August 29th/30th – Say What? – Vine & Branches

The final saying of this series is also the most important! Simply put, we are useless without Christ. This lesson is simple, but crucial! It will force students to take an honest look at where they are in their relationship with Christ. The main point of this lesson: Am I attached, detached, or re-attached?

SAY WHAT?

Bible Saying You’ve Heard, But May Not Understand!

Vine and Branches

“Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch can’t produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing. If anyone separates from me, he is thrown away like a useless branch, withers, and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned” (John 15:4-6).

JESUS is the VINE / I am the BRANCH

CONNECTED TO THE VINE I’M:

HELPFUL and HOPEFUL

“Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit” (John 15:5b).

“He has already tended you by pruning back for greater strength and usefulness” (John 15:3).

APART FROM THE VINE I’M:

HELPLESS and HOPELESS

“If anyone separates from me, he his thrown away like a useless branch, withers, and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned” (John 15:6).

Thought for the week:

Am I ATTACHED, DETACHED, or RE-ATTACHED?

August 22nd/23rd – Say What? – Salt of the Earth

In this famous saying Jesus isn’t describing Himself—He’s describing us. This lesson takes an in-depth look at how believers can be “salty.” The first half of the lesson deals with the characteristics of salt, the second half takes those same characteristics and gives them human qualities. The main point of this lesson: How salty are you?

SAY WHAT?

Bible Saying You’ve Heard, But May Not Understand!

Salt of the Earth

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and tramped underfoot as worthless” (Matthew 5:13 NLT).

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for soil nor for fertilizer. It is thrown away. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!” (Luke 14:34).

WHAT IS SALT GOOD FOR?

ADDS flavor

PRESERVES food

MELTS coldness

HEALS wounds

WHAT ARE CHRISTANS GOOD FOR?

We add HOPE

LIVE a holy lifestyle

SHOW love to others

SHARE Christ with our family and friends

Thought for the week:

How SALTY are you?

August 15th/16th – Say What? – Good Shepherd

Another strong claim that Jesus made about Himself and His relationship to us. The best way to teach this lesson is to set the whole thing up by talking about the role shepherds played in Biblical days. List the various qualities of a good shepherd, then compare those qualities with some of the same qualities found in Christ. The main point of this lesson: Am I part of His flock?

SAY WHAT?

Bible Saying You’ve Heard, But May Not Understand!

I Am the Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep“(John 10:11 NLT).

THE GOOD SHEPHERED:

KNOWS me by NAME

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3 NLT).

KEEPS me SAFE

“He walks ahead of them; and they follow him, because they recognize his voice”

(John 10:4 NLT).

GIVES me LIFE

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10 NLT).

Thought for the week:

Am I PART of His FLOCK?

August 8th/9th – Say What? – Bread of Life

What was Jesus talking about when He called Himself the bread of life? This lesson helps students understand one of Jesus’ most famous claims. The main point of this lesson: Am I going to settle for white, whole wheat, or Jesus? In other words, why settle for the “bread” the world says we need when we can have Christ instead. Sort of dorky, but our students got a chuckle out of it.

SAY WHAT?

Bible Saying You’ve Heard, But May Not Understand!

Bread of Life

Give us free bread every day, like our fathers had while they journeyed through the wilderness! As the Scriptures say, “Moses gave them bread from heaven” (John 6:31).

BREAD:

NOURISHES ME

SATISFIES ME

SUSTAINS ME

Jesus replied, “I am the Bread of Life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again” (John 6:35 NLT).

JESUS:

NOURISHES ME

SATISFIES ME

SUSTAINS ME

Thought for the week:

Am I going to settle for WHOLE WHEAT, WHITE, or JESUS?

May 16th & 17th

Subject: Generosity: Generosity is giving no matter what you’re getting

Core Scriptures: Genesis 40:1 – 41:46
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Discussion Questions:

• Did Joseph ask for anything in return for what he gave? Why or why not? Did Joseph ultimately get anything in return for what he gave? If so, what?

• What are some specific ways that we can show generosity in our lives? What is at least one way you can be generous in the next 24 hours?

• How do our heart motives affect whether we are generous or not?

• How does our motivation affect our generosity? When should we ask for something in return for what we give? When should we not ask for something in return?

• How does it make you feel when someone gives to you with “strings attached”? Do you ever find yourself doing that to others? How do you think it makes them feel?

Bottom Line:

• If generosity means giving no matter what you’re getting, then a person with the successory of generosity should be quick to fill a need when he or she sees it.
• We have opportunities to give around us everywhere. Generosity isn’t a successory we add to our lives later – it’s something that we can add to our lives right now. Generosity is giving no matter what you’re getting. When we give help in whatever form, we join God in remaking and redeeming the world. This is the kind of world we dream about living in.

May 9th & 10th

Subject: Integrity: Integrity is doing what is right even if what happens next is wrong

Core Scriptures: Genesis 39: 1-23
Memory Verse: Proverbs 11:3 (NASB) “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.”
Discussion Questions:

• What situation was Joseph in? What are some of the ways he chose integrity? What did the choice for integrity cause Joseph to do? What did the choice for integrity cause Joseph not to do?

• What is YOUR definition of integrity? How do you feel about people who have integrity? What about people who don’t?

• What are some of the things integrity leads us not to do? What are some of the things integrity leads us to do?

• Have you ever been in a situation where you had to make a decision based on your integrity, a time when no one else would have known the difference? What choice did you make? How did you feel about it afterwards?

Bottom Line:

• Joseph decided that his commitment to God and his master meant far more than a sexual affair or a comfortable life. His story shows us that integrity is doing what is right even if what happens next is wrong.

• Integrity is doing what is right even if what happens next is wrong. If we try to skirt the rules and get away with as much as we can, we cheat God and ourselves. But we can be like Joseph and choose to live with the successory of integrity.

• We need to weed out unwise decisions and replace them with the successory of integrity so that we can begin laying a foundation of Wise Choices in our lives. We will always face the choice between integrity and the easy way out. But imagine how much different your life would be if everyone lived this way. This is truly a better kind of life.

May 2nd & 3rd

Subject: Humility: Arrogance is the Pits
Core Scriptures: Genesis 7: 6-35
Memory Verse: Proverbs 16:18 (AMP) “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Discussion Questions:

• How was Joseph arrogant? What were some of the factors that led him to be arrogant? What was the result of Joseph’s arrogance? How did this contribute to his trip to the pits?

• What are some of the ways we display arrogance? What reasons do we use as excuses for our arrogance?

• What problems can result from our arrogance? How can this lead us into the pits? How has this happened in your life? Are there any specific relationships in your life that have been damaged by arrogance?

• What will it look like for us to live with humility? What is humility? How can we develop humility in our lives? What Wise Choices must we make to grow in humility?

• In what specific situations do you need to show humility right now? How can you do this? What practical steps do you need to take?

Bottom Line:

• Jacob’s favoritism and Joseph’s arrogance had created a recipe for jealousy, and this soon took a disastrous form as Joseph’s life took a dark turn. Joseph found out the hard way that arrogance is the pits.
• Humility does not mean we will become doormats. It didn’t for Joseph; he actually ended up as a ruler. But no matter where he was, he had a realistic view of who he was. He knew that God was in control, not him.
• Let us move away from arrogance and instead make the Wise Choice to humbly follow God in our lives, trusting him to lift us out of the pits and into the good He is up to in our world.

Leaving Lust Vegas...April 25-26

Tips on Staying Free of Pornography

1. Avoid stores that sell porn, especially those that display it behind the cash register so you can see it as you check out
2. Don't surf the internet alone
3. Avoid sexually explicit movies (usually R rated and some PG rated)
4. Avoid looking at people in a sexual manner. If you can't look at a person without having sexual thoughts, then don't look at all!
5. If married, avoid being separated from your spouse, especially in the evening
6. Avoid being alone
7. Pre-plan alternate, non-pornographic activities you will do when you feel the urge to view porn. Examples:

· Ask God for help in prayer

· Pray for others struggling with porn addiction

· Call a friend

· Exercise

· Recite Bible verses audibly

· Sing praise songs to God

8. Install internet filters on your computer and give a friend the password; use a text only browser (like Lynx) if search engine pictures are tempting you
9. When tempted, remind yourself the truth about the lies behind the temptations
10. Take actions to clean out your home from any physical or spiritual stumbling blocks related to porn
11. Take action to build your spiritual walls of resistance through our online courses
12. www.xxxchurch.com

Purity Week #2
April 18 & 19, 2009

Big Idea: “Just This Once”

Core Scripture: Judges 13-16 (Samson and his choices)

Memory Verse: Matthew 5:27-28 (MSG) "You know the next commandment pretty
well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' But don't think
you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your
heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those
leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt.

They led this muscular guy out into the courtyard, his eyes had been gouged out and people were making fun of him and his God. Thousands of people were crowded into this facility and suddenly, without warning, this man turned his face toward heaven and said these words “God, remember me, just this one time”. That phrase is just a snapshot of the life of Samson… Samson, as you look at him, is a tragedy of what might have been. He was a man who was literally leveled by lust.

Let’s look at how he started, let’s look in Judges 13:24
Here’s the situation, Samson was from the tribe of Dan and they had just moved into the Promised Land and they hadn’t actually settled it yet.

Every time you think about temptation, you have to think about your purpose – because the devil uses temptation to throw you off of your purpose. Samson’s purpose was to lead Israel, to be a judge of Israel. The enemy used lust to get Samson off of his purpose. The enemy used temptation to get Jesus off of His purpose (it didn’t work – but he used temptation). He wanted Jesus to not live a sinless life – he wanted to get Jesus off track. What things in your life have tried to get you off purpose or off track?

Judges 14: “Now Samson went down to Timnah” (a Philistine city) The Israelites were SPECIFICALLY told not to associate with, talk to, or marry the Philistines. Well, Samson had a problem with lust.

What is lust? Lust is when a God-given desire (our sex and/or sexuality) goes haywire. Or when an attraction, segues into an illicit action that is physical, emotional, or mental.

Samson went DOWN to Timnah… geographically and spiritually. Lust is always going to take you down – it’s looking for leverage to take you down.

Back to Judges 14 – talking about Delilah. Those Philistines dressed MUCH more provocatively than the Israelites. You go to the wrong places, you’re going to meet the wrong people and miss the purpose of God for your life!

Judges 14:2 – He saw a woman in Timnah… he wanted that woman! His mom and dad knew not to do it, but they did, they went and got this forbidden woman for their son.

Let me tell you something about Samson – Samson was a man who was devoted to God. He took something called a Nazarite vow. The Nazarite vow was a outward symbolic thing of an inward commitment. Here’s what a Nazarite vow entailed – Samson could not touch anything that was dead, he could not partake of any grape products (wine, juice, jelly), also Samson could not have a razor near his head (no haircuts). Those were outward symbols of an inward commitment.

Then going through verses 5-9 – him touching the dead lion and eating the honey. He probably said to himself “just this once”. He even took some back to his parents… (and didn’t tell them where he got it from)
1. Lust always looks for leverage. Eph 4:27 “Don’t give Satan a toe hole.”
2. Lust always lies to us.

“Just this once”… (touch the dead, lust after the women, have some wine) always turns into one more, one more and one more. Lust is that powerful – it can rule us, dominate us and take us down a path that we don’t want to go.

Look at all the awful things that Samson did after that point – the foxes, killing men,

Judges 16:1 – He saw a prostitute, then in verse 4 he runs into Delilah (there’s a “lie” in there). Women have a power, don’t they guys? Vs 6 – her strategy… she “nagged” him to death! He told her all that was in his heart – that’s what the Nazarite vow was all about, his heart.

Look at how sad it really was, in verse 20 it says “and he didn’t even know that the Lord had left him”.

3. Lust always leads to destruction

Look at verse 21 – they gouged out his eyes, bound him, he became a grinder in prision. Lust blinds, it binds and it grinds. Samson’s problem was with his eyes! Lust is all about the eyes! It’s not about the look – its about the linger. He couldn’t control his lust for women. Now he was doing the work of a woman – grinding grain at the mill.

Then he began to cry out to God – what else was he going to do?

His heart began to grow for God again. Then vs. 29 & 30 – “God, remember me again just this once.”

09 Easter: The Story of God

1) Lesson One: Remember
Bottom Line: Our history shapes who we are today
Central Text: Exodus 12:14-17, 26-28 Story of Passover and why we remember vs26
Today is an event in history and we need to remember that!

3 Days Later video:

2) Lesson Two: Receive
Bottom Line: Receiving communion is valuing Christ and unifying us as believers
Central Text: Mark 14:12-26; I Corinthians 11:23-26, 28; I Corinthians 10:16-17
I Corinthians 11:23-26, 28; 23-that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread, 24 And when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance. 25 Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance. 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes [again]. 27 So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a man [thoroughly] examine himself, and [only when he has done] so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

3) Lesson Three: Respond
Bottom Line: The resurrection of Christ 2,000 years ago empowers us to respond in the bigger story of God today.
Central Text:
Matthew 28:16-20
Colossians 1:15-20
Col 1:20 And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

All that God wants from you is consent to be loved by Him, consent to be saved…he died and had a choice and now he extends that choice to you!

Purity Week #1 April 4 & 5, 2009

Big Idea: BUST LUST – Identifying It

Core Scripture: 2 Samuel 11-12 (David & Bathsheba)

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No test or temptation that comes your way is

beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to

remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be

pushed past your limit; He’ll always be there to help you come

through it.”

Lust… it’s not a word you talk about all the time. Heck, it’s not even a word you hear a whole lot about. It’s that dirty old “L” word… reserved for old men and disgusting things to look at. But it’s really a whole lot more simple than that...

Lust is simple a God-given desire that’s gone haywire.

It’s when an attraction that segues into an elicit, sexual action – mentally, physically, or emotionally.

The world wants us to think that lust is this “new thing” that just came into existence. But the truth is – lust has been around forever. It started in the Garden of Eden when Adam looked at that piece of fruit he’d been told not to eat and it still continues on today in a lot of different areas in our lives.

Introductory statements:

a. We’re going to talk about lust in a very straight-forward, Biblical and candid manner. The Bible has some WONDERFUL things to say about lust and we’re going to talk about what it says.

b. The underlying theme of this entire series is hope. That’s what so amazing about scripture – we serve a God who gives us the good news of hope.

LUST IS NOT JUST A “GUY THING”… ladies, you need to understand a man’s sex drive and your own as well!

Lust keeps more people from experiencing the power of God. We can all walk in victory!

4 statements about lust:

1. No one is immune from lust… none of us is beyond or above this stuff (it all just depends on the situation and circumstances).
2. Our sex drive is from God. God thought sex up – it’s a good thing because it’s a God thing. We have desires from God for a lot of things – water, food, sex (we all do). We’re not to use this God-given desire in a god-forbidden way (outside of the marriage bed) – that’s sin! One man, one woman together in the COVENANT of marriage. I’m going to do it your way God – with your guidelines & guardrails. (ILLUSTRATION: imagine a cliff with no guardrails – you can make it around in the best of circumstances with no problem… but add to that lack of sleep, slippery roads, distractions and you have a recipe for disaster)

What are the desires we have? Most men are clueless as to what a woman’s true desires are and most women are clueless as to what a man’s true desires are.

A man’s sex drive: Like water quenches our thirst physically; sex in marriage quenches his emotions in a physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological manner.

3. You can’t handle this stuff alone – the power of lust is in its secrecy… we have to drag it into the light. This is why we want you in 242 groups – you can have accountability with your leader and your friends!

We can’t have hope until we’re honest with ourselves, with God and with others. Let’s get real!

4. Ignorance will destroy you! Most of us have no idea about the process (the predictable path) that lust takes every time we’re tempted. The temptation is not lust!! It’s not the sin! It’s what we do with it, but if we’re going to know what to do with it, we’re going to have to have some knowledge – we can’t be ignorant!

And that’s why we’re teaching IN DEPTH on this subject matter!

Several things that you need to know:

1. What are your “trigger” points? What squeezes lust into our minds, eyes and hearts? Geographically – what places do you go by that pull the trigger of lust? What relationships in your life squeeze the trigger of lust? Mentally – what pictures are you painting in your mind? Technologically – internet, channel surfing? Get specific and write this stuff out – then we get knowledge to see how to “be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves” – have wisdom over these desires.

2. Know the consequences of lust – if you continue down the path of lust, if you continue with your level of lust, what will happen? Thinking, looking, acting (skin on the lust) – what will happen to your family, your relationships, your career, your relationship with the Lord…

We can’t understand hope until we’re honest… BUST LUST!!

You are anointed to live a life of purity in this world on a level that the world and the church are not familiar with all to his GLORY!!!

March 28 & 29 - Friends Forever "Friends stick with you until the end"

Core Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Memory Verse:
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

• Why is it important for us to have friends forever? What real-life examples of this do you know of?
• How can you develop friendships that stick? What do you need to do in order to do this?
• What kind of friends are the kind that stick with you no matter what? Describe their qualities.
• Do you think your closest friends would describe you as a friend that sticks with them? Why or why not?
  
• Describe a time when a friend of yours stuck with you. What did/does that mean to you?
  

Bottom Line:

• While our friendships may take different forms and may be more intimate and closer at some times than others, if we vow to stick with our friends till the end, we really can be friends forever.
• Friendships do not have to end. But if a friendship is to survive change, both friends must be committed to making the friendship stick. This is the way friends stick with you till the end. Just imagine how much fuller these kinds of friends will make our lives! And the truth is that learning stickiness in our friendships will help us learn to stick to Christ in our relationship with Him.

March 21st & 22nd - "Over My Head"

Friends don't let friends get in over their hands!

Core Scriptures: 2 Samuel 12:1-14

Memory Verse:
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

• Explain a situation when you had to confront a friend about something in their life (without using names). DId you feel like you needed to confront them because they were going to get hurt? Or did you just want to be the one to tell them they were wrong? What happened as a result?
• What are some examples of reasons it would be necessary to confront a friend about something that could lead to their harm? What would be the best way to handle the confrontation? How would you do it?
• If you were stepping into something over your head, that could hurt you, would you want one of your friends to say something to you about it? Why or why not? How do you thing you would react?
• Share an example of a time when a friend confronted you about something. What happened as a result? How did you feel about that friend afterward?

Bottom Line:

• Nathan acted as a true friend to David by putting himself on the line to tell David that he was in too deep. The prophet didn't let the king get in over his head.
  
• Confrontation is no fun, but there comes a time when we need to be courageous and tell a friend that he or she is doing something dangerous, risky, or just plain stupid. Friends don't let friends get in over their heads.
• We must remember that this is reciprocal. Just as we have to be willing to speak to our friends, we must also be willing to hear our friends when they see us getting in over our heads.
  
• Confrontation is difficult, but it is one of the traits that will take our friendship to the next level. Imagine what our lives will be like if we have these kinds of friends and we ARE these kinds of friends.

March 14th & 15th - Stand By Me

Friends stand by each other even when it's hard.

Core Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Memory Verse:
"Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family."
Proverbs 18:24 (MSG)

Discussion Questions:

• Have you ever faced a situation where a friend really needed you and you "fell asleep at the wheel"? Explain what happened. How did you feel afterwards? What could you have done differently?
• Have you ever been the friend who needed someone to stand by you and nobody did? How did that make you feel? Has someone ever been there for you in a tough time? What did that mean to you?
• When do you need to stand by your friends? What are some specific ways you can do this? Is there ever a time when you shouldn't stand by a friend? Describe what kind of situation that would be.
• How do you "sleep in" with God? How can you stand by Him instead of "sleeping in"?
  

Bottom Line:

• Like all of us, Jesus wanted His friends to be with Him and to help Him get through this difficult experience. But Jesus found His closest friends had not joined Him in His time of difficulty. Instead, they were bystanders, when they should have been standing by Him.
• While "sleeping in" is fine, sometimes we will have to "get up early" to be involved in our friends' lives. This is what friends do.
• Jumping in can be a scary experience. But if we are going to be good friends, we must be willing to "jump in". We have to be committed to our friends in difficult times as much as in good times. Imagine what your life would be like if you had these kind of friendships. Think about how much comfort and joy you would experience knowing that you didn't have to go through anything alone.
  

Taught the weekend of Jan 10th and 11th

January 10 & 11 - Psalms spur us to worship together

Core Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Memory Verse:
John 4:24 (NIV) "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Discussion Question:

• How was this Psalm intended to be used?
• Why is it important for us to sing together? How does corporate worship remind us who God is? How does it help us celebrate God?
• How does worship together help the people around us? How does it help us personally?
  
• How can we integrate corporate worship in our lives? How does church help us do this? In what other outlets can we do this?

Bottom Line:

• This Psalm is a powerful statement of praise, and it was made more powerful because it was sung together. This Psalm spurs us to worship together, and this Spiritual Discipline of corporate worship deepens our faith and leads us to trust and love God even more.
• We need to pay attention to the words we're singing. When one of these words catches our attention, we need to take a moment to let it resonate in our soul so that we are reminded together of who God is.
• God is worthy of worship, and we are in need of worshiping someone. So as we worship together, let's remember how good God is and celebrate Him together.