by dr. randy t. johnson - the river churchtheriverchurch.cc/bookstore/pdf/world_changers.pdf · 5...

ROGER ALLENNOBLE BAIRD

HOLLY BOSTONCHRIS CAIN

JOHN CARTERCALEB COMBS

CAROLE COMBSISAIAH COMBS

JEN COMBSJOSHUA COMBSSIERRA COMBS

BRETT EBERLEBRYAN FOXDONNA FOX

MICHAEL FOXDEBBIE GABBARALARRY GABBARA

DANIELLE HARDENBURGRICHIE HENSONJOHN HUBBARD

DEBBIE KERRJOSH LAHRING

by Dr. Randy T. Johnson

WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY:

DESIGNED BY: CASEY MAXWELLFORMATTED BY: SHAWNA JOHNSON

CHUCK LINDSEYLORNA LYMANJAMES MANN

WES MCCULLOUGHJILL OSMONKEN PERRY

PHILIP PIASECKIMAX SINCLAIRRYAN STORY

HOLLY WELLSKATRINA YOUNG

Copyright © 2018 The River Church

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,

electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,recording or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without the written permission of The River Church.Inquiries should be sent to the publisher.

First Edition, April 2018

Published by: The River Church8393 E. Holly Rd.Holly, MI 48442

Scriptures are taken from the Bible,English Standard Version (ESV)

Printed in the United States of America

4

CONTENTSLESSON 1

LESSON 3

LESSON 5

LESSON 2

LESSON 4

LESSON 6

11 Study Guide: Peter

21 Devotion 1: Adam

25 Devotion 2: Abel

27 Devotion 3: Eve

31 Devotion 4: Cain

33 Devotion 5: Enoch

35 Devotion 6: Sarah

63 Study Guide: James

71 Devotion 1: Isaac

73 Devotion 2: Jacob

75 Devotion 3: Miriam

77 Devotion 4: Judah

79 Devotion 5: Joseph

83 Devotion 6: Rahab the Harlot

109 Study Guide: Philip

115 Devotion 1: Joshua

117 Devotion 2: Caleb

119 Devotion 3: Delilah

121 Devotion 4: Achan

125 Devotion 5: Balaam

129 Devotion 6: Ruth

39 Study Guide: Andrew

45 Devotion 1: Noah

47 Devotion 2: Abraham

49 Devotion 3: Hagar

53 Devotion 4: Lot

55 Devotion 5: Job

59 Devotion 6: Rachel

87 Study Guide: John

93 Devotion 1: Moses

95 Devotion 2: Aaron

97 Devotion 3: Deborah

99 Devotion 4: Korah

101 Devotion 5: Jethro

105 Devotion 6: Jael

133 Study Guide: Bartholomew

139 Devotion 1: Gideon

141 Devotion 2: Ehud

143 Devotion 3: Naomi

145 Devotion 4: Samson

149 Devotion 5: Boaz

151 Devotion 6: Hannah

5

LESSON 7

LESSON 9

LESSON 11

LESSON 8

LESSON 10

LESSON 12

155 Study Guide: Matthew

161 Devotion 1: Eli

163 Devotion 2: Samuel

165 Devotion 3: Jezebel

167 Devotion 4: Jabez

169 Devotion 5: Saul

171 Devotion 6: Michal

197 Study Guide: James

203 Devotion 1: Solomon

205 Devotion 2: Rehoboam

209 Devotion 3: Esther

211 Devotion 4: Elijah

213 Devotion 5: Elisha

215 Devotion 6: Proverbs 31 Woman

241 Study Guide: Simon

247 Devotion 1: Jeremiah

249 Devotion 2: Ezekiel

251 Devotion 3: Mary of Nazareth

255 Devotion 4: Daniel

257 Devotion 5: Shadrach, Meshach,

& Abednego

261 Devotion 6: Mary Magdalene

175 Study Guide: Thomas

181 Devotion 1: David

183 Devotion 2: Nathan

185 Devotion 3: Bathsheba

187 Devotion 4: Absalom

189 Devotion 5: Abner

193 Devotion 6: Abigail

219 Study Guide: Thaddaeus

225 Devotion 1: Naaman

227 Devotion 2: Hezekiah

229 Devotion 3: Gomer

231 Devotion 4: Josiah

235 Devotion 5: Isaiah

237 Devotion 6: Elizabeth

265 Study Guide: Judas Iscariot

273 Devotion 1: Jonah

275 Devotion 2: Ezra

277 Devotion 3: Mary of Bethany

281 Devotion 4: Nehemiah

283 Devotion 5: Mordecai

285 Devotion 6: Martha

6

LESSON 13

LESSON 15

LESSON 17

LESSON 14

LESSON 16

LESSON 18

289 Study Guide: Paul

295 Devotion 1: Joseph

297 Devotion 2: Lazarus

299 Devotion 3: Anna

303 Devotion 4: Nicodemus

307 Devotion 5: Pontius Pilate

309 Devotion 6: Joanna

339 Study Guide: Timothy

345 Devotion 1: Agrippa

347 Devotion 2: Caiaphas

349 Devotion 3: Pilate's Wife

351 Devotion 4: Philemon

353 Devotion 5: James

355 Devotion 6: Sapphira

381 Study Guide: Silas

389 Devotion 1: Charles Wesley

391 Devotion 2: Charles Spurgeon

393 Devotion 3: William Tyndale

395 Devotion 4: JRR Tolkien

397 Devotion 5: Hudson Taylor

399 Devotion 6: John Wycliffe

313 Study Guide: Barnabas

319 Devotion 1: Barabbas

321 Devotion 2: Ananias

325 Devotion 3: Woman with Blood

329 Devotion 4: Cornelius

333 Devotion 5: Demas

335 Devotion 6: Samaritan Woman

361 Study Guide: Epaphroditus

367 Devotion 1: Martin Luther

369 Devotion 2: Dwight Lyman Moody

371 Devotion 3: Billy Graham

373 Devotion 4: Clive Staples Lewis

375 Devotion 5: Jonathan Edwards

377 Devotion 6: John Wesley

403 Study Guide: Luke

409 Devotion 1: John Newton

411 Devotion 2: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

413 Devotion 3: George Whitefield

415 Devotion 4: Billy Sunday

417 Devotion 5: Charles Finney

419 Devotion 6: John Calvin

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“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

Being perceived as uneducated and common is not the focus of most resumes. However, it would be great to be known or seen as one who has been with Jesus. He wants to fill us with His love. It should overflow into the world. His love should work through us to change the world around us for Him.

World Changers consists of eighteen study guides on the disciples and some other key leaders in the early church. These are written for personal or group discussion. There are also over one hundred devotions covering the life of different Bible characters. Although this will give you an understanding of most characters in the Bible, World Changers will show you how God has used ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

These stories will remind you that one with God is a majority. With the Holy Spirit’s power and direction, you can and should make a difference for Him! You are called to be a “World Changer.”

P R E FA C E

P E T E RDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

01

11

LESSON 1 PETER

Also known as: Simon, Simon Peter, Cephas

Meaning of his name: Rock or stone

Books of the Bible written by him: 1 and 2 Peter (possibly helped with Gospel of Mark)

Occupation: Fisherman

The symbol generally associated with Peter is keys.

John MacArthur says Peter is “the apostle with the foot-shaped mouth.” Peter was the one to say something before he took time to think.

Do you tend to speak too quickly or not quick enough (or not at all)?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the strength and weakness of each? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The disciples are listed four times in Scripture (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13). In all four accounts, Peter is listed first.

Do you think there is a significance to Peter being listed first by each writer? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 1 PETER

Matthew 4:18-20 describes the calling of Peter, “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

What stands out to you in this passage? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Would your conversion be classified as immediate or a process? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Matthew 16:13-20 details Peter’s description of Jesus and his discussion concerning the church, “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.”

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LESSON 1 PETER

How does Peter describe Jesus? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How would you describe Jesus? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When Jesus says, “on this rock I will build my church,” scholars define this ‘rock’ in three possible scenarios: First, Jesus says Peter is the rock. Second, Jesus refers to Peter’s testimony (the Gospel) as being the foundation of the church. Third, Jesus points to Himself as the Rock while Peter is more of a pebble.

Which description do you think best fits Scripture regarding the church? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 4:13 gives an interesting description of Peter, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

Do you view this verse as a compliment or insult? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 1 PETER

How do you want to be described? What do you need to do to accomplish that? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 12:1-5 describes Peter being imprisoned, “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”

What happened to James and what affect could it have on Peter?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How does the last line of this passage relate to us? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 12:6-11 describes Peter’s escape (or being rescued), “Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his hands. And

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LESSON 1 PETER

the angel said to him, ‘Dress yourself and put on your sandals.’ And he did so. And he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, ‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’”

What was Peter doing? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How well guarded was Peter? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What instructions did the angel give Peter? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In verses 12-17 Peter goes to where the believers are praying, “When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the

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LESSON 1 PETER

gate. They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind.’ But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, ‘It is his angel!’ But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, ‘Tell these things to James and to the brothers.’ Then he departed and went to another place.”

What can we learn about prayer from this passage? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What prayer request do you have that would need a miracle?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Verses 18-19 describe the next morning, “Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.”

What in this passage helps prove that it was a miraculous escape?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There are several passages involving the life of Peter. This study is not designed to fully cover all of them. For a more complete review, see these stories: Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31),

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LESSON 1 PETER

Peter walks on water (Matthew 14:28-29), Peter at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1), Jesus washes Peter’s feet at the Last Supper (John 13:1-17), Peter cuts off Malchus’ ear in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10), Peter denies Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75), Peter at the empty tomb (John 20:1-18), Peter catches 153 fish (John 21:6), Jesus forgives and reinstates Peter (John 21:15-17), Peter as the main speaker at Pentecost (Acts 2), Peter heals a lame man (Acts 3), and Peter’s vision followed by Cornelius (Acts 10).

Which story is your favorite? Why? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tradition records that Simon Peter was “martyred in Rome during the reign of the emperor Nero. As the story goes, Peter asked to be crucified upside down, so that his death would not be the equal of Jesus and the Romans supposedly obliged” (National Geographic). John MacArthur adds other details, “Before Peter was crucified he was forced to watch the crucifixion of his own wife. As he watched her being led to her death, Clement says, Peter called to her by name, saying, ‘Remember the Lord.’ When it was Peter’s turn to die, he pleaded to be crucified upside down because he wasn’t worthy to die as his Lord had died.” Peter helped take the Gospel to Rome, a major center for the whole world.

What do you think of Peter’s last words to his wife? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 1 PETER

Would being crucified upside down be easier of harder (better or worse)? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Twelve Disciples describes Peter’s personality and character: Impulsive (Matthew 14:28), yet cowardly (Matthew 14:30; 26:69-74). Hot tempered (John 18:10), yet tenderhearted (Matthew 26:75). Insightful (Matthew 16:16), yet dense (Matthew 16:21-23). Courageous and solid after Pentecost (Acts 5:27-30).

What leadership skills do you see in Peter? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Which trait do you want to develop in your life? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 1 PETER

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LESSON 1 PETER

21

Adam. The original. The prototype. The first of us. Think about it. God, who created all things with a just a word, took ordinary dirt and ‘formed’ it into a man. But it is what

happened next that brought man into his existence. The Bible tells us that God, Himself, leaned down (if you will) and breathed into Adam’s nostrils. And we read the words, “And man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7 NKJV). Adam would have been little more than a sculpture if God had not breathed into him His own life. The life of God made him alive. So we read that through each day of creation God looked at what He had done and said it was “good.” When Adam came to life, God said, “It was VERY good” (Genesis 1:31 NKJV).

God enjoyed Adam. He really did. It is so clear that Adam was not just made to take up space or even just as some crowning achievement in the creation of God. He was so much more. Adam was created ‘for’ God. It was ‘for’ a relationship with Him and the Lord loved him. Love is an incredible thing. Genuine love always seeks to express itself. When we love someone, we want to say it, and we want to show it. We want the person we love to know it. We look for ways to express our love. That is what God did. The Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Therefore, He created man as an object of His great love. This is why the Lord planted a garden for them. It is why He lived with them and walked with them. It was untold joy, an unimaginable blessing. It was very good as God and man lived in a perfect relationship.

But then they fell.

A DA MLESSON 1, DEVOTION 1

Chuck Lindsey | Reach Pastor

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 1

We often think that the fall of man happened right after the creation of the man and woman, but we are not told when this happened. It may have been hundreds, even thousands of years before the fall of man took place. How long did the man and woman enjoy the unbroken love and fellowship of God? One day we will know. However, everything changed in a series of choices. They were choices that caused the heart of man to wander from the source of their love and life.

How it must have broken God’s heart when Adam died. Oh yes, God knew the plan. He had always known the plan. The plan is to rescue us all. Out of death would come life; out of darkness would come light. But it would not happen before ages of brokenness and death! He certainly knew. I cannot imagine how it must have broken His heart, to hear the serpent’s words to Eve, to watch as she ate and then gave some to Adam. Do you not think the Lord saw or heard these things? He saw it all. He heard it all. He saw and heard every detail. He looked on with the deep pain that broken relationships bring as the love of His heart chose themselves instead of Him. Eve, though not innocent, we are told, was deceived by the serpent. Adam, however, knew. Adam made a choice. In just a few moments, just a few choices, Adam and Eve lost everything. Such is the nature of sin. We never truly know all we are losing when we choose ourselves over God.

Enter the mercy of God! For God did have a plan. It is a plan to rescue us all. It is a plan to give (as a gift) back to us what we gave away there in the garden. It is a plan to restore the beauty and blessing of the relationship between us. He wants to give us His life again. But it would come through yet another heart rending death. This time, the death of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus. Through His death, life came to us. As His blood flowed, so flowed the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God. “By His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV).

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 1

And whereas one act, by one man, threw us all into sin and death, one act, by the One Man, saved our lives. One act, by the spotless, sinless Lamb of God rescued every person who will flee to Him for rescue. Truly the Gospel is the restoration of all that man was created for, life with Him forever!

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 1

25

Hebrews 11:4 ends with “…he stills speaks.”

The words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 23 must have stung and angered even the hardest hearted Pharisees. In what was the “final showdown” between the religious, hypocritical managers of the temple, Jesus preached His harshest sermon to date. The sermon was both a blistering attack on the Pharisees and the hypocritical ritual that had overtaken Judaism. Known by many modern commentators as “The Seven Woes,” Jesus stood in the temple and pulled back the curtain on the Pharisees religion and revealed their godless and loveless hearts. Seven times Jesus calls them hypocrites and brings to light a different charge in which they were guilty. Nearing the end of His sermon and just before the Lord’s final exit from the temple and subsequent rejection of Israel, Jesus indicts the Pharisees as the persecutors and murderers of God’s righteous servants. In doing so, He shows us and honors Abel as the world’s first martyr. Abel’s story is given to us in Genesis chapter 4. The institution of sacrifice was given by the Lord to Adam and Eve as they were expelled from the Garden and then presumably given to their children. Two sons of Adam and Eve brought sacrifices to the Lord. Cain, Abel’s brother, brought a sacrifice to the Lord that was not accepted, while Abel brought a sacrifice to the Lord that was honored and acceptable. In a brooding temper tantrum that grew into a murderous rage, Cain killed his brother Abel. Abel was a righteous, worshipper of God. It was a testimony to the glory of God demonstrated through his faithfulness in following God’s sacrificial principles.

A B E LLESSON 1, DEVOTION 2

Joshua Combs | Lead Pastor

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 2

The writer of Hebrews, following Jesus’ lead, continues elucidating the legacy of Abel. The Scripture says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4). Abel, though ancient in history, still speaks. His righteous blood declares the truth that faithful and obedient followers of God will be persecuted. Abel is more than just a follower; he is a type of Christ. In Genesis chapter 4, Abel is righteous and is unjustly killed by the angry Cain. Cain offered to God a sacrifice of works, hoping to impress a Holy God with his abilities. The similarities are startlingly clear to Jesus, who was innocent, yet hated and ultimately murdered by the self-righteous “Cains” of His day, known as the Pharisees.

Abel’s story is certainly old, but his legacy of obedience, martyrdom, and faith “still speaks.” The truth and challenge are to examine what message our life declares to the world. What is the legacy of your life? If your life were to end today, what would the lasting legacy be? What would, though passed into eternity, your life speak?

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Seven words marked the single action that would forever change the world. “...she took of its fruit and ate…” (Genesis 3:6). Thank you, Sister Eve.

Imagine living in a perfect world with a perfect spouse. Eve’s husband was perfect, sinless, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Shoot, I bet Adam did not even snore. She owned the best home in the neighborhood. Of course, it was the only one, so there was no keeping up with the Jones'. Imagine never having to be concerned about maintaining your home. My husband and I are going through a difficult season where it seems as though every time we turn around something is breaking. Greg is very handy but has been struggling with a plumbing issue. This morning he looked at me and said, “See, if we did not have indoor plumbing we would not have these problems. Darn civilization!” Humor always helps. Imagine having the perfect job with the perfect boss (Genesis 2:15). There were no problems, no unreasonable deadlines, and no salary issues because there were no bills to pay. Every need was met every day. Though she had it all, discontentment got the best of her, and she became the picture of what not to do. The first problem for Eve was her focus. My focus is usually determined by my thoughts, my view, and my desires. I believe Eve had similar issues. God’s Word does not tell us how Eve ended up over near THE tree. But my guess is Eve was consumed with the thought of the ‘forbidden fruit.’ It was the one thing in the garden she could not have. When my son was five years old, he took his first test in school. After teaching the class the importance of

E V ELESSON 1, DEVOTION 3

Holly Boston | Women's Ministry Director

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 3

doing your own work and keeping your eyes on your own paper, the teacher passed out the test. Tyler fell prey to the temptation and was disciplined for cheating. If you ever want to witness the power of the ‘forbidden fruit' just tell a toddler not to touch an outlet. Many of us are consumed with what we do not have. I have found two truths that combined with the power of the Holy Spirit have given me victory in this area: “…giving thanks always and for everything…” (Ephesians 5:20) and “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Time with God and His Word will cause your desires to change and line up with His will and develop an attitude of gratitude. The second problem for Eve was the company she kept. Eve chose to leave the presence of her Creator to hang out with the enemy. We make the same bad choices. When we do, we get the same thing Eve got: deception and heartache. How much time do you spend with the Lord? A wise pastor once said: ‘10% of the first fruits of our time is 2.4 hours.' Ouch! We cannot expect to successfully combat the enemy's influence on us if he and the world get the lion's share of our time. We also need to examine the people with whom we are choosing to hang out. Ephesians 4:15 tells us we can grow in Christ through “truth in love.” As believers, we must surround ourselves with sisters and brothers in Christ who will speak truth into our lives and hold us accountable. If you do not have a spiritual mentor, get one. Wise counsel from Adam may have spared all of us a lot of pain. Eve’s third problem was her handling of the Word of God and her understanding of the character of her Heavenly Father. While entertaining a conversation with the serpent, Eve left out important details of God’s instructions by describing the location of the tree as “the tree that is in the midst of the garden” (Genesis 3:3) instead of the specific one “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 3

(Genesis 2:17). It is critical that we know God’s Word in its entirety to ward off attacks of the enemy. Eve also allowed the serpent to convince her that God was withholding good from her (knowledge). 1 Timothy 4:14 says, “for everything created by God is good…” This includes the rules, Eve! Thanks to Sister Eve we now live in a fallen world, marked with pain and suffering. God’s Word tells us that though we live in the world, “we are not of the world” (John 15:19). As believers, we have the power within us to live differently. Give your thoughts and desires to God, choose to spend time with the Lord, hang out with people who do, and know the Word of God better than your favorite Christian song. Who knows, maybe the world will start looking a little different, at least your little corner of the world.

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 3

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Cain and Abel is a story in the Bible that many know and remember reading. This shows a picture of what happens when jealousy takes over our heart. Genesis 4:8-11 says,

“Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?’ And the Lord said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.’”

This story is about two brothers who both bring an offering to God and God is pleased with one, but not with the other. In these verses, we see what is in a man's heart and how that affects his life. As you look at Cain's life, look to your own heart. Do you have a heart that is righteous and pleasing to God?

How do we please God? Is it through attending gatherings, praying, tithing, or attending Bible study? We know it is all these, but we must always love as He has loved us. We know this because Jesus laid down His life for us, and this is unconditional love. We too should lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. This is not meant to be taken in the literal sense, but to help, be kind, forgive, and just love them. This will show that we have a heart for God. Actions are what will display that our heart is in the right place. We are instructed on how to please God as we read and follow God’s Word.

C A I NLESSON 1, DEVOTION 4

Larry Gabbara | Financial Bookkeeper

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 4

We can not hide anything from God, He sees deep into our heart. He knows all our righteous actions. This story is a picture of what is in our heart, and how not having a heart for God could send us down the wrong road. 1 John 3:23 says, “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”

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The world changer we are going to look at today is Enoch. Enoch was the great grandfather of Noah and is in the line of Jesus. So what makes Enoch a world changer? There

are not a lot of examples, events, or things we can look at in the life of Enoch, but what we do have shows us that Enoch had an incredible relationship with God. Hebrews 11:5-6 says, “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” The phrase I want you to focus on is “he was commended as having pleased God.” This phrase has incredible meaning. Enoch lived a life that pleased God and others saw that he pleased God. The word commended means “to present, mention, or praise as worthy of confidence or notice” (dictionary.com). So what appearance would this have? How can someone gain the attention of not only the world around him but the Almighty God? The answer is simply given in the above verse - Faith. Hebrews 11:1-2 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.” Enoch had a faith that others noticed and they even talked about it. I am not sure if that faith consisted of occurrences in his life or simply the way he lived his everyday life, each day honoring God and trusting in His plan. Whatever it was, his faith pleased God. That is something for which I want to be known! I want to trust God so much that people around

E N O C HLESSON 1, DEVOTION 5

Caleb Combs | Gathering Pastor

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LESSON 1 DEVOTION 5

me and most importantly God Himself looks at me and says, “I am pleased with your trust in Me.” I wish I could say that of myself. So many times I struggle in trusting God’s plan or purpose for my life. So often we can become control freaks who are not willing to trust in God’s plan. I heard a pastor say this one time and it has stuck with me, “I wish faith was as easy to live as it is easy to preach.” Faith like Enoch’s is a total trust and hope in the perfect plan of God the Father. This is a built relationship and a constant refinement of our lives.

Enoch lived to be 365 years old, which is way younger than most of his peers who were living to be around 900 years old. However, Enoch did not die. He had such a special relationship with God that God took him straight to Heaven. The book of Genesis gives us a great way to continue shaping and strengthening our faith with the story of Enoch. It says in chapter 5, “Enoch walked with God.” May we have the faith like Enoch that pleases God and others around to see. Remember to trust in the One that we can have hope in every day and to always walk with Him.

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“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV

If you ever want to be inspired and encouraged in your faith, Hebrews chapter 11 is a great place to start. This chapter, also known as the “Faith Hall of Fame,” is all about some of the Bible's all-star characters - men and women known for their faith despite their crazy circumstances. The first woman mentioned in this chapter is Sarah, wife of Abraham. Her story is found mainly in Genesis chapters 12-25, but she is mentioned several more times throughout the Old and New Testament. She is mentioned more than any other woman in Scripture and is the only woman in the Bible to have her name changed by God - from Sarai to Sarah, which means “princess.” God said, “I will bless her and will surely give you [Abraham] a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her” (Genesis 17:16 NIV). Sounds like a woman who could change the world! Now Abraham and Sarah loved God, and they trusted Him. God had proven faithful to them before, but the promise of a child was harder to grasp for Sarah because she was barren for many years, and she was already getting up there in age. I can only imagine the pain, sadness, and shame she must have felt not to be able to give her husband an heir, let alone the pressure she must have felt due to this promise! God said He would give her a son and yet the clock was ticking and nothing was happening. It was out of her control, and she was desperate. She was so desperate that she took matters into

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Sierra Combs | Women's Ministry Director

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her own hands and gave her handmaiden, Hagar, to her husband so that they could have a child through her. I find it interesting that a woman who is famous for her faith is also famous for being a control freak - two opposing character traits. But how often do we tell God that we trust Him, and yet as soon as something does not go our way on our timetable we try and take matters into our own hands? How often does that work out? For Sarah, it did not. This decision did result in a child, but not the child God had promised, and in the end, it just created a gigantic mess. It brought more pain, more shame, and more sadness. Luckily for Sarah, God is not one who breaks His promises. Years went by, and again God promised Sarah a son. She was at the ripe old age of 90. When Sarah heard this, she laughed in disbelief, but God responded with words that we should always remember, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14) Sarah’s doubtful laugh was soon replaced with the laugh of delight when her son Issac was born. “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man [Abraham], and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:11-12 NIV) Sarah was a remarkable woman. Despite her shortcomings and because of her faith, God used her to change the world. She would be the mother to the entire Jewish race, the nation of Israel. From her line would come nations, kings, and eventually the King of Kings Himself, Jesus Christ.

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A N D R E WDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

02

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Also known as: Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother

Meaning of his name: Manly, a strong man

Books of the Bible written by him: None

The symbol associated with Andrew is the X-shaped cross.

John MacArthur says Andrew is “the apostle of small things.” He added, “Of all the disciples in the inner circle, Andrew appears the least contentious and the most thoughtful.” Andrew is only recorded as saying and doing good things. He was generally in the background paying attention to all the details.

Do you prefer to be on the front line or in the background? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who are the detail people in your life? Do you appreciate them? Do they know it? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


At least four of the apostles were fishermen. Ironically, the Greek word for fish, ichthus, formed an acrostic: Iesous Christos Theou Uios Soter, which means “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” They truly became fishers of men for Him.

Andrew’s name only appears thirteen times in the New Testament and four of those are when the disciples are listed by name.

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Andrew was most likely Jesus’ first disciple to believe in Him. John 1:35-42 says, “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, ‘What are you seeking?’ And they said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’ So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter).”

Andrew was already a disciple. Who was teaching him? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How does John the Baptist describe Jesus? Why? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What were Andrew’s next actions? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Who did you first tell when you began to follow Jesus? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Andrew and Peter went back to fishing. In Matthew 4:18-20, Jesus invites Andrew and Peter to join His work, “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

How is this passage different than Andrew’s initial interaction with Jesus? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Andrew plays an interesting role in the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 men plus women and children. John 6:4-9 says, “Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?’”

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Is it Andrew, the boy, or both who shows great faith? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Andrew knew he could not feed everyone, but Jesus could. He did what he could do. What step is the Lord waiting for you to take so you can enjoy being part of His work? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What characteristics of Andrew can be drawn from this story (approachable, notices all people)? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John 12:20-22“Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.”

What are some reasons why Philip asked Andrew? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Bible does not record Andrew’s death. Tradition says Andrew took the Gospel north. He is even the patron saint of Russia. He is also the patron saint of Scotland as they believe he reached out to their ancestors before they headed west. John MacArthur wrote,

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“He was ultimately crucified in Achaia, which is in southern Greece, near Athens. One account says he led the wife of a provincial Roman governor to Christ, and that infuriated her husband. He demanded that his wife recant her devotion to Jesus Christ and she refused. So the governor had Andrew crucified.” M. E. Rosson adds that Andrew was flogged and then crucified on an X-shaped cross which is supposed to be worse than the normal cross. Andrew hung on the cross for two days. It is estimated that he preached to over 20,000 people as they passed by him.

What would those two days on the cross entail? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Twelve Disciples describes Andrew’s personality and character: Enthusiastic about Christ (John 1:35-42), inquisitive (John 1:35-38), and resourceful (John 6:8-9). Andrew seems to always be in his big brother’s shadow. However, he appeared satisfied and fulfilled in playing his part which may be viewed by some as second fiddle. His humility is undeniable.

What leadership skills do you see in Andrew? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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Have you ever decided you wanted to run a full marathon? What did you do? Did you think about it often? Did you lie awake at night and imagine everyone’s amazement that

you could do something so difficult? You might have searched the internet for videos to learn about how to better run your first marathon. Hopefully, you started to prepare yourself for the challenge that running a marathon presents. It does not stand to reason that your mental preparation alone would come in handy for such a daunting physical endeavor. If you want something big to happen, it takes work. The planning and the learning will not help you without any real doing. Francis Chan uses a similar analogy for Christians regarding the Great Commission. Imagine standing before God and saying, “Well God, I did not actually share the Gospel with the lost, but I read and memorized every verse in the Bible about it, and I even started a Bible Study where a group of us came up with some practical ways to share the Gospel, and I have heard all the great preacher's sermons on the importance of sharing the Gospel.” It sounds pretty comical when he puts things in that frame of reference, but how often do we do the same things? We want to make a big change, but we are afraid to start putting in the work. You might embarrass yourself, you might screw up, or you might even hurt yourself.

In Genesis, we find Noah in a similar situation. God finds him as a righteous man living in a time of total wickedness. God lays out a huge task for him in Genesis 6. Noah is set to build a massive ark to survive the coming Flood. Noah saw a huge movement of God coming and knew that his only option was to prepare. Now, luckily

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John Hubbard | Worship Leader

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for him, the Lord spelled out pretty clearly both what He wanted and what He was going to do. For us, it is easy to get discouraged when we do not feel certain about what God is going to do. It is impossible to know everything that God will do, but it is not impossible to know a specific thing that God is doing.

This is where we look to the Church as the body of Christ. The Church has been tasked with carrying out the work of God, namely in the Great Commission. We hear of all the things the church is doing, and it is so easy to sit back and say, “Wow, I hope that goes well.”

I realize that a church event is a little different that a global flood, but how well would Noah have fared if he did not get to building the ark? The same goes for us now. How well would an outreach opportunity in your community go if everyone hopes it will go great and does not show up. It did not matter then that Noah had never built an ark before, and it does not matter now if you have never volunteered, you just have to give it your best shot. We all want God to move powerfully, but sometimes we forget about the ark we are going to need to build first.

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Often, Pastor Jim encourages us to sit down with a cup of coffee and read a passage of Scripture during the week. I would like to take a page out of his book and encourage

you to read Genesis 12 this week.

In Genesis 12, God begins to speak to an older man by the name of Abram, later to be called Abraham. God tells him to leave the only home he has ever known to move to an unknown land. God speaks to Abram and Abram hears. Abram is attentive to the words of God and makes the difficult choice of obedience, moving far from his home. Abram’s attentive ear, followed by radical obedience begins one of the greatest faith journeys of all time. Through this journey, Abram has his name changed to Abraham, has a baby with his wife Sarah who is thought to be beyond child bearing years, and receives the promise of a great nation through his lineage. All of this began with the acts of listening and obeying. Abraham lived an amazing life, and the record in Genesis is full of great truths about God's power to fulfill His promises and to provide for those who trust in Him.

However, when I read the story of Abraham's life, my mind wanders to strange and silly places. For instance, I often wonder how different Abraham's life would have been if he owned a cell phone? Before you laugh hysterically at my ridiculousness, think honestly about the very real ramifications that could exist. Think of how distracted we have become as people since the advent of cellular technology. Most of us are so attached to our phones that we have developed phantom ring syndrome - that feeling when you believe your phone

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Richie Henson | Production Director

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vibrated in your pocket only to pull it out and realize you had simply imagined it. We have become self-absorbed and distracted. I think it is fair to say that if Abraham were a cell phone user, he would have struggled to hear God as often as he did. Even if he had heard God, how much easier would it have been for Abraham to distract himself from the leap of faith to which God was calling him?

Do not get me wrong; I do not think cell phones are the work of the devil. I think they have great value as we can communicate in ways that are so simple and effective. However, I do believe that we allow our cell phones, as well as other forms of escapism and entertainment, to insulate us from the lives of obedience to which we are called. Whenever God leads us down a path that feels scary, we can pull out our phones and watch cat videos or text our friends about plans for the weekend.

I am full of faith that God has a specific purpose for each of us. I also believe that our purpose can only be realized as we walk in faith, putting our reliance for provision, guidance, and strength in our Lord Jesus Christ as He leads us by His indwelling Spirit. God wants us to experience the fullness of life that is only found through faith in Him. I pray that we would be able to put away our distractions so we may hear God’s voice and obey just as Abraham did so many years ago.

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Sarah and Abraham are significant in the Bible, their lives are followed, and yet in the middle of it all, a young woman named Hagar is thrust into their lives by one decision. She

finds herself in a place I am sure she never imagined, did not want, and was not happy with how her life was moving. Genesis chapter 16 walks us through Hagar’s journey.

Genesis 16: 1-4 says, “Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, ‘Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.’ And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.”

HAGAR FLEES

Genesis 16:6 adds, “…Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.”

After all of this, Hagar fled. She could not take the pressure, the shame, the anger, and her role in it all. We sometimes do this, we get to the middle of a season, a season that has been difficult, one that has hurt, and we leave. It is not just a situation, but we leave where God has placed us. It is easier to walk away, convince ourselves that

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Jill Osmon | Assistant to the Lead Pastor

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God did not place us there and that God would never make us walk through this valley. It hurts too much to be accepted as being from God. Please listen, if we go through life by running from every valley and trial God has for us (whether that is self-inflicted or not), our faith will be small and weak. God grows us; our faith is strengthened through these moments. We see this throughout the Bible. We see it with Paul and his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). It is evident throughout Moses’ life, whether it be his doubt or valleys God walked him through. We are not promised an easy road; we are not promised a life void of hardship.

God meets Hagar on her flight, and the first thing He does is remind her where she should be. God will not let world changers take the easy way out; you have to go through the valleys to get to the mountain tops. You cannot go around; you cannot take a shortcut, you have to go through it. He then quickly follows it up with a promise, can you picture it? Hagar is distraught and angry and bitter; God has just reprimanded her. Have you ever been there? It can feel lonely, joyless, and scary, yet God in His grace and mercy still gives us His promises.

GOD’S PROMISES - Genesis 16:10-12

God gives Hagar a promise, she will bear a son, and his offspring will be many. Her needs would be met. Her life may not be what she wanted, but her needs would be met. God's promises are what brings us out of deep waters. One of my favorite songs is Oceans, by Hillsong United. Part of lyrics are, “Your grace abounds in deepest waters; Your sovereign hand will be my guide; where feet may fail and fear surrounds me; You've never failed and You won't start now.” Hagar calls Him the “God of seeing.” He sees us, He sees you, all of your imperfections, all of your hurt, and all of your

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dreams. He sees EVERYTHING. He sees us, loves us, and gives us promises upon promises. He has never failed us and He never will.

GOD PROVIDES - Genesis 21:14-20

I wish the rest of Hagar’s story was one of joy and peace, but she finds herself in another valley. Once Sarai has a baby, Isaac, the reminder of Hagar and Ishmael is raw and ever present. So, Abraham sends them away with only a bottle of water and some bread.

Ishmael and Hagar go through the water and bread that Abraham provides and are on the verge of death. She cries out to God, not remembering His promise, but simply sitting, waiting to die. An angel calls from Heaven, tells her to take Ishmael, reminds her that God promised to make him a great nation, and then He provides for their earthly needs. Verse 18 and 19 say, “‘Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.’ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.”

I read in one commentary that Abraham gave her a bottle, but God gave her a well. Man’s attempt to provide will always pale in comparison to God providing for us. Our feeble human attempt to provide for ourselves or even for others without God amounts to a bottle versus a well. Even when we forget, even when God has to open our eyes, He still provides, and His promises endure. Even when we cannot see it, even when we doubt, God provides.

Hagar should be a reminder that no matter our circumstances, God provides, His promises endure, and He will never fail us.

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One of my favorite songs is “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” by a band called The Postal Service. They are not a Christian band, but there is a line in the song that has

always resonated with me as a believer. In the second verse of the song it says, “I am a visitor here, I am not permanent,” and we see that theme carried throughout the song. Anytime I listened to that song it was always a reminder to me that as a believer this world is not my home, all Christians are just visitors on earth waiting to return to our eternal home. While we live here, we have been tasked with the challenge of influencing the world for Christ, while not letting it influence us negatively. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” This is something that believers have struggled with since the beginning of the world. Many people find themselves slowly becoming more and more like the world without even realizing it. We see an example of this through Lot in the Old Testament.

In Genesis 13 Lot and Abram were living together, but because of their great wealth and disagreements between their herdsmen they decide to split up, and each finds land of their own. Genesis 13:11-13 shows us what they both decided on, “So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” We see that Lot decided

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Philip Piasecki | Worship Leader

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to move his tent to the same valley as Sodom, even though he knew that the men of Sodom were wicked. I am sure Lot thought being that close to Sodom would not be a big deal, he could handle that temptation! This is the same trap many of us fall into, we get too comfortable and get closer to sin, thinking that it will not burn us. However, in Genesis 19 we find the next account of Lot, and we start to see how much has changed. Genesis 19:1 says, “The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth.” Lot no longer just lives in a tent in the valley of Sodom, he now lives in the city and is even conducting business within the city gate. He has gone from living on the outskirts of Sodom to living within the walls of the most wicked city on earth at the time.

The rest of this story is seriously “R” rated, but it shows the slippery slope that sin is. I would encourage you to take some time and read all of Genesis chapter 19 and see how comfortable Lot had become with sin in his life. The account of Lot and the city of Sodom needs to serve as a warning in our own lives. We always need to be vigilantly looking out for sin in our lives and making sure we get rid of it. The more comfortable we become with our sin, the more likely we are to get into it deeper. We need to confess our sin to Christ, asking for his strength and power to conquer whatever we are facing. Unchecked and unrepentant sin in our lives will lead to destruction; there are no exceptions. God is gracious to us, just like He was with Lot, but let us not make the same mistakes that Lot did.

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The story of Job is one often shared and talked about in churches and Christian circles. If you are not familiar with Job, let me give you a brief “cliff notes” version of his story.

Job was a wealthy man with a very happy family. He lived the “perfect happy life” that many of us chase after all these many years later. Job was called blameless and perfect. One day, Satan came to God and challenged God by saying the only reason Job loves You is because You protect him. Let me have my way with him and let us see if he still honors You? So, God being confident in Job, grants Satan to have his way. He gives Satan only one restraint, “just do not take his life.” Then the struggles of Job began, and it is a horror story of pain and difficulty like no other. His wealth and his family are all lost in a short period of time. Job is left alone sitting in pain from physical illness. He is no doubt questioning his status with God and his faith. Then God comes and has a conversation with Job, and restores Job. Again, this is a very abbreviated description of Job's story. There are so many different good studies that can come from Job's story. I want to focus primarily on the conversation Job has with God in Job chapters 38-41.

When I read Job 38:1, I cannot help but be brought to tears when I think of where Job is when God comes to him and answers him in the whirlwind, aka the storm.

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind.”

If you have ever experienced any struggle, heartache, or difficulty in life, I would think this passage to be one of great joy! To me,

J O BLESSON 2, DEVOTION 5

John Carter | Director of Finance & HR

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this passage is very overwhelming. I am secure knowing that in the midst of our storm the Lord is present! He is not only present in the storm, but He proceeds to explain how mighty and awesome He (God) is to Job. He asks Job questions: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?”

I would encourage you to read the whole passage in Job chapter 38-42. The questions God asks may seem harsh, but I believe they are meant to encourage Job. They are meant to help make very clear who God is and of what He is capable. You soon realize how big God is and how small we as humans are. Job’s response acknowledges this. “Then Job answered the LORD and said: ‘Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.’”

God then continues to ask Job some more questions, several in particular stick out, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.”

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Again, Job responds to Gods questions, in a way that is so profound, “Then Job answered the LORD and said: ‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.’”

Wow, what a powerful acknowledgment of who God is. God is present in the time of storms, God can do all things, God has a plan, and God is far more wonderful than we can even know. In this dialogue, we can see how great, mighty, and awesome God is. Let us take this story of a world changing man named Job and apply it to our lives.

Do you ever question God? Have you ever thought, “Why me Lord?” How about, “What are you doing God?” Have you ever been in a position where the burden felt so heavy? Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever wondered if there was anyone who cared? Have you ever hurt so bad that it made you question if God was real? If you claim Jesus as your Savior, is God so real to you that He is the first one you call out to in the storms of life? Maybe as you read this dialogue between God and Job, you will come to know the One who laid the foundation of the earth. The One who has commanded the morning since the beginning of time, the One who has knowledge of the gates of death, and the One who established the ordinances of the heavens. Maybe you have heard about Jesus your whole life, but you have not yet seen who He is, Job's response is the Gospel message, “Now my eye sees You; therefore, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

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Life by no means is an easy thing, but when we have God, we can rest assured no matter how hard the storm, we have a God that will answer! Knowing God also means that we recognize how big He is and how small we are. He gets all the Glory!

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Genesis 30:1 says, “When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or I shall die!’”

I have always thought world changers had big, huge lives that made big splashes. As I have gotten older, I see people have influence over others, and it is not massive, no one knew them, yet their impact is felt for many years and many generations.

Rachel was one such quiet influencer. We do not know much about her, but Rachel’s struggles are something that we can all understand and from which we can learn. Rachel compared her life and was envious of what she did not have. She was not able to see past her pain, her desires and to be able to see that God had a bigger plan for her.

The Bible is very clear about comparing ourselves. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”

Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

When we are blinded by what others have and comparing our lives to others, we miss opportunity after opportunity to feel God's presence and love His people. Think about it, if we stopped comparing, if we

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stopped being envious, what greater influence could we have on the lives of others?

God’s plans will always happen. He always intended Rachel to give birth to Joseph, that Joseph would become one of the greatest stories ever told, and that Rachel’s influence as a mother would help Joseph navigate the difficult situations God placed him. The point is not that we drastically change God’s plan with our human inabilities, but how greater of opportunities will He give us if we accept where He has placed us and allow Him to use our lives to bring Him more glory.

Rachel is a reminder of what an envious life looks like, full of despair, anger, and comparison. What she could have accomplished if she had not been distracted by how she perceived her life and instead been open to what God had for her is immeasurable. Do not be bogged down by comparison and instead recognize that we are all uniquely made and loved by God, that should be freeing enough to live our lives unshackled by doubt and envy.

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J A M E SDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

03

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LESSON 3 JAMES

Also known as: James the Greater, James the Elder, Son of Zebedee, Son of Thunder, brother of John (there are three men named James in the Gospels)

Meaning of his name: James comes from Jacob meaning supplanter. It means to grasp the heel implying to trip up or overthrow.


The symbol associated with James is the bishop's hat and sword, which is obviously about his martyrdom.

John MacArthur calls James ‘The Apostle of Passion.’ He was so intense that Jesus referred to him (and his brother John) as ‘sons of thunder.’ Sounds like when the boys were around a storm was brewing.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of passion? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Peter was the older brother of Andrew and tended to be in the spotlight. James was the older brother to John but tended to be in his shadow.

Describe the interaction with your siblings. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Matthew 4:21-22“And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

What all did they leave behind when they left to follow Jesus?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Luke 9:51-56 reports James’ response when the Samaritans rejected Jesus, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.”

What gave James and John the idea to have fire come down from Heaven? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Was this righteous anger? How should they have reacted?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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James was one of the three who witnessed the Transfiguration. Mark 9:2-9 says, “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’ And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”

How did Moses and Elijah ‘die?’ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe Jesus’ appearance. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why did Jesus have them experience the Transfiguration? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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In Mark 10:35-45 James and John have a specific request for Jesus, “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?’ And they said to him, ‘We are able.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”

Do you find their opening statement offensive? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Was it wrong for them to ask to be seated next to Jesus? Why or why not? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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How can authority or power affect someone? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why did Jesus come to Earth? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James is the only one of the Twelve whose martyrdom is recorded in Scripture, “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread” (Acts 12:1-3).

Why did Herod kill James? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think there is so little written about his death?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

National Geographic adds some tradition to what else happened at James’ death, “After James was arrested and led to place of execution, his unnamed accuser was moved by his courage. He not only repented and converted on the spot, but asked to be executed alongside James. The Roman executioners obliged, and

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both men were beheaded simultaneously.” M. E. Rosson records that James went to Spain. In his three years of ministry there, he only converted nine people. He adds, “After his death and return to Spain, thousands of people would become Christians and by the end of the first century, seven major churches would be spread across the entire region with hundreds of smaller ones.” James converted more souls with his death than his life. Therefore, James is the patron saint of Spain and Portugal.

Does this remind you of Samson? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Twelve Disciples describes James’ personality and character: Vengeful and fiery (Luke 9:54), selfish and conceited (Mark 10:35-37), and committed to Christ and courageous to the end (Acts 12:2).

What leadership skills do you see in James? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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There is a funny saying, “Do you want Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now?” This particular phrasing applies to women anxious to get married, but the concept applies to everyone's life

in some aspect. Do you want the right house or the house you can have now? Do you want the right car or the one you can have right now? What makes you anxious? In my life, I was anxious for my family.

Since my early teen years, I wanted the wife God had planned for me and the blessing of children that followed. I trusted that God would deliver those blessings at the right time. God made me wait until I was 26 years old to deliver the first blessing, a beautiful, God-fearing bride. During those ten years of waiting, I could have tried to make it happen myself. I could have married some other woman much sooner, but it would not have been right. It would have been wrong to rush God on that blessing. Instead, I was patient, and God delivered a woman who was more of a blessing than I thought possible. God used those long years to prepare both of us for each other. My patience led to God's plan being perfectly clear to me.

In Genesis, we read about Isaac. After waiting 40 years for his bride, Isaac and his wife Rebekah struggled to have children for another twenty years. Isaac himself was the answer to Abraham and Sarah's prayer for children and now God's promise to make Abraham's descendants too numerous to count seemed doubtful. Isaac remained faithful and “prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived” (Genesis 25:21). We can learn from Isaac, as

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we can from many other biblical figures, that patience on God’s plan will be rewarded. God blessed Isaac’s patience with countless descendants including King David and Jesus, King of our salvation.

My wife and I had to wait longer than we would have liked for children but the sorrows of want and wait pale in comparison to the joy that our son now brings to our lives. All my memories of wanting have been replaced by the smiles and giggles of an answer to prayer named Jackson.

God has faithfully returned my patience with blessing. I challenge you to remain faithful and patient and expect God to bless you for it. Allow God to work in His time, and you will not regret the wait.

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From time to time we have a moment where we struggle, and we wrestle with what the Lord has planned for us. God has a plan, a plan to utilize and show His glory through us, yet we

all wrestle with that. In Romans, the Apostle Paul tells us in chapter 1 verse 25, “Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” We have put our ideas and our pride ahead of what God has planned for us. We believe that we alone are the masters of our destiny, that we alone have our best interests in mind. This, however, is like Paul said in Romans, a lie. I know this first hand; I was prideful in my youth, and I believed that I knew what God’s plan for my life was going to be. I was going to become a lawyer and then somehow some way run for office and help make the world a better place; yet, God’s plan for me was different. Instead of humbling myself, I believed that I could succeed by my merit and not through His divine grace and undeniable mastery of my life. I, like Jacob, wrestled with God. In Genesis chapter 32, we have a story of a world changer, the Patriarch Jacob and how he wrestled with God. The story goes that Jacob was fleeing from his older brother Esau, and he sent all his belongings across the ford of Jabbok. He then camped by himself on the other side. While by himself, a man appeared, and the two began to wrestle. While wrestling with this man Jacob’s hip was displaced, and yet Jacob held on. Finding out that it was the Lord that he had wrestled with, Jacob then grappled and held on saying, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

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Throughout our lives we come to wrestle with God and yet instead of grappling on and searching for the blessing that Christ will give us, we give up and go our way because it is easier. This is not what God has intended for us. Jacob is a world changer not because of his awesome wrestling moves, but because he would not give up. He knew that God was to bless him and he wanted to see it through.

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Miriam was a born leader blessed by God. She was the older sister of Moses and Aaron and very protective of them. Miriam was a prophetess, which is a female prophet. A

prophet was someone who was raised up by God and was inspired by the Holy Spirt to proclaim the will and purpose of God. Her words, as well as the work she did, were inspired by God. Miriam was included in the council table with her brothers. God spoke to all three of them. There is no evidence in the Bible that Miriam ever married.

We first see Miriam in a leadership role when Moses is born. At that time, the Pharaoh had an order out that all male Hebrew babies were to be drowned in the river. Moses’ mother wanted to save him, so she placed him among the thickets near the palace. Miriam stood guard at a distance and kept watch over Moses. When the Pharaoh’s daughter found him, Miriam appeared to her and offered to get one of the Hebrew mothers to nurse Moses. Miriam took him home to his mother so she could nurse him. Eventually, Moses was brought back to the Pharaoh’s daughter to be raised as her son. Miriam showed bravery and leadership at a young age (Exodus 2).

Miriam and Moses were separated for about forty years. This was because Moses had to flee Egypt. Moses killed an Egyptian because he was treating a Hebrew man very badly. This probably was very hard on Miriam. She was most likely filled with disappointment and probably felt helpless.

Forty years later, Moses returned to Egypt after being called by God to free the Egyptians from slavery. During this time, Miriam was very

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supportive of her brothers and in helping lead the Israelites out of Egypt. She was a symbol of unity and shared in the victories and hope of Israel. Miriam was a gifted poet and musician. Once the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led the women in song and dance praising God for His power and faithfulness for protecting them (Exodus 15:20-21). Miriam was a leader of the women, and as Moses’ sister, she held an influential position in the community. This made what she said important because the ladies looked up to her and listened to her. In Numbers chapter 12, we learn about how Miriam and Aaron become jealous of Moses. They did not like that he married a foreigner. Miriam and Aaron started talking with each other, but soon she began to gossip about Moses. They also questioned God as to why He would put Moses in the position of authority. Usually, the first born son was put in the position of authority. Moses was the youngest. The Lord was angered by all of this and disciplined Miriam. She was stricken with leprosy. Aaron and Moses prayed for her healing. She was sick and outside the city gates for seven days. Further, Miriam never entered the Promise Land. What can we learn from Miriam? We need to trust in God’s will, not our own. God can use us and bless us. God can also take that blessing away as quickly as He gave it to us if we act in a way that is contrary to God's will. It is when we become selfish and take our focus off God and make it more about ourself that can cause God to remove His blessing or take us down a step. This is what happened to Miriam. She took her focus off of God and made it more about herself. In the end, God removed His blessing from her, and she was punished. There is no better place to be in life than securely held in the hands of Almighty God. The opposite is most frightening, and that is to not have God's hands securely on your life.

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Does it not seem as though there is a little bit of these three in all of us? We strive towards doing good yet realize the wickedness in our hearts causes

us to sin on a daily, no wait, hourly basis (probably more like every minute). Good intentions met with a bad heart make for an ugly sinner. The Apostle Paul describes the sentiment when he says in Romans 7:19-20, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”

When we look into this world changers series and do a flyover of Judah's life, I feel like he was the same. We see glimpses of the good in him, like when he speaks up for his younger brother Joseph after being thrown into a well by his siblings. We also see it when he offers himself to that same, now unrecognizable Joseph, years later as the substitute or ransom for his youngest brother, Benjamin. He had good intentions for sure.

But we also see the bad in him and are reminded of our predisposition to sin. Judah would eventually become the leader of the tribe of Judah. The lineage of Jesus traces back through him. He had his family members Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (maybe you have heard of them) from which to learn. Great examples of godly men, yet we see his failures and character flaws when we read of him sleeping with what he thought was a temple harlot that turned out to be his daughter-in-law, Tamar. He marries a Canaanite woman, which might not seem like a big deal, but look at Malachi 2:11 to see that it was frowned upon, to say the least. “Judah has been

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faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.” Side note for further consideration: Genesis 38:1 tells us that he met the daughter of Shua when he departed from his brothers. He left his support system and accountability system to do his own thing. Not a good idea, but one we make more often than we care to admit.

The ugly truth of Judah’s example is that we have these same flaws. We want to do good for God, yet the flesh often will win the battle. The great news is that God has already won the war. Minor setbacks will happen and yet, paraphrasing Isaiah 61:3, God makes beauty from ashes. He can take our failures and turn them into triumphs, sometimes despite ourselves. You have probably heard it before, and I believe I have said it as well: one of the best things to remember is that we war and battle and struggle FROM a place of victory not FOR victory. Walk in His strength, not on your own. Let us learn from Judah’s mistakes and abide in Christ. Stay close to God, and He will stay close to you.

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(A letter to my son Zeke)

Zeke,It is a Monday, and your mother is at work. That means I am to brave the craziness of you and Broly. You are passed out

sitting next to me while I attempt to get this written in a reasonable time. About ten feet away, your brother is playing with his hockey stick swinging it around like Al MacInnis (five points for whoever knows who that is) yelling “hockey, hockey, hockey.” I paused from typing this letter until your brother went into the other room. I did not want to be distracted and have you take high-sticking to the face. Sadly, I have watched your big brother love you fiercely one moment and then hurt you the next. Legit, he stepped on your head last week. One day, you will understand the phenomena when the one person who you would protect with your life hurts the other person who you would protect with your life. It is a very conflicting feeling when you have to discipline one of them. Watching your brother, I know he loves you, I know he will protect you, and I also know he will hurt you, and you will hurt him. Sadly, you boys will grow up to not only hurt each other physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. If I am any type of father, I hope I have taught you the story of Joseph well enough that you can use him as an example when someone hurts you.

Joseph and his family were doomed to drama from the start. Jacob had four wives, and Jacob made an error that no parent should make. In Genesis 37:3, the Bible says, “Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the

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son of his old age.” I hope I never become the type of person to criticize another’s parenting style, but I think I have to say that Jacob messed up here as a father. This error led to Jacob’s other sons selling Joseph into slavery, and that led to the brothers thinking Joseph was dead. That is when the whole adventure of Joseph begins. Due to space, I need to fast forward past a jail, an unfaithful wife, a cupbearer, and famine. After all of that, we have one of the most amazing moments in the Bible. Luckily, when it came time for Joseph to show the kind of man of God he was, he could not continue his shenanigans, and he announced to his brothers who he was and forgave them all. An amazing story of reconciliation and forgiveness takes place that may be only second to Jesus' death on the cross.

I love both of you boys equally. While it may look different at times, please never sell another into slavery as a prank because you think I will favor you more. However you two boys turn out, I have one request, fight for family. I feel I am not one who can even request such a thing because I have not done so in my own life, but I have come to know the importance of family as you two grow up. I have experienced too many bridges burnt down in my life, some necessary and others not, but I hope I am the type of father who can show you that family is the most important human relationship you will have (until you get married). Let grudges go. Live selflessly. Help each other. Pray for each other. Lift one another’s burdens. Do not let pettiness or pride come between you and your brother. No hurt is ever great enough that forgiveness cannot be a remedy. Joseph wins the all time award for someone who could have kept a grudge but turned to God instead.

In Genesis 50:20-21, Joseph says, “‘As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not

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fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” There will be times your brother will hurt you, and I may even let you get even (legit he stepped on your head!). But Zeke, I want you two to fight for godliness. I want you two to fight for purity. I want you two to fight for righteousness. I want you to fight against the norm and evangelize in your schools. There is plenty of fighting that needs to be done, do not waste it fighting with someone who is on your team.

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Have there ever been decisions and or actions that you have made that you wish you could just erase? There are products on the market to virtually get every stain imaginable out of

fabrics, carpets, and anywhere else there seems to be a spot that does not belong. What if I told you there is someone who could erase all the stains that have tarnished your life?

Rahab experienced personally the stains of life erased by the grace of God. Rahab was a woman who lived in Jericho. Her home was built into the wall of the walled city. Every one of the city knew the location of Rahab's house. Even those who traveled to Jericho for business knew where Rahab lived. Rahab was a prostitute. However, her life changed the day when she had two male visitors that did not come seeking for what she had to offer. God had promised the children of Israel the land beyond the Jordan. Jericho would be one of those cities within that region that God had promised to His people. God had instructed them to conquer and destroy all of its inhabitants. Joshua, the leader, had sent the two spies to Jericho that day.

In our day and age, we have the capabilities to have news travel in moments across the globe. It may not have been moments, but the news of the Israelites coming to conquer the lands beyond the Jordan was front page news. There was a fear in the people of the lands. They had heard how this God of the Israelites had stopped the waters for the people to cross on dry ground. They heard how this God had provided food for them on their travels. They heard how He protected and drove their enemies away and to destruction.

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They heard that this God promised the very homes in which they were living. Rahab was no stranger to this news. She had heard it for years from the traveling businessmen about this God of the Israelites. The people of Jericho were living in fear of what they had heard. Now Rahab was faced with a decision as to what to do with these Israelites who had lodged at her bed and breakfast. The King of Jericho heard that these men had stayed at Rahab's place and commanded that these men be brought to him.

Rahab chose to put her life on the line for the God of theses Israelites. She hid the men on her roof under stalks of flax. She told their pursuers that they had already fled the city. Rahab believed the stories she had heard about the God of the Israelites. She believed that this Almighty God who took care of His people could take care of her as well. She declared that the Lord their God, He was the God in the Heavens above and the God on the Earth. Rahab feared the King of the Universe more than the king of Jericho. As soon as the spies’ pursuers were a distance from Jericho, the spies climbed out a window from Rahab's home by a red cord. The spies promised Rahab that when they saw the red cord in her window, her life and all her family that came within the walls of her home would be saved from destruction. They were thankful for her courage and sacrifice to them.

Rahab's faith in the Jehovah God saved her and her family. When the people of the city saw no beauty in Rahab, God saw her beauty. When the people of the city saw only a harlot, God saw a heroine. Only men came to her home to use and to abuse, but God came to her home that day with mercy and grace. Rahab had an opportunity to choose the lifestyle she was living or choosing to trust in the Jehovah God that she had only heard stories about what He did. She found out that day that they were not just stories, but God was real! Grace erased her past. Grace can erase your past as well.

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Make the choice and accept the hand that holds the biggest eraser in the world. That eraser is called GRACE!

J O H NDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

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Also known as: “The disciple whom Jesus loved,” (different from John the Baptist)

Meaning of his name: The Lord is gracious

Books of the Bible written by him: John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Revelation

The symbol associated with John is the eagle and a book

John MacArthur calls John “The Apostle of Love.” One would expect the word ‘love’ to be used often in the Gospels. However, Matthew uses it only eleven times, Mark four, and Luke twelve. John uses the word thirty-nine times in the Gospel of John and another twenty-six times in 1 John.

What would you like to be called? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


John and James were cousins to Jesus as their mother Salome was the sister of Jesus’ mother Mary (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25). His cousins followed Him, but it was not until after the resurrection that any of His brothers and sisters believed.

Do you have any cousins to whom you are real close? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Why would people get along better with cousins than siblings?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark 5:35-43 records that John witnessed the healing of Jairus’ daughter, “While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha cumi,’ which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.”

Who did Jesus take with Him? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What parts of the story stand out to you? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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In Luke 22:7-13, Jesus tells John to help prepare for Passover, “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.’ They said to him, ‘Where will you have us prepare it?’ He said to them, ‘Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.’ And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.”

Would Jesus asking Peter and John to prepare the Passover be a compliment or insult? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you view certain tasks or parts of ministry as demeaning?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They were also the inner circle of prayer warriors in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I go over there and pray.’ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping.

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And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners’” (Matthew 26:36-45).

What disciples are listed? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How many times did the disciples fall asleep? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are some ways you can stay focused while praying? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus gives John a great compliment while on the cross. John 19:26-27 says, “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”

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What compliment does Jesus make of John from the cross?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

National Geographic says, “John was the only one of the original disciples not to die a violent death. Instead, he passed away peacefully in Patmos in his old age, sometime around 100 AD.” Christianity adds an interesting side note, “An early Latin tradition has him escaping unhurt after being cast into boiling oil at Rome.” John was banished to the island of Patmos. Later, he took the Gospel to present day Turkey (Ephesus).

The Twelve Disciples describes John’s personality and character: Vengeful and fiery (Luke 9:54), judgmental (Mark 9:38), selfish (Mark 10:35-37), and bold, loving, and compassionate after Pentecost (Acts 4:13; 1 John 4).

What leadership skills do you see in John? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Which trait do you want to develop in your life? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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A few years ago, I had an ATV. I remember one evening, soon after I got it, I wanted to try it out, so I traveled to a place for riding. I had never been there before. When I arrived, there

were a lot of people around. I grabbed a map, tried to understand the grounds and took off riding. It was very late in the afternoon, and it began to get dark. I knew I needed to get out of there, but everyone else was smarter than me and had left already. I found myself lost in the woods and there were moments I honestly did not know where I was going. There was no one left to help guide me, and I felt abandoned.

When you think of Moses, what comes to mind? Is it him freeing the Israelites from the Egyptians? Is he parting the Red Sea? Is he holding the Ten Commandments? Do you think of abandonment? I did not at first until I began reading more of his life. When I began studying the life of Moses, what stood out the most was his very beginning.

Take a moment and read Exodus 2:1-10. It records Moses’ birth. Verses 2 and 3 read, “The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.” At this time in history, in Egypt, the Pharaoh of Egypt ordered that any Israelite baby boy born was to be placed in the Nile River and killed. We see in the passage that Moses' mother tried to hide him, and then when she could hide him no longer, she created protection for him and placed him in the river.

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I was reading an article this week by Lori Hatcher, and she goes on to explain that Moses was the first abandoned child mentioned in the Bible. In Exodus 2:5, we learn that the Pharaoh’s daughter saves Moses, “Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it.” We then learn from this passage that the Pharaoh's daughter protects Moses and later raises him as her son.

Because of what happened, Moses lived, even though he was abandoned. God used Moses throughout his life. What I learned from studying the beginning of Moses' life is that God always has a plan for our lives, even if it is not what we can immediately see. God promises protection, even when we feel abandoned. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

I do realize in my story above, that it was my fault that I was abandoned in the woods on my ATV. How many times do we look to ourselves instead of looking for God's plan, and asking God for protection?

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“W hat did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” Exodus 32:21

The relational and leadership dynamics between the great leader Moses and his brother Aaron (the first high priest) are fascinating. As Moses stood before the burning bush, God ordained him as the deliverer of Israel, the hand of God's power, and the mouthpiece of God's holy words. Yet, Moses, a man who the Scripture calls “…mighty in his words and deeds…” (Acts 7:22), trembles at the thought of speaking before tyrannical Pharaoh. So God, on the back side of the Sinai desert, righteously rebukes this trembling shepherd, and then graciously offers the speaking assistance of Moses’ brother, Aaron. From that point, Aaron and Moses are a two man, tag team act that God uses to gloriously bring the Egyptian empire to its knees. Plagues would rain down, God's glory would be seen, and standing in the middle of this catastrophe and rescue mission were two brothers. When hard-hearted Pharaoh finally relented, Moses and Aaron led the people across a parted Red Sea to the base of Mount Sinai. Moses ascended the mountain with his servant Joshua, where God gave Moses the law and the structure for Jewish society. But while Moses was away, the people panicked and Aaron led them to nearly be annihilated.

Pressured by the impatient Israelites, Aaron led the effort to assemble gold that he would fashion into the image of a golden

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calf. He declared that the following day they would celebrate and worship this image and praise it for the exodus from Israel (Keep in mind that while they worshiped a golden calf of their making, God's glory was currently burning on top of Mount Sinai in such a dazzling display that everyone could still see). When the following day came, the noise of celebration reached the ears of Moses and the Lord. Disgusted, the Lord moved to destroy Israel for their blasphemy. One man stood between the angry holy God of Heaven and the people. It was Moses.

Aaron, however, had not interceded for the people but had unwittingly led them to the brink of disaster. Moses confronts his brother, “‘What did this people do to you,’ Moses asks, ‘that you have brought such a great sin upon them?’” (Exodus 32:21). Of course, the answer had very little to do with the pressure of the people and significantly more to do with the weakness of Aaron. He could not stand for the Lord, his brother, or even oppose the people for their safety and well-being. Aaron would repent and stand with the Lord, but the cost of his poor, idolatrous leadership was the loss of 3,000 men's lives. What kind of leader are you? Are you willing to stand for the Lord and hold to His holy standards? When opposed by others, do you stand firm? Most importantly, when you fail as a leader, do you repent, acknowledge the failure and then change?

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The book of Judges tells us of a fascinating time in the story of the Israelites. According to chapter 2, it only took one generation without a strong leader who was following the

Lord for God’s chosen people to forget all that He had done for them. The Bible says they did not obey the Lord's commands and worshiped other gods. So God allowed the Israelites to be defeated in battle and to be ruled by their enemies. Just as it so often continues with God’s children today, the Israelites were caught in a cycle: Follow God, stray away in disobedience, experience defeat, beg for forgiveness, and come back to God.

Because the Lord is always faithful to love and help His children, He heard their cries for help. It was during a time of repentance that the Lord appointed the first judge to rescue the Israelites. The judges were special leaders who heard their legal cases and lead them into battle and helped them defeat their enemies.

One of those judges was a woman. Chapter four introduces us to Deborah. She was a wife, a prophetess, a counselor, and a judge in Israel. She sat under a palm tree and gave God’s people counsel. The Bible tells us that Deborah also became a military leader when God told her to send Barak into battle against the Canaanites. Deborah told him exactly how the Lord would help him defeat the king’s army. Barak however, refused to go into battle without Deborah. Barak’s refusal to go without her tells me of the strength and trust in the Lord that Barak saw in Deborah. She was someone who obeyed the Lord.

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Debbie Gabbara | Assistant to the Gathering Pastor

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As I think about this story, I am reminded of a song called Trust and Obey, that I learned in church when I was a girl. “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey.” The chorus continues, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Such simple instruction with a profound message: Trust God and obey His Word and we will find happiness.

Sprinkled throughout the Bible, God surprises us with women such as Deborah who completely trusted the Lord and was willing to do what He asked of her, even going into battle.

Like so many women today, Deborah wore many hats. She was a wife, she worked, she counseled others, and most important, Deborah was a follower of the Lord who trusted and obeyed His commands. Sometimes we get to sit under the palm trees and sometimes we have to go into battle and fight. When the battle is won, continue to follow the example of Deborah who sang a song of victory to the Lord. Get a cup of coffee and spend a few minutes reading Judges chapters 4 and 5, and find your strength in the Lord through the story of Deborah, a woman who trusted and obeyed.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

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Have you ever wanted something and been sure it was God’s plan for you to have it? While the Bible says, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7), it is not a guarantee.

God still requires patience from you. Sometimes the answer to your request comes after waiting and sometimes not at all.

The book of Numbers chapter 16 records a story about a man named Korah who served in the tabernacle. One day Korah went to Moses with a couple of hundred people and accused him of leading the Israelites through the desert however he saw fit. Korah accused Moses of promoting himself above all others and of hoarding all of God's holiness when all the people were holy. After seeing God work through Moses in the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, Korah still did not believe Moses was leading at God’s command.

Korah’s perspective was twisted and selfish. Korah and his gang had come against Moses and Aaron to overthrow them for what they viewed as an abuse of power. Moses countered their accusations saying, “Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has selected you out of the congregation of Israel to bring you near him to serve in the ministries of The Dwelling of God, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them? He has brought you and all your brother Levites into his inner circle, and now you’re grasping for the priesthood, too. It’s God you’ve ganged up against, not us” (Numbers 16:8-11 MSG).

Moses did not need to defend himself. He allowed the Lord to answer the accusations against him. With the whole community assembled,

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the Earth opened up and swallowed Korah and his family, servants, and possessions. Also, God's holy fire consumed every man that had joined Korah's rebellion.

These misguided men teach us a valuable lesson: do not think you can put God on your team; you can only join God’s team. They thought God had their back in the fight they picked but God does not fight from behind the front lines; He leads the charge and does the fighting, so His people do not have to fight.

As you go through life, continue to seek God’s will and ask to be used in any manner God desires. Whenever and however God does use you, be satisfied knowing God is pleased with your obedience.

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I have never received a speeding ticket over my entire driving career. This is something I pride myself on, much to the dismay of my wife. I will comfortably set the cruise control between 70-

72 mph and relax. It drives her crazy. I have however received two tickets for “rolling” through stop signs. The most recent one was last summer, and I decided to go to court to dispute the ticket. When I arrived at court, there were five people ahead of me in line, and I had to wait for what felt like hours. After I finally got in front of the judge, he dropped the points on my license, thanks to my sparkling driving record. I cannot help but think of that long wait to see the judge when I read Exodus 18.

Exodus 18:13-16 records, “The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?’ And Moses said to his father-in-law, ‘Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.’”

This sounds like a gigantic mess. We have all been stuck in a line that felt like it was going to take forever, but can you imagine being in line with all the people of Israel who had disputes? Moses would sit there morning to evening to hear everyone's disputes. Moses was doing his best to manage the people of Israel, but his plan

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needed some serious help. Luckily Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, was there to witness the whole thing, and God used him to speak wisdom into Moses' life.

Exodus 18:17-23 adds, “Moses' father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.’”

We essentially see Jethro come to the rescue with a much wiser plan on how to deal with disputes among the Israelites. He knew that Moses could not continue with his way of running things, he would have burned himself out in a matter of weeks. This way Moses would be able to focus on matters of greater importance. Jethro was a World Changer because he spoke wisdom into Moses' life that essentially saved Moses' life! Moses went on to do so many great things for God, and Jethro played a huge role in allowing that to happen.

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This passage on Jethro is such a great example to believers. We should all be asking God daily to give us wisdom, asking for the right words to say in any situation. We also need to be willing (brave enough) to give someone godly advice when we see a need. I want to highlight that Jethro was not going up to some random person and giving them his two cents. Jethro loved and cared for his son-in-law. While Moses was in Egypt, Jethro took care of his kids and wife for him. Jethro had invested into Moses' life, and that gave him the platform to give him advice. We need always to be the best family member and friend that we can be to glorify God. When we have invested in someone’s life, there will be times where we need to speak truth into their lives, and we need to do it boldly. Trust that the Lord will give you the words to say, and pray that they will be received with as much grace as Moses received Jethro’s words. God may just be using us to change someone’s life like Jethro changed Moses’.

There will also be times where we find ourselves in the place of Moses, receiving advice from someone else. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Many people have so much godly wisdom to share, and we often miss it. God does not always boom down from Heaven with a loud voice, very often He uses godly people who are invested in our lives to speak to us His wisdom. If we are too proud to hear it, we may be missing out on a life changing instruction from God.

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My grandsons are eleven and eight. They are typical little boys who love superheroes, villains, and fighting crime. They come to our house with their “guys” as they call

them. These range from superheroes to monster looking guys, transformers, and ninja turtles, and they fight for justice right there on the coffee table.

Anyone who says the Bible is boring just has not read enough of it. God often gives us exciting and surprising twists, turns, and gory details in the Scriptures.

The story of Jael is one of those surprising, I-did-not-see-that-coming, stories. She was a true superhero, or as we are calling them in this book, a World Changer! I love to surprise my grandsons with stories of battles and victory that they cannot believe are in the Bible. I yearn for them to know and understand that our Lord, the One True God is the Mightiest of them all. He can help us win the battle when we have Him on our side.

Jael's story is told in just a few verses in chapter four of the book of Judges. She was in her tent when the villain came to her. His name was Sisera; he was the General of the Canaan army. Jael was kind to him. She offered him milk to drink, gave him a blanket and a place to rest. However, when he was asleep, courageous and brave Jael drove a tent stake through his head. Yes, she nailed his head to the ground.

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“Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. ‘Come,’ she said, ‘I will show you the man you’re looking for.’ So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead. On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites.” Judges 4:22-23 NIV

Sisera the General was dead! Just as was foretold by the prophetess, Deborah, the victory of that battle would go to a woman. Jael helped change the world around her. God used her to help the Israelites bring peace to the land for the next 40 years.

“So may all your enemies perish, LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Judges 5:31 NIV

God's Word is full of exciting stories and ordinary people that were used in extraordinary ways. God wants to use you, too!

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P H I L I PDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

05

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Also known as: Philip the Evangelist (not Philip the brother of Herod or Philip the Deacon in Acts 6ff)

Meaning of his name: Lover of horses


The symbol associated with Philip are loaves of bread and a tall cross.

John MacArthur calls Philip “The Bean Counter.”

What are the strengths and weaknesses of being a ‘bean counter?’ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Occupation: unknown, but hopefully something with horses

The 12 disciples were often grouped off by four. Philip is the first one listed in the second grouping in all four accounts and is accepted as the leader of that group.

John 1:43-45 records Philip’s first interaction with Jesus, “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’”

Jesus ‘found’ Philip. What does this imply? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Philip ‘found’ Nathanael. What does this imply? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John 6:5-7“Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.’”

Why did Jesus ask Philip about buying bread? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does Jesus ‘test’ us today? How or why not? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All of the disciples were Jewish, but we do not know Philip’s Jewish name as Philip is a Greek name. In John 12:20-22, it is interesting to see who they approach when some Greeks want to see Jesus, “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.”

Philip related well to the Greeks. Who or what kind of people tend to connect well with you? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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John14:6-11“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.’”

Who did Jesus say He was (and still is)? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does this passage teach the deity of Jesus? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Philip was faithful in spreading the Gospel. Christianity writes, “Philip possibly had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation the proconsul had Philip arrested and cruelly put to death.” National Geographic adds, “Philip, the first of Jesus’ disciples, became a missionary in Asia. Eventually, he traveled to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis, where he was scourged, thrown into prison, and crucified in 54 AD.” John MacArthur’s research has him

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believing Philip was stoned to death. Whether he was crucified or stoned, we know he was cruelly put to death because he preached the Good News of Jesus Christ. All accounts agree that he spread the Gospel far and wide.

The Twelve Disciples describes Philip’s personality and character: Practical (John 6:7), helpful (John 12:20-21), and literal and confused (John 14:8).

What leadership skills do you see in Philip? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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“And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes.” Numbers 14:6

For obvious reasons (I was named after him), Joshua has always been one of my favorite Bible characters. His story starts with birth into slavery in Egypt and ends with a victorious “retirement” in the Promise Land. He was a son, national leader, Moses’ assistant and successor, and a spy.

From within the twelve families of Israel, a leader was chosen to go and spy out the Promised Land. After 40 days, those twelve men returned with stunning reports about the land and the natural wonders they found there. Ten of those men quickly told of giants, walls, and insurmountable obstacles that would keep the people of God from success. Two of those spies attempted to rise above the fear and anxiety that was quickly getting out of hand. Joshua and Caleb were those two spies. But the people refused to listen, and the judgment of God would soon fall upon them. Within this national moment of tragedy, a unique and powerful partnership was born. Over the next 50 plus years, Caleb and Joshua would be living reminders to the people of the horrors of Egypt, the glory of God at Mt. Sinai, and the reality of the Promised Land that was before them. Their partnership and faithfulness to the Lord would inspire the people of God to cross over the Jordan and into God's promise. Caleb, even as an old man, never seemed to lose his desire to fight for the Lord (Joshua 14:10-12), while Joshua, surely reminded of his time on the mountain near the glory of God (Exodus 24:13), kept

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drawing the people back to the Lord (Joshua 24:14-15). These two men were undoubtedly world changers, but the key is that they did not do it alone. A partnership is a key to changing the world.

In a book I read several years ago by Michael Eisner called “Working Together: Why Great Partnerships Succeed,” I began to realize what the Scripture was saying. While Eisner says, “Working together is much better than working alone…” the Scripture simply says, “Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Lone Rangers never change the world. A single individual may get the credit, but they never accomplished their goals alone (other than Christ on the cross).

I am extremely grateful for some amazing partnerships in my life, such as my wife, fellow staff and Pastors, and others. But this story in Numbers always brings me back to my brother Caleb. As teenage boys, we ran a lawn business together, and now years later we get the privilege of serving the Lord together. We do not always agree, but our partnership and friendship, ironically in the same way as our biblical namesakes, seeks to point folks to horrors of sin, the glory of God at Mt. Calvary, and the reality of the Promised Land that is before us.

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Today we look at the world changer, Caleb. I am honored to be named after such a great man. However, I can tell you it has not always been like that. People have always struggled

to pronounce my name. I can remember being introduced as a starter in high school basketball as “Kayleeb Combs,” and I always thought, “IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO PRONOUNCE!” Time and time again I would get called all the bizarre names and pronunciations, and I thought to myself, “Why can't I have a name that everyone would know?” I even had a man when I was younger tell me the definition for my name in Hebrew was “Dog.” Really? Dog. Well, that makes a struggling teenage boy feel great. Come on Mom and Dad, you named me dog! It was not until I was older and realized how special my namesake was. The name Caleb actually means “whole hearted” in Hebrew, and this definition could not be more perfect for the man Caleb in the Old Testament. Joshua 14:8 tells us that he wholly followed the Lord. Caleb was a dreamer and a fighter. In Numbers 13 he stood in front of the people and declared, “we can conquer the land God has promised us!” He did not know how to do anything half-hearted. There are several stories we could talk about Caleb being “whole hearted” from being in a spy ring to fighting many battles, but today we are going to look at one of his last whole hearted battles. The Israelites were promised the land of Canaan by God; the only problem was that there were inhabitants in that land. As a forty-year-old, Caleb was ready to fight for that land. However, due to the lack of faith by his peers and fellow Israelites he was not able to enter into the land until he was eighty years old. Though he experienced

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pain and hurt in the wilderness, he did not lose his “whole hearted” fire to follow God's plan in his life. When he was finally able to enter into the land at the age of eighty, he had one thing on his mind, conquer. He had declared to the people forty years earlier that they would conquer the land that God has promised, and now he was going to get that opportunity. Joshua 14:9-12 gives an account of a fired up Caleb.

“And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”

Caleb, now in his mid 80's was ready to take on an enemy that had pestered and killed Israelites for the last forty years because he knew one thing, he was a conqueror. Caleb lived a whole hearted life following God in faith knowing that he would conquer his obstacles through the power and promise of God. Romans 8:27 describes you as “more than a conqueror” and nothing can get between you and the plan of God. Are you following Jesus whole heartedly like Caleb? Caleb set a great example for us as followers of Christ that no matter the situation, and when circumstances do not seem to be fair, continue to run after the plan of God “whole heartedly.” I am thankful to have such a great namesake, and may people say of me, “He followed God whole heartedly!”

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Judges 16:1-31 tells us the account of Samson and Delilah. He is a judge in the Old Testament who got a little cocky, thought he could play with fire (in this instance a prostitute

named Delilah), and got burnt. Or one could say, Samson was a guy who lost all of his God given freaky strength, got his eyes gouged out, and was ultimately squashed by a building that he collapsed. It is not the way most people want to die. So what can we learn here? We have a guy who is God’s guy; Samson loves and serves Him. If Jesus is your Lord, you are in this category. If you are in this category, you can bet your buttons Satan is lurking around seeking to steal, kill, and destroy your life (1 Peter 5:7). Enter Delilah; Satan sends a wily temptress to trip up Samson.

Satan is going to send all kinds of temptation your way to trip you up. Everyone is tempted by different things. Some men are tempted by women. Some women are tempted by men. For some people, it is money, prestige, drunkenness, pride, envy, disordered priorities, sports, covetousness, or hunting. The list could go on forever. Do you recognize what tempts you? What is Satan trying to use to wreck you? If you think you can play around or dabble with temptation, think you are big enough to handle it, let me lovingly tell you that you are wrong.

Proverbs 6:27-28 says, “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?” Satan used Delilah to scorch and burn Samson to the ground.

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Jen Combs | Wife of Lead Pastor Joshua Combs

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What or who is the Delilah in your life? Ephesians 6:16 says, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” Satan is lobbing attacks at you all day every day. Judges 16:16 adds, “And when she (Delilah) pressed him (Samson) hard with her words day after day and urged him, his soul was vexed to death.” Then he shared with her what could take his strength.

James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Samson did not resist Delilah and submit himself to God. She kept lobbing fiery darts on Samson until his soul was vexed to death. She wore him down; he could not take it anymore and crumbled. You do not want to end up like Samson; Delilah changed his world for the worst. What is your defense against Satan? Are you proactive in keeping the Delilah’s out of your life? Or do you play with fire until you get burnt?

Furthermore, may I be so bold as to ask, “Are you a Delilah?” Are you tearing others down? Are you undermining the work of God?

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Sin, it affects more than just you!

After reading that, you might be prone to skip this read. Please do not, the story of Achan is one to hear and to heed because it is one that brings many warnings. It is a story of what not to do! The story of Achan is found in the book of Joshua chapter 7. To give the context, Joshua has to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land, and they face a mighty city, the city of Jericho. This is the first enemy they face in the land of Canaan. In Joshua 6:17-18, God gives a command that everything in Jericho is devoted to the Lord for destruction.

“And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction… But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.”

Achan heard these words; there is no doubt that the instructions given to the people would have been very clear. As the story unfolds, we see that Achan did not heed the instruction of God. He took a coat, some silver, and gold, and put it under his tent. The next battle the Israelites fight is a small city named Ai, but unfortunately, they were not victorious as this plays out in Joshua chapter 7.

“But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And

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the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel… the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.”

The decision to take what belonged to God caused the death of 36 men, and it destroyed the morale of a nation that was moving forward to a long-awaited promise. Can you imagine being the guy that caused the death of 36 other men because you were covetous? As you read through the chapter, Achan is soon discovered, and his sin is made known to the nation. In verses 24-26, Achan receives the punishment for disobedience to God. “And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, ‘Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.’ And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.”

Wow, sin has a heavy consequence to bear. It hardly ever just affects one person. In this case, there were 36 innocent men who died because of the sin of Achan. Not only did Achan’s decision bring harm to the nation of Israel, but it also brought serious consequences to his family. They suffered greatly for his actions. Personally, I find it easy to deflect at this point. I might find myself thinking, “Well that stinks for his family,” or “I sure am glad I did not live in those times.”

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The cold hard truth is the application of this story holds true to me and our current era.

This is not a fun story to read, nor is it fun to apply to our own lives. I believe this story is recorded in the Bible so we can learn from one man's mistakes, and hopefully, we will not repeat them. Sin has a wide reaching consequence, and it can destroy our family if we do not pay attention to the instruction of God.

“And if you too rebel against the LORD today then tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. But now, if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over into the LORD’s land where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against the LORD or make us as rebels by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God. Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity.”

The passage recorded in Joshua chapter 22 is a serious reminder that we need to check our heart for rebellion against God, we need to make sure we are not making other things in our life priority over God. Take some time today and examine your life and heart, humble yourself to an almighty God. Make it right by crying out to Jesus and recognize that it is His act on the cross that allows us to be cleansed of our sins. If you think it will only hurt you, let this story be a helpful reminder that sin hurts others, most of the time the people you care about the most. I am sure if Achan would have realized that his sin would cause the death of his whole family he would have thought twice about it.

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Everything could have been different for Balaam. He is regarded as one of the six Gentile (non-Israelite) “prophets” in the Old Testament scriptures. He is regarded as such

because he speaks to God, God speaks to him, and he tells others what God said. This is the ministry of a prophet. However, while many regard him as a prophet, God never does. That is right; God never refers to Balaam as a prophet. Instead, Balaam is called a magician, a soothsayer, and a diviner. God says all of these are an abomination to Him.

What we need to learn in the story of Balaam is simple. Ready? He could have been a prophet of God. He could have. He was gifted and probably called by God for His purposes. God's summary of him is that he is nothing more than a “soothsayer,” not a “prophet of the Most High God.” Balaam’s story is one of tragic waste. Without question, Balaam, like Samson, wasted what God gave to him.

In truth, he traded it. Like so many in our world today (especially in the area of entertainment), Balaam used his gifting for himself and traded everything for wealth. The Bible says that he “loved” money. Money is what drove him. Money is why he did what he did. The New Testament warns us of the danger of loving money. 1 Tim 6:10 (NKJV) says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” He is the proverbial example of someone trying to “gain the whole world while losing his soul.”

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What is incredible to me about Balaam’s story is that the Lord still uses him. Though he is a disaster spiritually, called a soothsayer, a diviner and even called a “madman” (2 Peter 2:15-16), incredibly God still uses him to bless the people He loves! But hear this, God uses him in spite of him. What do I mean? God used Balaam’s gifting and calling to bless the people of Israel, even though God was not happy with Balaam. God says that Balaam’s “way is perverse before Me” (Numbers 22:32 NKJV).

There is an important lesson here. God using a person does not mean that God automatically approves of everything going on in their lives. I have seen many gifted and called people, who are wrapped up in sin in their own lives, make the mistake of thinking that because God used them to reach someone or help someone that He is approving of or ignoring the sin in their own lives. This is not the truth! If this describes you, let Balaam’s story set you straight!

Though God used Balaam to bless the people of Israel, Balaam’s life comes to a horrific end. Joshua 13:22 (NKJV) says, “The children of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, among those who were killed by them.” He was put to death, but not before his sinfulness could infect others. You see, the book of Revelation tells us that Balaam figured out a way to make his money. He taught the wicked king, Balak, how to defeat the Hebrew people. He showed that king how to entice the Hebrew people into idol worship and sexual immorality, which led to the judgment of God against them.

Balaam now lives in infamy within the scriptures, as an abominable diviner, who, for money, used what he had been given to stumble others. His example is a warning to us, to never assume that God’s blessing is God’s approval. May we with David say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And

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see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV).

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I would like to introduce Ruth to you. Ruth is a true “World Changer” and an incredible “Proverbs 31 Woman.” Gasp! What? How can Ruth be a “Proverbs 31 Woman?” She did not spend

all day making linens and clothing for her husband and home. She was widowed and homeless. Ruth did not go and purchase a field; she was a foreigner who worked and toiled in other people's fields all day snatching up the leftovers. She did not even have any kids standing up and praising her, for she had no kids. This is Ruth, hopeless Ruth, the cursed Moabite woman. “No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever.” Deuteronomy 23:3

Here we see that if you were a Moabite that you could not enter into the congregation of God. Sounds pretty hopeless. On top of that, Ruth lost her father-in-law, her brother-in-law, and her husband. Now what? Her mother-in-law, Naomi who is deeply bitter and saddened, encourages Ruth to return to her own family and her gods, but Ruth chooses to go with her mother-in-law Naomi.

“But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.’” Ruth 1:16,17

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Chris Cain

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This would have been a pretty big deal in that culture for Ruth to follow Naomi. That is some serious commitment to her mother-in-law. But also, Ruth desired to follow after Naomi's God, the God of Israel. The story continues, and this is the part for which you have probably been waiting. It is a love story, the beautiful romance! Ruth meets a wealthy landowner named Boaz who has allowed her to glean the leftover grain from his fields. She found favor in the eyes of Boaz because of what he had heard of her actions and character.

“And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.” Ruth 3:11 NIV

She is a woman of noble character. She is a ‘Proverbs 31 Woman.’ She earned that title even though she was childless, homeless, and husbandless. No matter what our storms and circumstances are, we can choose to demonstrate noble character. As we read on, Boaz and Ruth do marry, which means that Naomi gains a son. Boaz and Ruth go on to have a son. This son is in the direct lineage of Jesus.

There is hope! And oh, by the way, if you are wondering about that curse, Isaiah 56:6-7 says, “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

We see that Ruth chose to join herself to the God of Israel. There was a turning to God. If you have had some troubles in this life, if you have lost a loved one, or have been living your life in such a

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manner that you feel there is no hope, you need to know this truth. There is hope, hope for all. Hope is the great world changer!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13.

BARTHOLOMEWDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

06

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LESSON 6 BARTHOLOMEW

Also known as: Nathanael

Meaning of his name: Bartholomew (Greek name) means “son of Tolmai.” Nathanael (Hebrew name) means “God has given.”


The symbol associated with Bartholomew is a blade

John MacArthur calls Bartholomew “The Guileless One.” Guile is the idea of one being deceptive. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from every form of evil.” Some translations even tell us to avoid the ‘appearance’ of evil. Psalm 32:2 (KJV) adds, “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

What are some examples of avoiding the appearance of evil?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Occupation: unknown

John 1:43-51 contains Nathanael’s (Bartholomew) first interaction with Jesus, “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael said

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to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael answered him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered him, ‘Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.’’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’”

Who found Nathanael? Why? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does Philip and Nathanael’s conversation tell you about their friendship? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nazareth is not recorded anywhere in the Old Testament. It is believed that it was either known for being wicked or was so small it seemed insignificant. Was Nathanael’s response appropriate?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did Jesus describe Nathanael? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What attributes or characteristics of God are displayed in this passage concerning Jesus? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John 21:1-3 describes what the disciples did soon after the resurrection, “After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”

Why did the disciples go fishing? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How could their fishing be both a good thing and the wrong thing to do? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John 21:4-8“Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon

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Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.”

What stands out to you in this passage? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nathanael appears to have been a behind the scenes guy. What would have been his reaction that morning? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 1:12-14 occurs after the crucifixion and resurrection, but right before the ascension. It says, “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

Who all is present? Are any of the attendees a cultural surprise?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What were they doing? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bartholomew may have been quiet in the Bible stories, but his voice is heard in history. National Geographic records, Bartholomew “supposedly preached in several countries, including India, where he translated the Gospel of Matthew for believers. In one account, ‘impatient idolaters’ beat Bartholomew and then crucified him, while in another, he was skinned alive and then beheaded.” This world changer helped take the Gospel to India, Armenia, and Ethiopia. The symbol associated with Bartholomew is a blade. I guess it is because he was skinned alive. He was skinned alive and never recanted his faith.

The Twelve Disciples describes Bartholomew’s personality and character: Skeptical (John 1:46), honest (John 1:47), and faithful (John 1:49).

What leadership skills do you see in Bartholomew? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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The story of Gideon and his 300 chosen men is incredible. God chose Gideon to lead the men of Israel against the Midianites, and God promised Gideon that they would be

victorious. Gideon and his army started at 32,000 men, but God told Gideon that there were too many men, because when they defeated the Midianites, they would become boastful. So, God had Gideon let all who were afraid of battle leave, this brought the army down to 10,000. God told Gideon that this was still too many men, He wanted them to know without a doubt that their victory was fully because of the Lord. God tells Gideon to have the army go to the river to drink and to send home whoever laps the water from the river to drink in the same way a dog would drink. This brings the number of men to 300, and it is this group that defeats the Midianites. This is obviously a condensed version. I would encourage you to go ahead and read the entire story in Judges chapter 7. The thing is, this incredible event almost never took place due to Gideon’s lack of faith. Look at what happens first in Judges chapter 6.

Judges 6:36-40 says, “Then Gideon said to God, ‘If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.’ And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, ‘Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on

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all the ground let there be dew.’ And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.”

God had told Gideon that by his hand He was going to save Israel, and Gideon doubted. Even though the Lord verbally spoke to him, he still requested another sign from God. Then after Gideon gets confirmation on the first fleece, he decides to test God one more time and ask for another sign. God yet again answers Gideon's request and confirms what He has already told him. When I was reading this story, my first thought was, “Gideon! You are an idiot! God already spoke to you and told you these things, why would you need two more signs?” Then the Holy Spirit shined a light on my life and convicted me. I am guilty of doing the same thing. God has given us His Word. The Bible is the living breathing Word of God, and yet we so often look for confirmation from God in other areas. There have been so many times in my life when I know what Scripture says, yet I still ask God to give me some other confirmation before acting. Luckily for Gideon, despite his indecision, he did not miss out on the incredible plan God had for him. Imagine if his lack of faith and indecision had caused God just to move on and choose someone else? Gideon would have missed out on an opportunity to be used by God incredibly. When we know God is calling us to do something, we need to hear His voice and act. We hear God by spending time in prayer with Him and spending time reading His Word. If the Scriptures tell us to do something, we can know without a doubt we are supposed to do it. We do not need to wait around for a booming voice from Heaven; we can act in biblical faith that we are doing the right thing. I cannot help but think that believers constantly miss out on God using them for His Kingdom because they lack faith and do not trust God’s Word. God wants to use us to change the world just like He used Gideon. We need to be ready and willing to trust Him and to act upon it.

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When I was in college, I took a class on narrative preaching. My professor, Dr. Koessler, divided all of the judges in the Old Testament amongst us for sermons we would

preach at the end of the semester. As he began to assign the judges, I was given a judge by the name of Ehud. Who in the world names their son Ehud? If you are reading this and your child’s name is Ehud, I apologize, but this was honestly the first thought that crossed my mind when I was assigned this judge! However, as I began to dive into this action-packed story, I was quickly amazed how he was a man who truly lived up to his name. In Judges 3:12-30, the story unfolds as the people of Israel have again strayed away from God and come under the oppression of Eglon, the king of Moab. For 18 years, the people served Eglon. As always, the people cried out to God asking for deliverance. It is at this point which we are introduced to Ehud. A Benjaminite by birth, the smallest of the 12 tribes of Israel, and he was a lefty! It was demanded of Eglon that a tribute be brought to him once a year by a representative of the people; the representative chosen was Ehud. When he was chosen, it was not a glamorous duty to be given, but a demeaning one. However, Ehud devised a plan to end his people's oppression and assassinate the king. As his plan came to fruition, Ehud proclaims in Judges 3:28, “Follow after me, for the LORD has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” It is with this triumphant cry that the people of Israel regained their freedom and killed over 10,000 Moabites.

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Noble Baird | Community Center Director

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For 18 years, the Israelites lived as servants to an evil king. They decided that they could live life on their own and forgot the true King. However, God provided them a redeemer who saved and united the people back to Himself. Ehud means “united.” It was from this man, from the smallest of the tribes, which God used to unite His people and bring them back to Him. As you continue this week, do not forget the importance of unity. Not only is it important for us as believers to be united together, but as followers of Christ, we must always remain united with Him. For without Christ, there is no unity in our lives.

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When my son was younger, I spent the majority of my days going to therapy appointments with him: physical, occupational, and speech therapy. It was the same

routine day after day. Every week I would check him in at the front desk and then go back to the “observation room,” a tiny little room where I could watch while they worked with my son. When his session was over, I would exit the room into a hallway and go pick him up. I had very little conversation with anyone and a lot of quiet time in that tiny little room while I waited. One day as I was making my way down the hallway, one of the therapists stopped me and asked if she could talk with me. This was someone who had not worked with my son, so I was curious what she wanted to say. As I listened, she began sharing the difficult things that she and her family were experiencing. She ended the conversation by asking if I would pray for them and said, “I knew you were a person of faith and that I could count on you.” I have never forgotten that moment when I realized how my life and my walk, even during a trying time, could be an example to others.

In the book of Ruth, we read the story of Naomi, a woman who experienced tragedy and loss and were in the midst of her grief and hardship, she finds that her daughter-in-law, Ruth, is drawn to her. It is that part of Naomi's character that stands out to me. Naomi, whose name meant “pleasant or sweet,” had traveled to Moab from Bethlehem with her husband and two sons to escape the famine. While in Moab, Naomi's husband died, her sons married Moabite women, and they later died leaving the three women to survive as widows. Naomi chose to return to Judah, blessed her daughters,

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Katrina Young | Nursery & Pre-K Director

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and entreated them to return to their own families. However, Ruth declared her commitment to Naomi:

Ruth 1:16 says, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Ruth obviously cared very deeply for Naomi, and her loyalty was such that she gave up her pagan god to follow Naomi’s God. Despite Ruth’s status as a non-Israelite woman, it was through her faithfulness to Naomi and God that she remarried and gave birth to a son, thus giving Naomi a grandson and ultimately a child was born into the lineage of Jesus Christ. God worked through her life to change many and Ruth is a perfect example that God desires those from all backgrounds to follow Him. God proves He can work in our lives in incredible ways to reach the lost when our lives are yielded to Him.

We never know what influence our words and actions might have on the lives of others. When we experience heartache and pain, our response to our circumstances is an example to others of what it looks like to be a Christian. It is Christianity in its purest form. To this day, I have no idea why the woman approached me or what it was that she observed in my actions or words that led her to me. That encounter made me aware that even in my most routine of days, I can be a light to others who might be taking notice of my walk.

Lord, my hope is that others see You through my actions in every situation and want more of You. There is nothing I desire more than to have someone say “I want your God to be my God,” or “your Jesus to be my Jesus.”

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My great-grandmother lived in a double wide mobile home at the edge of a mobile home park in southern California just a few miles from where I was born and raised. She

loved Jesus. She loved my sister and me and she wanted us to love Jesus. We loved to spend the night at her house because there were always donuts and she would read us stories from the Bible. I can still see my sister and I sitting on the floor at her feet as she opened the large print KJV Bible and began to read. We would each choose a story for her to read. Mine was always the story of Samson.

I loved that Samson was strong. I was mesmerized as she read aloud the incredible things that Samson did. He tore a lion in half with his bare hands! He killed a thousand enemies with the jaw bone of a donkey. He picked up the massive gates of a city and carried them in each arm nearly 20 miles! Even at the end of his story, he pushed the pillars of a building apart and brought the entire thing down killing all the leaders of the Philistines. In my six-year-old mind, he was the biblical version of the Incredible Hulk!

As an adult, however, I am less impressed with Samson. I pity him. As a pastor, I have met many people like him. For Samson is an example of someone whose gifting took him further than his character could sustain. His incredible gifting gave him incredible opportunity, but his lack of godly character caused him to squander all that God gave him. He lived a thoroughly sinful and selfish life. He was gifted, but he was no great man.

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His story reads like some best-selling novel. Samson was dedicated to the Lord by his parents at his birth. He was called by God to be a judge in Israel. However, trouble soon arises. From marrying the Philistine (an enemy of Israel) woman, to the touching of dead things (and thus ceremonially defiling himself and his parents), to the blatant disregard of the laws of God to which he was supposed to be calling the people of God, he was a mess! On one such occasion after losing a bet, he killed 30 men to pay his debt! Then, in anger and retaliation, we see him burning down the wheat fields (food source) of the Philistines, who then come after him and in turn, he kills a thousand of them with the jawbone of a donkey! We see him sleep with a prostitute and then eventually “shack up” with the infamous Delilah. This woman would eventually be his demise. Oh, and as a side note, he is beyond arrogant, he does not talk to God, and he does not appear to have any actual relationship with God at all.

The end of Samson’s story begins in Judges chapter 16 where we read of Delilah “pestering and nagging” Samson relentlessly. She is using her beauty to try to trick him into revealing the “source” of his strength. This was a secret he had kept from everyone. Make no mistake; this is not a love story. It is a lust story. She uses Samson’s desire to please himself as the way to eventually ruin him. As you read it, you might think that Samson was just too stupid to realize what is going on, but I doubt that is the case. He is stupid, but not because he did not understand what was happening. He knew what she was doing. He just did not think he was ever in any danger at all. He thought he could handle whatever came his way! He believed he was strong! Each time he answered her, his answer got a little closer to the truth. Until finally, when he could not endure her nagging any longer, Samson gave in and told her that the source of his great strength was his long hair, a symbol of his being dedicated to God.

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What happens next is perhaps the saddest verse found in the Scriptures. Judges 16:20 says, “So he awoke from his sleep, and said, ‘I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!’ But he did not know the Lord had left him.” There it is. God left him, and he did not even know it! It is sad. Samson’s great mistake was that he thought his gifting was his. He thought that it belonged to him and that he could use it how he wanted. But it was given to him for the glory of God. The same thing is true of you and I. We have each been gifted and called by God. Those gifts have been given to us to bring God glory and to accomplish God’s purposes.

Samson’s story is tragically sad. It is the story of someone who is incredibly gifted, who is even called, but who throws it all away to please himself. May it never be true of us.

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The book of Ruth tells the story of when there was a famine in Judah. A man takes his wife and two sons and moves to Moab. Both of the sons married Moabite women. Soon

afterward the father and two sons died, leaving the wife and her two daughters-in-law to fend for themselves, which in that day and age might as well have been a death sentence. The lady, Naomi, encourages both of the girls to return to their homes and remarry in order to survive. Ruth, unlike her sister-in-law, stays with Naomi and returns to the land of Judah. In that time widows could follow behind the men working in the fields for harvest and collect the scraps of wheat left behind. This was customarily allowed by the land owners and was even written in their laws. Ruth was out collecting scraps and found favor in the eyes of Naomi’s relative named Boaz. Boaz allowed her to follow his workers and even instructed some of them to leave extra wheat behind for her, enough for Naomi as well.

In those days if a woman were widowed, a relative of her late husband would marry her. Boaz knew it would be righteous to redeem her, but he also knew that there was another relative that was ahead of him in line to do so. He very well could have helped her without asking the other relative, but he chose to do the right thing. He wanted to make sure Ruth’s needs would be met. Boaz knew that he needed to let this other man have his opportunity to care for Ruth. Ruth chapter 3, verse 13 says, “Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

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John Hubbard | Worship Leader

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Boaz had several opportunities to be Ruth's redeemer right away. But he also knew that someone else was more responsible first. Boaz saw the situation and realized that in order to help Ruth the right way, he needed to let someone else have a chance to be the redeemer in her life. We might think of Boaz as trying to pass off Ruth's problems onto someone else; I would argue that he did the opposite. He got the right people to recognize the problem and then assured her that he would do what another would not in order to take care of her. Sometimes rather than pull someone out of their mess, you have to get down in it with them and find the way out right alongside them. World Changers are not necessarily the people walking in front of us. Often, they are walking alongside us.

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“She continued praying before the Lord…” (1 Samuel 1:12)

I love that the Bible is written about people like you and me who are facing all sorts of life challenges and circumstances. Within the pages of Scripture, we can identify with many who are working out their faith with fear and trembling (or sometimes we see a lack of it). We learn about those who have failed through sin, we identify our sin, and we learn how we can receive the forgiveness and redemption offered through Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17; Romans 3:10, 23; 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1). We are encouraged to press on to a higher calling and to lay aside any sin that ensnares us so that we may run our race with endurance as we look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Philippians 2:12; 3:14; Hebrews 12:1-2). Throughout the pages of the Bible, we read of endless accounts proving, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV). The bottom line is the Bible is as relevant and relatable today as it was during the dates of its writing. How awesome is God to give us such a timeless gift?

As I dug into the story of Hannah which is found in 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2, many parallels from this Old Testament story are very evident to present day. Although Hannah did not belong to the genealogical line of Jesus, her prayer to dedicate her son, Samuel, to the Lord was a prophetic song to the Messiah. She lived during

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a time of great spiritual darkness, yet she stood out as a ray of light through her faith and perseverance as she cherished the messianic hope and held the great expectation of His promise to come. Today, we live in a time that is spiritually cold and where society pushes compromise and tolerance of all things, but true followers of Jesus Christ will hold to biblical truths and principles with great anticipation for His promise to return (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Jesus Christ has always been the One to offer life-saving faith whether during the days of the Old Testament all the way through the present day, and for Hannah she sought Him with an unwavering faith-filled heart.

Hannah’s life demonstrates a deep faith for her coming Savior but also great spiritual commitment, prayerfulness, patience, submission, and motherly love. Through her prayer life, we see her passion and fervency for heavenly things, not earthly things. Her desire to have a son was not for the purpose of self-gratification but rather to give her life to him so that she may give him back to the Lord. Therefore, it was to the Lord that she pleaded. Even through her disappointment and heartache, she remained faithful to Him. In fact, through her frustrations Hannah drew closer to Lord, persisting in prayer, rather than turning away from Him. Hannah had a steadfast faith; she stayed with Him through a broken heart and tear-filled prayers. She allowed her trials to make her a woman of prayer and exemplified what it meant to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Finally, as Hannah brought her petition for a son to the Lord, she was content to leave it with Him. Hannah trusted God to sustain her; she laid her troubles before the Lord with full confidence and assurance He would answer her according to what was best for her.

As we look at the life of Hannah and the virtues she modeled – her fervent faith, her persistent prayer, her unwavering trust, and the cherished hope of her coming Savior – we can be exhorted and

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encouraged by her example as a Christ follower despite conditions, life, or the world around us may bring. Each of us will experience desires that may not be fulfilled and circumstances that will cause pain. However, the life of Hannah is a true testament that God knows our story from beginning to end, He has a purpose through it all, and trust in the Lord will never be misplaced.

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Also known as: Levi, Levi, the son of Alphaeus

Meaning of his name: Both names are Hebrew names. Matthew means ‘the gift of the Lord’ while Levi means ‘to take.’ Ironic that one means to give while the other to take. The tax collector (taker) Levi became Matthew the Apostle.

Who else in Scripture had a name change? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Books of the Bible written by him: The Gospel of Matthew

The symbol associated with Matthew is a bag of coins.

Why would this be his symbol? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who else do you know had to keep (or overcome) a poor reputation or memory? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John MacArthur calls Matthew “The Tax Collector.”

Occupation: Tax collector

Matthew records his conversion in Matthew 9:9, “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.”

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Why is it surprising that Jesus called Matthew? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Matthew had intelligence, power, and money. What could Jesus offer him? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Matthew quotes several Old Testament passages as he writes to the Jews. Why were they his specific audience? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Luke 5:29-32 records how Matthew immediately threw a party, “And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’”

Who should have Matthew invited? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What kind of people should be at the ‘perfect’ gathering? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Matthew 10:5-15“These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.’”

What were they to preach? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What instructions did Jesus give? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If people rejected the message, were they to take it personally?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Tradition records that Matthew ministered to Persia, Macedonia, Syria, Parthia, Media, and Ethiopia. According to The Twelve Disciples, he was known for taking the Gospel to kings. It is believed he was extremely educated including speaking at least five languages. He would not be awed or intimidated by those who were wealthy. National Geographic adds, “According to legend, the former tax collector turned missionary was martyred in Ethiopia, where he was supposedly stabbed in the back by a swordsman sent by King Hertacus, after he criticized the king’s morals.” John MacArthur’s research has Matthew dying as a martyr as he was burned at the stake.

The Twelve Disciples describes Matthew’s personality and character: Penitent (Matthew 9:9; 10:2) and hospitable (Matthew 9:10).

What leadership skills do you see in Matthew? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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“The cobbler's children have no shoes.”

I had heard that phrase before and had a vague idea as to its meaning. It is the same sentiment behind why the plumber’s house has water leaks or the auto mechanics personal cars are held together with Duct Tape and chicken wire. Business strategist Nicholas de Wolff captures it this way, “It has been my experience that the statement refers to the tendency to excel at providing services to the “outside world,” while neglecting to observe that their immediate intimate ecosystem (family, self, home, friends…etc.) is in need of said services.”

As we continue with the world changers, we read of a man that portrayed just that. Eli was privileged to be both the high priest of Shiloh and the second to last Israelite judge. He was a good man tasked with the responsibility as the supreme religious leader. The high priest had to be bold and unafraid to rebuke and hold the people accountable to the standards God set forth. He exercised proper authority over the people, yet sadly failed to exercise the authority needed to reign in his children. He provided his service to the “outside world” as Wolff stated but neglected to provide the same authority to his “immediate intimate ecosystem.”

Eli’s sons were not good boys. The Bible even goes so far as to call them worthless (probably not something you would want to be written about your kids for the rest of history). Eli delighted in the Lord’s service but lacked parental authority. In 1 Samuel 2:22-25 we have this account, “Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing

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all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, ‘Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?’ But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.” It seems that Eli only reasoned with his sons rather than rebuking them as he should have. He was faulty for honoring his children above the Lord. Like many of us, maybe he was more interested in maintaining a relationship with his family rather than honoring the Lord with his calling.

How many of us are going to be as guilty as Eli? How many of us will lack the righteous indignation to call out sin and rebuke it with the fervency it needs? My prayer is that whether we are dealing with our biological families or the family of God, we would be willing to, with the love of Christ, deal appropriately with it and them.

And remember, always be sure your children have shoes.

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Samuel was a man born to Hannah, a woman unable to conceive a child as 1 Samuel 1:5 says, “The LORD had closed her womb.” Hannah petitioned to the Lord for a

child who she would then give to the Lord all the days of his life.

As she promised her husband Elkanah, after Samuel was weaned, she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh, gave her sacrifice to the Lord, brought her son to the chief priest Eli, and lent him to the Lord for as long as he would live.

1 Samuel 2:26 says, “Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.” In 1 Samuel chapter 3, the Lord calls Samuel. The word of the Lord was rare in those days and the three times when the Lord called him, he went to Eli as he thought it was him who was speaking. Eli told him that he did not call him and perceived that it was the Lord calling him. The fourth time Samuel said to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant hears.” The Lord told Samuel what He was going to do to Israel and punish the house of Eli forever because his sons were blaspheming the Lord and Eli did not restrain them. In the morning Eli asked Samuel what the Lord had said, and even though he was afraid to tell Eli, he hid nothing.

1 Samuel 3:19-20 adds, “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD.”

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Samuel showed his strong character and faith in the Lord by listening and then obeying what he was told. He told Israel (1 Samuel chapter 7) that if they would return to the Lord with all their hearts and get rid of the idols, the Lord would deliver them from the Philistines. They listened and obeyed, and the Lord's hand was against the Philistines for all the days of Samuel.

Again, in 1 Samuel chapter 8, Samuel listened to the Lord when Israel wanted a king to rule over them, even though this request displeased him. He told Israel of all the things that would happen to them if they had a king. Israel refused to listen to what Samuel told them so when he told the Lord what Israel wanted; the Lord said to give them what they wanted.

Strong character is shown by listening and obeying what God says even when it is uncomfortable or goes against the majority. Samuel was true to the Lord and is a great example for us. After all, we are all His!

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Jezebel: It is more than just a name; it is an adjective that has influenced our society for decades. Though, my daughter was quick to inform me that the term is not used anymore. When

you ask people what the term Jezebel means, you get responses like hooker, tramp, evil, and murderer. With such a vile description, it is easy to dismiss her and her sin because we would never do such things and those words would never describe us. But those are the overt, radical traits of Jezebel. What if you took a second glance? Are you sure you have nothing in common with her? Caution: gentlemen, if you are tempted to skip this devotion because it is for women, read on and then spend some time reading about her counterpart: Absolom. As you read Jezebel’s story in 1 Kings 16 - 2 Kings 9, you learn that she was the daughter of Ethbaal, King of Sidon and married to Ahab, King of Israel. Her mission in life was to remove Jehovah God from all of Israel and force them to worship Baal and other pagan gods (1 Kings 18:4). She lived in open rebellion to God (Exodus 20:3). Are you living in open rebellion? Any time we make something or someone more important to us than God, we are worshipping other gods and living rebellious lives. Our gods just seem to be socially acceptable: power (we call it influence), position, wealth, and relationships. In God's sight, we are no less rebellious. Jezebel's primary god was self. She was willing to do anything to get what she wanted. In 1 Kings 21, we see Jezebel manipulate people and circumstances to get the king a vineyard he wanted, and she believed he deserved. Side note: we refer to this as an entitlement. After all, the king and queen should have anything they want, even if it took murder to get

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it. My husband and I occasionally disagree. Can you relate? After making a ‘joint’ decision, I started to notice Greg would ask me the same question for the next several days: “Are you sure you do not want to…?” - his way. Finally, I would say: “Do you think that if you keep asking me, I will change my mind?” I was shocked that he would resort to such manipulation. Then I heard a still, small voice say: “Why do you have to have everything your way?” Ouch! Those 2 x 4’s are painful. It took his “manipulation” to expose my god: self, having it my way. Who or what do you serve? Warning: if you have control issues or struggle with being content, you are likely serving self. It is helpful to take a third glance at Jezebel. Everyone is created by God, even Jezebel. Say what you want about Queen Jezebel, she had incredible leadership skills. She was a woman of tremendous influence, determination, and commitment. Liz Curtis Higgins cites one of Jezebel’s biggest accomplishments as having “filled her palace and surrounding worship centers with 450 priests and 400 priestesses of her foreign gods.” Jezebel was a heavy hitter. The problem is she was playing for the wrong team. What gifts has God given you? For whose team are you playing? I think it is safe to say there is a little bit of Jezebel in all of us. As spouses, parents, employers, employees, and sisters or brothers in Christ, we all have a sphere of influence. Not one of us is insignificant. Every day we have two decisions to make: who will we serve and will we use our gifts for good or for evil (1 Peter 4:11). Personally, I am going to pray for the strength and determination to build His Kingdom, not my own (1 Corinthians 14:12).

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If you have ever set a New Year’s resolution or goal to read through the entire Bible in one year, you remember getting to 1 Chronicles. It has just about everyone’s genealogy. The word ‘son’ is used

391 times in the book. It is understood that this gives Scripture credibility as the history is recorded in great detail. However, right in the middle of this seating chart for a family reunion, there appears to be a side-note.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 says, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!’ And God granted what he asked.” There are three items that jump out in this passage. First, Jabez brought a lot of pain for his mother in birth. He was blamed for labor pain all his life. Our first child had a massive head, and she had to be delivered via C-section. To this day she still has a larger than normal head, and it reminds me of the stress of her trying to be born.

Second, he prays that God would enlarge his border. The word “influence” is only used three times in the Bible and all three are in 2 Corinthians 10 where Paul talks about the “area of influence” God has given them and how they pray it will be enlarged.

Third, God granted his request. God wants to use us. After my first year in college for music, I transferred to computer science because

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I did not think I would ever get a job in music. Two weeks into classes, I realized I needed to drop out and follow what God would have for me to do. I transferred to a Christian college in Lansing and studied Bible, theology, and music. I am not someone who likes change. It was a crazy leap of faith for me to make a move. Five years later, He brought me to this ministry.

Do we pray that God will use us in a great way or do we just hope that something big happens? I know personally, it can be easy to be content with how your life is. It is easy to think I will probably never do anything that will change the entire world. Jabez does not just ask for more land; he asks that God's hand would be with him. Jabez does not accomplish it all on his own; He asked God to be with him. It is not for personal glory. It is for His glory.

Where is your area of influence?

Are you an influencer for the Lord?

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The story of King Saul is deeply tragic. Saul was a man called out by God to be the first king of Israel, and over time, Saul became more concerned with the people of Israel than he

was with the God of Israel. As Saul began to focus his God given influence on the happiness of people instead of the will of God, things began to crumble quickly.Saul makes several decisions that prove his fear of man to be more prevalent than his fear of God. An obvious example of this is Saul refusing to fight Goliath, but allowing a child to fight instead. Although David was obviously full of the faith needed to slay Goliath, I often feel that the ultimate responsibility to be God’s warrior rested with Saul.

Over time, Saul's heart becomes hardened, and then, in 1 Samuel chapter 15, we see that Saul has exhausted the grace allotted to him as king. Saul disobeyed God by keeping the plunder of wars for himself instead of destroying it all as God commanded. Samuel, God’s prophet, approaches Saul on this issue and we see their final conversation before Saul’s death.

1 Samuel 15:24-26 says, “Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.’ And Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.’”

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This passage records a terrible realization and consequence. Saul realizes and admits that he feared people more than he feared God. That is a scary and truly sad feeling. The thoughts and opinions of God were out weighed by the demands of the people. The consequence of Saul's actions is being rejected by the Lord. Saul made many mistakes in life to which most of us will never relate. However, I think Saul’s life serves as a warning to all of us. God gifts and places each of us for a specific purpose. After salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit and in turn, spiritual gifting. How easy it has become for us to take our gifting for granted and use it selfishly. How easy is it to stop pursuing the growth of our gifts and allow them to become stagnant and stale?

We must look at Saul’s life with understanding that God desires for us to use the influence and gifts we are given to work for His purpose. If we are unwilling to obey the will of God, we must not be surprised when our gifts and influence are taken away.

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Have you ever had someone hurt you? Did they hurt you so bad you never wanted to see them again or hear their voice? We all have been hurt to a certain degree. Josh and I joke

about it; he says that I live by “The Feud.” What is the feud? If you cross me, you are dead to me. I do not want to have to deal with you if you have hurt me. It is easier just to cut you out. It is harsh, I know. We had a few barn beams put up in our house, and we were trying to come up with what we wanted to carve into them, like a saying or Scripture. I voted for, “We Live by the Feud.” I was joking (sort of).

Seriously though, this is something we all have to work on, bitterness. Bitterness is a poison that starts out small and then before we know it, it consumes us. We think we can contain it, but it becomes an overpowering wrath that spews out over every aspect of our life, then affecting everyone and everything we encounter.

There is a lady, Michal, in the Old Testament. She was King David’s first wife and the second daughter to King Saul. Here is the cliff notes version: When Saul gave Michal to David the dowry that was required was 100 foreskins of Philistine men. It is a weird thing to ask unless you are secretly terrified of your new son-in-law and want him to die. Saul knew the Lord was with David and how much power came with that anointing. He thought that if he asked for this ridiculous dowry, David would be killed in battle. However, David was a mighty man for the Lord and came back with 200! You can just see the wheels turning in Saul’s brain, “Shoot. Plan B?” So he concocts another plan. Michal gets wind of what is about to happen, she warns her husband and gets him out of Dodge. The guards

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come looking for David, Michal lies saying he is sick and in bed. She even does the pillow trick (1 Samuel 19:16). David lives.

Many years go by before David summons her again. She had remained with Saul and was given to another man. I look at Michal and think, she rightfully is angry and bitter towards David. He never came back for her until it was beneficial for him. Jerk (Remember, I live by the feud. I would have been kicking and screaming as they drug me back to him). But Michal was looking for power and prestige, so she went willingly. She never really understood David's love for God. He obviously was not a perfect man. He failed often. But he did love God and served Him. Later on in 2 Samuel 6:12-23, David was dancing and praising the Lord. Michal looked at him in utter disdain then had some snarky words for him (2 Samuel 6:20). Ouch, that sounds like me sometimes. I get hurt by someone; I get bitter towards that person, I look at them with contempt, and usually have some not nice words to follow (even if they are just in my head). Ugh.

Sometimes the Word of God just knifes you in the heart, and it is painful. Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger… be put away from you, along with malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Even when we feel justified in our bitterness, God does not allow it. We must forgive. Michal never got over her anger, hatred, or bitterness towards David and in the end, it bit her in the butt. She grew into a bitter, lonely old woman. Just like you, I do not want that to be my end, so I constantly work on this area of my life. We ended up putting up those beams with blood, sweat, and tears. I have got to put my blood, sweat, and tears into not becoming a bitter, lonely old woman.

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T H O M A SDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

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Also known as: Didymus, Doubting Thomas, Judas Thomas

Meaning of his name: Twin

The Disciples were such World Changers that their names have become commonplace. My middle name is Thomas. It is the same name for my dad, mom's dad, mom's brother, and my son's middle name.

Who do you know who is named Tom, Matt, Jimmy, Mark, John, Andy, Phil, or Pete? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


The symbol associated with Thomas are the spearhead and the T-square.

John MacArthur calls Thomas “The Twin.” His twin is not identified in Scripture.

Do you know who broke the cycle in your family tree and followed Christ? Are you the first one or do you have a spiritual heritage that goes back generations? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Occupation: Possibly a carpenter (The Twelve Disciples)

The most famous story of Thomas is found in John 20:24-25, “Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have

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seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’”

Thomas thought they were pranking him. What is the funniest prank you have ever experienced? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How does this passage relate to those who say the Disciples stole the body of Jesus (that He did not rise from the dead)? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is Thomas’ response normal or a sign of his lack of faith? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In John 14:1-6 Thomas asks Jesus a question, “‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

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Jesus says He is going to prepare a house for us. Describe your favorite house in which you lived. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thomas is inquisitive. When is it right and wrong to ask questions?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who does Jesus say He is? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John 11:14-16 records an uncommon story concerning Thomas, “Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’”

Why did Jesus let Lazarus die? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why might bad things happen to good people? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Is this passage an example of Thomas being courageous, committed, pessimistic, or lacking faith in Jesus? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The passage right after the ‘doubting Thomas’ conversation shows his faithfulness. John 20:26-29 says, “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”

How much time passed between Jesus meeting with the other disciples and Jesus meeting with Thomas, too? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is that a lot of time? Why do you think this happened? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thomas is one of my heroes; he is a world changer. National Geographic says “Thomas preached the gospel in Greece and India, where he angered local religious authorities, who martyred him by running him through with a spear.” M. E. Rosson adds that Thomas even went into China. Thomas died a martyr's death. It appears

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horses may have been involved. He was stabbed with spears and dragged behind horses, or he was dragged behind horses and then finished off with the spears. There are ‘Indians' today who trace their salvation to Thomas.

The Twelve Disciples describes Thomas’ personality and character: Inquisitive (John 14:5), doubtful (John 20:24-25), courageous (John 11:16), and faithful (John 20:24-29).

What leadership skills do you see in Thomas? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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David, son of Jesse, king of Israel, lived an extraordinary life from which we can learn a great deal. The principle I want to focus on for this devotion is trusting in God.

I have heard countless stories that go something like this: I had an electric bill to pay, and I needed to tithe, but I only had enough money to do one. I knew I had to pay my electric bill or else my power would be shut off, and my family could not stay warm. I knew God would understand why I had not given my tithe that week but I decided to honor God and tithe instead of paying my bill, trusting that God would provide. The next day, out of nowhere and completely unexpectedly, God provided the exact amount I needed to pay my bill.

The specifics of these stories varied, but the lesson learned was always that God provides when you rely on Him.

The most well-known story about David is arguably “David and Goliath.” David, in his youth, went one-on-one with an oversized and experienced warrior. He refused to wear armor for this battle and armed himself with only five stones and a sling. Did David take five stones because he was not sure one would be enough? I believe David was confident that he could defeat Goliath with one stone but was not sure if he would need the other four stones to fight Goliath’s four brothers. With a single small stone little David defeated his big enemy.

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David's confidence, not in his abilities but in his God, is so inspiring. He did not need a pep talk. He stated his assurance simply, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). God had shown His power to David by helping him kill vicious animals, and now he was so certain God was with him that he “ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:48).

I hope you find yourself inspired by David to be obedient and faithful to God especially when earthly understanding disagrees. Trust God despite the odds. Trust God despite logic. Trust God despite reasoning. God has proven Himself too many times to be doubted. Keep in mind Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

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I have a confession to make, when I was given Nathan as a topic for these character studies I had no idea who he was. As I began studying and reading, I realized that he played a huge part in a

couple of stories that I knew well, I just did not know his name. Nathan was a prophet who was very close to King David.

The first story that Nathan is involved in had to do with David’s desire to build the temple. In the story, David is struggling with the fact that he lives in a cedar palace while the presence of the Lord dwelt in a tent. David called for Nathan to find out if it was acceptable for him to build the temple and Nathan told him that the Lord is with him so he can build the temple. That night God comes to Nathan and tells him that David cannot be the one to build the temple. Now, this is not all that God told Nathan, but we should stop for a second and look at what just happened. Nathan, who just told King David, the most powerful person in Israel, that God is on his side and he can build the temple, now has to tell the king that somebody else will be the one to do it. There is a good chance that what Nathan had to tell the king could enrage David possibly costing Nathan his life. This is the first huge decision we see Nathan have to make, whether he was going to honor God and convey the message or save his own skin and let David build the temple. Nathan decides to tell David what God has said, and it results in David rejoicing in God's decision because Nathan got to tell David the second part, that David's offspring would be the one to build the temple.

The second story has to do with David and Bathsheba. After it seems like David has gotten away with his sin, God comes to Nathan and

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tells him that He is displeased with David. Nathan has the second huge decision to make, and unlike the first one, the news Nathan has to tell David has no upside. Nathan makes the hard choice to follow what God has told him to do. 2 Samuel 12:1-10 records the conversation.

If you keep reading, after David dies, his son Solomon, becomes the king and his high officials are listed. Among those listed, two were sons of the prophet Nathan, one of which is described as the king's friend. Nathan had to make some very difficult decisions, but no matter how difficult they were, he always decided to follow the plans that God had given to him and it resulted in two of his sons being among some of the most important and influential people in Israel at the time. God has an incredible plan for your life, but that plan starts with you choosing to follow God no matter how hard the decisions are to make.

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2 Samuel 11:2-5 says, “It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof

a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, ‘Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, ‘I am pregnant.’”

Her husband (Uriah) was away at war. King David should have been at war but stayed behind. Enter Bathsheba. Up on the rooftop, bathing, King David summoned her into his presence. Why did she not say “no?” She was likely being submissive to the king. When she discovered she was pregnant, she sent word to David. He hatched an evil scheme to bring Uriah back from war and make it look like it was his child. When this failed, he hatched an even more evil scheme to have Uriah killed in battle. After a period of mourning, David took Bathsheba as his wife. The baby was born but quickly died as prophesied by Nathan. The lesson here is that our sins have consequences, but through repentance, we can make things right with God.

David realized his sin and repented. God then blessed them with a second child, Solomon, who was later named king. Eventually, they would have five children total, four living, and God blessed them greatly.

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She raised Solomon in a godly way, which we glean from Solomon’s writing, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Fast forward to the book of 1 Kings chapter 1. Here we find David is old and sick. Without his knowledge, Adonijah had been made the king (when it rightfully should have been Solomon). Nathan tells Bathsheba, and she goes to see David to get the matter straightened out. She reminds David that Solomon should be king and Adonijah had been made king without his knowledge.

Bathsheba was unfaithful, became pregnant, her husband died, and her child died. She endured a lot. Nevertheless, by her faithfulness in God and her godly home, eventually, Jesus would be born to a descendant of David and Bathsheba and her place in history would be secured!

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“Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head

there was no blemish in him.” (2 Samuel 14:25)

For Absalom, life was good. Gifted, handsome, and the king’s son, he was born with the proverbial “silver spoon.” Yet, by the end of his life, he was seen as rebellious, resentful, and manipulating. Constantly promoting himself, he was able to garner the support for his plan to be king. Fueled by jealousy, resentment, and pride, he went into action.

Absalom’s story is told in 2 Samuel chapters 13-19. King David’s third son had all the outward skills necessary to be a great leader. He could have been a force for good. When you read the story, you are reminded of the suspense and intrigue that so many kingdoms have seen. Whether it was the court of Henry VIII or the Romanov dynasty, the spirit of Absalom exists. Pride, fueled by a sense of entitlement, has brought down many leaders. It does not matter if you are a leader in the church, business, or government, there can be an “Absalom” in your life. Building support for their own agenda they can fly under the radar. It is possible they start out with sincere intentions, but bitterness exposes their rotten core. In Hosea 14:9, the Bible tells us that, “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” If Absalom

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had walked uprightly, the outcome would have been much different. Absalom, instead of his younger brother Solomon, may have become king. Then David would not have had to lament, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!”

“And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!’” 2 Samuel 18:33

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You may not have ever heard of the man named Abner. His name in current culture means very little if anything. If you have been in church for some time, you probably got a short

introduction to who he is in the Bible. He is often overlooked because of the two dynamic kings of Israel that existed during his command, King Saul and King David. Abner is an interesting character; you can read a lot about his story in 2 Samuel.

To give you a brief overview of Abner here are a few facts: • He was Saul’s chosen Commander in Chief.• He was Saul’s cousin.• His name means “Father of Light” or “Enlightened.”• He was general for all of Saul’s rule and remained in that position for seven years after Saul’s death. • He fought against David and remained loyal to Saul.• He was murdered by David’s commander Joab.

If I were to describe his character, I would say that he was a loyal man. He was ambitious, had a strong sense of duty, and he was no doubt strong, dynamic, and able to lead. The description King David gave in 2 Samuel 3:38 described him as “a prince and a great man.” David wept bitterly at the death of Abner, so did all the people of Israel. You begin to see how Abner is a world changer.

Abner did not always find himself fighting on the right side of God so to speak, but he was no doubt a man that changed the world. Early in life, he was fighting with God’s anointed king (King Saul), but after Saul had continued to disobey God and lost his favor with

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God, Abner chose to remain loyal to a man rather than remain loyal to God. Even after Saul’s death, Abner chose to fight against the will of God. I think 2 Samuel 3:6 says it all when it comes to the decision Abner made,

“While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.”

I tried to place myself in the shoes of Abner, having fought for and built a kingdom under Saul's name, I can only imagine how hard it would be just to give it up. Taking into consideration the character of Abner, there was no doubt a sense of pride and ego built up in Abner's heart over the years. He had helped make Israel a fierce nation. This pride can be seen in his response to Saul’s son in 2 Samuel 3:8,

“Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, ‘Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.’”

So what is the practical application in studying about this man Abner? You might be saying, “so what?” “How does this matter to me?” As I put myself in Abner’s shoes, the question that keeps coming to my mind is, “Would I have done anything differently? Would I have been willing to give up the kingdom I had built and humbled myself to God's will and way? Then I make it real personal, what kingdom am I holding on to right now? Is there something I know goes against the will of God? Is there something I do not want to give up because I spent so much of my time and energy building it up?”

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Those are real heart questions to deal with and not always easy to identify. Can I encourage you to take some time and pray that God shows you these areas to which we so often cling? The story of Abner does not end with him always fighting against David to the bitter end. The cool part about the story of Abner is we get to see this reconciliation between David and Abner in 2 Samuel 3:21,

“And Abner said to David, ‘I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.’ So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.”

If peace is what you are after, find what it is in your life that fights against the will of God and learn to humble yourself. I am sure it was not easy for a mighty man like Abner, who had fought for so long, to say, “you may reign over all that your heart desires.” That included David reigning over Abner. Let us figure out how we can say to God, “You can reign over all that your heart desires in my life.”

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“Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance:

but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.” 1 Samuel 25:3 KJV

Abigail is described as intelligent and beautiful. The King James Version describes her husband, Nabal, as “churlish.” We would call him a jerk! He was stingy, rude, badly behaved, and harsh. The Message says, “Foolishness oozed from him.”

Abigail did not let the bad behavior of her husband influence her in the way she treated others. One day Abigail heard that her foolish, ungrateful husband had caused their very lives to be in danger. Like superheroes do when trouble is coming, she flew into action and changed the world around her.

My great-niece was visiting next door at my sister's house recently. She spent most of her visit dressed in Wonder Woman attire. She swam through deep waters (in the pool), she put out the fire (the candles on her birthday cake), and deflected danger with the bands on her wrists. Danger was coming towards Abigail, but she did not need Wonder Woman, she used the Lord’s super power - wisdom and kindness. Abigail was wise, she knew and trusted the Lord. David sent his men to Nabal because they needed food. When they took a request from David to Nabal, he insulted them and sent them away. Soon

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Abigail heard that David planned to destroy her husband and everyone in his household. Abigail hurried to bring them food, and plenty of it. She fell on her face before David and took responsibility for her husband's inexcusable behavior. From her heart poured gratefulness for the protection that David and his men had given her shepherds and servants. Abigail knew of God's protection of David and his men. She reminded David of God's strength and goodness in his life.

Abigail had a beautiful countenance when approaching David. Her beauty was not just in her appearance, but also in her gracious words. She showed kindness to David. She cared about the need of food for his men. Abigail pleaded with him not to participate in vengeance, but to allow God to bring the trouble to his enemies. She reminded David that he fought the battles of the Lord, and not to let evil as was in her husband be found in him.

David did allow Abigail’s family to live. God blessed Abigail for her faithfulness and trust in Him. Using wisdom and kindness, and depending on her knowledge of God, Abigail’s quick actions and humble words saved her family.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 NIV

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J A M E SDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

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Also known as: James son of Alphaeus, James the Younger, James the Less

James is a common name. There is James the brother of John who was also a disciple, and there was James, the half-brother of Jesus who wrote the book of James.

Meaning of his name: James comes from Jacob meaning supplanter. It means to grasp the heel implying to trip up or overthrow.

It is funny to read the meaning of a name and then look back at the birth of Jacob as recorded in Genesis 25:24-28, “When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”

Describe the birth of the boys? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Did Jacob try to ‘overthrow’ Esau? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does the last line of the passage make sense or bother you?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The symbols associated with James are the halberd, club, or saw.

John MacArthur calls James “The Less.” MacArthur says that the Greek lists James as the ‘little’ emphasizing he was small in stature. Maybe he was ‘young’ and ‘short,’ but he had a responsibility.

What are some of the worst nicknames you can remember?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What can be the strength or weakness of being called “The Less?”____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The disciples can be arranged into three groups of four. James, son of Alphaeus, starts group three. It is believed he led this group.

What are the benefits and problems with delegating? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have an example of when delegation empowered someone?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Occupation: unknown

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Mark 2:14 talks about Matthew, “And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” Levi is Matthew.

Who was Levi’s (Matthew) father? Who was James’ father? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

List the disciples who were brothers? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark 15:40 gives other family members of James, “There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.”

Who was James’ mother and brother? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are they doing here? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark 15:47 adds, “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.”

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What or who are they following? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark 16:1 also adds, “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.”

What is involved here? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

James is not key in any Bible stories. Does ‘the silence’ say anything? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs says that James, who was elected by his fellow believers to head the churches of Jerusalem, was one of the longest-lived apostles (perhaps exceeded only by John). At the age of 94, he was beaten and stoned by persecutors, and then killed him by hitting him in the head with a club. Josephus, the respected Jewish historian, agrees James was stoned and then clubbed to death.

What leadership skills do you see in James? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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I play softball every week, and a few weeks ago there was a baseball team practicing on the field next to us. The baseball team was taking some batting practice when the kid fouled the

ball onto our field. The problem is that we were mid game and the foul ball distracted the batter in our game which caused him to completely swing and miss.

The Lord spoke to the prophet Nathan to tell King David that Solomon would be the one to build the temple. Solomon gets one of the greatest opportunities in the Bible; he gets to build the temple, the permanent place where the Spirit of God will live on earth. Before Solomon gets a chance to build the temple, God came to him in a dream and asked him, “What shall I give you?” Solomon answered saying that he wanted wisdom so that he could justly govern the people of Israel. 1 Kings 3:5-14 records the conversation, “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ‘Ask what I shall give you.’ And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good

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and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.’” For the rest of the first part of Solomon's rule, the Lord is pleased with what he does and the way that he is living.

In 1 Kings chapter 11, things start to take a turn and Solomon starts to take his eyes off of God. I have played sports my entire life, and nearly every single sport that I have played has a common rule, keep your eye on the ball. The same can be said for our walk with God. If you look away from the ball when you are playing baseball there is little to no chance that you will hit it and if you take your eyes off of God and the will that He has for you, it is impossible for you to live the way that God has called us to live.

Solomon's distraction was women that he had married and they caused him to take his eyes off of what God had planned for him. For us, it can be anything that pulls our attention from God. We have to remember that no matter how hard things in life try to distract us, we have to keep our eyes on the ball that is the plan God has for us.

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Son, Do not be dumb. I am sure your mother has yelled at me several times for calling you dumb thus far in your life, but I

repeat, “Do not be dumb.” You have drawn an unfortunate card in life; your father is a Student Pastor. I have watched, for years, as some of the brightest and best teenagers I have ever known throw their lives away for fleshly desires, pride, laziness, and idolatry. I cannot sit by and watch you do the same. I wish I could have taught them about Solomon’s son. There seems to be a link between their choices and their wisdom (or the lack). Every student I have seen walk away has one thing in common; they forsake the counsel of the wise and accepted counsel from their peers who were living in the world. I have watched as students went from being wise young sages to being just plain dumb.

Solomon was considered the wisest man to walk this Earth, excluding Jesus of course. God used Solomon and took the kingdom of Israel and made it the center of the world. Solomon’s inherited kingdom was vast and rich! Solomon at one point would have been worth around 2.2 trillion dollars. Solomon was given 666 talents of gold a year (1 Kings 10:14); that would be roughly 25 tons of gold a year! Solomon built his kingdom using the wisdom God had given him. Solomon being a wise king put together a council to help his son rule when he died. When Rehoboam took the throne, he took counsel from Solomon’s council and took counsel from a group of his buddies. Solomon's counsel advised Rehoboam to lift the

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heavy taxes, Rehoboam's buddies advised making more taxes so they all could get more money. I would love to say Rehoboam made a wise choice here but in 1 Kings 12:8 it says, “But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.” This one decision led to the kingdom of Israel dividing into two. That is what it means to be dumb.

Who is in your ear son? Who do you go to when you need advice? The smartest thing I have ever done in life, besides marrying your mother, was I found the wisest old man I could, and I let that man teach me about life, ministry, marriage, fatherhood, and about everything else I could ask. Who do you have? I know I may not always be your top choice, but I can name a handful of guys who could sit and help you navigate through your life. I have watched as kids have nosedived into sin and I truly think if they had taken the time to find a person to teach them godly wisdom, their lives would look different. I have watched as potential future leaders in the church have given up everything to be like their worldly friends. I have watched year after year at least one student who I thought had the utmost potential give it all away because he or she took bad advice.

Wisdom does not come with age, education, “vocabulistics,” or good old fashion book learning. It comes from God. Zeke if you want to change the world for Jesus, you are going to need a guide, a person who first of all loves and lives for Jesus with all their heart and someone who has been there before. Find someone who can tell you what is up ahead. Find someone and listen. Be a wise son, because if I call you dumb one more time, your mom is going to yell at me.

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“Humility and silence are beautiful graces in young people. Never be ashamed of being a learner: Jesus was one at twelve years; when He was found in the temple, He was ‘sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions’ (Luke 2:46).” J.C Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men

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“F or if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish.

And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

“…for such a time as this.” Queen Esther of Persia had a chance to save her people from Haman’s wicked plan of genocide. Esther's story is one of the most riveting events in the Bible, and she is a definite World Changer. She did take a stand and save the Jews. To this day, the deliverance of the Jews is still being celebrated during a special festival called Purim. Most of us can only dream that we could do even a fraction of something as courageous and memorable as saving the world from extinction, right? Maybe it is something like the more than two-decade old movie, Independence Day. Bill Pullman as the President of United States gives a brave speech just before Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Randy Quaid fly off to decimate some far away from earth destroying aliens. “Perhaps it’s fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom…Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution…but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the night!’ We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

Esther: An orphaned Jewish girl who somehow becomes the queen of Persia then saves the Jews from being wiped out. Her story is

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told in the book of Esther. It is ten chapters that are so incredibly captivating you cannot seem to turn the pages fast enough. As you read, God’s presence is displayed in every detail and every scene of this story, but yet His name is not mentioned once. So, what then are we to learn from this besides a good history lesson?

“Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, ‘Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish’ Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.” (Esther 4:15-17)

Wow. All the Jews fasted for three days as well as Esther’s female servants. Fasting, as we know, is waiting on God in prayer. Have you ever fasted and prayed and waited, waited on God?

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

We see that Esther and many others fasted and prayed and she was strengthened. It is a kind of strength that is not synonymous with human brawn. No matter what we face, we cannot have an “independent-I can do this alone-prideful” attitude. We need the strength of God. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Next time you are daydreaming of your own “…for such a time as this” moment, remember, your independence comes from your dependence on Christ. Oh, Happy (Independence) Day!

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Every time a baby is born, a name is given. That name which is given will be carried with them their entire lifetime. These names can span decades of history, a profound lineage, lay

a path for one’s life, or give a challenge for the life ahead. Some names are hated, some are loved, some are chanted, and some are even worn by fans. Elvis for example, we do not even need to say his last name and everyone knows we are talking about one of the most influential musicians of all time, “the king.” Yet, when I say Queen Elizabeth II, we think of the royal family and the lineage that has preceded her. As we dive into these different world changers, I want to take a look at one whose name means “my God is YAHWEH.” In 1 Kings 18, we read about one of the greatest confrontations in all of history. The people of Samaria are in the midst of a severe drought, and King Ahab is seeking water and vegetation for the livestock and people. As Ahab and Obadiah are searching, Obadiah is met by the prophet Elijah. Elijah precedes to meet Ahab and challenges him and all the prophets of Baal and Asherah atop Mount Caramel. It is within these next verses that this confrontation unfolds. In 1 Kings 18:20-39, God reveals Himself in a mighty way to the people of Israel who have yet again, drifted from their Heavenly Father. As all the prophets gather atop the mount and prepare an offering for their god Baal, they are met without an answer. This is when Elijah steps in and declares what his very name means. As an offering is prepared for the one true God, fire comes down from Heaven, consuming the offering. It is then that the people realize their waywardness and how they have drifted from their Father.

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For Elijah, not only does his name mean that his God is Yahweh, but he showed that constantly throughout all his ministry. 1 Kings 18:21 says, “And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word.” You see, Elijah challenged the people with a question. They were trying to serve two masters; they had their hands in both pots. So, I want to leave you with the same question that Elijah left for the people of Israel. Are you truly following after the one true God, or are you trying to serve two different masters? I do not know about all of you, but even though my name does not mean my God is Yahweh, I want my life and ministry to reflect it.

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Bold, by definition, means, “not afraid of danger or difficult situations.” Every summer, we ride into prisons all across the state of Ohio. It is a ministry that I have personally come

to love and respect. The level of trust that God has given to us as a ministry is mind-blowing to me, and also very humbling. As we ride into these prisons, play rock music, put on a magic show, pray, and then pass out books, it is all done with the message of the Gospel. The one thing we want each of those men and women to experience is an understanding of who Jesus is and how He died for them. Being in those prison yards is a mission field unlike any other. We enter into a dark place where hopelessness is around every corner. As we walk through the sally ports and into the prison yards, our prayer is not only for strength and opportunity, but that through us boldly proclaiming the Gospel, lives would be changed. Yesterday, we looked at an amazing prophet by the name of Elijah. He was known by his name as “My God is Yahweh,” however, he also lived this out in his life. Today, I want to look at his successor, Elisha. At the end of 1 Kings 19, we are introduced to a new young man who is called by God, through the prophet Elijah. It is at this point when Elisha leaves from his father's fields to follow after Elijah. Fast forward a few years, at which point Elisha had spent much time learning alongside Elijah, and Elijah's time on earth has come to an end. In 2 Kings chapter 2, we have the amazing account of Elijah's departure from this earth. Before he is taken up in a chariot of fire, Elijah asks Elisha what the one final gift he wants of him before he leaves. It is at this point that Elisha makes the bold request in 2 Kings 2:9, “When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask

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what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.’ And Elisha said, ‘Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.’” As Elijah is taken to Heaven in a literal chariot of fire, Elisha's request is fulfilled, and his ministry explodes in a mighty way. As we enter into the prison yards every summer, we boldly ask God to do the same as He did with Elisha, a double portion. Are you simply satisfied in your walk with Christ? Are you satisfied in the ministry you have? Elisha could have asked anything, yet he asked to be used more by God. He boldly asked to be thrown in more situations, so that everyone would know who God is and that He is the only way. So, what are you boldly asking of God? Do you want to stay comfortable, or are you asking for that double portion?

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I love the cleverness in acrostics and acronyms. Songwriters use them, school teachers use them, we see them used in memes, plastered to refrigerators, and all over social media. Some

popular acronyms I have seen are TGIF-Thank God It's Friday, ASAP-As Soon As Possible, and one we see in Christian circles, GRACE-God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

There are 22 verses in the last chapter of Proverbs that make up an alphabetical acrostic poem. What a fun and ingenious way to memorize and learn how to be virtuous. Today's “World Changer” is The Proverbs 31 Woman. A good majority of you probably want to close the book on today's devotion thinking, “I am not a woman; this is not for me,” or “I am never getting married, so this does not apply to me,” and even “This perfect woman is not real and this list is not achievable!” Please stay with me.

I believe that if you are a follower of Christ, then Proverbs 31 applies to you regardless of age, gender, marital status, or the number of children you may or may not have. The picture of this virtuous woman tells us she is faithful, diligent, kind, generous, strong, and more. Check it out for yourself in Proverbs 31:10-31.

“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

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13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

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29 ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

This “list” should not overwhelm us. After all, these are character traits that are scattered all throughout the book of Proverbs, and actually throughout the entire Bible.

Look at verse 10. An excellent wife who can find? Well, if Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church (us) is the bride, well does that make us a wife? What I see here with the Proverbs 31 Woman is a call to holiness. Jesus is making ready His Church. Ephesians 5:27 says, “So that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” We do not have an excuse for ungodliness. Jesus is coming, and He is coming for a glorious Church, a Church that is holy.

Do you want to be a “World Changer?” This is it. A-B-C, easy as 1-2-3. It includes reading, memorizing, and obeying the Word of God. Together, we the Church can further His Kingdom. We can help change the world.

THADDAEUSDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

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LESSON 10 THADDAEUS

Also known as: Jude, Judas, the son of James, Lebbaeus

Meaning of his name: Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus mean ‘beloved’ or ‘dear to the heart,’ Judas (from the Hebrew Judah) means to praise

I would not want to be named Judas. If you had to change your first name, what would you name yourself? Why? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Books of the Bible written by him: None (some think he may have authored Jude)

One symbol associated with Thaddaeus is a gold ship with silver sails before a red horizon (symbolic of his missionary journeys by sea). Another symbol for Thaddaeus is the club as he was clubbed to death.

Which symbol would you associate with your life? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John MacArthur calls Thaddaeus “The Man with Three Names.” He believes Judas was the birth name (Jude for short), while Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus were nicknames. MacArthur adds that Thaddaeus means ‘breast child’ like a mama’s boy while Lebbaeus means ‘heart child’ implying a tender, childlike heart.

Who in Scripture could you argue was a mama’s boy? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What are the strengths and weaknesses of being a mama’s boy?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are the strengths and weaknesses of a tender, childlike heart?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Occupation: Possibly a farmer

Thaddaeus is always listed among the disciples, is among them when they are sent out, and was present at the Last Supper; however, he only speaks up once, and it is recorded in John 14.

John 14:15-17sets the stage, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

What does Jesus say about the Holy Spirit? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do people do that love Jesus? What does that mean?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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In John 14:18-24 Thaddaeus (Judas, not Iscariot) comes out of his shell, “‘I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.’”

What is Thaddaeus’ question? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How could his question have a political aspect to it? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you view his question as a sign of gentleness and meekness or prideful and rebuking? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In John 14:25-26 Jesus gives some comforting words, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,

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he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

How will Thaddaeus understand what all will happen? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are some of the advantages of Jesus leaving to go back to the Father? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tradition and early writings have Thaddaeus taking the Gospel north into present day Turkey where he was eventually clubbed to death (MacArthur).

The Twelve Disciples describes Thaddaeus’ personality and character: Inquisitive and confused (John 14:22).

What leadership skills do you see in Thaddaeus? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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The world changer we are going to look at today is a pretty obscure character found in 2 Kings; his name is Naaman. Naaman is described as a great man, who had high favor in

the kingdom. He was also a mighty warrior and had great victories, but had a huge weakness; he had the disease of leprosy. According to webmd.com, “leprosy is an infectious disease that causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms, legs, and skin areas around the body. The disease has been around since ancient times, often surrounded by terrifying, negative stigmas and tales of leprosy patients being shunned as outcasts. Outbreaks of leprosy have effected, and panicked, people on every continent.” At the very least, if you do not get anything else out of this devotion, you learned some new medical information.

Naaman heard that the God of Israel could possibly heal him of this horrific disease, so he received permission from his king and went on his way. He came to the prophet Elisha’s house and Elisha sent this message, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:10). The Bible tells us that Naaman responded in anger and refused to follow the instructions, but his servants pleaded with him. So, he followed the words of Elisha and went as instructed to the Jordan. 2 King 5:14 tells us, “So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” Naaman was healed in his weakness by the one true God. He returned to Elisha and said to him in verse 15, ‘“Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.”

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This story brings 2 Corinthians 12:10 to mind, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I know what you are thinking, yes this is Paul talking about his thorn in the flesh and begging God to take it away three times, but God decided not to do it. The context is someone being weak and staying weak to show their inherent need for Christ to be strong in their life. Yet, I want to give you a different angle. How about the fact that in Naaman’s weakness, he was able to be made strong and healed by finding the one true God? Naaman worshiped other gods before being healed and committing his life to God. However, in his weakness, he realized his need for God and was made strong by God in those weaknesses. Maybe today you are dealing with some sort of weakness, and God is just waiting for you to bring it to Him. Is it possible you are refusing to bring it to God and want to handle it on your own? God wants to make us strong and whole, not on our own, but in Him and through Him. I am sure you have heard the statement, “God will never give us anything we can’t handle.” Well, I am here today to tell you He will. This statement is not in the Bible and is contrary to the main message of the Bible, WE NEED HIM IN ALL THINGS! You see, we cannot handle this life without Him. We cannot deal with our sin without Him. We cannot handle our marriages without Him. We cannot handle our kids without Him. We cannot handle anything without Him. Naaman found his desperate need for God, in his weakness. As we walk through our lives, we are weak and need the power of God in all things. Today may we realize our need for God in our weakness so that He will make us strong!

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2 Kings 18:5 says, “…there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.”

Here the Scripture declares Hezekiah as the greatest king in the history of Judah. The question is why? What distinguished him from among the twenty total kings the nation would have? The answer is found in the same passage. Hezekiah was certainly not flawless, but to understand why the Lord would crown him, not just king, but the best of all kings is a powerful lesson to each of us. Here are a few reasons the Bible gives for King Hezekiah's success.

1. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 18:3)2. He removed the high places and all other idols (2 Kings 18:4)3. He trusted the Lord (2 Kings 18:5)4. He held fast to the Lord and kept the commandments (2 Kings 18:6)5. The Lord was with him (2 Kings 18:7)

That is a stunning spiritual resume. As noted earlier, Hezekiah was not perfect; however, the Lord prospered this great king. We live in a time far removed from the culture, geography, and history of Hezekiah, yet our differences of principle are not too far off. Like Hezekiah, we too must choose whose standard of right we will follow. One of the great indictments of the Scripture is the idea of people doing “…what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). A purely subjective and relativistic view of right and wrong has

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always doomed society. God’s objective truth must always be the standard by which we determine right and wrong.

Similarly, Hezekiah had to deal with pagan idol worship along with religious idol worship (See 2 Kings 18:4). The people had begun to worship both pagan gods and goddesses, but also they had begun to worship the bronze serpent that Moses had lifted up in the wilderness. Something God had used had been perverted and transformed into an idol. When we honestly look at culture and the church, the number of idols is stunning. They certainly go by different names and look differently than Hezekiah's time, but are nonetheless idols that we have given our worship (See Romans 1:25). We must strike them down and remove them from our lives. God refuses to occupy the same space or compete with an idol.

The Scripture tells us that Hezekiah “prospered.” Many people, both Christian and non-Christian, desire to prosper. Sadly, however, we want God’s blessings and presence without trusting Him or obeying Him. Other kings before and after Hezekiah felt entitled to God’s provision, blessings, and protection, yet God refused to bless them because they were prideful, rebellious, and wicked. More and more we encounter this today in the church. We find “God’s people” living sinful and rebellious lives, demanding with an entitled mentality God’s help. We have turned God into a waiter who must meet our every need when we call for His attention. This is simply wrong and not the way “it” works. We must, as Hezekiah did, “hold fast to the Lord.”

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Red Rover, Red Rover, send Gomer right over! I would have to say that the game Red Rover was my least favorite childhood game to play. If you were called out by name by

the opposing team, you had to run full speed and break through the arms that had formed human chains. If you did not break through, your enemy would keep you on their side.

Gomer was a woman who was chosen by God to be on His team. She became the wife of Hosea. Many scholars have differing opinions about the book of Hosea. Some suggest that the entire book of Hosea is allegorical and others suggest it is written literally. Whatever opinion you choose to take, one underlying theme I would like to highlight is that Gomer was chosen. God picked her on purpose and with a purpose. You might be thinking, “Gomer must have been an extremely godly and holy woman for God to have chosen her.” On the contrary, Hosea 3:1 describes her as an adulteress. Satan, our enemy, has a weapon against you. He speaks to your mind and convinces you that you are not good enough, you do not know enough, and your past negates you from serving or being with God. These are all lies from your enemy. We do not have any righteousness, but if you and I have trusted Christ as our Savior, we are clothed in His righteous robes.

I learn something new every day. With that said, I am never going to know enough about everything. God only wants you and me to trust Him and follow where He leads. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I want the wisdom of God, what about you? Gomer had a past. This did not stop God from choosing her to become Hosea's

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wife. God loved her, and so did Hosea. Together, Gomer and Hosea had two sons and one daughter. This story could have had a happy ending. They could have lived happily ever after in their little house with their little family and their little dog. God chose Gomer, but also God gives you, me, and Gomer as well, a free will. Gomer chose not to follow God. She was not faithful to God and her family. Gomer chose to return to her sinful lifestyle. It was the sinful lifestyle that God had rescued her from and given her the victory to break through its clutching arms.

Many of you can relate to Gomer's story. God has chosen you and called you out of your painful and broken sinful lifestyle. He has called you to His plan and purposes. Turn a deaf ear to your enemy calling you to return to destruction. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). You do not have to return to the old. Sadly, Gomer returned to her old ways. Hosea (a wonderful picture of the love and grace of God) went to the pits to rescue Gomer. She had sunk so low into sin that Hosea had to pay the price to get his wife back. God is calling you to return home. You have not sunk so low that God cannot rescue you. Maybe you have never trusted Christ as your Savior. God sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for your sin and mine. God is calling you to accept His Son Jesus as your Savior. God is calling you to live in His fulfilling purposes and plans He has for your life. It is a life that is abundant and satisfying! God chooses you!

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I recently read a story from the New York Post about a family who stumbled upon some baseball cards while cleaning out their deceased great-grandfather's house. They found a crumpled

up paper bag and inside there were seven baseball cards. Seven identical Ty Cobb baseball cards printed sometime between 1909-1911. After getting these cards analyzed by professional collectors, the family discovered that their find was worth well over $1 Million. Before the discovery there were only 15 known copies of this card, and now this family has 7 of their own. Can you imagine cleaning up a garage or basement and stumbling upon something this valuable? I am pumped if I stumble upon a $5 bill. When studying the life of King Josiah, I could not help but think of this story. However, King Josiah found something much more valuable.

In 2 Chronicles chapter 34, we read the account of Josiah’s reign as king. He became king at the age of 8 and at the age of 16 Scripture tells us that “he began to seek the God of his father David.” Before Josiah, his father and grandfather were both very wicked kings. Idol worship had run rampant in the land of Israel, and they had completely forsaken the God of Abraham. After following God, Josiah knew that this idol worship was unacceptable, so as a 20-year-old he began purging Judah and Jerusalem of all the altars and temples to idols that had been built. At 26 he began repairs on the temple, and this is when his incredible discovery is made.

2 Chronicles 34:14 says, “While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given through Moses.”

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2 Chronicles 34:19-21 adds, “And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, ‘Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.’”

The laws of God which had been neglected for years had been rediscovered. Hilkiah, the priest, brought the Book of the Law to show to King Josiah and his response is incredible. When he hears the words of the Lord, he tore his clothes. He immediately understood that this is what Israel had been missing. He immediately connects the dots; the wrath of the Lord had been poured out on them because they had not kept these commandments. King Josiah decides to take action and commit himself and the country back to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 34:31-33 continues, “And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.”

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The last line of the Scripture is so powerful, all of King Josiah’s days they did not turn away from the Lord. After a line of wicked kings, God uses King Josiah to turn the hearts of Israel back to Him. All of this happens before Josiah’s 27th birthday. I cannot imagine being a king at his age, let alone being used to bring the entire nation back to God. Josiah's father and grandpa were both wicked men; he could have used his family history and background as an excuse for not doing what he knew was right. This is such a powerful example that it does not matter where you have come from, God can use you for incredible things. As believers, first and foremost we are a part of the family of God. Being a part of that family comes with the power to do incredible things for Christ. God used His Scripture to show King Josiah what it was that needed to change in the kingdom of Israel. We need to make His Word an essential part of our lives so that we can know how God wants us to live our lives. There is power in the Word of God, and there is power in being a part of His family. When we understand those things, Christ can use us to be world changers like He used King Josiah.

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I was given the opportunity to write about the prophet Isaiah. I think mainly because my name is Isaiah and it was assumed I knew some things about the guy I was named after. But truthfully,

I was born the night Isiah Thomas, the Detroit Pistons point guard from 1981-1994, scored 36 against the Boston Celtics in game 2 of 1987 Eastern Conference finals. My Dad pretended he was being spiritual, and I was being named after a prophet, but he was watching the playoff game in the lobby.

With that being said, I am proud to be named after the prophet Isaiah. A prophet is a person regarded as a spiritual teacher or a proclaimer of the will of God. Isaiah the prophet was used as the voice of God to the people of Israel. God spoke to him, and he prophesied about the doom that was coming because of the wickedness of God’s people. So, Isaiah was such a good godly man that God chose him to speak to His people for 60 years.

Isaiah was also given the word from God about a Messiah that would save His people and free them from the bondage of sin. Isaiah had prophesied about the Virgin Birth and the death of Jesus 700 years before He was born.

His birth is spoken of in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 53:4-6 (KJV) addresses His death, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him

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stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

He was then proven right by the four Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John that tell the story of Jesus. Isaiah was given the word by God and knew that living for God in a time when wickedness spread across the land would pay off later with Jesus being born of a virgin and dying on the cross.

He is not a bad guy to be named after.

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Righteous. Blameless. Barren. One of these words is not like the other, especially in biblical times. But, they were the words used to describe a woman named Elizabeth.

Luke 1:5-7 says, “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”

In Elizabeth’s day and age, there was perhaps no greater shame for a married woman than being unable to bare a child. Whether true or not, being barren was often considered a curse or a result of some not so righteous living. It must have been difficult for her and her husband, not just because they longed for a child, but because their reputations were probably often questioned. They were already set apart as descendants of Aaron and members of the priesthood (Elizabeth, the daughter of a long line of priests and Zechariah, a priest himself). They had the “godly” credentials on paper, but the lack of children in their advanced age probably suggested the lack of favor from God. Are you not glad that things are not always as they appear? 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that “the Lord sees not as man sees…the Lord looks on the heart.” Elizabeth had a righteous heart, “walking blamelessly in all commandments of the Lord.” While

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she must have known the stigma that she carried, she lived her life to please God, not men. She could have easily become angry with Him, knowing that she was doing everything right and yet she still was stuck in a hopeless situation. Instead of questioning why, Elizabeth and Zechariah prayed. They probably prayed for decades. It was all they could do. So many things in life are out of our control, but we can rest in the complete assurance that we have a mighty God who cradles our lives in His hands. While we may never know why and when, God has a plan. His plan for Elizabeth was a great one. Luke 1:13-17 tells us that the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth were answered and that they would soon be given a son whose name would be called John, and that they would “have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord…he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will…make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Their son would be John the Baptist, a man that had been prophesied centuries beforehand by the prophet Malachi. A man whose mission would be to prepare the way of the Messiah Jesus Christ who would be born to Elizabeth’s cousin Mary just months later! Matthew 11:11 says, “Among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” It was by no coincidence that God chose Elizabeth to be his mother in that specific place in time. She was faithful, righteous, and obedient. Coming from a long line of priests, she would have known God’s Word and how to raise a child in the ways of the Lord. She was the perfect woman for the job, and God blessed her. Elizabeth lived a good portion of her life in what seemed like a hopeless situation, but God had great plans for her, in HIS perfect

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time. Likewise, God has great plans for you! If you are struggling, feeling like God has forgotten you or left you alone in difficult circumstances, do not lose hope! Live faithfully, be patient, and pray, as Elizabeth did. Your time may be coming soon. Our God is the God of the impossible!

S I M O NDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

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LESSON 11 SIMON

Also known as: Simon the Zealot, Simon the Cananaean

Meaning of his name: Simon means hearing. Zealot was one of the four political parties (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots).


The symbol associated with Simon is a fish resting on a book.

John MacArthur calls Simon “The Zealot.” He is not creative with this title as Simon is always called the Zealot (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). This word or title, ‘Zealot,’ is only used these four times in the Bible. However, ‘zealous’ is used seven times (Mark 7:36; Acts 21:20; 22:3; Galatians 1:14; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 3:13; Revelation 3:19).

What are the strengths and weaknesses of being zealous? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Occupation: Unknown

Merriam-Webster Dictionary says a Zealot is “a member of a fanatical sect arising in Judea during the first century A.D. and militantly opposing the Roman domination of Palestine.” I wonder if Simon the Zealot had political aspirations now that the Messiah had arrived. It appears he was always paired with Judas Iscariot.

What would those discussions have been like? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Matthew 10:2-4 lists the twelve disciples, “The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

Which disciples had distinctive titles? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why would they have these titles? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark 3:13-19 records when Jesus appointed the Twelve, “And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

Did Jesus choose the disciples or did they choose Him? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Luke 6:12-16 describes Jesus choosing the disciples, “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

What did Jesus do before he chose the Twelve? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did Jesus chose Judas Iscariot? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Twelve Disciples records that Simon the Zealot may have been the bridegroom when Jesus performed His first recorded miracle. John 2:1-12 says, “On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So

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they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.”

Who went with Jesus to the wedding? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Summarize the miracle. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was the result of the miracle? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Christianity records that “Simon the Zealot ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.” MacArthur writes, “This man who was once willing to kill and be killed for a political agenda within the confines of Judea found a more fruitful cause for which to give his life – in the proclamation of salvation for sinners out of every nation, tongue, and tribe.”

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The Twelve Disciples describes Simon’s personality and character: Patriotic (Matthew 10:4), loyal (Mark 3:18), passionate (Luke 6:15), and sacrificial (Acts 1:13).

What leadership skills do you see in Simon? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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Imagine serving God your whole life and never seeing anything good come from it. There you are, faithfully sharing what God gives you to share, going where God tells you to go, and doing

what God wants you to do. But no one heeds your message. No one repents, no one turns, no one accepts what you are saying, and in the end, they come after you to make your life miserable! That is the life and ministry of the prophet Jeremiah. To say that it was a rough go for Jeremiah is putting it lightly.

But his story is an important reminder to us. It is the reminder that it is faithfulness to God that matters, not the results.

God told Jeremiah very early on that he would be His prophet. The Lord told him that this was His calling for Jeremiah from before he was even born. Jeremiah’s response was not heroic and did not inspire confidence. He said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6 NKJV). He said, “I cannot do that. I am too young. I cannot speak to anyone.” God steadied him by telling him that He would be with him and always put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth.

From that point forward, Jeremiah’s ministry was a continual announcement of coming judgment and a call to repentance for the nation of Israel. As you read it, it is immediately clear that every aspect of the Hebrew nation in Jeremiah's day was a spiritual mess. Israel, once faithful, had now slipped back into idolatry, rebellion against God, and spiritual lethargy. Israel’s leaders are leading the people astray. Jeremiah is a lone voice crying in the wilderness all that God is telling him to say.

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Think about it; he is just doing what God wants him to do. But no one is listening. No one wants to hear it. His message is not just ignored; it is rejected and even mocked. Jeremiah becomes despised by both the common people and all of Israel’s religious and political leaders. He feels alone, he is frustrated and at one point even decides to throw in the towel.

We cannot miss the point. He is doing what God wants him to do. So, what gives? Why is there not any “blessing?” Why no “fruit” from his labors? Why no “success?” We have got to learn something here. Just because God tells us to do something, it does not mean that it is going to be easy or that it is going to work out. I have met many Christians who think that if it is “of God” it is going to be easy. If it is God, then it is going to be successful. If it is God, then it is going to be simple and smooth sailing. But that just is not the case. There are many times we are called by God to do things that are not at all easy, not smooth, not simple, and not fun. There are times where we will be ignored, rejected, mocked, and even persecuted for doing what God wants us to do. There may be times we will not see the “fruit” of what we did.

So what then? What are we to do? Jeremiah’s life reminds us to faithfully carry out God’s will even when there does not appear to be the success or favorable results. It reminds us that we must trust Him for the reasons He is telling us to do what He is telling us to do. We must make pleasing Him our chief goal rather than ease, success, the approval of people, or the blessings of it all. If we do, then we too will hear what Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, without doubt, heard when he stepped into eternity, “well done good and faithful servant.”

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(A letter to my son, Zeke)

Zeke, One of the strangest phenomena of being a parent is realizing you have to name your child. Your mother and I would spend

hours throwing names around. At one point your name was almost Kalen Elias, and we would have called you Kal-El for short. Sadly, I did not want to limit you on the potential of Superman; I wanted to name you something where God would take you on an amazing adventure.

Being that I am a strange person, when I read the Bible, I find comfort in the oddest places. When asked, “Who is your favorite Bible character other than Jesus?” most might say Daniel, David, Samson, or Peter. Your dad likes the guys who are tough, the ones that stand up for God’s Word, and the ones who are a bit crazy. I have always been amazed by the prophet Ezekiel. Depending on when you are reading this, determines on me giving you permission to read that book. Ezekiel has some of the toughest sections of Scripture and some of the most beautiful. Throughout his whole life, Ezekiel had one amazing characteristic, his strength. Now with most men of God, Ezekiel knew his strength came from God, which is what his name means, “God strengthens.” Ezekiel did not have an easy life, but I think that helped him realize that he needed to rely on God that much more. The horrible things that this prophet must have seen while warning his loved ones to repent (Ezekiel 3), to watching God’s Glory leave the temple (Ezekiel 10), to not being able to mourn his wife because of what God told him (Ezekiel 24).

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Hard times can do one of two things, break you or make you. While it was not Ezekiel who said it, but one of his fellow prophets wrote, “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10). Take the affliction to receive the refinement. Son, life is going to kick your teeth in at some point. I wish I could protect you from it, but it will. Even if you are as righteous as Job, the world will hurt you. There will be days when giving up seems like the only option. There will be days when you feel surrounded, and darkness seems to be everywhere. When the day comes when you feel you might break, remember your namesake, ‘God strengthens!’ The day when you do not know how you are going to make it through another horrible situation, remember God strengthens. Fear will sneak up on you, and the enemy will try to destroy you, but remember God strengthens.

You need to be strong, but never forget who gives you the ability to be strong. Never forget that the only reason we cannot be beaten is because God is with us. God gave His life for us, and now because of what Jesus did on the cross, we are His people. If you never forget who has your back, you will never be without strength.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

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“Greetings, You who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” We find this greeting being given to a young virgin girl named Mary in Luke 1:28-35 (NIV).

The shocking and unexpected announcement continues as the Angel of the Lord informs this sweet young girl that her life is about to drastically change! He goes on to say, “‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will regin over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the Angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The Angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called, the Son of God will never fail.’” My very favorite part of the narrative is Mary’s response, “I am the Lord’s servant, May Your word to me be fulfilled.” Do you think her response could be why she was found “highly favored” in God’s eyes? She was not just some random virgin girl that found favor in God's eyes. The Prophets in the Old Testament foretold the details of Christ's birth many years earlier, and it was fulfilled with perfect precision! The woman chosen to carry and give birth to the Son of God was described in detail from the Old Testament Prophets. Listed below are a few of the prophecies surrounding Jesus' birth.

1. He was to be born of a virgin.

Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

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Debbie Kerr | Office Administrator

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Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Fulfilled- Mary was a virgin girl.

2. The Messiah would be from the line of Abraham and David.

Genesis 22:18 says, “And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Matthew 1:1 says, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

Luke 2:4 adds, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.”

Fulfilled-Mary was a descendant of Abraham and David.

3. He would be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 (NIV) says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” The account of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem is told in the New Testament books of Matthew, Luke, and John.

Fulfilled – Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census.

Mary is not a prominent figure throughout Scripture, in fact, she is mentioned only a few times in the Gospel accounts during Jesus' early childhood; His birth, fleeing to Egypt when Jesus was two years old, and again when Jesus at age 12 is teaching in the Temple.

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Other than that, Mary is not mentioned again until Jesus begins His public ministry. When Jesus was 30, He performed His first miracle at the wedding in Cana. This is where He turned the water into wine. Mary inadvertently launched His ministry a bit early when she asked Jesus for a miracle at the wedding, because they were running out of the good wine. After a gentle rebuke, He complied (John 2:1-11).

In Mark 3:31-35 we read, “And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.’ And he answered them, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.’” This is where we begin to see a shift in their mother and Son relationship. He stated He was about His Father’s business. Mary, nor anyone else in His family, had a greater claim on Him than anyone else. Jesus treated Mary with respect and honor but never placed her on an exalted level of supremacy. Mary, herself eventually came to a place where she let go of her maternal duties and submitted to her Son as her Lord and Savior. She ultimately followed Him all the way to the cross. Mary was an ordinary young lady who was chosen by God to do an extraordinary thing. She obeyed without hesitation and became a major world changer!

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The story of Daniel is one of faithfulness and trust in God. We usually just know Daniel from the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. However, Daniel had already set a standard for

everyone that knew him. He was a follower of God. Daniel was part of a group of young men that were taken from Israel by a Babylonian king named Nebuchadnezzar (King Neb).

“Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace” (Daniel 1:3-4).

Daniel was one of these young men. Ashpenaz (Ash) was ordered to feed the young men the food that the king ate, but Daniel did not want to defile himself with the king’s food. So, God gave him favor with Ash. Daniel would only eat veggies and water, and after ten days Ash would compare him to the others eating the king’s food. After ten days, Daniel was better, stronger, and smarter than all the others.

God then gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams. He used this gift to interpret King Neb’s dream. King Neb then took a liking to Daniel and made him the ruler over all Babylon.

Eventually, King Neb is out and King Belshazzar is now the new king. He did not last long, and Darius became king. This whole time

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Daniel was still faithful to God, and God gave him favor in the sight of all three kings. Daniel would go up into his upper room three times a day every day. He would open the window and pray to God.

There were some jealous men of Daniel’s status and favor with King Darius. They plotted and convinced Darius to sign a law that no one could pray to any gods except Darius. The punishment for breaking this law was being thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel trusted and knew God was still in control. He continued to pray to God three times a day. Daniel was then punished for breaking the law and thrown in the lion’s den. God shut the lion’s mouths and was taken out of the lion’s den in the morning. King Darius was blown away that Daniel was not harmed by the lions.

Daniel 6:25-27 says, “Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: ‘Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Daniel’s faithfulness and trust in God were used to save not only himself from lions, but a whole nation. It was all for God’s glory.

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“He came to my rescue.” That is a great statement. Many of us can say we have had parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, coworkers, or even strangers,

rescue us from certain situations or keep us out of harm’s way. These are stories we will keep with us forever. I can remember a story of a complete stranger rescuing me and saving my life. I never had a chance to thank him and cannot even give you his name, however to this day it is a story my family and I like to revisit. I was about eight years old when my family and I were visiting Mackinaw Island. If you have been to Mackinaw Island or know anything about the place, there are no motor vehicles on the Island. The modes of transportation are simply horses or bikes. On this particular day, my parents rented each of us a bike and decided it was a good idea to ride around the Island. So we rode our bikes all around, and as any eight-year-old would feel, I felt on top of the world and in control. Well, that is where things went south. Right at the edge of the little downtown area, there is a fort and next to the fort is a steep hill. Now, I know what you are thinking, “It was just steep to an eight-year-old.” Negative, I do not like riding down it to this day, well maybe because it brings up bad memories or I am just a scaredy-cat! I believe the street is called Fort Street, but for today we will call it, “Dead Man’s Hill!” We started down Dead Man’s Hill (remember I told you I was in control as an eight-year-old). Well, this could not be further from the truth. I rode out in front of everyone and all of a sudden I went careening down the hill, out of control. I suddenly forgot how to ride my bike and simply froze. At the bottom of Dead Man’s Hill was a rail, drop off, and then Lake Huron, and I was headed for certain doom. Continuing to pick up speed and out

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of control I began yelling, “Help, Help, Help!” I am not sure what anyone could do. My family behind me was watching in horror as I sped faster and faster toward the bottom when all of a sudden a man standing on the side of the road ripped me off of my bike. My rented bike went crashing without the steady (okay, out of control) hands making sure it stayed straight. This man rescued me. In Daniel 3, we see a great rescue by the Ultimate Rescuer. In short, we see King Nebuchadnezzar (for today we will call him King Neb because I do not want you trying to pronounce that any more times then I want to try and spell it out) build a golden statue and force all of the inhabitants of his land to worship it. This statue was ninety feet tall and nine feet wide, so it definitely stood out. King Neb set up a worship service and instructed everyone that when they heard a few specific instruments (check them out in verse 5), they would bow down and worship the idol. As you can imagine, when the time came for this worship service, thousands and thousands of people worshiped this false god. However, the Bible tells us there were three men that refused to worship this false idol. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men worshiped the one true God and refused to worship anything or anyone other than Him. Well as the story goes, there were some men that told the king of these men that refused to worship his false god and this infuriated good old King Neb. He flew off the handle and ordered these men be brought in front of him. Once before the king, he said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” (Daniel 3:14-15 NLT). I love how King Neb challenges them and their God with his ability to rescue them.

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You see, he thought he was the ultimate power, and no one could trump his power, well he was wrong. In verse 16 we see their great response of faith, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve can save us. He will rescue us from your power, your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” They boldly declared to the King that their God could and would rescue them from the king’s power. This infuriated King Neb even more and as the story reads (I would encourage you to read the entire chapter today) the men were thrown into the furnace to their certain doom, but they had a God who rescued them. The men began to walk around in the furnace, and those who looked on saw an image of a fourth man in the fire with them. They said it was the image of the Son of God, who we know as Jesus. The Bible tells us that when they came out of the furnace, they did not even smell like smoke! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew they had a God who was in the rescuing business. I do not know what you need rescuing from today, but I can tell you that God can take you out of the fire. You may be careening down a cliff like I was and ready to crash into certain doom; well, God is ready and right there to pull you off of that out of control bike. God may even have you in that fire so that you will call out to Him. Wherever you are or whatever situation you find yourself, understand this, God wants to rescue you from the fire that is going on around you. Call on Him today. May the words of Paul bring you hope today, “And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us” (2 Corinthians 1:10 NLT).

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We are introduced to Mary Magdalene in Luke 8:2, “And also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene from whom

seven demons had gone out.” She is one of the best known and yet one of the most misunderstood names in the Bible. First of all, Magdalene is not her last name. She was from the town Magdala, a very dark and violent place, due to much demonic activity. Magdalene was used to identify her from Mary the mother of Jesus, and the other women named Mary in the Gospels. The Bible does not go into great detail regarding her past or background. However, she is mentioned by name fourteen times in the Bible and all four of the Gospels, making her one of the prominent women of the New Testament. Scripture reveals that she had the distinct honor of being the first person Jesus appeared to after His resurrection. However, there are other unsubstantiated assumptions made regarding her identity. Some people believe she is the prostitute that washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, and others believe she was the woman caught in the act of adultery and almost stoned to death. According to John Macarthur’s book, “Twelve Extraordinary Women,” there is no biblical basis for either assumption.

Mary Magdalene was met by a loving and powerful Savior. Through His grace and mercy, Jesus looked beyond her faults and lovingly saw her need as He cast out seven demons from her. Before her life-changing encounter with Jesus, she lived a tormented and most likely isolated life. Demoniacs were unpopular and isolated from mainstream living. Scripture does not give us all the gory details of her darkness but instead spotlights and magnifies Christ's grace

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and goodness to her. Christ set her free, and she was free indeed! Mary’s life was not simply reformed but completely transformed. We read in John 10:10, “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” He gave her life that day…abundant life!

Mary’s demonic deliverance led to a life of complete devotion to her deliverer and Savior. She remained very close to Jesus, and even led the women in the care and provision for Jesus and His disciples as they traveled and ministered. Luke 8:3 (NIV) reveals that these women, led by Mary Magdalene, financed the work of the Lord “out of their own means.” Mary Magdalene remained a very close follower of Jesus and was named among the women at the foot of the cross with Mary, Jesus’ mother. In their unbearable sorrow and grief, these women stayed until the bitter and painful end. In fact, she may have been the last one to leave the tomb that horrific day. We read in Scripture that it was Mary Magdalene that informed the disciples of the location of the tomb where Joseph of Arimathea placed His lifeless body.

Luke 23:55-56 says Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had purchased more spices used for burial, and as soon as the Sabbath was over, would go first thing in the morning to give Jesus a proper burial. Mary Magdalene could not wait any longer. She went ahead of the others and was the first one to reach the tomb on the resurrection morning. Jesus meets the grieving woman outside the tomb and says her name, “Mary,” in a way that pierced her grieving heart. She knew in an instance this was her Lord and Savior, once dead and now alive. He instructed her to go and tell the others that He had risen. Mary Magdalene ran immediately to find Peter and John, to tell them. Then they went to see for themselves. He rose just as He said!

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This transformed woman that went by the name of Mary Magdalene is the perfect example of the limitless power and extravagant grace of God. She was snatched out of Satan's death grip and became one the closest followers of Jesus, with intense love and devotion. If you and I have been saved by the blood of Jesus, we also have been snatched from the enemy's grasp and placed into His marvelous light! Do we have this type of undying devotion and love for our Savior? He desires to take the ruins of our life, and transform them into something beautiful and useful for His glory. He requires that we lay it all at the foot of the cross, give Him our whole heart, and follow close after Him. We must die to self and say as the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” His grace is free, not cheap!

JUDAS ISCARIOTDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

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LESSON 12 JUDAS ISCARIOT

Also known as: Judas the Betrayer, Judas, the son of Simon

Judas Iscariot was a World Changer. Not everyone changes the world in a positive way.

Who are some people (not listed in the Bible) who have been positive or negative World Changers? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meaning of his name: Judas (from the Hebrew Judah) means praise.


The symbol associated with Judas is a bag of coins.

John MacArthur calls Judas “The Traitor.”

Occupation: Maybe something in accordance with the handling of money as he was the keeper of finances.

In John chapter 6, Jesus Feeds 5,000 men along with women and children, He walks on water, and He talks about being the Bread of Life. Most people stop there and miss the closing verses. John concludes the section in verses 66-71, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.’ He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.”

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Why would disciples stop following Jesus? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does Jesus mean when he calls Simon a devil? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John 12:1-6 reveals Judas’ heart when it comes to money, “Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

What had just happened and what would the conversation be like?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did Mary do? Why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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How does 1 Timothy 6:10 (“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.”) relate to this passage? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why would Jesus allow Judas to handle the money? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Psalm 41:9 prophesizes, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”

John 13:18 adds, “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’”

What is the correlation between these passages? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How is Judas referred to here? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Psalm 55:12-14 continues the thought, “For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We

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used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.”

Can you think of a time when a close friend hurt you or you hurt them? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John 13 contains the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet.

John 13:12-13 says, “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.’”

Verses 26-27 add, “Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.’ So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’”

Did Jesus know Judas was going to betray Him? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did Jesus wash Judas’ feet? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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How does this relate to forgiveness? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Should we forgive someone even though we know they are going to wrong us? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who do you need to forgive right now? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Zechariah 11:12-13 prophesizes, “Then I said to them, ‘If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.’ And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter.”

Matthew 27:3-10 adds, “Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ They said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.’ So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled

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what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.’”

What prophecies are fulfilled in this passage? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Although Judas Iscariot hung himself (Matthew 27:5), Acts 1:18 says, “Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.” MacArthur says, “Judas apparently committed suicide by hanging himself. His body was likely left to decay while hanging and eventually fell and burst open on the rocks.”

No one came for him.

He was a world changer, but he did not leave a legacy.

Whose life have you affected? Whose life will you affect? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Twelve Disciples describes Judas’ personality and character: Greedy (Matthew 26:14-16), deceitful (Matthew 26:25), treacherous (Matthew 26:47-50), and remorseful (Matthew 27:3-5).

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What leadership skills do you see in Judas? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Which trait do you want to develop (or avoid) in your life? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The story of Jonah is one of the more popular stories in the Bible. I was taught about Jonah at a very early age (usually on a felt board). I believe Jonah is still very relevant to our

lives and not just a great story.

Jonah was a prophet. He was established as a man of God, and God used him to speak to His people. Jonah was pretty satisfied where God had him in life. However, God had something awesome for Jonah. It was something scary. It was something out of his comfort zone.

God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh (modern day Persia/Syria, a wicked city and also an enemy of God’s people), “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me” (Jonah 1:2 NIV).

Jonah said, “No way!” He then tried to run from God (I am 99 percent sure God laughs when we think we can run from Him). He fled in the opposite direction to the city of Joppa (a port city in Israel) to jump on a boat and flee to Tarshish (modern day Spain) 2000 miles away from where God wanted him to go.

Jonah probably thought he put one over on God. He takes a victory nap in the bottom of the boat, but God sent a crazy storm. Jonah 1:4 (NIV) says, “Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.”

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The sailors were freaking out, and they wake Jonah and tell him to pray to his God to make the storm stop. Jonah tells the sailors to pick him up and throw him into the sea. The sailors oblige Jonah and toss him over. “So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows” (Jonah 1:15-16).

This is one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible. Jonah was running from God (not doing what he was called to do) and God still used him to save those sailors on the boat. Everything showed them the one true God.

God gives Jonah a new ride, “Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17 NIV). Jonah gives into God, and the fish spits him up on land three days later. I think Jonah ran to Nineveh (I am assuming he ran, three days in a fish will change a man). God then used Jonah to save all of Nineveh. Jonah 3:5 (NIV) summarizes it well, “The Ninevites believed God.”

The story goes on to say that Jonah became angry at God for saving Nineveh.

Jonah sounds a lot like us.

We run from God. We turn to God when we hit rock bottom.Then we get angry at Him after He uses us to change people in the world.

I am thankful God uses us through our faults and failures.

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“F or Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra 7:10

Around 722 BC, the nation of Israel fell to the Assyrian empire and was taken into brutal captivity. While the nation of Judah, just to the south, remained a nation longer (around 586 BC), the Babylonian Empire besieged Jerusalem, and the nation soon fell. The nation of Judah was taken into Babylonian captivity (this is where we get stories of Daniel and his three friends) and for the next several generations that are where they would languish. They experienced quite a fall from the heights of the reigns of David and his son Solomon to now ceasing to being a nation. The people were enslaved or slaughtered, and the temple was pillaged until all that remained was just a shell of its former glory.

The love of the Lord is steadfast. God raised up crucial leaders at pivotal times to preserve and restore His people, among the most important were Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, Esther, and Ezra. Each of them served a particular cause that the Lord had laid out for them. Nehemiah was used to restore the social infrastructure of the city of Jerusalem and thereby the stability of the entire nation. Zerubbabel led the people back to the nearly abandoned nation. Esther rose to the heights of Persian power and preserved the people from a holocaust type execution by the vicious Haman. Ezra was the spiritual leader. The Scripture, throughout the books of Ezra and Nehemiah (probably both written by Ezra), details the

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crucial role of not just social structure and preservation of life, but the nations wholehearted return to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Ezra was both student and teacher. He was a brilliant student of Scripture. The Bible says that he, “…set his heart to study the Law of the Lord….” It was not just to learn for personal pride; he longed to draw the people back to God. Nehemiah chapter 8 records Ezra proclaiming the words of God from “…early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand.” He stood upon “a wooden platform” and without any hesitation called the people to repentance, by simply telling them what God said. According to Nehemiah chapter 9, the people repented.

However, for all of the public ways that God used the priest, Ezra, there is a small phrase in Ezra chapter 7 that must be true of all God’s people. The Scripture says, “…Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Notice Ezra was a brilliant student and powerfully used teacher, but the phrase in between is crucial. He had a personal commitment that he was going to do what God's Word said. He was not simply going to learn what God said and pass that along to others; he was first going to be obedient to the Lord himself.

To truly to be used by God, we must not just hear what He says to do and then pass that along. We must make a personal commitment to be a hearer of the Word and then a doer (James 1:22).

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Do you have a favorite Bible character, I mean, other than Jesus? One of my top 10 would have to be Mary of Bethany. Mary possessed characteristics that I admire and are

somewhat relatable to me. She was a true worshipper in every sense of the word. I have loved serving in some form of worship music ministry since I was 15. It has always been my gifting and passion to lead people into His presence through music. In hindsight, I can see that I did not fully understand what that even meant, or what that required of me. As I have grown spiritually, I have come to realize that true worship is about “being,” more than “doing.” It is about abiding in Christ in our heart and life. When we come together corporately in worship each weekend, everything we do is an act of worship, whether it is singing, giving, listening to the Word of God, or loving on each other. In the past 20 years, it is probably thought of most commonly about music. People love to attend worship concerts by the thousands; it is a huge part of our Christian culture. Anytime we lift up the name and awesomeness of our God, with a pure heart, it is pleasing to our Heavenly Father. Mary understood that a life of worship must flow out of our heart and lives as a true expression of reverence and adoration to our great and awesome God.

In John 12:1-7, we get to take a peek in the window of the home belonging to Mary, her sister Martha, and her recently resurrected brother Lazarus. It is Saturday night, and they are having a dinner together known in the Jewish religion as Shabbat, meaning the end of the Sabbath. Scripture tells us that Jesus was soon to be crucified, but no one else knew. We find Martha very busy as she was the doer, she was busy preparing and serving and worrying

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about the meal as Lazarus was seated right next to Jesus. You can imagine the extra preparation and detail she was putting forth because Jesus was in attendance. Lazarus must have felt great adoration and gratitude toward Jesus because he had recently been in the tomb for four days when Jesus raised him from the dead. Then we see Mary doing what she loved more than anything else, sitting at the feet of Jesus listening intently to every word He spoke. Scripture describes this family as not having any special ministries, gifts, or positions of leadership and yet they caught the attention and heart of Jesus. As Jesus taught, He began telling them that He was going to die. His disciples and the others did not seem to fully comprehend His words, but Mary listened with her heart, and her response was sacrificial and loving. She quickly got up to find her most priceless and precious possession, an expensive bottle of the best perfume. She sat back down and proceeded to break the bottle and spill the ointment on her blessed Savior's feet. She took her long, beautiful hair and washed His feet with the fragrant mixture. This was a beautiful picture of her life that had been broken and spilled out for the love of her Lord. She was criticized by some for expressing her extravagant worship because of the value of the offering. Many people will not understand a life of complete devotion to the Lord. Jesus gently rebuked the others saying that she was preparing Him for His burial, a direct reference to his imminent death.

The broken bottle of perfume poured out on Jesus is a beautiful picture of a broken life that is lavishly spilled out and used up for Him. I love what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:6, “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” Paul died empty; he gave all that he had to the One who had given His all for him. I pray this will be said of me when my time on this Earth is done. I hope this is your prayer, too. Always remember that God is more concerned with our heart of worship than our act of worship.

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Broken and spilled outJust for love of you, JesusMy most precious treasure

Lavished on TheeBroken and spilled outAnd poured at your feet

In sweet abandonLet me be spilled outAnd used up for Thee.

-Gloria Gaither

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In America today, the “wall” has a significant meaning. The President has promised it, others have demanded it, and yet others have demonized it. Many believe it will protect us, while

others feel it separates us from humanity. One thing seems certain; it is polarizing. Your thoughts on this one word can describe your political allegiance. You are either for me or against me.

About twenty-five hundred years ago there was another “wall.” Nehemiah's concern for his people and Jerusalem had produced in him an unending desire to help. Alerted to the need of protection; Nehemiah 1:2-3 records, “Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.’” Nehemiah was moved. The cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia was so burdened that the King himself took notice. Nehemiah 2:1-2 adds, “In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.’ Then I was very much afraid.” So great was Nehemiah's concern for the people that he was sold out by his countenance. To appear sad before the king could cost you your life. Is our concern for the lost so great that someone may notice? If so, what do we do?

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Nehemiah fasted and prayed for the people for days. He sought God’s will for his life. Great leaders have a sense of responsibility for those around them and for those they oversee. Burdened by the need, they will act accordingly. They are not discouraged when opposition arises. The Bible says in Nehemiah 2:19, “But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, ‘What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?’”

Do we become discouraged when those around us do not share our beliefs? You should take comfort in the Bible when it says in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.” Knowing that God is with us should impart strength. Maybe, like Nehemiah, you have been called to be a leader in the church or the community. Will you have the resolve to follow through? Are you being asked to build a bridge instead of a wall? Remember, that through all of the opposition, Nehemiah never forgot where he received his strength. That should bring comfort to us all.

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Mordecai was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar. He had a cousin named Esther who he took as his daughter

after her mother and father died.

The king of that time, Ahasuerus, was looking for a new queen and Esther was selected as one of the women in contention for the role. Mordecai commanded her not to reveal that she was Jewish and would check on her every day to see how she was and what was happening to her. When the time came for Esther to see the king, she won his favor and became the queen.

Mordecai showed his character and loyalty by revealing to Esther about a plot to kill the king.

Esther 2:23 says, “When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.”

Then comes Haman, who held a high office under the king. Haman hated Mordecai because he refused to bow in honor to him which the king had commanded, as he would only bow to the Lord God of Israel. This made Haman furious but he did not want to kill Mordecai alone, so he came up with a plan to kill all the Jews within the kingdom, which the king approved. When Mordecai heard of the decree, he tore his clothing, put on sackcloth and ashes, and mourned.

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When Esther discovered he was mourning, she asked him why. Mordecai told Esther of Haman’s plot against the Jews, telling her to go to the king, beg his favor and plead for the Jews’ lives. Esther knew that if she were to approach the king uninvited the punishment was death. Mordecai told her if she did not go the king, she would be killed anyway because she was a Jew and would not be able to escape. Mordecai then tells the queen this famous statement: Esther 4:14 (NIV) says, “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Mordecai escaped Haman's plan to hang him after the king realized that it was Mordecai who revealed the previous plot to kill him. The king ordered Haman to be hung instead on the very same gallows, and Mordecai was promoted to second in command.

Mordecai's concern and character put him in good standing with the king, and his faithfulness to his Jewish lineage brought the blessing of God. He orchestrated events and was responsible for saving the Jews from being destroyed. He changed their world! His wisdom, along with Esther’s courage, is still celebrated today.

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“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

In our culture, making a difference or serving others, is looked upon as the ultimate path in life, the ultimate sacrifice. We love a story about sacrifice and about serving others. This is the pay it forward generation. It is great to live in a world that highlights that, that sees the good in that, that acknowledges the sacrifice in that.

It is not just our world, but God wants us to serve. It is throughout the Bible:

Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Hebrews 13:2 adds, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

1 Peter 4:9 continues the thought, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Paul says in 1 Timothy 5:10, “And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”

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It is a good work to serve others; it is commanded! So why was Martha rebuked by Jesus for choosing the wrong thing when He was in her home? Luke 10:38-42 says, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”

Martha loved serving others, so much so that it consumed her life. It became a distraction. John McArthur said in his commentary, “The highest priority for believers - the deep, transforming knowledge of God.” Mary was distracted with good things, but distracted nonetheless.

How many times have we distracted ourselves with good things, but we let that take us away from our highest priority? We can serve, we can love, and we can sacrifice, but it means nothing if it is not coming from a transforming knowledge of God. Our service and our love have to come from our deep, overwhelming love of God. We cannot love Him without knowing Him. We cannot leave one behind. We cannot serve without knowing God; we cannot know God and not serve. Martha left behind knowing God, wanting to work her way into His mercy and grace.

What we need is both, to know God and to serve others for Him. That was the reason for Jesus' rebuke. We need both. So do not leave one behind!

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PA U LDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

13

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LESSON 13 PAUL

Also known as: Saul of Tarsus, Saint Paul

Meaning of his name: Saul means “asked for, prayed for.” Paul means “small, humble.”

What significance is there in God changing Saul’s name to Paul?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Books of the Bible written by him: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, (Hebrews?)

Occupation: Tentmaker. Acts 18:1-3 says, “After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.”

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a ‘minister’ or ‘missionary’ have a side job? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Saul’s position is shown while the men are stoning Stephen in Acts 7:58, “Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

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LESSON 13 PAUL

Is it worse to sin yourself or have someone else do it? Is it the same?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 9:1-9 records Saul’s conversion to Christianity, “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

What stands out to you in this story? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is it possible for someone to get saved instantly? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 13 PAUL

Is anyone too far from God? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Whose salvation are you praying for? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 16:23-34 records the story of when Paul and Silas were put in prison for preaching the Gospel, “And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.”

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LESSON 13 PAUL

What were Paul and Silas doing at midnight? Why? How? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does Paul say you have to do to be saved? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who was instantly saved in this passage? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paul’s defense before King Agrippa is recorded in Acts 26:27-29, “‘King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.’ And Agrippa said to Paul, ‘In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?’ And Paul said, ‘Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.’”

Was it crazy for Paul to expect that the King might get saved instantly? Why or why not? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did Paul mean when he said he wished everyone present ‘might become such as I am?’ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 13 PAUL

The king had power, money, women, and everything the world had to offer. What was he missing? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Christianity records what the accepted tradition has for Paul’s death, “Paul and Peter were both martyred in Rome about 66 AD, during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified, upside down at his request, since he did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.” M. E. Rosson adds that Paul was beheaded because he was a Roman citizen. Paul died a martyr’s death. He was and still is a World Changer.

What leadership skills do you see in Paul? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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There are more than 12 different Josephs in the Bible. Some of them have remarkable stories, and some of them have one verse about them. The Joseph we are going to be spending

some time with is Jesus’ father. Not much has been documented about Joseph, and the information we do have on him sometimes contradicts one another. For example, we are not sure who his father is. In Matthew, we read that his father is Jacob. This is what most people know. Then when you read the genealogy in Luke, we learn that his father is Heli. Is one a stepfather and another his birth father? Is one of them an uncle? Does Luke’s genealogy through Mary’s family line making Heil his father-in-law? This is a completely different topic for another time. For someone who raised Jesus, it is shocking how little we know about him. For this devotional, I would like to take some time and discuss what we do know about Joseph. For the sake of all our sanity, I am going to be working out of Matthew instead of hopping around between all the Gospels. Joseph was a carpenter who was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Through a divine action, Mary became pregnant with Jesus. Imagine coming home to find out your wife is pregnant and you are not the father. It is interesting to see what actions follow. In Matthew 1:19 we read, “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.” Divorce is a difficult subject to discuss, so often we avoid this topic. Since I am a single male, I should not be the one to talk about divorce and the difficulties of marriage, but I was around for

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my parents’ divorce and remarriage. Sadly, I do know a thing or two about divorce. Joseph is a world changer for multiple reasons. Could you imagine how different things would be if Joseph did not listen to the angel of the Lord? The childhood of Jesus would be very different if He had to spend one week with Mary and one week with Joseph. As someone who lived a year in a divorce environment, I had the opportunity to learn just how difficult it can be for a child in this situation. We all know what the Bible says about divorce, and if for some reason you do not I will leave a couple of verses for you to read. Mark 10:2-9 says, “And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.’”

If Joseph had ignored the angel, he would have changed the world in a negative way. Instead, he fought the fight of marriage. Divorce is a straightforward way to resolve an issue in a marriage, but it creates problems, too. Sure, for the next couple of years things may be difficult. However, in the end, things get easier. The difficult path is to fight for your marriage even when things get tough and even when things happen that are unexplainable. Marriage is an oath to not only your spouse but to the Lord. If Joseph can make a marriage work, even after his wife gets unexplainably pregnant, then we have very little excuse to go through a divorce. By choosing divorce, we become negative world changers.

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As we have explored the people in the Bible, we have seen how many of them were used by God in extraordinary ways. The man that we are focusing on today is a bit different

from the others we have looked at so far. David, with the help of God, killed Goliath. All that Lazarus managed to do was die at the beginning of the story. I have heard this story a countless number of times whether it was Sunday School or Vacation Bible School but the closer you look the faster this story comes alive.

We are going to start at the beginning. One of the biggest things that this story screams to me is that Jesus was truly wholly God and also wholly man. When Jesus finds out that His friend is sick, He tells His disciples that the illness does not lead to death but that it is all for the glory of God. But instead of running straight to His friend to heal him, which Jesus has already done in front of his disciples, He waits two more days where He was. In that time, Lazarus died, and when Jesus arrives, we see his human side shine through His emotions. Jesus was fully aware that Lazarus was coming back from the dead, but when seeing the pain that death has brought, Jesus weeps. Jesus knows that we brought all of this on ourselves and yet was still moved to the point of tears at the pain that death brings. Jesus then brings Lazarus back to life with such authority that no one could discount the fact that God sent Him.

As I read this story for probably the fiftieth time, one of the simplest biblical truths exploded in my life. That truth is that Lazarus is not the only one that Jesus raised from the dead. I have struggled my whole life with the fact that I do not have a crazy powerful testimony. My

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family is filled with godly examples of marriage, and my parents have had me in church my entire life. I accepted Jesus when I was seven years old, and for as long as I can remember, I have had hope. It was not until I found this truth that I realized how amazing my testimony is. I have no idea what it means to have a loved one die and not have the hope that I get to see them some day in Heaven. You see, we are all sinners, and the price for that sin is death, but Jesus came and nailed your sin and my sin to the cross. Jesus took us from the hopeless death that this world has for us, and He resurrected us, giving us hope and peace in our new lives with Him. I may not have a testimony that most people would consider powerful, but I thank God every day that I do not know what it is like to live dead in my sin and it is all because Lazarus was not the only one that Jesus raised from the dead. He raised me, too.

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L uke 2:36-38 says, “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven

years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Luke 2:22-35 prefaces Anna’s story to tell us that Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple for dedication. As Simeon is blessing the child, Anna happens along. This is where we learn all we know about Anna in these three verses. She is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible.

Anna was married for seven years. Her husband died, and she never remarried. The rest of her life was spent living at the temple. She was present in the temple when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to be dedicated, as was the Jewish custom. She saw and heard Simeon bless the child and then told everyone she knew that the Messiah had arrived.

What can we learn from this? Anna was a godly woman. She was a “prophetess,” a female prophet, which means one who publicly proclaims the Word of God. She “worshipped with fasting and prayer night and day.” She very much looked forward to the coming of the Promised One, the Messiah. So when Jesus was brought to the temple and with Simeon, she immediately knew this

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was the Messiah. She heard the blessing given by Simeon, then went “to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” She was the first missionary, the first person to witness Jesus and go to others to spread the Good News!

Anna was from the “tribe of Asher,” known for their faithfulness and belief in God. Likely from an early age, she was taught Scripture, learning the Old Testament and about the coming of the Messiah. Her faith continued throughout her years at the temple, studying Scripture, praying, and by being close to Simeon and following his teachings. When Jesus arrived at the temple, Simeon and Anna both immediately recognized this was the Messiah. What a joy it must have been for both of them to see their Messiah, in the flesh, before their time on earth was done. They were both advanced in years, and probably beginning to wonder if they would see the Messiah before they died. God was faithful and fulfilled His promise to Simeon (Luke 2:26).

Widows typically lived in poverty, and this is likely why Anna lived and worked at the temple. She would have lived a simple, frugal life after her husband died, quietly devoting her remaining days to the work at the temple. Because she fasted AND prayed, night and day, it shows her focus was solely on God, seeking Him, knowing Him. She was eager to hear from God. In turn, she shared her knowledge with other women at the temple. Also, the temple was a large place, hustling and bustling with people all the time. Anna happened upon Simeon and Jesus at just the right moment, “coming up at that very hour.” There are no coincidences! God orchestrated these events perfectly!

She saw the Messiah one time but spent her remaining days telling everyone about her encounter. Do you spend your remaining days telling everyone about your encounter with Jesus?

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Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Just as Anna and Simeon awaited Christ’s first coming, all of us are to be faithful and eagerly await Christ’s second coming.

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Some characters in the Bible are hard to contextualize. They appear and disappear so quickly that it can be difficult to figure out why they are even mentioned. Nicodemus is one

of those people. Nicodemus only appears in the Gospel of John on three occasions, but through those mentions, a spectacular lesson is taught.

We first see Nicodemus in John 3:1-2, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.’”

Nicodemus was obviously intrigued by Jesus as a teacher, but Nicodemus was not so bold as to come to Jesus publically because there would no doubt have been a severe level of push back from the elite group of religious leaders with which he was in association. So, Nicodemus comes to ask his questions at night, when no one can see him. Nicodemus and Jesus have a very interesting conversation about being born again, and it leaves Nicodemus quite confused and unsure.

However, Nicodemus obviously continued to consider this encounter and eventually came to believe Jesus' teaching enough that he was willing to speak on Jesus’ behalf to the other Pharisees.

In John 7:50-51 Nicodemus speaks out concerning the validity of the actions taken against Jesus by the religious leaders. “Nicodemus,

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who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, ‘Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?’”

Nicodemus is still battling some uncertainty as the religious leaders pursue the crucifixion of Jesus, but he is open to Jesus being the Messiah. However, Nicodemus had a lot to lose by accepting Jesus completely. He would be ostracized from the only society he had ever known.

After Nicodemus speaks out, we do not see him again until after the death of Jesus in John 19:38-40. “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”

After the death of Jesus, Nicodemus was finally ready to make his choice. Nicodemus became a public participant in the burial of the very man his cohorts had just put to death and in doing so, he also violated his oath as a member of the Sanhedrin to never touch a dead body. In these final words concerning Nicodemus, we see that he cares more about Jesus than he does about religion. Nicodemus had cast off the shackles of religious elitism and replaced them with the freedom found through faith in Jesus.

This can be a huge lesson for us. Often we grapple with emphasizing our preferences, and we forget that our lives should focus on faith in and service to Jesus, not our religion. As we let go of our religious

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feelings and embrace a life of service to Jesus, our barriers will break down making way for a life of true freedom devoted to a risen Savior.

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The Bible is full of people who changed the world. Some have made a difference in positive ways, some negative. Some did it in obvious ways, others not so obvious. Then there

are the guys who kind of fall in the middle of all of those categories. Pontius Pilate was one of those guys. Pilate was governor of the Roman province of Judea. The Romans ruled many territories and placed their chosen leadership in conquered or ruled lands, and Pilate was their guy during Jesus’ ministry. He was very important in Judea, but how was he a world changer?

There is value in looking a little deeper into his life. Caiaphas, the High Priest, along with many others who hated Jesus and wanted to see Him killed, took their case to Pilate, knowing that he had the final say in the matter. But Pilate was not so sure. The Bible tells us in John 18 (and in all of the other Gospels) that Pilate lobbied for the release of Jesus because he did not see any fault in Him. The crowd roared in rage at these statements, because they wanted blood. He had a choice to make- should he defy the crowd and release an innocent man, or order His crucifixion? Pilate was in the decision-making chair, and he held the precious life of Jesus Christ in his hands. Or so he thought. In John 19:10-11a we see Pilate asking Jesus, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.” Jesus makes a ground breaking statement to a Roman ruler here, telling him that he had no authority over Him. We can go back and forth

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over the story of whether or not Pilate should have released Jesus (I would encourage you to read John chapters 18 and 19), but we always should come to the same conclusion. Pilate was put in place to be used by God to save our sins. You see, Pilate did not sentence Jesus to death, Jesus willingly laid His life down. John 10:17-18 (NIV) shows us the words of Jesus, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” Jesus is clear that He has the authority and He loves you and me so much that He laid down His life for us. Pilate did not take it, and neither did the Romans soldiers who put the spikes through His hands or the Jews who demanded they do so. Jesus came to this earth on a mission and Pilate was put in place to help complete the mission of God. Now he may have thought he had the authority, but ultimately Jesus gives and takes authority. I am not sure what is happening in your life today, but the word I want you to think about it trust. Trust in God's plan. It may not be what you think it should be, but trust me when I tell you that God's plan is perfect. Every detail is thought out and has been ordained before the foundations of the world. There are no surprises to God. Pilate was put in place to change the world, and some may have thought he missed his opportunity. However, I am here today to tell you he changed my world by playing a part in the shedding of the blood that paid for my sin and I am forever thankful for the blood that was shed for me.

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Throughout the day, we encounter numerous people through exchanging a glance, smile, nod, or sentiment. Hopefully, somewhere in there we are noticing the overlooked by opening

a door for someone that we do not know, expressing gratitude and kindness to a restaurant server, or blessing someone who has had a bad day. Our days are filled with good or bad responses because even a non-response is a response! But take it up a notch, how do we respond to the friend who speaks encouragement or the spouse who continually forgives? What is our response toward the parent who still provides or your pastor who speaks the truth? When we receive and understand the value of these gifts, we likely want to reciprocate with a gift or blessing! Consider the person who never stops laying it all out for you. This person pours out unmerited and undeserved favor, forgives you when the world would rather write you off, restores your life to a greater place than you can imagine, constantly prays for you, teaches you what life is really about, helps you become the person you were designed to be, is with you wherever you go, and always out blesses anything you could ever do for Him. Please do not forget; He proved His love by dying for you. Pause for a moment to think about all that Jesus Christ has done in your life. What is your response?

When we take a glimpse into the life of Joanna, we see her response to Jesus very clearly. Luke 8:1-3 introduces Joanna as the wife of Chuza, the household manager of Herod Antipas, the ruler over Galilee. She lived in Herod’s court in an upscale atmosphere of wealth and worldliness, but interestingly, this affluent woman was healed of some spiritual or physical disease by Jesus. He changed her life!

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So, how did Joanna respond? She joined His ranks! She was sold out for Jesus! Joanna was with Jesus, the twelve disciples, and a few other women traveling. Luke 8 records, “Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God” (verse 1). But she wanted to do more for Jesus; so, she did. Joanna supported His ministry out of her means (verse 3), and she was present at Jesus' resurrection with Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James (Luke 23:55; 24:10). Whether her faith cost her greatly or little in her marriage or Herod's court is unknown; however, Joanna's response to Jesus was one of adoration, allegiance, and action. This high-ranking woman became a part of Christ's intimate circle with fishermen and the poor rather than the rich and powerful. What was God's response to her determined dedication to His Son? He honored Joanna by making her one of the first witnesses of the Resurrection. It is incredible!

As I ponder Joanna’s example, I see a life that sought to do more for Christ because of what He first did for her. The only possible response for Joanna was to do all she could through every effort and by all means available to be an intimate follower of Jesus, to further His kingdom, to share the Gospel. She was willing to risk it all because she knew what He did for her and she knew who He was. Joanna was uncompromised. Joanna was unwavering. Joanna was unrestrained for the sake of her Savior. Our response to Jesus Christ should reflect the same.

I pray that you are as encouraged and exhorted as I am through Joanna’s example. Run hard, Christian, that you may not look back at the end of your life and regret that you could have followed closer, gave more, and loved greater the One who gave it all for you.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 NKJV

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B A R N A B A SDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

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LESSON 14 BARNABAS

Also known as: Joseph

Meaning of his name: Joseph (may God add), Barnabas (son of encouragement)

Who are some of the best encouragers you know? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does it take to be a good encourager? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Occupation: Levite (priest?)

In Acts 4:36-37, Barnabas was an encouragement to others through his finances, “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.”

Who did Barnabas give the money to? Who was it for? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Has someone ever anonymously (pay it forward) blessed you?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 14 BARNABAS

How can we anonymously bless others? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In Acts 9:26-27, it is Barnabas who comes to defend Saul (Paul) after his conversion, “And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” John Maxwell Makes three points on how Barnabas used The Law of Empowerment in this passage. First, he believed in Paul before anyone else did. Second, he endorsed Paul’s leadership to other leaders. Third, he empowered Paul to reach his potential. Maxwell adds, “Only secure leaders give power to others.”

Do you tend to see the good in people? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 15:35 shows Paul and Barnabas as a team, “But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.”

What gifts did Barnabas have? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 14 BARNABAS

What gifts do you have? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In Acts 15:37-40, Paul and Barnabas disagree, “Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.”

How willing are you to give someone a second chance? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Galatians 2:11-14 reports Paul disagreeing with Cephas (Peter) and how it affected Barnabas, “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?’”

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LESSON 14 BARNABAS

What happens in this passage? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did anyone do anything wrong? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the difference between sinning by commission and sinning by omission? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church states that certain Jews “being highly exasperated at his extraordinary success, fell upon him as he was disputing in the synagogue, dragged him out, and, after the most inhumane tortures, stoned him to death.” Barnabas finished strong. He was a World Changer.

What leadership skills do you see in Barnabas? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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“But they all cried out together, ‘Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas’— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started

in the city and for murder. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.” Luke 23:18-19, 25

Barabbas represents mankind. The Bible explains to us that Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, yet the crowd wanted His death. Jesus stood in his place; he stands in place for us, too. Barabbas’ life is a story of a murderer, terrorist, and a man who, according to the text, started an insurrection. Some reference’s also state that Barabbas could even have been a freedom fighter.

Jesus shed blood is a true picture of the immense sacrifice He made for us. There is nothing we can do here on our own to gain eternal life. God sacrificed His One and Only Son for us. We never hear anything else about Barabbas. I wonder, did Barabbas follow Jesus and watch the crucifixion? Did he become a believer?

Look at him; he committed every wrong he could. We, too, are as undeserving as Barabbas. Jesus died and stood in our place. We owe it all to Him. We do not have to wonder why Jesus did this for us. It is about love because He loves us no matter how we disappoint Him, and no matter how many times. Sin has been with us since Adam and Eve, yet God wants us to be with Him in eternity. So His love for us is never ending. He made the ultimate sacrifice.

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He died for our sins: past, present, and future. God is mercy and grace. Jesus stepped in for Barabbas and us; His sacrifice was out of love.

If we have accepted Him as Savior, we have been cleared of all our sin by Jesus’ death. This is what gives us eternal life. We are made to experience God’s love and glory. What are we doing for Him? Do not have people wondering what you did with your life. Be a world changer. Make a difference.

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

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Did your parents have to tell you twice to do some things? Mine sure did. It was usually regarding chores, and I cannot recall specifically the reason I did not do whatever it was on

the first asking, but it was probably due to laziness. Maybe I thought they would forget, but they never did.

In the book of Acts, we read of three men named Ananias. Acts chapter 5 records one that was struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit and Acts chapter 23 has Paul appealing before a high priest with the same name. However, in-between we find another Ananias recorded in Acts chapter 9. According to Paul, in fact, this Ananias was a “devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews” (Acts 22:12 KJV). Perhaps his devout character is what allowed him to be uniquely used by God. Acts 9:10-19 records the story for us, “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias departed and entered the house.

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And laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.”

Did you read it? In verses 11 and 15 the Lord tells him to “go.” Granted he was being asked to lay hands on the notorious Saul of Tarsus, a man who according to verse 13 was doing evil to the saints in Jerusalem. I think I would have hesitated also. Ananias, just like me in my youth, complied on the second asking and are we not glad he did. What a life after conversion Paul led. The result was that he had the honor of being used to remove the scales and preside over the public profession of the inward change that occurred in Saul, whose name became Paul. Oh, I am sure that God’s plan would have been accomplished with or without Ananias, but what a privilege it was, and is, to be used in the plans of God.

I came to realize that my earthly parents did not mean anything bad when they asked me to do my chores. They were simply teaching me lessons that were crucial to my development as a productive member of the family. What a parallel we have when we think of how our good, good heavenly Father wants to make us productive members of His family as well. We would do well to learn the lesson quickly that listening to God the first time He asks, is always a good thing.

How quickly do you comply with God?

What lessons are you struggling to learn because you resist the asking from God?

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Please remember dear Christian, God always wants the absolute best for us His children. Listen, obey, and think of the privilege it is to be used by God for His purposes.

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I wish I had learned the value of putting myself in the character’s place when reading the Bible a long time ago. Taking the time to imagine things, like wandering in a desert for 40 years, relying on

daily manna to fall from the sky, and confronting a giant with only a sling shot and stones, has made the Bible come alive to me. It has helped me connect with the people and their struggles in ways I never imagined. I believe it started when I was asked to portray the ‘woman with a blood issue' in the Passion Play. Buried in the books of Mark (5:25-34) and Luke (8:40-48), between incredible stories like healing a paralytic and raising a little girl from the dead, there is a little story about a lowly, unnamed woman with a chronic medical condition. In her culture, bleeding made her an outcast, isolated from everyone. Not only was she broken physically and emotionally, but spiritually as she was not permitted to attend the temple and worship her God. Hopeless and desperate, she has an encounter with Jesus that would change her forever and place her among the world changers of the Bible. From this story, we learn much about receiving healing from The Healer. First, we must believe in the healing power of Jesus Christ. Mark's account of the story tells us the woman spent her entire life savings seeing many physicians over a period of 12 years. Not only did she not find a cure, she “suffered much…was no better…and grew worse” (5:26). She placed all her confidence in the latest medical treatments, recommended by flawed doctors. Finally, after hearing reports about Jesus, she made the decision to place her faith in Jesus. One touch of the Healer and immediately her bleeding stopped. Jesus said to her: “Daughter, your faith has made you

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well” (5:34). If you focus on the physical healing, you risk missing something much greater, her spiritual healing. This is THE moment she receives Christ as her personal Savior. Jesus claims her as His child, adopted into the family of God. He teaches that the key to all healing is faith. In what or who are you placing your faith? How long will it take for you to realize there is only One who can meet your need? Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” The second truth we learn is that we must pursue the Healer. After many physicians and treatments, this woman had no reason to believe there was any hope. I can only imagine the discouraging thoughts she must have battled. In the play, I had two friends escorting me, helping me push through the crowd. The entire time they were discouraging me and listed all the reasons I should just give up: there are too many people, Jairus, the rich leader, has asked for help, you are unclean, and the Rabbi would never help you. With friends like those, who needs the enemy. I am certain she had to quench voices within and without. She knew that to experience Jesus' healing power, she would have to do more than being part of the curious crowd. She needed a personal encounter. So she took captive every thought and made them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and she pursued Jesus with all her heart, all her soul, and all her mind (Matthew 22:37). Have you allowed deceit to plague your thoughts or have you realized the importance of knowing the truth to battle them? Have you fallen prey to the voices that tell you God is not concerned for you? Have you become content listening to a good message filled with examples of how your pastor is experiencing a real God or have you decided to pursue Him personally? Matthew 6:33 says: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

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Finally, the most important lesson: proclaim the Healer. When the woman touched Jesus and realized she was healed, she remained quiet and seemed to try to go unnoticed. But Jesus publicly called her out, demanding to know who touched Him. Jesus wanted the crowd to hear her testimony. This is how a believer becomes a world changer. The purpose for our pain and life-changing encounter with Christ is to share it with the lost and broken. If it remains hidden, it is all in vain.

Do not stop with a personal experience with Christ! SHARE THE WEALTH!

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Cornelius was a Roman Centurion who feared God. Most Romans believed in many different gods, but Acts chapter 10 tells us that Cornelius believed in the one true God. The

Lord sends him a vision and in it tells him to send for Peter to come to his house. So he sends men to get Peter, and as the men were approaching the city, Peter has a vision as well. The details are very interesting, and I encourage you to read all of Acts chapter 10, but the basic message of the vision is found in verse 15. Acts 10:15 says, “And the voice came to him again a second time, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’” Peter did not fully understand what God was saying to him until he returned with Cornelius' men to Cornelius' house. When Peter arrives at Cornelius' house, he finds Cornelius, his relatives, and close friends all awaiting his arrival. It is at this point that Peter understands the vision from God.

Acts 10:34-36 says, “So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all).’”

Peter begins to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Up until this point, Jewish people had considered the gentiles unclean. However, God reveals to Peter that His Kingdom is for all people, and Peter responds by preaching right away to Cornelius and his friends and family. As Peter is preaching the Gospel, something amazing begins to happen.

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Acts 10:44-48 says, “While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ‘Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.”

Everyone in the house who heard the Word was saved, the power of the Holy Spirit fell upon them, they got baptized, and they began to proclaim the work that Christ had just done in their lives. This would have been such an amazing and powerful moment to be a part of for Cornelius. When we think about world changers in the Bible, Cornelius needs to be towards the top of the list for us Gentiles (anyone who is not Jewish). It was at the house of Cornelius that we see God pouring out His love to the Gentiles, and making it known to Peter that they needed to share the Gospel with everyone! The lesson that Peter learned is so powerful in our lives as well. God loves every single person on earth, and He desires for every single person to be saved. In this day and age hate is so rampant throughout our culture and our churches. We would rather be the one to judge someone, than love someone. Scripture tells us that God is the one who judges, and commands us to love one another. In Peter's mind, the Gentiles were unclean people, and God had to reveal to Peter that He shows no partiality. Anyone who believes in the work of Christ and surrenders their life to Christ can be saved. The account of Cornelius shows us, “that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). We just need to be willing, as Peter was, to share the hope of Christ with all those people. There are people that the world deems as “unclean,”

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and there are people that the church deems as “unclean,” but we cannot avoid those people. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, they can all be made holy in the eyes of God.

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“F or Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.”

2 Timothy 4:10

The present world was having such a draw, Demas could not resist. By all indications, he was an aristocrat from Thessalonica, who would have brought many skills with him. By his name alone, Demas (meaning “popular” in Greek), we have some insight into the man. He was a man of many means, most likely a gentile of higher learning. He was someone that would draw others to himself. Not unlike Paul, he would have stood out in a crowd! What happened?

One thing is for certain; he must have faced the same persecution that Paul had during their time together. The hardships they faced must have brought them closer together. Seemingly inseparable, they faced the same challenges day in and day out. As we know from Scripture, Paul took nothing from the church but would finance his work with his hands. Would he have expected anything different from his team? Probably not.

Some would say that Demas was not saved.

1 John 2:19 says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

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However, I believe he was. Demas spent almost five years with Paul. The demands of the 1st century would have taken a non-believer out of action rather quickly. Facing real persecution and possibly death, they would have chosen another line of work. So, what happened? Did he succumb to sin, or was the temptation of a more comfortable life more than he could resist? Was there a disagreement with Paul? The Bible never says. All we know is that Demas was not there at the end of Paul’s life.

We see the same thing happen today. People who appear to be the strength of the church, disappear. We will often ask, “What happened to them?” Never really knowing the full story, we assume the worst. At times it could not be further from the truth. In an attempt to meet the needs of the many, those in ministry can and do burn out. Long hours, spiritual battles, and emotional needs of others will leave them a shell of their former selves. By not maintaining their own needs, they become ineffective to others.

By not saying “no,” their family and others pay the price! Whether you are staff or volunteer, make wise use of your time. Biblical priorities must be set and followed for the enemy is seeking to destroy you!

1 Peter 5:8 warns, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

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Yesterday I had coffee with a friend who is a new believer. We meet every week to study and discuss some of the main fundamentals of our faith in Christ, and it is an absolute joy

for me to see her learn and grow in God's Word. After we finished our lesson, we got to chatting about how we can share Christ with others. She shared with me that she has someone very close to her who is sick with cancer, and she does not know Jesus. She knows ‘of’ Jesus, she knows some of His teachings, but she does not believe that He is the ONLY way to be saved. “I think you are her person” was the first thing that came into my head and out of my mouth. My friend was silent and quietly flipped through a prayer journal that she kept and showed me what she wrote that same morning, “I think I am her person.” Do you not love it when God uses us to do His work? In this case, my job was simply to encourage a friend. God was already nudging her in a specific direction and then sent me in to nudge her again. Her job is to plant the seed in her loved one’s heart that Jesus is the Messiah, and pray that one day soon that seed will blossom. Of course, my friend wants nothing more than to see that happen, but as we talked, I could see the worry on her face. Worry screamed, “I am not equipped for this!” and “how could God use me for such an important job? I barely know the basics!” Have you ever felt like this? I know I have! But one thing that I am often reminded of is that God equips those He calls, and He loves to use the ordinary underdogs to change the world.

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In the Gospel of John, chapter 4, we are introduced to a Samaritan woman. The Samaritans were considered “half-breeds,” part Israelite part foreigner, and were universally hated by the Jews. In verse 6, we find her at a well when Jesus happens upon her. Now not only was she a Samaritan and a woman, but she was also a woman with a pretty bad reputation, known to be living in sin. No respectable Jewish man would ever talk to such a woman, but Jesus did. Does that not just sound like Him? He was and is always breaking barriers and social norms to reach those that He loves, reminding us that the Gospel is for EVERYONE! Jesus asks the woman for a drink, which confuses her: “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (John 4:9). He then goes on to tell her that while that well offers physical water, He offers “living water.” In verse 14 Jesus says, “Whoever drinks of the water…will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” It took a few minutes of conversing with Jesus for her to understand what He was talking about, but when she got it, she knew she wanted to tell everyone about it! She immediately dropped her water jug, ran to town, and told others about Jesus, urging them to come and talk with Him. As Christians, we are called to share the Gospel with others. Perhaps just like my friend, God has placed a specific person or group of people on your heart to be “their person.” Maybe you are fearful that you do not have the adequate tools to go to work. Maybe you feel embarrassed by things that you have done in the past, wondering why anyone would ever listen to someone like you. But look at the Samaritan woman! She immediately dropped her baggage and told everyone she knew about Christ, despite her background, despite her reputation, despite her lack of knowledge. See what happens. “Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony…And many more believed because of His word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of

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what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’” (John 4:39-42). Be encouraged. Plant those seeds. Tell others about Christ and let His words do the watering. The harvest is ripe!

T I M O T H YDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

15

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LESSON 15 TIMOTHY

Also known as: None

Meaning of his name: Honoring God

What does it mean to honor God? How can it be done? When? Where? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Books of the Bible written by him: None (1 & 2 Timothy to him)

Occupation: Pastor

Acts 16:1-2 says, “Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.”

2 Timothy 1:5 adds, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

What was Timothy’s spiritual heritage like? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is your spiritual heritage? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 15 TIMOTHY

Is there anyone you need to thank? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paul speaks highly of Timothy in Philippians 2:19-24, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.”

What does Paul say about Timothy? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who do you know like him? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In 1 Corinthians 4:17 Paul again describes Timothy, “That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.”

Who can say this about you? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 15 TIMOTHY

In whom do you want to invest? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In 1 Corinthians 16:10-11, reminds others to treat Timothy well, “When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.”

What does Paul mean when he says, “he is doing the work of the Lord?” _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How were they to treat him? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How does that relate today? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In 1 Timothy 3:2-13, Paul explains to Timothy what qualifications he should look for in overseers and deacons, “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with

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all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”

John Maxwell points out several qualities of a spiritual leader: blameless, husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not quarrelsome, not greedy, not covetous, rules his own house well, and not a novice.

Which qualifications stand out to you? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What qualification do you want to develop? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 15 TIMOTHY

Timothy was a World Changer. Christianity records, “After Timothy had visited Paul at Rome, he returned to Ephesus, where he continued to govern the church as its bishop, without the least interruption, for a considerable time, till at length he fell a victim to the malice of the pagans, who were his most inveterate enemies. These heathen made a great feast, in the celebration of which they carried in procession the images of their idols, being all masked, and armed with clubs and other offensive weapons. Timothy, seeing the procession, was so irritated at their idolatry and superstition, that he rushed in among them in order to stop their proceedings; upon which they immediately fell upon him, and, with their clubs, beat him in so unmerciful a manner that he soon expired.” Timothy hated sin but loved people. He died trying to save them.

What leadership skills do you see in Timothy? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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Ezekiel, You are the start to the greatest blessing God has ever given me, our family. Your mom and I were just talking about me

having to learn to be a family man the hard way. At one point I was open to the idea of being single for the rest of my life, and then God saw fit to let your mother fall in love with me. A few years later God saw fit to bless me with your brother, and then on February 16, 2017, God saw fit to bless me with you. Sadly, my family never gave me a blueprint on how to be a godly husband or a godly father. Sadly, you very well might be the first, second-generation Jesus follower that our family tree has. Do not take this as an opportunity to judge your family, but realize you and your brother are something special, and I will do everything in my power to show you how to live for Jesus.

In the Gospels, there was a man by the name of Herod the Great. Herod was the Roman client king of Judea. Herod’s power over all of Judea was artificial because the Roman government had given it to him. When Herod heard stories about the coming of Jesus the true King of kings, Herod feared he would lose his authority and attempted to kill Jesus. Son, when you read the Bible, make sure you take the whole thing in context and connect the dots. Genealogy is important, do not skip it. If we fast forward to this Herod’s grandson, we see a man by the name of Agrippa. He is showcased in Acts 25 and 26. We see Paul pleading for his life in front of many men who want him dead. A man named Festus put Paul’s case in front of Agrippa. After hearing all the allegations before

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him, Paul was fearless and was able to defend his faith to the point of evangelizing to an entire room of enemies. In the end, Agrippa found Paul innocent and even scolded Festus for imprisoning him. It is hard to imagine, but I have always been curious if there was a change in Herod’s family. Herod was so much against Jesus that he was willing to kill babies to keep his power. Fast-forward two generations, Agrippa has one of the world’s most renowned church planter before him, and he lets him go. I could not tell you if there was a change in this man or not, but what I do know is that we are not chained to the mistakes of our forefathers.

Son, I have no idea what this world holds for you. I do not have the slightest clue what decisions you will have to make to stay true to God's Word. Watching the news scares me. Spending time on Twitter or Facebook, causes me to lose sleep thinking about the strength it is going to take for you to stay true to God. The one thing I do know, you get to choose your path with God. Not me, not the world, not our past, nothing on this Earth dictates your desire to live for Jesus. Son, I ask one simple thing, help me start a new branch for our family. Jesus has started an amazing work in you and your brother. You are going to be something that our family tree has never seen. Help me start a limb that lives for Jesus with passion and zeal. Help me grow a branch that does not succumb to alcohol or addiction. Help me break the cycle and start a new heritage with Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” If Jesus is capable of making a person new, He is capable of making a family new, but only if you push after Him. It only happens if you see how great your life will be living for Christ. Son, never let yesterday affect your tomorrow; that is one lesson I learned very late in life. So, what great blessings await you, your sons, or your son’s sons?

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Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 - “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 - “Because, 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.”

Romans 10:13 - “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The above passages all come from the well known “Romans Road to Salvation.” Many of us have been taught to use this to present the Gospel to someone and show them the path to salvation. This is the very foundation upon which all Christians live. One of the key pieces in the Scripture here is that Christ died for us. He took our sin and bled His blood for it.

We have been looking at World Changers in the Bible recently, and I would like to take a quick look at Caiaphas. Caiaphas played a pretty key role in fulfilling God’s ultimate plan.

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Matthew 26:57 says, “Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.” Here, and in several other places in the Bible, we learn that Caiaphas was the high priest at the time that Jesus died on the cross. Hebrews 5:1 explains what a high priest does, “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” Before Jesus becoming the final sacrifice, the high priest would offer sacrifices to God for man's sin.

John 11:47-53 says, “So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, ‘What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.’ He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.”

Several scholars conclude that it was Caiaphas who, unknowingly, made the incredible prophecy concerning God's plan of sacrificing Jesus for the sins of the nation and even the whole world (John 11:49-50). Also, it was Caiaphas who ultimately sent Jesus to Pilate to be sentenced to death. I believe this shows a picture that God can use us to help fulfill His plan and help change the world, whether we know that we are a part of it or not.

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The truth can often be uncomfortable. The noise and business of this world can make us want to hunker down pretending we are in control of our lives (or at least try to make it look like

we are) instead of genuinely owning where we truly are. Challenging our brothers and sisters in truth can be even tougher and sometimes very confrontational. Pilate’s wife, Claudia (as historians have noted), was in this situation.

In Matthew 27, we learn about Pilate handing Jesus over to be crucified. Pilate knew why Jesus was imprisoned. He knew that the priests were jealous of this popular teacher and they wanted Him dead. The crowd, there at the Feast, was calling for Jesus' blood and they wanted Him crucified. As a Roman governor, Pilate held some political power which he was not willing to risk over some man in prison. Scripture tells us that Pilate’s conscience even knew Jesus was innocent, but he was not going to rock the boat and put his occupation on the line for Jesus. Pilate’s wife even came to him while he was on the judgment seat calling for Jesus’ release saying, “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man.” She was convinced that Jesus was blameless because of a troubling dream she had that day. I am sure that Pilate’s wife wanted what was best for her husband and that she also knew the “popular” choice was not to let Jesus go free. However, that did not stop her from speaking truth to her husband who was in a position to do something about it.

Her efforts could have persuaded her husband and cost him his job and status. It could have cost her the comfortable lifestyle to

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which she had become accustomed. However, she pleaded the truth just the same. Pilate in the end just decided to walk away from the situation. He seemed to think he could relieve himself from the circumstances by turning Jesus over to the crowd and washing his hands of the whole situation.

Have you ever been in a position where making a stand was hard? Maybe the right choice was not the popular choice, and you felt the weight of what you could lose from speaking the truth? Maybe it was to a friend or someone in your family, or even to yourself? Sometimes speaking the truth is not the marketable option and sometimes appears it is just easier to do nothing.

Claudia had a dream. She knew it was real. She challenged her husband. Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Zechariah 8:16 adds, “These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace.”

Love and mercy are essential, but there are times we need to step up and speak up.

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There is a small short book in the New Testament called Philemon. It has only one chapter, so it is not a long read. The story that it tells is that of forgiveness. It is a powerful story

indeed. Before you read this short devotion, I would encourage you to read the book.

The early church did not meet in a big elaborate cathedral or adorned buildings; often they met in fellow believers’ homes. Philemon was one of those early church believers that did this. Paul speaks very highly of Philemon, and you soon see that he is a world changer in his involvement with Paul and other churches in the area.

Paul says, “…because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints… for I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”

Philemon was a man that did much in helping his fellow believers, whether it was from his wealth, home, or other resources, it is known that he gave them to honor Jesus and God.

Paul then pleads with Philemon on behalf of a man named Onesimus, who was most likely a former servant of Philemon. There was a wrong that took place between Onesimus and Philemon which Paul references, “Yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my

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imprisonment… for this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.”

I find myself reflecting on these words and wondering what Philemon must have felt. A man that had most likely done something wrong to him had come to know Christ in prison with Paul; now they were face to face again. This story may seem like a distant story of two people that were able to work out their differences. However, as I reflect I have to examine who it is in my own life that I might need to approach and ask for forgiveness, or maybe even harder, forgive. The real-life application for me in this is that last phrase, “charge that to my account.” That is exactly what Christ did for us on the cross. How then in our world of processing right and wrong can we not do the same for others? If Christ charges all of our wrongs to His account, does it not seem foolish to withhold forgiveness to others?

Paul concludes it well, “Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.”

May the prior statement be said about me! Examine this story and apply it to your own life, maybe you can see the power of forgiveness like never before.

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I am the oldest of two children in my family. My sister graduated from Taylor University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and she is planning on going to Trinity College in Ireland for the fall

of 2017 to receive her Masters in Philosophy with a specialization in peace making. To say the least, I am very proud of her, but at the same time, I am jealous of what she has achieved. I am 23 and just skated by in high school. By the grace of God, I was accepted and attended Liberty University to study political science, but I was not welcomed back. I then joined the Navy where I fixed aircraft and went on many deployments and detachments. I do not have a degree, I do not have a fancy title (besides “the Intern”), and I do not feel as proud of what I have done as I probably should. I can only imagine what James, the half-brother of Jesus felt. His brother was perfect, never sinned. He became a teacher and a preacher who went forth to proclaim the Gospel and died for the sins of the world. James was His brother. Even on the cross, Jesus looks to John and tells John, not James, to take care of His mother, Mary. So when I was asked to write these devotions on world changers in the Bible, I can only thank and praise God for this opportunity. James in his letter to the twelve tribes of Israel wrote about faith, and how faith is defined by what we do. Today, and back then, this idea of being justified by faith and not through works is somewhat controversial. James knew that faith in Christ and what he had done is how one is saved, but to have a real God act and move in our real lives we need to work. In James Chapter 2, the infamous verse 17 says, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James comes to us with a simple idea, the idea that through our

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works our faith should be known. I encourage you to read James 2:14-26 to see the whole passage where James defends and promotes this idea. Like Jesus, we are to be seen and act upon our faith. Who will be benefitted if we hide our faith? Like the light hidden under the bushel, or the light house on the shore with its light off during a storm, we would be worthless. We hurt our relationship with Him and with others. Throughout our lives, we will look at others and see what they are doing and feel discouraged. Do not let the lives of others dictate how we are to love Him and affect our doing the work of Christ.

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The account of Ananias and Sapphira found in Acts chapter 5 is sure to instantly increase your reverence for the Lord. It is important for us to remember that it takes place

during the formative days of the early church. Here is a quick fly over. The first chapter of Acts opens with Jesus giving His final words and promising the Holy Spirit before ascending to Heaven. Then, the disciples and other believers meet in the upper room, dedicate themselves to prayer, and choose Matthias to replace Judas as the twelfth disciple. Acts chapter 2 takes us to the day of Pentecost, where the believers were together when the Holy Spirit fell upon them, they began speaking in other languages, and Peter preached his first sermon exhorting the crowd to repent and be baptized which led to a total of 3,000 conversions. Then, this newly established, first church, devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, in food and prayer, and they had all things in common. They sold their possessions and shared what they had with those who were in need within the household of faith. They had generous hearts, worshiped God, had favor with one another, and God added to those who were being saved. Acts chapter 3 opens with Peter healing a lame man at the gates of the temple and preached another powerful message of repentance and forgiveness found only in Jesus. By this point, the church was 5,000 strong, but then Peter and John were arrested and had to appear before the high council (Acts 4:1-22). After they were released, they went back to the other believers and prayed, “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Now the full number of

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those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common” (Acts 4:31-32). Finally, Acts chapter 4 concludes that those who had land or homes sold them and brought the proceeds to the apostles where it was distributed to anyone in need. This was the early church. These believers were united in heart and mind as well as fellowship and teaching. These believers were pure in love and dedication to each other and the Lord. It was God who established His church and desired to protect it in its infancy from the hypocrisy that soon followed.

Sapphira followed her husband's lead, Ananias, into a decision that would end their lives. They gave into the fleshly desire of praise and appearance over reality. They pretended to be more dedicated and spiritual than they were. They sought to have others think more highly of them than the truth they hid (or so they thought). What did they do? Ananias and Sapphira collaborated on selling their property and withheld some of the profit for themselves, but what is the big deal? They intentionally allowed the church to assume they donated all the money received as an act of surrendering their resources to Jesus.

Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit, first called out Ananias, apart from his wife, and he died instantly. About three hours later, Sapphira is on the scene, not knowing what happened with Ananias, and Peter confronted her saying (Acts 5:8-11), “‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.’ And she said, ‘Yes for so much.’” He called her out by asking, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Then, Peter pronounced her death, and she immediately died “and great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.” They did not just lie to Peter, but ultimately, they lied to God, and He exposed their hypocrisy. They conspired to receive praise from the church,

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but instead, their scheming led them to sin and ultimately death. In God's holiness and righteousness, He demonstrated His deep hate for sin and hypocrisy. Further, the dramatic deaths of Ananias and Sapphira served to purify and warn the church (then and now) that hypocrisy and dishonesty were not (and will not) be tolerated among His church.

So, how is their story relevant in the church today? While it always comes more naturally to identify shortcomings, character flaws, and sin in others, let us instead focus on evaluating ourselves, acknowledging and dealing with the log stuck in our eye, according to Scripture and before the Lord. Can we just be honest? In the quietness of our hearts and before the Lord, can you admit and identify areas in your life where your motivations are ultimately to be seen, esteemed, praised, or chosen by pretending to be someone you are not? Is it about giving more money, leading a ministry, or serving more than anyone so that others will believe you have “arrived?” Maybe instead you are trying to hide areas of sin or dysfunction in your life, so no one finds out. Know that while the true character is seen over time, true intentions are known by the One who matters the most.

Ask the Lord to reveal truth, sin, and genuineness within yourself. Where there are misplaced motivations, ask Him to help you trade the covetous heart for one of contentment, pride for humility, acts for authenticity, and selfishness with servant-mindedness. Focus on being the right person, the person God desires you to be according to His Word, and let Him handle the rest. You are living, loving, and serving for an audience of One. Allow the example of Sapphira be a reminder to you and me that we cannot hide the truth from God, He hates the sin, and He is most concerned with the purity the of His church (Psalm 36:2; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5).

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“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV).

What does God see when He looks at your heart?

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EPAPHRODITUSDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

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LESSON 16 EPAPHRODITUS

Also known as: None (Epaphras of Philemon 1:1 and Colossians 4:12 is not the same person as Epaphroditus)

Meaning of his name: Fair, handsome, charming

What thoughts come to mind with his name? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Occupation: Possibly veteran of the Roman Legion (maybe even the Praetorian Guard)

Who is the most radical person you known who has given their life to following Jesus? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Epaphroditus may not be well known. He is only referenced twice in Scripture. Both situations are by Paul as he is writing from prison. However, what is said in those few verses show how he was a world changer.

Philippians 2:25-30 says, “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with

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all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”

What descriptions does Paul use of Epaphroditus in the first sentence? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What images do these descriptions portray? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Was he just homesick? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are some reasons why God would allow him to get sick?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does it mean to “receive him in the Lord?” ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does it mean to “honor such men?” _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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In his commentary, Hawthorne points out, “Epaphroditus was no coward, but a courageous person willing to take enormous risks, ready to play with very high stakes in order to come to the aid of a person in need. He did not ‘save’ his life, but rather hazarded it to do for Paul and the cause of Christ what other Philippian Christians did not or could not do.”

What kind of risks could believers take today? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What kind of risk for Christ lies before you? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hawthorne adds that the Greek phrase that is translated “risking his life” is a gambling term. In early Greece, a gambler would invoke Aphrodite, the goddess of gamblers, before he rolled the dice with the phrase ‘epaphroditos,’ meaning ‘favorite of Aphrodite.’ Paul made a pun on Epaphroditus' name.

Do you think these kinds of puns are helpful or harmful? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The other passage in which Epaphroditus is mentioned is at the conclusion of the book of Philippians. Philippians 4:14-20 says, “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving

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and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

How were Paul’s financial needs met? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What words does Paul use to describe their giving? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does Paul make any promises here? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does it say about Epaphroditus’ character that he was the messenger? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paul would say that Epaphroditus was a World Changer. It appears he was retired but active in ministry. His death is not documented, but we know he was willing to ‘risk’ his life for the sake of the Gospel.

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The great apologist Norman Geisler told me, “I would rather wear out than rust out.” What does that mean? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For those of us who are older, what challenges or risks should we take for Christ? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John, a missionary with JHMinistries, gives three lessons from the life of Epaphroditus:

1. Essentially, in leadership, you need to have capable ministers who will be able to minister to you in your time of need and minister to others in your absence. 2. Make it your aim to have men and women who will love ministry so much it may nearly kill them.

3. You need to have trustworthy men who will handle finances and be able to be busy with the concerns of Jesus Christ.

What leadership skills do you see in Epaphroditus? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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When I was at Dallas Theological Seminary, I asked my Church History professor if I could do some extra credit. He offered for me to read 1,000 pages of Martin Luther’s

writings and write out some observations. He did not say how much credit he would give, but that was the option. I found that assignment to be so rich.

Martin Luther (not to be confused with Martin Luther King Jr.) was born in the late 1400’s. Christianity Today paints a picture of Luther’s brilliance. He went to the university at age 13. He received his baccalaureate and master's degrees in the shortest amount of time allowed by the school. However, at age 21, he had a life-changing moment. While struggling through a severe thunderstorm, lightning hit the ground right next to him. He screamed, “Help me, St. Anne! I will become a monk!” (He skipped right past the Virgin Mary and went straight to her mother, Anne.) He kept his word, sold all his possessions, and became a monk.

Romans 1:17 changed Martin Luther’s belief system, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” He realized you could not work your way to Heaven. Initially, he saw the word ‘righteous’ and knew he was inadequate. He stated that no one had even a spark of goodness that would lead them to seek out God. Then the word ‘faith’ filled his mind. He became known for saying, ‘Sola Fide’ (Latin for ‘by faith alone’), also known as justification by faith alone or being saved by faith alone.

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Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” No one can be saved by works; it is only by faith. Also, it is a gift so that no one can buy their way into Heaven.

Christian History Magazine reports Luther objecting to Johann Tetzel's selling of indulgences. An indulgence was a ‘get out of Hell card' that people could use for themselves or someone else. People would buy a piece of paper (an indulgence) from the church. The church positioned itself as judge over the souls of mankind. Tetzel even said, “Once the coin into the coffer clings, a soul from purgatory heavenward springs!” Luther knew no one could buy their way into Heaven. Jesus is the Judge, not the church.

Luther became so upset with the abuse within the church, he printed the infamous 95 theses and posted them on the door of the Wittenberg Church. He was hoping for a debate, but that never happened. Therefore, he left the Catholic Church and promoted a belief system based on faith alone. This Protestant religion would teach that you cannot be saved by works or money; it was ‘Sola Fide.'

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Dwight L. Moody’s father died when he was only four years old. He had eight brothers and sisters, so money was tight. He was needed on the farm, so he only received the

equivalence of a fifth-grade education. It is ironic that the man who started Moody Bible Institute would not have had enough schooling to be accepted as a student.

Moody Bible Institute’s website describes Moody’s salvation experience. “He left home at age 17, seeking employment in Boston. Failing to secure a desirable position, he asked his uncle, Samuel Holton, for a job. Reluctantly, Uncle Samuel hired him to work in the retail shoe store he owned. However, to keep young Moody out of mischief, employment was conditional upon his attendance at the Mt. Vernon Congregational Church. At Mt. Vernon Moody became part of the Sunday school class taught by Edward Kimball. On April 21, 1855, Kimball visited the Holton Shoe Store, found Moody in a stockroom, and there spoke to him of the love of Christ. Shortly thereafter, Moody accepted that love and devoted his life to serving God. The following year brought Moody to Chicago with dreams of making his fortune in the shoe business. As success in selling shoes came, so did an interest in providing a Sunday school class for Chicago's children and the local Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA).” Moody said of his salvation, “I was in a new world. The next morning the sun shone brighter and the birds sang sweeter…it was the most delicious joy that I’d ever known.”

Moody became one of the most powerful evangelists of all time. Before he went to bed at night, he would think about who he

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witnessed to that day. If he could not think of someone, he would walk the streets until he found someone that he could share the love of Christ. He would reserve a row at church each week for his visitors. Each week it was full. Moody was an uneducated, normal man with an amazing, extraordinary God. A man willing to be used by God is a perfect combination. Warren Wiersbe said, “Dwight Lyman Moody was perhaps the most remarkable Christian layman America ever produced.”

Later as a pastor, he was known to speak six messages a day, but in humility said, “I know perfectly well that, wherever I go and preach, there are many better preachers…than I am; all that I can say about it is that the Lord uses me.” He also challenged, “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.”

God can and wants to use us to reach people. He is more interested in our availability than our ability.

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“When God gets ready to shake America, he may not take the Ph.D. and the D.D. God may choose a country boy…and I pray that he would,” said William

Franklin Graham. Most everyone knows that country boy and has probably even seen one of his crusades either live or on television. Regularly he is voted as one of the most admired people of our time. Every president since about 1950 has welcomed his presence and advice.

Not much is ever said of Graham’s childhood conversion. Biography states, “While Graham's parents were strict Calvinists, it would be an unfamiliar traveling evangelist who would set Graham on a profound spiritual path. At the age of 16, Graham attended a series of revival meetings run by evangelist Mordecai Ham. Despite the fact that Graham was a well-behaved adolescent, Ham's sermons on sin spoke to young Graham.” He attended Bob Jones University but struggled with the climate of the strictness intolerable. He transferred to Florida Bible Institute. Christian History Magazine records, “To round out his intensive but academically narrow education, he moved north to Wheaton College, where he met and married Ruth Bell, the daughter of a medical missionary, and undertook his first and only stint as a pastor.”

Billy Graham became an evangelist as he took Mark 16:15 literally, “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association states, “Mr. Graham has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history—nearly 215 million

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people in more than 185 countries and territories—through various meetings, including Mission World and Global Mission. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts.”

Billy Graham has said many challenging statements:

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’”

“The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.”

“If we had more hell in the pulpit, we would have less hell in the pew.”

“My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.”

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”

“I haven't written my own epitaph, and I'm not sure I should. Whatever it is, I hope it will be simple, and that it will point people not to me, but to the One I served.”

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Clive Staples Lewis is one of the greatest Christian apologists. He has written about 75 books, the most famous being The Chronicles of Narnia series. Mere Christianity is my favorite,

while Screwtape Letters might be one of the most creative, clever, and convicting pieces.

Lewis, or as his friends called him ‘Jack,’ was raised with books. He recalled, “There were books in the study, books in the dining room, books in the cloakroom, books (two deep) in the great bookcase on the landing, books in a bedroom, books piled as high as my shoulder in the cistern attic, books of all kinds.” He was raised with reading all kinds of material.

A major crisis in Lewis’ life happened when he was only nine years old. His mother died. Christian History Magazine says it made him withdraw. It adds, “The death of Mrs. Lewis convinced young Jack that the God he encountered in the Bible his mother gave him was, if not cruel, at least vague abstraction. By 1911 or 1912, with the additional influence of a spiritually unorthodox boarding school matron, Lewis rejected Christianity and became an avowed atheist.”

Lewis went on to do extensive schooling and of course reading. He was challenged by the philosophy and logic of several Christian writers including J.R.R. Tolkien. Finally, when Lewis was about thirty years old, “I gave in, and admitted that God was God.” He is a good reminder that smart people can be Christians. We do not need to fear logic. It is our ally. He said, “The intellectual life is not the only road to God, nor the safest, but we find it to be a road, and it may be

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the appointed road for us. Of course, it will be so only so long as we keep the impulse pure and disinterested.” Moody chose love then logic, while Lewis chose logic then love. Mercy and truth are the key.

Lewis has given us several other thought-provoking quotes:

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”

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Jonathan Edwards was born and spent most of his life in the New England States during the first half of the 1700's. His father was a very well-respected pastor of the Congregational

Church. He pastored for 50 years and was even referred to as ‘Pope’ Stoddard. Edwards was the only son with ten sisters. Warren Wiersbe records that Edwards’ “interest in spiritual things was remarkable for a boy so young.” He studied Latin, Hebrew, and Greek. He entered Yale at age thirteen where he received two degrees. While there, Wiersbe says Edwards had two life-changing experiences, “The first was his conversion when he was about seventeen years old. Since childhood he had revolted against the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. But as he read 1 Timothy 1:17, he had a remarkable experience of the sense of God’s greatness and glory, and all his theological objections disappeared.” 1 Timothy 1:17 says, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

The second experience came after reading John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Wiersbe says, “He came to the conclusion that ‘knowledge’ was not something divorced from the rest of life, but that a man’s senses helped to teach him truth. In other words, sensory experience and thinking must go together. Again, Edwards saw the importance of uniting the mind and the heart.”

Deuteronomy 32:35 is the text of one of the most famous sermons of all time, “Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at

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hand, and their doom comes swiftly.” The sermon was ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.’ Edwards used logic and emotional imagery to shake the religious spectators into the arms of the Lord. Christian History Magazine records that about thirty people a week were getting saved. Edwards was influential in the Great Awakening of the 1700's and is considered by many as America's greatest theologian.

Jonathan Edwards made several noteworthy statements:

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”

“A true and faithful Christian does not make holy living an accidental thing. It is his great concern. As the business of the soldier is to fight, so the business of the Christian is to be like Christ.”

“Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.”

“The smallest sin is an act of Cosmic Treason against a Holy God.”

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John Wesley was born in 1703, in England, the fifteenth of nineteen children of Samuel and Susanna Wesley. His father was a minister and his mother a very gifted lady. John Wesley

became an Anglican clergyman, evangelist, and founder, with his brother Charles, of the Methodist Church.

The United Methodist Church’s website describes Wesley’s salvation by saying, “The Wesley brothers had transforming religious experiences in May, 1738, under the influence of Moravian missionaries. John’s experience on May 24 of that year at a Moravian meeting on Aldersgate Street, London, has a prominent place in the Church’s memory. Shortly thereafter, both brothers began preaching a message of new birth and sanctification in Anglican religious societies and outdoors to whomever would listen. They also established missional and philanthropic enterprises to promote social change.” They went to minister and ended up getting saved. They went from religion to a relationship with God. They emphasized living a life consistent with that of being truly Christ-like.

Wesley died when he was 88 years old. His finals words summarized his life well. He first grabbed the hands of his friends saying, “Farewell, farewell.” As he regained his strength, he said, “The best of all is, God is with us.” He then lifted his arms and raised his weak voice again, repeating the words, “The best of all is, God is with us.” These are his last recorded words focusing on God and others.

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John Wesley made several other powerful statements:

“I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me.”

“I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

“Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart.”

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.”

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S I L A SDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

17

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LESSON 17 SILAS

Also known as: Silvanus

Meaning of his name: Wood, forest


Occupation: Unknown

His name implies the family worked with wood. What would be some of the occupational possibilities? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Silas was a Hellenistic Jew, who also was probably a Roman citizen. He was gifted and chosen by Paul. He accompanied Paul during the greater part of Paul’s second missionary journey. He also spent time traveling and ministering with Timothy. Although Paul seems to be in the forefront, Silas was also influential and a key figure in the early Church.

Silas enters the scene in Acts 15:22-27, “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: ‘The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent

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Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.’”

Was Silas chosen to lead or was he a leader that was chosen?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” mean? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How can that apply to us today? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In Acts 15:37-40, Silas replaces Barnabas, “Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.”

What caused the separation of Barnabas and Paul? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What do you think Silas’ emotion and thoughts were at this time?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 16:19-31 contains the most famous story concerning Silas’ ministry, “But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.’ The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’”

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What happened to Silas in this passage? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was Silas’ response? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you think there were other men with Paul? What happened to them? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It was valuable for Paul to have Silas with him. Who has been there for you? Who do you support and comfort? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acts 17:1-10 records Paul and Silas’ game plan as they entered a new city, “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.’ And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, ‘These men

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who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.’ And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.”

What was the first thing Paul and Silas did when they went to a new city? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was their message? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did Jason and his brothers experience for the sake of Silas?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

During Silas’ missionary journey with Paul, several people are mentioned that came to know Christ:

Achaicus (1 Corinthians 16:17)Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11)Crispus (Acts 18:8)Erastus (Romans 16:23)Fortunatus (1 Corinthians 16:17)Gaius (1 Corinthians 1:14)

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Phoebe (Romans 16:1)Quartus (Romans 16:23)Sosthenes (1 Corinthians 1:1)Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15)Tertius (Romans 16:22)The Jailer (Acts 16:30-31)

Silas was a World Changer. His death is unknown, but a prayer is said concerning him, “Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant Silas, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the peoples of Turkey, Greece, and Macedonia. Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” He took the Gospel into the world.

What leadership skills do you see in Silas? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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Charles Wesley “was said to have averaged 10 poetic lines a day for 50 years. He wrote 8,989 hymns, 10 times the volume composed by the only other candidate (Isaac Watts)

who could conceivably claim to be the world's greatest hymn writer” (Christianity Today). He composed some of the most memorable and lasting hymns of the church: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, And Can It Be, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Love Divine, Jesus, Lover of My Soul, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, and Rejoice! The Lord Is King!

Charles Wesley was the eighteenth of nineteen children born to Samuel and Susannah Wesley. The children started schooling early at home as mom knew Greek, Latin, and French. Later, Charles went to Oxford. Christianity Today reports that while at Oxford, Charles “formed the Holy Club, and with two or three others celebrated Communion weekly and observed a strict regimen of spiritual study. Because of the group's religious regimen, which later included early rising, Bible study, and prison ministry, members were called ‘Methodists.’” Christianity Today explains Charles’ salvation, “Charles taught English to Moravian Peter Böhler, who prompted Charles to look at the state of his soul more deeply. During May 1738, Charles began reading Martin Luther's volume on Galatians while ill. He wrote in his diary, ‘I labored, waited, and prayed to feel 'who loved me, and gave himself for me.’ He shortly found himself convinced, and journaled, ‘I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoice in hope of loving Christ.’ Two days later he began writing a hymn celebrating his conversion.” That led to close to nine thousand hymns.

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Charles helped his brother, John, start the Methodist Church. He is often referred to as the ‘forgotten Wesley.’ Although Charles wrote so many hymns, he like his brother, John, preached to thousands. He spoke to ten thousand people at one time, and twenty thousand at another. He traveled, spoke of Jesus, and composed music. Finally, at age 40, he met and soon after married Sally Gwynne.

Charles Wesley always said a lot with his written words:

“Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities, and cries it shall be done.”

“See the Gospel Church secure, And founded on a Rock! All her promises are sure; her bulwarks who can shock? Count her every precious shrine; Tell, to after-ages tell, Fortified by power divine, The Church can never fail.”

“Not from his head was woman took,As made her husband to o'erlook;Not from his feet, as one designedThe footstool of the stronger kind;But fashioned for himself, a bride;An equal, taken from his side.”

“The Bible must be the invention either of good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. However, it was not written by good men, because good men would not tell lies by saying ‘Thus saith the Lord;’ it was not written by bad men because they would not write about doing good duty, while condemning sin, and themselves to hell; thus, it must be written by divine inspiration.”

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Charles Haddon Spurgeon's conversion is one of the more common stories recorded of world famous preachers. As an older teen, he was out for a walk on a Sunday morning

when he walked right into a snowstorm. To escape the weather, he slipped into a local church. The storm hit so hard; the preacher could not make it for the morning church gathering. After warming up by the fire, a layman got up and preached. He was not the most eloquent speaker, but the Holy Spirit worked on Spurgeon's heart, and he gave up his life to the Lord. It is a good reminder that God can show up when no one expects it, that sudden conversions exist, that you do not need to be a ‘super preacher’ or ‘paid staff’ to lead someone to the Lord, and that you may affect the life of hundreds, thousands, and possibly even millions by leading one person to the Lord. God is amazing, and He is willing to use us. He wants to use us.

Warren Wiersbe said, “Perhaps one of the highest compliments anyone could pay a preacher would be to say that he preaches like Spurgeon.” Helmut Thielicke wrote, “Sell all that you have…and buy Spurgeon.” Spurgeon’s sermons and writings have and will inspire numerous preachers who are serious about preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christianity Today reports an example of how impactful Spurgeon’s life was, “When Charles Spurgeon died in January 1892, London went into mourning. Nearly 60,000 people came to pay homage during the three days his body lay in state at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Some 100,000 lined the streets as a funeral parade two

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miles long followed his hearse from the Tabernacle to the cemetery. Flags flew at half-staff and shops and pubs were closed.”

Charles Spurgeon said and wrote numerous items that are quite quote-worthy:

“Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven.”

“The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.”

“Do I live as carelessly and worldly as unbelievers while professing to be a follower of Jesus? If so, I am exposing Christianity to ridicule and leading people to speak evil of the holy name by which I am called.”

“When we tell the story of our own conversion, I would have it done with great sorrow, remembering what we used to be, and with great joy and gratitude, remembering how little we deserve these things.”

“Has Jesus saved me? I dare not speak with any hesitation here; I know He has. His Word is true; therefore, I am saved.”

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”

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I attended Detroit Bible College, and when I finished my Sophomore year, the Board decided to change the name of the school to William Tyndale College. I did not like the Board taking ‘Bible’ out

of the name of the school and met with the President of the school to find out why his name was chosen. He said, “William Tyndale is ‘The Father of the English Bible.’” I began to research him and came to appreciate who William Tyndale was and to what extent he has changed all of our lives.

I remember reading how Tyndale wanted everyone to be able to read the Bible for themselves. He wanted people to have a relationship directly connected to God as opposed to one that went through the church. He felt that a believer should be able to study the Bible and understand it. So, he took on the challenge of translating the Bible into English. Christianity Today wrote, “William Tyndale could speak seven languages and was proficient in ancient Hebrew and Greek. He was a priest whose intellectual gifts and disciplined life could have taken him a long way in the church—had he not had one compulsion: to teach English men and women the good news of justification by faith.”

One of the funniest stories I heard was about ‘Willie T,’ as we called him in school. Quick summary, he was thrown into prison for trying to translate the Bible into English. While in prison, he asked for his cloak and books. He then translated much of the New Testament into English while in prison. He was kicked out of prison and told not to do it anymore. Obviously, if prison did not stop him, freedom would not either. He continued his endeavor. Sadly, he was caught and burned at the stake. They burned him alive.

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You and I can read the Bible in English because William Tyndale was willing to go to prison and even die for it to happen. Our prayer should be, “God thank you for people like William Tyndale. Help me be such a committed follower of you.”

Here are some quotes from William Tyndale:

“I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy who drives the plough to know more of the scriptures than you do.”

“The Church is the one institution that exists for those outside it.”

“Christ is with us until the world’s end. Let his little flock be bold therefore.”

“I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus, that I never altered one syllable of God’s Word against my conscience, nor would do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honor, pleasure, or riches, might be given me.”

“There is no work better than to please God; to pour water, to wash dishes, to be a cobbler, or an apostle, all are one; to wash dishes and to preach are all one, as touching the deed, to please God.”

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John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is better known as JRR Tolkien. If you do not recognize the name yet, he is best known for authoring The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Christianity Today

refers to Tolkien as one who was at odds with the world saying, “He would have seen reason enough for distress, chilling marks of the modern secular-scientific ideal. In the East: the killing fields, the gulags, and the holocaust camps. In the West: materialism, invasive corporate capitalism, and softly tyrannical bureaucracies. An anti-modern conservative, Tolkien often fell into despair, especially toward the end of his life, as he took account of the world situation.” Tolkien’s imagination helped him (and through him others) escape the tragic reality of our world.

Tolkien was born in South Africa in 1892. His father died when he was about four, so he, his mother, and little brother moved back to his mother’s hometown in England. Biography writes of Tolkien’s tough life, “Tolkien family life was generally lived on the genteel side of poverty. However, the situation worsened in 1904, when Mabel Tolkien was diagnosed as having diabetes, usually fatal in those pre-insulin days. She died on 14 November of that year leaving the two orphaned boys effectively destitute. At this point Father Francis took over, and made sure of the boys’ material as well as spiritual welfare.” It appears Father Francis is the man who helped Tolkien through his spiritual journey.

Although his early life was extremely challenging, Christianity Today points out, “Yet, this most devout Christian would also see signs of immense hope, knowing well that St. Paul accorded it the second highest place among the virtues.”

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Outside of writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and numerous other books, Tolkien’s incredible life had a major impact in the salvation of CS Lewis. Christianity Today records how Tolkien would explain to Lewis how reason and imagination could go together as they looked at the Gospel accounts, “Suddenly Lewis could see that the nourishment he had always received from great myths and fantasy stories was a taste of that greatest, truest story—of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.”

Tolkien is known for having said: “It may be the part of a friend to rebuke a friend's folly.”

“Short cuts make long delays.”

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”

“You have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have.”

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.”

397

James Hudson Taylor, better known as just Hudson Taylor, was probably the most influential missionary to China where he founded the China Inland Mission (also known as Overseas

Missionary Fellowship, and now known as OMF International).

Although Taylor became such an impactful servant for the Lord, he reports his frustration in wrestling with the Gospel, “Often I had tried to make myself a Christian, and failing of course in such efforts, I began at last to think that for some reason or other I could not be saved, and that the best I could do was to take my fill of this world, as there was no hope for me beyond the grave.” His parents were consistent role models and spent a lot of time in prayer for their son.

Warren Wiersbe reports how Taylor got saved at age seventeen while reading a Gospel tract, “While he was reading, he was struck by the phrase ‘the finished work of Christ.’ Immediately the words of Scripture leaped into his mind: ‘It is finished!’ He said to himself, ‘If the whole work was finished and the while debt paid, what is there left for me to do?’ He fell to his knees and yielded himself to Christ.” It is a great reminder and challenge to the power of God's Word and a simple tract.

Christian History Magazine continues his story, “He spent the next years in frantic preparation, learning the rudiments of medicine, studying Mandarin, and immersing himself ever deeper into the Bible and prayer.” The magazine continues, “In September 1853, a little three-masted clipper slipped quietly out of Liverpool harbor with Hudson Taylor, a gaunt and wide-eyed 21-year-old missionary,

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aboard. He was headed for a country that was just coming into the Christian West’s consciousness; only a few dozen missionaries were stationed there. By the time Taylor died a half-century later, however, China was viewed as the most fertile and challenging of mission fields as thousands volunteered annually to serve there.” One man changed a country and the mind of the world.

Taylor is one of the most quotable Christian giants:

“Whatever is your best time in the day, give that to communion with God.”

“I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me.”

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.”

“You must go forward on your knees.”

“I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”

“Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.”

399

John Wycliffe's testimony is most clearly expressed in his words, “Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on his sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by

his righteousness.” This may sound overly basic, but Wycliffe lived during the 1300’s. He was battling with a church hierarchy that was emphasizing the power of the church over one’s soul, working your way into Heaven, and even assuring yourself or someone else’s entrance into Heaven by paying a certain amount. He believed that we were only saved by the righteousness of Jesus. He knew this was based on Scripture and wanted everyone to be able to read the Bible in their language so they would not be manipulated by the corrupt church of the day. He said that Scripture superseded the pope and church. This did not sit well as he was called “the master of errors” and put under house arrest.

Christianity Today demonstrates how powerful he was by saying, “John Wycliffe left quite an impression on the church: 43 years after his death, officials dug up his body, burned his remains, and threw the ashes into the river Swift. Still, they couldn't get rid of him. Wycliffe's teachings, though suppressed, continued to spread. As a later chronicler observed, ‘Thus the brook hath conveyed his ashes into Avon; Avon into Severn; Severn into the narrow seas; and they into the main ocean. And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine which now is dispersed the world over.’”

John Wycliffe (along with William Tyndale) was instrumental in translating the Bible into English. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in

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him should not perish but have eternal life.” The fact that you were able to read and understand that verse is largely due to the work of John Wycliffe.

Other quotes from John Wycliffe: “Two places are ordained for man to dwell in after this life. While he is here, he may choose, by God's mercy, which he will; but once he is gone from here, he may not do so. For whichever he first goes to, whether he like it well or ill, there he must dwell forevermore. He shall never after change his dwelling, though he hates it ever so badly.”

“Englishmen learn Christ's law best in English. Moses heard God's law in his own tongue; so did Christ's apostles.”

“The New Testament is of full authority and open to the understanding of simple men as to the points most needful to salvation.”

“It is certain that the truth of the Christian faith becomes more evident the more the faith itself is known. Therefore, the doctrine should not only be in Latin but also in the common tongue, and as the faith of the Church is contained in the Scriptures, the more these are known in the true sense, the better.”

401


L U K EDR. RANDY T. JOHNSON,

GROWTH PASTOR

18

403

LESSON 18 LUKE

Also known as: Lucas, ‘the beloved physician,’ and Dr. Luke (but not ‘Doc’)

Meaning of his name: Light giving

How could his name be used as a pun? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Books of the Bible written by him: The Gospel of Luke, The Acts of the Apostles

Who did God use to write the majority of the New Testament?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John wrote four books of the Bible, Paul thirteen, and Luke two. John's books contain 50 chapters, while Paul’s books have 87, and Luke’s books 52. However, Luke wrote the most verses with the number being 2,158 (John 1,011 and Paul 2,033).

John MacArthur writes, “So I say, next to Paul, Luke is the most powerful writing force in the New Testament, and yet he is basically unknown. I don't think in my life I've ever heard a sermon about Luke. His historical narrative spans over sixty years. It starts with the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner to Jesus, and it ends at the end of the book of Acts, which is volume two of his writings, it ends with the gospel being preached at Rome, which means the gospel has extended to the world. No other writer wrote so comprehensive a history of Jesus and His impact. No other writer goes all the way from the John the Baptist to the gospel having reached the capital of the Roman Empire. He is the most complete story teller of the saga of salvation in the New Testament, and he is mostly unknown to us.”

404

LESSON 18 LUKE

Occupation: Doctor, Physician (Colossians 4:14)

Kanoy of Crosswalk records five things we should know about Luke.

1. Luke was a Gentile

Luke was the only Gentile to write a book of the Bible. It is noted that he wrote with a Greek style in a vocabulary of someone who was well educated. His target audience was Gentiles (Matthew’s target audience was the Jews). He spends time explaining Jewish culture because he could not assume his audience would automatically understand.

Why did God choose to have four Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Luke was a Physician

Colossians 4:14 says, “Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.”

Luke, as a doctor, probably had a comfortable life, yet he chose to serve Jesus by following Paul all across the known world.

How would it have been good for Paul to have Luke with him?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 18 LUKE

3. Luke was Humble

Luke does not use his name as author in Luke or Acts. In the Book of Acts, there are three “we-sections” (Acts 16:10-40; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:14). He chooses to stay anonymous. Luke is only mentioned by name three times in Paul’s epistles (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11).

Why would Luke stay anonymous? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gordon Franz, of the Associates for Biblical Research, states, “When he wrote his gospel and the book of Acts, he did not mention his name at all (Acts 1:1), nor did he mention his brother Titus. Dr. Luke was a humble person and he did not want to call attention to himself or his family, but rather, he wanted to point people to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in His Church.”

4. Luke Met Some of the Apostles

Matthew and Mark had already been written before Luke wrote his Gospel. Luke did his homework. Luke 1:1-4 says, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”

406

LESSON 18 LUKE

What phrases show the reliability of Luke’s work? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Only Luke Remained with Paul to His Death

2 Timothy 4:11 says, “Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”

Why do you think everyone else left? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

John MacArthur explains, “Nero had cranked up the persecution to a high level and Christians were paying with their lives. And frankly, many believers had fled from Rome. And, you know, they might have had a reasonable motive to do that, to carry on the preaching of the gospel. It's not that they were all just cowards.”

Bible Archaeology records, “Church tradition has said that after the death of Paul (AD 67), Dr. Luke went and ministered in the region of Boiotia in central Greece today, and particularly in Thebes of Boiotia. Tradition also stated that he wrote to Theophilus who was the governor of Achaia.” It goes on to say, “Church tradition also stated that a mob arrested Luke in Thebes at the age of 84, flayed him alive and crucified him on an olive tree which some say is still there today.”

407

LESSON 18 LUKE

How does Luke’s life and death affect you? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kanoy concludes, “Luke was an evangelist, a historian, a physician, a pastor, a missionary, a companion, a brother, and a theologian. His goal and purpose in writing a gospel was to write exact truth concerning Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation, an infallible history and theology inspired by the Spirit.”

What leadership skills do you see in Luke? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


408

LESSON 18 LUKE

409

“A mazing grace, how sweet the sound,that saved a wretch like me.I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind but now I see.”

I catch myself singing every time I read those words. Emotions kick into gear as I want to give a fist pump of celebration and gratitude. Although written in 1779 (and as old as our country), Amazing Grace is arguably the most famous, popular, and loved hymn of all time. Writer John Newton’s story is quite incredible.

“Newton was born in 1725 in London to a Puritan mother who died two weeks before his seventh birthday, and a stern sea-captain father who took him to sea at age 11. After many voyages and a reckless youth of drinking, Newton was impressed into the British navy. After attempting to desert, he received eight dozen lashes and was reduced to the rank of common seaman” (Biography). Although his mother taught him Scripture at an early age, he harshly turned from it. He became a sailor, even one on a slave trader's ship. “Newton had a reputation for profanity, coarseness, and debauchery which even shocked many a sailor. John Newton was known as ‘The Great Blasphemer.’” (Christianity).

The pivotal point in his life happened when the ship was overtaken by a storm. For days they fought the elements. Finally, the ship started giving in, and the crew thought they were lost. Newton accounts later on how Bible verses his mother taught him filled his mind as he became more and more helpless. As the ship was being torn apart,

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cargo shifted and reinforced the ship. Newton said, “On that day the Lord sent from on high and delivered me out of deep waters.” He gave his life to the Lord.

Newton realized how lost he was, which gave him a clearer view of God’s amazing grace. People need to realize the bad news before they can receive the Good News. They must realize they are lost before they can experience the joy of being found.

John Newton said some very meaningful statements:

“I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master.”

“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.”

“What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt.”

“I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.”

“Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”

411

“If there was ever a Christian who practiced what he preached, it was Dietrich Bonhoeffer” (Ryan Stewart). He was a Lutheran pastor, professor, guest lecturer, double agent,

author, potential assassin, and martyr.

Christianity Today writes of his childhood, “All eight children were raised in a liberal, nominally religious environment and were encouraged to dabble in great literature and the fine arts. Bonhoeffer's skill at the piano, in fact, led some in his family to believe he was headed for a career in music. When at age 14, Dietrich announced he intended to become a minister and theologian, the family was not pleased.” It was expected that young Bonhoeffer would follow in the footsteps of his father who was a professor of psychiatry at the University of Berlin. This gifted young man accepted Christ and went forth to make a difference in the world.

One pastor summarized the view of Germany at the time of Bonhoeffer, “Christ has come to us through Adolph Hitler.” The German people were depressed, confused, and lost. Bonhoeffer could not stand around and watch. His non-action would have been a negative action. After much schooling, he pastored several churches. He studied and lectured in the United States, but felt the need to change Germany for Christ. He came back and even trained pastors at an underground Seminary. They could not be open and in the public as their views were against Hitler and his regime. Christian History Magazine writes, “He signed up with the German secret service (to serve as a double agent—while traveling to church conferences over Europe, he was supposed to be collecting

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

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information about the places he visited, but he was, instead, trying to help Jews escape Nazi oppression).” He had even become part of a plot to overthrow and assassinate Hitler.

He was caught, arrested, put in jail for two years, moved to an extermination camp, and hung. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was killed for standing up to evil. He had always spoken of how your faith should cost you something. He even wrote a book entitled The Cost of Discipleship. Stewart was right, “If there was ever a Christian who practiced what he preached, it was Dietrich Bonhoeffer.”

Bonhoeffer was very direct in his statements:

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.”

“The entire day receives order and discipline when it acquires unity. This unity must be sought and found in morning prayer. The morning prayer determines the day.”

“You can only learn what obedience is by obeying.”

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will.”

413

George Whitefield has been called, “marvel of the age” (Church History Magazine), “boy wonder” (Warren Wiersbe), “the greatest preacher that England has ever produced”

(Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones), the “Grand Itinerant” (Christianity Today), and the one who “ignited the Great Awakening” (PBS Detroit). You may not have heard of Whitefield since his life and ministry cover the 1700’s, but he is one of the greatest preachers of all time.

“In one year, Whitefield traveled 5,000 miles through America, preaching more than 350 times as he traversed the nation North to South. An estimated 25,000 people gathered on Boston Common to hear him speak. Another 12,000 heard him in Philadelphia and 8,000 in New York City. In 15 months, as much as a quarter of the country had heard his message” (PBS Detroit). “Whitefield preached from forty to sixty hours a week, a total of more than eighteen thousand sermons during thirty-four years of public ministry. He crossed the Atlantic thirteen times” (Warren Wiersbe). He was known for saying, “I had rather wear out than rust out.”

This crying, dancing, singing, dramatic preacher did not become a follower of Christ until later in life. His father died when he was two. His childhood was known to have the usual sins of youthfulness which he entitled ‘childhood corruption.’ It was not until he went off to Oxford that, “He fell in with a group of pious ‘methodists’—who called themselves ‘the Holy Club’—led by the Wesley brothers, John and Charles. Under their influence, he experienced a ‘new birth’ and decided to become a missionary to the new Georgia colony on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean” (Christianity Today). This ‘new birth’

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stirred Whitefield's heart. He began traveling and open air preaching or field preaching. He became so popular that someone was always sent ahead to announce his arrival. “In his lifetime, he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers” (Christianity Today).

George Whitefield had a lot of valuable things to say about the ‘new birth’:

“The great and important duty which is incumbent on Christians, is to guard against all appearance of evil; to watch against the first risings in the heart to evil; and to have a guard upon our actions, that they may not be sinful, or so much as seem to be so.”

“Take care of your life and the Lord will take care of your death.”

“Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.”

“For in Jesus Christ there is neither male nor female, bond nor free; even you may be the children of God, if you believe in Jesus.”

“God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them.”

415

William Ashley Sunday, better known as ‘Billy Sunday,’ was a promising professional baseball player who left the ball diamond for the pulpit. He went from centerfield

to center stage. He became, “The most celebrated and influential evangelist in America during the first two decades of the twentieth century” (New World Encyclopedia).

Sunday’s father died when he was just five weeks old. “His early childhood in an Iowa log cabin was enveloped by death—ten deaths before he reached the age of 10. His mother was so impoverished, she sent her children away to the Soldier's Orphans Home” (Christian History Magazine). His early childhood does not record any highlights. There does not seem to be any spiritual influence. It appears to be more about survival.

When Sunday was about 26 years old, he had been out drinking with some other ball players. He wandered by the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago and heard a preacher. He walked in and started listening. He became a follower of Jesus Christ. He quit drinking alcohol and baseball. He took a substantial pay cut, started speaking at the YMCA, and became an evangelist. His goal was to be so basic that anyone could understand him.

He was known for being a volatile preacher. “Sunday was a whirling dervish that pranced and cavorted and strode and bounded and pounded all over his platform and left them thrilled and bewildered as they have never been before” (Christianity Today). His emotions took him to the point that he became so passionate that he would

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even use course language to get their attention and make his point. His fighting and firing spirit can be seen in his quote, “I'm against sin. I'll kick it as long as I have a foot. I'll fight it as long as I have a fist. I'll butt it as long as I have a head. I'll bite it as long as I've got a tooth. And when I'm old and fistless and footless and toothless, I'll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition.”

The Encyclopedia Britannica States, “He conducted more than 300 revivals with an estimated attendance of 100,000,000.” His message was salvation through Jesus Christ, and he ended every message with a call to conversion (or as he said ‘hit the saw dust trail' – walk the aisle, come to the altar).

There are several sayings from Billy Sunday:

“Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”

“Temptation is the devil looking through the keyhole. Yielding is opening the door and inviting him in.”

“They tell me a revival is only temporary; so is a bath, but it does you good.”

“The fellow that has no money is poor. The fellow that has nothing but money is poorer still.”

“What have you given the world it never possessed before you came?”

417

Charles Grandison Finney was a lawyer, evangelist, theologian, author, and college president. He was also the most famous revivalist of the Second Great Awakening.

While most preachers ‘waited’ for the right timing for a revival, Finney believed the time was always right. He said, “More than five thousand millions have gone down to hell, while the church has been dreaming, and waiting for God to save them without the use of means.” While others studied approaches, Finney preached.

Not much is said about Finney's childhood. Apparently, he was well-educated and became a lawyer. Christianity Today records his salvation moment, “The 29-year-old lawyer Charles Grandison Finney had decided he must settle the question of his soul's salvation. So on October 10, 1821, he headed out into the woods near his Adams, New York, home to find God. ‘I will give my heart to God, or I never will come down from there,’ he said. After several hours, he returned to his office, where he experienced such forceful emotion that he questioned those who could not testify to a similar encounter.” Finney walked into the woods lost and came out found.

His salvation was radical and life-changing. The next day he went to his law office as normal, but it was different. He met with his next client and said, “I have a retainer from the Lord Jesus Christ to plead his cause and cannot plead yours.” Finney felt the immediate call to leave law and become a preacher.

Although he became a preacher, his style was very analytical as that of a lawyer. He used logic and expected people to make an

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open and public confession to follow Jesus. He knew he was saved miraculously and expected the same for others. We need a faith like that.

Finney, ‘the father of modern revivalism,’ said many valuable things:

“A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart.”

“Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together.”

“It is the great business of every Christian to save souls.”

“If the presence of God is in the church, the church will draw the world in. If the presence of God is not in the church, the world will draw the church out.”

“Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility.”

419

Often when people think of John Calvin, they only speak of the TULIP. This is an acronym used to summarize five of his key theological (and maybe controversial) points: Total

depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints. Although you may not agree with him, he has had a huge affect on the church today.

Not much is written of his testimony, but Christianity Today records, “With his brother and sister and two friends, John Calvin fled Catholic France and headed to the free city of Strasbourg. It was the summer of 1536; Calvin had recently converted to the ‘evangelical’ faith and had just published The Institutes of the Christian Religion, which articulated his Protestant views. He was a wanted man.”

The Institutes of the Christian Religion was written as a basic guide to the Christian faith. Calvin described it, “The whole sum of godliness and whatever it is necessary to know about saving doctrine. I labored at the task especially for our own Frenchmen, for I saw that many were hungering and thirsting after Christ and yet that only a very few had any real knowledge of him.” His work is still read and respected today.

Calvin’s journey was unique. He started off studying for the priesthood, but then switched to the study of law. In studying to be a lawyer, his reading became quite diverse, and he was jolted by reading the Bible in its original languages.

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Calvin’s final days were very active. Christianity Today reports, “Calvin drove himself beyond his body's limits. When he could not walk the couple of hundred yards to church, he was carried in a chair to preach. When the doctor forbade him to go out in the winter air to the lecture room, he crowded the audience into his bedroom and gave lectures there. To those who would urge him to rest, he asked, ‘What? Would you have the Lord find me idle when he comes?’” Calvin made a huge impact for the Lord right up to his death.

John Calvin made other noteworthy statements:

“A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.”

“Seeing that a Pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.”

“There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.”

“However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts.”

“I gave up all for Christ, and what have I found? Everything in Christ.”

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OUR MISSIONMatthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

REACH

At The River Church, you will often hear the phrase, “we don’t go to church, we are the Church.” We believe that as God’s people, our primary purpose and goal is to go out and make disciples of Jesus Christ. We encourage you to reach the world in your local communities.

GATHER

Weekend Gatherings at The River Church are all about Jesus, through singing, giving, serving, baptizing, taking the Lord’s Supper, and participating in messages that are all about Jesus and bringing glory to Him. We know that when followers of Christ gather together in unity, it’s not only a refresher it’s bringing life-change.

GROW

Our Growth Communities are designed to mirror the early church in Acts as having “all things in common.” They are smaller collections of believers who spend time together studying the word, knowing and caring for one another relationally, and learning to increase their commitment to Christ by holding one another accountable.

The River Church8393 E. Holly Rd. Holly, MI 48442

theriverchurch.cc • [email protected]

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