Relationships Worth Improving

Relationships Worth Improving

   Most adults fulfill many roles. For example, you may be wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, church member, Sunday School Teacher, citizen, customer, patient, coworker, employee, and on and on. How many of these roles involve personal relationships? The answer depends on how you define relationships. A broad definition might include all people with whom you interact---even though the interaction is functional, occasional, and often superficial. A more narrow definition confines relationship to personal and meaningful relationship.

   This study focuses on biblical teachings concerning important relationships, beginning with a relationship with God. Then come three family relationships: between husband and wife, between parents and children, and between brothers and sisters. Finally, we will look at relationships with friends.

   Many people do not have a meaningful personal relationship with God, but the Bible views this as the foundation for all true human relationship. The first lesson, "Trusting God," based on proverbs 3:5-6 and 1 John 2:1-11, focuses on t his important relationship.
   The second lesson, "Loving Spouses," is based on 1 Corinthians 7:1-6 and Ephesians 5:22-25,28-33. This is deals wit responsibilities off husbands and wives.
   The third lesson, "Nurturing Family Relationship," is based on Ephesians 6:1-4 and 1 Timothy 5:1-8. This deals with relationships between children and parents.
   The fourth lesson, "Improving Sibling Relationship, "is based on the story of the brothers Esau and Jacob in Genesis 27:41; 32:3-5, 9-11; and 33:1-5, 10-11.
   The fifth lesson, "Being Friends," is based on proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 27:5-6, 9-10; and Philippians 4:1-3, 10,14-16.

     This study theme is designed to help you----

• have a right relationship with God by trusting Him and obeying Him daily 
• build a right relationship in marriage and help others to do so
• fulfill biblical responsibiltites in your family relationships
• improve your relationships with your siblings
• be a godly friend

-Study theme

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Let's Talk About Jesus

Let's Talk About Jesus

   One one of the occasions when the enemies of Jesus sent oficers to arrest Him, the officers found Jesus teaching in the temple. They heard Him say, "if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37). The officers returned without arresting Jesus. When they were asked why they failed in their assignment, the officers said, "Never man spake like this man" (v. 46).

   The same formula would fir everything about Jesus. No one was born like this man. No one lived like this man. No one died like this man. No one was raised from death like this man. No one established the church like this man. No one will return like this man.

   This study focuses on four aspects of the unique Jesus: His death, His resurrection, His church and His future coming. Each of the four lessons includes verses from Matthew's Gospel and at least one New Testament Letter.

   The first lesson, "Suffering Savior," based on selected verses from Matthew 27 and 1 John 4, looks at the suffering and death of Jesus. The second lesson, "Risen Lord," is based on Matthew 28:1-10 and Ephesians 2:4-9. This is the Easter Coordinated Evangelism Lesson. The third lesson, "Church Builder," is based on Matthew 16:13-19 and Ephesians 2:17-22. the  fourth lesson, "returning King," is based on Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and 1 John 2:28-3:3.

     This Study Theme is design to help you:

• believe Jesus demonstrated God's love by dying to provide eternal life and to respond to that love in your daily life (Apr. 4)
• believe Jesus rose from the dead, be sure you are experiencing the new life God gives to those who believe in Jesus, and share this message with others (Apr. 11);
• be involved in the church as a way to live out your spiritual commitment and to fulfill Christ's divine plan (Apr.18)
• be ready for Jesus return (Apr. 25).

-Study Theme

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Courage to Stand for God

Courage to Stand for God

   One of the early Christian martyrs was an elderly man named Polycarp. He was arrested and freely admitted that he was a Christian. He was given plenty of opportunities to save his own life, but he refused each offer because the condition for being spared was to deny Christ. He told his persecutors, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he hath done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my king who saved me?"

   Polycarp stood up for the Lord, even though it cost him his life. Many others have done the same. We are blessed to live in a land of religious freedom, but we face challenges in which we are called on stand up for God.

   This four-session Study Theme focuses on the lives of several Old Testament persons who modeled courage, some hesitantly at first and others with a marvelous faith. These examples can give believers of all maturity levels a foundation for forming and solidifying the courage it takes to live for God. 

   The first lesson, "Demonstrating Spiritual Leadership," is based on the story of Deborah in judge 4-5. The second lesson, "Opposing False Beliefs," is based on the story of Gideon in Judge 6. The third lesson, "Refusing to Compromise," is based on the story of Shadrach, Meshrach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. The fourth lesson, "Acting Decisively," is based on the story of Esther.

      This study is designed to help you---

• take a stand for God and thereby encourage fellow Christians to do the same (Mar. 7)
• live in loyalty to the one true God and challenge false gods off today (Mar. 14)
• gain boldness to live for God without compromise (Mar. 21)
• recognize and act upon God-given opportunity to fulfill His will for your life, whatever the cost (Mar. 28)

-Martyr of Polycarp

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I've Prayed. Now what?

I've Prayed. Now what?

Luke 11:9-13
9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks find; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 "Which of you Fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 18:1-8
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yes because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!"'
6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when he find faith on the earth?"

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Crucified, Buried, and Alive Again!

Crucified, Buried, and Alive Again!

Matthew 27:1, 2, 19-22, 27, 28, 31, 45, 46, 50, 51, 54, 57-69
     1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 They bound him led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
     19 While Pilate was setting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."
     20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
     21 "Which of the two do you want me to release to you? asked the governor.
     22 "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.
     They all answered, "Crucify Him!"
     27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
     31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

     45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacbtbani?"---which means, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
     50 And when Jesus has cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
     51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
     54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
     57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph.
   58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body,and Pilate ordered that it be given it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.


Matthew 28:1-6
     1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the others Mary went took at the tomb.
     2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became dead like dead men.
     5 The angel said to the women, " Do not be afraid for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.



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How do I share my Christian testimony?

How do I share my Christian testimony?

The testimony we share with one another are important. They provide encouragement and strength with us, sometimes they transfer wisdom and they provide inspiration about God. That's why the testimony we speak in church it's very important, if you don't know how to share your testimony, so read this process.


Question: "How do I share my Christian testimony?"

Answer: An effective testimony is one that conveys both your own experience and the Gospel of Christ so that someone else has the information about the process of salvation.

1. Start by writing down the details of how you came to trust in Christ to save you.
Answering the following questions to help you: a) Who told me about Christ? b) What events led up to me trusting or believing in Christ? c) When did I trust in Christ? d) Where was I when I first believed? e) How has faith in Christ been a blessing to me?

2. Next write this out so that it flows well as a story. Try to be as concise as possible.
As a goal, try to make the length of your testimony so that it can be effectively shared in three minutes or less.

3. Make sure you have included the appropriate Scriptures in your testimony.
Remember that it is Scripture that is authoritative because it is God's Word. As an example, your testimony should consist of your becoming aware that you were separated from God by your sin (Romans 3:23), the realization that you would spend eternity away from God if your did not receive forgiveness (Romans 6:23), the understanding that God sent His only perfect Son Jesus do die and pay for your sin (Romans 5:8), and finally your receiving forgiveness by trusting alone in Christ's payment for sin (Acts 16:31).

As an examples, below is my testimony of how I came to trust in Christ as my savior.4

Though as a child and teenager I spoke with a pastor three or four times about how I might go to heaven when I died, I never really understood the Gospel of Christ until I was a young adult in my mind 20s. Over the course of a few years, I began reading the Bible, listening to a couple of good conservative Bible teachers on television, and discussing what I had heard with Christians at work. Through this, I came to realize that I was sinner separated from God and deserved to be eternally separated from God. This was based on (Romans 3:23) "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" and (Romans 6:23) "the wages of sin is death." I also came to understand that God loves me so much that He sent His Son Jesus, and Jesus came to earth specifically to die for my sins (and the sins of the whole world) so that I could be forgiven (Romans 5:8; John 3:16).

Finally, I came to understand that there was no way I could be good enough or work my way to heaven (Romans 3:10) says there is none who does good and (Ephesians 2:8-10) declares that salvation is a gift of God, not something earned, and it is received only by faith, which is to simply trust in or rely completely on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as payment for my sin. After I came to understand these truths from Scripture, I had a sense of assurance that since I could not work for my salvation, I could not lose it either since it is a gift from God.

There was a great sense of relief in knowing that I was forgiven and that God was on my side and wanted and still wants what is best for me. Since beginning my life with Christ, He has, by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in my heart, continued to sanctify me through His word and His working in my life. This forgiveness and security that I have from God can be yours too if you will trust Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins.



Source: Gotquestions.org

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In Remembrance

In Remembrance

Mark 14:12-25
12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for your to eat the Passover?"
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, "The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me---one who is eating with."
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"
20 "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25 "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."


1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For i received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes



Photo source: peggywright.wordpress.com

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Why should I pray?

Why should I pray?

Matthew 26:36, 40, 41
   36 Then Jesus went with hi disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
   40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping, "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak."

Philippians 4:6, 7
    6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus.

James 5:13-16
     13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

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I'll Do It For Him

I'll Do It For Him

(Acts 16:22-34)

 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening  to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all there!"
 29 The jailer called for light, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked,
     "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
 31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved---you and your household." 32 The they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God---he and his whole family.

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A Place of Honor

A Place of Honor

(John 12:1-9)

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where  Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; he poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciple, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't thi perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
 7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should wave this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests plans to kill Lazarus as well 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
     "Hosanna"
     "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
     "Blessed is the King of Israel!"
 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,
 15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;
           see, your king is coming,
           seated on a donkey's colt."
    16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
   17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

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