Our Prayer

Our Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Class Lesson June 25, 2020

Click on the ZOOM link you were sent to join us!

This Thursday @ 7:30 PM


LIVING WITH HOPE IN A BROKEN WORLD

SERIES PROMOTIONAL VIDEO


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THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

No one signs up for pain, sorrow, disappointment, betrayal, or rejection, but they happen. Loving Jesus doesn’t insulate us from pain and suffering. I learned that first hand in 2018 when I was diagnosed with cancer. The treatments, coupled with the emotional roller coaster, were more than I expected. At the same time, because of the prayers of the saints, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God, I have hope. I have had days when I had to choose to believe the promises of God, even when my feelings were overwhelming me.


Throughout the treatments, I claimed promises from Scripture. Some days, I claimed them while praying, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” As I write this, all my scans are clear, and I rejoice in that.


But even more than clear scans, I rejoice in knowing Christ who sees, hears, knows, and cares. It is essential to our faith that we not allow cancer or any other catastrophic or hurtful experience to define us. Christ must be the source and sufficiency of our identity. We can endure because our hope rests in Him.

 

 

 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

1 Peter 3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

These verses in 1 Peter 3 are a series of summary statements—maturity checkpoints for personal evaluation of our spiritual lives. Peter made a passionate appeal for consistency, faithfulness, and wholehearted obedience.

 

Question 2:

How do the teachings in these verses compare and contrast

with the values in our culture?

 

Peter identified six ways we are to “walk the talk” and live out our faith.

 

1.    Unity. The command to “be like-minded” isn’t referring to minutia, but to unity on major points of faith. Believers reflect devotion to God not in uniformity but in unity. We should not be petty about peripheral issues. Instead, we should focus on what we have in common in Christ.

2.  Mutual concern. To be “sympathetic” means to have compassion or to feel with others and suffer together. This isn’t only related to matters of sorrow, but anything that affects people and causes them to feel emotion. We rejoice with those who rejoice, just as we weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15). Our concern for others ultimately outweighs our concern for self.

3.   Love. Peter employed the Greek word philadelphos to convey the Christians’ responsibility to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. We reflect our love for Christ in how we love the family of God.

4.   Compassion. The church should be a place of compassion where we err on the side of grace and do too much rather than not enough. Jesus modeled this through His tender ministry to people.

5. Humility. Peter knew Christians must have a realistic impression of themselves. We measure ourselves by Christ’s holiness, and no room exists for pride. We see our level of humility when criticized or when someone else is honored over us.

6.    Forgiveness. An unforgiving spirit will disrupt fellowship, destroy joy, and ultimately send roots of bitterness deep into the heart. Life is too short to maintain a white-knuckle grip on offenses done to us.

 

Don’t miss Peter’s warning in verse 12. Our obedience in putting feet to our faith directly impacts our prayer life “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

   

1 Peter 3:13-14

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

 

Our hope in Christ will carry us through any difficult circumstances or suffering. We may experience times of unjust suffering because we stood up for what is right. Nonetheless, when our hope is rooted in Christ, enduring through such undeserved trials can strengthen us to face other troubling times.

 

As Lord, Jesus has universal sovereign authority. All will recognize His lordship when He returns (Phil. 2:10-11), and His lordship makes it possible for believers to walk in victory today. We’d certainly like to believe that choosing what is right would make the path easy before us, and we usually don’t face persecution because of right choices. However, we’re living in a world where, increasingly, people suffer for righteous living.

 

Our foundation of hope in Christ is secure. He is our rock, our cornerstone. Therefore, Peter affirmed that we don’t have to fear or be intimidated. The Greek word translated frightened is tarasso; it means we don’t need to let others cause us inward commotion or take away the calmness we have in Christ.

   

 

SYMBOLS OF ENDURANCE

Draw an image of endurance (or write a description of it)

and describe how it relates to hope in Christ.

 

 




 

How does this image encourage you to hope in Christ?

From what you’ve learned, what would you say to encourage others to hope in Christ?

 

 

 

“May the God who gives endurance and

encouragement give you the same attitude of mind

toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”

ROMANS 15:5

 

In fact, we are blessed to be counted among those who suffer for righteousness’ sake. This should serve to encourage us and strengthen our resolve, not trouble us or shake our calmness of mind.

 

Question 3:

How can our Christian hope sustain us through difficult circumstances?

 

 

1 Peter 3:15-17

15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

 

When we’re tempted to fear or get sidetracked, Peter has given us the only correct response: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (v. 15). The conjunction but contrasts fear and intimidation to holiness and readiness.

 

  • Holiness. Peter recognized that if believers would sanctify—or set apart—Christ as holy in their hearts, we wouldn’t worry about what other people thought. We wouldn’t be intimidated, but would rather be a bold witness to the life-changing power of the gospel.

Holiness has to come first. We will not have readiness in our speech or actions if living holy and set apart under the lordship of Christ is not our priority. The hope of Christ will never work its way out into our life and lips if it’s not in our hearts first.

  

Question 4:

How can our lives demonstrate to

others that Christ is Lord?

 

Paul admonished us: “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness” (Rom. 6:12-13).

 

These verses teach us that there is a time to decide, a time for action that matches our belief. If we believe Jesus is Lord, then our actions and attitudes should reflect that. It means we yield our personalities to Him. Our time becomes His time. Our money, plans, career, and relationships are no longer ours but His.

 

  • Readiness. Once we’ve settled the holiness and lordship issue, we can be ready to give a defense for the reason for our hope in Christ. We can stand confidently in the lordship of Christ because we have settled who we are and whose we are. Peter’s words point to a connection between a person’s lack of readiness to speak about the hope of the gospel and his acknowledgment of the Lord as holy. If we haven’t set Christ apart as Lord—His rightful place—we can easily clam up or change the conversation!

 

Our readiness is gracefully tempered with gentleness. Gentleness may also be translated as meekness and speaks to grace that’s been implanted in us. It’s an attitude of humility that considers Christ and the other person more important than self.

 

Our readiness is also tempered with respect. The Greek word translated respect is where we get our English word phobia. This word signifies a reverential fear of God, which prompts us to choose our words carefully and to seek to honor Christ in all our dealings with other people. When we set apart Christ in our hearts as holy, we will also give a gentle, holy response when defending the hope that is ours because of Him.

 

Question 5:

What are some ways Christians can help one another endure

during times of suffering?

 

  

LIVE IT OUT

How will you endure suffering because of the hope you have in Christ? Choose one of the following applications:

 

  • Surrender. Choose to see your life and circumstances from God’s perspective. Acknowledge the lordship of Christ and trust Him regardless of the actions of others.

  • Bless. If someone has treated you like an enemy or you have treated another person that way, seek to bless that person with love, compassion, and humility.

  • Defend. Ask the Lord for opportunities to display and defend the hope that is in you. When the Lord opens that door, be ready to verbally testify of your hope in Christ.

 

Few words can communicate a lack of hope like “cancer.” But regardless of what form suffering takes in our lives, we can endure because of our hope in Christ.



 

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night!


In His Love,

David & Susan


Teacher notes:



Click Play to Watch


LIVING WITH HOPE IN A BROKEN WORLD

The Basis for Our Hope: Only hope in Christ is a sure thing.

The Expression of Our Hope: Is a changed life.

The Testimony of Our Hope: Is when our hope in Christ points others to Him. 

The Endurance of Our Hope: Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying

 

When was a time in your life that you “toughed it out” even 

when you wanted to give up?

 

No one signs up for pain and suffering – and Jesus doesn’t insulate us from it either. I learned that first hand in 2016 when I lost my job the first time and then again in 2019. The job hunt, coupled with the emotional roller coaster, were more than I expected.

·     Because of the prayers of this church, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God, I had hope. I had days when I had to choose to believe the promises of God, even when my feelings were overwhelming me. Throughout the whole ordeal, I claimed promises from Scripture. Some days, I claimed them while praying, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”

·       As I write this, I have been given a new job, and I rejoice in that. But even more than a new job, I rejoice in knowing Christ gave me the endurance to go through – to get busy living. It is essential to our faith that we not allow a job loss, money or any other hurtful experience to define us. Christ must be the source and sufficiency of our identity. We can endure because our hope rests in Him.

·    Hardships come in a variety of ways. Temptations, illnesses, lost jobs, broken relationships, and persecution for one’s faith are all forms of hardship. Christians should not be taken by surprise when hardships come: Jesus warned us, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). The good news is that Jesus followed up His warning with this word of encouragement: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We can endure by His grace.

 

This lesson seeks to prepare believers to encounter circumstances that threaten to undermine our hope. When facing challenges, Christians can remain steadfast and unwavering in our faith.

 

1 Peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

 

1. Be ready to encourage others. 

 

What? The first thing I should do is be ready to encourage others??

 

Some of the earliest lessons we learn during childhood relate to using our manners, sharing with others, and getting along with family and friends. These attributes should follow us into adulthood. This is even more important for those of us who are Christians. Our lives should be marked by the ways in which we better the lives of those around us. We should seek to get along with one another and show love in a variety of ways. Humbly considering others as more important than ourselves will motivate us to act in their best interests. Even if these actions are not reciprocated, we must do what we know is right. God has called us so that we may bless others.

 

How does this help me endure my hardship?

To endure is more than just continuing to exist; it is continuing to exist in the same manner as before the suffering began. If Paul had lived through his sufferings but at some point, had thrown up his hands in defeat, stopped being obedient to God, or no longer worked for the cause of Christ, he would not have “endured.” If he had responded to his sufferings with an attitude of bitterness, anger, or retaliation, then Paul could not have said that he “endured.”

 

We are called to love and bless even those who intend evil toward us.

·  Believers are to feel and act toward other believers as those who are one in the Lord.

·   Believers are called to love and bless even those who intend evil against them.

 

What are the consequences of returning evil for evil?

·    Don’t miss Peter’s warning in verse 12. Our obedience in putting feet to our faith directly impacts our prayer life “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

 

1 Peter 3:13-14

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

 

 

2. Be ready to endure suffering

 

Very few people, if any, look forward to hardship. Difficult periods in our lives can disrupt our plans and upend our vision of the future. In addition, we can become anxious, depressed, or even angry because of our circumstances. We should not be surprised, however, when problems come. Facing difficulties is a part of life (Job 14:1). Sometimes we must endure suffering because we are doing what is right. Not all problems are forms of punishment. In fact, some suffering can be a blessing. Even being in the midst of suffering can be viewed as an enviable position when we remember that God is with us. We need not fear trouble, knowing that God will work everything out for our good (Romans 8:28).

 

What does it mean to you to be ready to endure suffering?

·       As Christians, we should turn to God with our suffering, and He will be faithful to help us undergo every trial and overcome every temptation. We can learn to have the same joy as Paul had during trials, knowing that suffering produces virtues such as endurance, godly character, and lively hope.

·     To “endure” does not mean simply to grin and bear it. Christians will feel sad, betrayed, or even angry at times. These emotions in and of themselves are not bad; they only become sin when we allow them to take root in our lives and produce bitterness, evil thoughts of revenge, or unforgiveness. Believers must remember that everything that comes into our lives is under the control of a sovereign God who has promised He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Our hope in Christ carries us through any circumstances or suffering.

·   Those who have a zeal for the good things of God will be safe and secure from all harm.

·  Those who suffer for righteousness have no need to fear for they will be blessed.

 

We’d certainly like to believe that choosing what is right would make the path easy before us, and we usually don’t face persecution because of right choices. However, we’re living in a world where, increasingly, people suffer for righteous living. Our foundation of hope in Christ is secure. He is our rock, our cornerstone. Therefore, Peter affirmed that we don’t have to fear or be intimidated.

 

 

1 Peter 3:15-17

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

 

3. Be ready to give a reason for your hope

Ultimately, we are able to endure our circumstances by keeping our attention on Christ. Recognizing His position as Lord of our lives puts everything else in perspective. When we recall what God has done for us in Christ, we can confidently testify about our faith. We can do this respectfully, without arguing with others who may be hostile to what we have to say. Taking our faith and our responsibility to treat everyone gently and with respect seriously allows us to have a clear conscience. Even those who would accuse us will end up being ashamed because their accusations will be without merit. God can take what others intend for our harm and use it for good (Genesis 50:20).

 

Why do you think Peter thought it was important to be ready to be able to respond to inquirers about hope? 

·       Believers are to seize every opportunity to explain their hope.

·       The character of our lives is a stronger testimony than our arguments.

·   Those who falsely accuse and abuse will someday know the shame of the Lord’s judgment.

 

How will you endure suffering because of the hope you have in Christ?


Surrender. Choose to see your life and circumstances from God’s perspective. Acknowledge the lordship of Christ and trust Him regardless of the actions of others.

 

Conclusion: Trials will come in our lives, whether they arise from circumstances or interactions with other people. Regardless of the types of situations we encounter, our focus is to remain the same—the salvation God has given us through Christ. We know that God has given us hope now and for eternity, and we should share this hope with others along the way.








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