The Story and the Tool

LOOK: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim.3:16-17

LEARN: Did you know that, according to Wikipedia at www.Wikipedia.org, the Bible is the number one best selling book of all time? Can you imagine that? If it’s the number one best seller book, can we assume that it is the number one most read book in the entire Western world? If it’s the most read book of all time, the question begs to be asked, “How much of it do we really understand and how do we come to understand it more?”

As stated in Creative Bible Teaching by Lawrence O. Richards, to understand the main message of the Bible, one must look at the entire Bible as one book. The message of reconciliation to God is the central theme that runs from cover to cover. The New Testament is a fulfillment of the promises in the Old Testament. The Bible provides the means by which the believer can experience daily the reconciled relationship that belongs to the Christian. The Bible is both the story of reconciliation and the tool for experiencing the story firsthand.

How does one experience the story firsthand? It’s important that as readers of the Bible we do not merely approach the Word of God as information to be learned, but as life changing truth meant to transform us. Ultimately, the blessing of reading and studying God’s Word is found in living out God’s Word. The Bible teaches us about God, and with that knowledge comes implications for our relationship with Him. We cannot study the God of the Bible through the pages of the Bible without response. We must ask ourselves how we need to change. Do we need to change a viewpoint? Maybe it is an attitude that needs adjustment. Are we to change a habit or behavior? Is there some new perspective, attitude or behavior we should embrace? Implementing the life-changing truth of the Bible requires action on our part.

What is the end result of Bible study and taking action to implement its’ truth in our lives? In his book, Taking the Guesswork Out of Applying the Bible, Jack Kuhatschek says, “As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, our goal is to develop within ourselves the mind and heart of God. We want to be able to think and to respond to every situation the way God himself would.” Ready for action? Let’s go!!!

LIVE: THE STORY AND THE TOOL

1. If you were to rate how often you implement Scripture into your life on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being seldom and 5 being always, where would you place yourself?

2. How might you envision God’s word transforming your life if you applied it more often?

3. Identify something that might be hindering you from taking action to apply God’s Word to your life?

4. What would it take for you to overcome that hindrance?

5. Write a prayer asking God to help you read, understand and apply His transforming Word to your life.

Cardboard Testimonies

LOOK: “Anyone who is united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.  The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!”  2 Corinthians 5:17  The Message

LEARN: I love the fact that we’re made new when we come to Christ.  As I look back on my own life, I am not the same person I was before I gave my life to my Lord.  Still a work in progress, my spiritual journey has covered many miles.

Allow yourself to spend 8 minutes watching the following clip on youtube.  Many people share their before and after testimony in a very fun and creative way, attesting to the fact that God really does change lives.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

LIVE: CARDBOARD TESTIMONY

1.  What did you discover by watching this video clip?

2.  In a few words, describe who were you before Christ entered your life.

3.  In a few words, describe your ‘new you.’

4.  If you have never asked God to come into your life and make you a new person, how might this video clip encourage you to do so?

5.  Write a prayer praising God for what He has done in your life to make you a new creation.  Ask Him to continue working to make you into the person He wants you to be.

Gold in the Garbage!

LOOK: “If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you’ll be my special treasure.” Exodus 19:5 The Message

LEARN: My first experience of finding gold in the garbage came many years ago as I was walking our dog late one summer evening. I noticed an item placed right next to a pile of trash that was waiting to be hauled off the next morning by the city trash collectors. “Was that an ab-roller?” I said to myself. My husband and I had just talked about getting one. I looked again. “Couldn’t be. No one would throw a perfectly good ab-roller away, would they?” Upon closer inspection, it seemed exactly that. Someone had tossed a perfectly good piece of workout equipment by the side of the road, as if it was no longer any good.

Upon arriving home, I quickly told my husband what I had found and where this treasure was located. Waiting only until it was dark enough not to be seen, he embarked on his treasure hunt. A few minutes later he arrived home, ab-roller in hand. We laughed and chuckled our way to flatter abs during the next several months, so proud of our special treasure.

Once again very recently, I was on another nightly stroll with my little dog. This time there was a complete outdoor patio set carefully placed alongside the road, waiting to be hauled off with the other trash in the morning. A quick glance, and I found something I wanted. “Going to have to tell Tim about that when I get home.” My over fifty-year-old brain being what it is, I forgot to mention this treasure to Tim when I got home, but as I drove past the house the next morning, the patio set was gone. Someone else had taken it!

These experiences remind me of how God sees us - as His special treasures - no matter how others might feel about us. Have you ever felt like you’ve been tossed to the side of the road, no longer needed or wanted? Or perhaps you feel like you’ve been broken beyond repair, no longer good for anything. You feel like you’ve been place alongside the road with the other disposable refuse, completely abandoned.

The good news is no matter how others might make us feel, God sees us as a His golden treasure, His chosen people. He delights in picking us up from the side of the road and putting us back together again. He fixes us. He repairs us. He restores us so that once again, our lives have purpose and meaning. Our value and worth is found in being one of His special treasures. We ARE the gold in a world that is sometimes filled with all kinds of garbage!

LIVE: GOLD IN THE GARBAGE

1. Identify a time in your life when you may have felt like you were or maybe currently are, being placed alongside the road, abandoned as refuse.

2. What do you find most meaningful from the information above that might renew your hope in who you are?
3. If you were to believe that you are God’s special treasure, how might that make a difference in your life?
4. Write a prayer asking God to help you see yourself as He sees you: a treasure of pure gold!

Let it rain! Let it rain! Let it rain!

LOOK: “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Psalm 5:11

LEARN: For those of us who live in Ohio, we’ve seen more than our usual share of rain these past two weeks. The skies have remained gray and cloudy, even if the rain has not been constant. Although I try to avoid getting out in it, I never know when the rain will come. Just a few days ago I got caught right in the middle of a soaker!

I needed to pick up some items from a print shop that is located on a college campus. Pushed for time before I left home, I did not do my homework to find out exactly where the print shop was located. I figured I’d find it once I got there. Finding what appeared to be a main building, I was dismayed to discover the parking lot was a lot further than what I hoped it would be, especially since it was drizzling outside. For anyone else, this might not have been a big problem, but I have never mastered the art of carrying an umbrella and pushing my wheelchair at the same time.

Wouldn’t you know as soon as I got out of my van and started the trek into the building, it started to rain harder and harder? The harder it rained, the faster I tried to push my wheelchair. Much to my dismay, I was getting very wet very fast!

Suddenly from behind, I heard a voice call out, “Are you going into the Administration building?” I turned around and there was a very kind woman with an umbrella, briskly walking towards me. “Here, let me help you”, she said as she hovered over me with her umbrella, protecting me from the rain. “Where are you going?” she asked. “The print shop. Do you know where it is located?” I replied. “It’s in this building, but you’ll have to go around to the side entrance. I’ll walk with you and take you over there.” This was a very nice woman!

I was so reminded of how God spreads his protection over us to protect us from the rain that comes into our lives at different times. Sometimes we don’t know when the rain will come and we might get caught in a huge storm, but suddenly, out of nowhere, just like this kind woman, God shows up with his huge umbrella and says, “Here, let me spread my protection over you. You can take refuge under my umbrella. It’s very big and under it’s protection, you stay very dry, safe and warm.” Now that is something in which I can rejoice. Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

LIVE: LET IT RAIN! LET IT RAIN! LET IT RAIN!

1. Identify a current situation in your life where you need some extra protection.
2. Describe what would it look like if you were standing under God’s umbrella?
3. Predict how standing under God’s umbrella might make you feel?
4. God wants to spread His protection over you. Write a prayer asking God to help you seek that protection and for you to see it when it’s there.

Be a Witness!

LOOK: Gone to Father’s house to prepare your place – will be back soon to pick you up.  Jesus (Sturgillian paraphrase of John 14:2,3)

LEARN: Wasn’t our annual Spring Retreat wonderful this year? Reflecting upon the weekend spent on the campus of the beautiful Miami University campus in Oxford, Ohio, I am continually amazed at God’s glory. It was simply everywhere I looked: in the beauty of His creation, in the inspired teaching of our speaker, and in the heart of every person who attended the retreat. Preparing for the Bridgegroom was the theme for the weekend event, however, its impact on us will remain in our hearts and minds far longer than the few days we just experienced.

Jesus IS coming back to get us, just as the bridegroom of ancient Jewish custom returned to get his bride and take her to the place he had prepared for her to live. As we wait expectantly for His imminent return, how do we prepare ourselves for it? Does this mean I can hang out at Starbucks drinking coffee until then? Not exactly! We have precious little time left to do the Father’s business before He comes back. We’d better hop to it!

Jesus told the believers exactly what to do in Acts 1:8. His very last words before His ascension were: You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

My friends, we are to be witnesses for Jesus! How? By loving people; forgiving people; being kind to people; serving people – starting with our spouses and families. God’s primary concern is for people and He uses believers to stand in for Him to be His hands, feet and arms that reach out to others. Just as Jesus is preparing our place for us, we can be preparing ourselves for Him by carrying out His last command: Be a witness.

LIVE: BE A WITNESS

1. Identify someone who you feel needs a special touch from God.

2. If you were to be a witness for God to this person, describe what might that look like?

3. Predict what effect might it have upon this person if you were to be the hands and arms of God? What effect might it have upon you?

4. Develop a plan to be a witness to this person. What it would take for you to be God’s hands and feet?

5. Write a prayer asking God to help you know what to do and to give you the courage to step up and do it as you prepare yourself for His imminent return.

God is the Calmer of the Storm

LOOK: “God raised Him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name, no power, except from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything.” Ephesians 1:20-21

LEARN: Having a house on the market at such a time as this, when housing sales are at an all time low, as well as house prices, has made me very nervous. For the last three weeks our house has been listed with a realtor, as well as being listed on a military real estate website. And yet will all of this, there has been very little interest in our house. No one’s calling. No one’s coming by to see it. At first we noticed people driving by, but even that has begun to dwindle off.

Driving down the road last week, I began to get panic stricken thinking about what might happen if we don’t sell or rent our house before we leave in August. Suddenly, my downhere CD began to play a song titled, Calmer of the Storm. This song is now my newest favorite song! You can download it from iTunes for $.99. But until you do, let me share some of the words with you.

In the storm I’m learning to let go of the will that I so long to control. Teach me Lord, to have faith that what you’re bringing me will change my life and bring you glory. Afraid of sinking into despair, I feel the wind and forget your grace. May I never trust in me, but may I see your love protecting me. In your arms I find no tragedy. I thank you Lord that you are the calmer of the storm.

I was suddenly overcome with a sense of peace – no matter what happens with our house, God is ultimately in control. Everything falls under His authority. I’m reminded of another song - Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Oh for grace to trust Him more!

LIVE: GOD IS THE CALMER OF THE STORM

1. Identify an area of your life that feels stormy right now. Describe it to a friend.

2. How might the above verse and information give you hope in the midst of your storm?

3. Compare the difference between staying in panic mode and remaining calm in the midst of the storm.  What impact might these two different attitudes have on the outcome of your storm?

4. What can you conclude about God being in control and the calmer of your storm?

5. Complete the following sentence: Because God _____________________________

I can _______________________________________________________________.

Hold ‘Em UP!

LOOK: “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”  Exodus 17:11-12

LEARN: As I read this scripture I’m so impressed with Aaron and Hur.  In the middle of the battle with the Amalekites, Moses grew tired and weary and could no longer hold his hands up.  Not un-noticed by Aaron (his brother) and Hur (a friend), the two of them stepped in, came along side of Moses and held his hands up for him.  By doing this, the Israelites were able to win this battle.  Moses was perfectly capable of doing what God commanded him to do, but Moses was only human. After many hours, he became fatigued from the stress and strain of having to hold his arms up.  Aaron and Hur offered their support at just the right time when Moses needed the extra assistance.  Without it, a defeat for the Israelites was a very real possibility.  Aaron and Hur did not hold Moses’s hands up forever, just until the battle was won.

What an amazing example of how to live as a follower of God – by coming along side and supporting those who might be in need of some immediate assistance so that they can win the battle!  Actually, this is a very Biblical idea.  The Holy Spirit was given as a paraclete (Greek word) that is translated, comforter, or one who comes along side.  In other words the Holy Spirit comforts us by coming along side us to help us through.  When we come along side to help those in need, we are being the hands and feet of God Himself.

I recently completed writing an eight-week Bible study.  The fact is, I was ready to quit after writing six lessons.  I was tired of writing and re-writing.  I just wanted it to be over.   Just when I needed someone to help me hold my arms up so I could complete this task, people stepped in and assisted me, not forever, but just until the study was complete.  Without my Aaron’s and Hurs, I would surely have suffered defeat.

LIVE: HOLD ‘EM UP!

1.  Look around you.  Identify someone you know who might be growing weary under the stress and strain of life and might be on the verge of defeat.  Who might that person be?

2.  Evaluate their situation.   What might happen if they had a little extra help at this time?

3.  Determine how you might be able to ‘hold this person’s arms up’ until a battle is won.

4.  Meet with this person and offer your assistance until the time of need is over.

5.  Write a prayer thanking God for giving you the opportunity to come along side of your friend at this time. Ask God to help your friend win their battle.

Keep ‘em Full, Keep ‘em Focused!

LOOK: “Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway! Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way.” Psalm 119:35-37 (The Message)

LEARN: According to the paper this morning, the Dayton, OH area has had a record snowfall this year – almost 25 inches – 13 of which fell just this past weekend! A typical response to the blizzard swirling all around us, my husband and I were inside the house, huddled in front of the heater with our toes up and the television on. Never one to pay much attention to the commercials aired in between the programs, this one caught my eyes and ears. Professing the benefits of sending your children off to school on a full stomach, the tag line used to promote a healthy breakfast of oatmeal was simple: “keep ‘em full, keep ‘em focused.’

I immediately thought how true that is in the Kingdom of God. God wants to keep His children full on His Word so they stay focused on Him. Without filling up on His Word each morning, He knows that our minds, thoughts and hearts are prone to wander and stray, like children in school without a healthy breakfast. Psalm 63:5 tells us when we are full on God, our souls will be satisfied as with the richest of foods.

I have found that being full on God allows me to stay focused on fulfilling His plan for my life. When I’m not full on God, I easily get distracted from the purpose I even exist on this earth. Staying focused on God enables me to listen to and hear the Holy Spirit as He speaks to me. Most of the time we cannot hear His still, quiet voice when we are busy filling ourselves up with junk food instead of with the richness of His word.

What about you this morning? Have you had your spiritual breakfast? Are you full on God so that you can stay focused on Him throughout the day?

LIVE: KEEP’EM FULL, KEEP’EM FOCUSED!

1. If you’re a breakfast eater, describe how important eating a healthy breakfast is to you in starting your day and staying focused on your work.

2. Identify a time when you did not have breakfast. What difference did it make in your ability to stay focused?

3. Ps. 63:5 tells us that our souls will be satisfied as with the richest of foods. How might you begin your day taking in spiritual food? Create a spiritual breakfast menu.

4. If at all possible, pair up with a partner at your place of work or with one of your friends to briefly discuss your spiritual breakfast menu of the day. What was on it?

5. Write a prayer asking God to help you stay full on His word so you can stay focused on Him.

What’s Your Vantage Point?

LOOK: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.” Proverb 3:5,6

LEARN: Not to give away the plot to the movie we saw last week, Vantage Point, I thought is was very good. Vantage point actually means, ‘a position or location that provides a broad view or perspective of something.’ At first thinking the movie was boring, the same incident was shown over and over again. ‘How many times can they show the same thing’, I thought?

However, each time it was shown, it was shown from a different person’s perspective. There were several people involved in the core plot of the movie. Depending upon who they were, they all had a different perspective of what was happening. To try to make sense out of the incident and to find the truth of what happened was impossible by just looking at the incident from just one or two perspectives. It was not until you saw everyone’s perspective that you began to understand what was happening.

This movie reminds me of the times when things happen that don’t seem to make any sense to us. We try to figure it all out, we try hard to find reasons why things happen, but in the end we are limited in our understanding because we don’t see the whole picture. We only have one perspective from which to view a situation – our own. And most of the time, our one perspective is not the total truth of the situation. It’s a very limited perspective. We just don’t have a good vantage point.

God is the only one with the complete vantage point. He is the only One who has the complete and whole picture. He is the One who knows the truth. We must accept there will always be some things we may never understand this side of eternity. Our best vantage point is simply to trust in Him. We can pray for God to give us eyes to see things from His vantage point, but in the end it all boils down to whether or not we trust Him to know the truth in a situation.

LIVE: WHAT’S YOUR VANTAGE POINT?

1. Identify a situation you’re in that you have tried to figure out but cannot seem to understand.

2. How might other people describe your situation from their perspective?

3. What might be the difference between your perspective and theirs?

4. What can you conclude about God’s perspective of your situation?

5. Write a prayer asking God to give you eyes to see your situation from His perspective.

Don’t Give Up!

LOOK: “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows it’s true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 (The Message)

LEARN: Has anyone, other than myself, ever wanted to drop out of something because suddenly, it seemed too hard? The going has just gotten a little too rough for our liking. I recently had this experience while I was writing an online Bible study for PWOCI. Thoughts began to run through my head. Thoughts like: I’m not sure I can complete this; my feelings are hurt; I feel like a failure; after many attempts, I just can’t seem to get it right. I not only began to question my ability, I began to question my calling. If God really called me to this, then why is it so hard? Under pressure, my faith-life was forced out into the open and I didn’t like the colors that were showing. Has anyone ever had a similar experience?

Having just completed writing this study, I’m so thankful God gave me the grace to hang in there. There were many times I felt like quitting. Many times I felt like giving up. Many times I wanted to have my own way instead of the way of our editor. But now that it’s complete, I look back and see God working to refine me, along with refining my study. All God wants is to bring out the best in all of us. He wants to work in us so that we become mature and well-developed. As much as we try to escape the hot, firey furnace of refinement, I’m convinced nothing of any significance comes when things are easy for us.

So are you in a hard situation right now? Hang in there! Allow God to do His perfect work in you. Don’t give up. You may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s there, just the same. Suffering only lasts for a while, but God’s refinement lasts for a lifetime.

LIVE: