We believe to have a lasting impact and reach this next generation is to see the light of the church be combined with the heart of the family. We desire to continually grow as a ministry in our partnership with parents. There is great power in a parent who raises up a child spiritually, and we want you to know you don’t have to do it alone. The Parent Cue is one way to come alongside your teen in what they are learning.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Series: THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY THAT (April 19th - May 16th)


Unfortunately, there are erroneous beliefs about God and Christianity that have snuck their way into modern church culture. These popular phrases or ways of thinking are in direct conflict with what scripture actually teaches. This 5-week series looks at different phrases the Bible doesn’t actually say, comparing them to what the Bible actually does say. This guide comes with a passage, topic, and “big idea” of the sermon. Also included under each week is a list of ideas, illustrations, and talking points to help you prepare for your message. Our aim is for this guide to spark your imagination, assist you in planning your sermon, as well as offer a boost to your study time.

Week 1 God helps those who help themselves | Matthew 6:25-33 (4/19/17)
In this passage, Jesus calls for us to seek after the kingdom of God first, not ourselves; if we do, everything else in life will fall into place. Our modern culture idolizes self-sufficiency. Everyone needs to take care of themselves, first. Look out for number one. Focus on your needs before anyone else’s needs. God’s plan for our lives is the exact opposite. Focus on the kingdom first, and God will take care of your necessities. Following Jesus is about living a selfless life. The key to this passage is verse 33. If we focus on seeking God, there will be nothing in life we need to worry about. Our relationship with God needs to be our top priority.

Week 2 Obedience always leads to financial blessings. | Philippians 4:10-13 (4/26/17)
As Paul illustrates in his own life, when you rely on God, you will find satisfaction in whatever situation (good or bad) that life hands you. There are some individuals and groups who believe that putting faith in Christ entails automatic financial blessings and favor. Their picture of an obedient, Christian life is one full of wealth, happiness, and relative ease. This simply, isn’t true. Take Paul’s life, for example (2 Corinthians 11:16-33). In this passage, Paul writes that there have been times in his personal life where he had much, and times where he had little. God taught him how to find joy in both situations. He can handle anything in life through Christ’s power. It’s easy to trust that Paul means what he says when we realize he’s writing this letter from prison. This passage provides a context for the often misused: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Christians often quote this phrase believing that with Christ on their side, they will find success in all their endeavors. What Paul says is nearly the opposite. Paul can handle the times that feel like success and the times that feel like failure because he relies on Christ for strength. Much of the prosperity gospel is meant to give hope to those who come to Christ, when, in reality, it can cause unnecessary doubt. If the apostle Paul was not secure in his theology, he might feel shame for the hard times. “I must not be a very good Christian if I’m going through this.” There could be people in your congregation with the same fears because of the trials in their life.

Week 3 Do not judge others. | 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (5/3/17)
Paul emphasizes to the Corinthians that God set up the church as a family where brothers and sisters in Christ should hold each other accountable. While Jesus does say in Matthew 7:1-6, “Do not judge,” it is not meant, as some treat it, to be a blanket statement for all forms of judgement—as if we are all to mind our own business and never get involved in the lives of those around us. Jesus, in Matthew 7, is teaching against an inappropriate form of judgement. He’s warning against hypocrisy. Do not judge others as if you have the authority of someone who is perfect. In I Corinthians 5, Paul calls out the church in Corinth for their pride in the fact they weren’t judging a man in the church for having a sexual relationship with his father’s wife. Paul expects the couple to be removed from the church before their behavior causes more people to sin. There are a few distinct characteristics of this situation that warranted the type of church discipline Paul calls for. It was public knowledge. Everyone knew what was happening. It was consistent. This was not a one-time affair, but an ongoing relationship. It was unrepentant. In the eyes of those participating, there was nothing wrong with this wicked and destructive behavior. In vss. 9-13, we see that this situation is the result of the church not looking out for each other. They were concerned with not associating with sinners outside the church, but forgot to take care of the sin inside of the church. If someone claims to be a brother or sister in Christ, but their consistent fruit shows otherwise, it’s important to address that situation before it hurts others. This will also, hopefully, bring the wayward souls back into the fold. God formed the church for community, accountability, and honesty. We must be willing to submit ourselves to this design.

Week 4 Suffering always comes from sin. | James 1:2-4 (5/10/17)
No matter what the cause of our trials, we know that God will use it to strengthen our walk with Him. Job’s three friends wrongly claimed his suffering must be a direct result of sin. Many Christians deal with other believers in the same way. An article from Bradley Hospital gives helpful advice for talking to children about tragedy. It ends with this paragraph. “Finally, remember that tragedy is a part of every life—the job of parents is not to shield their children from tragedy, but to help their children become resilient enough to survive it. This is not often a job that anyone can do alone, and if you need help, ask for it, from friends, family, clergy, or helping professionals.” Job never found out why he was suffering. There’s not a point in the story where he learns about the conversation between God and the Devil. Things might happen in our lives where we never get to know why. But we can hold onto the fact that God will use them for good anyway.

Week 5 God won’t give you more than you can handle. | 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (5/16/17)
God will give you more than you can handle, but He will never give you more than He can handle. Paul felt like his affliction was more than he could handle, and he wanted to be open about his experience (vs. 12). All throughout 2 Corinthians, Paul makes a point to boast in his weakness and his need to rely on God for strength. It is easy for a Christian to talk themselves into thinking that a having weakness makes them a bad Christian. In actuality, recognizing your own weakness is an essential part of growing in your walk with Christ. When Jesus is the Lord of your life, you are trusting Him enough to hand over control of everything. You no longer rely on your strength to get through difficult times. God does the heavy lifting. Most of us could never complete two-hundred push-ups, but if we trust the strength of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to do the push-ups for us, then no amount of push-ups could stress us out. Paul leads by example in boasting in his weakness and need for God to get him through trials. If we want our church culture to be that of Christ followers willingly admitting their weakness and need for God’s strength, it starts with us wisely doing so from the stage.