What Defines You?

This article is part 2 of 9 in the series Divorce and Remarriage

   Things happen… things change. Christians don’t ‘go to heaven in a straight line, we make mistakes, sin, get up and try again, and again… Christ did not come here to ‘be like us’ as much as He wanted us to ‘be like Him’..
   O how short we fall in doing this.Yet He loves us, yet He saves us, yet he continues to cleanse and forgive us. He lived perfectly sinless here. Yes He came, took on flesh, lived among mankind with a supreme purpose only seen in a humility that is found in Him.
   O how far short we fall in living up to His example.
   Yet He is willing to love  us to the end. Yet he was willing to walk and carry the cross in my stead… my cross. The very one I should have carried, been nailed to.
   What defines you? What defines me?

   David sinned terribly. He was in a position of leadership as the King of Israel. People looked to him to be an example of trusting in Jehovah… he failed. Psalm 51
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
5  Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6  Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9  Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
14  Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15  Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16  You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17  My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
18  May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19  Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

   The prophet Nathan had accomplished the mission… (2 Samuel 12) Verse 13 “Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” It took a lot to bring a king to his knees… Sometimes it is the same with us.

   We sing the song, “The Lamb of God” and it says in the second verse, “I was so lost I should have died.” Paul says  “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

   What defined David at this time? SINNER! LOST! ADULTERER! MURDERER! THIEF! UNWORTHY BEYOND BELIEF!!!

   BUT… God forgave, and God forgives….

Psalm 32 “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2  Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3  When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4  For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
5  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6  Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
7  You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9  Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
10  Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11  Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

   Were there consequences for David? Yes. But he never repeated what he had done to break God’s heart.

   What defines you? What defines me? This determines largely, what is on our minds and in our hearts when get up in the morning, and how we deal with life, responding, reacting to people as we go through life. It determines our direction and what opportunities we accept or reject. Carrying the past is not that way the Lord wants His people to live, and certainly not why He died.

   Paul said “Forgetting what is behind…. he pressed forward….” Let me encourage you in this.. God through his grace forgives to the “uttermost”, even you… even me…. and now standing forgiven, redeemed by his blood…. move forward. Repenting of the past means not repeating it, learning from it, learning now and forever more, WHO IS LORD of your life, and trusting in him with all you’ve got. Do not allow the past to DEFINE YOUR PRESENT AND FUTURE….

   If you are not a Christian, and want to be one of the redeemed…. then repent and be immersed for the forgiveness of all sins… and embark on a marvelous journey…. The journey of the redeemed.

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Can We Disagree And Still Be Saved By Grace? (Part Two) “The Challenge”

This article is part 4 of 5 in the series Dealing With Church Issues

   In Part One, we presented “The Survey”, and the reason for this is to show that brethren quite naturally disagree on things. (I disagree with myself sometimes.) In my studies, I have come to the opinion, that not all ‘disagreements’ or ‘differences’ demand that we ‘draw our spiritual swords and comince to do battle’ leaving behind a ‘spiritual killing field’.  
   Yes, in the powerful letter of Jude, the langauage there is to “contend” for the faith… which brings to my mind the picture of a soldier engaged in battle. There wer and are still those who are bent on destroying the church by false teaching and dividing the body of Christ.
   In the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Michael Green, who wrote the Commentary on 2nd Peter and Jude points out that these two letters are similar in some ways. There was a danger of false teachers…. dangerous false teachers, that evidently used to be Christians, yet had fallen away and were trying to get others to follow after them. It was time to ‘arm’ for ‘battle’… to contend earnestly for the faith. 
   Read what Peter says, 2 Peter 2…..
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2  Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4  ¶For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
5  if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6  if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7  and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless
8  (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
10  This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. ¶Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;
11  yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.
12  But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
13  ¶They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
14  With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!
15  They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.
16  But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
17  ¶These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
18  For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.
19  They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
20  If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
21  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
22  Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
Now let’s compare Peter with Jude……
 
     Jude says…. “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, ¶To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
2  ¶Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
3  ¶Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
4  For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
5  ¶Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
6  And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
7  In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
8  ¶In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
9  But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
10  Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
11  ¶Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
12  ¶These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.
13  They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
14  ¶Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones
15  to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
16  These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
17  ¶But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
18  They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
19  These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
20  ¶But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
21  keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22  ¶Be merciful to those who doubt;
23  save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

   Brethren, consider the ‘challenge for us all’… to know who to ‘draw the sword (Word of God) against and do ‘spiritual battle’ and those who are trying to grow in Christ, who may differ on some things that are not, (for lack of better terms), ‘core issues’ or ‘essentials’ to Christianity and salvation…  
   Brethren, the push for ‘uniformity’ will not result in ‘unity’. We must grow in our understanding of God’s Grace, and how it is applied in areas of differences. Must we divide over every difference of opinion on scriptures? Surely this is not the case.
   The ‘challenge for us all’, is to like Peter and Jude to know the difference between “… those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours.. (2 Peter 1:1), “… those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1)… and… Those who, “… mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19  They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
20  If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
22  Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” (2 Peter 2:18-22).
   There is a difference in these people, and a difference in how Christians should deal with those who have turned their backs on Jesus, like the “dog” or the “pig” mentioned by Peter, AND, a brother or sister in Christ who differs, or questions some things, and wants answers… These are brethren, who may need help, encouragement and time to grow, (Romans 14), and perhaps some correction by a spiritually mature Christian…As Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Galatians 6:1)
   More later….    

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Grace Of Giving – Part Two

This article is part 2 of 4 in the series Giving

2.  Luke 6:38 – “GIVE AND YOU SHALL GET”  
     A. Luke 6:27-37 Read (“Doesn’t make sense!”
          “Can’t do this!” “Not natural!”)
          1.) Exactly right – “Foolishness” (I Corinthians 1:18) (Since before first Century –
                Righteous have been mistreated!)
          2.) Luke 9:23-25 “Take up your cross” (Not stuck on with Velcro)
          3.) Not talking about COMMANDMENTS/ DOCTRINES… talking about LIFE
          4.) = Fruit of Spirit in action – Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23 (Read)
     B. (Two handed Christianity) “GIVE AND YOU SHALL GET” “SOW AND YOU
          SHALL REAP”
          1.) NEW CLUB: “SHARE HALF A CAKE CLUB” (Bake cake/share half/ share
               other half)
                a.) Knock on door/ “Brought you some cake/just thinking a/you”/ “Come on in”
                      “Let’s have coffee and cake!”
                b.) THEY DON’T NEED THIS – WE NEED IT! – (We don’t teach that/ we
                     should)
                c.) Iowa church (156 yr. old) Was 229 now 6 – HOW TO GROW?
                d.) Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16 “Go into all the world/ every creature…”
                     (INTENTIONAL CHANGES)(Not change for change sake) (Fellowship 
                     Dinner)(Thanksgiving)(Christmas) – FEED TO HUNGRY
     C. Give And You Shall Get – Sow And You Shall Reap
          1.) Don’t worry where it come from – how it works – TRUST HIM.
          2.) ELECTRICITY – Don’t know how it works – but it works
          3.) AERODYNAMICS – Don’t know how it works – but it works
          4.) Don’t know how – BLACK COW – GREEN GRASS – WHITE MILK –
               YELLOW BUTTER
          5.) Luke 6:38 Read – Don’t know how it works – but it does.
          6.) Jesus just says…. LOVE ME AND GROW.
      D. Issue today – NOT MONEY/ TIME/ TALENTS… (Lesson would be long over 
           if it were as simple as that.)
          1.) ISSUE = UNDERSTANDING GRACE AND GROWING IN IT.
      E. SCOOPS (ILLUSTRATION)
           1.) Spoon – “I love the Lord… I’m gonna use the spoon” (Here comes the plate)
                 …(Nothing wrong with spoon)
           2.) “Jack!” (Yes Lord?) “Can I use your spoon?” (Why Lord?) “Cause that’s how
                 it works.”
           3.) “I love Jack, I’m gonna give to Jack…”
           4.) “Lord” (Yes Jack) “Can I use a scoop?” (Sure you can) “I love the Lord, I’m
                 using a scoop.”
           5.) “I DON’T BELIEVE THAT!” (Ok, don’t have to.) (Gravity)(Jump = don’t break
                 law/prove it)
           6.) Lord says… prove it GAYSG/SAYSR
           7.) “Church full of snobs!” (You are one too) “What you mean?”
                 a.) We mirror ea. other – Go thru life / people mirror each other as pass thru
                       life.
                 b.) To a SNOB all are SNOBS/ UNFRIENDLY – UNFRIENDLY/ GREEDY –
                       GREEDY
                 c.) If open handed, friendly, forgiving, kind… REFLECTED.
           8.) Lord says, “Jack, give me your spoon or scoop… it’s your decision… that’s
                 how it works.”
           9.) DAD was in KANSAS, CITY – Lady said, “Your scoop is too small.” (Bigger
                 scoop)
                 a.) 191 spoons – 1 mid sized scoop
                 b.) 2 ½ Mid sized scoops – Big scoop
       F. Lesson is simple – GROW IN GRACE – NEVER STOP GROWING.
           1.) QUESTION: Does God use the scoop while we use a spoon? Yes!
                 (Showers of Blessings)
           2.) Why? How?
           3.) Husband/Wife – 9 children (demands/cries/wets diapers/sick/hungry)
                 a.) Child doesn’t give as much as take!
                 b.) Child breaks things/ writes on your good furniture.
           4.) “Jack, I didn’t come here to be like you…… I came so you could be like me.”
                 a.) Paul said, “Saved by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8)
                 b.) Romans 4 = Righteousness = CREDITED (Big credit / BIG scoop cf. 
                      Romans 5:9 “see how much more”).
           5.) Why we give to our children out of scoop? Love!
                 a.) Matthew 7:7-12 Read
      G. HOW MUCH IS MUCH? Mark 12:41 (Partial Read)(“Calling His disciples to him,
           Jesus said,
           “How much is much”?) (I added that)
           1.) (ILLUSTRATION) Man gives $1,000.00 bill in plate/ Deacon runs to
                 elder and says, “Look!!!” (Who gave that!?) “There he is” (We need to meet
                 him!”) “HELLO BROTHER! GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE!”
                 a.) (James 2) James says, “You have dirty minds”  “You don’t know how
                       much, “MUCH” is.”
                 b.) How many $1,000.00 bills you have? 100 = 1% (1% of anything is not
                       much).
                 c.) Man give $1.00…. How many do you have? 100 = 1% (Same as
                      the other person)
                 d.) THIS IS WHY YOU NEVER JUDGE A PERSON…. DON’T KNOW HOW
                       MUCH HE HAS.
           2.) “Every man give as he purposes in his heart….”
                 a.) (ILLUSTRATION) “Charlie only gave $10.00 and he makes 593.96/wk.
                       and just got inheritance!”
                 b.) “You know that Charlie has parents in nursing home and pays $6,000 ea./
                       month?” (No, I didn’t know that? “I don’t either, but it’s possible.” (Don’t
                       judge!) (Let him grow!!!)
            3.) Mark 12:42-44 Read. Jesus is saying DON’T JUDGE…

3. WONDERFUL SPIRITUAL EXERCISE (Last part of lesson)(Open envelops/ card/pencils) (Please return these – Envelops and pencils will be used again)
     A. Card – 1, 2, 3 Side (IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER – put a “V” = not counted.
     B. NO NAMES ALLOWED (not interested in “who”)(Just be honest)(DON’T LOOK 
          AT NEIGHBOR)
     C. SAMPLE: #1 ($5.00) (Cover with thumb)
         1.) How much you love family? Cant say.
         2.) How much you love the Lord? Can’t say. (IT’S UNDER YOUR THUMB)
    D. “I OBJECT!!!” (On what basis?) “You don’t know what I wrote/ don’t know my 
         situation!”
         1.) You are right! Don’t need to know/ INDIVIDUAL/PRIVATE GRACE.
         2.) Bet. You and God. Not CORPORATE GRACE/ CONGREGATIONAL
              GRACE…. INDIVIDUAL!
     E. Under your thumb = THREE THINGS
          1.) How much you love the Lord.
                a.) “O how I love Jesus, O how I love….” Jesus asks, “Do you love me
                      Jack?” (cf John 21 Jesus and Peter). “All the Jesus I surrender, Lord I
                      give myself to thee….” “Jack, do you really surrender all….?”
                b.) 1% may be all a person can give… maybe not. GOD JUST WANTS US
                     TO GROW!
                c.) God doesn’t want us to win souls just to win souls…. HE WANTS TO
                     CHANGE YOU.
                d.) Lord not concerned with our budget etc… WANTS TO CHANGE YOU/
                     BLESS THE GIVER.
          2.) How much you have grown over time.
                a.) 5, 10 years how much have you grown over all?
                b.) 2 Corinthians 8:7 Read “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in
                      speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
                      kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
                 c.) This is a lesson on life principles…. bigger than money
          3.) The future of your congregation. What will be done corporately (locally)(USA)
                (Foreign)
     F. TURN CARD OVER (Top of Card = PROPORTIONATE) (Explain difference 
          bet. Proportionate and a Portion)
          1.) Weekly income – Go down Lt. hand column to approximate $$$ – INCOME
          2.) Go the Rt hand column to figure which represents approx. present wkly 
                contribution (gift) CIRCLE IT.
          3.) This shows you where you are. (NO SHAME/GUILT even if 1%) – Just grow!
     G. TURN CARD BACK OVER
          1.) Multiply amt. in #1 by 10.
               a.) Tomorrow your employer will receive a guest… JESUS- “Your employee
                     is Charlie?” “Yes, Good man.” (Well, he is one of Mine. Well, I’m going to
                     use the OT “Tithing” figure of 10% to figure how I bless him, and I want
                     you to pay him 10 times what he gives Me.”
               b.) Could you live? Cut back? Be comfortable?
               c.) What would happen to the stuff bought on Credit? (Call GMAC – Come 
                    get it!)(Call Rent-A-Center – Come get the 70” Flat screen)
      H. WHAT IF EVERY CONTRIBUTING MEMBER – were to start growing some in
          this grace today?
           1.) One card – From 10 Cents to 20 Cents = 100% growth (Remember, not
                 thinking in terms of amount!
                a.) Not thinking in terms of PORTION… this is PRO-PORTIONATE giving!
                b.) Decision of the grateful, trusting heart… that wants to grow
                c.) Not a weekly BILL, DUTY, it’s a gift of love.
           2.) One card $1.00 to $25.00 = 2400% Growth.
           3.) What happens to the heart of Christian when it opens up and trusts Jesus?
                What happens at home? What happens at work, when one grows in grace?
           4.) Have seen cards go from $1.00 to $10.00. (What happens when grow
                900%?)
           5.) Saw cards from $200.00/ $500.00… $5.00 /$10.00… $0.20/ $0.50 per
                 week = some! That’s fine! GROW!
         7.) STOP comparing yourself with someone else… = bet. you and God (self with 
              self)
      I. Bottom line… not budgets/ missions/ buildings/ ministers… bottom line GOD
         WANTS TO BLESS THE GIVER, his life, family
         1.) Have prayed before Contribution, “Lord bless the gift AND the giver.”
              a.) Haven’t understood that too well… but we’re teaching it now.
      J. PUT THE AMOUNT YOU WILL INCREASE YOUR GIFT BEGINNING NEXT
          WEEK IN BOX #2 AND TOTAL IT IN BOX #3.
     K. Put card in envelop with pencil, don’t seal the envelop, just tuck it in…
     L. Pass to the aisle for pick up.

CONCLUDING REMARKS – INVITATION
(I left dad’s closing off here since it was a requested invitation for any who would like to obey the Gospel, which you can design yourself.)

(It is amazing to me how dad presented this lesson, and how people grew…
Just to let you know… One card came back after dad finished and it said, “I promise to increase my weekly giving $1.00 if you promise not to have someone come and speak so long on giving again.” Obviously, not some brethren’s favorite lesson… But it blessed many “over the years”, and I hope this will help you. I am trying to put the DVD that this was taken from on the site…. if I can figure out how… If you go to the “Illustrations” portion of this site under “Jack Exum – TUD, you will find many of the illustrations used, and more. The handout cards used in this lesson will be added here soon. God bless you, Jack Jr.)  

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Grace Of Giving (Part One)

This article is part 1 of 4 in the series Giving

(This outline is taken from dad’s lesson on giving… it has been expanded a bit with some additional thoughts and passages which came to my mind in preparing this outline. Part two will be coming soon. I hope this helps.)

* Texts: 2 Corinthians 8-9; Luke 6:23-38; (esp. vs. 38); Luke 21:1-4; Matthew 6:19-21; 7:9-12; 1 Corinthians  15:35-45; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23; Philippians 2:5-11)
* Preparation: Erasable board/ Collection plate/ Spoon/scoops/ Indian Corn seed/Play Dough

Introduction:
* 2 boys walking home after first time at Bible class. “You hear teacher?! She said Lot’s wife looked back/ turned into pillar of salt!” Other boy, “That’s nothing… my mother driving home/van – looked back and turned into fence post.”
* Not trying to “turn you into something” – Major shift in thinking – (DRAW STICK FIGURE)
* GOD NOT WANT YOU TO
    – Win souls (just to win souls) Not the purpose
    – Pray (just to pray for others) Not the purpose
    – Forgive (just to forgive and be forgiven) Not the purpose
    – Give (just to give so s/one can give to s/one else) Not the purpose
* (Arrow to Stick figure) GOD WANTS TO CHANGE YOU!
* We unknowingly- have taught REFLEXIVE CHRISTIANITY
    – “You do this so we can do that”
* God says (Play Dough) — “Jack, I want to change, mold, make YOU, your heart!”
* Talking about the GRACE OF GIVING (and MUCH MORE!)
* TWO POWER PRINCIPLES (2 sides of same coin)(Say almost same thing)

1. 2 Cor. 9:6 SOW SPARINGLY REAP SPARINGLY/ SOW GENEROUSLY REAP
    GENEROUSLY
     A. DECISION OF THE HEART/ Individual/ Private)(LV. HIM ALONE/ENCOURAGE 
          HIM TO GROW)
          1.) From strongest Christian to weakest = ALL ABOUT GRACE
                (Draw heart beat type line from stick figure to point rep. death/heaven.)
                (GRACE NOT MEAN IN AND OUT ea. time one sins)(Grace covers       
                 Christian through life while growing in LOVE, FORGIVENESS,    
                 KNOWLEDGE, GIVING etc…)
           2.) Grandma used to say, “Give that boy some elbow room! Let him grow!”
           3.) This is the Law about giving.
      B. (ILLUSTRATION) Corn seed (Laws regulate growth)
           1.) What is needed for growth? (Seed)(Dirt)(Water)(Fertilizer)(Time) – LIFE is   
                 given by God.
           2.) 1 Seed (law of averages) = 280 seeds back
           3.) NOT TELLING YOU GIVE $1.00 GET $280.00 (False teaching)
           4.) Talking about life and how God blesses those who trust him.
      C. EXAMINE THE LAW
           1.) Giving = a grace (act/attitude of kindness)(Ref. Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23)
           2.) Affects the whole life (ie Life  led by/ influenced by/controlled by SPIRIT)
           3.) Bake a cake and share/ caring for shut in/ cut grass for handicapped/
                EXPECT NOTHING
           4.) “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?” (Need to get ‘self’ out of way) Ref. Galatians 2:20
           5.) You want a great church/ home/ life? CHANGE (Clay)
                a.) “I’m a single parent” CHANGE
                b.) “I’m an elder or deacon” CHANGE
          6.) (FIVE FINGER ILLUSTRATION) Sow And You Shall Reap
                a.) Haven’t taught much a/ reaping (unless it is bad)
                b.) Have taught DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY, OBLIGATION, BUDGETS (but
                      not reaping).
                      (Preachers to pay)(Buildings to keep up)(Missions to Support)(GOTTA
                       SOW!!)
                c.) (FIVE FINGER ILLUSTRATION – Sow AndYou Shall Reap) 
                      (“But I don’t sow in order to reap!”God says, “I know, but it will happen…”)
     D. EXPAND ON THIS LAW
          1.) 2 Corinthians 9:7 Read. (= INDIVIDUAL/PERSONAL/PRIVATE)
                a.) Cf. Matthew 6:1-3
                b.) Give little/much = all about GRACE
                c.) For next few minutes – FORGET ABOUT BUDGETS/BLDG/PAY
                     PREACHERS (most have done this anyway)(Smile)
                d.) FOCUS: “I AM THE ONE GOD WANTS TO WORK ON, TO MOLD, TO
                      CHANGE!”
                      1.) Nothing wrong about budgets/buildings/paying preachers – BUT
                           POOR MOTIVATION!
          2.) QUESTION: WHAT DO THESE TERMS MEAN?
                a.) “not grudgingly (reluctantly)”  
                b.) “or under compulsion”
                      1.) Means “NOT FROM NEGATIVE PRESSURE/ DUTY” (“If you don’t,
                            we can’t….”)
          3.) Paul teaches – EV. CHRISTIAN NEEDS THIS GRACE
                a.) Consider Christ – 2 Corinthians 8:8-9; (Philippians 2:5-11)               
          4.) 2 Corinthians 9:10 Read
                a.) Bread to eat/ Seed to sow/ Make you grow – better husband and wife
                b.) (Stick figure)(Heart)(Arrow pointing to heart) GOD AT WORK
                c.) GOD = “ALL”, “ABLE”, “ALWAYS”
                d.) James 1:17 Read
     E. WHAT IF…? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF…?
           1.) All decided “Ok Lord, I’m going to trust you/ take You at your word/ put this to
                 work”?
          2.) God says, “I will open your heart/mind/hands to be my servant here.”
          3.) SOMEONE COMES ALONG… needs help/ forgiven/ Gospel… YOU
               READY?
          4.) “That’s ridiculous” “I’m not that way!”
     F. Talking about LIFE PRINCIPLES HERE. (Bonding/binding Christians together)
          1.) This = principle – existed in NT Church
    G. THOMAS EDISON (ILLUSTRATION)  982 failures/ TUNGSTEN STEEL
         FILLAMENT/ success! “Martha!!! Look, it works!”  “O, Turn out the light Tom     
         it’s 3 AM!!!” 
     H. Someone comes along – “new light” – “Leave us alone/ comfortable!”
      I. Right here = principle (unite families)(unite churches)(grow!!!)

         

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Can We Disagree And Still Be Saved By Grace? (Part One) “The Survey”

This article is part 3 of 5 in the series Dealing With Church Issues

                     
   2 John 9-11 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, 11 because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.” (N.E.T.)
   Where do you draw the line on someone who is a ‘brother or sister covered by grace and one who has fallen from grace and is lost’? Can Christians differ and still have ‘fellowship” each other? These verses have been used to condemn a multitude of ‘differences’ in spite of the fact that these verses refer to something specific within the context. The “teaching” spoken of by John here, is obviously extremely intolerable. He says in verse 7 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! (Then he warns the brethren)  8 “Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.” (N.E.T.)  
   This doctrine, this teaching, is so bad, that he forbids Christians from “receiving” or “greeting” this person. Further, this person is given the infamous title of “antichrist” (against Christ).
   What is the teaching? Specifically, it is that Jesus did not come in the flesh (verse 7). This teaching undermines Christianity all together. This person is lost. Grace will not cover this. What does grace cover? Well, that’s a great question. One which we would do well to re-study, along with an over all study of God’s great grace. I recommend going to Jay Guinn’s web site www.oneinjesus.info, and study his indepth consideration of Grace. It is long, indepth, and well worth the time! For now, I will say this… grace covers  more than I previously thought. The divisions and splintering that has plagued the church… maybe they could have been avoided, by understanding God’s grace better. Maybe future issues, and divisions can be avoided, by developing the abilities to have honest, open, unafraid… BIBLE STUDY.
        
   Hopefully, this survey will encourage you to either use this survey or make up your own and just see what the results are. Taking an annonymous – ‘no names allowed’ survey will show that brethren disagree. Which is ok! It’s how we deal with disagreements that make all the difference.
   This may lead to a special series of lessons in a Bible class for more mature Christians who can feel comfortable with open discussion on various subjects. it may lead to some pulpit lessons on things which need addressed. In my opinion, the class room setting is the best, and most productive. However, this can only be done if all agree to the ‘rules’ of the class, including, all may participate BUT ONLY IN A DECENT AND RESPECTFUL WAY. The object of such a class… to discover the truth no matter where it leads. This may be one of the most exciting classes you’ve been in.It may just bring out questions which have long needed to be dicussed. It will take some preparation, and a teacher ‘full of the Spirit’. The class must feel comfortable to be ‘open’ with their opinions, and understandings, and willing to listen to each other. The teacher must be one who doesn’t get frustrated, or upset, and one who enoys interacting in a good discussion, and can admit when he doesn’t know the answer… or has been wrong…  Maybe it will help brethren understand Romans 14 better, and creat a stronger unity, and fellowship on Christ. Put it ‘all on the table’…. everything is open for discussion, any question is welcome… no embarassment, no recremminations.

   This survey came from Jay’s lessons on grace… try it. Ask for no names, just complete honesty on answers given.

——————————————————————————————————————–
 
                                              THE SURVEY

I have here a survey. It’s not a test. I’m not going to grade this. I just want to see how much disagreement we have over some pretty basic things.

Mark the correct interpretation of the quoted passages? You may only mark one answer per question, and you must choose one.

1. (2 Cor 13:12)  Greet one another with a holy kiss.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (greet one another warmly) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

2. (Rom 1:27)  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (sex with a temple prostitute is wrong)
    applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

3. (Mat 5:29)  If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (lust is a deadly sin) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

4. (Mat 5:25-26)  “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (resolve personal dispute through
    compromise, but when settlement fails, financial disputes are appropriate for the
    courts) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

5. (Mat 5:22)  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (any name calling that dehumanizes is wrong) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

6. (Mat 5:10-12)  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (persecution should be avoided but if it happens, at least we’ll go to heaven) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
________________________________

7. (Mat 5:39)  But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (do not seek revenge over a point of honor) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

8. (Lev 27:30)  “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (give generously to good works, especially your church) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

9. (Exo 20:9-10)  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (Sunday is the Christian Sabbath) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

10. (Num 18:29)  You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (wear our best to church) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

11. (1 Cor 14:34-35)  women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (women should do nothing in church that
shames their husbands) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

12. (1 Cor 11:6)  If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (women should wear fashionable hats to church) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

13. (1 Cor 11:7)  A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (long hair on men is okay, but no baseball caps in the building) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

14.  (1 Cor 16:1-3)  Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (we should give weekly at church) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

Class, the rules are simple:
* No cheating. You can’t ask your husband or wife. You can’t look on your neighbor’s sheet.
* Don’t write your name on it, if you don’t want someone else to see your answers. But do make some identifying mark if you want it back.
* Don’t get too hung up on filling in the blanks. It’s not a test and there are no bonus points for long answers. Keep it very short.
* If you have a question about one of the questions, come up and ask me. I don’t want you to say something to the whole class that might bias their thinking.
* These aren’t meant to be trick questions. Don’t over-think your answers. It’s not a test.

After the papers are collected… just take a week to corelate all the information and develop a lesson on how grace helps hold the body of Christ, even with our differences.. The point of the survey, is to show that brethren can and do differ… yet are saved by grace.

Hear the words and pleading of Paul, who was in prison when he wrote, “I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, (2) with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, (3) making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3) (N.E.T.) Brethren, let us earnestly pray for unity, and in humility and gentleness (dealing with each other), try hard… to re-build unity, and keep it.

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