Park) / Whhhiiiffff...le Ball 6/8/08
Fishing / Whiffle Ball / Tennis (kind of)... Make sure to come to our next PARK PLACE!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
You’ve heard it said:
“You can’t change your past but you can change your future ! “
Now understand: God knows your future… NOW!
God’s “NOW” Will for the city of NINEVEH ~ Jonah 1:1 / 3:1-4
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." … (chp. 3 post fish) 1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."
--> God’s “NOW” Will for NINEVEH is not His ultimate will… rather, it is His response to “how they are living, who they worship, and their relationship to Him… NOW”! (A city of great size, power, pride) ~ God’s Ultimate Will ~ 2 Peter 3:9
Nineveh Turns to God & God Responds ~ Jonah 3:5-9 / :10
5 The Ninevites believed God. … (Nineveh’s King) “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
? Did God lie to or manipulate Jonah? NO! ~ Jonah 4:2
(Jonah complaining) I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
(Jonah knew the Character of the Lord / Mt. 12:41 & Lk. 11:32)
Birth ----- x ----- x ----- x ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Death
We think in One-Dimensional timelines. We measure Distance & Time by calculations and units. Life has beginning and an ending… we only move forward… and only truly know NOW. The clock, the calendar… it’s consistent and predictable! ( fixed = static time )
Guess what? God doesn’t see it the same way that we do!!! … it doesn’t apply to Him! He doesn’t need any of it and isn’t bound by it… neither is eternity! ( flexible = elastic time )
--> God’s Time ~ 2 Peter 3:8
If our future is best predicted by our history which has led up to NOW… then the only way to change our future is to make a decision NOW… which will Instantly begin to Re-Write our Future History ( our history is permeanetly changing)
♫ Featured Music: Matthew West
Song: “History”
“You can’t change your past but you can change your future ! “
Now understand: God knows your future… NOW!
God’s “NOW” Will for the city of NINEVEH ~ Jonah 1:1 / 3:1-4
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." … (chp. 3 post fish) 1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."--> God’s “NOW” Will for NINEVEH is not His ultimate will… rather, it is His response to “how they are living, who they worship, and their relationship to Him… NOW”! (A city of great size, power, pride) ~ God’s Ultimate Will ~ 2 Peter 3:9
Nineveh Turns to God & God Responds ~ Jonah 3:5-9 / :10
5 The Ninevites believed God. … (Nineveh’s King) “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.? Did God lie to or manipulate Jonah? NO! ~ Jonah 4:2
(Jonah complaining) I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
(Jonah knew the Character of the Lord / Mt. 12:41 & Lk. 11:32)
Birth ----- x ----- x ----- x ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Death
We think in One-Dimensional timelines. We measure Distance & Time by calculations and units. Life has beginning and an ending… we only move forward… and only truly know NOW. The clock, the calendar… it’s consistent and predictable! ( fixed = static time )
Guess what? God doesn’t see it the same way that we do!!! … it doesn’t apply to Him! He doesn’t need any of it and isn’t bound by it… neither is eternity! ( flexible = elastic time )
--> God’s Time ~ 2 Peter 3:8
If our future is best predicted by our history which has led up to NOW… then the only way to change our future is to make a decision NOW… which will Instantly begin to Re-Write our Future History ( our history is permeanetly changing)
♫ Featured Music: Matthew West
Song: “History”
Announcements Week: June 3, 2008
Children’s Church Helpers 6/1 & 8
ALEX 2 ~ Blakeley / Gray
2’s & 3’s Helpers
Ashley V. / Jeremy Munson
Sunday Night ALIVE: Sun. 5:30 PM
PARK Place: We will go out into the community parks to connect with one another and others! Snack will be provided. Bring fishing stuff / Frisbee’s… whatever… it’s a PARK! Be at the church by 5:30. Park to T.B.D.
Are you interested in the exciting world of Bible Quizzing? Get a sign-up form and get it back to Pastor J. ASAP No experience necessary! Remember that knowing the Will of God comes from knowing the Word of God! An organizational meeting will be held soon. Practices will start mid-late summer break.
ALEX 2 ~ Blakeley / Gray
2’s & 3’s Helpers
Ashley V. / Jeremy Munson
Sunday Night ALIVE: Sun. 5:30 PMPARK Place: We will go out into the community parks to connect with one another and others! Snack will be provided. Bring fishing stuff / Frisbee’s… whatever… it’s a PARK! Be at the church by 5:30. Park to T.B.D.
Are you interested in the exciting world of Bible Quizzing? Get a sign-up form and get it back to Pastor J. ASAP No experience necessary! Remember that knowing the Will of God comes from knowing the Word of God! An organizational meeting will be held soon. Practices will start mid-late summer break.
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