November 25, 2015

IT IS TIME TO BE THANKFUL AND RE-GROUP!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Gratitude Motivators

Dr. Jay Wolf

The season of THANKSGIVING is highly necessary and well timed because we all tend to be forgetful. For instance, I have a photographic memory but I keep forgetting where I put the film! So we need gratitude motivators. Let me share three that work for me.

First, God’s Word Calls us to an attitude of Gratitude. “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes. 5:18) “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him.” (Psalm 100:4) Expressing gratitude for every season and circumstance indicates we trust our gracious heavenly Father and believe He is the origin of our blessing and His power is bigger than our problem.

Secondly, our American Heritage invites us be grateful. America was founded as a Christian nation and the Pilgrims set the pace. Those brave first settlers experienced terrible adversity that took the lives of half of their group but they declared a time of thanksgiving to count their blessings instead of their losses. In 1789, as a reflection of our collective Christian faith, George Washington called our Nation to gratitude, “Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…I recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many favors of Almighty God.”

Third, I am motivated to gratitude by my personal list of blessings. My relationship to King Jesus pardons the past, empowers the present and illumines the future. Now I am part of the beautiful Body of Christ. God has given me a fabulous wife and a wonderful life. I am enriched by a healthy, stable, Christ-following, growing and productive family. God has gifted me with abundant material resources, physical capabilities and nurturing friendships. The assets greatly outweigh the liabilities!

When we add it up, there are compelling motivations to move beyond our natural proclivity to be grumbly hateful and become humbly grateful!

A RE-GROUP Reminder!!!!

We are meeting Wednesday night Dec. 2nd!!!!

We will start with a short discussion 

of the video and readings (pg.56-77) from Session 3:

 The Doubtful Wanderer. 

The focus was the Disciple Thomas.

The new video session will be: 

The Sensual Wanderer.

A Reminder!!!!

We are meeting this Wednesday night!!!!

We will start with a short discussion 

of the video and readings (pg.56-77) from Session 3:

 The Doubtful Wanderer. 

The focus was the Disciple Thomas.

The new video session will be: 

The Sensual Wanderer.

THANK YOU VETERANS!!!!!!

THANK YOU 

This is a wonderful video... Performed by The Goads, a brothers and sister Christian Group. 

I hope you enjoy it!

Click on the picture

COME HOME

Important Announcement:
We will not meet this Wednesday, November 11th. We encourage you to attend the church-wide Veterans program. We will meet again on                                       Wednesday, November 18th.

How to Get the Most From This Study
Attend each group session
Watch DVD teaching
Participate in the group discussion
Complete the content in the Bible Study Book
Before the next meeting: Read the daily lessons and complete the learning activities. 
Ask God to show you how to bring home the wanderers you know
Ask God to show you ways you've wandered from His truth

Viewers' Guide
Session 3
The Doubtful Wanderer: Come Home

Scriptures:* Hebrews 11:6 * John 20:24-25 * John 14:5 * John 11:16* John 20:26-27 *

Sometimes people find it difficult to admit at church that they have doubts.

KINDS OF DOUBTERS

1. The empirical doubter: believing would require information I don’t have.

• Is it information you don't have...... or don't want?
•  Areas of attack for the empirical doubter: evidence for the existence of God , for creation versus evolution, for miracles , for the reliability and the miraculous nature of the Bible

2. The disillusioned doubter: believing would require conclusions I don’t see.

• The key is the “Problem of Evil: If God is good, why is there suffering in the world?”
•  God prefers the sincere worship of those who choose Him to the robotic worship of the masses.
• All of the pain, heartache, and suffering in this world are the result of people not choosing God.

3. The disappointed doubter: believing would require forgiveness I don’t desire. 

• Forgiveness is the decision to release a person from the obligation that resulted when they injured you.

4. The moral doubter: believing would require changes I don’t want.

BUILDING THE FIRE OF FAITH

1. Faith is dead when the heart is passive. 

• Complaining about persistent doubts, if you are never in the place where faith is built, is like complaining about the darkness in your basement under a blanket with the lights off.
• Where faith flourishes: in the Word of God (Rom 10:17), in friendship with people of faith (Heb 10:24), in the household of God (Heb 10:25)

2. Faith is kindled when the heart identifies the obstacle. 

• God will go a long way in revealing Himself to a person who really wants to know.

3. Faith is sparked when the Lord reveals Himself at our point of need.

4. Faith is ignited when the heart submits to the revelation.

5. Faith is ablaze when it comes before seeing.

COME HOME

ATTENTION:

Beginning with this study, there will be a $10 fee to cover the cost of the Study Books. There will be basket near the door as you come into the room. You may place your money in this basket. This is a voluntary action to help off-set some of the costs for the church.

VIEWER GUIDE  SESSION 2.

THE FEARFUL WANDERER
FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real

1. He told me, but I didn’t listen .
Why a wanderer refuses to listen:

• Immaturity : they don’t know, and they’re too slow to grow . 
• Immaturity is the inability to connect actions and consequences .
• Rebellion : my will, my thrill, you chill .
• Woundedness : hidden hurts close hearts .
• Relational : peers in the ears block fears .

2. Now I’m ashamed by what I’ve done.

• Shame: the painful feeling arising from the realization that personal actions have brought disgrace.
• Shame brings the wanderer home .

* When surrounded by wrong doing; wrong doing comes easily....
* Wrong crowd makes it easy to get on the wrong path....

3. Now I’m afraid to come home .

• Repentance shatters shame.
• Your fear of coming home is irrational .

JESUS’ RESPONSE TO A FEARFUL WANDERER

• He lovingly pursues the wanderer.
• He patiently waits to speak.
• He calls for a clear decision .
• He assures that purpose is possible.
• He insists on true commitment .
• He keeps the focus simple .

We will focus on the following scriptures on Wednesday, Nov 4th!!!!!!

As you read this passage, what encouragement does this passage give you as you share with the person who may not listen?

1 Peter 3:13-17New International Version (NIV)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.”[b] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

What do these verses say about the way we respond to wanderers; both those returning and those still wandering ?

Colossians 3:12-15New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.