Read Ecclesiastes 2:12-16. Genesis 2:15-17
Some say that the only things you can’t avoid in this world are death and taxes! While some cunning accountants make it possible to avoid paying taxes, no one can make death avoidable. We will all die someday.
As Solomon ages and grows nearer to death he realises that death is the great leveller. Whether you are wise or foolish, whether you are educated or not, you will die. Solomon wrestles with the whole notion of death and the place of wisdom and folly in the world.
Such wrestling though is not meant to produce apathy within us or depression or despair but rather is meant to draw us nearer to the Lord in total and utter dependence.
Death entered the world through the disobedience of our first parents. Adam was told by God that he could eat from all the trees of the Garden except the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eating from that tree would result in death. And as you know, Adam and Eve tested God and ate from that tree. Death has been in the world ever since.
God, however, through His mercy and wisdom, has given us a way through death. That way is through placing our faith and trust in Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of the world and was raised to life, never to die again. Even though we will all still die, death need not be the end. The Bible assures us that those who die in Christ rest from their labours and return to the be with the Lord. They will spend eternity with Christ in a perfect paradise where all evil has been eradicated.
Those who continue to reject Christ and His antidote for death will receive the desires of their heart and they will spend eternity away from Christ. The Bible pictures this eternity as a horrid eternity of torment and suffering.
Yet the Bible assures us that God longs for all men to be saved and to come to a saving knowledge of the truth. God has paved the way for people to be saved. God is holding out His hand inviting all to come to Jesus in repentance and faith for eternal life.
Even though death stares each of us in the face, the question is whether or not we are prepared for death and the aftermath. Are you prepared for death? Are you prepared to face the aftermath of your choice in this life?
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Continue to pray for the Presbyterian Inland Mission. Pray that the padres going out to isolated regions and stations will have opportunity to speak of Christ, to make disciples and to bring hope and joy to many. Pray that God would watch over the padres as they travel great distances.
¥ Pray that God would bless the work of the student ministers at the Reformed College in Myanmar. Pray that these students would grow in knowledge and love of God, in wisdom and application of the Scriptures and that God would provide their needs as they study. Pray that those who have family members they haven’t seen for years will be comforted and blessed for their willing sacrifice.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
Xavier is a believer who spends long hours working in a factory. After a serious work accident recently in the factory he has confided in you that he fears death.
1. How should Christians feel about death?
2. How can a fear of death be overcome by a believer?
3. Should young believers be concerned with death? Why or why not?
Monday, 9 September 2013
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Saturday September 7, 2013
Read Luke 8:26-38
A naked mad man runs through the cemetery every night, howling and screeching at the top of his lungs. He has no home to go to. He lives among the unclean graves. He eats what he can scavenge. Sometimes at night they’ll hear the painful screams as he deeply cuts himself.
The locals are too frightened to go near this mad man. A few times a local possie has sought to bind him, even with chains, but he just snaps them like thin cotton and continues on with his terrible rage. Even the guards posted to watch him were no match. The locals think he’s mad. Some say he’s demon possessed. Everyone avoids him and the territory over which he reigns is totally off limits.
As Jesus climbs off the boat onto the shore this demoniac darts towards Him, yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. He knows who Jesus is. He knows the true identity of Jesus. He screams so loud that nearby farmers come to take a look.
As the farmers draw near they see a large herd of pigs rush towards a cliff. But rather than stopping or turning, they continue on and plummet to their death. 2,000 pigs all killed in one instant!
But the strangeness of the pigs vaporises as they see the madman sitting at Jesus’ feet. He’s dressed. He’s in his right mind. He’s not yelling and screaming. He’s not attacking anyone. He’s not cutting himself. In bewilderment the farmers rush off to tell the townsfolk what has just transpired.
A crowd rushes to the edge of the lake. They see Jesus. They see the madman. They see the drowned pigs. They are terrified.
Slowly the soft commotion rises to a peak. “Leave us!” they cry out in fear. “Go away from us!”
As Jesus climbs into the boat, prepared to leave, the mad man begs to go with Him. He pleads with Jesus to be able to follow Him anywhere and everywhere. But Jesus, to crowds astonishment, sends him away saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you’.
Soon that once-madman is seen throughout the various cities telling everyone about Jesus. He’s no longer crying out in fear or in oppression or because of demonic possession. Everyone who comes near hears how Jesus, the Messiah, has freed Him. Everyone hears of the wonders of God’s own son, sent to bring freedom to a world held in chains.
What Jesus tells the madman to do, He tells each of us. Return home and tell how much God has done for you.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”
Luke 8:39
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that you would have opportunity this week to share your testimony about how much God has done for you. Pray that you would be able to discern these opportunities and that you would be courageous enough to take them when they appear.
Each of us knows people who need the transforming power of God in their lives. Pray for each of these people by name and ask God in Christ Jesus to be transforming them, renewing them and sending them out into the world to share their testimony about how much God has done for them.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Do you think that giving the warring parties at DPC a goal outside of or apart from their church service would be helpful?
2. What could this goal be?
3. How does having a goal like this help all believers?
A naked mad man runs through the cemetery every night, howling and screeching at the top of his lungs. He has no home to go to. He lives among the unclean graves. He eats what he can scavenge. Sometimes at night they’ll hear the painful screams as he deeply cuts himself.
The locals are too frightened to go near this mad man. A few times a local possie has sought to bind him, even with chains, but he just snaps them like thin cotton and continues on with his terrible rage. Even the guards posted to watch him were no match. The locals think he’s mad. Some say he’s demon possessed. Everyone avoids him and the territory over which he reigns is totally off limits.
As Jesus climbs off the boat onto the shore this demoniac darts towards Him, yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. He knows who Jesus is. He knows the true identity of Jesus. He screams so loud that nearby farmers come to take a look.
As the farmers draw near they see a large herd of pigs rush towards a cliff. But rather than stopping or turning, they continue on and plummet to their death. 2,000 pigs all killed in one instant!
But the strangeness of the pigs vaporises as they see the madman sitting at Jesus’ feet. He’s dressed. He’s in his right mind. He’s not yelling and screaming. He’s not attacking anyone. He’s not cutting himself. In bewilderment the farmers rush off to tell the townsfolk what has just transpired.
A crowd rushes to the edge of the lake. They see Jesus. They see the madman. They see the drowned pigs. They are terrified.
Slowly the soft commotion rises to a peak. “Leave us!” they cry out in fear. “Go away from us!”
As Jesus climbs into the boat, prepared to leave, the mad man begs to go with Him. He pleads with Jesus to be able to follow Him anywhere and everywhere. But Jesus, to crowds astonishment, sends him away saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you’.
Soon that once-madman is seen throughout the various cities telling everyone about Jesus. He’s no longer crying out in fear or in oppression or because of demonic possession. Everyone who comes near hears how Jesus, the Messiah, has freed Him. Everyone hears of the wonders of God’s own son, sent to bring freedom to a world held in chains.
What Jesus tells the madman to do, He tells each of us. Return home and tell how much God has done for you.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”
Luke 8:39
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that you would have opportunity this week to share your testimony about how much God has done for you. Pray that you would be able to discern these opportunities and that you would be courageous enough to take them when they appear.
Each of us knows people who need the transforming power of God in their lives. Pray for each of these people by name and ask God in Christ Jesus to be transforming them, renewing them and sending them out into the world to share their testimony about how much God has done for them.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Do you think that giving the warring parties at DPC a goal outside of or apart from their church service would be helpful?
2. What could this goal be?
3. How does having a goal like this help all believers?
Friday, 6 September 2013
Friday September 6, 2013
Read Ecclesiastes 2:10-11. 1 Kings 11:4-13
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be so fabulously wealthy that you need not deny yourself absolutely anything. If I want a Porsche for today, great! Let’s go buy one. If I want a holiday in Majorca, let’s go and fly there tomorrow on my private jet. If I wanted to ski the slopes of Switzerland, book the plane and let’s go.
It all sounds good but there are so many drawbacks. I actually know some very rich people and each one has relayed their concerns and fears. First and foremost, there’s the fear of losing that wealth. That fear often overwhelms and drowns out the pleasure of wealth. More wealth generally creates more fear. Wealth also grips the heart and creates a very powerful addiction to have more. Driving a Porsche will satisfy once or twice but very soon you need something more powerful. Skiing in Switzerland will suffice this year but next year you may need something more. It is no accident that many rich and famous people are being treated for drug and alcohol abuse. Once the thrill wears off, drugs and alcohol dull the pain of reality. There’s also the burden of knowing who your true friends really are. Do these people hang around you for the freebies they might get and for the benefit of the things you might give them? Do they love you because you’re a nice guy/gal or because you’re rich? Would they love you and be so constantly around you if your wealth dried up completely tomorrow?
King Solomon, the Teacher of Ecclesiastes, wrote sobering words for us. He said in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11,
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Solomon was in the position that most people could only dream and fantasize about. He had it all. He indulged. But he also paid the price. Towards the end of his life Solomon found his heart turning away from the Lord. The wives he had married brought pagan god’s and pagan practices into the kingdom. Even though God had forbidden such marriages, Solomon disobeyed God. The result was that God would be angry with Solomon and the kingdom would be ripped from his hands and given to one of his subordinates. Eventually, because of such indulgence, the Kingdom of Israel would be split in two.
God has created each of us with inherent needs. One of those needs is to be in rich fellowship with our Creator. If we seek to fulfil that need in any other way, we will inevitably end up in turmoil. Only God can fill a God-shaped need.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when He rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those He loves,
and he punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”
Proverbs 3:11-12
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for a heart of obedience to be given to you and your fellow Jesus followers in your congregation. Pray that God would weed out any desires you have for particular sins. Mention these by name and ask God to weed them out.
¥ Pray that God would work powerfully in your services this coming Sonday. Pray that He would bring healing, conviction, reconciliation, forgiveness and wholeness as needed. Pray that those who don’t know Christ yet will bend the knee and confess Him as Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
Some of the warring parties at Ducksville PC have threatened to stop their giving until they get their way.
1. What needs to do think the warring parties at Ducksville PC have?
2. How can these threats be dealt with in a loving, Christ centred way that builds everyone up?
3. What role should money play in the life of any congregation?
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be so fabulously wealthy that you need not deny yourself absolutely anything. If I want a Porsche for today, great! Let’s go buy one. If I want a holiday in Majorca, let’s go and fly there tomorrow on my private jet. If I wanted to ski the slopes of Switzerland, book the plane and let’s go.
It all sounds good but there are so many drawbacks. I actually know some very rich people and each one has relayed their concerns and fears. First and foremost, there’s the fear of losing that wealth. That fear often overwhelms and drowns out the pleasure of wealth. More wealth generally creates more fear. Wealth also grips the heart and creates a very powerful addiction to have more. Driving a Porsche will satisfy once or twice but very soon you need something more powerful. Skiing in Switzerland will suffice this year but next year you may need something more. It is no accident that many rich and famous people are being treated for drug and alcohol abuse. Once the thrill wears off, drugs and alcohol dull the pain of reality. There’s also the burden of knowing who your true friends really are. Do these people hang around you for the freebies they might get and for the benefit of the things you might give them? Do they love you because you’re a nice guy/gal or because you’re rich? Would they love you and be so constantly around you if your wealth dried up completely tomorrow?
King Solomon, the Teacher of Ecclesiastes, wrote sobering words for us. He said in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11,
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Solomon was in the position that most people could only dream and fantasize about. He had it all. He indulged. But he also paid the price. Towards the end of his life Solomon found his heart turning away from the Lord. The wives he had married brought pagan god’s and pagan practices into the kingdom. Even though God had forbidden such marriages, Solomon disobeyed God. The result was that God would be angry with Solomon and the kingdom would be ripped from his hands and given to one of his subordinates. Eventually, because of such indulgence, the Kingdom of Israel would be split in two.
God has created each of us with inherent needs. One of those needs is to be in rich fellowship with our Creator. If we seek to fulfil that need in any other way, we will inevitably end up in turmoil. Only God can fill a God-shaped need.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when He rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those He loves,
and he punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”
Proverbs 3:11-12
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for a heart of obedience to be given to you and your fellow Jesus followers in your congregation. Pray that God would weed out any desires you have for particular sins. Mention these by name and ask God to weed them out.
¥ Pray that God would work powerfully in your services this coming Sonday. Pray that He would bring healing, conviction, reconciliation, forgiveness and wholeness as needed. Pray that those who don’t know Christ yet will bend the knee and confess Him as Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
Some of the warring parties at Ducksville PC have threatened to stop their giving until they get their way.
1. What needs to do think the warring parties at Ducksville PC have?
2. How can these threats be dealt with in a loving, Christ centred way that builds everyone up?
3. What role should money play in the life of any congregation?
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Thursday September 5, 2013
Jesus Challenge:
Read the following passages that could sum up the life goal of the Apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 5:9, Philippians 3:14, Romans 15:20. Acts 20:24.
What do you think Paul’s life goal was?
Take some time to write out your life goal in a short sentence or two. Remember to include all the facets of a good goal from last week. The acronym SMART could help you remember how to formulate a useful goal.
Read Ecclesiastes 2:8b-9. John 14:15-27
I wonder how many people in our world of 7 billion people are truly happy or content. I wonder how many of those 7 billion people could sit back and say something like, ’Thank you Lord. I’m satisfied’? I suspect that very few could.
There are many statistics that would suggest that people are unhappy, many of whom could be classed as desperately unhappy. The statistics on gambling have already been mentioned. They suggest that millions of people are desperately trying to find a better life. Add to this the number of people viewing or using pornography and you begin to see the sad plight of most of the world. Experts have argued that people who use this medium are not only desperately unhappy but ‘dead’ inside. Apparently they are seeking to deaden the pain they feel. Another indicator of malcontent is the number of marriages and relationships broken through affairs and cheating. Again, it suggests that people are frantically seeking something more to fulfil them.
Add to this the growing rate of drug and alcohol use and you quickly begin to see that people are unhappy or discontented with their lives. People are not satisfied. Unfortunately they are seeking fulfilment in a range of areas that cannot satisfy them.
Put bluntly, the world is seeking fulfilment in all the wrong places. It’s like being hungry and then looking at your bank account figures and trying to fulfil that hunger for food. No matter how high or low the figures are, you are still going to be hungry. People have a deep inner hunger for God. We are created to be in relationship with God and need to have God in our lives to be truly content. Without God, we can search high and low for satisfaction but we will never truly be content, Only God can fill a God-shaped hole.
Solomon had gold and wealth. He had men and women to do his every bidding. He had a harem for his own pleasure. He had it all but found only meaningless and malcontent in that mess of stuff.
Jesus gives us the true perspective. He said, ’Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ If we want that inner contentment and true satisfaction we must surrender our hearts to Jesus and accept the peace that He alone can offer.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
’Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’
John 14:27
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would grow the peace of Christ in you and in your fellow believers in your local church. Pray that this peace would draw many others into Christ for salvation. Pray that the peace would be showing itself in selfless commitment to Christ and service of others.
¥ Pray that God would continue to work powerfully through the city of Toowoomba as more and more people come to Christ in faith. Pray for growing unity and oneness across the various churches and denominations.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
Ducksville PC suffers from a lack of peace.
1. What effect does a lack of peace in a congregation have on visiting non believers?
2. What effect does this lack of peace have on believers that are visiting?
3. How can a believer grow in the peace offered by Christ?
Read the following passages that could sum up the life goal of the Apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 5:9, Philippians 3:14, Romans 15:20. Acts 20:24.
What do you think Paul’s life goal was?
Take some time to write out your life goal in a short sentence or two. Remember to include all the facets of a good goal from last week. The acronym SMART could help you remember how to formulate a useful goal.
Read Ecclesiastes 2:8b-9. John 14:15-27
I wonder how many people in our world of 7 billion people are truly happy or content. I wonder how many of those 7 billion people could sit back and say something like, ’Thank you Lord. I’m satisfied’? I suspect that very few could.
There are many statistics that would suggest that people are unhappy, many of whom could be classed as desperately unhappy. The statistics on gambling have already been mentioned. They suggest that millions of people are desperately trying to find a better life. Add to this the number of people viewing or using pornography and you begin to see the sad plight of most of the world. Experts have argued that people who use this medium are not only desperately unhappy but ‘dead’ inside. Apparently they are seeking to deaden the pain they feel. Another indicator of malcontent is the number of marriages and relationships broken through affairs and cheating. Again, it suggests that people are frantically seeking something more to fulfil them.
Add to this the growing rate of drug and alcohol use and you quickly begin to see that people are unhappy or discontented with their lives. People are not satisfied. Unfortunately they are seeking fulfilment in a range of areas that cannot satisfy them.
Put bluntly, the world is seeking fulfilment in all the wrong places. It’s like being hungry and then looking at your bank account figures and trying to fulfil that hunger for food. No matter how high or low the figures are, you are still going to be hungry. People have a deep inner hunger for God. We are created to be in relationship with God and need to have God in our lives to be truly content. Without God, we can search high and low for satisfaction but we will never truly be content, Only God can fill a God-shaped hole.
Solomon had gold and wealth. He had men and women to do his every bidding. He had a harem for his own pleasure. He had it all but found only meaningless and malcontent in that mess of stuff.
Jesus gives us the true perspective. He said, ’Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ If we want that inner contentment and true satisfaction we must surrender our hearts to Jesus and accept the peace that He alone can offer.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
’Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’
John 14:27
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would grow the peace of Christ in you and in your fellow believers in your local church. Pray that this peace would draw many others into Christ for salvation. Pray that the peace would be showing itself in selfless commitment to Christ and service of others.
¥ Pray that God would continue to work powerfully through the city of Toowoomba as more and more people come to Christ in faith. Pray for growing unity and oneness across the various churches and denominations.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
Ducksville PC suffers from a lack of peace.
1. What effect does a lack of peace in a congregation have on visiting non believers?
2. What effect does this lack of peace have on believers that are visiting?
3. How can a believer grow in the peace offered by Christ?
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Wednesday September 4, 2013
Read Ecclesiastes 2:8, Philippians 4:10-13
Australians spend up to $110 million on Lotto each week, trying to win the big one. Melbourne Cup gambling hovers around $150 million per race. Added to this, the Problem Gambling Website reports that New South Wales clubs and hotels make around $3.5 billion each year on gaming machines while Australian casinos have an income of around $2.2 million. What these figures suggest is that Australians are, by and large, seeking to become wealthy. The mighty dollar bill has never been so mighty and sought after.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes amassed for himself the treasure of kings. He grew his fortune of silver and gold and had, literally, everything he ever wanted. 1 Kings 10:14-29 details the extravagance of Solomon’s wealth. Each year he received about 25 tons of gold plus revenue from merchants and traders. He received income from all the Arabian kings and from the governors of the land. Visitors from around the world sought his audience and brought expensive and lavish gifts as well as gold. He was so wealthy that silver became as common as stones in Jerusalem. Yet for all this, he concluded that money or wealth was meaningless. It could not satisfy the human heart. It could not and would not fill the God-shaped void that exists in every human heart.
When Jesus came into our world He described Himself as greater than Solomon (Luke 11:31). He promised His followers better wealth than Solomon and encouraged His followers to store up eternal wealth in heaven where rust and moth and tax man could not destroy it.
Pursing Jesus is the key to fulfilment above and beyond wealth so much so that the Apostle Paul could declare that he had learnt the secret of being content in any and every situation whether he was well fed or hungry, whether he was in want or had plenty. Paul was content apart from his situation because he was in Christ. The secret to being content is to be growing in Christ Jesus.
Regardless of our financial situation we can be content and happy in Him.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
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.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12-13
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that each and every single believer in your congregation would be content in what they have and that they would willingly and joyfully submit to God and worship Him. Pray that each person would do everything through the power of Christ.
¥ Pray that God would provide the needs of Straight Talk Ministries. Ask God to bless Jim and Faye in this ministry and to lead and guide them as they seek to serve in schools.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Do you think that the people who are arguing about the service at Ducksville are content in Christ? Why or why not?
2. How can they grow in contentment in Christ?
3. Why should we be seeking to grow in contentment?
Australians spend up to $110 million on Lotto each week, trying to win the big one. Melbourne Cup gambling hovers around $150 million per race. Added to this, the Problem Gambling Website reports that New South Wales clubs and hotels make around $3.5 billion each year on gaming machines while Australian casinos have an income of around $2.2 million. What these figures suggest is that Australians are, by and large, seeking to become wealthy. The mighty dollar bill has never been so mighty and sought after.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes amassed for himself the treasure of kings. He grew his fortune of silver and gold and had, literally, everything he ever wanted. 1 Kings 10:14-29 details the extravagance of Solomon’s wealth. Each year he received about 25 tons of gold plus revenue from merchants and traders. He received income from all the Arabian kings and from the governors of the land. Visitors from around the world sought his audience and brought expensive and lavish gifts as well as gold. He was so wealthy that silver became as common as stones in Jerusalem. Yet for all this, he concluded that money or wealth was meaningless. It could not satisfy the human heart. It could not and would not fill the God-shaped void that exists in every human heart.
When Jesus came into our world He described Himself as greater than Solomon (Luke 11:31). He promised His followers better wealth than Solomon and encouraged His followers to store up eternal wealth in heaven where rust and moth and tax man could not destroy it.
Pursing Jesus is the key to fulfilment above and beyond wealth so much so that the Apostle Paul could declare that he had learnt the secret of being content in any and every situation whether he was well fed or hungry, whether he was in want or had plenty. Paul was content apart from his situation because he was in Christ. The secret to being content is to be growing in Christ Jesus.
Regardless of our financial situation we can be content and happy in Him.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
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.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12-13
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that each and every single believer in your congregation would be content in what they have and that they would willingly and joyfully submit to God and worship Him. Pray that each person would do everything through the power of Christ.
¥ Pray that God would provide the needs of Straight Talk Ministries. Ask God to bless Jim and Faye in this ministry and to lead and guide them as they seek to serve in schools.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Do you think that the people who are arguing about the service at Ducksville are content in Christ? Why or why not?
2. How can they grow in contentment in Christ?
3. Why should we be seeking to grow in contentment?
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Tuesday September 3, 2013
Read Ecclesiastes 2:4-7. Luke 12:13-21
The great Australian dream is to own a house that can be called a home. People pour hours of energy and millions of dollars into creating their all Australian dream home. Weekends are often spent cleaning the house, fixing the gardens and doing outdoor projects to turn that house into a home. Obviously, weekly home renovation and gardening TV shows attract a huge following.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes similarly undertook great projects. He built grand houses and expansive vineyards for himself. He planted all kinds of fruit trees and created reservoirs to provide abundant water. And to top it all off, his great Israelite dream house was filled with men and maid servants. In terms of the great Aussie dream the Teacher had it all!
But even so, he concludes that it’s all meaningless. It’s simply a chasing after the wind. The Bible is not saying that if you have a house then you are automatically hell bound. It’s not saying that if you invest time and energy into the house and yard then you are a reprobate. What then is the Bible saying?
Jesus’ parable of the Rich Fool tells us plainly the true perspective. A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. The rich man in the parable grew much food and had to build bigger and bigger barns to house his harvest. However, one night his life was taken away from him and he appeared before God, destitute and poor.
Jesus warns us in this parable that our life is not measured by the house we build or the assets we fill it with. Our life’s meaning is far more than a grand house or a massive investment portfolio. One’s life can be taken away in an instant and our great Aussie dream will die with us. Our life’s meaning is to be rich towards God. What that means is that we have a growing and deepening relationship with our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. It means that we find meaning and value in serving Him, in doing His will and in being His ambassador. It means that each day we grow in love, in knowledge and in appreciate of God and His love, grace and mercy for us. It means that we grow to be like Him each and every single day.
What we own and what we have is relatively unimportant in the eternal scheme of life. You can’t take any of your things with you as you go to stand before God. Your money, your house, your assets and your things will be of no value or help to you as you stand before God.
What will help you and be of benefit is your relationship with God. If you are rich towards God then you will hear Him say those wonderful words, ‘Welcome home good and faithful servant.’ If you are not rich towards God, you are in deep, deep trouble. Now’s the time to invest in true riches.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich towards God.
Luke 12:21
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would bless and enrich the ministry of Shiloh Church Ministries in India. Ask the Lord to provide the daily needs of the children and staff through churches such as yours. Pray that God would bring true riches to the orphans through a deepening relationship with Himself.
¥ Pray that God would use Student Life and Uni Impact (NZ) to bring the message of hope and reconciliation to many students in campuses around both countries. Pray too that the respective organisations would have the resources they need to continue ministering and serving students with the message of Christ Jesus.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How could Ducksville Presbyterian Church structure its services so that each party is growing and thriving in Christ and not just sitting through the service, enduring the bits they don’t like?
2. What role does GRACE play in finding a working solution to this problem?
The great Australian dream is to own a house that can be called a home. People pour hours of energy and millions of dollars into creating their all Australian dream home. Weekends are often spent cleaning the house, fixing the gardens and doing outdoor projects to turn that house into a home. Obviously, weekly home renovation and gardening TV shows attract a huge following.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes similarly undertook great projects. He built grand houses and expansive vineyards for himself. He planted all kinds of fruit trees and created reservoirs to provide abundant water. And to top it all off, his great Israelite dream house was filled with men and maid servants. In terms of the great Aussie dream the Teacher had it all!
But even so, he concludes that it’s all meaningless. It’s simply a chasing after the wind. The Bible is not saying that if you have a house then you are automatically hell bound. It’s not saying that if you invest time and energy into the house and yard then you are a reprobate. What then is the Bible saying?
Jesus’ parable of the Rich Fool tells us plainly the true perspective. A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. The rich man in the parable grew much food and had to build bigger and bigger barns to house his harvest. However, one night his life was taken away from him and he appeared before God, destitute and poor.
Jesus warns us in this parable that our life is not measured by the house we build or the assets we fill it with. Our life’s meaning is far more than a grand house or a massive investment portfolio. One’s life can be taken away in an instant and our great Aussie dream will die with us. Our life’s meaning is to be rich towards God. What that means is that we have a growing and deepening relationship with our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. It means that we find meaning and value in serving Him, in doing His will and in being His ambassador. It means that each day we grow in love, in knowledge and in appreciate of God and His love, grace and mercy for us. It means that we grow to be like Him each and every single day.
What we own and what we have is relatively unimportant in the eternal scheme of life. You can’t take any of your things with you as you go to stand before God. Your money, your house, your assets and your things will be of no value or help to you as you stand before God.
What will help you and be of benefit is your relationship with God. If you are rich towards God then you will hear Him say those wonderful words, ‘Welcome home good and faithful servant.’ If you are not rich towards God, you are in deep, deep trouble. Now’s the time to invest in true riches.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.
This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich towards God.
Luke 12:21
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would bless and enrich the ministry of Shiloh Church Ministries in India. Ask the Lord to provide the daily needs of the children and staff through churches such as yours. Pray that God would bring true riches to the orphans through a deepening relationship with Himself.
¥ Pray that God would use Student Life and Uni Impact (NZ) to bring the message of hope and reconciliation to many students in campuses around both countries. Pray too that the respective organisations would have the resources they need to continue ministering and serving students with the message of Christ Jesus.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How could Ducksville Presbyterian Church structure its services so that each party is growing and thriving in Christ and not just sitting through the service, enduring the bits they don’t like?
2. What role does GRACE play in finding a working solution to this problem?
Monday, 2 September 2013
Monday September 2, 2013
Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-3. Acts 20:33-35
Today’s world has become a pleasure seeking world. Life has evolved to be about my happiness, in my entertainment and my pleasure. We see this life-philosophy in the number of people seeking extra-marital affairs, in the party-hard mentality of the masses and in the myriad of advertising that promises happiness or pleasure from the particular product advertised.
Unfortunately, the negative effects of a pleasure seeking society are seen in the high rates of alcohol & drug abuse, in the high levels of mental illness, the growing rate of relational breakdown & isolation and in the growing rates of suicide.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes sought to find meaning and value in pleasure. He sought pleasure in wine, in laughter and ‘fun’ and in foolish behaviour. His goal was to find out what was worthwhile for mankind to do in his short life-span. However, during this foray into pleasure the Teacher made sure that it was never wanton abandonment. He was never lost in the pleasure or in the search. His mind was always guiding him with wisdom. Unlike so many in the world, he remained totally focused and totally in control.
There is no room in the Teacher’s report for suspense or drama. From the outset, see verse 1, he tells us that seeking pleasure proved to be meaningless. In verse 2 we are told that laughter is foolish. The Teacher wants us to understand the conclusion from the very beginning. He wants us to avoid being tempted to go down the very same road. He wants us to learn from his experience. Chasing pleasure is meaningless. It cannot and will not fulfil you.
Interestingly, a UCLA study has unexpectedly confirmed this. The results of a 10 year study shows that the human genome was positively affected by doing good to others but was adversely affected from hedonistic, self pleasure seeking. In the study the level of ‘happiness’ was the same in each category. What the Teacher proclaimed centuries ago, science is beginning to understand. Jesus also backed this up when He said, ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
We need to understand though, that no where in the Bible does it say that Christians are to be fun police, making sure that no one is having any fun. No where does it say that Christians are to be miserable lemon suckers who never smile.
Rather, our joy is to come from serving God, from being His light in the community and from loving others as ourselves. Our joy is a joy based not on what we get or what we have but is based on our relationship with God through Christ Jesus. That kind of joy gives life purpose, meaning and value that nothing in this world can imitate.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verses.
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
Acts 20:35
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that your congregation would be a giving and generous congregation that finds real joy in giving and sharing. Pray that your mission budget would grow and multiply so much so that your mission committee would have to seek more missionaries to support.
¥ Pray that God would continue to bless the work of Teen Challenge here in Toowoomba. Pray that God would provide for all their financial, physical and personal needs. Pray especially that the residents would find meaning and value in Christ Jesus.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
Ducksville Presbyterian Church has a dilemma. The congregation is almost split down the middle between older Christians and young families. The older believers want to sing hymns and to have a more serious tone to church service. The younger believers want to have a bit of fun, together with some boppy songs.
1. What advice can you give to this congregation?
2. What do you think is the way forward?
3. If people threaten to leave the church because of this service issue, what could you do?
Today’s world has become a pleasure seeking world. Life has evolved to be about my happiness, in my entertainment and my pleasure. We see this life-philosophy in the number of people seeking extra-marital affairs, in the party-hard mentality of the masses and in the myriad of advertising that promises happiness or pleasure from the particular product advertised.
Unfortunately, the negative effects of a pleasure seeking society are seen in the high rates of alcohol & drug abuse, in the high levels of mental illness, the growing rate of relational breakdown & isolation and in the growing rates of suicide.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes sought to find meaning and value in pleasure. He sought pleasure in wine, in laughter and ‘fun’ and in foolish behaviour. His goal was to find out what was worthwhile for mankind to do in his short life-span. However, during this foray into pleasure the Teacher made sure that it was never wanton abandonment. He was never lost in the pleasure or in the search. His mind was always guiding him with wisdom. Unlike so many in the world, he remained totally focused and totally in control.
There is no room in the Teacher’s report for suspense or drama. From the outset, see verse 1, he tells us that seeking pleasure proved to be meaningless. In verse 2 we are told that laughter is foolish. The Teacher wants us to understand the conclusion from the very beginning. He wants us to avoid being tempted to go down the very same road. He wants us to learn from his experience. Chasing pleasure is meaningless. It cannot and will not fulfil you.
Interestingly, a UCLA study has unexpectedly confirmed this. The results of a 10 year study shows that the human genome was positively affected by doing good to others but was adversely affected from hedonistic, self pleasure seeking. In the study the level of ‘happiness’ was the same in each category. What the Teacher proclaimed centuries ago, science is beginning to understand. Jesus also backed this up when He said, ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
We need to understand though, that no where in the Bible does it say that Christians are to be fun police, making sure that no one is having any fun. No where does it say that Christians are to be miserable lemon suckers who never smile.
Rather, our joy is to come from serving God, from being His light in the community and from loving others as ourselves. Our joy is a joy based not on what we get or what we have but is based on our relationship with God through Christ Jesus. That kind of joy gives life purpose, meaning and value that nothing in this world can imitate.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verses.
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
Acts 20:35
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that your congregation would be a giving and generous congregation that finds real joy in giving and sharing. Pray that your mission budget would grow and multiply so much so that your mission committee would have to seek more missionaries to support.
¥ Pray that God would continue to bless the work of Teen Challenge here in Toowoomba. Pray that God would provide for all their financial, physical and personal needs. Pray especially that the residents would find meaning and value in Christ Jesus.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
Ducksville Presbyterian Church has a dilemma. The congregation is almost split down the middle between older Christians and young families. The older believers want to sing hymns and to have a more serious tone to church service. The younger believers want to have a bit of fun, together with some boppy songs.
1. What advice can you give to this congregation?
2. What do you think is the way forward?
3. If people threaten to leave the church because of this service issue, what could you do?
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