Believe Series – Lesson 13 – Bible Study Did anyone commit to a New Years resolution of reading through the Bible in a year? This is a pretty popular resolution in Christian circles (along with the usual losing weight, getting in shape, quit smoking/drinking, get organized, etc.). Last week we talked about prayer being our communication link with God, if we follow Jesus’ examples we would pray in the morning and evening and in between. We would pray with an intense purpose. Bible study is where we find God’s direction for our lives. Completely understanding the Bible, like prayer, can take a lifetime (or many life times) to fully comprehend, understand, appreciate, articulate, apply… There are so many books written on the Bible, commentaries by the bazillion. Across the country as we sit here, there are preachers and teachers talking about the Bible. So where do we begin? What does the Bible say about itself?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

If the word of God’s is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword – why is it so hard to read? Why do we struggle trying to understand what it says? Can this ancient book be relevant today? Can the Bible help me with my daily struggles and provide me with clear direction in my life? Let’s be honest, sometimes we all find ourselves struggling when we read the Bible… sometimes we come away with more questions than answers. There are passages that even the “great” theologians debate back and forth concerning the actual meaning, how then can I understand it? What should we do? Start with prayer (remember God wants to hear from you, be honest and truthful, tell him your struggles with reading the Bible, ask for guidance and wisdom). In fact let’s pray and ask God to show us new truths about His word that will encourage us on to spend more time reading the Bible. Remember a key memorization passage from lesson 4?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

If the Bible (aka Scripture) is God breathed, than all of it is important - from the first word in Genesis to the last word in Revelation. Many times we like cherry picking certain passages and disregarding others – this is true in today’s culture and in our churches. If we are going to truly understand what God wants for us then all Scripture should be explored. In the Old Testament God instructed the Israelites to teach the law (the law is referring to the first 5 books in the Bible). Deuteronomy 31:9-13 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law

before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” The Feast of Booths is a Jewish celebration remembering God’s deliverance and provision from Egypt. During the 8 day celebration the Israelites would live in booths or tabernacles made of tree branches (kind of like camping). Clear instructions were given to read, learn and live the law given by God. Psalm 119 (Hebrew poetry) talks all about God’s word – here are some excerpts:

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

If we are doing the BELIEVE series with a goal of thinking, acting and believing like Jesus – then here are some examples of things that Jesus did with Scripture: 1) In the New Testament Jesus quoted Scripture when he was tempted by the devil… see Luke 4. Jesus quotes or references Scripture many many many times (good reason to memorize scripture). 2) Jesus tells the parable of the sower of seeds and four different types of soil (path, rocks, weeds, good soil) – see Matthew 13:1-23. In this parable there are four different types of soil, which represents 4 different conditions of our heart. 3) In one of Jesus prayers (the high priestly prayer from John 17), Jesus states that God’s word is truth! These are well and good reasons why we should read, study and meditate on God’s word. So then why is it still hard for us to do it? Why is it so hard to understand it? Below are a few things to understand and realize about the Bible: 1) Realize that the Bible was written a long time ago and to a very different culture. It was written in different language and translated into English in different ways – word for word (KJV, NAS, ESV) and thought for thought (NIV, NLT, TLB). 2) Realize the Bible contains different writing structures – historical books, poetry, songs, prophecy, letters, etc.

3) Realize that we bring our preconceived notions about God (from our current culture) to our study of the Bible and we attempt to try to mold God into our image. 4) Realize that as a Christian we have the Holy Spirit to help us understand the Bible. Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. What does that mean? John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. The purpose of studying the Bible is not merely filling our heads with knowledge about God but to build and strengthen our relationship with God. Many years ago I was a part of Christian drama/comedy team where we did a skit based on this verse:

Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

In the skit we played a hypocrite couple walking down the isle of the church and randomly picking on members of the audience and talking out loud about all of their problems. We made up crazy exaggerated problems thinking there was no way they could be for real – it was supposed to be funny. The last time we did this skit, the couple picked on the Pastor’s wife and talked about the Pastor’s sermon series on marriage fidelity (loyalty, devotion, commitment)… it turns out that the Pastor was having multiple affairs with other women in the church, the church caved in on itself, never recovered and is gone. When I think of this, the verse from Hebrews 4:12 comes to mind. Makes me shudder at the thought of the power of scripture, me personally, I need to spend more time in reading, understanding and meditating on God’s words.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

God’s word is living and active, it takes some effort on our part to dig into God’s word but the benefits are priceless. If you have never read the Bible on your own, a good place to start is with the Gospel of John, make a point to memorize some passages along the way. Questions: 1) What would you do if you were denied access to a Bible? 2) Do you have a favorite verse from the Bible? If so, what is it and why is it your favorite? Do you have it memorized? 3) From the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23), which of the four soils (path, rocky, weeds, good soil) best describes you and why? 4) According to John 16:13, what part does the Holy Spirit play into Bible study?

Believe Series – Lesson 14 – Single-Mindedness The author of the Believe book (Randy Frazee) titled this chapter “Single-Mindedness’” – what does that mean? How does it relate to being “double-minded”? Question: What does being “double minded” mean? 1) Famous batman villain “Two-Face” (aka Harvey Dent) 2) The ability to multitask 3) Comedy and Tragedy theater masks 4) Pushmi-Pullyu Probably the best answer is number 4 – Doc Doolittle’s Llama with two heads on opposite ends trying to go in two directions at the same time.

In the book of James a double-minded person is described below:

James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

What is the cure for double-mindedness? Lets see what James says

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

To be single-minded is to be all in for God. Using a Sci-Fi metaphor from Star Trek, it's like the Vulcan Mind Meld – God’s thoughts are our thoughts. God wants to be first in our lives; He has always wanted to be first, from the Old Testament, what is the first of the Ten Commandments?

Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” So often our focus is on ourselves, we make plans, we start out on our venture and then later we ask God to fix things when they aren’t going well.

James 4:13-16 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what

tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

What are some “other gods” in our lives that can cause us to lose sight of God? Wealth seems to be big these days. Watch daytime TV sometime and see how many commercials come on that are related to wealth (or a lack of it). Jesus addresses this issue in the New Testament.

Matthew 6:19-24 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Observations from the Bible passages: 1) Jesus directly addresses the double-minded issue – you can’t serve two masters. So then if Jesus is our master, then we must be Single-Minded with Jesus!

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

In the verses preceding verse 16 (above) we can pick some low-hanging fruit regarding the mind of Christ: 1) Verses 5-7 – Wisdom from God is greater than the wisdom from the world. 2) Verse 10-13 – God reveals this wisdom through the Holy Spirit, this wisdom cannot be understood without the Holy Spirit. 3) Verse 14-16 – We are given understanding over spiritual matters. To be single-minded with Christ means:

- We understand God’s plan for the world – to bring glory to himself - Restore the world to the pre-sin state

o Jesus had a purpose to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) o Jesus came in humility and obedience (Philippians 2:5-8) o Jesus has compassion (Matthew 9:36) o Jesus relied on prayerful support from God (Luke 5:16)

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, And he will give you the desires of your heart.

The above two Bible passages are great reminders, and it would great to memorize and meditate on them. Questions: 1) From Matthew 6:33 – what does it mean to “seek first the kingdom of God”? 2) From Psalm 37:4 – what does it mean to “delight yourself in the Lord”? 3) List some things that tend to distract or pull you away from God? 4) What are some of your strengths when it comes to being single-minded with Christ (compassion for the lost, humility, obedience, servant-heart, prayerful connection with God, etc.)?

Believe Series – Lesson 15 – Total Surrender This lesson was given during the regular service on January 31, 2016. This was a 5th Sunday combined service – no Sunday School (Tom and Polly were out of town). KEY VERSE: Romans 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship Years ago I played on an adult flag football team, it was pretty intense. During a portion of the season our normal playing field was being renovated so we played on dirt/gravel parking lot. Even though it was “flag” football it was pretty grimy and bloody – we sacrificed ourselves for the game. Similarly Jesus wants committed followers, In Luke 9:23-26

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Some would-be followers declared total surrender and Jesus’ response in Luke 9:57-62

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus’ response seems pretty hardcore, but that is what Jesus is asking for - total surrender. In Revelation 3:16 Jesus make a statement about being lukewarm:

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Jesus was addressing the church in Laodicea, a church that looked good on the outside, but inside they were poor. They were like a good-looking football team, nice uniforms but were not willing to get into the game, not willing to listen to the coach. The apostle Paul had these words regarding total surrender Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Paul was an example of follower of Jesus who was “all-in”; he was a game changer. That is the kind of follower Jesus is asking us to be. Total surrender is an outward expression of heart condition; we follow Jesus because we want to. God is not a cosmic coach angrily barking out orders that we blindly follow. We are part of a team called the Body of Christ, indwelled by the Holy Spirit called to glorify God and fulfill His purposes. Questions: 1) In Luke 9:23, Jesus said if we want to follow him we must “take up our cross daily”. What does that mean to you? 2) In Super Bowl 50, some reporters commented that Cam Newton’s (Carolina Panther quarterback) lack of sacrifice after his 4th quarter fumble signified that he had given up on the game. Does our lack of sacrifice matter in our faith? Why or why not? 3) Romans 12:1 talks about a living sacrifice, what does that mean to you?

Believe Series – Lesson 16 – Biblical Community We fellowship with Christians to accomplish God’s purposes in our lives, the lives of others and in the world. KEY VERSE: Acts 2:44-47 (NIV)

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone in need. Every day they continued to meet together in the courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

How do we develop healthy relationships with others? God did not create us to be alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)

Two are better then one, because they have good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Why does is say three strands is not quickly broken? God must be in the center or our community or relationships. After Christ’s death and resurrection and before his ascension into heaven, Christ was to build a new church. He could have assembled 12,000 men or 1200 or 120, but He chose only 12. They were ordinary men chosen to do extraordinary things. He didn’t call them based on a resume, IQ, or brawn. This original small group formed the church that swept through the known world and still lives today! Jesus had the Holy Spirit come upon them enabling them with the ability to teach, fellowship, and break bread. They were able to perform miraculous things with one common goal - to spread the Gospel and glorify God. The people were in awe of what they were able to do and gathered together to form what we call church. The Lord added to their numbers daily. Many were coming to know Jesus and follow His teachings! All of the believers were in one mind sharing all they had. There was never a need among them. What difference does this make in the way I live? You become who you hang out with - Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. We fellowship with other believers to keep our relationship with God strong. We receive encouragement from others.

Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

And let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good deeds. Having a strong relationship with God helps us to have strong relationships with others and ultimately be able to share Christ with others. We also have accountability with other believers. Some days we can use a big hug and others a big swift kick in the pants! It is good to help each other stay on track, keeping you on the path to God’s truth and his will. Live for others not just for yourselves. Start by putting others needs ahead of your own. Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV) Do nothing from rivalry or empty conceit, but in humility count others more significant then yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but also the interests of others. Biblical Community is the glue holding us together. It gives us the opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and keep our relationships right with others. Questions: 1) When was the last time you helped someone in need? 2) Why do you think it might benefit you as well? 3) What can you do in your own church that might benefit the community of Christ and help further the Gospel?

Believe Series – Lesson 17 – Spiritual Gifts Key Verse

Romans 12:4-8 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

The verse above mentions “one body with many members” – the body is a group of believers, but we need to be specific when we talk about believers because:

James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

We know that demons don’t have a part in the body of Christ so lets further define a believer:

Romans 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

One of the scariest passages in the Bible (in my opinion) is:

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

A true believer confesses that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. And a true believer has a personal relationship with their Lord Jesus Christ. Many years ago Polly attended a church where the pastor did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus – according to Romans 10:9 this pastor has an issue to resolve. We must be careful to not pass judgment, that is left for God and God alone. However, we can ask questions and engage in meaningful conversations with others with whom we disagree. Back to spiritual gifts – According to the Bible (Romans 12), we believers are members of the body of Christ. One body in Christ and each member has a different function. Each member has a gift given by God for the purpose of building up the whole body of Christ. Read Ephesians 4:1-16 Verse 12 …to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ Question: Where do you fit into the body of Christ? If you are a true believer then, according to the Bible, you have been given a spiritual gift for the equipping and building up the body of Christ! Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Verse 7 …To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good! No one is left out! Below is a partial list of spiritual gifts described in a few verses: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 Speaks wisdom Speaks knowledge Faith Healing Working of miracles Prophecy Distinguishing between spirits (discernment) Tongues Interpretation of tongues Romans 12:6-8 Prophecy Service Teaching Exhortation Contributing (generosity) Leadership Mercy Ephesians 4:11 Apostles Prophecy Shepherds (pastors) Evangelism Teachers As noted above, this is not a complete list. There are some other passages in the Bible that describe other gifts. The key thing to keep in mind is that the gifts are there to equip and build up the church. How do you know what gift you have? Good question! Start by asking God. God has also blessed us with natural abilities or we have perfected skills in music, sports, medical, mechanical, etc. that can be used along with our spiritual gift! For example a person with the spiritual gift of exhortation can use music to build up the body of Christ. When you are using your gift I believe you will find that you are: Most joyful - Most fulfilled - Most satisfied Questions 1) How and why does God give spiritual gifts to his people? 2) What is your spiritual gift?

3) What happens when you use your spiritual gift? 4) Read 1 Corinthians 13, how are we to use our spiritual gift? (hint: it is summed up in verse 13)

Believe Series – Lesson 18 – Offering My Time We talked about stewardship back in lesson 9 – how God has entrusted us with our treasure, talents and time. In a given week we are all given the same amount of time… 7 days in a week 24 hours in a day A total 168 hours Once we spend our time, there is no way to get it back. It’s gone. The movie, Back to the Future, was pretty popular several years ago… in fact the year 2015 was the year Marty traveled to (in the future) and rode hover boards – instead we have the wheeled toys that catch on fire. What would it be like if we could travel forward or backward in time? If all of us were able to go back in time and change the present can you image what that would be like? For example: 1) If you didn’t like the results of your test you can go back and take the test again (now that you know the answers). 2) Go back and buy the winning lotto ticket (but then so would everyone else). 3) If you had a great time on vacation you could go back and do it all over again (maybe put it on infinite loop back – but would this be a kind of hell?) 4) Could you avoid getting old by constantly going back in time to the days of your youth? The closest thing we can possibly connect with this it that God occasionally gives people a glimpse into the future (prophets). Let's return back to the present and talk about our time and what we do with it. The key passage for this lesson is from Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Have you ever heard the phrase “walk the talk”? This passage in Colossians connects our talk (our words) and our walk (our deeds) to the Lord Jesus. As a Christian what we say and do should reflect our Lord Jesus in some way (remember the big, huge diamond). What exactly does this look like?

- Join a monastery and become a reclusive monk or nun? - Get a bullhorn, stand on a corner downtown and yell at the sinners?

The above are two extreme examples that are not very effective in fulfilling God’s plans and purposes. What is God’s plan or will for you and me? Read the following Bible passages and make a specific list below about God’s plan or will for your life.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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. 1 Peter 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-21 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

1) __________________________________________________________________________ 2) __________________________________________________________________________ 3) __________________________________________________________________________ 4) __________________________________________________________________________ 5) __________________________________________________________________________ 6) __________________________________________________________________________ These are the focus areas that we should be devoting our time to: Confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior Responding to God in repentance (renouncing sin) Living a transformed life, a living and holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God (obedience) Doing good, be a good example to non-believers (works) Sanctified – become more and more like Jesus (Think, Act and Believe like Jesus!) Rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances Questions 1) If you were to keep a daily log of all of your activities how much time would be devoted to the above-mentioned focus areas? 2) If you were to put the things you spend your time on into a big bonfire what would burn and what would not burn?

3) Read Psalm 39:4-5, if God were to show you how long you would live, would that change how you live today? Why or why not? 4) Re-read the key verse in this lesson (Colossians 3:17) – How would you explain this verse to someone else?

Believe Series – Lesson 19 – Giving My Resources Confirmation Jeopardy (review confirmation class topics) Giving my resources… Last week’s lesson was on Offering My Time – time is a precious commodity, it’s my time. Similarly we have our resources, our stuff, it’s my stuff! Who does not like having some extra cash? Who does not like to go shopping? I don’t know of any students who would turn down a “no strings attached” gift card to their favorite store. This is a difficult area to teach to students because many of you don’t have a job and rely on your parents for the things you need (notice I said the things you need and not the things you want). When the offering plate goes by you rely on your parents to fill it (well most of you do). Should you be expected to put something in the offering plate out of your allowance? Should your parents put in a little less because they expect you to put in? In the Old Testament it was a requirement to tithe – the practice of giving a tenth of whatever you make. This was required, so it really was not giving until you gave above 10%. The New Testament is silent on exactly how much to give. Jesus did speak many times on the subject of money. Of the 38 parables Jesus taught, 16 were on the subject of possessions. Jesus knew the hearts of people back then, and even today the Bible speaks to these issues. Here are some key passages on giving:

2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

The context of the above passage is in reference to giving. The NIV translates the thought into the verse.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly

or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Sadly there are some within Christian circles that distort the ministry of giving and promote prosperity instead of the Gospel of salvation. My hope is that you will grow in knowledge and discernment and you will know false teaching and bad doctrine. It’s pretty easy to spot these guys because these are not trying to hide it at all. They will quote Malachi 3:10-11 as a way to separate you from your money with a promise that God will multiply your “seed” 10 times or 100 fold… sounds pretty good… 5 will get you 50 or 500. No they will ask you to plant a seed of $1000!!!

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.

Sounds crazy because it is crazy – that is not the way God works. God uses us for His plans and purposes. We do not use God for our plans and purposes. Paul warned Timothy about these guys back in the day, through Paul’s writing, God warns us today too.

1 Timothy 6:9-11 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Questions 1) Pastor Bruce told a joke similar to this:

A$1billanda$50billwereabouttobeshreddedforoldage.Reflectingonitslife,the$50billsaid,"Youknow,I'vehadagreattimeofit.I'vebeentoParis,DisneyWorld,LasVegas--younameit." "Youwerelucky,"saidthe$1bill."TheonlyplacesIevergottoseewerethePresbyterianChurch,theBaptistChurch,andtheLutheranChurch." "Achurch?"the$50billasked."What'sthat?"

Why is this funny? Why is it not funny? 2) Why is it important to give cheerfully? 3) Does God reward generous giving? If so, how?