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..."

September 4 2016 Affair-Proofing Your Marriage

Affair Proofing Your Marriage

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."

How to Affair Proof Your Marriage

1. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO GOD'S STANDARDS

Psalm 119:9 "How can a (person) keep his way pure? By living according to your Word."

Proverbs 5:15 (GN) "Be faithful to your own wife and give your love to her alone."

2. MAGNIFY THE CONSEQUENCES

Proverbs 6:32 (GN)"The one who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul."

3. MAINTAIN MY MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 7:3 (GN)" A man should fulfill his duty as a husband and a woman should fulfill her duty as a wife, and each should satisfy the other's needs."

The top five needs of most men are:

1. Sexual fulfillment
2. Recreational companionship
3. An attractive spouse
4. Domestic support
5. Admiration

The top five needs of most women are:

1. Affection
2. Conversation
3. Honesty and openness
4. Financial support
5. Family commitment

1 Corinthians 7:5 (Ph)"Do not cheat each other of normal sexual intercourse ... or you will expose yourselves to the obvious temptation of Satan."

4. MANAGE MY MIND

How Affairs Develop

1. Accepting sinful thoughts in my mind
2. Emotional, non-physical involvement
3. Physical involvement
4. Rationalizing the affair

James 1:14-15 (LB) "Temptation is the pull of a person's own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to death."

2 Timothy 2:22 (Ph)"Turn your back on lustful desires and give your positive attention to goodness, integrity, love, and peace..."

Romans 16:19 "I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about evil."

5. MAINTAIN PROPER RELATIONSHIPS

Ephesians 5:3 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality."

6. MINIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY

1 Corinthians 10:12 (LB)"So be careful! If you are thinking, `Oh, I would never behave like that - let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin."

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Bad company corrupts good character."

Malachi 2:15 "Guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with your wife."

THE PATHWAY BACK TO PURITY

1. Acknowledge the sin (Psalm 51:1-4)
2. End the relationship immediately
3. Avoid ALL contact with the person from now on. Do whatever it takes to do this!

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 21 2016 Honoring My Parents

Honoring My Parents

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land..."

I. WHY DID GOD GIVE THIS COMMANDMENT?

Because...

There are no perfect parents!

Respect for authority begins at home.

How I relate to my parents will affect every other relationship.

II. HOW TO HONOR MY PARENTS

1. As a child, I honor my parents by obeying and respecting them

Ephesians 6:1(LB) "Children, obey your parents; this is the right thing to do because God has placed them in authority over you."

Proverbs 19:26 (LB) "A son who mistreats his father or mother is a public disgrace."

2. As a young person. I honor my parents by accepting and appreciatingthem

Proverbs 23:22" Listen to your father who gave you your life and do not despise your mother.."

Proverbs 20:20 (GN)"If you curse your parents, your life will end like a lamp that goes out in the dark."

Acceptance includes:

Dueteronomy 26:11 (GN)"Be grateful for the good things that the Lord has given you and your family..."

Proverbs 23:32 (GN)"when your mother is old, show her your appreciation."

3. As an adult, I honor my parents by affirming and not abandoning them.

Proverbs 3:27" Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power go act."

1 Timothy 5:8 (LB)"Anyone who won't care for his own relatives when they need help, especially his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen."

1 Timothy 5:4 "They should ... put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God."

A word to parents: Be `honorable'!

Ephesians 6:4 (LB)"And now a word to you parents; Don't keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with loving discipline..."

Matthew 18:6 (Ph) "Anybody that offends one of these little ones, it's better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and thrown in the bottom of the ocean.

A word to those without parents

Psalm 27:10 (GN)"My father and mother may abandon me, but the Lord will take care of me."

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."