November 2009

Here are some notes to help you review what we have studied over the past few weeks. I will be drawing pictures for the Bible Trivia Sunday Night from these verses and notes. There will be fill in the blank, multiple choice and True/False..... remember that the time you spend in the Word is more important than getting a right answer on Sunday night!

Honor and obey your parents review
Spend some time reading and praying over these verses and answer the questions below
PS [I’m thinking these would be nice for fill in the blank questions.]

Col. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

A. What are at least 3 reasons or advantages that are given for honoring and obeying your parents?
B. In what should I obey my parents, 2 possible answers?

God has set up a system of authority on the earth.
1Co 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

God is described as the head of Christ, Christ the head of every man, the husband as head of the wife and parents are in authority over their children. Therefore when you rebel against the authority of your parents you are also rebelling against God because you are rebelling against the authority God has set up.
God makes it clear that we should honor AND obey our parents. Obey means to place ourselves in submission to the authority God has given them over you. To do what they say. To honor our parents is to hold them in high esteem and respect. We can dishonor our parents in our thoughts, attitudes, body language, or even when talking to others. We can dishonor them even while still doing all of the things that they have told us to.

Popularity and Christian Teens
We compared the role of pastor and teenager to see what similarities there were in their struggles with popularity and acceptance.

Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

* am I now Paul had spent much of his time politicing for the approval of men. If I were still
[point...... Prior to conversion we too sought the approval of others, ultimately for our own good and acceptance, but now we must be consumed with seeking the approval of God above any man!]
* approval seek favor [do I want to live at peace with God or people?]
* please man?
What is the danger of being a people pleaser, even at the expense of convictions?
If I still was trying to please men primarily, I wouldn’t be able to please God.

What may a preacher do to be popular? [avoid controversial texts, wink at sin, compromise]
What may we do to be popular? [avoid talking about our faith, go with the flow, compromise]

Luke 6:26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

- popularity often comes at the expense of the truth [Micah 2:11]
- compromised living may gain you popularity, but at what expense?

Who will accept the pastor who is determined to preach Gods’ whole counsel, without the hint of compromise?
A believer who is attempting to live by the truth!
Who will ultimately befriend you if you are determined to live for Christ?
Other people who are believers and love the Truth!
　

　
There is a parallel between Jesus and the average teen when it comes to being popular
Did Jesus gain earthly popularity? Yes and no!

John 2:23-25 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
- Jesus was popular when He was doing miracles for the people, but He knew how fickle their nature was!

Joh 12:13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
- When the people thought Jesus was doing what they wanted He was very popular, when He didn’t do what they wanted their cries of Hosanna....turned to ‘Crucify Him!’
Who ultimately embraced Jesus, even until His death [genuine believers]

John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

James 5:16-20
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
　
ISOLATION ‘Independence’......leads to Devastation from SIN!
(GOD built us to need and put up with each other)

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

What is the result of prayer? Healing, beginning to think about things like God does.
Prayer is not
* Man dictating to God
* Man controlling or resisting Gods’ will
* Man changing Gods’ mind

Prayer is .... at least of that of a righteous man, is Spirit led, God focused, God tuned. When a radio is tuned to a specific station it simply turns the signal into music, or talk, or sports. It doesn’t change the signal, it agrees with it. It revurberates.
Elijah therefore, with all that was in him, in confidence, all energy.... begged God to do what the Spirit of God directed him to ask for. God had purposed to withhold rain for 3and ½ years, so He led a righteous man to ask Him to do it!
　
Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—

1Jn 3:17-18 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
　
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Bodies = all that belongs to a man.... [life, possessions, abilities, time, health, intelligence]
Offer used like ‘to give as a sacrifice' To present!
[we have no right to hold back anything from God for use as He sees fit!]

1Th 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.