The 2nd Half of Marriage Class

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, September 11, 2019

Class Lesson September 15, 2019

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Life is filled with stages—and no matter the stage we’re in, we seem eager to jump to the next one.

We couldn’t wait to get to high school, but once we were there, we couldn’t wait to graduate.
We couldn’t wait to get to college, but it didn’t take long before we were eager to move to a career in “the real world.”
We couldn’t wait to get married, but once we arrived, we began wanting to grow that family.
We landed the job we wanted, but before long, we set our sights on another job, another position, or even retirement.

For most of us, each stage offers some degree of contentment, but we still have a yearning. Our hearts are hungry for more. If we’re not careful, our hearts can live in discontentment.

The apostle Paul knew what it was to live a life of highs and lows, to have much and to be in need. As situations in his life changed, his contentment did not. In Philippians 4, Paul gave us the “secret” to being content regardless of our current situation.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Philippians 4:10-14

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

It’s a great boost to our faith when God takes care of us in a way that can only be explained by the work of God. We aren’t the same when we see Him provide and no one else can get the credit. Paul knew well what it meant to move forward in faith and see God provide through a community of believers. In this passage, Paul wrote to express his appreciation for the financial support he received from the Philippians.

Some time had passed since the last time the Philippians were able to help Paul. They cared for him and what he was doing, but they “had no opportunity to show it” (v. 10). Perhaps they weren’t aware of a need, or Paul didn’t have a need. We don’t know. We do know that, when the opportunity arose, they certainly stepped in.

Although this gift came from the Philippians, Paul knew very well that they were only the deliverers of God’s provision. He knew the mighty hand of God was behind this provision. Paul “rejoiced greatly in the Lord” (v. 10). His thanks was to the One who was behind the gift and Who moved the church to care and provide.

Even as Paul thanked them for their concern for him, he let them know he would be fine with or without a gift. The apostle Paul was no stranger to the trials of life that could have easily caused discontentment in his heart. He had been imprisoned, whipped five times with thirty-nine lashes, beaten with rods three times, and faced death and multiple dangers (2 Cor. 11:24-27). Paul often went without food and he knew what it was like to sleep in the cold, yet he could say, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (v. 11). Paul wasn’t exempt from pain and the trials of this life just because he was a faithful servant; in fact, it seems that his hardships were due to his faithfulness.

The secret to Paul’s contentment? “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (v. 13). Whether he was well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need, Paul found his strength and contentment in Christ.

Paul was writing specifically of his ability to be content in all circumstances. In order to achieve contentment, he needed to depend on Christ for his strength. The strength to rest in God and be fully satisfied came from Him.

It is unfortunate how many people take this passage out of context. Athletes like to quote verse 13 as if it was written to help them make a free throw in basketball or a triple play in baseball. People like to quote it before job interviews or daunting tasks. While we should certainly seek God and depend on Him in all circumstances, the point of this verse is that, however our circumstances turn out, we can be content because of Christ.

Philippians 4:15-18

15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Paul expressed gratitude for the way the Philippian church supported him. In fact, it was the only church in Macedonia that supported him. He was grateful they believed in God’s call on his life and contributed to the cause of spreading the gospel. This is a reminder that our churches should be leading the charge in supporting missionaries and church planters who have forsaken all for the great cause of spreading the gospel. Each church planter and missionary should be able to echo the words Paul wrote: “You sent me aid more than once when I was in need” (v. 16).

Through Paul’s ministry, he had spread the gospel and helped start many churches, but only Philippi reciprocated and supported him when he needed it. Paul mentioned this fact without a hint of complaint. He focused on thanksgiving for what was done instead of complaining about what was not done.

We are blessed to be a blessing in return. God has not only given to us so that we may be provided for, but He wants us to have the opportunity to be a provision for others. The American dream is to accumulate, while the gospel of Christ compels us to receive and give. We should all live as missionaries on this earth with a desire to spread the message of Christ, understanding that all we have is for Him and the advancement of His gospel. In the end, we will stand before our Father, and we will be held accountable for how we lived our lives. We must be careful that we don’t get caught up in accumulating and forget to support the cause of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20).

To save is wise. To be a good steward is biblical. But to accumulate to the point of neglecting the spread of the gospel is ungodly. Live so that you leave a legacy of being a blessing to many!

Philippians 4:19-20

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

“And my God will meet all your needs.” What a promise! The Philippians had helped Paul in his time of need. They supported him and sacrificed much. They gave out of a heart of generosity and a love for the gospel. They could do so freely because God would take care of them. Living with simplicity rests in the truth that God takes care of us.

That wonderful promise gets even more wonderful when we see that God supplies what we need “according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (v. 19). Sometimes we might approach the throne of God and forget Who we are approaching: the Creator of the universe. The One who owns it all. The One who lacks absolutely nothing. Our God is not poor, in debt, or low on resources. His resources are unlimited—so we can rest in the truth that, when God provides, He provides abundantly!

This is not the false promise often proclaimed in the “prosperity gospel.” We can’t just name whatever we want and claim it. That indeed is a false gospel. God is not a genie who is here to answer all our commands, flood our accounts with money, and fill our homes with every possession we desire. God could certainly do that with His unlimited resources, but our contentment comes through resting in Him, not in an abundance of stuff.

Living a life of simplicity rests in this truth. While we might acknowledge that truth, our human nature always wants more. We often don’t just pray for our needs; we seek after our wants. Having all our material desires met won’t make us any happier or more content, even though our sin nature will try to convince us otherwise.

God will meet our needs—and He will often do it in unexpected ways. We trust Him to provide in His timing and in the way that is best for us.

I have been praying for my atheist father to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior but it hasn’t happened—yet. I’ve asked and prayed, but no answer. Why? My only conclusion is that God knows best. He knows when to give me what I need and how to supply it. I will simply choose to trust that God knows how to supply my every need.

LIVE IT OUT

A life of simplicity finds contentment in Christ alone. How can you live out that truth? Consider the following applications:

Choose Contentment. Evaluate your heart for signs of discontentment. Ask yourself: Am I trusting in money more than in Jesus? Do money and possessions bring me more joy than Jesus? Can I really say, “Christ is all I need”?

Choose to Trust. Make a daily decision not to allow circumstances to determine how content you will be in this life. Memorize Philippians 4:12-13 to remind you simply to trust Christ for all things: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Choose to Give. Give of your time, talent, or treasures. Sometimes the cure for discontentment is to give to others. Find those with needs and give to them. Let God use you as His answer to their prayers.

Regardless of what stage of life you’re in, you’ll find plenty of reasons to be discontented. Thankfully Jesus gives us a path to true contentment in Him.

Hope to see everyone on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

Billy Graham says this about our faith:

If faith is not rooted in the truth of God's Word, it has no power. It will wither like a plant out of the soil. Power comes from the source of faith, and that is in Christ Jesus the Lord. The Bible says, "Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:5). How do we get that power? When we humble ourselves before God, He gives us the gift of faith to believe. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

The Bible teaches that faith is the only approach that we have to God. Faith is belief in someone greater than ourselves and it is Jesus Christ and Him alone. No one has sins forgiven, no one goes to Heaven; no one has assurance of peace and contentment, until we exhibit faith in Jesus Christ. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

What does this mean? It means that we are convinced that Jesus is who He claims to be -- God in human flesh, sent to save us from our sins.

"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2).

3. The Key to Contentment – Its all wrapped up in Christ!

Contentment – It might be the most elusive of all Christian virtues, except for perhaps humility.

Discontentment vs. Contentment

Are we naturally content?

I am not naturally content. In my fallen nature I am naturally discontent. I am not content because I am always playing out in my mind what Paul Tripp calls the “if only” life: If only I made as much as I did before, I’d be content, if only I had the perks that I had before, if only I had that job, if only…if only!

Why is contentment so important and why is it so elusive?

It is important first to understand how sinful discontentment is. Some would argue that the 10th commandment forbids discontentment — covetousness. Why? Because:

Discontentment is a mistrust of God. Contentment is trusting God implicitly. Thus, discontent is the opposite of faith.
Discontentment amounts to complaining against God’s plan. In my desire to be sovereign, I think my plan for me is better. As Paul Tripp well puts it, “I love me and have a wonderful plan for my life.”
Discontentment exhibits a desire to be sovereign. See No. 2. Like Adam and Eve, we desire to taste of the tree that will transform us into sovereign kings.
Discontentment covets something God has not been pleased to give us. He gave us His Son; therefore, can we not trust him for the trivial things? (Rom. 8:32)
Discontentment communicates that God has made a mistake. My present circumstances are wrong and they should be otherwise. I will only be content when they change to suit my desires.

In our self-idolatry, we tend to think that a change in circumstances will bring us joy and contentment. For us, the grass is always greener unless we learn to find our contentment in something that is transcendent and eternal.

Paul struggled with discontentment too:

In Philippians 4, he tells us that he had “learned the secret” of being content in any and every circumstance. Let’s read

Philippians 4:10-14

Why is Paul writing to the Philippian church?

Paul was writing to give thanks to the Philippian church for their gifts of support while he was in prison. In 1 Corinthians 9:11-18, Paul wrote that he didn’t accept gifts from the Corinthian church because he didn’t want to be accused of preaching only to get money. But Paul maintained that it was a church’s responsibility to support God’s ministers (1 Corinthians 9:14). He accepted the Philippians’ gift because they gave it willingly and because he was in need.

And then Paul begins to explain what true contentment is.

Think About: What does true contentment look like in your life?

Think About: When have you felt peace in the middle of a chaotic situation?

How would you explain that the source of true contentment is having a personal relationship with Christ?

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances”, he goes on to say that it’s a secret that he has learned. What’s the secret?

It is found in Phil. 4:13, a verse we typically deploy to make Christians seem like Popeye with Christ as the spinach, a people who can accomplish literally anything their minds can perceive (a New Age concept) because of Christ: “I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens me.” Actually, Paul’s words, when properly understood, are far more expansive than the quasi-prosperity interpretation of that verse: Because of Christ, we can accomplish contentment no matter what circumstances a day brings into our lives.

Paul had learned that the secret was to draw on the power of Christ for strength.

To be content is to accept one’s lot in life even when it is less than desirable, and then to use the circumstance in the best possible way to fulfill life’s purpose. Contentment is an attitude, a frame of mind, an expression of the heart. However, it is not natural to most of us, not even the likes of Paul; it is learned. “For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself” (CSB).

Are you in a situation right now where you have great needs?

Learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power to help you be content.
If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you contentment in every circumstance.
He will supply all your needs, but in a way that He knows is best for you.

Paul was content because he could see life from God’s point of view.

He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have.
Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him.
Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so he could concentrate on the eternal.
One mark of maturity in Christ is that the mature know how to depend on the Lord in every situation of life, not only in those for which they assume they need help. The mature believer acknowledges the strength and provision of God.

Often the desire for more is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life.

To what are you drawn when you fill empty inside? How can you find true contentment?

The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power.

Paul’s reliance on Christ is similar to the way some elements of the natural order are dependent on resources that may not be readily seen by the natural eye.

Trees send their roots down into the earth to draw up water and minerals.
Rivers have their sources in the snow-capped mountains.
The most important part of a tree is the part you cannot see, the root system, and the most important part of the Christian’s life is the part only God sees. Unless we draw upon the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life. Paul depended on the power of Christ at work in his life. ‘I can—through Christ!’ was Paul’s motto, and it can be our motto too.”

It’s a great boost to our faith when God takes care of us in a way that can only be explained by the work of God. We aren’t the same when we see Him provide and no one else can get the credit.

What are some lasting truths from Philippians 4:10-14?

God uses the compassion and actions of believers as a way of providing for others.
Godly contentment is not a product of our circumstances but our union with Christ.

Someone read Philippians 4:15-19

Philippians 4:15-19

How can contentment lead toward a generous spirit?

Paul expressed gratitude for the way the Philippian church supported him. In fact, it was the only church in Macedonia that supported him. He was grateful they believed in God’s call on his life and contributed to the cause of spreading the gospel.
We are blessed to be a blessing in return. God has not only given to us so that we may be provided for, but He wants us to have the opportunity to be a provision for others. The American dream is to accumulate, while the gospel of Christ compels us to receive and give.
We should all live as missionaries on this earth with a desire to spread the message of Christ, understanding that all we have is for Him and the advancement of His gospel. In the end, we will stand before our Father, and we will be held accountable for how we lived our lives. We must be careful that we don’t get caught up in accumulating and forget to support the cause of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20).

How do we distinguish between responsible saving and ungenerous hoarding?

To save is wise. To be a good steward is biblical. But to accumulate to the point of neglecting the spread of the gospel is ungodly. Live so that you leave a legacy of being a blessing to many!

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

“And my God will meet all your needs.” What a promise! The Philippians had helped Paul in his time of need. They supported him and sacrificed much. They gave out of a heart of generosity and a love for the gospel. They could do so freely because God would take care of them. Living with simplicity rests in the truth that God takes care of us.
We can trust that God will always meet our needs. Whatever we need on earth he will always supply, even if it is the courage to face death as Paul did. We must remember the difference between our wants and needs. By trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting his provision and power to live for him.

What are some lasting truths from Philippians 4:15-19?

As believers, we are to look for opportunities to reach out to brothers and sisters in need.
The concept of giving is rooted in the gospel beginning with the truth that God gave His Son.
When we discover the grace of giving, we will find the joy of living.
We lay up treasures in heaven when we give freely to build God’s kingdom.
Giving to others in the spirit of Christ is worship to God.
God will meet our needs.
God’s supply of heavenly riches is inexhaustible.
We have access to God and His blessing through Jesus Christ alone.

Live It Out

Paul’s message in these verses reminds us that contentment is not a product of what or how much we possess; it comes through a relationship with Christ. Our giving to benefit others is not so much a sacrifice on our part as it is an investment in the things of God. Furthermore, our giving is an expression of worship to Him. We can freely give to others because we have confidence that God will provide for our every need according to His glorious supply. Reflecting on such truth ought to bring us joy. In turn, joy in the Lord ought to make us content. After all, what could be better than that?

Choose Contentment. Evaluate your heart for signs of discontentment. Ask yourself: Am I trusting in money more than in Jesus? Do money and possessions bring me more joy than Jesus? Can I really say, “Christ is all I need”?
Choose to Trust. Make a daily decision not to allow circumstances to determine how content you will be in this life. Memorize Philippians 4:12-13 to remind you simply to trust Christ for all things: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Choose to Give. Give of your time, talent, or treasures. Sometimes the cure for discontentment is to give to others. Find those with needs and give to them. Let God use you as His answer to their prayers.

Regardless of where you are in life, you’ll find plenty of reasons to be discontented. Thankfully Jesus gives us a path to true contentment in Him.

The Key to Contentment

It’s all wrapped up in Christ!

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Class Lesson September 8, 2019

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

We need water. Every day.

Water makes up 50-65 percent of a man’s body weight and 45-60 percent for women. To keep our bodies in this optimal range, we need to drink half a gallon of water a day. All this water protects our tissues, joints, and spinal cord. It aids our digestion and helps remove the waste. Every part of our bodies needs water.1

Without water, dehydration kicks in—and that’s not good for a body so dependent on water! Dry mouth, headaches, dry skin, dizziness, muscle cramps, and fatigue are all signs we need water. We can get by for several weeks without food, but at best, we can survive only about three to four days without water.

Sadly, too many of us experience spiritual dehydration. We need daily contact with our Father. Dry souls, irritability, and difficulty in our spiritual walk are a few of the signs that we need to be replenished through time with God. The cure is as simple as a time of prayer and praise to the One who keeps us going.

We need Jesus. Every day.

Philippians 4:4-5

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Many things can rob us of joy. Doubt, death, challenges at work, illness, relational difficulties, and numerous other problems can cause Christians to lose their joy. But we need not lose our joy. We do not rejoice in our circumstances; we rejoice in the Lord. Joy comes from our relationship with Jesus, not our circumstances.

Paul wasn’t writing this letter from a comfortable back porch swing. He was in prison. Some of the Philippians surely remembered when, right there in their own city, Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned, yet the two evangelists spent the night praying and singing hymns of praise (Acts 16:11-12,22-25). Where did Paul’s joy come from? It came from Jesus Christ.

Paul didn’t tell us once to rejoice; he told us twice. He intentionally repeated himself. He viewed a spirit of rejoicing as critical in the Christian’s life. The word Paul used was chairo, a verb of action. The fact that it is a verb is telling. Rejoicing is not something that happens by accident or through osmosis. It is a daily decision to choose to find our joy in Christ—regardless of our circumstances.

Early in my walk with Christ, I outlined my prayers with wants, needs, and complaints. I ended my prayer time by reminding God what I wanted just in case He forgot. The entire prayer time was about me, myself, and I.

Rarely did I pray for others or praise God for who He is or thank Him for what He had done. When I made a choice to change that, my prayer life was enriched and my walk with Christ was strengthened. I chose to always start my prayer time with praise—even when I was feeling discouraged. Regardless of my state of mind or state of life, God never changes and for that I have a reason to praise.

Rejoice because the King is still on His throne!
Rejoice because death has lost its sting!
Rejoice because we do not fight to gain victory; we fight because the victory has been won in Christ!
Rejoice! What a way to start our day, rejoicing in who God is and what He has done.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Do not be anxious about anything.” We addressed the topic of worry in our previous session as we looked at Scripture where Jesus called us to pursue His kingdom and His righteousness. The antidote for worry comes as we center our lives on Christ, and in this passage, Paul gave us a key to centering our focus on Christ with three words.

Prayer. Prayer seems like the obvious thing to do, but it’s often the most neglected spiritual discipline of the Christian life. Prayer is more than communication with God; it is communion with Him. Prayer includes a worshipful attitude in which we come before the throne of God.
Petition. Prayer is communion with God, and petition is a part of that. It’s asking God for something specific. Paul was telling us to communicate our needs—and things that tempt us to worry—to God.
Thanksgiving. Every night when my family sits around the dinner table, we share the highs and lows of our day, and then we discuss one thing we can each thank God for. I want my kids to see that life has inevitable highs and lows, but we can always be thankful to God. The highs and lows will change, but our God never does. With God on the throne, we always have a reason to be thankful.

Paul told us to run everything through prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Everything. Not just the big things. Everything is to be filtered through prayer. Bring it all to the God who can handle it.

God’s peace flooded Paul’s soul through prayer. This peace transcends understanding. This peace comes when we lay our requests and worries before God and leave them there!

That is called trust. Too often we place our requests at His feet only to pick them back up the next day. Faith leaves them at the throne. God may not always answer our prayers on our own time schedule or with the exact answer we think is best. Faith trusts that God will answer at the right time. Faith trusts that God will give us the best answer—one that may even go beyond what we thought was best. Faith trusts and leaves the matter in the hands of our sovereign Lord.

Philippians 4:8-9

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

A life of daily praise and prayer puts our focus where it needs to be: on Jesus Christ, the One who replenishes us with the living water. Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37-38).

We can’t stay focused on Christ if we allow the wrong things to crowd our minds. We have got to lose the harmful junk that crowds out the things of God. We carry around a lot of unnecessary baggage, but if we lose it, what takes its place? God wants us to fill our minds with His Word. We need God’s Word to saturate our thoughts daily so that our minds may be renewed and we will be kept from grievous ways. Paul called us to think on those things that are . . .

. . . true, not false.

. . . honorable, not dishonorable.

. . . just, not unfair.

. . . pure, not obscene.

. . . lovely, not unlovely.

. . . commendable, not wrong.

. . . morally excellent, not corrupt.

. . . praiseworthy, not shameful.

When we think on these things, we can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). Surrender your thought life to Jesus; don’t allow it to drift into the gutter. Wrong thoughts will still want to invade your mind, but take them captive instead!

In addition to thinking praiseworthy thoughts, Paul called us to follow godly examples. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice” (v. 9). Imitate believers who set their minds on our Creator and Redeemer. Watch them. Pay attention to their lives, what they read, topics of their conversations, and what they value. As a result of striving to be like other believers, Paul said that each follower would know more of God’s peace.

When we focus and trust in Christ, we have peace. Peace is the natural by-product of a mind that spends time with God every day. Dwelling on His Word and the things of God draws our hearts closer to Him, and intimacy with Christ takes on a new meaning when we saturate our daily thoughts with the things of God.

LIVE IT OUT

What steps are you willing to take in order to deepen your walk with Christ? Consider the following applications:

Praise daily. Begin your day—every day—with praise. Praise puts the day ahead of you into perspective.
Pray daily. Set aside time every day for uninterrupted prayer where you give God your full attention. Consider using a prayer journal to help you stay focused. Prayer is a daily decision. Pray about your day, and pray for the challenges others are facing. Let the peace of God rule your heart as you leave these needs in His hands.
Read daily. Get into God’s Word daily. Choose a Bible reading plan, and/or use this book as a guide for your daily focus in God’s Word. Partner with others in your group to support and encourage each other in your daily prayer and reading.

Make a daily choice to do these things, and intimacy with Christ will naturally follow. Spiritual dehydration will be a thing of the past!

Hope to see everyone this Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

Simplicity: Finding Contentment in a Busy Life.

When did things get so complicated? Too many activities, too many possessions, too much ambition, and not enough time to do it all. Behind all this is really a focus on ourselves. When we let go of all these things, deny ourselves, and focus simply on Christ, we find contentment.

1. Simplicity and contentment begin with a Centered Life – Who is at the center?

We were told to: Not worry, trust God, and seek God’s kingdom above all.
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Now let me stop there and ask you, how is that working for you? Have you stopped worrying, do you trust God, and are you seeking God’s kingdom above all else? These were the words of Jesus.

This week our lesson says that Finding Contentment requires a Daily Pursuit.

Paul tells us in Philippians how to live a life free of anxiety/worry.

Let’s call it a daily prescription for worry. You want to live a life free of worry/anxiety, then you must pursue Jesus on a daily basis! Paul says a life of simplicity starts with how we begin our day.
When your alarm goes off in the morning, what are the first few things you do?
Because we are convinced, we have so much to do, we tend to jump immediately into the day’s tasks. Paul says, “Don’t do that!
Begin each day with God, dwell on Him and seek His presence throughout the day. He will help you stay focused on the day’s work and lead you to know a greater sense of contentment with what you accomplish.

Paul says to begin each day with: right praying, right thinking, and right living. By doing this, we will know and experience God’s peace and joy.

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I. Right Praying

We begin by praising God for His faithful love and the blessing of each day.

Philippians 4:4-5

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Where was Paul writing this letter from?

Paul wasn’t writing this letter from a comfortable back porch swing. He was in prison.

How was Paul able to Rejoice in the Lord, given his circumstances?

Paul focused all his attention and energy on knowing Christ.
Where did Paul’s joy come from? It came from Jesus Christ.
He viewed a spirit of rejoicing as critical in the Christian’s life. Rejoicing is not something that happens by accident or through osmosis. It is a daily decision to choose to find our joy in Christ — regardless of our circumstances.

Paul chose to praise God first in his daily prayers.

Inner attitudes don't have to reflect outward circumstances.
ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us.

What difference does it make when we start our prayers with praise?

Early in my walk with Christ, I outlined my prayers with wants, needs, and complaints. The entire prayer time was about me, myself, and I. Rarely did I pray for others or praise God for who He is or thank Him for what He had done. When I made a choice to change that, my prayer life was enriched and my walk with Christ was strengthened.

What can we always rejoice in and praise God for?

Rejoice because God is still on His throne!
Rejoice because death has lost its sting!
Praise Him for the day He has given to you.
Praise Him for the joy that comes from being in right relationship with Him.
Praise Him for opportunities to act with graciousness toward others.
Praise Him that He is present and near.
Praise Him for the hope that comes from knowing He will come again—maybe soon!

II. Right Thinking.

We pray and leave our concerns in the hands of God, believing He will provide for us.

Philippians 4:6-7

Peace comes when we lay our requests and worries before God and leave them there! But what do we often do?

We place our requests at His feet only to pick them back up the next day. Faith leaves them at the throne.
Paul gave us a key to centering our focus on Christ with three words.
Prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Run everything through prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Everything. Not just the big things. Everything is to be filtered through prayer. Bring it all to the God who can handle it.

Why do you think some people neglect to bring the little things before God?

God may not always answer our prayers on our own time schedule or with the exact answer we think is best.
Faith trusts that God will answer at the right time. Faith trusts that God will give us the best answer—one that may even go beyond what we thought was best. Faith trusts and leaves the matter in the hands of our sovereign Lord.

What difference does it make to pray with thanksgiving or with a grateful heart?

A heart of gratitude shapes effective prayer. Grateful hearts lead us to a clearer impression of what we actually need. As a result, our long prayer lists will usually be distilled into only one request: Give us today our daily bread. Matt. 6:11 (Salvation, Presence, Word, and Provision)

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

What does this mean to you?

When we pray, we take our concerns to the Lord and leave them with Him. We trust Him to answer our prayers in His own way and time. While we wait for answers, He gives us a sense of His peace.
When we go to Him with our needs and concerns, we remain confident He will answer our prayer. While we wait for His answer, He gives us His peace, a profound sense of His presence that settles and strengthens us.
Even though we can’t comprehend God’s peace, we can experience it.

What are some lasting truths that come from Philippians 4:6-7 that can help influence our daily time with Him?

Do not be anxious about anything.
Prayer is God’s alternative to anxiety. Worry less, pray more.
Our anxiety decreases in proportion to our increase in worship and trust.
Peace is a gift of God given through Jesus Christ.

III. Right Living.

Fill your minds with the things of God, by reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word.

Philippians 4:8-9

A life of daily praise and prayer puts our focus where it needs to be: on Jesus Christ.

How can we focus on Christ when our mind is crowded with wrong things?

We can’t stay focused on Christ if we allow the wrong things to crowd our minds. We have got to lose the harmful junk that crowds out the things of God. We carry around a lot of unnecessary baggage, but if we lose it, what takes its place? God wants us to fill our minds with His Word. We need God’s Word to saturate our thoughts daily so that our minds may be renewed and we will be kept from grievous ways.
When we think on these things, we can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). Surrender your thought life to Jesus; don’t allow it to drift into the gutter. Wrong thoughts will still want to invade your mind, but take them captive instead!

Remember:

Think praiseworthy thoughts.
When we focus and trust in Christ, we will have peace.
Peace is the natural by-product of a mind that spends time with God every day.
Dwelling on His Word and the things of God draws our hearts closer to Him.

Conclusion: According to the angels’ announcement, Jesus came to bring “peace on earth.”

That peace doesn’t come from a large bank account, a secure position in a company, satisfying relationships with family and friends, or even a clean report from the doctor. It comes from a focus on Jesus daily.

Begin each day with the Lord, and His joy and peace will flood your lives.

1. Praise God for His faithful love and the blessing of each day.

2. Leave your concerns in God’s hands, believing He will provide.

3. Fill your minds with the things of God, by reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

NEW SERIES BEGINS September 1, 2019

SIMPLICITY: FINDING CONTENTMENT IN A BUSY LIFE
When did things get so complicated?

We live in a world where innovation is at an all-time high. It seems that every week a newer version of something you just purchased the week before is on the market. It's big! It's better! It's improved! And it fuels a feeling of discontentment.

How can we live with simplicity in a world that forever tugs at us to be discontent with what we have and to fill our lives with more? Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say about contentment. In these six sessions, we will discover biblical principles for simplicity and contentment.

Simplicity and contentment begin with a focus on Christ.

A focus on Christ is to be pursued daily.

All we need is wrapped up in Christ.

Pursuing godliness in Christ gives us all the contentment we would ever desire.

Simplicity includes taking time for God-given rest.

Simplicity is expressed in the way we relate to others.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Worry. Can you relate to that word? A lot of us can. Two out of five Americans admit to worrying.1 And I’m in that group.

I worry a lot. I worry about church, family, health, my future, and lost people in my city. The list goes on and on. I’ve let worry consume me and even spiritually paralyze me for years. I play the “what if” game a lot. What if I make the wrong decision? What if the desires of my heart never come to pass? What if my father never comes to know Christ?

Do you ever wish you could just stop worrying and fixating on things you can’t control? I do. Jesus gave us the key, and it all has to do with our focus. When our focus is on the world, worry is usually the result, but when we focus on Christ . . . well, that changes everything.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness first. After that, everything else falls into place.

Matthew 6:25-30

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us a sobering reminder of where the heart and mind of the believer could end up when our focus is on the physical rather than the spiritual. A wrong focus leads to a wrong state of mind which leads to anxiety and worry.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life” (v. 25). Easier said than done, right? But it’s an important word from Jesus, and His use of “I tell you” is to get us to pay close attention to what He was saying.

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are hearing these words from the mouth of the Creator. The Creator of the universe, the One who put the stars in place, the One who controls the oceans, the One who holds the world in the palm of His hand was telling us, “Do not worry!” You would think that would be enough to cure us of worry, but it often isn’t. When we worry, it’s because we have allowed our minds to focus and live in disbelief.

Problems begin to arise in our lives when we allow our concern for physical needs to take priority over our spiritual needs. Jesus was clearly telling us that life is more than that.

So why shouldn’t we worry when life seems overwhelming with so many unmet demands? Verse 26 tells us why, and the reason is tied to the great value we have in the eyes of our Father.

Sometimes it’s truly hard to comprehend that God loves us as His children. Some of us have not had the greatest father figures, and some of us have had no fathers at all. Others cannot understand why God would love them when they are so flawed and sinful. But Jesus painted a wholly different picture of our heavenly Father as One who takes care of the birds and adorns the flowers yet loves us so much more. In spite of our sinfulness, God loves and values us deeply. That wonderful truth should change our perspective and, therefore, cure any worry.

Matthew 6:31-32

31 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

A lack of trust produces a life of worry. According to Jesus, worry is a “Gentile” mindset. While we may sometimes equate “Gentile” with anyone who is not a Jew, in other contexts—like this one—it refers to those who are outside the family of God. This group of lost people has every reason to worry about the essentials of life. They express no trust in God, who is the Source of all we need.

Their trust is in their own ability to provide for themselves.

Without Christ, our minds are consumed with living the American dream. Accumulation is the name of the game. We seek the things of this world to give us identity and value.

Many of these things are not inherently bad—a nice home, a new car, a big salary—but we tend to let these things define us. Our trust is in our own ability to perform in order to get what we need or want.

But what do we actually achieve if we attain all these things? Sitting right next to us in our nice homes is a void, a hopelessness, and a lack of peace. None of these things truly satisfy; we’re left hungry and thirsty for more. It boils down to a matter of trust: without Christ, our trust is in the wrong place.

Trust should be placed in God who does what is best for us. Consider how God provided for our greatest need. We are sinners in need of a Savior. God saw that need and sent His Son, His greatest treasure. God provided the perfect lamb for imperfect people. And we didn’t have anything to do with that provision!

When we place our faith in Jesus, we are trusting that our greatest need was met. And since God has taken care of our biggest need, we can trust Him to take care of all our needs!

God does not have a hearing problem. He hears our requests (Ps. 66:18-20).
God does not have a providing problem. He owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Ps. 50:10).
God does not have a timing problem. He provides what we need when we need it (Prov. 3:5-6).

If there is a problem, it’s with us. It’s a faith problem. He called us “You of little faith.” Worry is simply a product of not trusting God. The good news is that we do not have to stay faithless!

Matthew 6:33-34

33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

“Seek first.” The word Jesus used for “seek” is zeteo, which means to desire and pursue. We are not seeking something that is hidden; instead, we are pursuing the things of God with a passion wherein it’s our highest priority.

Instead of being consumed with the temporary things of this world, we are called to be consumed with a desire for God and for the things of God. It’s not that the cares of this life are unimportant; even Jesus invited us to pray for these things: “Give us today our daily bread” (v. 11). As we focus on Christ and pursue Him with obedience, He takes care of everything else.

This does not mean that if you seek God wholeheartedly, you will have whatever you want. Consider how that idea of prosperity plays out in other parts of the world. There are countless believers who live in poverty. Jesus’ words do not promise American prosperity but God’s provision. He takes care of His children. Seeking God gives us proper perspective. Jesus promised that each day will have enough trouble of its own. We cannot escape the troubled day, but we can escape worry. Today, focus on Christ. Make Him first. We can think about tomorrow . . . well, tomorrow.

Jesus was not speaking against planning or preparation for the future. My wife and I have four children and we are planning for their future. We have started college funds, we pray for their salvation, we pray for their purity, we pray for the right friends to enter their lives, and we pray for their spouses. After we plan, prepare, and pray, we leave the unknowns of the future in the hands of our Father. Without a focus on Christ, it’s easy to be terrified of what this world will do to our sweet children.

We have a decision to make: will we be paralyzed by fear of tomorrow’s unknowns, or will we choose to seek the kingdom of God? It’s a daily choice to trust the sovereign and loving God who sits on His throne.

LIVE IT OUT
How will you actively seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Consider the following applications:

Confess. In order to overcome worry, confess the areas where you struggle to trust God. Admit your struggles with worry and allow God to begin working in you.
Memorize. Hold strongly to the promises of God and memorize Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Continually remind yourself of God’s promise to provide.
Share. Find someone you trust and share the things that cause you to worry and the areas of your life where you lack a trust in God. Invite this friend to pray with you and for you.

It may feel at times as if worry is inevitable and you’re drowning in anxiety. Worry may have a way of worming its ugly head into your life, but it doesn’t have to consume you. Make a daily decision to pursue the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

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Hope to see everyone this Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan