New Life UMC

There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.Galations 3:28 (CEB)

If I took you to court, Lord, you would win.But I still have questions about your justice. Why do guilty persons enjoy success? Why are evildoers so happy?Jeremiah 12:1 (CEB)

These things happened to them as an example and were written as a warning for us to whom the end of time has come.1 Corinthians 10:11 (CEB)

24 Everyone at the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, so every able-bodied male in the city was circumcised.26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took Dinah from Shechem’s household, and left.Genesis 34:24,26 (CEB)

6 When they arrived, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, That must be the Lord’s anointed right in front.7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God[a] doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.”8 Next Jesse called for Abinadab, who presented himself to Samuel, but he said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” 9 So Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “No, the Lord hasn’t chosen this one.” 10 Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t picked any of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Is that all of your boys?”“There is still the youngest one,” Jesse answered, “but he’s out keeping the sheep.”“Send for him,” Samuel told Jesse, “because we can’t proceed until he gets here.”[b]12 So Jesse sent and brought him in. He was reddish brown, had beautiful eyes, and was good-looking. The Lord said, “That’s the one. Go anoint him.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there in front of his brothers. The Lord’s spirit came over David from that point forward.Then Samuel left and went to Ramah.1 Samual 16:6-13 (CEB)

How Rehoboam lost the kingdom12 Rehoboam went to Shechem where all Israel had come to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, heard the news, he returned from Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon. 3 The people sent and called for Jeroboam, who along with the entire Israelite assembly went and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our workload[a] very hard for us. If you will lessen the demands your father made of us and lighten the heavy workload he demanded from us, then we will serve you.”5 He answered them, “Come back in three days.” So the people left.6 King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon when he was alive. “What do you advise?” Rehoboam asked. “How should I respond to these people?”7 “If you will be a servant to this people by answering them and speaking good words today,” they replied, “then they will be your servants forever.”8 But Rehoboam ignored the advice the elders gave him and instead sought the counsel of the young advisors who had grown up with him and now served him. 9 “What do you advise?” he asked them. “How should we respond to these people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the workload your father demanded of us’?”10 The young people who had grown up with him said to him, “This people said to you, ‘Your father made our workload heavy; lighten it for us!’ Now this is what you should say to them: ‘My baby finger[b] is thicker than my father’s entire waist! 11 So if my father made your workload heavy, I’ll make it even heavier! If my father disciplined you with whips, I’ll do it with scorpions!’”12 Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had specified when he said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king then answered the people harshly. He ignored the elders’ advice 14 and instead followed the young people’s advice. He said, “My father made your workload heavy, but I’ll make it even heavier! My father disciplined you with whips, but I’ll do it with scorpions!” 1 Kings 12:1-14 (CEB)

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.1 Timothy 4:14-15