LHIM Weekly Bible Teaching

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1. God’s Wisdom in Gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5.18; Ephesians 5.4; Colossians 3.15 God actually commands us to be thankful. God didn’t go on and on expounding all the benefits of gratitude; he just “do this”--that is--“be thankful.”

2. Thankful for the Basics

1 Timothy 6.6-8 We need to thank God for the basics. So long as we have food and clothing, let's be content.

3. Thankful for the Family of God

1 Corinthians 12.12-27 In the family of God we support one another, giving care to the member who is suffering and rejoicing alongside the one who is celebrating.

4. Thankful for God’s Attention

Matthew 10.29-31; 6.25-26 God’s so immense, intelligent, powerful. He even created the shovel snouted lizard, and yet he cares for each of us individually.

5. Thankful for the Cross

1 John 4.8-12; John 3.16; When you were lost without hope, without God, by nature following the course of this age, influenced by the prince of the power of the air, full of disobedience, living out the passions of your flesh, carrying out the desires of the body, by nature a child of wrath like the rest of humanity, then God showed us his love by sending his son.

1 Corinthians 11.23-28

God’s commandments are to be obeyed. A commandment is not a suggestion. Throughout the Scriptures, God told His people to obey His commandments.

Deuteronomy 27:10

You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.

A person is blessed when he obeys God’s commands.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2; Jeremiah 7:23

However, cursing will come upon a person who is disobedient. Deuteronomy 28:15

Samuel compared disobedience to the sin of divination or witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry.

1 Samuel 15:22-23a

Being subordinate to another, to be told to obey, is not vogue. It is not always looked on fondly in our society. Human beings are prone to rebellion of authority, rules, regulations, and ordinances. God’s people, the nation of Israel, often times rejected God’s commandments. Jeremiah 7:24-26

In the book of Hebrews, God calls this pattern of disobedience an “evil heart of unbelief.”

Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

However, in Scripture, when God gave commandment for His people, He never forced them to obey. Mankind has always had the free will to choose. Obedience to God’s commands is never to be burdensome, but rather the motivation for obedience should always be a response of love. The first great commandment is not to “obey,” but it is to “love.” Matthew 22:37-38

Jesus said, if we love him, we will keep his commandments. John 14:15, 21, 23-24

The way you show your love for another is not through vain words or self-centeredness, but rather loving actions of submission and obedience speak louder than anything you might say.

“Don’t tell me that you love me; show me.”

So, too, we express our love for God and for Jesus through loving obedience. 1 John 2:3-6

Do you find it difficult to obey God’s commands? Do you feel as though your Christian walk is draining, difficult, and burdensome? If so, your issue is not an obedience problem, but rather you have a love problem.

John 4:19

We love, because He first loved us.

Psalm 119 -- If you find it difficult to be obedient, try praying some of these prayers from the psalmist. Seek God, and ask Him to change your heart.

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Ten Ways We Know God Has Inspired the Scriptures

1. The Bible claims it (Matthew 1:22-23; Mark 12:36; Acts 1:16; 3:18; 4:25; 28:25-26; Hebrews 3:7; 10:15-17; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 1:1-2)

2. Predictive prophecy

3. Unflattering honesty

4. Health insights

5. Martyrdom

6. Archeology

7. Earmarks of eyewitnesses

8. Historicity of the resurrection

9. Incredible preservation

10. Changed lives

John 14:26, 15:26 The spirit bears witness about Jesus and brings to remembrance what he said.

Engaging the Bible’s Six Major Sections

Old Testament

1. History of Israel (Genesis-Esther): how God deals with His people (positive and negative examples), God’s just laws

2. Poetry (Job-Song of Solomon): prayer examples, wisdom, virtues, dealing with suffering, romance

3. Prophecy (Isaiah-Malachi): an insider look at how God feels about His people’s deeds as well as His future plans

New Testament

4. History of Jesus &Followers (Matthew-Acts): pay close attention to teachings and Jesus’ example, also disciples

5. Epistles (Romans-3 John): understand Christ’s accomplishments; think and behave as a believer in Christ.

6. Prophecy (Revelation): unveiling of heavenly realities, assessment of churches, encouragement, how this age ends and the next begins

Ways of Reading Scripture

1. From start to finish (discovery)

2. Studying a topic (Kingdom of God)

3. Going in depth in one book (Romans)

4. Meditation (Psalms/Proverbs)

5. Visualization (Gospels)

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Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus left Israel and traveled to a Gentile country. This is the only record of him leaving the country of Israel during his ministry. It is contrary to what he taught his disciples (Matthew 10:5-6). This woman was a Gentile (Mark 7:26). Why did Jesus travel here and heal this woman’s daughter when he knew that he “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel?”

Jesus was not doing his own work, but rather he was joining the Father doing His work (John 5:17, 30).

What is the work of God? John 6:29, John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Tim 2:4

The promise of salvation is to every person in the world. All men are invited to join into God’s plan of salvation (Romans 10:9). This is where it begins. The Love of God draws men to himself (Jer 31:3).

We now can join in the work of God, just as Jesus joined the Father’s work (John 17:18; Phil 2:13-16).

The love of Christ compels us to no longer live for ourselves, but rather to now live for him. John 14:21, 23; 15:9-10; 2 Cor 5:14-15; Gal 2:20

How do you recognize an invitation to join in God’s Work? John 5:19-20, 30; 15:5

Jesus watched and listened to understand where the Father was working.

John 4:3-42

Jesus observed what the Father was doing, and he joined in the Father’s work. “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest”.

Acts 17:14-34

Paul “observed” the city. His “spirit provoked” him, and he began speaking in the synagogue and in the marketplace “with those who happened to be present.” In the end of this record, one of those who believed was Dionysius “the Areopagite” (meaning he was a member of the court of the Aeropagus). Who set this up so that Paul could reach Dionysius?

Was this something Paul devised, or was this God at work in the city of Athens?

Paul simply joined in God’s work, as he observed the world around him and listened to the working of the spirit.

Acts 18:1-3

Paul’s ministry in Corinth began with Paul joining up with a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, because they were of the same trade. He worked with them.

Why do you live where you live and work where you work?

Do you believe that God had any influence on these areas of your life? If so, why?

Is it strictly for your benefit, or could it be part of God’s plan?

Open your eyes, and watch to see where you can join in His work.

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John 3:14 - 16: God so loved the world that He made a way through His Son Jesus that all mankind could be saved and live eternally.

Deut. 7:7 - 11: God so loved Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel and their descendants that He kept His promise and delivered the children of Israel out of their slavery in Egypt.

Exodus 34:6 - 7: He is THE loving God who is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger [patient], and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.” He keeps lovingkindness for thousands and forgives our iniquity, transgression, and sin.

Eph. 2:1 - 8: We all were dead in our trespasses and sins before we accepted Christ as our Savior. But, now God, who is “rich in mercy” and “because of His great love with which He loved us” has made us alive together with His Son Jesus and blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ!

He is THE loving God whose desire is that all mankind would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:1 - 7).

1 John 3:1 - 3: He is THE loving God!

1 John 4:7 - 19: He is THE loving God! He pursues a continuing love relationship that is real and personal with each of us because He LOVES us.

Luke 15:11 - 24 God works with us like the Father in this parable. YHWH loves us no matter what we have done or not done. He knows we are weak humans and that sometimes we drift away. But, He watches for us turn back to Him and welcomes us with arms open wide.

Yahweh loves us and pursues a continuing love relationship with each one of us!

How are we responding to His invitation?