Dennis R. Wiles

May 20, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to Work We Go!

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

We all should develop a Theology of Work.

One goal is Interdependent Independence.

Believers should be characterized by an excellent work ethic.

Workplace relationships matter!

Dennis R. Wiles

May 20, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to Work We Go!

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

We all should develop a Theology of Work.

One goal is Interdependent Independence.

Believers should be characterized by an excellent work ethic.

Workplace relationships matter!

Dennis R. Wiles

May 13, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

Meet the Parents

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Healthy people make great candidates to become healthy parents!

Your children should not have to act appropriately so that you can feel like a valuable person. It is not their job to validate you or erase past relationship indictments against you with their performance. In a healthy Christian family, children are not there for the adults, adults are there to be resources for their children.

-Jeff VanVonderen, Families Where Grace is in Place

Parents: Take responsibility and . . . Parent!

Parent every season of your child’s life.

Parent the “inside” of your child!

Dennis R. Wiles

May 13, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

Meet the Parents

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Healthy people make great candidates to become healthy parents!

Your children should not have to act appropriately so that you can feel like a valuable person. It is not their job to validate you or erase past relationship indictments against you with their performance. In a healthy Christian family, children are not there for the adults, adults are there to be resources for their children.

-Jeff VanVonderen, Families Where Grace is in Place

Parents: Take responsibility and . . . Parent!

Parent every season of your child’s life.

Parent the “inside” of your child!

Dennis R. Wiles

May 6, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

Here Comes the Bride

Ephesians 5:15-21

Relationships are painful. Relationships are wonderful. We all live in the drama that plays out between these two truths.

-Tom Holladay, The Relationship Principles of Jesus

GENESIS – This book sets the context for human existence in the presence of God.

Ephesians 5:15-21

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Here comes the Bride!

Christian marriages are contextualized by Christians living as . . . Christians!

Be filled with the Spirit of God!

Submission is one hallmark of a Christian marriage.

The covenantal relationship between Christ and His Church is at the heart of every Christian marriage.

Love and Respect are cornerstones for Christian marriages.

Dennis R. Wiles

May 6, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

Here Comes the Bride

Ephesians 5:15-21

Relationships are painful. Relationships are wonderful. We all live in the drama that plays out between these two truths.

-Tom Holladay, The Relationship Principles of Jesus

GENESIS – This book sets the context for human existence in the presence of God.

Ephesians 5:15-21

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Here comes the Bride!

Christian marriages are contextualized by Christians living as . . . Christians!

Be filled with the Spirit of God!

Submission is one hallmark of a Christian marriage.

The covenantal relationship between Christ and His Church is at the heart of every Christian marriage.

Love and Respect are cornerstones for Christian marriages.

Dennis R. Wiles

April 29, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

The Dating Game

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Finding Your Way in Relationships:

God

Family

Friends

Courtship

Marriage

Parenting

Work

Witness

GENESIS – This book sets the context for human existence in the presence of God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them

    and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.”

Therefore,

“Come out from them

    and be separate,

says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

    and I will receive you.”

And,

“I will be a Father to you,

    and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”

Should Christians only seriously date other Christians?

There may not be “only one person” for you --- but there are plenty of wrong people for you!

Dating serves several purposes:

Opportunity to engage in meaningful relating

Self-Discovery

Healthy development of natural attractions

Preparation for long-term commitment

Date like you live!

Dennis R. Wiles

April 29, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

The Dating Game

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Finding Your Way in Relationships:

God

Family

Friends

Courtship

Marriage

Parenting

Work

Witness

GENESIS – This book sets the context for human existence in the presence of God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them

    and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.”

Therefore,

“Come out from them

    and be separate,

says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

    and I will receive you.”

And,

“I will be a Father to you,

    and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”

Should Christians only seriously date other Christians?

There may not be “only one person” for you --- but there are plenty of wrong people for you!

Dating serves several purposes:

Opportunity to engage in meaningful relating

Self-Discovery

Healthy development of natural attractions

Preparation for long-term commitment

Date like you live!

Dennis R. Wiles

April 22, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

Friends are Friends Forever!

Proverbs 27:10

GENESIS – This book sets the context for human existence in the presence of God.

Proverbs 27:10

Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,

    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—

    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

We need companionship.

We need candor in friendships.

We need consistency in friendships.

We need counsel in friendships.

We need commonalities in our friendships.

We need Christ in our friendships!

Dennis R. Wiles

April 22, 2018

SPRING 2018

Finding Your Way . . . in Relationships

April 8 – June 2, 2018

Friends are Friends Forever!

Proverbs 27:10

GENESIS – This book sets the context for human existence in the presence of God.

Proverbs 27:10

Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,

    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—

    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

We need companionship.

We need candor in friendships.

We need consistency in friendships.

We need counsel in friendships.

We need commonalities in our friendships.

We need Christ in our friendships!