Jonah 1 Jonah Flees From the LORD
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."
3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."
7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"
9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."
10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"
12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you."
13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.
17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
My opening example was asking my wife were the purple dry erase marker was. She responded that it was thru a certain door because she recalled seeing the kids playing with it. I then turned and went the other way. Well, in this story this is exactly what Jonah did.
At the time Nineveh had about 120,000 residents and was the largest city in the world. It was known for it's violence, evil plottings against the Lord, cruelty and plundering during war, prostitution and witchcraft.
In verse 2 God calls Jonah to go the preach to or against Nineveh. Verse 3 starts with a big BUT and Jonah ran the other way. Tarshish was a city in the opposite direction all the way across the Mediterranean Sea. Jonah bought his ticket and was out of there.
The study notes say that Jonah might of had some apprehension for his safety at first, but the ultimate reason was that Jonah didn't think that God's grace was for other people than the Israelites. He was selfish with his God.
How do we run from God?
Do we sometimes think God's salvation isn't for certain groups of people like murderers and such?
Vs 4 God sends a great wind. While this is going on all of the sailors were frantic and Jonah went ahead down below deck and fell into a deep sleep. We talked about how when we are outside of God's will we may be miserable and depression may set in. Maybe this was the case. Either way, by being outside the will of God Jonah put his life in jeopardy as well as the lives of the sailors. Think how this applies for us. When we are outside the will of God are we exposing our family and friends to potential peril or "bad things?"
Vs 7 God exposes the guilty party, Jonah. It was done thru a gambling type deal where possibly sticks were drawn and the short stick, or lot, fell upon Jonah. Jonah had already shared with the sailors that he was running from God and now they made the connection. They started quizzing him.
The sailors knew something needed to happen for them to have their lives spared. Jonah, instead of saying, "Take me back to land so I can go to Nineveh" recommends an assisted suicide. He knew if they threw him over the seas would get calm. At first they didn't want to. They tried to row ashore with no luck. Ironically these pagan sailors called out to Jonah's God for mercy for what they were about to do....throw him over.
God provides another out here and has the fish, or possibly a whale, most likely a sperm whale, swallow Jonah for 3 days. I'm sure Jonah had plenty of time to think about the big mess he made by running the other way. Imagine the smell and filth. It's hard even getting fish smell off your hands let alone the smell you'd acquire from sitting in the stomach.
Jonah ends up going to Nineveh and the people repent. Next week's lesson is from Jonah 4.
Hosea 149b "The ways of the Lord are right, the righteous walk in them, the rebellious stumble in them."
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Reaching Seekers August 10, 2008
Opening Activity:
Think about a question that someone with a incomplete understanding of Christianity might ask.
Lesson Goal:
To help you assist people who have an incomplete understanding of Christianity.
Acts 18:24-26 Learn What to Say to Others
Meanwhile a Jew names Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately though he only knew of John's baptism. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
John's baptism indicated repentence, symbolized an inner cleansing, and anticipated the Messiah's coming. A Christian baptism pictures Jesus' death and resurrection. It symbolizes a believer's dying to sin and being raised to a new life.
Priscilla and Aquila saw that Apollos needed a little more guidance and gently instructed him in the truth. Some scholars would say Apollos was not yet a Christian, but since Luke does not mention a "rebaptism" it most likely suggests that Apollos was indeed a believer, yet a little misguided.
Can a non-believer lead people to Christ?
Today: Listening to what seekers say about Christianity will help us know how to complete their understanding.
Acts 19:1-3 Ask Questions
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not evern heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked them, "What baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied.
What are some "qualifying" questions we may ask seekers or new believers?
What keeps us from questioning people about their understanding of Christianity?
Acts 19:4-7 Teach What's Needed
Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about 12 men in all.
"They were baptized" This is the only mention of rebaptism in the New Testament. They may not have been Christians yet.
Should someone who was baptized as a baby be rebaptized as an adult?
v6 They spoke in tongues.
I publically accepted Christ as savior when I was 15, but about 2 years later at a youth camp I feel like I really surrendered my life to Christ. While walking near the lake in The Ozarks I prayed for God to take all my burdens away and help me fully give my life to Him. At that moment I physically felt different. Almost lighter as if my burdens were indeed physical.
I don't know if you've had a life changing moment or have had a "happening" when you had the Holy Spirit enter your life, but I feel like I did. I didn't speak in tongues, but something happened.
Acts 19-8-10 Seek Opportunities
Paul's main focus was the Gentiles, but he did not give up on the Jews. He spent 3 months teaching in the synagogues. Some became hardened and even began to slander his ministry. At this point Paul moved his teachings to a lecture hall where he basically taught every day from 11am to 4pm. This, after having worked on his tent business in the morning. The bible says he did this for 2 years so "all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord."
Be ready to help seekers find the truth.
Think about a question that someone with a incomplete understanding of Christianity might ask.
Lesson Goal:
To help you assist people who have an incomplete understanding of Christianity.
Acts 18:24-26 Learn What to Say to Others
Meanwhile a Jew names Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately though he only knew of John's baptism. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
John's baptism indicated repentence, symbolized an inner cleansing, and anticipated the Messiah's coming. A Christian baptism pictures Jesus' death and resurrection. It symbolizes a believer's dying to sin and being raised to a new life.
Priscilla and Aquila saw that Apollos needed a little more guidance and gently instructed him in the truth. Some scholars would say Apollos was not yet a Christian, but since Luke does not mention a "rebaptism" it most likely suggests that Apollos was indeed a believer, yet a little misguided.
Can a non-believer lead people to Christ?
Today: Listening to what seekers say about Christianity will help us know how to complete their understanding.
Acts 19:1-3 Ask Questions
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not evern heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked them, "What baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied.
What are some "qualifying" questions we may ask seekers or new believers?
What keeps us from questioning people about their understanding of Christianity?
Acts 19:4-7 Teach What's Needed
Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about 12 men in all.
"They were baptized" This is the only mention of rebaptism in the New Testament. They may not have been Christians yet.
Should someone who was baptized as a baby be rebaptized as an adult?
v6 They spoke in tongues.
I publically accepted Christ as savior when I was 15, but about 2 years later at a youth camp I feel like I really surrendered my life to Christ. While walking near the lake in The Ozarks I prayed for God to take all my burdens away and help me fully give my life to Him. At that moment I physically felt different. Almost lighter as if my burdens were indeed physical.
I don't know if you've had a life changing moment or have had a "happening" when you had the Holy Spirit enter your life, but I feel like I did. I didn't speak in tongues, but something happened.
Acts 19-8-10 Seek Opportunities
Paul's main focus was the Gentiles, but he did not give up on the Jews. He spent 3 months teaching in the synagogues. Some became hardened and even began to slander his ministry. At this point Paul moved his teachings to a lecture hall where he basically taught every day from 11am to 4pm. This, after having worked on his tent business in the morning. The bible says he did this for 2 years so "all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord."
Be ready to help seekers find the truth.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Defending Our Faith
Lesson Goal: to help expand your understanding of Christianity's uniqueness.
Scripture Background: Acts 17:16-31(we briefly touched)
The defending of one's faith or answering questions about what the bible says is done through apologetics. The Greek word "apologia" means, "a verbal defense." I started our lesson out with a few objections that someone might have about Christianity.
Books say dinosaurs are millions of years old and the bible says the earth is only about 6,000 year old.
I don't want to go to a place full of hypocrits.
If God is in control of everything then why do bad things happen to good people?
I tied this into 1 Peter 3:15 "Always be prepared to to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.........."
I retrieved information from 2 websites: www.christiananswers.net and www.carm.org (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries). We took a 20 question quiz about how well we know the doctrine that we base our faith on. We discussed why there are different denominations(different interpretations of the core values) and different religions(wrong interpretations of core values).
If you are struggling with questions about your faith or have been challenged by someone about your faith visit Carm.org and search for the answers. Christiananswers.net also will help guide you in things such as movies and if they contradict bible teachings and if the content is appropriate for mature Christians.
I do know that I need to be reading more books that will help solidify my faith or help me be ready to defend it or lead someone else to the faith that I have. One book that is recommended was, More Than A Carpenter by Josh McDowell. He also wrote a powerful book Evidence that Demands a Verdict which talks about how he tried to disprove Christ as the savior and in this quest the evidence was so strong FOR the case of Christ that he became a Christian in his passion to discount the faith.
Why the Christian faith? It only has 2 simple rules: 1) Love God with all your heart, strength, mind and soul. 2) Love your neighbor and others as you would love your self. The rest would then be for you to figure out.
Last, the following 7 are non-negotiables to the Christian faith:
1. Jesus is/was both God and man.
2. Jesus rose from the dead physically in the same body.
3. Salvation is by GRACE thru FAITH.
4. The gospel hangs on the death, burial and ressurection of Jesus.
5. There is only ONE God.
6. God exists as a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
7. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.
All other things are not deal breakers: church on Saturday or Sunday, music lead by a man or women, okay to consumer alcohol or not, which denomenation is correct, etc.
We had 5 in attendance, but had good conversation.
Scripture Background: Acts 17:16-31(we briefly touched)
The defending of one's faith or answering questions about what the bible says is done through apologetics. The Greek word "apologia" means, "a verbal defense." I started our lesson out with a few objections that someone might have about Christianity.
Books say dinosaurs are millions of years old and the bible says the earth is only about 6,000 year old.
I don't want to go to a place full of hypocrits.
If God is in control of everything then why do bad things happen to good people?
I tied this into 1 Peter 3:15 "Always be prepared to to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.........."
I retrieved information from 2 websites: www.christiananswers.net and www.carm.org (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries). We took a 20 question quiz about how well we know the doctrine that we base our faith on. We discussed why there are different denominations(different interpretations of the core values) and different religions(wrong interpretations of core values).
If you are struggling with questions about your faith or have been challenged by someone about your faith visit Carm.org and search for the answers. Christiananswers.net also will help guide you in things such as movies and if they contradict bible teachings and if the content is appropriate for mature Christians.
I do know that I need to be reading more books that will help solidify my faith or help me be ready to defend it or lead someone else to the faith that I have. One book that is recommended was, More Than A Carpenter by Josh McDowell. He also wrote a powerful book Evidence that Demands a Verdict which talks about how he tried to disprove Christ as the savior and in this quest the evidence was so strong FOR the case of Christ that he became a Christian in his passion to discount the faith.
Why the Christian faith? It only has 2 simple rules: 1) Love God with all your heart, strength, mind and soul. 2) Love your neighbor and others as you would love your self. The rest would then be for you to figure out.
Last, the following 7 are non-negotiables to the Christian faith:
1. Jesus is/was both God and man.
2. Jesus rose from the dead physically in the same body.
3. Salvation is by GRACE thru FAITH.
4. The gospel hangs on the death, burial and ressurection of Jesus.
5. There is only ONE God.
6. God exists as a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
7. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.
All other things are not deal breakers: church on Saturday or Sunday, music lead by a man or women, okay to consumer alcohol or not, which denomenation is correct, etc.
We had 5 in attendance, but had good conversation.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Conflict
Sunday July 27, Stepping Stones Church
The goal of this lesson is to help believers resolve conflict in ways that are designed to produce positive results. How do you handle conflict? abrasively, avoidance, ignore it, bottle it in until you explode???
Questions to consider:
Why should we expect conflict within the church?What issues cause conflict within the church?
Can conflict be productive?
Must conflict be a win-lose situation?
How should Christians resolve conflict?
Acts 15:1-2 Agree to Resolve the Issues
The Council at Jerusalem
The goal of this lesson is to help believers resolve conflict in ways that are designed to produce positive results. How do you handle conflict? abrasively, avoidance, ignore it, bottle it in until you explode???
Questions to consider:
Why should we expect conflict within the church?What issues cause conflict within the church?
Can conflict be productive?
Must conflict be a win-lose situation?
How should Christians resolve conflict?
Acts 15:1-2 Agree to Resolve the Issues
The Council at Jerusalem
1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
What is the conflict here?
a. theological issues-how a person is saved and whether they have to become circumcised like a Jewish person to receive Christ
a. theological issues-how a person is saved and whether they have to become circumcised like a Jewish person to receive Christ
b. practical issues-Jewish-Gentile relationships and expectations of Gentiles
What can happen when conflict within a church goes unresolved?
(split, some leave, stagnant, turn outsiders offf)
The first step in resolving conflict is acknowledging a problem(or difference) between 2 or more parties and there is an agreement to try and resolve it.
Acts 15:6-12 Discuss the Issues
6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
How were the Gentiles saved? By grace as were the Jewish believers
How were they "testing" God by putting a yoke on them?
v7 After much debate Peter took the floor. Peter's argument was from his own experience. He was able to share the gospel with Gentiles. He states that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile to God. The real purity came by faith, not thru some custom such as circumcism. The yoke was a sense of legalism.
Acts 15:13-15 Look to the Scriptures
13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon(Peter) has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon(Peter) has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
James, Jesus' 1/2 brother was a leader in the Jerusalem church and basically he refers to the scriptures of the old testament. He then sums up what was basically debated and in verse 19 he hands down a judgment.
19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
The rest of the chapter basically is a letter to the Gentiles from the council that basically says some people were telling you wrong, you do not have to get circumcised in order to receive Christ.
We had 8 in attendance today and I do not feel that I wrapped the lesson up that well. We had a lot of discussion and everyone participate though. I think my hope was that we learn how to handle conflict. I usually try to avoid it or ignore it. I also think we need to be careful to note impose what we "think" is proper for someone who is ready to receive Christ. Something like telling them that they are not saved until they are baptised would be one thing that is contrary to the scriptures.
The worship service was youth led and it was refreshing to be reminded that the youth have a great mission field and they are so very capable of reaching others for Christ. A stat was shared that 85% of people receive Christ before they leave high school. Once someone becomes an adult it is much harder to reach that person.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Renewal Time
What are things in our everyday lives that need renewed or refilled?
How are these like our spiritual lives?
Background Genesis 34:1-29
Jacob’s daughter Dinah was “defiled” by Shechem, son of Hamor, the Hivite ruler of the area. Shechem really wanted to marry Dinah. Jacob’s sons, Levi and Simeon overhead what had happened when Hamor, Shechem’s father informed Jacob what had happened. They were filled with “grief and fury..” Shechem offered to pay for Dinah so he could marry her. The brother’s came up with an idea that as long as the men of Shechem’s tribe got circumcised then all would be good and the 2 tribes could intermarry. 3 days after the circumcisms of all the men, Levi and Simeon killed all the men of the tribe and took all that they had.
Genesis 34:30-31 Evaluate Your Actions
What is Jacob saying in verse 30? What did he fear?
What were the son’s response in verse 31?
Have you ever been in a situation were your desire for revenge got in the way of your relationship with God?
When do we need to renew our relationship or commitment to God?
Genesis 35:1-4 Purify Yourself
Who took the initiative to redirect Jacob’s life?
v1 GO to Bethel
v2 Get RID of
Earring significance?
Can you think about the time in your life where you felt you closest to God?
Closing thoughts:
1. Do you need to renew your relationship with God?
2. Where should you GO to get to the place you were closest to God?
3. What do you need to get RID of in your life?
Comments?
How are these like our spiritual lives?
Background Genesis 34:1-29
Jacob’s daughter Dinah was “defiled” by Shechem, son of Hamor, the Hivite ruler of the area. Shechem really wanted to marry Dinah. Jacob’s sons, Levi and Simeon overhead what had happened when Hamor, Shechem’s father informed Jacob what had happened. They were filled with “grief and fury..” Shechem offered to pay for Dinah so he could marry her. The brother’s came up with an idea that as long as the men of Shechem’s tribe got circumcised then all would be good and the 2 tribes could intermarry. 3 days after the circumcisms of all the men, Levi and Simeon killed all the men of the tribe and took all that they had.
Genesis 34:30-31 Evaluate Your Actions
What is Jacob saying in verse 30? What did he fear?
What were the son’s response in verse 31?
Have you ever been in a situation were your desire for revenge got in the way of your relationship with God?
When do we need to renew our relationship or commitment to God?
Genesis 35:1-4 Purify Yourself
Who took the initiative to redirect Jacob’s life?
v1 GO to Bethel
v2 Get RID of
Earring significance?
Can you think about the time in your life where you felt you closest to God?
Closing thoughts:
1. Do you need to renew your relationship with God?
2. Where should you GO to get to the place you were closest to God?
3. What do you need to get RID of in your life?
Comments?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Asking God for a Sign
Last Sunday I taught a lesson from Genesis 24 where Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac. The following passage v12-21 is where the servant prayed that it would be obvious when he found the right woman. His prayer was answered before he finished praying:
12 Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar."
18 "Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking." 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.
Our lesson got stuck on the part whether or not it is wrong to ask God for a sign. If you ask for a sign do you lack in faith? Even Gideon asked God for a sign to specifically make dew appear on a fleece covering and the rest of the ground. When that happened Gideon then asked if God would make the fleece dry and the ground all around it wet with dew.
First of all I think the closer to God you are, the more obvious the sign will be. Sometimes we pray for something that we know we are going to do whether or not God gives us a sign. We'll justify or make up signs that are from God.
Anyway, this lesson hit home with us last week. As I was teaching this lesson we were driving a 2008 Dodge Avenger that a dealer let us drive. We really liked the car. We were looking at a similar 2007 Chysler Sebring. My wife came up with some criteria that she felt comfortable with. The car must have under 20,000 miles and our payment wouldn't be any more than $237. The dealer finally found the 2007 Sebring and we drove it. We were turned off by how rough it looked for a 1 year old car. It was in a rental fleet. Also, the add said 16,000 miles and it ended up having 21,000 miles on it.
We left that dealer to look at another 2007 which was supposed to have about 16,000 miles as well. It too had over 20,000 miles. I knew my numbers pretty well and knew we should get close to the $237 payment. They guy came in at a range of $265-$275. After looking real hard I noticed they were charging $700 for some window ID etching. We left.
The next day the salesman called an said $249 was the final offer. Since the car had some body damage on it, over 20,000 miles, I called back and said no thanks. I got a call back the next day and their final offer was $240 a month. A mere $3 a month away from our number. I am so glad they didn't offer the $240 the night we were there. We probably would have signed a deal.
I think God laid it upon our hearts that we needed to be closer to a $230 a month range and gave us an opportunity to walk away from the deal when it was $265. He also let us walk away from the first car because the miles were too high and the vehicle was a tad bit rough. We are so glad and so comfortable that we did not buy a car.
I spent 2 hours on Saturday doing a full detail on my wife's 2000 Dodge Neon and it looks really nice. IF we do trade it I think I can command an extra $500 or more or even sell it for twice what the dealer would give us.
12 Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar."
18 "Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking." 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.
Our lesson got stuck on the part whether or not it is wrong to ask God for a sign. If you ask for a sign do you lack in faith? Even Gideon asked God for a sign to specifically make dew appear on a fleece covering and the rest of the ground. When that happened Gideon then asked if God would make the fleece dry and the ground all around it wet with dew.
First of all I think the closer to God you are, the more obvious the sign will be. Sometimes we pray for something that we know we are going to do whether or not God gives us a sign. We'll justify or make up signs that are from God.
Anyway, this lesson hit home with us last week. As I was teaching this lesson we were driving a 2008 Dodge Avenger that a dealer let us drive. We really liked the car. We were looking at a similar 2007 Chysler Sebring. My wife came up with some criteria that she felt comfortable with. The car must have under 20,000 miles and our payment wouldn't be any more than $237. The dealer finally found the 2007 Sebring and we drove it. We were turned off by how rough it looked for a 1 year old car. It was in a rental fleet. Also, the add said 16,000 miles and it ended up having 21,000 miles on it.
We left that dealer to look at another 2007 which was supposed to have about 16,000 miles as well. It too had over 20,000 miles. I knew my numbers pretty well and knew we should get close to the $237 payment. They guy came in at a range of $265-$275. After looking real hard I noticed they were charging $700 for some window ID etching. We left.
The next day the salesman called an said $249 was the final offer. Since the car had some body damage on it, over 20,000 miles, I called back and said no thanks. I got a call back the next day and their final offer was $240 a month. A mere $3 a month away from our number. I am so glad they didn't offer the $240 the night we were there. We probably would have signed a deal.
I think God laid it upon our hearts that we needed to be closer to a $230 a month range and gave us an opportunity to walk away from the deal when it was $265. He also let us walk away from the first car because the miles were too high and the vehicle was a tad bit rough. We are so glad and so comfortable that we did not buy a car.
I spent 2 hours on Saturday doing a full detail on my wife's 2000 Dodge Neon and it looks really nice. IF we do trade it I think I can command an extra $500 or more or even sell it for twice what the dealer would give us.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Valuing Human Life
The main goal of my lesson on Sunday was the as Christians we are to value all life as God would expect it. I opened up with the following question: Think of a time where you didn't feel valued. I got answers including being picked last, interviewing for a job, not being included in certain circles and such.
I then asked how society devalues certain individual's lives: mentally or physically handicapped, homeless, economically disadvantaged, race, criminals. We all agreed that we tend to put certain values on people's lives.
We looked at Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God created EVERYONE and loves everyone. He desires fellowship from everyone. I brought up Osama Bin Laden and how if he were captured and killed many would be excited. I know when bad things happen to bad people I tend to think they deserved it. I feel we also pick and choose who is worth loving and helping. God isn't as selective. He desires fellowship with EVERYONE and his call to salvation is for everyone.
I referenced to Matthew 22 and looked at the Greatest Commandment where the disciples asked Jesus about the law:
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
It is hard to love a criminal as I would myself. Or the neighbor who parks a boat or a pull behind camper in his drive way. How about the co-worker or Sunday school class member who requires a lot of extra grace.
If we truly devoted ourselves to these 2 commandments there would be no room for selfishness or laziness.
I then asked how society devalues certain individual's lives: mentally or physically handicapped, homeless, economically disadvantaged, race, criminals. We all agreed that we tend to put certain values on people's lives.
We looked at Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God created EVERYONE and loves everyone. He desires fellowship from everyone. I brought up Osama Bin Laden and how if he were captured and killed many would be excited. I know when bad things happen to bad people I tend to think they deserved it. I feel we also pick and choose who is worth loving and helping. God isn't as selective. He desires fellowship with EVERYONE and his call to salvation is for everyone.
I referenced to Matthew 22 and looked at the Greatest Commandment where the disciples asked Jesus about the law:
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
It is hard to love a criminal as I would myself. Or the neighbor who parks a boat or a pull behind camper in his drive way. How about the co-worker or Sunday school class member who requires a lot of extra grace.
If we truly devoted ourselves to these 2 commandments there would be no room for selfishness or laziness.
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