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