Faith

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Used, Abused, Abandoned but Not Forgotten

Hagar

Genesis 16:3-13

Used/Despising

Genesis 16:4 NLT

“So, Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar

knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.”

Abused - Mistreatment

Genesis 16:6 NLT

“Abram replied, ‘Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.’”

Abandoned

In light of the contempt, Sarai gets sick of it. Abram gets sick of hearing about it, and the

thing continues to be a big mess. Abram says to Sarai… “Do as you see fit,” in essence

washing his hands of the story. Hagar now gets shipped off to the wilderness with very

limited resource.

But Not Forgotten

·     God heard the boy crying and heard Hagar’s affliction and her pain.

·     God is near to the brokenhearted and comes close to those who are crushed in spirit.

·     God provides and promises to bless Ishmael and his inheritance

Tamar

Genesis 38:6-30

Used/Abused

Wicked husbands - Second son, particularly… wants the sex but not the responsibility

Abandoned

Sent away from the household of Judah to her own parents’ house under the ruse of waiting for the third son, which Judah had no intention of giving. Tamar has a ‘black-widow’ label attached to her. She has become the one at fault… not the evil brothers.

·     Tamar is put on parade in front of the people and about to be burned for her ‘sin’. Alone…

But Not Forgotten

She is named in the lineage of Jesus…

Out of the scandal and mess of Judah’s life comes the reminder that in God’s time, he will work his purposes.... Who would have thought that from the union of Judah and Tamar, we would have the line of Jesus… God is out to redeem lives, not just condemn lives!

Joseph

Genesis 37:1-36, 39:1-50:26

USED

Interpreted dreams and immediately forgotten

Abused

Stripped of his Robe, his reminder that he was loved

·     Thrown in a pit

·     Sold to the Ishmaelite traders

·     Sold as a slave in Egypt

Abandoned

·     Joseph is falsely accused of attempted rape by Potiphar’s wife after he refused to sin against God.

·     Based on these lies, his master abandoned him to a royal prison.

·     Forgotten by Others: Even after helping the cupbearer in prison, he was forgotten for years. 

But Not Forgotten

·     The phrase "The Lord was with Joseph” appears repeatedly in Genesis 39, highlighting God's constant companionship even in the pit and the prison.

·     God granted Joseph favor with his captors and success in his tasks, even in slavery and prison.

·     There is Purpose in Pain: God used these trials to build Joseph's character and prepare him for his future role in saving Egypt and his family from famine, demonstrating that what was intended for harm, God used for good. 

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Faith to Start Walking & the Faith to Keep Walking

Genesis 12:1-3,7 (NIV)

The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”

Fear and doubt are very real enemies.

Time can become a very real enemy.

Romans 4:16-25 (NIV)

“Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring---not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed---the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were… Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead---since he was about a hundred years old---and that Sarah's womb was also dead.

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness---for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

God Who Calls and Leads

God Who Provides

God Who is All Sufficient

God Who is Our Refuge and Strength

God Who is a Good Father

God Who Knows No Shadow of Turning

God Who Knows Us by Name and Calls Us by Name

God Who is Always Faithful

God Who is the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever

God Almighty

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Introduction to the Bible

Translation Philosophies of Different Bibles

Formal

Functional

Dynamic

Paraphrase

Formal Translation - The motto for this is “as literal as possible, as free as necessary.”

·  There is usually some indication of the form/structure of the underlying Hebrew and Greek.

·  Keeps Hebrew/Greek metaphors and idioms intact, which means even if the saying is dead or non-relevant, it will stay as is.

Examples: KJV, NKJV, ESV

Functional - The motto here is “translate the meaning.”

·  The focus is to get to the meaning of the text, which means it will naturally step closer to interpretation of unclear passages.

·  It’s usually easier to read and follow.

·  It captures thoughts and phrases in a more concise way.

Examples: NIV, CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

Dynamic - The motto is “translate for readability and accessibility.”

·  It is highly readable.

·  Modernizes dead metaphors and idioms so we can try to understand what they actually mean.

·  It is more theologically accessible.

·  A step further into interpretation.

Examples: NLT, Amplified

Paraphrase

·  A Retelling: It's a retelling of the biblical message from a modern perspective, not a literal rendering

·  Easy to Read: Designed for accessibility, it reads at a much lower grade level, making it popular for first-time Bible readers.

·  Interpretive: It offers an interpretation of the text, which can differ from other versions.

·  Good for Overview: Useful for getting a feel for familiar passages in a fresh way. 

Examples: Message, Passion

The Layout of the Bible - Old Testament

·  The Bible is the historical account of God’s creation, pursuit of, and engagement with mankind through a specific lineage.

·  The traditional layout has books of the Bible in groupings by type of literature.

·  Historical, Law, Wisdom/Poetic, Prophetic

·  The Chronological version puts it in the order of events and God’s interaction and man’s response throughout the historical narrative.

no notes

Advent // Love

John 3:16-17 (NIV)

“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Love That Was Given for The Liberty of The Human Heart.

What A Gift That Comes with God’s Love!! … No Condemnation

John 3:18-22 (ESV)

“…But whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

But We Weren’t Designed to Live in Darkness

Love is The Longing of The Human Heart

Of every individual…

We are created first and foremost to know the love of God…

But mankind has chosen differently from God’s desire and design…

John 1:11-12 (NIV)

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

John 3:16 (NIV)

“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.”

We see this about God’s love…

SO LOVED - His love is INTENSE

HE GAVE - His love is GENEROUS

HIS ONE AND ONLY SON - His love is INTENTIONAL

WHOSOEVER - His love is INCLUSIVE

WOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE - His love is GRACIOUS

His love is Intense, Generous, Intentional, Inclusive, and Gracious

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NLT)

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-9 (NLT)

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us…

For once, you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.”

This Christmas, May We Again Experience The: 

Intense… Generous… Intentional… Inclusive… And Gracious… Love of God

May We Love as We Have Been Loved

May The Light of Love Illuminate Our Hearts and Shape the Way We Live 

May We Live and Love with Intentionality

May Our Lives Be the Light in a Darkening World, The Warmth of a Fire in a World That Grows Colder…

May We Neither Live nor Love in Vain…

Advent // Joy

The word for Joy is the Greek word “Chara - Khar-ah,” meaning calm delight or cheerfulness, or “Chairo - Khah-ee-ro,” meaning to be calmly happy or well-off.

Philippians 4:4 (KJV)

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice."

Matthew 2:1-18 (NLT)

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.’ King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, ‘Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?’ ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they said, ‘for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, ‘Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!’ After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,’ the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: ‘I called my Son out of Egypt.’ Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: a cry was heard in Ramah—weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.” 

On a day when we announce good news of great joy. It doesn’t sound very joyful…

It is because of the Nature of this Joy.

This is a Joy that is Stronger and Deeper than our Sorrows; 

A Joy that Cannot be Quenched by the Tragedies of Life; 

A Joy that can Sustain those who Suffer Great Loss.

A Joy that Shines in the Darkness...

Whatever the circumstances of our world and our lives, the message given to Joseph by the angel is true, and it’s a message of joy—“Give him the name Jesus, because He will save His People from Their sins.”

The Joy of Christmas is not just the Joy of personal salvation; it’s the Joy of being part of something bigger, grander, and greater—it’s the Joy of being able to participate in and cooperate with Christ in the coming and establishing of God’s kingdom. 

It’s in our coming together, it’s in our unity of heart and purpose, it’s in our giving and serving, it’s in our intentionality in the midst of our community.

It’s the Joy of living out of all that we are blessed with to be a blessing to others.

It’s the Joy of being a participant in the message of salvation to the world.

Joy to the World

Advent // Peace

Our Whole Existence is Ravaged by Conflict

It's in Our World...

It's in Our Nations...

It's in Our Cities...

It's in Our Communities...

It's in Our Homes...

It's in Our Hearts and Our Minds...

Peace Means So Many Different Things to Different People

Peace May Be Ease from Conflict...

Peace May Be Ease from Noise...

Peace May Be Ease from Torment...

Peace May Be Ease from Busyness...

Peace May Be Ease from Pain...

For Some People It May Be Found in A Treaty…

For Some It May Be Found in a Place…

For Some It May Be Found in An Embrace…

For Some It Is Found in a Symbol…

For Some It Is Found in Solace…

For Some It Is Found in A Smile…

Some Think It Is Accomplished by Negotiation...

Some Think It Is Accomplished by Meditation...

Some Think It Is Accomplished by Separation...

Some Think It Is Accomplished by Location...

Some Think It Is Accomplished by Reconciliation...

Some Think It Is Accomplished by Medication...

But for Most of Our World it Remains an Elusive State of Being...

God Has Come, and He Has Provided a Lasting Peace for Us! Not Just a Fleeting Moment or an Elusive Dream...

Romans 5:1 (NIV)

“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God Loved Us So Much that He Sent His Son to Redeem Mankind and Restore Our Peace with Him. 

Judges 6:23-24 (NIV)

“But the Lord said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’ So, Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

Advent // Faith and Hope

Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Faith in Greek = Pistis

Conviction (sure confidence and fervor) of the truth

Hope in Greek =Elpis

Joyful and confident expectation of good

Counterfeit Aims of Hope

Hebrews 13:14 (ESV)

“For here, we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”

Past Hope Fulfilled in Christ

1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000 Chance

Future Hope, Found in Christ

Hebrews 11:1-2 (MSG)

“The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.”

Online notes only, NO slide

Jesus Promised:

John 14:3 - He is coming back

John 14:2 - He is preparing a place for us

John 6:39 - He’ll raise the dead

Matthew 28:20 - He’ll always be with us

Acts 1:8 - He’ll fill us with power from the Holy Spirit

Matthew 16:27 - He’ll judge all people

Matthew 5:12 - He’ll reward the faithful

John 14:19 - We will live forever, because he lives forever

Matthew 16:18 - He’ll keep building his church, and hell won’t be able to prevail against it

Matthew 19:28 - He’ll make all things new

Matthew 24:14 - His gospel will be preached to the whole world, and then the end will come

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”

Gratitude Week 4 // Gratitude is a Choice

Gratitude is a Choice

Gratitude is a Disposition

Romans 1:20-22 (NIV)

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.”

2 Corinthians 4:4, 6-11, 16-18 (NIV)

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body… Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Gratitude Doesn’t Depend on Circumstances, but it Determines How We See Circumstances…

Psalm 136 (NIV)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever.

who by his understanding made the heavens,

His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth upon the waters,

His love endures forever.

who made the great lights—

His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day,

His love endures forever.the moon and stars to govern the night;

His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt

His love endures forever.

and brought Israel out from among them

His love endures forever.

with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

His love endures forever.

to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder

His love endures forever.

and brought Israel through the midst of it,

His love endures forever.

but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;

His love endures forever.

to him who led his people through the wilderness;

His love endures forever.

to him who struck down great kings,

His love endures forever.

and killed mighty kings—

His love endures forever.

Sihon king of the Amorites

His love endures forever.

and Og king of Bashan—

His love endures forever.

and gave their land as an inheritance,

His love endures forever.

an inheritance to his servant Israel.

His love endures forever.

He remembered us in our low estate

His love endures forever.

and freed us from our enemies.

His love endures forever.

He gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His love endures forever.

It Starts as a Practice, that Becomes a Discipline, that Becomes a Lifestyle.

Gratitude Week 3 // A Lifestyle of Gratitude

Hebrews 12:28

NIV

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…”

AMP

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe…”

KJV

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear…”

Greek Word “Charis” - A Manner of… A Lifestyle of… or A State of… according to the divine influence on the heart and its reflection in the life…

The word most often used for Thankfulness is “Eucharistio” - A word or an action of thankfulness…

Luke 17:11-19 (NLT)

“As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God!’ He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And Jesus said to the man, ‘Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.’”

The Way We Respond is the Difference Between “Thanks for the Blessing” and “I Owe You My Everything”.