Class Lesson May 15, 2011

Hey Gang,

Rank the following qualities of good leadership from most important (1) to least (11):

____ Communication

____ Age

____ Vision / Strategy

____ Planning

____ Organization

____ Teamwork

____ Integrity

____ Adaptability

____ People Skills

____ Persuasion

____ Character



Write in the blank the most important quality you believe is central to the wholeness of the Mind, Spirit, and Body. 

After Nebuchadnezzar's death, Babylon declined in power and Persia became predominant. The restoration began when the new Persian king, Cyrus, issued a decree in 538 B.C., allowing the Jews and other exiles to return to their homelands. The decree is found in Ezra 1:1-4. During the first phase of the restoration, the Jews rebuilt their temple. The second phase of the restoration came under Ezra in 458 B.C. Ezra's role was to renew religious devotion among the Jews who had returned to their homeland of Jerusalem. The third phase involved the coming of Nehemiah in 445 B.C. His mission was to see that the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt.

Ezra led the second group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem. He was a skilled scribe of the Scriptures. He studied them, he applied them to how he lived, and he taught them to others.

This is the Story of Ezra

Lesson Goal: People lead from the essence of who they are. Leading successfully involves walking with God in such a way that both unbelievers and believers recognize your integrity and trust you to lead. 

I. HAVE A HEART FOR GOD – EZRA 7:1a, 6-10
1 After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra—


6 —came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied [him] to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king. 9 He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. The gracious hand of his God was on him, 10 because Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey [it], and teach [its] statutes and ordinances in Israel.



Who were King Ataxerxes’ father and mother?



From this passage, what can we know about Ezra’s person, position, and priorities? Which do you think most qualified him to be a spiritual leader? How can you tell Ezra practiced what he preached?



Ezra could have just chosen to go home with his people, but he appeared to have a larger purpose – what was it? What makes a person choose a bigger purpose than the obvious?




II. BUILD A REPUTATION OF INTEGRITY – EZRA 7:25-28

25 And you, Ezra, according to God's wisdom that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the region west of the Euphrates who know the laws of your God and to teach anyone who does not know [them]. 26 Anyone who does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a fair judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. 27 Praise the LORD God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's mind to glorify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, 28 and who has shown favor to me before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officers. So I took courage because I was strengthened by the LORD my God, and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.


Why was King Artaxerxes so generous to Ezra? What would make an unbeliever able to trust a believer today?



On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is it, really, for your private life to match your public life?



III. START LIVING RIGHTLY – EZRA 9:4-6; 10:10-12


Ezra's Confession

4 Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering. 5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. 6 And I said: My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than [our] heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.


10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to Israel's guilt. 11 Therefore, make a confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will. Separate yourselves from the surrounding peoples and [your] foreign wives." 12 Then all the assembly responded with a loud voice: "Yes, we will do as you say!



What major problem had the people created?




What do you tend to do when Christians do wrong things: give up, get angry, ignore it, try talking, grieve, pray, get them to think it through, or what?



When practices seem contrary to Christian teachings, they often are. How can you tell what is of God and what is not?



How can you keep from convincing yourself that certain behavior is okay when it’s not?




What does it mean to walk with God?

1. To ______________ Him.

2. To be __________________ by Him.

3. To _______________ in Him.

4. To see Him as the ___________ and __________________ of my journey.

The Bible says of Enoch that he "walked with God" (Genesis 5:24). This particular wording is not used of Ezra, but it would have been fitting of how he lived. His life - like that of any true believer - was lived in fellowship with God and in obedience to Him.

Many of you remember this Rob Bell video below called Rhythm. It asks the question, "Are you in tune with God?" It is a great video - click below and watch.

Are You In Tune With God?

Click Here 

Prayer this Week

Lord, help me be a more diligent student of Your Word, more obedient to You, and a more effective teacher of Your truth. Amen

See you Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Class Lesson May 8, 2011

Hey Gang,

Guess what this Sunday is? Be sure to give a BIG hug of thanks to your mom!

Mothers are the most influential people in the entire world. If you are a mother, it's important  that  you see that this is the role God has assigned you in life and it must never be diminished. It was through the woman that God chose to shape us, give us form and substance and life! Read below what some in history and even today have said about their mom's influence.

A Mother’s Influence

"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." - Abraham Lincoln



"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom."- Henry Ward Beecher



"The future destiny of a child is always the work of the mother."- Napoleon Bonaparte



"To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power."  - Maya Angelou



"My mother never gave up on me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back."- Denzel Washington



"My mother said to me, "If you become a soldier you'll be a general; if you become a monk you'll end up as the pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso."  - Pablo Picasso

The highest calling on earth is that of a Mother - Recognize your influence and determine to use it in timely ways.



Below is the second lesson in our series of five on Leadership. Last week we looked at Joshua and how he overcame his fear of leading the Israelites into the Promise Land - it was quiet an undertaking for him. The important emphasis for Joshua was God's promise to him of his success as long as he obeyed God's instructions. In this week's lesson there is no promise of success or even safety as Esther must choose to use her influence to save the Jewish nation.  

The Story of Esther

Main Characters: King Xerxes, Queen Vashti, Mordecai, Esther, and Haman.

Questions: Why did the King divorce Queen Vashti? Who was Mordecai? What was Esther’s real name? How did Esther become Queen? Why did Haman order the genocide of all the Jews? Why was Esther’s position of influence believed to be part of God’s providence? What Jewish Feast is still celebrated today because of Esther?

Esther

Lesson's Life Goal: Recognize your influence and determine to use it in timely ways.

I. GOD GAVE YOU INFLUENCE – ESTHER 4:12-14

When Hathach told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai sent her this message: "Don't think that just because you live in the king's house you're the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this."

Why would Esther have persisted in staying silent?



Why are we as Christians many times tempted to remain silent? How can we know when to be silent and when to speak up?

Why do you suppose Mordecai used “Maybe” and “such a time as this”?



How did Mordecai convey to Esther that she mattered and yet her life wasn’t all about her?



Where might God have placed you for “such a time as this”? How does potential for influence become influence?

II. WORK AS A TEAM – ESTHER 4:15-17

Esther sent back her answer to Mordecai: "Go and get all the Jews living in Susa together. Fast for me. Don't eat or drink for three days, either day or night. I and my maids will fast with you. If you will do this, I'll go to the king, even though it's forbidden. If I die, I die." Mordecai left and carried out Esther's instructions.


Are you more likely to think you have no influence and do nothing or jump into action without asking God to be the ultimate influencer?



Who are we declaring matters the most when we try to influence a situation without first seeking God’s favor?



God’s name is not mentioned in Esther, but His influence is evident throughout. How?





III. INFLUENCE FOR GOD’S SAKE – ESTHER 8:3-8

Then Esther again spoke to the king, falling at his feet, begging with tears to counter the evil of Haman the Agagite and revoke the plan that he had plotted against the Jews. The king extended his gold scepter to Esther. She got to her feet and stood before the king. She said, "If it please the king and he regards me with favor and thinks this is right, and if he has any affection for me at all, let an order be written that cancels the bulletins authorizing the plan of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite to annihilate the Jews in all the king's provinces. How can I stand to see this catastrophe wipe out my people? How can I bear to stand by and watch the massacre of my own relatives?" King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew: "I've given Haman's estate to Esther and he's been hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews. So go ahead now and write whatever you decide on behalf of the Jews; then seal it with the signet ring." (An order written in the king's name and sealed with his signet ring is irrevocable.)


Why is this understanding key to godly influence? It’s not all about me.



Do you think Esther considered herself a leader?

On Mother’s Day – remember your mom’s influence and thank God for her. If your mother is still living – do something special for her!

I hope that everyone enjoys a blessed rest of the week as we prepare to celebrate our mothers this Sunday and their profound influence on our lives! The story of Esther is a fitting lesson for Mother's Day as we examine the powerful influence Esther made in history.

See you Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Class Lesson May 1, 2011

Hey Gang,

This Sunday we begin a whole new 5 week series entitled, “Taking the Lead.” When God gives someone an opportunity to lead, He also encourages and empowers that person to accomplish the task. However, we must accept and embrace the responsibility. 

One of the greatest needs of our time is leadership – the right kind of leadership. This is true in politics, business, the church, and the home. A person does not become a leader by filling a position, and many who lead have no official position. This study is to help you embrace that you can – and must – exercise leadership in some situation or area of your life. We will examine 5 biblical characters to show actions through which we as Christians can exercise spiritual leadership.

5 Lessons in This Series

Overcome Your Fears – What can I do to overcome my fears about leading?

Use Your Influence – What influence do I have and how can I use it for God’s purposes?

Walk With God – How important is my private and public walk with the Lord?

Pursue God’s Agenda – As a spiritual leader, what should be my agenda?

Invest In Others – What do I need to do to invest in others? 

The Marine Corps is always a good place to start when looking for examples of leadership.

Marine Corps - Leadership 

Click Here

People can have fears of almost anything, especially having to lead! This lesson is about identifying and overcoming the fears that prevent us from being the spiritual leaders God wants us to be.

What can I do to overcome my fears about leading?

Do you think God expects all of us to be leaders in some way like the home, church, the workplace, and even the government?

Our biblical character this week is Joshua. We pick-up in Joshua chapter one where the death of Moses has presented a new challenge to the people of Israel. They are positioned beyond the Jordan River in the plains of Moab, where the 12 tribes are observing the land God had promised them. To claim their inheritance would be no easy task. People already living in the land would not yield their land easily or willingly. As Joshua assumed leadership from Moses, he knew only the power of God could grant fulfillment of the ancient promise.

The Books of Joshua and Judges tell the story of conquest and settlement. Joshua concentrates on the initial phase of the process, while Judges tells of the struggles of the tribes to possess and settle the land. The conquest was a process that extended over many generations and was not fully completed until the time of David and Solomon (1000 - 922 B.C.).

           I. ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY – JOSHUA 1:1-5

Encouragement of Joshua

 ¹ After the death of Moses the LORD's servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses: ² "Moses My servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. ³ I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites —and west to the Mediterranean Sea. ⁵ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.

How ready do you think Joshua felt about leading at this time and why? What mixed feeling might he have had?

What’s the advantage of leading from an official position? How about from an unofficial position?

The Hebrew people were poised at the edge of the Promised Land. Why do you think God gave this leadership to Joshua?

What did God give Joshua besides responsibility? What’s the relationship between God-given responsibilities and God-given promises?

According to these verses, what are God’s ways to overcome fears of leadership and accept our responsibilities?

           II. HEAR GOD’S COMMAND – JOSHUA 1:6-9

⁶ "Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. ⁷ Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. ⁸ This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. ⁹ Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

What is the relationship between the commands God gave Joshua and the promises? Which command do you think rang over and over in Joshua’s ears throughout his years as a leader?

          III. ACT COURAGEOUSLY – JOSHUA 1:10-11, 16-18

Joshua Prepares the People

 ¹⁰ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: ¹¹ "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you to inherit.

…………………………………………………………………

¹⁶ They answered Joshua, "Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. ¹⁷ We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. ¹⁸ Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!"

When you know you need to step up and lead in a situation, do you usually act immediately or wait awhile? What did Joshua do?

In what areas of your life are you a spiritual leader? What do you consider the most important qualities of godly leaders?

Have a blessed rest of the week as we prepare to hear from God's Word this Sunday on leadership!

Look what I found and we all thought Thomas was a Carolina Fan!

Come on Thomas, give me a hug!

That's my boy!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for May 13, 2011 - it's our PROGRESSIVE DINNER night!

See you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Class Lesson April 24, 2011

Hey Gang,

This week we will finish our 4 week series on Navigating the Maze of Grief. We've talked about how we can manage the grief we experience in life and how we can help others that are experiencing grief situations. This week's lesson is about the ultimate solution to grief: victorious life through Christ's victory over death - His Resurrection!

Think about this before Sunday - how specifically does Jesus help each of these believers below? Does the resurrection of Jesus make a difference? 

1.  This Christian woman is physically and mentally exhausted caring for her mother, who is suffering with Alzheimer’s. She realizes her mom will not recover this side of heaven.

2.  This Christian man has received notice that he will lose his job as his company downsizes. He wonders how he can find work at this age. So he’s putting together his resume’ in the evenings.

3.   This Christian grandmother is raising her grandchildren alone. She realizes why children are given to the young. Her money and energy are low.

4.   This Christian husband’s wife wants a divorce. He’s been doing both the money-earning and child-care-giving for several years now, but this final blow hurts as if it were the first time she said an ugly word.

5.  This Christian father’s son has alienated himself from the family. The father yearns to help make things right again.

            I. REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID – JOHN 20:1-10

The Empty Tomb

 ¹ On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put Him!"  ³ At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. ⁵ Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. ⁶ Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. ⁸ The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed. ⁹ For they still did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went home again.

Why is it important for us to remember what Jesus has said as we deal with the grief issues we face in life?

            II. KEEP COMMUNICATING – JOHN 20:11-15

¹¹ But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus' body had been lying. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?"  "Because they've taken away my Lord," she told them, "and I don't know where they've put Him." ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus. ¹⁵ "Woman," Jesus said to her, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, "Sir, if you've removed Him, tell me where you've put Him, and I will take Him away."

When have you missed what Jesus was communicating to you? What helped you see the truth?

Why do you suppose Mary didn’t recognize Jesus?

How does Bible reading keep you conversing with God?

            III. DO AS HE SAYS – JOHN 20:16-18

¹⁶ Jesus said, "Mary." Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!"  —which means "Teacher." ¹⁷ "Don't cling to Me," Jesus told her, "for I have not yet ascended to the Father.  But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father—to My God and your God."  ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them what He had said to her.

How does walking through a trauma with Jesus make a difference? How do you know what to do, say or think?

Jesus' resurrection is the ultimate hope for finding victory over sin and death. It makes possible victorious living and confident hope in bereavement and in dying. The basis for our faith in the crucified and risen Lord is both objective and subjective. It is objective because it really happened as the Scriptures proclaim. The New Testament account is based on the testimony of eyewitnesses who saw the empty tomb and, most important of all, who saw the risen Lord. It is subjective because the risen Lord lives in us.

Prayer

Lord, I thank You that You are alive and that You live within my heart. Amen

Prepare your hearts this week to encounter the risen Lord. See you on Easter Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan 

 

Class Lesson April 17, 2011

Hey Gang,

The past two lessons have been on managing our own grief. This week we look for ways to minister to others who are experiencing grief. 

There was a movie that came out in 1991 called "My Girl" and the plot was about a little girl, Vada Sultenfuss who was obsessed with death. Her mother was dead, and her father ran a funeral parlor. She was also in love with her English teacher, and joins a poetry class over the summer just to impress him. Thomas J., her best friend, is "allergic to everything", and sticks with Vada despite her hangups. When Vada's father hires Shelly, a makeup expert, in his funeral parlor, and begins to fall in love with her, Vada is outraged and does everything in her power to split them up. Vada grieves terribly when Thomas J. dies after being stung too many times from a bee hive and everyone tries to comfort her. Watch the trailer below:

My Girl

Click Here

Here's a question for you, do you think experience is the best teacher?

1.     When have you found this to be true?

2.    When have you learned without experiencing something personally?

This week's lesson says you can minister to those who grieve because God has comforted you.

SO

I want you to begin thinking of someone who has comforted you when you grieved and someone you know that needs comfort now. Write their initials in the band aide spaces below:

Someone who has comforted you.

Someone who needs comfort now.

Be thinking of these two people as you work through the letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

            I. KNOW THE SOURCE OF COMFORT – 2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-3

Greeting

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Timothy our brother: To God's church at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia. ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

   

The God of Comfort

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

Who has been a comfort to you during a time of grief? How and why?

What kinds of comfort does the world offer?

What kinds of comfort does God offer?

            II. BE A CHANNEL OF GOD’S COMFORT – 2 CORINTHIANS 1:4-7

⁴ He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so our comfort overflows through Christ. ⁶ If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in the endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.

When helping another grieve, why is it important to hear what the person needs you to do rather than impose your grief plan upon them?

One pressure we place on people is “You’ve got to talk about it.” Where do you suppose that came from? How accurate is it, and how long should someone wait before pushing another to talk?

What People Need

Each type of loss requires ministry in keeping with the needs of that kind of experience. Everyone, however, who has suffered loss of any type, needs attention to these basic needs in order to be comforted:

1.    Need for _____________

2.    Need for _____________

3.    Need for _____________

4.    Need for _____________ assistance

  

            III. OFFER COMFORT THROUGH PRAYER – 2 CORINTHIANS 1:8-11

⁸ For we don't want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in the province of Asia: we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength —so that we even despaired of life. ⁹ However, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and He will deliver us; we have placed our hope in Him that He will deliver us again. ¹¹ And you can join in helping with prayer for us, so that thanks may be given by many on our behalf for the gift that came to us through [the prayers of] many.

If God knows everything anyway, why do we need to pray or have others pray for us?

Closing Prayer

Loving and ever-present God, we believe that Your grace is sufficient for all things. Comfort us anew by Your presence.  Allow that in our weakness we may be made strong, in our grief, consoled, and in our ignorance, wise.   Protect and guide us that we may know the way to take and that at each crossroad of life we may see the right path to choose. Safeguard us by Your power, uphold us by Your kindness, and warm us by Your love. By Your divine grace help us to do what is right, to act courageously, to love our neighbors, to forgive our enemies. By Your grace, bless us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

I hope you have a blessed rest of the week as we prepare to pick-up in God's Word through 2 Corinthians 1:1-11.

In His Love,

David & Susan