September 11 2016 Prospering With Integrity

Prospering With Integrity

Memory Verse: Exodus 20: 15 "You shall not steal."

I. HOW DO WE STEAL?

1 By deceiving customers

Amos 6:5 (GN) "(They) overcharge, use false measures, and fix the scales to cheat the customers."

2. By defrauding employers

Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."

3. By delaying payments

Leviticus 19:13 (GN) "Don't take advantage of anyone... Don't hold back the wages of someone you've hired, not even for one night."

4. By defrauding on loans

Psalm 37:21 (GN) "The wicked man borrows and never pays back..."

5. By deceiving the government

Romans 13:6-7 (GN) "...the authorities are working for God ... Pay what you owe them; pay your personal and property taxes..."

6. By defrauding the Lord

Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! but you ask, `How do we rob You, God? By withholding tithes and offerings!"

II. WHY BE HONEST?

1. I am being watched by God

Job 34:21-22 (LB) "God careful watches the goings on of all mankind; he sees them all. No darkness is thick enough to hide evil men from his eyes."

Proverbs 20:7 (LB) "It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father."

2. I will reap whatever I sow

Galatians 6:7 (LB) "Don't be misled, remember a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!"

Proverbs 15:27 (GN) "Try to make a profit dishonestly and you'll get your family in trouble."

Proverbs 21:6 (LB) "Dishonest gain will never last, so why take the risk?"

3. Dishonesty damages my character

Proverbs 10:2 (GN) "Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty can save your life."

Proverbs 19:1 (GN) "It is better to be poor but honest, than to be a lying fool!"

4. God will reward my honesty.

Proverbs 28:20 (GN) "Honest people will lead a full, happy life but if you are in a hurry to get rich you are going to be punished."

Matthew 25:21 (JN) "Well done...you've shown you can be faithful in small things. I will trust you with greater ones; come and join in your Master's happiness!"

III. FIRST STEPS TO INTEGRITY

1. Make restitution when possible.

Luke 19:8 (GN) (Zacchaeus) "If I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much."

2. Give God my full tithe

Malachi 3:8,9-10 "Is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not...Bring the full amount of your tithes to the Temple ... and I will pour out on you in abundance..."

3. Make a living honestly

Ephesians 4:28 (Ph) "The man who used to be a thief must give up stealing, and do an honest day's work with his own hands..."

August 28 2016 Let There Be Life

Let There Be Life

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder."

I. WHAT THIS COMMAND IS NOT ABOUT:

1. It is not prohibiting killing animals

Genesis 9:3 "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything."

2. It is not prohibiting capital punishment

Leviticus 24:17-18 (GN)"Anyone who commits murder shall be put to death ... the principle is a life for a life."

Romans 13:4 (JB) "The government is there to serve God for your benefit...they carry out God's revenge by punishing wrongdoers."

3. It is not prohibiting going to war

Ecclesiastes 3:8 "...There is a time for war..."

II. HOW THIS COMMAND APPLIES TO THE FAMILY

1. God says NO to suicide

Romans 14:7 "We are not our own bosses to live and die as we ourselves might choose."

Job 14:5 (GN) "The length of a man's life is decided beforehand - the number of months he will live. You (God) have settled it..."

2. God says NO to mercy killing

Job 12:10 (GN) "It is God who directs the lives of His creatures; everyman's life is in His power."

3. God says NO to abortion

Psalm 139:13-16 (GN) "You (God) created every part of me; You put me together in my mother's womb... When my bones were being formed ... when I was growing there in secret, You knew I was there - You saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me were all recorded in Your book before any of them ever began."

August 14 2016 Ten Values That Build Strong Families

Ten Values That Build Strong Families

Memory Verse: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God" - Exodus 20:7

What's in a Name?

• Reputation
• Character
• Authority

I. WAYS GOD'S NAME CAN BE MISUSED

• Using God's name to INSULT
• Using God's name to INDULGE

Leviticus 19:12 (GN) "Do not make a promise in my name if you do not intend to keep it. That brings disgrace on my name."

•  Using God's name to INTIMIDATE
• Using God's name to IMPRESS

Titus 1:16 "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him."

•  Using God's name to IMPULSIVELY

Isaiah 29:13 "These people worship me with their lips ... but their hearts are far from me."

Matthew 6:7 (GN)"When you pray, don't use a lot of meaningless words..."

Exodus 20:7b"...I the Lord will punish anyone who misuses my name!"

II. HOW CAN I USE GOD'S NAME CORRECTLY?

1. REVERENCE GOD'S NAME CONTINUALLY.

Psalm 29:2 "Give to the Lord the glory due his name."

Psalm 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust in you..."

Psalm 61:5 (LB) "You (God) have given me the blessings you reserve for those who reverence your name."

2. REPRESENT GOD'S NAME CLEARLY.

2 Timothy 2:19 (LB)"A person who calls himself a Christian should not be doing things that are wrong."

Colossians 3:17 "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus."

3. RELY GOD'S NAME COMPLETELY.

Psalm 33:21 (LB)"No wonder we are happy in the Lord! ... We trust his holy name."

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven ... by which we must be saved."

John 20:31 "... Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name."

Luke 6:45 (GN) "The mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

August 7 2016 Taking God Seriously

Taking God Seriously

Memory Verse: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God" Exodus 20:7

What's in a Name?

• Reputation
• Character
• Authority

I.  WAYS GOD'S NAME CAN BE MISUSED

• Using God's name to INSULT
• Using God's name to INDULGE

Leviticus 19:12 (GN) "Do not make a promise in my name if you do not intend to keep it.  That brings disgrace on my name."

• Using God's name to INTIMIDATE
• Using God's name to IMPRESS

Titus 1:16"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him."

• Using God's name to IMPULSIVELY

Isaiah 29:13"These people worship me with their lips ... but their hearts are far from me."

Matthew 6:7 (GN)"When you pray, don't use a lot of meaningless words..."
    
Exodus 20:7b"...I the Lord will punish anyone who misuses my name!"
    
II.  HOW CAN I USE GOD'S NAME CORRECTLY?

1. REVERENCE GOD'S NAME CONTINUALLY.

Psalm 29:2 "Give to the Lord the glory due his name."

Psalm 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust in you..."
    
Psalm 61:5 (LB) "You (God) have given me the blessings you reserve for those who reverence your name."

2. REPRESENT GOD'S NAME CLEARLY.

2 Timothy 2:19 (LB)"A person who calls himself a Christian should not be doing things that are wrong."

Colossians 3:17 "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus."
    
3. RELY GOD'S NAME COMPLETELY.

Psalm 33:21 (LB)"No wonder we are happy in the Lord! ... We trust his holy name."

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven ... by which we must be saved."

John 20:31"... Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name."

Luke 6:45 (GN) "The mouth speaks what the heart is fullof."

February 16 2014 How Do I Know I Can Trust The Bible

How Do I Know I Can Trust The Bible? 

1. The Bible is scientifically accurate.

“Science is simply thinking God’s thoughts after him.” -Johannes Kepler,

Isaiah 40:22 “God is enthr oned above the sphere on the earth.”

Job 26:7 “God stretches the sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.”

Jeremiah 33:22, “The number of stars are infinite.”

Leviticus 17:11 “The life of every creature is in its blood.”

Leviticus 13:4 “Put an infected person in quarantine for seven days.” 

Psalm 12:6 says “The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay and purified seven times!”

2. The Bible is confirmed by Jesus.

Matthew 5:18, Jesus said, “I’ll tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished!”

If you believe in the Bible what you like, and you don’t believe what you don’t like, it’s not the Bible you trust, but yourself. -Saint Augustine

3. The Bible has transforming power.

John 8:31-32, “If you continue in my Word, then you are my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!”

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Memory Verse: Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly.”