Church School Lessons July-August 2016

Transcription

1 Church School Lessons July-August 2016 Principles for living a balanced Christian life Bishop Rudolph W. MCKISSICK, Jr. Senior Pastor Elder Robert E. Dotson, Th.D. Executive Pastor and Christian Education Director rdotson@me.com With The Bethel Discipleship Advisory Council WORDsearch Bible Resource Library

2 What Is God's Timing Sunday, July 3, 2016 What does the Bible teach us about God's timing? Exodus 2: 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them. God's rescue comes in his timing, not ours. God had promised to bring the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt (Genesis 15:16; Genesis 46:3-4). The people had waited a long time for that promise to be kept, but God rescued them when he knew the right time had come. God knows the best time to act. When you feel that God has forgotten you in your troubles, remember that God has a time schedule that we can't see. Psalm 74: 10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? God's timing will not be affected by our impatience. From our perspective, God sometimes seems slow to intervene on our behalf. But what might appear slow to us is good timing from God's perspective. It's easy to become impatient while waiting for God to act, but we must never give up on him. When God is silent and you are in deep anguish, follow the method in this psalm. Review the great acts of God throughout biblical history; then review what he has done for you. This will remind you that God is at work, not only in history, but also in your life today. Luke 3: 23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, The nature of God's timing requires that we practice trust. Imagine the Savior of the world working in a small-town carpenter's shop until he was thirty years old! It seems incredible that Jesus would have been content to remain in Nazareth all that time, but he patiently trusted the Father's timing for his life and ministry. Thirty was the prescribed age for priests to begin their ministry (Numbers 4:3). Joseph was thirty years old when he began serving the king of Egypt (Genesis 41:46), and David was thirty when he began to reign over Judah (2 Samuel 5:4). Age thirty, then, was a good time to begin an important task in the Jewish culture. Like Jesus, we need to resist the temptation to jump ahead before receiving the Spirit's direction. Are you waiting and wondering what your next step should be? Don't jump ahead trust God's timing. Romans 5: 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. God's timing is perfect. We were weak and helpless because we could do nothing on our own to save ourself. Someone had to come and rescue us. Not only did Christ come at a good time in history; he came at exactly the right time according to God's own schedule. God controls all history, and he controlled the timing, methods, and results of Jesus' death. 2 Peter 3: 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

3 God's timing is controlled by his compassion. God may have seemed slow to these believers as they faced persecution every day and longed to be delivered. But God is not slow; he just is not on our timetable (Psalm 90:4). Jesus is waiting so that more sinners will repent and turn to him. We must not sit and wait for Christ to return, but we should live with the realization that time is short and that we have important work to do. Be ready to meet Christ any time, even today; yet plan your course of service as though he may not return for many years. Why are we Saved? John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9, That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

4 God's Timing Means Knowing His Will Sunday, July 10, 2016 How can we know God's will for our lives? Numbers 9: 23 At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses. God guides his people moment by moment. A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night guided and protected the Israelites as they traveled across the desert. Some have said this pillar may have been a burning bowl of pitch whose smoke was visible during the day and whose fire could be seen at night. However, a bowl of pitch would not have lifted itself up and moved ahead of the people, and the Bible is clear that the cloud and fire moved in accordance with the will of God. The cloud and the fire were not merely natural phenomena; they were the vehicle of God's presence and the visible evidence of his moving and directing his people. What we learn is that the Israelites traveled and camped as God guided. When you follow God's guidance, you know you are where God wants you, whether you're moving or staying in one place. You are physically somewhere right now. Instead of praying, "God, what do you want me to do next?" ask, "God, what do you want me to do while I'm right here?" Direction from God is not just for your next big move. He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. Begin to understand God's purpose for your life by discovering what he wants you to do now! Esther 4: 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" God's will is worked out in everyday events. After the decree to kill the Jews was given, Mordecai and Esther could have despaired, decided to save only themselves, or just waited for God's intervention. Instead, they saw that God had placed them in their positions for a purpose, so they seized the moment and acted. When it is within our power to save others, we must do so. In a life-threatening situation, don't withdraw, behave selfishly, wallow in despair, or wait for God to fix everything. Instead, ask God for his direction, and act! God may have placed you where you are "for just such a time as this." Matthew 21: 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Our prayers must be in harmony with God's will. This verse is not a guarantee that we can get anything we want simply by asking Jesus and believing. God does not grant requests that would hurt us or others or that would violate his own nature or will. Jesus' statement is not a blank check. To be fulfilled, our requests must be in harmony with the principles of God's kingdom. The stronger our belief, the more likely our prayers will be in line with God's will, and then God will be happy to grant them. Philippians 2: 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

5 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Our greatest happiness is found in willingly obeying God. What do we do when we don't feel like obeying? God has not left us alone in our struggles to do his will. He wants to come alongside us and be within us to help. God helps us want to obey him and then gives us the power to do what he wants. The secret to a changed life is to submit to God's control and let him work. Next time, ask God to help you want to do his will. It is God's will that we become like Christ. To be like Christ, we must train ourself to think like Christ. To change our desires to be more like Christ's, we need the power of the indwelling Spirit (Phil. 1:19), the influence of faithful Christians, obedience to God's Word (not just exposure to it), and sacrificial service. Often it is in doing God's will that we gain the desire for it (Phil. 4:8-9). Do what he wants, and trust him to change your desires. Why are we Saved? John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9, That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

6 God's Timing Requires Our Patience Sunday, July 17, 2016 What does the Bible say about God's patience? Nehemiah 9: 17 They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them. God's patience is long-suffering. Seeing how God continued to be with his people shows that his patience is amazing! In spite of our repeated failings, pride, and stubbornness, he is always ready to pardon (Neh. 9:17), and his Spirit is always ready to instruct (Neh. 9:20). Realizing the extent of God's forgiveness helps us forgive those who fail us, even "seven times seven" if necessary (Matthew 18:21-22). Joshua 23: 16 When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you." God's patience should not be taken for granted. This chilling prediction about the consequences of intermarriage with the Canaanite nations eventually became a reality. Numerous stories in the book of Judges show what Israel had to suffer because of failure to follow God wholeheartedly. God was supremely loving and patient with Israel, just as he is with us. But we must not confuse his patience with us as approval of or indifference to our sin. Beware of demanding your own way, because eventually you may get it along with all its painful consequences. Luke 15: 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. God's patience is an expression of his love. In two preceding stories in Luke's Gospel, the seeker actively looked for the coin and the sheep, which could not return by themselves. In this story, the father watched and waited. He was dealing with a human being with a will of his own, but he was ready to greet his son if he returned. In the same way, God's love is constant, patient, and welcoming. He will search for us and give us opportunities to respond, but he will not force us to come to him. Like the father in this story, God waits patiently for us to come to our senses. How can our patience be strengthened? Esther 6: 1 That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. Patience is developed through waiting. Mordecai had exposed a plot to assassinate Xerxes thus he had saved the king's life (Esther 2:21-23). Although his good deed was recorded in the history books, Mordecai had gone unrewarded. But God was saving Mordecai's reward for the

7 right time. Just as Haman was about to hang Mordecai unjustly, the king was ready to give the reward. Although God promises to reward our good deeds, we sometimes feel our "payoff" is too far away. Be patient. God steps in when it will do the most good. 2 Thessalonians 1: 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, Patience is developed through hardships. Paul had been persecuted during his first visit to Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9). No doubt those who had responded to his message and had become Christians were continuing to be persecuted by both Jews and Gentiles. In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, he said that Christ's return would bring deliverance from persecution and judgment on the persecutors. But this caused the people to expect Christ's return right away to rescue and vindicate them. So Paul had to point out that while waiting for God's kingdom, believers could and should learn perseverance and faith from their suffering. Why are we Saved? John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9, That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

8 God's Timing Means We Must Learn To Wait Sunday, July 24, 2016 What do we gain by learning to wait? Psalm 27: 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Waiting creates time during which we can trust God. David knew from experience what it meant to wait for the Lord. He had been anointed king at age sixteen, but didn't become king until he was thirty. During the interim, he was chased through the wilderness by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of his promise to reign. Later, after becoming king, he was chased by his rebellious son, Absalom. Waiting for God is not easy. Often it seems that he isn't answering our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But God is worth waiting for. Lament. 3:24-26 calls us to hope in and wait on the Lord because often God uses waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us. Make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them. Psalm 40: 1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. Waiting on God prepares us to have our real needs met. Waiting for God to help us is not easy, but David received four benefits from waiting: God (1) lifted him out of his despair; (2) set his feet on a hard, firm path; (3) steadied him as he walked; and (4) put a new song of praise in his mouth. Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting. Matthew 24: 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Waiting encourages us to always be prepared for Christ's return. Knowing that Christ's return will be sudden and unexpected should motivate us always to be prepared. We are not to live irresponsibly sitting and waiting, doing nothing; seeking self-serving pleasure; using his tarrying as an excuse not to do God's work of building his kingdom;

9 developing a false security based on precise calculations of events; or letting our curiosity about the end times divert us from doing God's work. Jesus asks us to spend the time of waiting taking care of his people and doing his work here on earth, both within the church and outside it. This is the best way to prepare for Christ's return. 2 Thessalonians 3: 6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. Waiting gives us opportunity to work out our faith. Some people in the Thessalonian church were falsely teaching that because Christ would return any day, people should set aside their responsibilities, quit work, do no future planning, and just wait for the Lord. But their lack of activity only led them into sin. They became a burden to the church, which was supporting them; they wasted time that could have been used for helping others; and they became busybodies. These church members may have thought that they were being more spiritual by not working, but Paul tells them to be responsible and get back to work. Being ready for Christ means obeying him in every area of life. Because we know that Christ is coming, we must live in such a way that our faith and our daily practice will please him when he arrives. Why are we Saved? John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9, That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 THE PERFECT MODEL Whose life should serve as a pattern for our own? Balance, Jesus the Perfect Example Sunday, July 31, 2016 Luke 2: 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Jesus is our model. The second chapter of Luke shows us that although Jesus was unique, he had a normal childhood and adolescence. In terms of development, he went through the same progression we do. He grew physically and mentally, he related to other people, and he was loved by God. A full human life is not unbalanced. It was important to Jesus and it should be important to all believers to develop fully and harmoniously in each of these key areas: physical, mental, social, and spiritual. BALANCED LIVING How does balance affect specific areas of life? John 2: 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. Balance affects work and pleasure. Jesus was on a mission to save the world, the greatest mission in the history of mankind. Yet he took time to attend a wedding and participate in its festivities. We may be tempted to think we should not take time out from our "important" work for social occasions. But maybe these social occasions are part of our mission. Jesus valued these wedding festivities because they involved people, and Jesus came to be with people. Our mission can often be accomplished in joyous times of celebration with others. Bring balance to your life by bringing Jesus into times of pleasure as well as times of work. 1 Timothy 4: 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Balance in physical and spiritual areas. Are you in shape both physically and spiritually? In our society, much emphasis is placed on physical fitness, but spiritual health (godliness) is even more important. Our physical bodies are susceptible to disease and injury, but faith can sustain us through these tragedies. To train for godliness, we must develop our faith by using our God-given abilities in the service of the church (4:14-16). Are you developing your spiritual muscles? Balance in how our lives affect others. Timothy was a young pastor. It would be easy for older Christians to look down on him because of his youth. He had to earn the respect of his elders by setting an example in his speech, life, love, faith, and purity. Regardless of your age, God can use you. Whether you are young or old, don't think of your age as a handicap. Live so others can see Christ in you. Balanced input. The Scripture that Paul mentions is in fact the Old Testament. We must make sure to emphasize reading the entire Bible, both the Old and the New Testaments. There are rich rewards in studying the people, events, prophecies, and principles of the Old Testament. Balance in choosing good models to follow. Timothy's commission as a church leader was confirmed by prophecy ( 1 Timothy 1:18) and by the laying on of hands by the elders of the church. He was not a selfappointed leader. If you aspire to church leadership, seek the counsel of mature Christians who know you well and who will hold you accountable.

11 Balance in pursuing excellence. As a young leader in a church that had a lot of problems, Timothy may have felt intimidated. But the elders and prophets encouraged him and charged him to use his spiritual gift responsibly. Highly skilled and talented athletes lose their abilities if their muscles aren't toned by constant use, and we will lose our spiritual gifts if we don't put them to work. Our talents are improved by exercise, but failing to use them causes them to waste away from lack of practice and nourishment. What gifts and abilities has God given you? Use them regularly in serving God and others. (Romans 12:1-8 and 2 Timothy 1:6-8 for more on using the abilities God has given us.) Balance in self-evaluation. We know the importance of watching our lives closely. We must be on constant guard against falling into sin that can so easily destroy us. Yet we must watch what we believe just as closely. Wrong beliefs can quickly lead us into sin and heresy. We should be on guard against those who would persuade us that how we live is more important than what we believe. We should persevere in both. Why are we Saved? John 3:16 John 3:1616 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9 That ifyou confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

12 Disciplined Childhood, First Step to Balanced Living Sunday, August 7, 2016 DISCIPLINING CHILDREN What does the Bible say about disciplining children? 1 Kings 1: 6 (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?"he was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.) Even children of godly parents require specific attention and training. God-fearing people like David and Samuel were used by God to lead nations; nevertheless they had problems in family relationships. God-fearing leaders cannot take for granted the spiritual well-being of their children. They are used to having others follow their orders, but they cannot expect their children to manufacture faith upon request. Moral and spiritual character takes years to build, and it requires constant attention and patient discipline. David served God well as a king, but as a parent he often failed both God and his children. Don't let your service to God, even in leadership positions, take up so much of your time and energy that you neglect your other God-given responsibilities. Children need limits for their own good. Because David had never interfered by opposing or even questioning his son, Adonijah did not know how to work within limits. The result was that he always wanted his own way, regardless of how it affected others. Adonijah did whatever he wanted and paid no respect to God's wishes. Undisciplined children may look cute to their parents, but undisciplined adults destroy themselves and others. As you set limits for your children, you make it possible for them to develop the self-discipline they will need in order to control themselves later. Discipline your children carefully while they are young, so that they will grow into self-disciplined adults. Proverbs 13: 24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Careful discipline is an expression of parental love. It is not easy for a loving parent to discipline a child, but it is necessary. The greatest responsibility that God gives parents is the nurture and guidance of their children. Lack of discipline puts parents' love in question because it shows a lack of concern for the character development of their children. Disciplining children averts long-range disaster. Without correction, children grow up with no clear understanding of right and wrong and with little direction to their lives. Don't be afraid to discipline your children. It is an act of love. Remember, however, that your efforts cannot make your children wise; they can only encourage your children to seek God's wisdom above all else! Proverbs 29: 15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Disciplining children is a painstaking responsibility. Parents of young children often become weary of disciplining them. They feel like all they do is nag, scold, and punish. When you're tempted to give up and let your children do what they want, or when you wonder if you've ruined every chance for a loving relationship with them, remember kind, firm correction helps them learn, and learning makes them wise. Consistent, loving discipline will ultimately teach them to discipline themselves. Ephesians 6: 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

13 Discipline is an unavoidable part of responsible parenting. The purpose of parental discipline is to help children grow, not to exasperate and provoke them to anger or discouragement (Col. 3:21). Parenting is not easy it takes lots of patience to raise children in a loving, Christ-honoring manner. But frustration and anger should not be causes for discipline. Instead, parents should act in love, treating their children as Jesus treats the people he loves. This is vital to children's development and to their understanding of what Christ is like. Why are we Saved? John 3:16 John 3:1616 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9 That ifyou confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

14 Church Discipline, The Center of Balance Living Sunday, August 14, 2016 How does the Bible describe the use of discipline in the church? 1 Corinthians 5: 4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? The Bible gives directions for caring discipline within the church. The church must discipline flagrant sin among its members such actions, left unchecked, can polarize and paralyze a church. The correction, however, should never be vengeful. Instead, it should be given to help bring about a cure. There was a specific sin in the church, but the Corinthian believers had refused to deal with it. In this case, a man was having an affair with his mother (or stepmother), and the church members were trying to ignore the situation. Paul was telling the church that it had a responsibility to maintain the standards of morality found in God's Word. God tells us not to judge others. But he also tells us not to tolerate flagrant sin because it is a dangerous influence on other believers (1 Cor. 5:6). Discipline may involve shunning a person until there is repentance. To "cast" this man "into Satan's hands" means to exclude him from the fellowship of believers. Without the spiritual support of Christians, this man would be left alone with his sin and Satan, and perhaps this emptiness would drive him to repentance. Putting someone out of the church should be a last resort in disciplinary action. It should not be done out of vengeance but out of love, just as parents punish children to correct them. The church's role should be to help, not hurt, the offender, motivating him to repent of his sins and to return to the fellowship of the church. 2 Corinthians 2: 5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all ofyou to some extent--not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. Church discipline must include the opportunity for confession and restoration. Paul explained that it was time to forgive the man who had been punished by the church and had subsequently repented. He needed friendship and comfort. Satan would gain an advantage if they permanently separated this man from the congregation rather than forgiving and restoring him. This may be the man who had required the disciplinary action described in 1 Corinthians 5 or the chief opponent of Paul who had caused him the anguish described in this passage. The sorrowful letter taken by Titus had finally brought about the repentance of the Corinthians (2 Cor. 7:8-14), and their discipline of the man had led to his repentance. Church discipline should seek restoration. Two mistakes in church discipline should be avoided being too lenient and not correcting mistakes, or being too harsh and not forgiving. There is a time to confront and a time to comfort. Church discipline requires humility. We use church discipline to help keep the church pure and to help wayward people repent. But Satan tries to harm the church by tempting it to use discipline in an unforgiving way. This causes those exercising discipline to become proud of their purity, and it causes the person who is being disciplined to become bitter and perhaps leave the church entirely. We must remember that our purpose in

15 discipline is to restore a person to the fellowship, not to destroy him or her. We must be cautious that personal anger is not vented under the guise of church discipline. Why are we Saved? John 3:16 John 3:1616 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9 That ifyou confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

16 Self-Discipline: The Witness of a Balanced Life Sunday, August 21, 2016 How does God help us with self-discipline? Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 7Ifyou endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But ifyou are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeedfor a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. God allows some things to happen to us in order to train us. Who loves his child more the father who allows the child to do what will harm him, or the one who corrects, trains, and even punishes the child to help him learn what is right? It's never pleasant to be corrected and disciplined by God, but his discipline is a sign of his deep love for us. When God corrects you, see it as proof of his love and ask him what he is trying to teach you. Our response to discipline will determine how much we benefit from it. We may respond to discipline in several ways: we can accept it with resignation; we can accept it with self-pity, thinking we really don't deserve it; we can be angry and resent God for it; or we can accept it gratefully as the appropriate response toward a loving Father. God is more loving and demanding than any parent. God is not only a disciplining parent but also a demanding coach who pushes us to our limits and requires our life to be disciplined. Although we may not feel strong enough to push on to victory, we will be able to obtain it as we follow Christ and draw upon his strength. Then we can use our growing strength to help those around us who are weak and struggling.

17 Why are we Saved? John 3:16 John 3:1616 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9 That ifyou confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

18 In Christ We Have a New Mind Sunday, August 28, 2016 How should we develop our minds? Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Our relationship with God needs to influence the way we think. Christians are told, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world," which are usually selfish and often corrupting. Many Christians wisely decide that much worldly behavior is off limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world's values, however, must go even deeper than the level of behavior and customs it must be firmly planted in our mind. It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our mind are we truly transformed (Romans 8:5). 1 Corinthians 12: 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? As Christians, we should have the "mind of Christ." No one can comprehend God (Romans 11:34), but through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers have insight into some of God's plans, thoughts, and actions they, in fact, have the "mind of Christ." Through the Holy Spirit we can begin to know God's thoughts, talk with him, and expect his answers to our prayers. Are you spending enough time with Christ to have his very mind in you? An intimate relationship with Christ comes only from spending time consistently in his presence and in his Word. Philippians 2: 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, The Christian mind is characterized by humility. Jesus Christ was humble, willing to give up his rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Christ, we should have a servant's attitude, serving out of love for God and for others, not out of guilt or fear. Remember, you can choose your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others. (Mark 10:45) for more on Christ's attitude of servanthood.)

19 Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The Christian mind is characterized by purity and truth. What you put into your mind determines what comes out in your words and actions. Paul tells us to program our mind with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through television, books, conversations, movies, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material. Above all, read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help you focus your mind on what is good and pure. It takes practice, but it can be done. Why are we Saved? John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How are we Saved? Rom 10:9, That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.