Church notes July - October 2013

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Church notes - July 2013
7 July
Joshua 15: 6 - 11

Joshua 14: 6 - 15
Caleb was always faithful
God has something for you too...
You ned to be healthy in both body and spirit in order to bring the Gospel to those who haven't yet been born.

Numbers 14
Caleb wholeheartedly served God.

Numbers 13:30
Caleb looked at God, but the 10 looked only at the enemy
He was faithful!

Pride is the root of many kinds of evil
None of those are present in the relationship between Caleb and Joshua.


14 July
Psalm 27

Fear
Many different fears
Irrational and rational

David turned to God for help, in the midst of his fears.
God didn't remove the reason for his fears
God allowed him to stand in confidence and hope.

Mark 4: 35 - 41
We already have the resources - our faith

Romans 8: 31 - 39
1 John 4: 15 - 18


21 July 2013
Bitterness
Creates negativity and a sense of defeat.
We become bitter at our own peril

Matthew 18: 21 - 35
The official didn't receive forgiveness in his heart

Bittterness
Long standing resentment
Refusal of reconcilliation
it holds you captive
Acts 8:23
Hebrews 12: 13 - 15
Ephesians 4:26
Ruth 1:20

God wants us to forgive

Jesus doesn't want us to keep records of how others wronged us.

Forgiveness
Laying the desire for vengence down.

Carrying grudges harm us spirtually

Matthew 6:16, 17


28 July 2013
Loneliness
Feeling of abandonment
We need love and acceptance

Genesis 2:18

Jeremiah 16

Jeremiah 20

God can be our refuge and our strength in our difficulties

John 16:18, 19

Jesus Himself was alone, especially on the Cross.



Church - August 2013
4 August 2013
1 Kings 19:1 - 10

Depression
How common is depression?
- 20% of people suffered a mental illness in the last year
- 5% clinically diagnosed as depressed
- 40% of people will suffer a mental illness during their life
- 2000 people commit suicide (in Australia, per year)

How do we recognise depression?
- Sad or low mood (consistant for two weeks)
- Loss of interest or pleasure
- Significant loss or gain of appetite or weight.
- Insomnia or excessive sleep
- Physical and mental agitation or slowing
- Fatigue or loss of sleep
- Reckless behaviour - eg driving, gambling
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Irratibility

Job 3
Joshua 7: 6, 7
Jonah 4

Why do people become depressed?
- Separation from a loved one
- Threat of separation
- Relationship problems commencing or increasing
- Illness, injury or accident
- Berevement (Worse, if child or spouse)
- Unemployment
- Acute financial difficulties
- Increased responsibilities

How can we help?
- Don't blame or reject
- Don't imply an inadaquacy of faith (compounds pre-existing guilt)
- Attitude: acceptance - we can all potentially experience depression. May be of benefit to talk about issues; or just listen
- Practical assistance

Source for depression information: Beyond Blue

If we place our self worth in things of the world, it is shakey.

If we place our self worth in Christ, it is strong. We are strong


11 August 2013
Resentment
Psalm 37
Act of resentment - little resentments build up to a large resentment
Resentment - from Latin for 'to cut again'
mis-managed anger
It is there, it comes up again.
A wound is there, something hones in on it and inflames it!
Hangs with us if it is not dealt with
Not a good foundation for a relationship to be built on.

We all have concerns

With the help of the Spirit we can set our minds on what is important in heaven

Acts 5
They had had their minds reset

The things that you remember and the things you choose to forget will shape your character and view of the word

John 14:26

2 Corinthians 10:5

Genesis 45:7

Joseph didn't feel the resentment towards his brothers he could otherwise have felt. He rewrote history positively.

God can redeem anything.


18 August 2013
Christians Against Poverty

Luke 16:1 - 13

Matthew 25:14 - 46


25 August 2013
Gossip & Rumour
James 3:1 - 12
Words are powerful

1 Thesselonians 5:11
Don't underestimate the destruction that words can cause.

Romans 14:13
Passing Judgement

If you complain about the church you go to, it may be devalued in your childrens' eyes.

May be unthinking and undisciplined
- Not realising that you're spreading rumour.
- If you listen to gossip, you may join in...

Proverbs 26:20
Gossip needs fuel to keep going.

1 Corinthians 13:6

Words
- Used correctly - Build people up.
- Used as weapons - tear people apart!



Church notes - September 2013
1 September 2013
Busyness
Luke 10: 38 - 42
Obsessed with busyness?

Can cost significantly in our relationships
- Can cause loneliness
- Important things can go by the wayside

There may be an issue in the heart or their life they need to deal with
Time is a scarce commodity
We choose to do something - we choose not to do something else
Time must be budgeted

Jesus is telling Martha that Mary is doing the right thing - sitting at His feet listening

Mark 6:31

Exodus 20:8 - 11
The Sabbath is a gift from God for busy people
it's not a burden

Mark 1:35

Busyness without reason distracts us from what is important


8 September 2013
Impatience
1 Samuel 12, 13

Self-centred-ness can occur

Genesis 16:1 - 16

We need a dose of Biblical patience in our lives

Patience - from wikipedia:

Colossians 3:12, 13


15 September 2013
Giants and Thorns - Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a constant all-pervading feeling of never quite measuring up, never quite being or doing enough to please.

The symptoms of Perfectionism
1) The Tyrrany of Oughts

Galatians 5:1

2) Self Condemnation

Romans 8:1

3) Anxiety
4) Legalism
A whole range of do's and don'ts.
They can't accept themselves and think God can't either.

5) An attitude of criticism
6) A Growing Resentment
Against a cruel God.
No Peace or Joy
Lost relations with the real God

Matthew 11:28 - 30
Romans 5:8

God operates under the concept of Grace
Grace - God's response to the imperfection of sin
- Freely gives
- Undeserved
- Unmerited
- Unearnable
- An unrepayable favor

Matthew 11:2 - 30
Galatians 5:1

The Prodigal Son
- The father wanted to get to his son before others could reject him.


22 September 2013
Banglasdesh - Mostly Muslim
Rapid Church Growth

Children are important
They believe more readily than mature, cynical adults

Luke 10:38 - 42
Mary is behaving unusually for her culture

Galatians 3:25 - 39
Paul is explaining the difference between a Jew under the Law and a Christian under Grace.


29 September 2013
Hebrews 11

Daniel 3: 1 - 3
A political statement - Nebuchadnezzar wanted to cement his power.

Daniel 3: 8 - 18
In many places Christians place similar challenges

Daniel 3:24 - 30



Church notes - October 2013
6 October 2013
Genesis 1:26 - 30

Who do you think you are?

When you understand who you are in Christ it changes everything.

Psalm 51

How solid is our sense of identity

You aren't what has been done to you, but what Jesus has done for you.

Luke 19:1 - 10
Zaccheaus changed completely after meeting Jesus.
A new son of Abraham.



13 October 2013
Ephesians 1: 1 - 14
In Christ we have sense of identity

God had a plan from before Creation

Everyone chooses poorly from time to time.

Part of His plan was for Gentiles to be saved.

In Christ - Holy and Blameless
We were set aside for God's purposes.
We are blameless because of Jesus' sacrifice

Chosen

Adopted as Sons and Daughters

Redeemed and Forgiven

Knowledge of the Mysteries of God

Hope

Purpose - Live to Praise God.

Sealed with the Holy Spirit
We are marked with a seal

The Holy Spirit always presents Christ as the solution.


20 October 2013
Ephesians 1: 15 - 23
You are appreciated

Luke 21:1 - 4
Jesus appreciated the widow's offering

verses 15, 16
Paul appreciated the faith of the Ephesian church

Ephesians 2:10

Appreciated people exchange grumbling for praying
Appreciated people exchange competing for celebrating

Paul is praying that they would know Jesus better

Appreciated people exchange bitterness for thankfulness
Appreciated people exchange performing for serving
Appreciated people exchange boasting for encouraging


27 October 2013
Dividing Walls
Ephesians 2:11 - 22
We are reconciled to each other.

Verse 12
Showing the division between the gentiles and God.
The gentiles weren't allowed in the Temple

Your identity is in Christ, He should define you. Not anything else in your life.

He came to reconcile us to God.

We are reconciled. You are reconciled.