The Gospel Project

What a beautiful day it was today!  I hope you were able to get out and enjoy some of it.

This morning we debuted our fall study from The Gospel Project.  As I told the class this morning, its the first time in maybe 20 years that I've taught a lesson based on curriculum from Lifeway.  But The Gospel Project is new, and a refreshing approach to Sunday Bible Study literature, and I want to give it a chance.

One of the things I like about The Gospel Project (TGP) is that if features a study guide daily devotionals and readings for everyone, that complement the lessons.  If you don't have a daily Bible study, then consider purchasing or downloading the TGP for this quarter.  Whether you get the printed version ($3.95) or the digital download ($2.50) the price is modest and the quality of the writing seems to be high.

Here is the web link if you are interested:  http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-gospel-project-for-adults-personal-study-guide-volume-1-fall-2012-P005461524-2012-FAL?intcmp=iTeam1-MerchText-TGP-Adults-PersonalStudyGuide

You do not have to download or study anything, however.  That is entirely your option.  No homework is ever required on Sunday mornings.

An additional thought--if you get the study guide, you are going to find that their weeks and our weeks don't always match up.  TGP will be our study focus for a while, but I reserve the right to take a week away from it here and there to celebrate a mission trip, focus on a burning topic or simply follow the Lord's leading.  So forgive me up front if we don't always conform to the TGP timeline.

See you next week!

Bill

That’s Entertainment

It’s Saturday night; what to do with our time?

We have five hours to rest and unwind,

We need entertainment to lift up our spirits!

If you’ve got a suggestion, I’m ready to hear it.

Let’s see a movie!  What will it be?

Batman or Brave, Madagascar 3?

Widescreen or IMAX or maybe 3D?

Or stop by the Red Box for a DVD?

Or HBO, Cinemax, Starz or Showtime?

Or download from Netflix—it takes really no time.

On-Demand, Apple, Hulu or Vudu?

But get it in HD, no matter what you do.

We’ve seen all of these, let’s check out TV.

With 400 channels there’s something to see.

Click-No-Click-No-Click--who would-a thunk?

With 400 channels there’s nothing but junk?

We could play a game, on X-Box or Wii,

We’ve got PlayStation, Nintendo, Gaikai and PC.

That new fighting game cost us big bucks,

And we could try it out, but we lost the nunchucks.

We could listen to music on iPod or Zune,

On our wireless speakers that fill up the room!

We’ve got 10,000 songs that cost 99 cents.

If we start listening now we’ll be finished by Lent.

We’ve got videos, too, that cost 1-99,

And we’ve got quite a few, and we watched them one time,

We could stream them live to our Wi-Fi TV,

But I don’t know how; the TV’s smarter than me.

Let’s just relax and read a good book,

I’ve got all the best sellers on Kindle and Nook,

I’ve got some on iPad, some soft-back, some hard,

And enough magazines to cover the yard.

But first let’s check Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest,

There usually something there of great interest,

Like dancing Chihuahuas, or nice juicy tidbits,

About Obama, or Romney or some other nitwits.

Alas our beautiful evening has waned,

As we wondered how best to be entertained.

Reality strikes like a dissonant chord,

Too much entertainment makes us all too-much bored.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

We Serve First A King & A Kingdom

The city of Philippi was a city full of Roman loyalists.
It was set up by Augustus Caesar as a tax haven that
attracted lots of military veterans. It was a place where
Romans could own land and live an independent life
blessed by the protection of the most powerful political
power on earth. It was to these Romans and to
non-Romans there as well that Paul wrote:

     But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it
      we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
      who will transform our lowly body to be like
      his glorious body, the power that enables him
      even to subject all things to himself. (Phil.3:20)

Further, in Philippians 1:27, Paul uses an interesting
word—politeuesthe—from which we get our word
“politics.” The verse could be translated as “only
behave as citizensworthy of the gospel.” Why,
because our citizenship (politeuma) is in heaven.”

The kingdom of God is different than the kingdoms
or governments of men (as Jesus told Pilate in
John 18:36). We are citizens of God’s kingdom, while
also temporary residents of the USA. The Lord wants
us to be model citizens of both.

Be Subject To Governing Authorities

Following Christ and also living under the authority
of government can create natural tension. A sense
of rebellion can creep into our minds as we read
Romans 13:1-7, but we cannot ignore or reject its truth.
We are to be respectful to those who govern us and
obedient to government’s laws.

Read Romans 13:1-7 and consider the following questions:

• Who is to subject themselves to government?
• If we are citizens of heaven, why bother with governing authorities?
• What if we choose to disrespect governing authority?
• What is the purpose of a ruling government?
• What should our attitudes be toward taxes?
• What should our attitudes be toward leaders with whom we disagree?
• Are there ever times when we should oppose governing authorities?

Our behavior toward authority influences the way the
world thinks about Christianity. Rebellious Christians
clashing with government is a testimony that runs
counter to the Gospel. As Proverbs 24:21 says:

     My Son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not
     join with those who do otherwise.

We Must Obey God, But Make Sure God Is The One
We Are Obeying

It is very easy to confuse God’s agenda with a political
agenda. It is very easy to let righteous anger against a
political opponent become a substitute for genuine
righteousness before God. It is also easy to let loyalties
to a leader or a political party blind us to some of that
leader’s or party’s ungodly positions and actions.

Many seek the face of ruler,
but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.
(Proverbs 29:26)

In The Screwtape Letters, the wily Screwtape instructs
his demon nephew Wormwood to encourage his
targeted subject to confuse his religion and his politics.
Screwtape boasts:

     Provided that meetings, pamphlets, policies,
     movements, causes, and crusades, matter more
     to him than prayers and sacraments and charity,
     he is ours — and the more ‘religious’ (on those
     terms) the more securely ours. I could show you
     a pretty cage full down here.”
     The Screwtape Letters
     C.S. Lewis

Someday God’s kingdom and man’s kingdom will be
one and the same (Revelation 21:1-3) and God’s perfect
law will replace all imperfect ones (Hebrews 9:10-11).

Looking Ahead To Sunday

Lord willing, on Sunday we are going to explore biblical perspectives on government and politics.  That ought to be enough to get you juices flowing.

See you at 9:45 ... or 50 . . . or 55.

Bill

Bill's Glasses

For those of you who weren't here, we pulled a fast one on Bill on Sunday, June 10. Janice hid his normal reading glasses so the only ones he had available were the ones that click in the front - that we had made fun of in the past. We all had a pair of black glasses in our pockets and when he looked down, we all put them on in tribute to his glasses.

This was his reaction to the prank.

Video of Bill's Reaction

Sunday School - Baby Myles is here!

Baby Myles Cramer was born earlier today!! He

weighed 5 lbs 13 oz and is 18.5 inches long!

Allyson is at Erlanger East.   Praises, praises!!

Sunday School Praises / Prayer Requests

Good Monday morning!!

JOE & BROOKE SHAW - Please continue to pray for Brooke's sister,
Brandy Hullander, who is still in Erlanger Hutcheson. Brandy and her
family really cherish our prayers. She has been very ill for
several months. She is married and has two children.

WOODY & MARY MILLER - Woody's Dad will be coming home from Nashville
hospital on Wednesday. Please pray for proper care for him and for
healing.

TYRE & TRINA MATHIAS - Trina has epidural Wednesday. Please pray
for relief from back pain.

LARRY & HOLLY SWINEA - Holly's uncle, Alvin (wife, Janice), met with
a second oncologist Thursday. The tumor is agressive. Please pray
for tolerating the chemo which will prolong his life to one year and
for realizing end-of-life for both he and his wife.

MIKE & PAM OLDHAM - Praise for good report from Mike's medical test
this past week.

TOM & MACHELLE HALL - Daughter Anna's wedding is less than two
weeks away! Please pray for this special time in their family and
then Anna and Kevin's move to Texas for seminary!!


JUST GOT THIS NEWS!!! ALLYSON CRAMER IS IN PARKRIDGE EAST HAVING
BABY MYLES. They went in at 6:00 a.m. and the baby will be here soon!!

Great Time In Sunday School Today

Our class had an international flavor this morning. Ruthie Panni did
a wonderful job telling us about BBC's work--and the Lord's marvelous
provision--at a women's conference in Uganda. Visiting were Janet
and Teddy Batanghari from Jakarta Indonesia and Joy VanBuskirk from
Austrailia. Then to top it off Linda Wilson, visiting from
California, visited with us as well.

What a blessing to be reminded Jesus is Lord of all.

Prayer Requests - 7/3/2012

Good morning! We have two prayer requests:

WOODY & MARY MILLER -
My dad is not responding much to the most recent round of shock treatments. We are currently looking for options to bring him back home. My mom does not think he can live with her in his current state.

I have a friend, Michael Flavin, who lost his 5 month old son a couple of weeks ago. His son was born prematurely (26 weeks or so) but had been doing well (there was talk of him coming home from the hospital where he had been since his birth) until the very end when he just took a turn for the worst. The boy was their only child.

KEITH & ERIN GRAY - Please pray for job opportunities for Keith.
Thank you for your prayers!

Have a happy, safe Fourth of July!

Sunday School VBS Opportunity

Michelle Hill has an opportunity for us to help reduce the cost of VBS. If you would like to help, they need Capri Sun for snack time and can be left outside the children's office on the cart labeled VBS Supplies or bring to class next Sunday, July 15, and leave in our Sunday School room. Please bring only this brand.

Also, there is a collection place outside the children's office for crafts
and they are in need of:
Empty toilet paper rolls
Empty paper towel rolls
UNCRUSHED aluminum cans

The most important thing - please pray for VBS, each child and worker.

Thanks!!

Janice