1 Peter 4:1-2 As we saw in chapter 3, suffering is likely if you are faithful to Christ. However, when suffering comes, this is an opportunity to face it the way Jesus did. Stephen provides a sterling example of courageously paying the ultimate sacrifice with forgiveness rather than ...
1 Peter 3:8 Peter lists out a phenomenal collection of virtues for us to live out in community. We should seek unity, sympathy, love, tender hearts, and humble minds. Living this way not only makes for a better life, but it also testifies to visitors that Christianity works.
1 Peter 3:9 ...
1 Peter 2:11-12 As Christians we are “sojourners and exiles” from this world. Like immigrants, we have our own unique culture and way of doing life. Since the “Gentiles” are watching, we should live honorably and do good deeds so they will glorify God.
Peter covers three categories of ...
1 Peter 1:23 & Isaiah 40:1-11 - God is indicating to Israel that amidst their bondage, God will be victorious over these nations of captivity. (Psalm 37:1-2)The announcement of the “coming” of the LORD to intervene and deliver the people from bondage brings hope!Romans 8:16-18 - The ...
1 Peter 1:1 Aliens from another country or foreigners in the world because of our faith (1 Peter 2:11). Our true citizenship is in heaven awaiting God’s Kingdom.
Chosen according to God’s foreknowledge - Ephesians 1:4
The sanctifying work of the spirit - Titus 3:3-6
To obey ...
What are investments?
There are different kinds of investments—financial, physical, relationships, business, etc.
An investment is the “commitment of finances, assets, or resources toward a future benefit or advantage that you believe will result in a positive return.”
An investor is ...
Luke 4:31–37 Right from the beginning of his ministry, Jesus encountered the spirit of an unclean demon. Strangely, the demonized man asked Jesus, “Have you come to destroy us?”
Luke 4:40–41 Jesus was able to cast out demons hour after hour. Apparently, this was a common affliction in ...
Three titles: the tempter – Matthew 4:1-3; the deceiver – 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9; and the accuser – Revelation 12:9 -12
2 Corinthians 11:3; Ezekiel 28:11-19 He is called the serpent, not to describe his appearance, but rather his craftiness. He is the master of disguise ...
The devil is God’s enemy in the story of the Bible.
It all started in the beginning….
Gen 3:1-7
The devil used the same tactics on Jesus as in the garden with Adam and Eve, but Jesus understood his enemy and faced him with the truth.
Luke 4:1-13
“Devil” means “slanderer”; ...
Jonah 1:1-2; Proverbs 6:16-19; Exodus 34:6-7
Yahweh is a God of love and mercy, but also justice. He calls individuals and nations to repent.
Jonah 1:3
Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh, so he fled as far as possible. Is God calling you to speak to someone? What is your ...
Kingdom
Micah 4:3–4 From the war in Ukraine to mass shootings, our world is littered with violence. In the Kingdom age, God will eliminate such behavior so people can enjoy peace.
Amos 9:13–14 The poor and vulnerable sometimes go hungry today, but in the age to come, God will bless the world with abundance.
Have the Right Frame of Mind
It’s not about you.
It’s about Jesus!
You don’t need all the answers.
You already have the ONE answer that truly matters.
Understand your job.
Plant and water; that’s it.
God’s Heart for HUMANITY
John 3:16, 17 God loves humanity and wants all to be saved.
Ezekiel 18:20-23 and 32 God has no pleasure in people dying.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 The will of God is clearly stated.
2 Peter 3:9 He is waiting until all who are going to be saved are saved.
Prayer
Psalm 106:19-23 Prayer is powerful because it moves the hand of the one who holds the world.
1 Chronicles 29:10-19 This model prayer begins with praise before moving to thanksgiving, and finally to petition.
Hebrews 4:12 Powerful and effective - not merely a collection of ancient texts but has relevance and influence in the present. It penetrates deeply into a person’s being.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 It is transformative with the power to bring about spiritual discernment, conviction, and change in individuals.
Matthew 4:1-11 “It is written.”
In the Bible, the word “church” (ἐκκλησία) does not refer to a building nor to the people of God in general, but to an assembly of God’s people—a congregation. This series is looking at the different aspects of what we do when we come together for worship on Sundays.
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made.
We are meticulously created, which includes the ability to sing and make music.
The power of love
“The strongest defense is a good offense.” LOVE is offensive, not defensive.
1 John 4:18--19
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. We love him, because He first loved us.
Our society is fixated on power. We ask, “Who has the power? Who is oppressed? How can we fix it?” But what does the Bible say about power? How does God use power?
John 11:1-6
God revealed to Jesus that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death and that God’s glory would be revealed (v. 4). Jesus remained where he was because he believed this promise.
Mark 2:23-28 The Pharisees criticized Jesus for allowing his disciples
to pluck heads of grain.
Matthew 12:9-14 They goaded him about healing on the Sabbath
when he saw the man with the withered hand.
We all face the pressure that comes from the expectations that others place upon us in our lives. But perhaps one of the greatest negative pressures comes from the world wanting us to conform to its ideals and expectations.
There is a tug-o-war going on, and we need to overcome it like Jesus did.
Ephesians 6:10 Our strength is in the Lord Jesus Christ, not ourselves.
11 Every part of the armor is vital; if something is lacking, we become vulnerable.
Ephesians 6:10 Our strength is in the Lord Jesus Christ, not ourselves.
11 Every part of the armor is vital; if something is lacking, we become vulnerable.
Nehemiah 8:1 The people of Israel had been living in exile in Babylon for 70 years. They had just returned to the land of Israel and rebuilt Jerusalem. Now Ezra is teaching the people how to live according to God’s commandments.
Psalm 21: 6-7 Through Yahweh’s lovingkindness, David found strength.
The Hebrew word chesed is translated “lovingkindness” in the NASB and in the ESV “steadfast love”. In Micah 7 in the NASB, chesed was translated “unchanging love”. Lovingkindness, steadfast love, and unchanging love combined provide a good definition of God’s love.
Jeremiah 32:16-25 Jeremiah began his prayer by speaking of God’s awesome power in creation and in bringing Israel out from Egypt. With Jerusalem facing an invading Babylonian army, Jeremiah rightly understands this as another act of God’s power. Even so, he believes that afterwards the people will return, and God will bring them back to the land.
1 Kings 19:1-18 Elijah was discouraged because his greatest public success did not appear to change anything. God worked with him by sending an angel and then commissioning him with purpose.
Luke 2:1-7 The birth of Jesus fulfilled prophecy (Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-5; 42:1-4). Bethlehem was a small village. Nazareth in Galilee was considered an insignificant place (John 1:46; 7:41, 52), but it fulfilled prophecy (Micah 5:2).
Matthew 1:18-19 The birth of Christ begins with a scandal. Mary is found pregnant though she’s betrothed. Joseph decides to divorce her quietly. The law was clear about this situation (Deut 22:13-14, 20-21; 22:23-24).
Matthew 1:20-21 In Hebrew, "Jesus" sounds like the word “salvation.” Jesus will save his people from their sins. Just like the Joseph in the book of Genesis, this Joseph is a dreamer.
Who you were - Romans 3:10-18
What you did - Ephesians 2:1-3, 11, 12 “Nature” is the basic or inherent
features. The nature of a dog is to be friendly with people; the nature of a
lion is very different. The nature of humans is sinful.
God did what He could to communicate with Israel to choose life.
Numbers 14:22-23 …put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to
My voice….
1. (Exodus 14:10-12) God parted the sea.
2. (Exodus 15:22-24) God made the water sweet for them.
3. (Exodus 16:1-3) Yahweh provided daily manna for them.
Deuteronomy 12:1-3 Upon entering the promised land, God told Israel to tear down any worship objects they encounter. (See also Deuteronomy 32:16-17, 37-39; 1 Corinthians 10:14-22.)
Deuteronomy 12:4-7 Although some sacrifices atoned for guilt, most of the sacrifices and offerings came from a heart of gratitude and generosity.
Deuteronomy 12:11-12 God wanted the whole family to participate in the sacrificial offerings, including children, servants, and even the local Levite.
Deuteronomy 12:15-19 Sacrifices weren’t to appease God’s wrath or curry favor so He would make the rain fall on time. Rather than manipulation, sacrifices were ways to say thank you to a God who faithfully cared for His people.
Deuteronomy 5:22-29 God first introduced himself to Israel through the ten plagues when He delivered the people from Egypt. Once they arrived at Mount Sinai, God came down in a flurry of fire, thunder, and earthquake. He spoke to them audibly from the midst of the fire atop the mountain. The people responded with a heart eager to listen and obey.
Deuteronomy 10:17-19 God is just, and He wanted Israel to be just as well. Injustices become possible when dealing with vulnerable people. God claims justice for the fatherless, the widow, and the sojourner.
Deuteronomy 15:1-11 Here we encounter the fourth member of the quartet of the vulnerable—the poor. God designed a debt-forgiveness program as part of the rhythm of Israel’s calendar. Every seven years, they were to cancel all debts. Even when it came close to the year of release, God still wanted His people to care for the poor instead of hardening their hearts against them.
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 Oppressive workplace practices may bolster profit or make it easier for managers, but ancient Israelite workers were protected. God didn’t want powerful employers to mistreat their workers.
Essentially, “justice” refers to giving each person what he or she deserves or, in more traditional terms, giving each person what is due to them. While justice and fairness are closely related terms, and we might use them interchangeably at times, they are certainly distinct to a degree in their meanings.
Deut 16:18-20
Deut 1:9-17
Deut 25:1-3
Justice is not solely all about punishing people who do what is wrong. That is the punitive side of justice. The other side is setting forth and establishing the standard of what is considered “right” behavior.
Deut 19:14-21
Deuteronomy 21:10-14 A woman of a village captured in war was particularly vulnerable in the ancient Near East. Tragically, rape and enslavement were the norms. However, God restricted Israelite soldiers from acting immediately, instead providing the woman with a month to mourn and adjust to the new reality. Even then, he could not use her as a slave, but had to marry her, inducting her into his household as a person of status and into the wider covenant community of God’s people. (See also Leviticus 19:18, 34.)
Deuteronomy 21:15-17 In a polygamous marriage, a husband sometimes favored one wife above another. This law offers protection for the unloved wife in the case that she bore the firstborn son in the family.
Deuteronomy 4:15-16 God did not show them any form, so they wouldn’t make images of God and Jesus like the pagans did of their gods.
19 Asherah, counterpart to Baal, was worshipped with sexual immorality, prostitution, divination, and fortune telling.
5:6-10 From the beginning, God was firm regarding this subject.
6:10-15 Shall not follow other gods.
7:17-26 Yahweh promised to defeat their enemies. They were to burn the images of the pagan gods.
Deuteronomy 4:13, 23, 31; 5:2-3; 7:2, 9, 12 Covenant people
4:5-9 As they “keep and do,” they become a witness to the world.
4:32-40 Yahweh’s chosen ones were to keep His commandments.
7:1-14 Stay separate from the heathen; eliminate all idols.
9:4-7 Do not forget.
10:14-20 Stay humble, be godly, and love
12:28, 32 You shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.
Acts 17:16, 23 Paul was provoked by the idols, so he spoke about the unknown God.
Understanding Yahweh
Yahweh reveals Himself to those who want to know Him.
Yahweh makes Himself known primarily, but not exclusively, through the Scriptures. Torah (Pentateuch) is the best place to start.
To understand Yahweh requires knowledge plus first-hand experience.
I. The joy of God is experienced when we know God as _______________________ .
II. The joy of God is experienced when we know God as _______________________ .
III. The joy of God is experienced when we know God a _______________________ .
IV. The Joyful Life
Verses used:
Psalm 16
Psalm 37:23-26
Matthew 6:31-34
1 Peter 1:13 Our hope is on the revelation of Jesus Christ rather than success, wealth, or even making a difference in the world.
1 Peter 1:14-16 Instead of blindly and uncritically following our cravings, God says we can be holy like He is!
1 Peter 1:17-19 God is the judge, and He has decided He will judge deeds. We cannot allow ourselves to become swept up in whatever morals and mores our society adopts. Rather, Scripture calls us to live as exiles, knowing that one day Christ will come and retake this fallen world. (Matthew 10:22; 1 John 3:13)
Hebrews 5:11 Those Christians who are dull, sluggish, lazy of hearing are spiritual infants who need milk rather than solid food.
14 The mature hear and practice and discern good and evil.
Hebrews 6:1-3 Some were still holding onto the law and not faith in God’s grace.
The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment are part of the elementary teachings of Christians; yet, most wrongly understand them due to ignorance or wrong teaching. Elementary - basic, rudimentary, fundamental, essential, underlying
Following Jesus entails two major aspects:
Reading his words and doing them
Watching his example and imitating him
John 10:24-28 People had various opinions of Jesus. Some believed and others thought he was oppressed by a demon. What do you think? Are you one of his sheep?
Luke 6:46-49 Jesus clearly defines what it means to follow him. If you call him “Lord,” you must also do what he says. Those who hear his words and do not do them are like someone who built a house without a foundation.
