Introduction

• James 3:6-12

Take their little problems seriously …

• I Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12
• I Peter 5:6-7 - God wants us to come to Him with all these things.
• Colossians 3:12
• Psalms 103:13
• Those little problems are big to them!
• James 1:19
• “The way children spell love is T-I-M-E.”
• If I’m talking, I’m not listening!
• Proverbs 29:20 - Don’t speak until you know the facts!
• You want your children to grow up knowing that you will listen to them and they trust you.

… but give them a Biblical perspective.

• II Corinthians 12:7-10 - God chose not to take this problem from Paul.
• Romans 8:18 - Paul maybe appreciated this ideas more after having dealt with his own thorn in the flesh.
• Ephesians 6:4
• We must instruct them based on values in the Bible.
  • Proverbs 14:12
  • Romans 12:14, 17-21 - Overcome evil with good.

Reprove and rebuke …

• I Samuel 2:22-25; 3:13 - Eli did not go far enough with discipline.
• Proverbs 28:23
• Be careful to not create a situation where your child will become a master manipulator.
• Proverbs 18:17
• Proverbs 25:11
• Proverbs 15:2
• Maybe don’t:
  • Correct your kid publicly in front of their friends if the matter would be better handled privately.
  • Rebuke your kid when you’re both tired (unless it is urgent).
  • Come down hard when it might be better to share your own experiences and help the child learn from what you’ve gone through.

… but don’t go to irrational extremes.

• Proverbs 12:18
• Proverbs 15:28
• Colossians 3:21
• Ephesians 6:4
• Ephesians 4:29

Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification (continued)

The local church is a group designed for mutual encouragement as we serve God together (continued)

Authority is specified to a certain degree

• Example 1: Transporting the ark
  • Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:5-6; 4:15; 7:6-9
  • I Chronicles 13:7-14; 15:2, 12-15
• Example 2: Strange fire
  • Leviticus 10:1-2
• Example 3: Priesthood
  • Hebrews 7:11-16; 8:4
• Examples of authority in the Old Covenant
  • “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood” (Genesis 6:14)
  • Passover: “an unblemished male a year old … sheep or … goats” (Exodus 12:5)
  • “You shall anoint Aaron and his sons … as priests to Me” (Exodus 30:30)
    • Korah did not have authority to be a priest (Numbers 16)
• Hebrews 7:14
  • God doesn’t have to say all of the things He does NOT want.
  • He simply reveals what He wants, and it’s our obligation to do those things.
• The principle of authority is certainly still relevant in the New Covenant.
  • II John 1:9; Colossians 3:17; I Corinthians 4:6
  • “continually devoting themselves to … prayer” (Acts 2:42)
  • “eat this bread and drink the cup” (I Corinthians 11:26)
  • “each of you is to put aside and save” (I Corinthians 16:1-2)
  • “the word of God has sounded forth from you” (I Thessalonians 1:8)
  • ”… psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing” (Colossians 3:16)
    • Matthew 26:30
    • Mark 14:26
    • Acts 16:25
    • Romans 15:9
    • I Corinthians 14:15
    • Ephesians 5:19
    • Colossians 3:16
    • Hebrews 2:12
    • Hebrews 13:15
    • James 5:13
  • “When you assemble, each one has a psalm … teaching …” (I Corinthians 14:26)

What about “Fellowship Halls?”

• It’s NOT that worship and eating can’t occur at the same location.
• It’s also NOT that we don’t have good cooks.
• It’s certainly NOT that we don’t like getting together and socializing.
• There is no passage that gives a church authority to provide facilities for regular meals.
  • A church can provide for needy Christians. (Acts 6:1-6)
  • A church can provide for the Lord’s Supper. (I Corinthians 11:20-34)
• Can’t the church practice FELLOWSHIP?
  • Yes, a church should practice fellowship.
    • Are we talking about the same thing?
  • Philippians 4:15
  • Luke 5:10
  • I Corinthians 10:16
  • I Timothy 5:22
  • I John 1:7

[Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of this lesson were not recorded. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Introduction

• Ephesians 5:11

Shining light

• Philippians 2:15
• Matthew 13:43
• II Peter 1:19
• Romans 13:12
• Ephesians 5:8
• John 8:12
• Matthew 5:16
• Magic Eye pictures

II Corinthians 4:3-4

• The gospel is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this world has blinded the unbelivers.

Blinded by fear

• John 7:11-13
• John 9:20-22
• John 12:42-43 - They did not confess because of fear of the Pharisees.
• Fear blinded these people from the truth.
  • Fear of what?
  • How are people blinded by fear today?

Blinded by intellectual pride

• John 7:45-48 - “Are you also deceived? None of US have believed.”
• John 7:50-52 - no prophet has arisen out of Galilee
• How are people blinded by intellectual pride today?

Blinded by a misplaced love

• John 3:19-20 - but people loved the darkness instead
• John 12:42-43 - loved glory from man more than glory from God
• John 12:6 - Judas was a thief
• How are people today blinded by misplaced love?

Conclusion

• II Corinthians 4:16-18 - We look at the things that are not seen.

Introduction

• I Samuel 14:52 - Saul was continually at war because of the disobedience of Israel in the past (not removing people from the land of Canaan and continually straying from God’s commands).

I Samuel 15

• I Samuel 15:6 - Kenitess were the family of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law.
• I Samuel 15:8 - Saul likely kept Agag alive as a kind of trophy.
• I Samuel 15:12 - Saul was so proud of himself that he set up a monument to himself.
• I Samuel 15:15 - Saul refers to “the LORD your God” - not as “his God” or “our God.”
• I Samuel 15:21 - Saul always had an excuse for disobedience.

I Samuel 16

• I Samuel 16:4 - What a beautiful phrase - “So Samuel did what the LORD told him.”
• I Samuel 16:7 - Don’t judge based on appearance!
• I Samuel 16:14 - Did God make Saul sin by terrorizing him? No. God tempts no man. It’s possible Saul was overcome by the consequences and guilt from his own decisions that resulted in the kingdom being removed.

Introduction

• Acts 16:11-13 - Paul and Silas thrown into prison due to the the riot after they cast a spirit out of a girl.
• Acts 16:25-40 - What a change for this jailer. His whole life was changed.

When the world shakes, find people who are standing firm.

• The jailer went straight to Paul and Silas to ask about salvation.
• The jailer had a difficult job with a lot of rough people. The behavior of Paul and Silas clearly stood out to him.
• Philippians 3:17-21 - Find good people and follow their example.
• We need to take special note of people that are calm and serene despite the troubles of life because of their faith.

Amid unknowns, trust God as your foundation.

• II Corinthians 5:6-8 - We walk by faith - not by sight.
• What did Noah know about life after the flood?
• What did Abraham know about what life would be like after sacrificing Isaac?
• What did Job know about how his suffering would end?
• God expects us to just carry on. We must plunge ahead in faith.
• Acts 12:19; 16:27 - Normally, escaping prisoners meant the death of the jailer.
• Acts 16:32-34 - Would the jailer have a job tomorrow or even be accepted in town after the town had rioted against Paul and Silas? He was not worried about that!
• James 4:14

Let Christ build a whole new life!

• II Corinthians 5:14-17 - Nowhere does the Bible speak of becoming a Christian as a small adjustment. See John 3:7; Romans 6:4.
• Acts 16:13-15 - Now Lydia and the jailer were brothers and sisters in Christ!
• Acts 16:26, 34 - Think of the swing in emotions he had that night!
• Philippians 1:1; 4:4