Lesson for 4/6/2008 - Genesis 12:1-8; 13:5-161

Please Read the following Scripture and surrounding passages. Genesis 12:1-8; 13:5-161

1. As you read this, look for what caused a quarrel between Abraham and Lot.

2. Imagine this from Abraham’s perspective. What did this feel like for God to say, “Get up
and move to the place where I will show you.”

3. Is this how God normally guides–telling us a direction without a destination?

Many of us want the full path laid out before us in order to commit to action. Is this just being prudent, cautious, disobedient or a lack of faith/trusting when it comes to following where God is leading?

What is it that God is trying to speak to us about in our daily walk and path ahead?

Please come prepared to discuss and move into a deeper discussion this Sunday.

God Bless and I hope everyone is having a great spring break !!!

Final Lesson this Month (Revelation Chap 1 and 3)

Revelation 1:9-13,17-18; 3:14-22

The above referenced passages are the core verses for this week. We will most likely look at other verses within those chapters as well.

Below is a list of some things we will discuss this week. Please be thinking about your input.

• What have you read in your quiet time recently that has warmed your heart?

• Has anyone had a spiritually significant conversation with an outsider in recent days?

1. What all do we know about the John who wrote Revelation?
2. Locate Patmos on a map. What was John doing on Patmos?
3. What did John see in this vision?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Also, I will be updating you later as to which classroom we will be moving to after I have confirmed with the church the date and location.

See you Sunday !!!

Easter Sunday Lesson (Ephesians 1:18-21; 2:4-9; 3:16-211)

Ephesians 1:18-21; 2:4-9; 3:16-211

Please review these verses for Sunday Morning. I hope everyone is having a great Good Friday and a Wonderful and Worshipful Easter Weekend and Morning.

See Below:

What Does Jesus Do for Us? Jesus Lives for Us

Scripture tells us the reason Jesus went to the cross was to pay the price for our sins. His resurrection assures us of His, and ultimately our, victory over death. Simply put, Jesus died so we would not have to experience eternal death; He rose again so that we could experience eternal life.

That is what Easter is all about. It’s about having come to a point in our lives where we understand that we are sinners in need of a Savior. It’s about recognizing that nothing can save us from the penalty of our sins except the blood of Jesus. And coming to that recognition, we must accept the forgiveness of sins Jesus offers and place our lives under His control, that’s what it means to be saved.

Many people have a superficial understanding of what it means to be a Christian. They think that holding to a certain moral or ethical code will get them into heaven. Others think that joining the church or being baptized will do it, but Scripture tells us we must be born again, we must be made new in Jesus, we must pass from the death of trespasses and sins into the new life found only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s what Easter is all about.

But not only is it a time to celebrate the new life we have in Jesus because of His resurrection, it is also a time for us to reflect upon what the resurrection means in our everyday experience.

Belonging to Jesus means you are no longer of the world. You may be in the world but you are no longer of the world and thus you will ever be at odds with the world.

The world hates us because our new life in Christ is such a contrast with the life they live. When we are surrendered to the point that the life of Jesus is seen through us, our lives serve to convict the world around us of their sin. Our lives force them to see themselves for what they really are and it’s not something they want to see.

We who were dead in trespasses and sins have been made alive in Christ, we have been born again, we live in a realm the lost world cannot understand and because we have this new life, because we have been spiritually raised from the dead, and our life is different from that of the world. The one distinctive which we should possess that makes us different is love.

If you really know Him, if you’ve really trusted Him, then live like Him. Don’t be a hypocrite. Don’t profess one thing and practice another. If you have really trusted Him, then your actions will demonstrate it.

Do you know Him? Is the evidence of His love visible in your life? Have you ever trusted Him? Are you walking in obedience to Him, or are claiming to be a Christian without any substantiating evidence?

Source: Whittman, Calvin. What Does Jesus Do for Us? Jesus Lives for Us. Retrieved March 11, 2008, from www.lifeway.com.

Living 3:16-Where God Is at Home

1 Corinthians 3:9-17; 6:12-13,18-20

The church Paul established in Corinth was filled with both Jews and newly converted Gentiles. Although he spent a year and a half with the church at Corinth, teaching them God’s Word and the attributes of godliness, they continued to struggle with self-discipline and were setting a poor example for their pagan neighbors. Paul felt responsible for this baby church filled with new Christians who struggled with previous worldly influence. Paul wrote a letter to them, admonishing them and encouraging behaviors that would honor God. A foundation of faith had been established for the church to build on, but many were straying from godly behavior and were beginning to look like the world.

Some questions we will discuss next week:

• What does it mean to be revealed by fire?
• What does it mean to live honorably?
• What is the cost of living honorably as unto God?

Please continue to pray for Revival and those we have been praying for in our class.... Especially our class members.

Ask God this week to open our eyes to a view of things more eternal.

God Bless !!!

How to Live - 3:16

Paul and Timothy were not only brothers in the ministry of sharing Christ, but they were friends. Second Timothy was written while Paul was imprisoned, and it was the last letter he would write before he was put to .

We can sense Paul’s urgency in his request for Timothy to come and in his words of exhortation to be steadfast as a Christian and a minister. Paul knew young Timothy would face trials, alienation, and possibly , so he reminded Timothy of the calling God placed on his life and then challenged him to be unashamed of the gospel, encouraging him to rely on God's power to face suffering that might come because of the gospel.

so..........

Half of All s Say Their Faith Helped Them Personally Handle the 9-11 Aftermath

Faith Made a Difference

Tens of millions of Americans turned to their faith to help process the tragedies. When asked if their religious faith made any difference in how they handled the attacks, one-fourth of all s (25%) said their faith has been "the single most important resource" they have relied on and an additional one-quarter (23%) said their faith has been "one of several important resources" that has enabled them to deal with the attacks. These figures represent about 100 million s who credit their faith with helping them to address the attacks.

Source: The Barna Research Group (2002, September 3). Half of All s Say Their Faith Helped Them Personally Handle the 9-11 Aftermath. Retrieved February 20, 2008, from http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=120.

Let's Discuss tomorrow as we kick off our revival How to live.........

Living 3:16--By the Book

Celebrating the Savior's Birth, Luke 2:1-20

Luke 2 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus ^{(A) [a]} that the whole empire ^[b] should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while ^[c] Quirinius was governing Syria. ^(B) 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, ^(C) 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him ^[d] and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord ^(D) stood before ^[e] them, ^(E) and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ^[f] 10 But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, ^(F) for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 today a Savior, ^(G) who is Messiah ^(H) the Lord, ^(I) was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: ^(J) you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger."

13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, ^(K)

and peace on earth ^(L) to people He favors! ^{(M) [g] [h]}

15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 After seeing [them], they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things ^[i] in her heart ^(N) and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God ^(O) for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

Update of Prayer Request - O'Dell Family send words of encouragement to theodells4@bellsouth.net

Please pray for Heather O'Dell and her children and family. Her husband Chris, passed away this past weekend.

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This is prayer request from Bobby Simms in our office for a friend here in Cartersville. The O'Dell family that attend Cartersville First Baptist. Some in our church or SS Class may know them. Please lift them up in prayer Lee
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From: Bobby Simms I met and became friends with Chris & Heather O'Dell at the Baptist Student Union when I was in college with them @ UGA. They definitely had a positive influence on my life. After graduating, they moved to the Cartersville area and are members of Cartersville First Baptist. Chris developed cancer about 6 years after he graduated(2002), and has been battling it ever since. Below is a recent update I received about Chris' condition. Please their family in your prayers. Sincerely, Bobby Simms Commercial Lines Marketing Director Harry Daniel Insurance

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From: Charter BSU To: Fellow UGA BSU/BCM Alumni,

Chris O'Dell (1996), member of Cartersville First Baptist, has cancer throughout his body. He's been fighting it for over 5 years and doctors have told him there is nothing more to do. He and his wife, Heather Rae Gibbs O'Dell (1995) have four children, the oldest being seven. Chris has truly inspired many lives as he has battled this disease in its various forms. His faith has been amazing! Please pray for him and his family as they continue to walk this path that God has given them and as they continue each day in the fulfillment of His purpose for their lives. If you would like to send them some words of encouragement you can send them an email to theodells4@bellsouth.net . Below is an update that we received on June 29th from Heather:

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Hey everyone, it's Heather. I can't tell you enough how much we appreciate all the prayers. Throughout the past five years we have been covered by prayer from so many that we know that is how we are still going and standing strong in faith. Each of you are a HUGE part of who we are today. THANK YOU!!! Chris is about the same. He is still working on an update, it is going very slow. He is so dizzy that his brain isn't working as fast as it used to. The steroids he is on to keep the swelling of the brain tumors down are muscle debilitating. This has caused him to lose all strength in his legs, so he is having trouble getting up from low places. He is walking very slow and tenderly due to no strength and being dizzy, but he is still able to get around some. We spoke with Hospice today and they are going to come out twice a week to check on him. They are also getting us some of the equipment we need to help him continue to do the things he needs to do around the house and to continue to get out and about everyone once in a while. We are still standing strong in faith and continue to have a peace beyond our comprehension. Love Chris & Heather .....I know, my updates are so boring....I'll try to do better next time. :-)