Introduction

• Titus 1:1-4

God promises the end, but I must faithfully travel the path.

• Genesis 12:5-7 - Abraham was already in Canaan when he received the land promise.
  • Abram :arrow_right: Egypt
  • Abram :arrow_right: Canaan
  • Joseph :arrow_right: Slave in Egypt
  • Family multiplies into nation, forced into slavery.
  • Moses delivers from Egypt.
  • 40 years wandering
  • Conquest of land
• Genesis 37:2-11 - Joseph dreams of his family bowing down to him.
  • Brothers sell him to Midianites
  • Midianites sell him to Potiphar
  • False accusations :arrow_right: jail
  • Interprets two dreams of fellow prisoners
  • Forgotten in jail two more years
  • Interprets Pharaoh’s dream, given high position
  • Faming brings family to Egypt
    • Genesis 42:6
• I Corinthians 10:13

Sometimes, God makes the result contingent on my response.

• Deuteronomy 28:1-68 - Israel would be blessed or cursed based on their actions.
• Colossians 1:21-23
• Hebrews 3:1-11, 14 - Notice the word “if!”
• Hebrews 4:1

I must trust God to handle things I know nothing about.

• Genesis 17:15-21 - The promise would come through Isaac.
• Genesis 22:2 - Abraham told to sacrifice Isaac!
• Hebrews 11:17-19 - Abraham knew God could resurrect Isaac if He wanted to.
• I John 5:14

We must teach and study the Bible. (Let’s not compromise the gospel so we can fill the pews.) (continued)

More people means more beliefs, more backgrounds, and more perspectives.

• Romans 15:1
• Galatians 1:10
• II Timothy 4:1-5

We ought to treat visitors with love, as Jesus would.

• I Corinthians 14:22-25 - What do unbelievers think of us when they join our assembly? Do they see that God is among us?

Follow Jesus’ example.

• Matthew 5:16 - Our goal should be to glorify God and cause others to want to glorify God.
• Luke 19:1-10 - How did Jesus treat prospective disciples?
• Luke 13:34 - Jesus wanted to help and save everyone.
• Luke 22:31
• Luke 23:33 - Jesus even prayed for His murderers!
• Mark 10:13-16
• Luke 7:39

Consider Thom Rainier’s data

Top 10 responses as to why people did not return to a particular church.

1. The stand-and-greet time in the worship service was unfriendly and awkward.
2. Unfriendly church members.
3. Unsafe and unclean children’s areas.
4. No place to get information on the church.
5. Bad church website.
6. Poor signage.
7. Insider church language.
8. Boring or bad church services.
9. Members telling guests they were in the wrong pew or chair.
10. Dirty facilities.

Top 10 responses from happy guests

1. Someone asked the guest to sit with her.
2. People introduced themselves to the guests.
3. There was clear signage.
4. There was a clearly marked welcome center.
5. The kids loved the children’s area.
6. The children’s area was secure and sanitary.
7. Guest parking was clearly visible.
8. The church did not have a stand-and-greet time.
9. The members were not pushy.
10. The guest card was simple to complete.

Develop genuine love and concern.

• II Peter 3:9
• II Corinthians 7:2; 11:28

Be aware of how we sound to others.

• I Corinthians 9:19-23
• Acts 22:2-3 - Paul tailored his speech and approach to the audience at the time.

Introduction

• Acts 20:7

Jesus institutes this memorial (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22)

• Matthew 26:17-19 - Jesus was instituting a memorial of an event that had not yet happened. God did the same with the Passover.
• Exodus 12:13, 5
• John 19:31
• I Corinthians 5:7 - Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed.
• Matthew 26:26-29
• Exodus 20:1-17; 24:3-8
• Hebrews 9:18
• Matthew 26:28
• I Corinthians 10:16-17

Paul corrects some abuses

• I Corinthians 11:17-22
  • I Corinthians 11:21 - “Drunk” here seems to just mean the opposite of “hungry.” Some had plenty and some had none.
• I Corinthians 11:23-26 - “Bread” and “cup” here are used as metaphors for Jesus’ body and blood.
• I Corinthians 11:27-29 - We must partake of the Lord’s Supper reverently.
• I Corinthians 11:30-32 - Partaking incorrectly can cause spiritual illness.

When I partake of the Lord’s Supper

• I commune with Christ.
• I should think about the death of Jesus.
  • He sacrificed Himself on the cross for my sins.
  • He established a New Covenant for the world.
• I should take it seriously.

Luke 15

Luke 15:1-7 - Parable of the lost sheep

• Luke 15:4 - Pharisees would have likely held a dim view of the Jewish shepherds because they would often be ceremonially unclean, either from caring for sick or dying animals or tending their flocks on the Sabbath.

Luke 15:8-10 - Parable of the lost coin

• Luke 15:8 - Like a shepherd (Luke 15:4), a woman would be a similarly discounted person to the Pharisees.

Luke 15:11-32 - Parable of the prodigal son

• Luke 15:13 - It’s interesting to note that the father does not try to stop the son from his foolish decisions. This parallels how God allows us free will even though it can take us away from Him.
• Luke 15:15 - For a Jewish boy, feeding swine would just about be the worst possible job.
• Luke 15:22-24 - The father restored his status immediately. There is no fussing, no probation period. See Ephesians 2:1-10.
• Luke 15:32 - The older brother did not understand this had to do with mercy and not merit.

Introduction

• Psalms 127:3

Mothers are a great source of tender, merciful love.

• I Thessalonians 2:7
• The Oneida Community
  • Tried to abolish marriage (“free love” or “complex marriage”) and adopt the “rules of heaven” (where there is no marriage).
  • The experiment failed after thirty years.
• Philippians 2:4 - Mothers look our for the needs of others.
• Matthew 15:21

The rest of us should value and encourage mothers.

• Proverbs 31:25-31
• Ephesians 6:2 - Honor your father and mother.
• Galatians 4:4
• Mark 6:1-3

Mothers, look to the Bible for wisdom.

• Colossians 3:16
• II Timothy 1:5 - How many people did Timothy end up teaching?
• II Timothy 3:14-15
• Proverbs 29:15
• Proverbs 31:1, 3, 5, 8, 26
• The greatest thing mothers can do is teach their children God’s word.
• Proverbs 1:8; 6:20