Crossroads Church of God, Lima OH

Scripture Used: Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 20:25-28,

Quote: Christianity has been used throughout history as an excuse for some of the most brutal, heartless, and senseless atrocities known to man.  The historical examples are not difficult to recall: the Crusades; the Inquisitions; the witch-burnings; the Holocaust … I did not see much in Christianity that I considered to be worth the having. (Schei, as quoted in Strobel, p. 195)

Notes:

• Problem of violence
  • Response: lament
• Problem of character flaws
  • Response: Saved by Grace
• Problem of fanatics
  •   Response: willing servants of God and others

Gifts Christianity has Provided

• Dignity
• Compassion
• Literacy

Scripture Used: Matthew 23:25-26, Mark 8:36, Romans 10:9, Psalm 51:10, Luke 9:23-25

Notes: Root cause of brokenness: sin
 - destroys us personally
 - destroys society as a whole 
The Solution
 - heart transformation 
 - salvation by grace

Scripture Used: Isaiah 55:8-9, John 1:18, Colossians 1:13, John 3:16, Romans 8:18

Making Sense of Suffering

∙ Evil is NOT evidence against God

  ∙ Limited vision

  ∙ Personal experience

∙ Christian Responses to Suffering

  ∙ God suffers with

  ∙ God will redeem all suffering

Scripture Used: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Quote: 
An authoritative Bible is not the enemy of a personal relationship with God.  It is the precondition for it. (Keller, Reason for God, p.114)

Notes:

1. Historic Accuracy
   1. Close Proximity
      1. Hundreds of Fragments
      2.  Naming Specific People
   2. Content is Counterproductive to be a legend
      1. Jesus’ “weakness”
      2.  ii.      Disciples’ thick-headedness
      3.   iii.      Women witnesses
2. Cultural Relevancy
   1. Historic Context
   2. Read the Bible in Proper Order
   3. Expect to be Confronted

Scripture Used: Colossians 1:15-16

Notes: Clues for God

• A beginning points to a beginner
• Fine-tuning points to a fine-tuner
• Beauty points to a divine artist
• Moral law points to a moral law giver
• God makes Himself knowable
  • Through Scripture
  • Through Jesus

Scripture: 1Corinthians 15:1-8, 17-19 NIV, John 1:11-13 NIV 

Notes: Reality of the Resurrection.

• Execution
• Early
• Empty Tomb
• Eye-Witness

Scripture: John 15:16, John 15:5, Colossians 3:17

Notes:

Characteristics of Fruitful Work

• No distinctions
• People over procedure
• Willingness to go the extra mile

Quotes:

To bear fruit and multiply… also mean[s] that we are meant to reproduce God’s goodness and blessing in our lives for the sake of the world. (Nilsen, p. 106)

God regards not the greatness of work, but the love with which it is performed. (Brother Lawrence)

We all know what it is like when we are dismissed or overlooked, when our worth is valued only for what we purchase or the potential gain we represent…

Conversely, we know what it is like when someone respects who we are, when we are treated with dignity. It makes all the difference.  (Nilsen, pp. 109-110).

In the end, God longs not simply for us to make a difference in the world but for the world to be different—more reflective of God’s nature and intent…  (Nilsen p. 111).

Two Questions:

• What are you doing to keep company with Jesus?
• How might your work reflect the characteristics of “fruitful” work?

Scripture Used: Genesis 2:18, 21-25, Psalm 133

Quotes

• “Perhaps most importantly, strong social relationships are the leading indicator of our overall happiness, and these findings appear to hold up across countries and cultures.” (Nilsen, p.95)
• Relationships can only deepen over time through ordinary interactions filled with spontaneous laughter and knowing tears, conversations about ordinary events and complicated events.  (Nilsen p. 97).

Notes: Hurdles to Relationships

• Time
• Fear
• Conflict

Practices

• Essential Life Questions
  • What keeps me from developing deeper relationships?
• Unhurried Night
• Pray for God’s Goodness

Scripture Used: Genesis 1:9, 20, 24-25, 28, 31

Quotes:
"The natural world is a virtual classroom with the creator God as its primary teacher." (Nilsen, p.82)

"We exercise dominion over the creation as Jesus exercises dominion over our lives – through servant love." (Nilsen, p.87)

Essential Life Question: How can we honor God and our interconnectedness to the created world by the choices we make?

Practice:

• Notice
• Notice what you Notice

Kids Ecology Game: https://unctv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/plum14.sci.life.feeddingo/feed-the-dingo-an-ecosystem-game/

Adult Ecology Lab: https://www.learner.org/wp-content/interactive/envsci/ecology/ecology.html