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Hello girls,
In two weeks we will be finishing up the book of John, and are looking forward to our next study. We’re considering using a book and study guide for our next course. If anyone has any suggestions about studies geared toward women that we could look at, please let me know. This is your Bible study, and we love to have your input. This week we will read John 19-20, the story of the Son of God willingly laying down His life for us.
John 17:3 is one of my favorite verses. It gets right to the point, and presents the Gospel in just a few words: “And this is eternal life, that they know YOU, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (ESV). Life can only really be lived if you are in fellowship with God “who created us for Himself, so that our soul is restless unless it finds its rest in Him” (Augustine). Life doesn’t come from an intellectual knowledge of the great I AM, but involves our affections and a commitment to be bound to pleasing Him. Jesus also clears up any mystery about who He is in this verse—He is as much the source of life as God the Father, and so He affirms His deity. As He comes to the end of His earthly life He once again gives His disciples the assurance that He is the Messiah through this prayer.
Notice in verse 9 that Jesus is very specific as to whom He is praying for: “I am not praying for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours” (ESV). Although God in His nature is good and kind to everyone, this prayer reveals that Jesus is specifically thinking of those for whom He is about to die. His people are never out of His mind or His care.
What was Jesus’ greatest concern for the people He was leaving behind? Verses 15-17 contain the answer. As He prayed in the “Lord’s Prayer,” He also prays here that we would be delivered from evil. He could have asked that we would avoid suffering or sorrow, but He didn’t. Instead He was watching for our very souls--that we would not fall prey to Satan, who desires to destroy us. He knew the pain in this world would be nothing compared to the moral corruption that could overwhelm us and draw us away from Him—the source of life. While He was here He had “kept them,” and “guarded them,” and “not one of them has been lost” (verse 12). Now His love for His children caused Him to cry out to the Father that He would give them this same care as Jesus left the earth.
The remaining verses of this chapter continue to tell of the loving relationship between the Father and the Son. Jesus also wants the redeemed to understand that the Father loves them just like He loves His Son (verse 23). In His last appeal to the Father in verse 26 He expresses the desire that the Father, the Son, and the redeemed would all be unified, and that the love would be passed down this chain forever. Throughout the book we have seen this same humility and servanthood from Jesus. His short life here was completely bound up in serving the Father and giving Himself body and spirit to His followers. His shoes are too big for us to fill, but we can all be “little Christs,” as the first Christians were called. As imperfect as our reflection of Him is, He still chose us to have a part in His kingdom here.
“Lord, I declare that your Word never returns empty and that You have set my heart on eternal things. I am so honored that You have given me Your Holy Spirit and made me the woman I am. Because Your love has been shed abroad in my heart, I choose to walk in love and faithfulness every day of my life.”
--Simple Prayers For Women
Love,
Alice
10/19/09
Hello Everyone,
We enjoyed our ladies’ meeting yesterday afternoon, and I know that I personally went away strengthened and encouraged by our discussion. It is so good to have fellowship with my sisters who love the Lord.
The first topic we discussed was John 15, and we talked about the fact that we were all branches getting together to draw sustenance from the Vine. Jeannie gave me some great information on this subject, and I’ll pull some excerpts from it:
When we are grafted into the Vine by the new birth, we receive a new nature--the divine nature. As a result, the life of Jesus flows through us and the new branch bears the fruit of the Vine. You can see in these verses God’s expectations that we are to bear fruit. There is a progression from “no fruit” to “fruit” to “more fruit” and “much fruit.” It seems as though God wants His children to always be growing in fruit bearing.
When we speak of bearing fruit, what do we mean? How do we know if we are producing fruit? There are three basic fruits the Lord bears in the lives of His children:
1. Sanctification: We become more like Him—Rom. 6:22, Phil. 1:11, Col. 1:10
2. Spirituality: We behave more like Him—Gal 5:22-23.
3. Souls: We are burdened like Him—Rom 1:13.
When we think about fruit-bearing, we draw back, thinking that it is hard and that we can’t do it. Some think that fruit-bearing is for “super saints,” but bearing fruit is one of the simplest things of all. To do it only requires one thing—to abide in Him. The only thing God requires is for the branches to rest in Him and to draw their life strength from Him. If this happens, fruit will always be the result. Have you ever seen a fruit tree or a vine struggling to bring forth fruit? No, the branches just naturally yield themselves to the will of the vine, and fruit happens! (A new Christian bumper sticker?)
How do I abide in Christ? You must first be “in” Him through salvation, and then you abide through prayer, study of the Word, and meditation upon Him and His Word. You must draw your life from Him, surrender to Him in praise and worship—coming to the end of yourself. Abiding in Jesus is not difficult, but it is costly. It means total surrender to His will.
The quality of the fruit is not my responsibility. I am simply to abide and He will bring the kind of fruit through me that pleases Him. The quantity of that fruit is not my responsibility. When I abide in Him He will produce the quantity of fruit from my life that pleases Him.
There are times in our lives when there must be pruning: He lifts our branch up from the dirt in order to cleanse it and make it productive again. When we are not abiding in Him we become barren and unfruitful. He loves us too much to allow us to stay in this state. He will disturb our slumber and lift us up and cut us back, sometimes through rebuke and chastising, in order to challenge us to growth. Pruning sounds like a painful thing, but it always brings us to a place of joy.
Another chapter we focused on was chapter 9 and the healing of the blind man—I entitled it “Sin, Suffering, and Snobbery.” As I was reading the first verses of this chapter, the contrasts really shone out. We first see the disciples asking Jesus a point of theology—who sinned, this man or his parents? Instead of viewing him as a man full of suffering who was in need of help, they treated him as if he were a germ under a microscope. There appears to be some superiority on their part—they saw his sickness and assumed he or his family was sinful. Apparently they had conveniently forgotten their own sinful nature.
It is always easier to look at and point out someone else’s sin. I tend to excuse myself when things go wrong in my life, but look at the lives of others and judge them for their problems. But with a knowledge of God’s grace and a heart of true repentance, the opposite becomes true. I will begin to deal more sternly with myself, and look at others in a more positive light—esteeming them better than myself. The Pharisees were lost in pride and religiosity—they had a very low opinion of the blind man because in verse 34 they answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” What snobbery! (I wonder what their thoughts were about themselves when they experienced sickness or affliction? I’m sure they had a convenient “out” for themselves.)
What a contrast to Jesus! He was only walking by, but stopped and addressed the difficulties the blind man was going through. In chapter 8:12 He had announced, “I am the Light of the world.” Here was someone who definitely needed the Light, both physically and spiritually, and Jesus gave it to him. Jesus was the only one in the scenario who genuinely seemed to care about the blind man. God had shown His love and been glorified in him through his suffering, and now He was showing His love and being glorified in him through alleviating his suffering. By contrast the Pharisees only added to the blind man’s problems—they intimidated the blind man’s parents with excommunication, and in verse 34 actually threw the blind man from the church! (I don’t think he really minded—he was too busy worshipping Jesus (verse 38).
God showed His love to the blind man’s humble heart, but He will resist the proud. I was listening to Joni Eareckson Tada speak Saturday night. She is the quadriplegic that God has used so greatly to minister to handicapped people, as well as to many others. Her definition of pride is “self-resourcefulness.” Self-resourcefulness is when you get up in the morning, throw back the covers, shower, give God a speedy tip of the hat, and rush out the door on cruise control (Ouch!). Joni doesn’t have this option, since she cannot move out of the bed until someone else moves her. After her husband leaves at 6:00 a.m. she waits for one of her friends to arrive to get her up and going. She says that about 75% of the time she is laying there thinking that she is tired of being paralyzed, that she just can’t do this today, and praying that God will give her a smile to give to her caregiver.
Joni’s suffering has caused her to lean harder on God, and in so leaning she has learned just how strong God is. She is humbled by His greatness. She rejoices in the fact that her suffering has given her the opportunity to showcase God to the world. She knows the reality of II Cor. 6:9, 10: “We are treated as imposters, yet are true, as unknown, yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything (ESV). The blind man in John 9 recognized his weakness through his suffering, and as a result avoided the death sentence of pride given to the Pharisees. He received the blessing—he had nothing, yet he possessed everything.
I will leave you with one more story from Joni. On a trip to Ghana, West Africa, she came to know many who suffered, and the path it led them to. Her host took her to an open-air marketplace at the end of the day. After all of the sellers had left, she watched as out of the alleys came the disabled, the helpless. It was their turn—they began to pick up the fruit, vegetables, and other leavings from the dirty ground in order to have something to eat. She met a 17-year-old young Christian woman and visited her under the tarp where she lived. The young woman was stricken with polio, and had legs as thin as sticks. This young woman invited Joni to come to a street meeting at the corner under a neon sign. People began to gather, and they had a rousing worship service, with exuberant singing, clapping, and dancing. The young woman told her, “Jesus is bigger here, because we need Him more.” They were truly offering up a sacrifice of praise to their Lord.
I hope I will learn from these lessons—to abide in Christ; not to judge those who are suffering; to rejoice in my suffering because it keeps me from pride; and to realize that suffering helps me to see a bigger God.
If any of you would like to watch Joni’s video, you can go to www.ligonier.org and click on “Renewing Your Mind Broadcast.” Look under “Today’s Video” and click on “A Bruised Reed.” I can promise you will be stirred and challenged by it.
This week we will begin reading chapters 17 and 18 of John and searching out all of the treasures here. Happy hunting!
Love,
Alice
10/12/09
Hi ladies,
Our reading this week will be John 15 and 16. Here in chapter 15 we find the last “I am” in this book. Christ is the “true vine” (He is no counterfeit), and we, His people, are the branches. Life flows from the Vine into the branches and causes us to grow and produce fruit. Our union with Christ is a living one. A branch on a vine must have a constant flow of water (hydrogen and oxygen) and mineral nutrients derived from the soil in order to survive. The branch will grow the best when that connection to the vine is the strongest, and so is able to receive the highest possible amounts of essential nutrients. It is only through our obedience to Christ and our steady relationship with Him that we can be fed and grow into the branch that He desires us to be. It is an honor to be unified with Christ in this relationship where He gives us all we need to survive and flourish.
In the Vine we also have unity with one another. We are all weak and unable to stand alone, but Christ is the strong root that holds us up together. Though we live at different times and places, we as Christians are all a part of Him, and so become a part of each other. Because a vine is the most healthy when all of the branches are healthy, we see how our spiritual growth and maturity affects every other branch. I’m reminded again through this analogy of the two commandments we founded our Bible study on: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…..You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12: 30, 31 ESV). With a dependence upon God and a love for each other, we can produce fruit that will cause the world to take notice.
This is a good time to ask ourselves “what is my vine?” Up until recently, we’ve experienced a period of prosperity here in America. Many people were able to achieve great success and financial gain. Our possessions and standard of living became things of great importance. We can also have connections to education, popularity, skills, or our relationship with other people. It’s possible to have an attachment to the church instead of the living God. How many things do I attach myself to for my well-being? I know it is very easy in my own life to begin to substitute other things for my relationship with Christ. Worst of all, I tend to trust in myself to get me through the day (even though I know how that always turns out!). Christ is the Vine that will never die—He is the kind of vine I want to be attached to.
These verses also bring to mind one of the reasons I wanted to have a ladies’ Bible study: I wanted to stir myself to spend more time in communion with God, and to have somewhere to discuss the scriptures and to be strengthened and encouraged by what others had to share. Our meetings are not meant to be a Bible study with one person teaching, but rather a time of fellowship and sharing as Christian women. We are all learners, and all of us branches have nutrients to share with one another. Next Sunday, October 18, at 4:30 we will have our next Women of Heart meeting. Please come with your gleanings from these chapters in John and be a blessing to all of us.
Looking forward to seeing you there--
Love,
Alice
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying your study of the book of John. This week we will read chapters 13 and 14. Don’t forget to be pulling out a section—whether it is a word, phrase, verse, topic, etc. to do a study on so that you can share it at our next Women of Heart meeting on October 18.
Chapter 13 again begins with a theme familiar in the book of John—the love and humility of Jesus. The first verse gives a foreshadowing of His death, but even though He is leaving He reminds us of His relationship to us. “And as He hath loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree” (Ampl). This love is illustrated to the disciples in the moving scene of the foot washing He performed.
We don’t see any exclusion here of Judas—Jesus apparently washed the feet of the one that He already knew would betray him. We know that in His humanity He was troubled by Judas’ defection (v. 21). How could He not feel the pain of it when He had spent so much time in fellowship and ministry with Judas? Yet He washed the man’s feet. He also washed the feet of Peter, who would soon completely deny any relationship with Jesus. Instead of asking for homage from those around Him as He faced His final hour, He gave Himself to the drudgery that the lowest servant should have performed.
Once again we see the beauty of the divinity and humanity of Christ, and are reminded that although God is almighty and holy, He also condescends to us—even while we are sinners. Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus says the high and lofty One—He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin]” (Ampl). Only after Jesus was gone did the disciples really understand His humility and sacrifice for their sakes.
Here is the pattern for us: instead of desiring to dominate, we must be eager to serve. Where there is arrogance there cannot be true ministry. In John 14 Jesus goes on to prepare His disciples for His death. Although He is facing excruciating pain and suffering, His thoughts are on His people: “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Rather than looking to His own needs, He longed to reassure his disciples and convey peace to them. Even though they were weak and defective, dull and forgetful, Jesus never stopped giving Himself for them. What a wonderful example! What a wonderful Savior!
To help you with your study this week, read I Peter 5:1-7 and write down the things that Peter learned from Christ’s example. Also journal the following:
1. What reassurances did Jesus give in John 14:1 to keep his disciples from being afraid?
2. Cite the verses in Chapter 14 in which Jesus promises his disciples that He will be reunited with them.
O, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!
Love,
Alice
9/28/09
Hello ladies,
Our reading this week will continue in the book of John—chapters 11 and 12. Chapter 11, of course, contains a story of love and hope that can never fail to stir every Christian—the story of Lazarus.
Early on in the chapter, in verse 3, we see the parallel with the blind man of chapter 9: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” This event is recorded by no one in the Bible except John, and gives us not only a picture of our own salvation, but of the coming death and resurrection of Christ.
Mary and Martha’s message to Jesus appeals to His obvious affection for Lazarus. “Lord, he whom You love is ill (ESV).” They did not say “he whom we love”, but “whom You love.” They did not say “he that loves You”, but “whom You love.” Our love of God is not worth even speaking of, but His to us can never be spoken about enough. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us” (I John 4:10). We can have great hope when we pray for those who Christ loves.
We know Lazarus’ afflictions were designed for God’s glory, and so that everyone would see the favor that God had for him. In our own lives the mercies of God are sweeter and have the most effect on us when our troubles are the hardest. On the darkest day the world has ever known, God gave up His Son to die. The earth protested violently, and it seemed to the disciples that all was lost. Yet this was the occasion for the greatest blessing the world has ever known—that through His death the Lord Jesus Christ would give us life forever.
Have you ever known God to do anything in the “usual” way? It seems to me that God works mostly in “unusual” ways. His creativity in problem solving exceeds anything our puny brains could devise. Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death and his illness, yet He chose a more innovative way to show His love. Verses 5 and 6 say: “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was” (ESV). WHAT???? The reason He lingered was because He loved them! He designed to do something “over the top,” something great and extraordinary that He had not done for anyone else. God has gracious intentions in our own lives in things that seem like delays to us. (Preaching to myself here).
When Jesus knew that Mary and Martha were in their last extremity, when they thought all hope was gone, He said “NOW let us go to Judea.” Ezekiel 37:11, 13: “…they say ‘our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off’…And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves…” (ESV). In the depths of affliction, God help us to remember that our extremity is Your opportunity to show Your love for us.
I’ve attached a poem written by Russell Kelfer that I’ve read hundreds of times, since it seems that a great deal of my life has been spent in waiting on God in so many situations. I hope it will encourage you this week to remember that God is doing great things in your life as you are waiting on Him.
Love,
Alice
9/22/09
Hello everyone,
Our Women of Heart meeting on Sunday was very enjoyable as we discussed John 1-8. We began by talking about the necessity of studying and knowing the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, but at the same time avoiding the attitudes of the Pharisees that we see in these chapters. We do not want knowledge itself to become more important than the Giver of knowledge. Knowing Christ more fully should not result in building up a barrier that separates us in arrogance from others, but should instead turn us into conduits which are hungry to share the Word with those who don’t know Him.
Two of the basic doctrines we see in the opening chapters of John are:
(1) The Trinity and
(2) The Incarnation.
(1) The Trinity—We know that three physical people cannot be the same person, but it is not the same with God. How do we know this? The Bible does not teach polytheism—which says there are three separate Gods. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord” emphatically states that there is only one God (Deut. 6:4). It stresses unity while recognizing diversity with that oneness. This same Hebrew word for “one,” “echad,” was also used in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one (echad) flesh.” Exodus 24:3 states “All the people answered with one (echad) voice, and said, All the words which the Lord said we will do.” A multitude replied with one voice. The word “echad” allows for plurality with oneness.
There is another Hebrew word for “one” which is “yahad.” This word is always singular and can only mean one—its use allows no plurality. God could have used this word in Deut. 6:4, but chose “echad” instead, which allows the concept of God eing one God who is in essence three individual Persons.
(2) The Incarnation—Philippians 2:6-8: “Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Christ is one person with two natures—two sets of capacities for experience, expression, and action. He is all God and all man—without confusion or mixture. John 1:1, 2 makes it clear that Jesus, the Word, existed in the beginning with God—therefore He WAS God before He was incarnated in the flesh. If Jesus was not God and not perfect, He could not have been an offering that could atone for sin.
This week we will be reading John 9 and 10. Chapter 9 is the story of the healing of the blind man:
(1) What statement did Jesus make in chapter 8 that is significant to this healing in chapter 9?
(2) Read the following passages and give your conclusions about sin and its relationship to suffering or sickness: Numbers 12, Job 2, Mark 2:1-5, John 5:1-14, I Cor. 11:23-30, II Cor. 12:7, Gal. 4:13, and James 5:14-15.
(3) List the verses in chapter the 9 that show the progressive journey of faith made by the blind man.
Chapter 10: (1) What are the two “I ams” given in this chapter?
(2) List the benefits in verses 7-13 that Jesus offers to us.
(3) Once again in verse 24 the Jews bring a charge against Jesus.
What was it and how many times can you find in chapters 1-8 that Jesus had already answered it? In keeping with the theme of the book of John, the prayer emphasis at our meeting was on the salvation of our friends, family, and our community.
Here is an excerpt from the book “What’s So Great About the Doctrines of Grace?” by Richard D. Phillips to remind us of how precious our salvation is: “…..irresistible grace glorifies the entire Trinity by proving how intimately involved God is in every conversion. It reminds us that when we speak about God’s grace, we do not mean that God sits afar and cuts sinners a little slack by giving them a second chance. Rather, God places His holy hands on our filthy hearts. With more personal contact than any surgeon uses in operating on our bodies, God is intimately involved in saving our souls. How sublime beyond words it is to realize that the transcendent, majestic God takes such a personal interest in every sinner who comes to faith in Christ. Far from being a nameless number in a vast crowd, every believer has been personally ministered to by God’s overwhelming grace. Truly, He is to us as a Father to His dear children and as a Shepherd to His beloved flock.” Amen.
Love,
Alice
9/14/09
Hi everyone,
Please remember that at 4:30 next Sunday, September 20, we will have our Women of Heart meeting. It’s been a while since we have met together, and we’re looking forward to a great time together. Remember to do your studying, selecting a passage or subject matter in John 1-8 that you can share from at the meeting. Your input is vital to our meetings.
This week we will be reading John 7-8. Another of the “I ams” is here—“I am the Light of the world.” It’s clear from these chapters that the Light was not shining into the hearts of many of the Jews, although they had been trained in the very Book that could have shed the Light around them. How could this be?
There were various sects that came and went during the history of Judaism. Four of the major sects at the time of Christ were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and the revolutionaries (the Baptists have them beat!). The majority of the Jews were non-sectarian. These groups had a wide range of beliefs which often resulted in squabbling and division.
1. The Pharisees were teachers of the people who expounded both the Torah (the written law) and the Talmud (the oral laws). “Pharisee” comes from the root “to be separate, set apart.” They believed in a strict interpretation of the law. Although they are often condemned by Jesus, their original intent was to preserve Scripture and to live in obedience to God.
2. The Sadducees were the elite Jews associated with the ruling classes. They rejected the oral law, the afterlife, the resurrection, and the Messiah. Because of their rejection of these things they were often at odds with the Pharisees.
3. The Essenes were dedicated to a communal life which included self-denial, voluntary poverty, and abstinence from worldly pleasures. There were many of these groups throughout Israel during the time of Christ.
4. The revolutionaries were the political arm of Judaism, resisting the Roman Empire.
Chapters 7 and 8 recount some of the conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees and other unbelieving Jews. Jesus was not known to have been taught by any rabbi, yet His scriptural knowledge and wisdom astounded even the most antagonistic among them (7:15). The Pharisees used their knowledge for endless arguments and self-seeking reward, but Jesus used His to point to His mission as an emissary of the Father. Although they professed Abraham as their father, we see no parallel of obedience in their lives such as Abraham had toward God—and as Christ had for His Father. In them we see only darkened hearts that would not learn.
Jesus avoided being embroiled in their clashes by simply having a heart which was obedient and focused on shining the Light onto those He came to save. He was never distracted by nor entered into the ill will, duplicity, or senseless arguments of others, but kept His eyes on God’s will for Him. What an example He set for all of us who believe on Him! How grateful we should be to Him for giving us the Light! How diligent we should be to avoid the darkness of having a contentious, unteachable, disobedient heart!
As we read these chapters this week, let us all consider areas of our own lives where we have become distracted from our calling of humble obedience to the will of God. May we always keep to the goal of giving Him first place in our hearts.
See you next Sunday!
Love,
Alice
Hi ladies,
This week we’re going to be reading John 5-6, two more great chapters filled with the richness of the Gospel. There is so much to be learned about our Savior—who He is and why He came.
Outstanding in chapter 5 is the humble obedience of Christ. As an earthly king, we can see that He would have easily excelled even Solomon’s glory. His power to speak and perform miracles drew huge crowds which would have followed Him and helped topple any regime in order to make Him their king. The paparazzi of the day swarmed around Him, spreading His fame to an entire region without the benefit of television, newspapers, or YouTube. How many of us would like to have the opportunity to cash in on this kind of fame and fortune?
The definition of humility in scripture is “knowing and keeping the place God has appointed for you.” Jesus accepted His role in this earthly life, calling Himself “lowly of heart” in Matthew 11:29. We know that the three Persons of the Trinity all have equal aspects of deity and that they always act together. But the Persons are also distinct in their relationships. We see this in the humble submission of Christ to the Father’s will, and in the way the Holy Spirit is sent out to confirm the work of salvation. No physical kingdom of the earth held any attraction for Christ. His desire was focused on pleasing His Father, regardless of the pain and suffering it entailed.
On the other hand, there were those who were completely self-absorbed: The multitudes ate the loaves and fishes, envisioning only full stomachs. The Pharisees grumbled and contended with Christ over every jot and tittle, building their egos. The erring disciples were disgusted by the words of Jesus, wanting an easy path in life. When all of these failed to see the majesty of God’s Son, given for salvation, Jesus went to His twelve. “Do you want to go away as well?” Peter’s words in return reflect the humility of Christ: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God.” Christ would go on in obedience to fulfill the scriptures through His humiliation and His exaltation. And He ordained many to follow in His steps, who would be blessed because of it. I thank God for the Son of Man, who humbled Himself for me.
One of our “I am” statements appears in these chapters also. Take the time this week to do a study on Christ as our Bread of Life. Remember those in prayer who need salvation, and most of all, thank Him that He was pleased to save you.
Love,
Alice
Hi ladies,
We’re going to be reading John 3 and 4 this week, and the emphasis here is definitely on salvation. One of the most famous verses in the Bible is found here: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). John later told us in his epistles that “God is love” (1 John 4:8—ESV [all of the remaining verses are from this version]). This was his meaning there also, that God loved us enough to give His Son in order to save sinners.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9,10). In Psalm 136:1 we read “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.” This love and goodness of God is shown in His mercy to us—the people He has freely bound Himself to by the pledge of the New Covenant.
God is good and loving in many ways:
1. His kindness and generosity touch everyone: “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that He has made” (Psalm 145:9).
2. He shows pity to those in distress and rescues them: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress” (Psalm 107:19).
3. He shows patience to those in sin: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
4. He is faithful in keeping His Word to us, even when we lie and do not keep ours: “But I will not remove from him My steadfast love or be false to My faithfulness. I will not violate My covenant or alter the word that went forth from My lips” (Psalm 89:33, 34).
God’s highest love and greatest goodness are given to those He has sovereignly redeemed. If we stopped reading in the middle of John 3:16 we could still marvel—that God so loved the world that HE GAVE. God has no reason, no obligation, no need, to give anything to anyone. He is self-sufficient. Yet not only did He give, He gave sacrificially. Instead of offering us a mundane gift, He gave of HIMSELF--the life of His own Son. He chose to bring scandal upon someone dear to Himself so that He could give eternal life to a weak, unfaithful, ungrateful creature like ME! Lord, help me to never treat Your gift as though it were mundane. Help me to love You more, and to love others as You have loved me.
This week reflect back on your own salvation as you read these chapters. It would be great for someone to volunteer to share their testimony at each of our meetings so we can learn more about each other. During our study of John we’ll also make it our focus to pray for friends and family members who don’t know the Lord.
Have a good week!
Love,
Alice
8/9/09
Hello Ladies,
We will be resuming our Bible studies this week, and will meet next Sunday, August 16, at 4:30 for our first study in the book of John. I’m sure this will be a difficult week for many of you who are either teaching in our school, or getting your children ready to return to school. If you are pushed for time, please choose one section of John 1 and 2 and focus on it so that you will be able to contribute to our meeting next week.
Throughout my life as I’ve heard evangelism discussed, there has been a unanimous directive which points those who are unfamiliar with the Bible to the book of John. In years past we would often have a little booklet containing only the book of John which was passed out while witnessing. It is not only a beautiful piece of literature; it is a book that focuses intensely on our Lord Jesus Christ. While every book of the Bible reflects Christ, we will see in the coming weeks how this book gives us not only a great awareness of the almighty power of Christ, but it also shows His compassion for sinners. It is a revelation of all His wonders.
As you are reading, be on the lookout for the following themes:
1. Christ as the Son of God—These verses express Christ’s divinity and place in the Trinity. We are told of the close relationship and love between the Father and the Son.
2. Our relationship to Jesus and others patterned after the Father and Son’s relationship—How are we to act in love, in works, in knowledge, and in unity?
3. The “I am” statements—These are mentioned repeatedly, and are profound revelations which come straight from the lips of Jesus.
4. The person and work of Jesus—Who is He and what did He accomplish while He was living here experiencing life as we know it?
We’ve heard the words of John 1:1 many times: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In that one succinct statement we find treasures of knowledge about who Christ is. The Greek word “logos” was used here, a word that was familiar in the Greek philosophy of the day. It was used to describe an abstract force that brought order and harmony to the universe. Later philosophies would describe it as intermediate powers between God and the world. John, however, directly identified this “logos” as God Himself.
“Logos” is the root of the word “logic” and of the suffix “-logy” (“the science of”--as in “geology”). This reminds us that our faith is not based on mysticism, but on the solid foundation of truth—that God IS. All of the laws of logic in the world derive from Him and not from the secular world, as is often taught today. Christ is the “logic,” the essence, of God—He is one with Him in deity. Enjoy your reading and open your heart to learning more about Him.
In our study next Sunday our emphasis will be on:
1. The Trinity and the Incarnation—these doctrines are inseparable, and are expressed so well here in the opening chapters of John. Make a list of where they are revealed in these verses. Do a study on the struggle over these doctrines in the early church. (You can Google anything!)
2. Make a list of the things in chapters 1 and 2 that show the person and work of Christ. Who was He and what is He revealed as doing in these two chapters? (He was life, light, etc.)
It is such an encouragement to fellowship with other women, and we invite all of you to come and join with us. Mothers with new babies are welcome to bring them to the meeting. If you have older children that you need to bring, let us know and we will make provision for them. Please do not let this hinder you from coming.
I’m looking forward to seeing you next Sunday.
Love,
Alice
Hello everyone, We are going to be suspending the WOH newsletters and meetings until next month. Please continue to read through the book of John and do some studying for when we resume. Enjoy the summer and I will be back in contact as soon as I can.
Love,
Alice
Hello Everyone,
There is some great reading as we learn about the character of a young woman named Ruth when she was put in very different circumstances than those to which she was accustomed. She is a person who to all appearances would be unimportant—one of the “invisible people” that we pass by each day without even really seeing them. She was very poor, she had no family, she was a foreigner, but somehow the story does not have the ending that we would predict. Recently in our Wednesday night study of the book of James we read chapter 2:1-9 in which partiality to the wealthy is condemned. We can see throughout history how God has chosen the unexpected and woven His tapestry using people for His purposes that we would never have considered.
Despite all of Ruth’s worldly handicaps her character shines like a beacon to all of us today. When found in poor circumstances she responded with true humility, accepting where she was in life and accommodating herself to the situation. She did not demand the right to gather in the fields, but took it as a favor that anyone would allow her to do so. She was willing to be seen with the lowliest of people—those who could be publicly seen gleaning for their very existence.
Ruth could never be called an idle woman—she wasn’t spending her time frivolously, expecting someone to provide for her--but applied herself industriously to make a way for herself and Naomi. It very much brings to mind Proverbs 31 which we read a few months ago. The words of praise for the virtuous woman who was hardworking, capable, kind, and wise certainly describe the character qualities which we see in Ruth.
Although Ruth had no obligation to stay with her mother-in-law, she devotedly loved and cared for her during the worst of situations. Instead of abandoning the older woman, she abandoned life as she had known it in order to be of service to her. Whatever she had was shared with Naomi, revealing a respectful and grateful heart.
Also evident is Ruth’s reliance on the providence of God to care for her. She lived in obedience to God daily, going about the work that was set before her with no assurance that her lot in life would ever be any different. This submissiveness to His will showed the sweetness of her spirit and her willingness to follow her new God regardless of the circumstances. A hard, unfamiliar life seemed better to Ruth than the easier one she would have had if she had gone back to live with her parents. Her native land was well-known and comfortable, but it could not compare to the grace of God that she now experienced in her adopted home. Little did she know where God’s graciousness would take her! Little more do we know what good things God has in store for us for tomorrow.
We’re going to continue reading the book of Ruth this week, and let’s journal the following:
1. What seems to have been the risks for women who gleaned in the fields? How could the fact that Ruth was a foreigner have made the situation even more difficult?
2. Who do you know that may be from a different cultural, economic, or religious background than you? Let’s consider and write down what we can do to befriend them and introduce them to Christ.
3. As we reflect over the character of Ruth, let’s give some thought to our own example as Christian women, and write out a prayer to God asking Him for help in areas where we are weak.
Last week we had to cancel our regular meeting because so many were unable to attend, so our discussion of Galatians will be next Sunday, June 14, at 4:30PM. As you’re reading Ruth this week, remember to also review the book of Galatians. Here are some of the subjects for discussion:
1. Justification: What does it mean to you to know that you do not have to depend on your own works to save you?
2. Christian liberty: Has anything beyond God’s grace ever been presented to you as a necessity for salvation?
3. Bearing one another’s burdens: Exactly what does this mean?
I hope to see you there!
Love,
Alice
Hi Ladies,
I believe the meeting at Jewel Hulsey’s house last week surpassed all our expectations, and gave us an outlook on life that will stay with us. It was a great reminder for me personally of the great wealth I live in every day, but don’t appreciate. You could not leave Nanny Hulsey’s house feeling sorry for yourself, or viewing your life as you had before you came. She has a radiant testimony and sweetness of spirit despite the great struggles she’s encountered in her 94 years in this world. Thank you, Nanny, for sharing your life and testimony with us. A special thanks also to her daughter Ann who surprised us with a spread of delicious food that we greatly enjoyed.
Because this is a holiday weekend, our next meeting will be on Sunday, May 31. This is a fifth Sunday, which at our church means we all bring our favorite foods and combine them for a great meal after the morning service. Our ladies meeting will be held immediately after lunch. For those who do not attend our church, our morning service begins at 9:30 a.m., and lunch will begin at approximately 11:30. You are invited to come and join us at any point.
The meeting on May 31 will be a discussion of the book of Galatians. Please begin to gather your thoughts for this meeting so you will be able to share with us. The three major topics will be:
1. Justification: What does it mean to you to know that you do not have to depend on your own works to save you?
2. Christian liberty: Has anything beyond God’s grace ever been presented to you as a necessity for salvation?
3. Bearing one another’s burdens: Exactly what does this mean?
At this meeting, let’s focus our prayers on asking God to reveal any misuse of Christian liberty in our own lives and in the body of Christ in general. When we present the Gospel of Christ we want it to be the true, pure Gospel.
Listening to Nanny Hulsey reminded me of the reading I had been doing in the book of Ruth. This book begins with some struggles—the famine in the land, the journey to a foreign country, the death of Elimelech and his two sons. Even though Naomi’s name means “pleasant,” her journey through life had been anything but that. I’ve also thought this week about Pastor Ron’s great sermon last Sunday, “When Life Doesn’t Make Sense—Why Me, Why Now, Why This?” It sounds like Naomi might have asked herself these same questions.
After all, couldn’t God have just done things in the usual way? They could have stayed in their own country; Elimelech could have lived a long, leisurely life; his sons could have married their childhood sweethearts, produced children, and life would have gone on. Have you noticed yet that God is a bit more creative than that? He had much bigger plans for this family.
As always in the scriptures, the very things we see as working against us are actually working for us as children of God (I tend to forget this about every other day). All the trouble and suffering this family went through dramatically changed the life of someone who would have otherwise remained unconverted in a heathen land—a young woman named Ruth. She was obviously so touched by the testimony of Naomi, her husband, and sons that she came to know the true, living God.
Just as it “happened” that there was a famine, and it “happened” that this family fled to Moab, so it “happened” that they settled near where Ruth lived, and it “happened” that she met this very different foreigner and married him. Then it “happened” that the famine ended, and it “happened” that Ruth refused to leave Naomi. Next in chapter 2, verse 3, we read that Ruth just “happened” to find herself in the field belonging to Boaz, and he just “happened” to be there! Do you still believe in coincidence? Nothing in our lives is happenstance with God. In some writers’ opinions, Naomi and Elimelech’s flight to Moab was done in rebellion against God, but even if it was, God graciously used it for good. Out of a foreign enemy land He brought the one woman He had chosen to be an ancestor of David and ultimately of Christ.
It’s unlikely that any of us will have as great a place in history as Ruth did, but each of us is making our own history every day. God used Naomi’s faithfulness to bring a young woman to Himself. Through His faithfulness He used every event in their lives, even the hard and painful ones, to bring them good. What an example for us to trust Him more. What a great story we already have here, and we haven’t even gotten to the love story yet!
Study questions to journal for this week:
1. Who was the father of the nation of Moab and what sin was involved in its beginnings?
2. What ancestor of Boaz, humanly speaking, had a dubious reputation?
3. What was one of God’s ways for providing for the poor? (read Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut.24:19)
4. In what specific ways has God shown Himself to be faithful in your life, despite your shortcomings?
Have a great Memorial Day weekend and don’t forget what the purpose of this holiday is—to honor those who gave their lives in defense of our nation. An estimated 791,898 soldiers have died since the Revolutionary War in order to preserve our freedom.
God bless you,
Alice
5/16/09
Hello Ladies,
We are finishing up in the book of Galatians, and will be moving on to another book—the book of Ruth—next week. Be sure to read on to the end to get your assignment for next week.
I can’t seem to get away from the theme of Christian liberty that we find in Galatians. It has been a subject of controversy, as we can see, from the time of the early church. Throughout history we see two distortions of this doctrine. One is the tendency to see Christianity as a list of “dos” and “don’ts”—a code that forbids certain activities such as theater-going, dancing, card-playing, etc.-- the very real problem of legalism. Often these standards are imposed out of fear that the Gospel will be twisted into a license to sin.
Either direction we go—legalism or license—leads us away from the truth of God’s Word. Neither holds forth the glory of salvation, it’s transforming power, it’s life-giving change. When we degenerate Christianity into an external code, we bring it down to our human standards and turn it into mere religion—one that is cold, dry, and dead. Similarly, when we believe we have the license to go on sinning because of Christ’s forgiveness, we indulge our flesh and lose sight of what the cross was all about, so we end up in a condition that separates us from God.
How can you and I avoid both of these pitfalls? First; we must be truly born into God’s kingdom. When we admit our total inability to please God, repent, and turn to Him through Christ, He will keep us walking in newness of life. Second; I believe what we are doing right now continues us in the right direction. As we seek to know God more day by day, we will love Him more, and His Holy Spirit will work within us to do what is right (righteous). God will give us a heart that burns with desire to please the One who sacrificed His life for us. Remember that beautiful verse we’ve been reading:
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
We died to the ugliness and slavery of sin and were reborn into a kingdom of light and freedom. Neither legalism nor license will serve us, but an overflowing of the goodness and graciousness of God in our lives, which we in turn will pass on to others.
The book of Ruth is a short story, and a love story, which rivals any that has been written since. Not only is it a love story between a man and a woman, but it is a love story between God and His people. What woman can resist a great love story? The main difficulty in reading this book is in understanding some of the ancient traditions and customs related here. Try to read as much about the background of this book as you can, and answer the following:
1. Who is generally considered the author of the book?
2. During what period of Israel’s history did it happen?
3. To which foreign land did Elimelech and Naomi flee?
4. What were they fleeing from?
5. What events occurred while they were in the foreign land?
Don’t forget our meeting at Nanny Hulsey’s house tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 pm. We want to encourage her, and also learn from what she can tell us about her walk with the Lord.
God bless you,
Alice
5/10/09
Hi Everyone,
I hope you are all doing well, and enjoyed Mother’s Day. I’m very thankful that God gave me a mother who brought me up in the faith.
We are nearing the end of our study in Galatians, and I pray we will all be changed by what we have read in this book. We’ve taken a look at how Christ justified us through His death, and how important it is to believe in faith alone for our salvation. In chapter 5 we read about the subject of Christian liberty. When our load of sin has been removed, Paul does not want anyone to return to a yoke of slavery.
Since the fall of Adam and Eve, our natural hearts have not been inclined toward God. We have no desire to seek God because we are tied up and held as a slave by sin and the law, with no power to overcome it. In fact, it’s even worse--we are completely dead, unaware of our captivity and our extreme need to be rescued. It is only when the light of regeneration shines in that the darkness dissipates and we come to ourselves and realize our predicament. As God spoke on that first day of creation to a dark and formless world—“let there be light”—so is our spirit illuminated so that we can see the wasteland of our souls without Christ.
As God tears away the bars of our imprisonment, He also gives us a new will—one that is free. It now has the power to choose what is right instead of being chained in that same old circle of sin. The new heart has a permanent love for what is right, a desire to please and serve the One who freed it. Now that we have this wonderful liberty, why would we ever want to give it up and go backward to our former prison?
While the law taught us right and wrong, it never had any power to save us—it could only condemn us because we could never live up to it. This is why Paul was so angry—the self-righteous Jews were trying to drag the new converts back to a place where they would live on their own merit, not Christ’s. It would be a trip from light (grace) back to the darkness (the law).
Repenting of our sin and receiving the grace of God brings us to the place of living right—not because of the law, but because of our new love for Christ. This love leads us not to legalistic self-righteousness, but to joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and kindness. We have a new mission—the desire to help free others who are slaves.
Our lesson this week will be to answer the following:
1. What is the explanation for the seemingly contradictory statements in chapter 6, verse two “bear one another’s burdens” and verse five “for each shall bear his own burden?”
2. Ask yourself “How can I be involved in bearing someone else’s burdens this week, as Christ bore mine for me?” Journal your answers and put them into action.
Thought for the week:
Only people who see God at a distance think they know everything about Him.
Our meeting next Sunday, May 17, will be at Jewel “Nanny” Hulsey’s house at 4:30 pm. Sister Hulsey is a long-time faithful member of our church who has always exemplified the goodness and kindness of God. She is unable to attend church and we look forward to spending time with her. Her address is 1511 Old Highway 85, Senoia, GA 30276. If anyone needs further directions, or would like a ride from the church, please contact me by email or phone (770-502-2733). Come and make this a special time for Nanny.
God bless you,
Alice
5/3/09
Hi Ladies,
This is our third week in the book of Galatians, and there is a great deal to learn here about the doctrine of the Church. We have seen Paul's strong stance for the truth of the Gospel and his refusal to compromise. When the Jewish agitators came in, demanding that the Gentile Christians of Galatia be circumcised according to the law, Paul was quick to discredit them. Because of their high standing these men believed they could wrest the consciences of the Gentiles and persuade them to their way of thinking. Galatians 2:6 is a verse to mark and remember--God shows no partiality and neither should we. Paul raised the bar even higher in chapter 1:8-9 when he said that we should not even be swayed if an angel from heaven came and tried to change the Gospel. Our flesh tends to cater to those who are of prominent family, to the wealthy, and to the powerful, yet this is not God’s way. He generally uses the “weak and foolish”—the “low and despised”-- in order to accomplish His purpose (I Cor. 1:26-31).
This was a time of change in the early Christian church. For centuries the Jewish Christians had held to the sacrificial laws of Moses. They believed in Christ, yet they still felt the need to carry out the traditional laws in order to be obedient. This was a great weakness on their part because they no longer had to live with the shadow when they now had the substance of the glorious risen Christ. On a trip to Jerusalem Paul met with these Christians, but as the Gentile Christians were struggling with pressure to conform to the ceremonial laws, the Jewish Christians believed that Paul was forsaking all that Moses had taught and were dismayed (Acts 21:17-26). This was not true, but it was an area of legitimate concern.
These Jewish Christians were not trying to impose their beliefs on others—they genuinely desired to know Christ but were in ignorance, held in slavery to their traditions. Paul, always the teacher, preached the doctrine of salvation by faith to them with kindness and forbearance. The truth of God’s Word will soften and change the hearts of those who truly seek him. This was a great contrast to the agitators of Galatia. Those who are weak must be taught, but those who undermine the faith must be opposed.
The word “doctrine” comes from a Middle English word “doctour” from which we also derive the word doctor. This word means “an expert, authority, teacher, to teach.” As we increase our learning in the doctrines of Scripture, we will grow in love and discernment. We will understand who God is, and as a result will not be deceived by false teaching. As we read through Galatians again this week, let’s journal the following questions:
1. Give a definition of justification by faith alone and list some scripture references on the subject. (www.biblegateway.com has a keyword search or go to www.biblestudytools.net and enter the word “justified” in the search box. In the “Using” box you can select “KJV with Strong’s Numbers” in the drop down list to get the original meaning of the words).
2. What will be the practical effects of our justification? (5:13-6:10)
Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 17. Please come and bring a friend as we enjoy discussing the book of Galatians.
Love in Christ,
Alice
Hi Everyone,
This week we will continue to read the book of Galatians, and our study questions are:
1. What were the three areas of attack made by the agitators in Galatia?
2. What was Paul's response to their three charges? The letter to the Galatians is a guardian of the truth that salvation is entirely the gift of God's grace.
That grace is an undeserved act of kindness which we could never earn and can never repay. Paul's strong language in chapter 1:8-9 leaves us with no doubt of how important it is to know this truth of the Gospel. In chapter 2:5, 14 he is concerned with preserving the Gospel and exposing anyone who gave any credence to salvation by human works.
This great doctrine of God's justification--His act of pardoning sinners and accepting them as righteous for Christ's sake--brings to mind another great defender of grace, Martin Luther. We know that his life was initially spent in self-inflicted suffering, haunted by his sin. He would confess his sins for hours on end, until his very confessors grew weary of hearing him. He would finish his confession, only to turn around and immediately return with another remembered transgression. He anguished over the holiness of God and his own unworthiness. His light bulb experience came when he read Rom1:17--"the just shall live by faith"--and the true meaning was suddenly illumined to him. He came to understand that the justice of God was not courtroom justice that gave us what we deserved, but that God Himself was the one who put us right by the provision of the righteousness and faith of Christ. This is a crucial truth, one that unburdens and frees the slave to sin. Luther was never again the same man after this illumination, scorning those who desired to kill him because of his new belief. To know that the "just" (justified) live by faith, said Luther, is to be the freest person alive.
Paul understood that making any human act--no matter how small--a requirement for salvation would nullify the grace of God. What could be more horrendous than Christ dying for no reason? (2:21) Instead we are resting in the completeness of God's gift of salvation which gives us the peace spoken of in chapter 1:3 and in many other of Paul's letters. We are freed from preoccupation with ourselves and our sin and can direct our energy toward the Lord and those He has given us to serve. Think about the crucified life this week and let's rejoice that our salvation rests solely in the hands of God. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (2:20) Click the link below to listen and praise our Savior:
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=83e335755e5e914c16da
Have a great week!
Love,
Alice
4/19/09
Hello Everyone,
Tonight we met at Marshalla's house (thanks again, Marshalla!) and what a wonderful time we had. Nancy had a little time of entertainment for us that had everyone laughing. Then we had a time of prayer and praise to the Lord. This was our first meeting at which we had a meal, and we enjoyed the time to relax and talk. Our discussion was on the attributes and actions of our great, holy, loving, sovereign God. During these times when we are being constantly bombarded with bad news, the book of Ephesians is a wealth of good news.
Ephesians 2:12 reminds us of where we began: "Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." There may be times in your family, your job, or other areas of your life when things look bad, but when you are without God there is no hope. Then comes one of the "But God" solutions: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
What do we have to hope in?
His Victory: "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38, 39) No one and no event can end our enjoyment of the active love of God to us. We are untouchable because God has overcome every obstacle that could possibly cross our paths.
His Sufficiency: "Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Rom. 8:26) When I'm overwhelmed by my circumstances and can't even formulate a prayer, the Holy Spirit articulates my needs. His prayers are custom-made for me--having my best interests at heart. I have no idea what I really need, but I can trust God to know and to direct my paths accordingly.
His Righteousness: "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him." (Col. 1:21-23). I'm glad I don't have to go through life depending on my own legal works. Sin is always a part of me, bringing frustration and discouragement. But when Christ died he gave me a perfect hope in a perfect Savior. His death paid the penalty for all my sins, allowing me to live a life of joy instead of being bowed under heavy burdens.
The Future: "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." (Psm. 17:15) The world can throw it's worst at us--we can endure trials, temptations, pain, and suffering--but one day we will awake to the final realization of the hope Christ has given us. All of the burdens of sin will be gone; all of the tears and sorrows will be over. No one who is outside of Christ has this hope--it is reserved for the ones God chose in love before the world was formed. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Cor. 4:16, 17)
This week we will begin reading the book of Galatians. Since it is so important not to modernize or Americanize the scriptures, we will begin by looking at the background of Galatians. There are six chapters, so we will be reading a chapter a day (starting with chapter 1 on Monday) and reading the entire book on the seventh day.
Our questions for the first week are:
1. Who was the author of the book of Galatians?
2. To whom was it written?
3. Why did it need to be written?
Any cultural or historical information you can read on this time period would be helpful. Study Bibles are a great source, as well as internet sites such as www.bible.org and Wikipedia. Journaling each of these books we are reading will give you an excellent overview of the Bible.
Our next meeting is currently scheduled for May 17. We realize more fully at every meeting how much we need each other--the love, encouragement, and support is vital to our growth in Him. We learn from our study of the Word, but we also learn from each other. This is the way God intended for it to be--we cannot fulfill His command to love one another unless we gather together and reach out to one another. Please make plans to come--God has given each of you gifts to share with us.
Have a good week, and remember the hope that lies within you.
Alice
4/14/09
Hello Ladies,
Our meeting next Sunday, April 19, at 4:30 pm will be a special one: Marshalla Cofer has offered us the hospitality of her home for our Bible study. Everyone is invited, regardless of whether you are a member of SouthPointe. We will be having a light meal, so come with your favorite salad/sandwich type dish (a dessert or two wouldn't hurt, either!) to share with everyone. Marshalla's address is 185 N. Strathmore Drive, Sharpsburg, GA 30277, and her telephone number is 770-463-3613.
Our emphasis at this meeting will be on having a "brag session" on the Lord. "In God we boast all the day long, and praise Thy name forever" (Psalm 44:8). Go back to your study notes from our first week in Ephesians when we cataloged the character, attributes, and actions of God. Choose one (from the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) to share with the group--give us an overview of it, and tell us how this aspect of God has meaning in your life. God is so good, and we want to talk about Him and remind ourselves of all that He is and all that He does for us.
This will be our last week of study in Ephesians--a look at God's provision for our spiritual warfare. Just as we have put on a new life--the life of Christ (Eph. 4:22-24)--Paul instructs us in Eph. 5:11 to put on the armor of God. The spiritual forces of evil cannot tolerate the goodness of God in our lives, but God gives us the battle gear of a warrior to fend off the enemy. The name "Jehovah Sabbaoth" (the Lord of armies or troops) occurs over 270 times in scripture.
God's side is always the side of "right" and "might." We must stand, as He does, for right living and justice. As Satan sees our putting off of anger, theft, falsehood, and other vices and sees us putting on the mercy, forgiveness, and grace of Christ, he is stirred to do battle. Our life is to be a life of courage; being "strong in in the Lord" (6:10). Satan is a real opponent, and his power is obvious in a cursory look at today's world. Thankfully, verse 10 goes on to say "in the power of HIS might." We are too weak, too cowardly in ourselves to mount a defense, but this is good--because our insufficiency drives us to the One who is able to deliver us.
Continue to read through Ephesians this week, and study all of the armor we need to go out and face the world. Let's remind ourselves each day that we are going out into a raging war. We are on a mission, but we are not alone!
Please come to Marshalla's house planning to share some food, some fellowship, and some thoughts about our God with us. We look forward to seeing you there.
Love,
Alice
Hello Everyone,
We have several ladies in our church who are very talented at creating oil paintings using elements of color, light, shape, and texture to produce from a blank canvas a picture that is recognizable and beautiful. Though we do not have a God who can be seen with human eyes, as we’ve been reading the Book of Ephesians we have seen a word portrait of Him that shows Him in all of His beauty. His characteristics of love, mercy, holiness, kindness, forgiveness, and grace come together and reveal to us a recognizable picture of who He is.
Who can read Ephesians 1 without being overwhelmed with the goodness of God? Though we are experiencing troubled times in our economy, in our jobs, and other areas, this chapter tells us, as it has for others through the centuries, how rich we are in Him. Those who do not know Christ may have times in which they experience riches and happiness, but their lives are always sorrowful because they live without hope. As Christians we may go through times of pain and suffering, but we always have reason to rejoice in the riches of God’s grace which He has lavished on us.
God could have created a beautiful garden, with Adam and Eve having beautiful children, and all of them having a beautiful life. God could have come to them every day and told them how much they were loved—but He chose a different route. His joy and delight was to prove His love for us by putting His own Son through suffering, humiliation, and death. No matter what our circumstances, we can believe our God when He says He loves us with a great love even though we were dead in trespasses and sins.
The church was born with the death of Christ. It is a new temple built with people, not stones. Ephesians reveals a community where God’s power to reconcile people to Himself is experienced. It is where this reconciliation can be shared in transformed relationships. It is where each of us comes together as spiritual elements of color, light, shape, and texture to form a lovely portrait of Christ’s bride. God has created a living organism, given us life and hope, and guaranteed us of an eternal inheritance.
We have read about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the magnitude of their gifts to us. This week we will again be reading through the book of Ephesians, but with a different perspective. The church is a place where our spiritual gifts are expressed, where we learn to be imitators of God, and where we prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lover and Husband, the Lord Jesus Christ. As you are reading through this book again:
1. Write down what your responsibilities are as a Christian and as a part of the church of Christ. How does God expect us to use our time, energy, and gifts until He returns?
2. As a part of your own personal journaling, compare yourself to God’s Word. How well do you model each responsibility and what can you do to bring your life more in line with what God desires for you? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your sins and deficiencies and to give you help. One example would be Ephesians 3:6, which speaks of Gentiles who were now fellow heirs with those in the Jewish community. There were some differences between them that had to be ironed out and overcome. Are there any people you have differences with that need to be resolved? Is there any type of person you would find it difficult to welcome to the church and fellowship with? Paul himself was looked on with suspicion because of his background of persecuting the Christians. write down your thoughts for future reference.
3. Keep in mind our themes—to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love each other as we love ourselves. How can what we are studying this week be applied in a practical way to promote these two things?
Rejoice in the Lord this week as you remember what He did for you: “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole.” (Isaiah 53:5, Ampl.) And He did it all willingly and with joy.
Remember to contact your prayer partner and to pray for their needs.
God bless you in the coming week.
Alice
3/8/09
Hello ladies,
During this past week when we started at the beginning of the book of Proverbs, we began to see the great distinction made between fools and those who are wise. I wanted an expanded definition of what a fool is, and I definitely got a colorful one at thesaurus.com:
Definition: stupid or ridiculous person
Synonyms: birdbrain, blockhead*, bonehead*, boob*, bore, buffoon, clod*, clown, cretin*, dimwit*, dolt*, dope*, dumb ox, dunce, dunderhead, easy mark*, fair game, fathead, goose*, halfwit, idiot, ignoramus, illiterate, imbecile, innocent, jerk*, lamebrain*, lightweight*, loon, moron, nerd*, nincompoop*, ninny, nitwit, numskull*, oaf, sap*, schlemiel*, silly, simpleton, stooge*, sucker, turkey, twerp, twit, victim
I don’t know anything about the Hebrew language, but I’m sure they had some interesting everyday words they used to describe someone who had no sense. When you’re reading some of these verses, just insert some of the above -- “birdbrain,”…..etc. I’m sure the translators were looking for a dignified word when they translated the King James, but it also brings it home when you read the passages with “nincompoop” inserted. I can identify with that.
The words used as synonyms of “wisdom” are very revealing also:
Definition: insight, common sense
Synonyms: acumen, astuteness, balance, brains, caution, circumspection, clear thinking, comprehension, discernment, discriminatio n, enlightenment, erudition, experience, foresight, good judgment, gumption*, horse sense*, information, intelligence, judgment, judiciousness, knowledge, learning, pansophy, penetration, perspicacity, poise, practicality, prudence, reason, sagacity, sageness, sanity, sapience, savoir faire, savvy*, shrewdness, solidity, sophistication, stability, understanding
Antonyms: ignorance, stupidity
As we grow and mature in the Lord, we can't lose sight of who we are--no matter where we are in life. Often in the scriptures we are referred to as “sheep.” The realization took a while to hit me—sheep and fools are synonymous. Although I have raised a variety of animals through the years, never have I owned a sheep, and my first real exposure was a revelation. We were having a “Spring Fling” for our school one year, and someone (brilliantly) decided that a petting zoo would be a big hit with the kids. The person who (brilliantly) initiated the idea ended up babysitting the animals. I had quite an assortment—dogs, cats, a pot-bellied pig, and two sheep, all of whom were a little disoriented and agitated. After a while everyone got the hang of being tied or caged and resigned themselves to their fate—except the sheep. Incessantly, insistently, loudly, all day, there was a bleating and baaing to get on your last nerve. No matter how many times I untangled the rope, or how short I tied it, the fuzzy fools would end up eight hooves skyward--strangling themselves. Of course all the scriptures referring to Christians as sheep were running through my mind in a totally new light. To say I was insulted wouldn't cover it. Is this how you see me, God? My pride did not want to admit any identification with those boneheads.
The truth is, the longer we are Christians the more we may tend to pull our tattered rags of church attendance, Bible knowledge, song-singing, and prayers for the missionaries around us—and think we have arrived. One of the astute comments in our Wednesday night study was that we are like teenagers in our relationship to God the Father. As small children, we tend to trust in and rely on our parents completely; but as we reach the teenage years things begin to change. We feel as though we have listened to our parents for so long that we now know it all and are capable of managing ourselves.
I can translate this into my own life as I read the Proverbs. Christ has the wisdom I need, but I am constantly that fool trying to make it on my own. I am that sheep who needs instruction every day to keep me from falling, yet I resist. We cannot read Proverbs and apply it only to unsaved people. God has so much to give, but we are prone to think we already have it all. Setting our course on automatic pilot won't work--we have to constantly steer to keep in the middle of The Way. This is why our Bible reading, study, meditation, and communion with God are vitally important. There is no status quo in Christianity—He is Life, and we must constantly draw upon His wisdom. Any wisdom, any talent, any gift is from Him alone, and He is generous and willing to give. If you find yourself developing an attitude that you can make it through today without God's wisdom, take a little visit to a sheep farm.
Our upcoming meeting next Sunday afternoon will be a banquet of gourmet food as you share what God has shown you in Proverbs. He reveals Himself to all of His children, so what each of you have to say is important--regardless of your age, background, or experience.
Please don't forget to contact your prayer partners this week--they need to know you care.
God bless you this week,
Alice
3/2/09
Hi Ladies,
Yesterday the teachers received an answer to prayer--it just fell out of the sky. They finally received their long-awaited snow day. Congratulations!
It looks like I will be unable to attend the next Women of Heart meeting, so I wanted to go ahead and give you one of the studies I did in Proverbs. On our first day of study we read chapter 16, and verse 2 interested me because I have had a couple of conversations recently about this concept. It says, "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit."
The words I chose to define were:
Pure - unmixed, genuine, authentic, true
Spirit - attitude, character, disposition, energy, motivation, essence
Go back to the scripture verse and replace each of the original words with the definitions above to really expand the effect of the verse.
For my sentence that boils the truth down I wrote "I am self-deceiving, but God is truth."
In Matthew Henry's Commentary I found some attributes that we as human beings have:
1. We are apt to be partial in judging ourselves
2. We see nothing amiss in ourselves
3. We are confident of success
4. We see nothing to condemn in ourselves
5. We are not aware of our own sin, but even if we are, we don't think very ill of ourselves.
As I was reading back over this, the format I was using struck me as humorous (and ironic) in light of the principle expressed in the verse. Talk about being self-deceiving! Instead of using personal pronouns, I was generalizing and in effect watering down the meaning. Read them over again from another perspective:
1. I am apt to be partial in judging myself
2. I see nothing amiss in myself
3. I am confident of success
4. I see nothing to condemn in myself
5. I am not aware of my own sin, but even if I am, I don't think very ill of myself
Did you feel the difference? I also read them again substituting my name as if God was saying them to me. He weighs me in the balance where I passed myself with flying colors, and finds me wanting. It is amazing to me that not only are we capable of deceiving others, but we are capable of deceiving ourselves about our sin. There's a spiritual Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde within all of us. God not only sees our ways, but He sees our spirits. He is completely discerning; He is The Truth. We have our blind spots, our "head in the sand" sins, and our lack of self-scrutiny. In light of this verse I'm grateful that our God, in spite of the fact that He sees us just as we are, not only provided His Son to sacrifice Himself for us, but continues to love us day by day. Such love doesn't exist in any other relationship. "O my Strength, I will sing praises to You, for You, O God are my fortress, The God who shows me steadfast love." (Psm. 59:17, ESV)
Before our next meeting, choose your favorite verse or verses from Proverbs and have them ready to share, along with any insights or perspectives you have gained from your study. It's not necessary to hold rigidly to the list of questions we gave as guidelines. We want to hear what God has shown you, and that will encourage and enrich everyone.
Please remember to continue to contact your prayer partner at least once a week. Many needs may arise during the course of the week, and we need to walk alongside each other with strength. When we pray for each other we learn to connect with God in close relationship. When someone is aware that we are actively thinking about them, and praying specifically for them, we can strengthen our connections with each other.
May God bless you and make you aware of His love in the coming week.
Love,
Alice
Hi Ladies,
I hope your first week of reading the book of Proverbs is going well. Some of our reasons for doing this are:
1. To enjoy reading the scriptures together--literally "being on the same page."
2. To grow in our love for each other as we understand more of God's love for us
3. To encourage each other and to be more accountable in our study of the Word of God.
4. Most importantly, as Heb. 1:3 says that Christ is the exact imprint of God's nature, we want to imprint God on our hearts.
This is a challenge, and don't be discouraged if you fall behind or are hindered. We already know that Satan will throw everything he can in our path to keep us from the Word of God. The purpose of what we're doing is not to get a certain amount of words written on a page, but to draw closer to God. We will be talking more about journaling our Bible studies as we go along. Writing down what you study each day, whether in a notebook or on your computer, gives you a record for future reference. Over the months you will see the benefits as you look back at what you wrote and realize how God has used this in your life.
Please remember to turn in your ideas for our Women of Heart meetings. All of us are in different circumstances and we would like to know your thoughts on what would be helpful in your life as far as activities for our meetings. We would also like to hear from you on creative ways in which we can minister in our community. You can write these down and turn them in to me or Pam, or email them to me. We want to know what God has put on your heart, and would appreciate your responses.
Avail yourself of the resources we listed last week. As I was reading Proverbs 18, verse 10 jumped out because it is a verse that I have clung to many times: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous man runs into it and is safe." I did my study on this verse and when I looked up the word "safe" on thesaurus.com these were the results:
Definition: free from harm
Synonyms: buttoned up, cherished, free from danger, guarded, home-free, impervious, impregnable, in safety, intact, inviolable, invulnerable, maintained, okay*, out of danger, out of harm's way, preserved, protected, safe and sound, safeguarded, secure, sheltered, shielded, sitting pretty*, snug, tended, unassailable, undamaged, under lock and key, under one's wing, unharmed, unhurt, uninjured, unmolested, unscathed, unthreatened, vindicated, watched
What an encouragement it was to look up just one word!
If you're writing your study as a computer document, you can just copy and paste the definitions right in. As we are focusing on the names of God in our study, here's a beautiful song for you:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qedj7hANnmI
God bless,
Alice
2/16/09
Hi Ladies,
We had another wonderful meeting last night, and look forward to seeing you all at the one next month. We sang worship songs, had a little Valentine's Day fun time, then a Bible study. Our study was about following the example that Jesus set while He was here on the earth with regard to how He ministered to people. We are called to be little Christs, and we want to learn how we as women can do that effectively in ways that are pleasing to the Lord.
During the coming month we will be reading through the book of Proverbs together. Since it has 31 chapters we are going to read a chapter a day (starting with today we will read Prov. 16 to correlate with Feb. 16, and so on) and will have some discussion when we return for our next meeting. This is a large book, so this is what we are suggesting: As you read the chapter every day, choose something from that chapter that especially spoke to you and write it down. Maybe it brought back an experience you had where God did something great in your life, or taught you a truth, or that He is working on in your life right now. We gave out some suggestions last night to help you focus on this:
1. What is the main word or phrase that leaped off the page to you?
2. Look up some other meanings for this word [words]. Some resources are: dictionary.com, thesaurus.com, translations of the Bible, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, or Bible commentaries such as Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary.
3. Boil the truth down to: When we __________, God will ____________, or vice versa.
4. What is the main attribute of God's character that you see here?
5. What name of God best describes Him here? See bible.org or smilegodlovesyou.org for a list of names of God.
This is not an assignment to turn in; we just want to be in the Word of God, and have something to share with each other when we return. We are going to be talking later about journaling the scriptures, which we believe is an excellent way to study, so this is a little introduction to writing down what we learn as we read.
Our next planned meeting is at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15, and I will keep you updated on any changes. You can also go to our website: www.southpointechurch.com for the calendar of events. Click on any tab on the homepage, then click on "Enter Main Site" to access the calendar.
We missed those of you who were not there, and hope you can make it next time. If you have any prayer requests, or anything we can help you with in the meantime, please call or email me or Pam.
God bless you,
Alice
