Saul Meets Samuel. There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. Passage: Luke 18:9-14 (NLT), Gal 6:2-10 (NLT), John 17:13-19 (NIV), 2 Cor 10:3-5 (NIV), Psalm 139:7-12 (NLT), James 1:27 (NLT), Isaiah 1:17 (NLT), Micah 6:6-8 (NLT) Service Type: Sunday AM Truth in the Chaos – Jehovah. 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT) “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love one another as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. “Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing.
Sunday School Lessons
Mrs. Daisy B. Scott - Superintendent
(Updated October 23, 2021)
Sunday School classes start at 9:30 AM every Sunday.
But its purpose might be twofold: (1) to sell counsel on the kind of wife a young guy should seek, and also (2) in a subtle way to advise the young guy (again) to marry Lady Wisdom, therefore returning to the template of chs. 1 - 9 (as climaxed in ch. 9; compare the summary of Lady Wisdom in 9:1-2 with the virtues of the wife in 31:10-31).
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October 3, 2021 – Make a Joyful Noise
Alternate Title – Praise God with Joy
Alternate Title – Praise God with Joy
Bible Lesson:Psalm 100 KJV
The key verse: Psalm 100:3 (KJV) - 'Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.'
(Pop-up references come from The New Living Translation courtesy of Faithlife Reftagger)
What shall we learn from this lesson:
Psalm 100 reminds us of one important thing: The Lord is the same today as He always has been and always will be. His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures forever. He will forever stand by His word. This means the promise He made to us for eternal life with Him is not an empty statement but a rock-solid reality. The weather may change, and we may change but the Lord is the same.
This alludes to the reality of Psalm 100:5 KJV-
What shall we learn from this lesson:
Psalm 100 reminds us of one important thing: The Lord is the same today as He always has been and always will be. His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures forever. He will forever stand by His word. This means the promise He made to us for eternal life with Him is not an empty statement but a rock-solid reality. The weather may change, and we may change but the Lord is the same.
This alludes to the reality of Psalm 100:5 KJV-
'For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.'
Focus 1 9 14 Nlt Book
and to Malachi 3:6 NASB-
“For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, the sons of Jacob, have not come to an end.'
Since Christ is God, we know that the Jesus that died on the cross for our sins is the same today as He was then. (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)-
'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.'
When we wake up in the morning we are assured that God the Father is still there, Jesus is still there, and the Holy Spirit is still there. This faith in our belief is what sustains us for we know that the Lord is faithful to all generations and His promises will not fade away.
We should remind ourselves that the Lord made us and He is looking out for us as if we are the sheep of His pasture:
We should remind ourselves that the Lord made us and He is looking out for us as if we are the sheep of His pasture:
'Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture' (Psalm 100:3 KJV).
The Lord loves us and when we love Him we know all things will work in our life for the good:
'And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.' (Romans 8:28 NLT)
Therefore, our conclusion is that the almighty and everlasting God is looking out for us and will make everything in our life work together for the good. We can be assured of this fact each and every day because God lives forever and does not change.
These comforting facts should put gladness in our hearts each day that the Lord allows us to see. He has taken the mystery out of life and the uncertainty out of death. In this knowledge, we should praise Him and make a joyful noise to Him and bless His name.
These comforting facts should put gladness in our hearts each day that the Lord allows us to see. He has taken the mystery out of life and the uncertainty out of death. In this knowledge, we should praise Him and make a joyful noise to Him and bless His name.
The Bible lesson link (at the beginning of the lesson) is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation Bible Version of Psalm 100 NLT
The key verse: Psalm 100:3 (NLT) - 'Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.'
October 10, 2021 – Praise God for Justice and Righteousness
Alternate Title – Praise for God's Ultimate Justice
Alternate Title #2 – Praise God for Justice
Alternate Title – Praise for God's Ultimate Justice
Alternate Title #2 – Praise God for Justice
Bible Lesson:Psalm 9:1-12 KJV
The key verse: Psalm 9:8 (KJV) - 'And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.'
(Pop-up references come from The New Living Translation courtesy of Faithlife Reftagger)
What shall we learn from this lesson:
When we think of our faithfulness to God, Psalm 9:1 summarizes our correct level of dedication to Him which, in turn, inspires our willingness to testify to His goodness.
What shall we learn from this lesson:
When we think of our faithfulness to God, Psalm 9:1 summarizes our correct level of dedication to Him which, in turn, inspires our willingness to testify to His goodness.
'I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.' Psalm 9:1 NLT
The magnitude of what our commitment should be to God is 'with all my heart.' Jesus said the greatest commandment is:
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength.' Mark 12:30 NIV.
strength.' Mark 12:30 NIV.
When we truly love the Lord for all He has done for us, our sense of gratitude can be the foundation of joyful living. 'Just knowing God cares for us and is directing our life can change our perception of what happens to us on a daily basis. This new confident perception is what is meant by Joyful Living.*
The Psalm says, 'I will be filled with joy because of you' (Psalm 9:2a). The root basis of this joy is gratitude to God - especially for what He has already done for us. We have been taught to have this type of gratitude in church, especially if we read carefully the words in some of the hymns.
An example of such a hymn is 'Count Your Blessings' (Excell, Oatman) of which an excerpt follows:
The Psalm says, 'I will be filled with joy because of you' (Psalm 9:2a). The root basis of this joy is gratitude to God - especially for what He has already done for us. We have been taught to have this type of gratitude in church, especially if we read carefully the words in some of the hymns.
An example of such a hymn is 'Count Your Blessings' (Excell, Oatman) of which an excerpt follows:
'When you are discourage, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.'
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.'
We will come to know that God didn't make us by accident and He doesn't make mistakes. He put us 'where we are' and 'how we are' on purpose and for a reason.
We all have a purpose in life, given to us by God, that will glorify and praise Him. It is our responsibility to seek out how God intends for us to fulfill this purpose. In this process, we must discern what personal spiritual gift/s we have been given to help achieve God's purpose for us.
Psalm 9 is very personal. If we put ourselves in the place of David - the writer, the beginning of the psalm declares it is us who the Lord has blessed and we personally are grateful and praise His name.
We all have a purpose in life, given to us by God, that will glorify and praise Him. It is our responsibility to seek out how God intends for us to fulfill this purpose. In this process, we must discern what personal spiritual gift/s we have been given to help achieve God's purpose for us.
Psalm 9 is very personal. If we put ourselves in the place of David - the writer, the beginning of the psalm declares it is us who the Lord has blessed and we personally are grateful and praise His name.
I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Notice the number of times 'I' is the central prefix and medium.
Then David expresses how the Lord has been there to defend him from his enemies to lead him to victory in battle (Psalm 9:3,4,5,6). We may not fight with swords and shields, but we do fight battles every day with Satan and his demons. We can sing praises to God for the battles He has won for us.
Whenever we are in a situation where there is a worldly and a godly choice and we choose the godly action, that is a battle won. We sing praises to the Lord and bless His name when we make the right choices, for we know He deserves the credit for all good things.
In the remainder of our reference text, David expresses his praise of God for the fairness and eternal nature of His judgment. David acknowledged his gratitude to God for more than His judgment of evil but also for His willingness to be a place of refuge and rest for the oppressed.
The oppressed American slaves experienced a measure of God's refuge and rest by singing spirituals such as the one below. Doing so gave them hope and reminded them that God could one day rescue them as He had done for the Israelites in Egypt.
Then David expresses how the Lord has been there to defend him from his enemies to lead him to victory in battle (Psalm 9:3,4,5,6). We may not fight with swords and shields, but we do fight battles every day with Satan and his demons. We can sing praises to God for the battles He has won for us.
Whenever we are in a situation where there is a worldly and a godly choice and we choose the godly action, that is a battle won. We sing praises to the Lord and bless His name when we make the right choices, for we know He deserves the credit for all good things.
In the remainder of our reference text, David expresses his praise of God for the fairness and eternal nature of His judgment. David acknowledged his gratitude to God for more than His judgment of evil but also for His willingness to be a place of refuge and rest for the oppressed.
The oppressed American slaves experienced a measure of God's refuge and rest by singing spirituals such as the one below. Doing so gave them hope and reminded them that God could one day rescue them as He had done for the Israelites in Egypt.
Go down Moses,
'Way down in Egypt land
Tell ol' Pharaoh
To let my people go.
'Way down in Egypt land
Tell ol' Pharaoh
To let my people go.
![1-9 1-9](https://friendshipbcaiken.org/site/assets/files/2020/fbc-august-2020-self-bible-study.jpg)
Many of the slave-spirituals represented prayer in the form of song. In some cases, the slaves had to sing their songs in quietness away from their oppressor's ears. Otherwise, they could be punished.
God answered those prayers and the slaves were freed just as He had freed the Israelites. We praise God for His justice and thank Him for the places of refuge we are now blessed with. Just look how far the Lord has brought the people who were slaves and who came to this country in slave boats with nothing.
God answered those prayers and the slaves were freed just as He had freed the Israelites. We praise God for His justice and thank Him for the places of refuge we are now blessed with. Just look how far the Lord has brought the people who were slaves and who came to this country in slave boats with nothing.
The Bible lesson link (at the beginning of the lesson) is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation Bible Version of Psalm 9:1-12 NLT
The key verse: Psalm 9:8 (NLT) - 'He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.'
*Taken from The Book of the Holy Spirit: Joyful Living (Page 4)
October 17, 2021 – Give Thanks for Deliverance
Alternate Title – Praise God for Past Deliverance
Alternate Title #2 – Praise for God for All He has Done
Alternate Title – Praise God for Past Deliverance
Alternate Title #2 – Praise for God for All He has Done
Bible Lesson:Psalm 107:1-9, 39-43 KJV
The key verse: Psalm 107:6 (KJV) - Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses.
Exactscan pro 20 2 3 ring binder. (Pop-up references come from The New Living Translation courtesy of Faithlife Reftagger)
What shall we learn from this lesson:
What shall we learn from this lesson:
1-9 Form Pdf
If you have ever been at a point of desperation in which you have had to cry out to the Lord for deliverance, this lesson will have special meaning to you. If you've never been in such a situation, this lesson will help prepare you for that eventuality.
Psalm 107 begins with words that not only set the tone for this lesson but also set the tone for our relationship with God.
Psalm 107 begins with words that not only set the tone for this lesson but also set the tone for our relationship with God.
'O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.' Psalm 107:1 KJV.
Our relationship with God should be one of thanksgiving for all He has done for us individually and for humankind as a whole. As believers in Christ, our Savior, we are 'saved' and have been redeemed from the enemy. This psalm tells us that our redemption is also our testimony.
'Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.' Psalm 107:2 KJV
The NIV translation of Psalm 107:2 says it more poetically, 'Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.'
When we tell our story about our relationship with God and how He has blessed us, we are not only spreading the word to others, we are also reminding ourselves of God's goodness and that we should always give thanks to Him. Metaphorically, we are God's billboard. We advertise His goodness for all to see.
Words cannot express how important it is to have a good relationship with God, the creator and master of all in existence. He is the one who can change whatever He so desires. He has control over all aspects of our life and even what happens to us after this life is over.
Therefore it goes without saying that having a good relationship with the Lord is our most important goal in life.
He has provided the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers so that we can be empowered to live a holy life and be guided through the temptations, storms, and difficulties we will face while on earth.
All of us know things the Lord has done for us starting with the day we were born because He is the one responsible for our life. If it had not been for him we would not be alive today.
We will find in life that the Lord can be our refuse when times get rough. Sometimes we get caught up in problems where we have run out of ordinary options. We have tried all manner of approaches to the problem but it still exists.
Sometimes we get to the end of our rope and we are driven to do more than just a simple prayer. We find it difficult to fully express our heartache to God using ordinary words and expressions.
When we tell our story about our relationship with God and how He has blessed us, we are not only spreading the word to others, we are also reminding ourselves of God's goodness and that we should always give thanks to Him. Metaphorically, we are God's billboard. We advertise His goodness for all to see.
Words cannot express how important it is to have a good relationship with God, the creator and master of all in existence. He is the one who can change whatever He so desires. He has control over all aspects of our life and even what happens to us after this life is over.
Therefore it goes without saying that having a good relationship with the Lord is our most important goal in life.
He has provided the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers so that we can be empowered to live a holy life and be guided through the temptations, storms, and difficulties we will face while on earth.
All of us know things the Lord has done for us starting with the day we were born because He is the one responsible for our life. If it had not been for him we would not be alive today.
We will find in life that the Lord can be our refuse when times get rough. Sometimes we get caught up in problems where we have run out of ordinary options. We have tried all manner of approaches to the problem but it still exists.
Sometimes we get to the end of our rope and we are driven to do more than just a simple prayer. We find it difficult to fully express our heartache to God using ordinary words and expressions.
Our need for an answer, a solution, or a way out at that time has become urgent. Those of us who put our faith in the Lord may then find ourselves going beyond simple prayer; beyond just asking for help. We find ourselves at a point that we are led to cry out to the Lord for deliverance; for a solution or resolution to our urgent need.
We know He has the power to fix our problems. Because of this knowledge and faith in His power, we cry out to Him for His help.
Maybe we have a broken marriage or a broken relationship with a friend, a child or grandchild, or a job that is in jeopardy, or an upcoming serious operation in the hospital. The circumstance, whatever it may be, is so important that we cry out to the Lord and ask for His favor.
Psalm 107 shows the advantages of crying out to the Lord when we are faced with an urgent need. It is a psalm of thankfulness, praise, and deliverance. It contains four short stories and displays God's deliverance of those in urgent need of relief. These four stories can give us encouragement that the Lord will also come to our rescue.
In the four stories, the person that has the need is faced with a set of trying and urgent circumstances. The person is led to a desperate need for God's intervention in order to find relief.
The central theme of these four stories is 'Crying out to the Lord and then praising Him for considering our needs and desires.'
We know He has the power to fix our problems. Because of this knowledge and faith in His power, we cry out to Him for His help.
Maybe we have a broken marriage or a broken relationship with a friend, a child or grandchild, or a job that is in jeopardy, or an upcoming serious operation in the hospital. The circumstance, whatever it may be, is so important that we cry out to the Lord and ask for His favor.
Psalm 107 shows the advantages of crying out to the Lord when we are faced with an urgent need. It is a psalm of thankfulness, praise, and deliverance. It contains four short stories and displays God's deliverance of those in urgent need of relief. These four stories can give us encouragement that the Lord will also come to our rescue.
In the four stories, the person that has the need is faced with a set of trying and urgent circumstances. The person is led to a desperate need for God's intervention in order to find relief.
The central theme of these four stories is 'Crying out to the Lord and then praising Him for considering our needs and desires.'
We can give each of the stories a title based on the place of suffering in which the story takes place.
- The desert wilderness (verses 4-9)
- The prison (verses 10-16)
- The hospital (verses 17-22)
- The storm in deep waters (verses 23-31)
Each of the four stories has the same sequence of events:
- A description of the place of suffering the person is in
- Crying out to the Lord for deliverance
- A description of how the Lord responded
- Praising the Lord for His goodness, love, and mercy.
The Places of Suffering:
Verses 4-5 NIV - [The desert wilderness] Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
Verse 10 NIV - [The prison] Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains.
Verses 17-18 NIV - [The hospital] Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.
Verses 23,26,27 NIV - [The storm in deep waters] Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits' end.
Focus 1 9 14 Nlt Commentary
Crying out to the Lord for Deliverance
To remind us of what is important in each story, the psalmist repeats two common thoughts in each story. The first common thought is to 'cry out to the Lord.' We will find this thought repeated in each of the stories in the following verses (NIV):
- Verse 6 - [The desert wilderness]
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. - Verse 13 - [The prison]
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. - Verse 19 - [The hospital]
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. - Verse 28 - [The storm in deep waters]
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.
A Description of How the Lord Responded
Verse 7 - [The desert wilderness]
He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
Verse 14 - [The Prison]
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.
Verse 20 - [The hospital]
He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Verses 29-30 - [The storm in deep waters]
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.
To Praise and Give Thanks to the Lord for His Goodness
The second common thought is to praise and give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. This common thought is repeated in the following verses (NIV):
- Verse 8 - [The desert wilderness]
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, - Verse 15 - [The prison]
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, - Verse 21 - [The hospital]
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. - Verse 31 - [The storm in deep waters]
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
To review, the stories themselves can be entitled:
- The desert wilderness
- The prison
- The hospital
- The storm in deep waters
These conditions serve to demonstrate the principle of God's deliverance from desperate situations when we cry out to Him. The concluding thought is to know that during desperate times when all seems to be lost, we can cry out to the Lord for deliverance.
However, we must also understand that God's decision to respond to our request for deliverance from our problems will not always be a 'yes.'
But even if He doesn't answer our request with a 'yes' we will still praise His name for considering our desires and we will know that His decision is best. That is the kind of faith that the Lord appreciates; faith in Him even if His answer is 'no'.
We can stop worrying because we know our problem has been turned over to the only one who knows the best direction to take. This faith is putting into action the old saying, 'Just put it in the hands of the Lord.'
The Lord is more interested in how we face our problems than He is in solving each and every problem we have. He wants us to depend on Him—to lean on Him—and have faith in His wisdom as we seek His guidance in life. He is with us believers in all times in the form of the Holy Spirit.
In the Bible, we can find many instances where crying out to the Lord was used but we will discuss only two which emphasize the fundamentals of this lesson.
However, we must also understand that God's decision to respond to our request for deliverance from our problems will not always be a 'yes.'
But even if He doesn't answer our request with a 'yes' we will still praise His name for considering our desires and we will know that His decision is best. That is the kind of faith that the Lord appreciates; faith in Him even if His answer is 'no'.
We can stop worrying because we know our problem has been turned over to the only one who knows the best direction to take. This faith is putting into action the old saying, 'Just put it in the hands of the Lord.'
The Lord is more interested in how we face our problems than He is in solving each and every problem we have. He wants us to depend on Him—to lean on Him—and have faith in His wisdom as we seek His guidance in life. He is with us believers in all times in the form of the Holy Spirit.
In the Bible, we can find many instances where crying out to the Lord was used but we will discuss only two which emphasize the fundamentals of this lesson.
Jesus is the first example we can use for when He prayed to His Father in heaven:
'During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.' Hebrews 5:7 NIV
Jesus was in a human body and He would have to endure human pain as He was tortured and killed on the cross. Jesus asked that the cup be taken away from Him, yet the cup was not taken away. He trusted God His Father and displayed the type of faith we should all have to accept God's wisdom even if the answer to our request is 'no'.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42 NIV
Luke 22:42 NIV
For our second example, let us consider King Hezekiah. He cried to the Lord and was rescued. The Lord deserved gratitude and praise from him, but he showed none. His story demonstrates to us that we should never forget to thank the Lord for his goodness to us:
When King Hezekiah was told by Isaiah the prophet that he would die of his illness and he should therefore put his affairs in order, he prayed to God for consideration. But he went beyond simple prayer; he cried bitterly. In 2 Kings, we find the following:
'Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.'
2 Kings 20:3 NIV
2 Kings 20:3 NIV
When he cried unto the Lord, this is what God said:
..' I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.” .. 'I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria.' 2 Kings 20:5-6 NIV
God gave Hezekiah 15 more years of life.
God gave Hezekiah 15 more years of life.
How did Hezekiah respond to this news? Did he have faith enough to believe God and celebrate His decision or did he ask for proof that God would do this for him? Unfortunately, faith was not enough for him and he wanted a sign from God that He would heal him.
Now Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 'What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD the third day?' 2 Kings 20:8 NIV
The king of Babylon sent men to give Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift because he had heard of his sickness. Did Hezekiah take this opportunity to tell his story of how the Lord had spared him? No, he didn't tell his story. He also didn't praise God for all He had done for him. The Bible doesn't even report that he thanked the Lord for healing him.
Instead, he took that opportunity to showcase his pride—showing the Babylonians all the valuable stuff he had accumulated in his lifetime. In effect, he was bragging about himself.
Instead, he took that opportunity to showcase his pride—showing the Babylonians all the valuable stuff he had accumulated in his lifetime. In effect, he was bragging about himself.
Hezekiah received the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. 2 Kings 20:13
Remember that all the four short stories in Psalm 107 ended with praising the Lord for the deliverance from suffering. But in Hezekiah's story, praising the Lord was not on his mind.
Isaiah told Hezekiah that there will be consequences for his actions (or lack thereof). He said that all the treasure he had shown the Babylonians will one day be carried off to Babylon. His sons also will be carried into exile in Babylon.
Did this prophecy bother Hezekiah to know that because of his actions (lack of faith, lack of thankfulness, and lack of praise to God) there would be suffering in the future? No. Essentially, his response was that as long as there was peace in his lifetime, who cares about the future.
Let us not be like Hezekiah ended up being. Let us tell our story about how the Lord has come to our rescue in times of need. Let us be grateful for the times the Lord has listened to our cries to Him for deliverence. We will praise Him in the good times and also in the times of our suffering. Let our relationship with Him begin with and end with:
Isaiah told Hezekiah that there will be consequences for his actions (or lack thereof). He said that all the treasure he had shown the Babylonians will one day be carried off to Babylon. His sons also will be carried into exile in Babylon.
Did this prophecy bother Hezekiah to know that because of his actions (lack of faith, lack of thankfulness, and lack of praise to God) there would be suffering in the future? No. Essentially, his response was that as long as there was peace in his lifetime, who cares about the future.
Let us not be like Hezekiah ended up being. Let us tell our story about how the Lord has come to our rescue in times of need. Let us be grateful for the times the Lord has listened to our cries to Him for deliverence. We will praise Him in the good times and also in the times of our suffering. Let our relationship with Him begin with and end with:
'O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.' Psalm 107:1 KJV.
The Bible lesson link (at the beginning of the lesson) is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation Bible Version of Psalm 107:1-9, 39-43 NLT
The key verse: Psalm 107:6 (NLT) - ''LORD, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.'
The key verse: Psalm 107:6 (NLT) - ''LORD, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.'
October 24, 2021 – The Joy of Worship
Alternate Title – Praise God for His Presence
Alternate Title – Praise God for His Presence
Bible Lesson:Psalm 84 KJV
The key verse: Psalm 84:4 (KJV) - 'Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.'
(Pop-up references come from The New Living Translation courtesy of Faithlife Reftagger)
What shall we learn from this lesson:
The Israelites considered the temple as a symbol of the presence of God; that God was present in the Temple. The psalmist proclaims this by saying, in reference to the Temple, 'How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven's Armies.'
With this in mind, to be away from the Temple would mean to be away from God's presence. As Christians, we don't have this same concern because when we are not in Church it doesn't mean we are away from the Lord because the Holy Spirit indwells all believers.
The tragedy of the psalmist is the belief that he could only be around God in one place: the Temple.
In fact, the writer says how much he longs to be as a little bird who could fly into the Temple whenever he wanted and could possibly even build a nest there and live in the presence of the Lord. This is perhaps a metaphor expressing the desire to be in the presence of the Lord at all times. What joy that would bring as expressed in the following verse:
What shall we learn from this lesson:
The Israelites considered the temple as a symbol of the presence of God; that God was present in the Temple. The psalmist proclaims this by saying, in reference to the Temple, 'How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven's Armies.'
With this in mind, to be away from the Temple would mean to be away from God's presence. As Christians, we don't have this same concern because when we are not in Church it doesn't mean we are away from the Lord because the Holy Spirit indwells all believers.
The tragedy of the psalmist is the belief that he could only be around God in one place: the Temple.
In fact, the writer says how much he longs to be as a little bird who could fly into the Temple whenever he wanted and could possibly even build a nest there and live in the presence of the Lord. This is perhaps a metaphor expressing the desire to be in the presence of the Lord at all times. What joy that would bring as expressed in the following verse:
'What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Interlude' Psalm 84:4 NLT
The psalmist expresses the joy one must feel to pass through the valley of Baca because it is close to Jerusalem and the Temple. He feels the excitement the traveler must feel to be getting close to the Temple and God's presence.
The trip to Jerusalem is not an easy oneand is mostly uphill. However, the psalmist notes, those making the trip continue to grow stronger because they are getting closer to God in Jerusalem.
The trip to Jerusalem is not an easy oneand is mostly uphill. However, the psalmist notes, those making the trip continue to grow stronger because they are getting closer to God in Jerusalem.
'They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.' Psalm 84:7 NLT
The writer is excited about worshiping the Lord and being in the Temple. He would rather be there than any other place.
'For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than live in the tents of wickedness.' Psalm 84:10 NASB
![Focus 1 9 14 Nlt Focus 1 9 14 Nlt](https://is4-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music128/v4/54/86/30/5486306c-7dd0-49d5-e0a9-17d70211acd1/source/600x600bb.jpg)
This person is the ideal worshiper because of the love of the Lord and the enthusiasm felt for just being close to what represented His presence. If everyone in a church felt that way they would draw strength from each other and they would all be blessed.
Worship services in that church would be more that singing and praying. The services would be an enthusiastic praise of the Lord.
Worship services in that church would be more that singing and praying. The services would be an enthusiastic praise of the Lord.
The Bible lesson link (at the beginning of the lesson) is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation Bible Version of Psalm 84 NLT
The key verse: Psalm 84:4 (NLT) - 'What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Interlude'
October 31, 2021 – Praise God with Music
Alternate Title – Praise God for His Greatness
Alternate Title #2 – Praise for God His Greatness
Alternate Title – Praise God for His Greatness
Alternate Title #2 – Praise for God His Greatness
Bible Lesson:Psalm 149:1-5; 150:1-6 KJV
The key verse: Psalm 150:6 (KJV) - 'Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.'
(Pop-up references come from The New Living Translation courtesy of Faithlife Reftagger)
What shall we learn from this lesson:
Music is one of the most important subjects in the church. It can affect church membership and attendance and can set the tone of the whole worship service. There are those who believe all music in the Christian church should be reserved and almost quiet out of reverence to the Lord. However, if we model our praise to God by Psalms 149 and 150, we will find there is plenty of room for joyful noise.
An in-depth study of this subject will no doubt lead us to the conclusion that God is more interested in what is in our hearts than our song list used in worship. If our hearts are overflowing with gratitude, we just might find ourselves worshiping the Lord with all our might in whatever way God has moved us.
We have a lot to be thankful to the Lord for. We are thankful for the many blessings He has bestowed on us, for the mercy He has had on us, and for the forgiveness of our sins. Above these things we are thankful for the life He has given us. Without life we could not praise Him and we would not even be here today. Therefore, we owe Him for every breath we take and every step we make.
This type of gratitude is what David exhibited to the Lord when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He made it a joyous occasion of worship and praise to God.He was jubilant and danced before the Lord to show his praise (2 Samuel 6:14-15). This was not the normal behavior for a king.
The reference Scripture says to 'Sing unto the LORD a new song (Psalm 149.1 KJV).' These poetic words could mean to some people a newly written song. But to others it could mean a new way of thinking about an old song or even simply a new way we have found to praise the Lord.
David might have considered that dancing before the Lord was his 'new song' for praising God. But whatever it was, David did it with all his might.
If you have ever wondered what type attitude you should have when praising the Lord, Psalms 149 and 150 tell us that it's good to rejoice in Him with music and loudness. This rejoicing can first start when we wake up in the morning and continue as we go to sleep at night.
What shall we learn from this lesson:
Music is one of the most important subjects in the church. It can affect church membership and attendance and can set the tone of the whole worship service. There are those who believe all music in the Christian church should be reserved and almost quiet out of reverence to the Lord. However, if we model our praise to God by Psalms 149 and 150, we will find there is plenty of room for joyful noise.
An in-depth study of this subject will no doubt lead us to the conclusion that God is more interested in what is in our hearts than our song list used in worship. If our hearts are overflowing with gratitude, we just might find ourselves worshiping the Lord with all our might in whatever way God has moved us.
We have a lot to be thankful to the Lord for. We are thankful for the many blessings He has bestowed on us, for the mercy He has had on us, and for the forgiveness of our sins. Above these things we are thankful for the life He has given us. Without life we could not praise Him and we would not even be here today. Therefore, we owe Him for every breath we take and every step we make.
This type of gratitude is what David exhibited to the Lord when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He made it a joyous occasion of worship and praise to God.He was jubilant and danced before the Lord to show his praise (2 Samuel 6:14-15). This was not the normal behavior for a king.
The reference Scripture says to 'Sing unto the LORD a new song (Psalm 149.1 KJV).' These poetic words could mean to some people a newly written song. But to others it could mean a new way of thinking about an old song or even simply a new way we have found to praise the Lord.
David might have considered that dancing before the Lord was his 'new song' for praising God. But whatever it was, David did it with all his might.
If you have ever wondered what type attitude you should have when praising the Lord, Psalms 149 and 150 tell us that it's good to rejoice in Him with music and loudness. This rejoicing can first start when we wake up in the morning and continue as we go to sleep at night.
'Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.'
Psalm 149:5 KJV
Psalm 149:5 KJV
Psalms 149 and 150 encourages worship and praise that comes with music, and even dance as the following Scripture denotes:
- Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
- Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
- Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
- Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
But everyone is not required to have loud cymbals or a trumpet when they come to church. But our hearts should leap for joy because of what the Lord means to us. We should all sing to Him a new song .. our song of gratitude and love that He has put on our hearts.
The Bible lesson link (at the beginning of the lesson) is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation Bible Version of Psalm 149:1-5; 150:1-6 NLT
The key verse: Psalm 150:6 (NLT) - 'Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD! Praise the LORD!'
November 7, 2021 – All People Praise God
Alternate Title – United in Praise
Alternate Title #2 – Together in Praise
Alternate Title – United in Praise
Alternate Title #2 – Together in Praise
Bible Lesson:Revelation 7:9-17 KJV
The key verse: Revelation 7:14 (KJV) - 'And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'
(Pop-up references come from The New Living Translation courtesy of Faithlife Reftagger)
What shall we learn from this lesson:
Revelation is a book that allows us to have a glimpse into the world and into Heaven during the end times. Chapters 6-19 cover a period call Tribulation in which God's wrath is poured out, resulting in calamity, destruction, and much suffering by the unbelievers.
The Tribulation will wake up the nation of Israel to the fact that time is growing short to come to Christ. It will shake up the unbelievers of the great price they will pay if they do not come to Christ. It will start giving the world what it needs in order to be ready for the 1000-year Reign of Jesus. In other words, the world is starting to be put in the proper order.
This is a time when God will complete His discipline of Israel but it shall also be a time of great revival; there will be many who come to know the Lord. Many will come out of the Tribulation as believers and will 'wash their robes' in the blood of the Lamb and their robes will then be white. Their sins will be put aside.
What shall we learn from this lesson:
Revelation is a book that allows us to have a glimpse into the world and into Heaven during the end times. Chapters 6-19 cover a period call Tribulation in which God's wrath is poured out, resulting in calamity, destruction, and much suffering by the unbelievers.
The Tribulation will wake up the nation of Israel to the fact that time is growing short to come to Christ. It will shake up the unbelievers of the great price they will pay if they do not come to Christ. It will start giving the world what it needs in order to be ready for the 1000-year Reign of Jesus. In other words, the world is starting to be put in the proper order.
This is a time when God will complete His discipline of Israel but it shall also be a time of great revival; there will be many who come to know the Lord. Many will come out of the Tribulation as believers and will 'wash their robes' in the blood of the Lamb and their robes will then be white. Their sins will be put aside.
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14 KJV
Then there were four angels poised to bring more destruction but they were told to wait until the servants of God could be sealed. The number that were sealed was 144,000 who all came from the tribes of Israel.
Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.' Rev 7:2-3 KJV
And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed Rev 7:4 KJV
And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed Rev 7:4 KJV
French canadian keyboard map. Many theologians believe the 144,000 will be called upon to serve the Lord by being evangelists who will bring others to Christ while there is still time. Many of the great multitude (Rev 7:9) will come to Christ as a result of the ministry of the 144,000. However, eventually, the time for convertion will expire and the opportunity to come to Christ will be gone.
There will be so many converts that came out of the Tribulation that they could not be counted. They shall be from all nations. Discrimination based on race or ethnicity is not there.
This will be the greatest revival the world has ever seen. Those in the white robes will have palms in their hands signifying the victory over sin and Satan accomplished by Jesus, the Lamb, who sacrificed His life on the cross for humankind.
There will be so many converts that came out of the Tribulation that they could not be counted. They shall be from all nations. Discrimination based on race or ethnicity is not there.
This will be the greatest revival the world has ever seen. Those in the white robes will have palms in their hands signifying the victory over sin and Satan accomplished by Jesus, the Lamb, who sacrificed His life on the cross for humankind.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelation 7:9 KJV
One notable thing that occurred in Revelation 7 is that in the midst of God's wrath there is a lull, and we see mercy by God, praise by the multitude, and Jesus, the Lamb, caring for them:
Mercy and love: For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17 NLT
Praise: All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 7:11-12 KJV
Revelation 7:11-12 KJV
1.9 Minecraft
Even in the midst of the Day of the Lord, we see that the precepts of praise, mercy, and love endure. But why would anyone wait until such a time as the Tribulation before committing to the Lord? Why not do it now before the agony and destruction while there is still time?
The Bible lesson link (at the beginning of the lesson) is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation Bible Version of Revelation 7:9-17 NLT
The key verse: Revelation 7:14 (NLT) - 'And I said to him, 'Sir, you are the one who knows.' Then he said to me, 'These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. '
The Bible lesson link (at the beginning of the lesson) is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation Bible Version of Revelation 7:9-17 NLT
The key verse: Revelation 7:14 (NLT) - 'And I said to him, 'Sir, you are the one who knows.' Then he said to me, 'These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. '
For access to all chapters of the King James Version Bible in audio and visual formats, visit the Audio-Bible.com web site.
For other versions (NIV, New Living Translation, etc.) of the Bible in audio and visual formats, visit the World Wide Study Bible page of Christian Classics Eternal Library site. Also visit the New Living Translation web site.
Some information on this page may be referenced from the NLT Study Bible, the Standard Lesson Commentary, Precepts for Living, Commentary by David Guzik, and gotquestions.org. Frederick L. Marsh is the commentary author of the information contained in this page. He is the author of the book: 'The Book of the Holy Spirit: Joyful living.' The opinions expressed on this page are his alone.
For other versions (NIV, New Living Translation, etc.) of the Bible in audio and visual formats, visit the World Wide Study Bible page of Christian Classics Eternal Library site. Also visit the New Living Translation web site.
Some information on this page may be referenced from the NLT Study Bible, the Standard Lesson Commentary, Precepts for Living, Commentary by David Guzik, and gotquestions.org. Frederick L. Marsh is the commentary author of the information contained in this page. He is the author of the book: 'The Book of the Holy Spirit: Joyful living.' The opinions expressed on this page are his alone.
No one likes to do a stewardship campaign, but everyone needs to; not because our churches need money, but because we all need Jesus as the master of every area in our life. When we think about stewardship and generosity in general, specifically regarding money, we think about these guiding principles:
- Everyone needs this
- If you don’t have the money thing right; you won’t have the heart thing right
- Generosity ought to be talked about and encouraged in every service, year round. For us this comes in the form of a weekly generosity moment in every service that sometimes simply highlights the 3 easy ways to give, and at other times highlights what people are giving to, or why they are called to give.
- The more generous our church is; the more generous the people will be
- Giving should be simple and easy
- You are not giving to a church/budget/pastor/specific need (we are not raising a budget); you are giving to God
- Tithing is a biblical command that we should teach
- People give to vision
- There is no such thing as non-givers; rather there are always potential givers
- We all have a need to give
Like many churches, we have a stewardship team that helps develop the sermon series, plan the stewardship process for that year, and execute all the advertising and logistics of that process. Our planning process starts in the early Fall, begins to be executed by the end of January, and ends with the sermon series at the end of February/beginning of March before spring break (not counting our follow up process that lasts about a month afterward). A huge help for us has been a coaching resource by The Rocket Company called Giving Rocket. We require our campus pastors to go through a year of coaching by Giving Rocket because it’s so helpful for understanding why we always talk about generosity, and it provides tons of SUPER helpful tools for your church. You can find out more here. You really do need this resource!
Regardless of the series, we always teach about tithing in the second message of the series, right before the commitment weekend. Here are our 2 most recent sermon series on stewardship:
Series Idea 1: First
What we put first in our life matters. If we’ll choose to put God FIRST, in our living and giving, we can touch more lives, connect greater numbers of folks to Christ, and help the Kingdom of God expand. As a church we’ve experienced God do more things through us this past year than ever before, and we think we are just seeing the beginning of what God is going to do as we allow Him to use us! Let’s keep God FIRST, and see what God can do!
(Note: This series was developed and inspired by the book and sermon package written by Mike Slaughter called “First”)
Week 1: The Competition
Key Scripture: Matthew 6:33
Outline:
- Intro.
- Make God FIRST in your life – Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
- Idol – Anything, or anyone, that receives the primary focus of my energy or resources, which should first belong to God (Mike Slaughter)
- Idols are good things that we make god things, and that’s a bad thing (Mark Driscoll)
- 2 Kings 17:38-41 (NCV)
- Idolatry is worshipping the gift instead of the Giver – Romans 1:21-25 (NIV); Exodus 32:2-4 (NIV)
- We become what we worship – Psalm 135:15-18 (God’s Word)
- Idols never deliver what they promise
- Identify & Eliminate the Competition
Week 2: The Challenge
Key Scripture: Matthew 6:33; 2 Chronicles 31:2-10
Outline:
- Intro.
- Make God FIRST – Matthew 6:33
- 2 Chronicles 31:1-10
- Cleanse – vs.1-2
- Give – vs.3-8
- Live – vs.9-10; Haggai 1:5-6 & 9-11; Acts 4:32-37; Matthew 6:33
- Challenge – Examine and ask – how can I put God first in giving?
Week 3: The Commitment
Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Outline:
- Intro.
- What’s my commitment going to be?
- Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NIV1984)
- What contribution do you want to make? – v.6; Deuteronomy 14:23 (TLB)
- What is my attitude toward my giving? – v.7
- Do you trust God to provide? – v.8; Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
- Are you ready for the next level of generosity? – vs.10-11; 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV1984)
- For whatever you give: How much of yourself are you giving to God? – v.11; Mark 12:41-44 (NIV1984)
- They put in a lot of money but only a fraction of themselves; she put in a fraction of money but all of herself.
Series Idea 2: What if…?
“What if?” That phrase can strike fear in all of our hearts and minds as we consider all the things that could go wrong in our world, especially when it comes to our finances. Security is one of our basic needs, and thinking about all the “what if’s” can cause panic and anxiety when we think about future plans. But what if the “what if” question wasn’t as much about fear, but about possibility? What if when we trust God, He can do far more with what we give, in our lives and in the lives of others, than we could possibly imagine or do on our own? Join us for our series, WHAT IF…?, where we’ll be imagining what God would do through us if we would really trust Him with what He’s blessed us with.
Week 1: What if…we humble ourselves and pray?
Key Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14-15
When is the next elder scrolls being released. Outline:
- Intro.
- What if the “what if” question wasn’t as much about fear, but about possibility?
- 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (NIV)
- Possibility is always just a turn away
- The Turning Process
– We can’t have the promises without the process
- Humble ourselves & Pray – Proverbs 22:4a (NIV); John 3:27-28, 30 (NIV); 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 (NIV); Matthew 6:5-8
- Seek His face – 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV); 1 Chronicles 22:19 (ESV); Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)
- Turn from our wicked ways – Psalm 10:4 (NLT); Ezekiel 33:10-17 (NIV1984)
Focus 1 9 14 Nlt Version
Week 2: What if…we seek God first?
Key scripture: Matthew 6:19-34
Outline:
- Intro.
- Matthew 6:19-34 (NLT) – give context while they’re turning there
- Proactive Generosity
- Tithing
o What it’s not
- A tax – Luke 18:9-14
- The leftovers – Malachi 1:8 (NLT); Numbers 18:29 (NLT)
- A bribe
- A fundraiser for the Church
- An option – Deuteronomy 14:22-23(NLT); Matthew 23:23 (NLT)
o What it is
- The first tenth – Leviticus 27:30-32 (NLT); Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)
- God’s plan of provision for His People – Deuteronomy 12:11 (NLT); Nehemiah 13:10-12 (NLT); Acts 2:44-45 (NLT); Acts 4:34-35 (NLT)
- Given freely – 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 (NLT)
- Regular – 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NLT)
- Worship
- A test – Luke 16:11; Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
- A way that God blesses us – 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NLT)
Week 3: What if…we do something extraordinary?
Key Scripture: Isaiah 54:1-4a
Outline:
- Intro.
- Isaiah 54:1-4a (NIV1984)
- Enlarge your capacity – vs.1-2; Isaiah 43:18-19; 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
- Stretch your commitment – v.2; 2 Co. 9:6 (NIV); John 12:24 (NLT); 2 Co. 9:13-14 (GNT)
- Expand your influence – vs.3-4; John 6:10-13 (NIV)