August 24 2014 Life Circumstance - The Church's Challenge

Life Circumstance: The Church's Challenge

Genesis 2:22 - “As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night.”

Ecclesiates 3:1 - “There is a right time for everything on earth.”

FIVE FACTS ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE

1. They are beyond our control.

Daniel 2:21 - “World events are under His control. He removes kings and sets others on their thrones...”

2. They are often confusing.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 - “God does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.”

3. God has a purpose for each circumstance.

Romans 8:28 - “We know that all that happens to us is working for our good IF we love God and are fitting into his plans.”

4. The circumstances include both good & bad times.

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 - “There is a time to: be born/die, laugh/cry, find/lose, love/hate, plan/uproot, dance/grieve, keep/throw away, peace/war, heal/kill, gather/scatter, repair/tear, build/tear down, hug/not hug, speak up/be quiet.”

5. What I sow in one circumstance, I’ll reap in another.

Galatians 6:9 - “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued in doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit.”

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF EACH CIRCUMSTANCE

THREE QUESTIONS

1. What can I learn from this Circumstance of life?

Deuteronomy 11:2 –“ Remember what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences.”

Two Facts:

  • If you flunk a test, you take it again.
  • When you think you’ve learned everything, here comes another class.

2 Corinthians 1:9 – “This happened that we might learn to trust not in ourselves but in God.”

2. What’s most important in our circumstance of life?

  • We need to enjoy life now.

Ecclesiastes 11:8 – “People ought to enjoy everyday of their lives.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances that is God’s will for you.”

  • Life is short.

James 4:14 –“How do you know what will happen tomorrow? What after all is your life? It is like a puff of smoke, visible for a little while and then disappearing into thin air.”

  • You can’t have it all.

Ecclesians 3:1 - “There is a right time for everything on earth.”

Ephesians 5:18 – “Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning and purpose of life, but as those who do. Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties these days.”

Philippians 4:11 – “I have learned to be content in any situation.”

3. How can I help others in this circumstance of life?

Ephesians 2:10 – “Your were created for a life of good works.”

Proverbs 3:27 – “Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help.”

Ecclesiates 11:4 –“If you wait for perfect conditions you’ll never get anything done.”

January 27 2013 How To Live At Peace With Your Parents

HOW TO LIVE AT PEACE WITH YOUR PARENTS
Exodus 20:12

Verse 12 - Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

I.  Why God gave this commandment.

•  Principle:  I need to always honor my parents.

•  Pattern:  How I relate to my parents will affect
every other relationship in life.

•  Promise:  If I honor my parents I will live a long (or full) life.

II.  How to live at peace with your parents.

1.  I can honor my parents by accepting them.
Proverbs 23:22 - Listen to your father who gave you your life, and do not despise your mother.

Romans 15:7 - Accept one another just as Christ accepted you.

2.  You can honor your parents by appreciating them.
Deuteronomy 26:11 - Be grateful for the good things that the Lord has given you and your family.

Proverbs 23:22 - When your mother is old, show her your appreciation.

3.  You can honor your parents by affirming them.
Proverbs 3:27 - Do not withhold good fRomans those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

4.  You can honor your parents by not abandoning them.
I Timothy 5:4 - If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

John 1:12 - All who received Him He gave the right to become children of God.

You can live at peace with your parents.