Adult Sunday School Lesson - 9:45am 12/04/11

Godly Thought Life

Philippians 4:8-9

Daily Bible Reading

Monday – Philippians 4:8-9, Psalm 73:1-3, 10-15, II Peter 1:1-11

Tuesday – Romans 12:9-21

Wednesday – John 14, John 17:17, Ephesians 6:14, I John 3:18

Thursday – I Peter 2:12, Proverbs 20:7, Titus 1:8, I Timothy 4:12, Proverbs 18:24

Friday – James 3:17, I John 3:1-3, I Peter 4:8, Acts 6:1-8

Saturday – I Thessalonians 5:22, II Peter 1:1-4, I Thessalonians 5:21, I John 4:1, Romans 12:1-2

I)                   Truth

a.       Paul instructs us to think on (give careful attention) to truth

b.      Who is truth? ___________ (John 14:16)

c.       What is truth? __________________________ (John 17:17)

d.      What is the significance of Paul’s use of the word “girt about” (fasten one’s belt)? ______________________________________________________________________________(Ephesians 6:14)

e.       What is the result of giving careful attention to truth? ________________________________________________________________(Romans 12:1-2)

II)                Honest

a.       Paul instructs us to think on things that are honest

b.      The word honest here means honourable or revered

c.       Give examples of things you think of that are not honourable or revered? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

d.      Give examples of things you think of that are honourable and revered?  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III)             Just

a.       How should one define justice? ____________________________________________________

b.      Can there be true justice without absolute truth? ____________

c.       If a Christian would make an impression on his fellow-men favorable to religion, it is indispensable that he manifest uncorrupted integrity in his dealings.

IV)             Pure

a.       Paul instructs us to think of pure (clean) things.

b.      Examine the sources of information available to us today: books, magazines, newspapers, TV, internet.

c.       How carefully does one choose that models pure behaviour? In what ways could one make better choices? ______________________________________________________________________

V)                Lovely

a.       Paul instructs us to think on things that are lovely (friendly, amiable)

b.      What is the best way to gain friends? _____________________________________ (Proverbs 18:24)

c.       A Christian should not be sour, crabby, or irritable in his temper - for nothing almost tends so much to injure the cause of religion as a temper always chafed, an eye that is severe and unkind, and a disposition to find fault with everything.

VI)             Good Report

a.       Why is it important to be of good report? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(Acts 6:1-8)

b.      How can we ensure that we are of good report or well spoken of? _____________________________________________________ (I Thessalonians 5:22)

VII)          Virtue and Praise

a.       Paul then instructs us to think on any virtuous or praiseworthy thing.

b.      Why is it important to be virtuous? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(II Peter 1:11)

c.       What things are worthy of our praise? _______________________________________________

How is God challenging you today to change your thought life? What steps will you take in order to meet this challenge?

Sunday Evening Sermon - 11/27/11

Are There Any Guarantees?

Sunday Evening Sermon Outline - 11/20/11

Why We Pray

Psalm 116

Prologue

We do not pray because we have no confidence that God is listening. We have no confidence because we have no experience with God in prayer. We have no experience because we have not, by faith, taken advantage of God’s manifest presence on a regular basis. (Romans 5:1-5)

I)                   We Pray Because God Listens

a.       The psalmist loved the Lord because the Lord heard his voice. This sounds improper until we realise the truth of I John 4:19 which tells us that we only love God because God first loved us.

                                                              i.      Our entire relationship with God is not one of initiating but responding. (John 6:44)

                                                            ii.      Verse 2 says that God had to incline (bend way down) His ear to the psalmist.

b.      The fact that God hears one of our prayers should compel us to pray to Him for as long as we live (Psalm 116:2)

                                                              i.      We should pray morning, noon and night (Psalm 55:16-17)

                                                            ii.      We should call upon the Lord when in trouble (Psalm 86:6-7)

                                  iii.      We should pray always (Luke 18:1) without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17)

II)                We Pray Because We Need Answers

a.       The psalmist needed an answer for he was greatly distressed (Psalm 116:3) and afflicted (Psalm 116:10)

                                                              i.      He was in no small trouble. He describes his situation as being compassed with death and the grave (Psalm 116:3)

                                                            ii.      We often despair at this point because we have forgotten that God has inclined his ear to us.

b.      The psalmist never forgets and never loses hope. In the midst of a great sorrow and affliction the psalmist remembers God’s inclined ear. (Psalm 116:4)

                                                              i.      He cries out in faith remembering the person and goodness of the Lord (Psalm 116:5-6)

                                                            ii.      His soul was at rest for God had honoured his prayer of faith and had dealt bountifully with him delivering him from death (Psalm 116:7-8)

                                                          iii.      In his haste he declares all men are liars and cannot be counted upon in time of need (Psalm 116:11)

III)             We Pray Because It Glorifies God

a.       The psalmist glorified God by walking before the Lord in the land of the living. He walked before the Lord as a result of knelling before the Lord (Psalm 116:9)

b.      The psalmist wishes to repay the Lord for the favour God had showed him (Psalm 116:12)

                                                              i.      Are we willing to render unto God our time?

                                                            ii.      Are we willing to render unto God our talent (ability)?

                                                          iii.      Are we willing to render unto God our talents (money)?

                                                          iv.      Are we willing to render unto God all? (Psalm 116:16)

c.       The psalmist was willing to pay his vows to God in the presence of all the people (Psalm 116:14 & 18-19)

d.      The psalmist glorified God by realising he was just a servant and having a thankful heart toward the master (Psalm 116:16-17)

Sunday Evening Service (6:30pm 11/20/11)

Sunday Evening Sermon:

"Why We Pray"

Adult Sunday School Lesson - 9:45am 11/27/11

Overcoming Anxiety Biblically

Philippians 4:4-7

Daily Bible Reading:

Monday - Philippians 4:4-7; I Thessalonians 5:16-18; Psalm 73:21-25

Tuesday - Psalm 75-1; Psalm 92:1-2; Psalm 91

Wednesday - Psalm 106; Hebrews 13:5-6

Thursday - Psalm 108:4

Friday - Psalm 143; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 5:20

I)                   Praise

a.       How often should we rejoice in the Lord? ________________(Philippians 4:4) (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

b.      The psalmist tells us to praise God for His loving kindness and faithfulness day and night. (Psalm 92:1-2). How might our attitude towards other people circumstances change if we framed our days with praise unto the Lord? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c.       What are three are of the foremost things we can praise God for? (Psalm 106:1 & Psalm 108:4)

                                                              i.      _________________________________________

                                                            ii.      _________________________________________

                                                          iii.      _________________________________________

d.      The wonder of praising the Lord is that He becomes elevated in our hearts and minds. Our fear and worry disappear as our confidence in God grows.

II)                Moderation

a.       Putting up with affronts and injuries, and bearing them with patience; and interpreting things in the best sense, and putting the best constructions on words and actions they will bear. (Philippians 4:5)

                                                              i.      Do you treat others with moderation and gentleness? _______________________

                                                            ii.      If not, what would be the advantages gained by having a more moderate, gentle approach to life? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b.      God promised never to leave nor forsake us. He promised to be our helper. This promise was given so that we might be content and without fear. (Hebrews 13:5-6)

III)             Prayers Voiced with Thanksgiving

a.       We are to bring our prayers to God with a thankful heart. (Philippians 4:6)

b.      What are we to give God thanks for? ___________________________(I Thessalonians 5:16-18) (Ephesians 5:20)

c.       In what ways does voicing our thanks and appreciation change our attitude and make us more aware of the Lord’s presence? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

d.      How is it possible to give God thanks in everything? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

e.       Psalm 75:1 admonishes us to thank God for all His wondrous works. Is it possible to cease identifying all His wondrous works? _____________

Adult Sunday School Lesson - 9:45am 11/20/11

Pressing Toward the High Goal

Philippians 3:12-16

I)                   Imperfection

a.       Paul was a Christian leader

b.      Paul was a Christian leader of unusual holiness, devotion, dedication. Thus he was unusually Christ like.

                                                              i.      Did Paul consider himself perfect? ______________________________ (vs. 12)

                                                            ii.      Paul said he was following ______________________________ (vs.12)   

                                               

II)                Striving For Perfection

a.       Paul is alluding to running a race

b.      Do you perceive life to be a race that requires endurance more than speed? ___________.

c.       What types of activities are required in order to prepare for a marathon?

                                                              i.      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                            ii.      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                          iii.      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                          iv.      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                            v.      ________________________________________________________________________

d.      What types of activities are required in order to prepare for a Christian marathon?

                                                              i.      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                            ii.      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                          iii.      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                          iv.      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                            v.      __________________________________________________ _____________________

e.       One also has to prepare one’s mind

                                                              i.      Paul said he there was one thing he did. What was this one thing? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1.      Paul cleared his mind daily of past failures and past successes. If we are to run the race we must prepare our bodies and ___________.

2.      Is it difficult to forget one’s past? ________. If so, why?

a.       _________________________________________________________________

b.      _________________________________________________________________

c.       _________________________________________________________________

3.      It’s not enough to just run the race we must ________________________. (vs.14)

III)             Hindrances To Perfection

a.       What hindrances are there to running and completing our race?

                                                              i.      ________________________________________________________________________(Hebrews 10:1-2)

                                                            ii.      ________________________________________________________________________(I Corinthians 9:24-27)

________________________________________________________________________(Philippians 3:20-21)

Sunday Evening Sermon - 11/13/11

Who Shall Prevail?

Psalm 129

I)                   Shall Nature Prevail

a.       The Red Sea afflicted the people of God but could not prevail (Exodus 14:21)

b.      The Jordan River afflicted the people of God but could not prevail (Joshua 4:23)

c.       The Sea of Galilee afflicted the people of God but could not prevail (Matthew 8:24-27)

d.      “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)

II)                Shall Man Prevail

a.       Joseph was cast into a pit and sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:24-28) and then imprisoned (Genesis 39). Man afflicted Joseph but could not prevail. (Genesis 50:20)

b.      David faced Goliath (I Samuel 17) and fled Saul (I Samuel 19:9-24). Man afflicted David but could not prevail (II Samuel 2:1-4)

c.       “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)

III)             Shall Government Prevail

a.       Pharaoh afflicted the people of God but could not prevail (Exodus 3:1-14:31)

b.      Rome afflicted the people of God; Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, etc... (The Gospels, The Acts) but could not prevail

c.       “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)

IV)             Jesus Shall Prevail

a.       Jesus said to Peter, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18)

b.      The entire world may afflict the people of God, but Jesus has promised that He shall prevail.

c.       “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)