Teaching Notes

That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD : Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. - 1 Chronicles 16:7-9

Tell What he means to you. It is easy for me to tell you to be thankful, but is that what is in your heart? Do you remember when you did something wrong and your parent made you say you were sorry, did you really mean it or did you say it so that you would not get in trouble?

It's the same way with telling someone thank you. I can ask you like David did, to give thanks to God but is it in your heart? I admonish you to call on his name and when you do so tell others what he means to you. That is what it means to make him known among the nations. Sing his praises, tell of what wonderful things he has done for you.

I can tell you how great he has been in my life, but don't you want to have that personal relationship for yourself? Don't you want to be able to thank him for what he has done in your life? Don't you want to be able to have a thankful heart not because somebody told you, but because God has engrafted himself into your life?

You begin by making the first step of seeking him for yourself. That means if you want to know God is real, just ask him to show himself to you. Part of how he reveals himself is in his word. READ IT! As you read it ask him to help you understand what he is saying about himself.

And as you continue to seek him you will begin to know him for yourself. Then you can tell others about why they too should be thankful to God. As you prepare your hearts for Christmas, let us end November with a heart of thankfulness.

Prayer: Lord we are so thankful that you help us to understand our need for you in our lives. We are thankful that we can call on you and that you will help us. We are thankful Lord that we can tell others of your wonderful work in our lives. We will sing your praises and help others to do the same. Amen.

Can you hear from you this week, about how you tell others about your relationship with Christ.

Teaching Notes

Thankful

I thought, how can words of thanksgiving on him I bestow?
I thought about all the wonderful blessings I know.

I could show my thankfulness by listing all the good from my life
But even the unsaved can be thankful for times when there is lack of strife

As God’s child how am I different from the world in which I live?
How do I to the Mighty King, true thanksgiving give?

Then I dropped to my knees and to God I began to pray.
Thank you for my foot that won’t bear my weight when I wake to the new day.
Because it reminds me I can lean on you to carry me all the way.

I’m thankful for my times of lack and when I was unable to see its end,
Because you showed me you are faithful and on you I can depend.

I thank you for the child I loved within my heart but life I was never able to give,
I better understood how you willingly grieved your son’s life so I could live.

I’m thankful for broken promises, lost relationships and lost dreams,
You showed me that you would never leave me nor forsake me no matter how it seems.

I’m even thankful for the sickness, the pain and the aches,
You showed me you are my strength in those times when my spirit would break.

To be thankful for the good is quite easy you see,
I must be thankful for all things to become what God wants me to be.

Why am I thankful you might inquire?
To please him is my greatest desire.

Be thankful no matter what life situation you are in,
For with Jesus in all things and through all things you can win.

For both my good and my bad I can say thank you,
Simply because the love of God is so true.

This is a short week, so I decided to just share something about being thankful as you have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with your family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

Teaching Notes

The Importance of Children to Jesus

Peopl were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will  not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hand on them and blessed them. - Mark 10:13-16

There are many vital points in this scripture to help us understand how important children (youth of all ages) are the Jesus.

1. People were bringing little children... It is important for parents to have the desire to bring their children before the Lord so that he can touch their lives and make them into what he desires for their lives.

2. Disciples rebuked them. When Jesus was this, he was indignant... Jesus was angry, annoyed and even offended by his own disciples trying to stop the children from coming to him. The message to us today is, we must make sure as the disciples of Christ we are not responsible for turning away the children. Like the disciples, we turn them away because we don't think they are vital to the work of Christ. The disciples thought the children were in the way of Jesus doing his work. We likewise turn them away because we feel they are getting in the way of the "work" we should be doing, when in fact they are part of the work.

3. Do not hinder them.... Jesus said do not hinder the children from coming to him. The message to us today is, we as the people of God must make sure we are not hindering the children from coming. Anything we do that puts us between them and God, hinders them. They do not need to come through us to get to Jesus, in fact we should be making a way for them and not standing in the way.

4. Put his hands on them and blessed them...Young people, Jesus wants to put his hands on you, on your life and he wants to bless you. As the people of God we must make the commitment to be way makers for the youth to come to the Lord and not a hinderance. Young people, it is however your choice the recieve the call from Christ to recieve his blessings. We pray for all our young people to receive the call of Christ and allow him to anoint you life. Allow Christ to place his hands on your life and bless you to live his way.

Prayer: Lord today we pray that some young person would come to accept their need for you as the savior. Touch their lives, bless them and make them whole in you. Amen.

Teaching Notes

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow...Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. - Psalm 51:7, 10-13

Are you up for the challenge? About a month ago I spoke to a group of girls of varied ages. I gave them this scripture written on a card. My challenge to them was to read this scripture for the next 30 days and ask God to help you and to do what the psalmist is asking God to do for him.

Today, I give you the same 30 day challenge. Write this scripture down on an index card and read it each day and ask God to help you see what he is requiring of you for the next 30 days. The psalmist is asking God to cleanse him. This writer is David. David sinned against God and now he is asking God to cleanse his sin. He says if God cleanses me, then I know I will be clean. And then he ask God for something else.

He ask first for the forgiveness of his sins but then he ask God to create a pure heart in him. Why do you think he ask that? His desire is not to sin against God again and he realized that only comes with a changed heart. So we must ask for forgiveness but then we must ask God to change our hearts so we do not do that again. He also ask God to restore him so that he can go and tell others than have transgressed (sinned) the truth about God's goodness. When he does he says, I'll help to turn others back to you.

So this is the challenge. For the next 30 days, ask God to create a clean heart in you and renew a determined spirit to do his will. Ask him also to help you tell others about his truth so they too can have the chance to be changed. Are you ready for the challenge? Let me know if you do the challenge so that we can share your testimony with others.

Prayer: Lord help your people today to take this challenge. Not simply because I said so, but because they have a desire to be better for you. So Lord help those that will take this challenge to have a true encounter with you and a changed and determined mind. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

In the next week or so, we will feature something written by a youth, look for that soon.

Teaching Notes

MATTHEW MADNESS

QUIZ

Can you fill in the missing verse? Can you answer the questions? See how many you can get correct. If you e-mail me your answers, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free t-shirt! We have some new designs of the Fearfully and Wonderfully Made tees and some new C.O.M.E. (College Online Ministry and Encouragement) tees.

1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, - Matthew 2:1. Which are verses 2 and 3?

A. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

B. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

C. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,


2. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. – Matthew 4:6. Which verse is the verse 5? Which verse is verse 7?

A. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

B. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

C. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

D. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.


3. Unscramble the scripture. Matthew chapter 12 verse 1-4. Put them in the correct order.

A. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?______

B. At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.______

C. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;______

D. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.______


4. Which statements are true about the book of Matthew?

A. First book of the Old Testament?

B. It is one of the synoptic Gospels?

C. First book of the New Testament?

D. All of the above.

E. Two of the three listed above?



5. Matthew starts the telling of his gospel with what?

A. Jesus being baptized.

B. The geneology of Jesus.

C. Herod seeking to find where Jesus is.

D. None of the above.



6. “And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.” This is Matthew 16:5. What is the lesson in this story? (LOOK IT UP)


7. 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is Matthew 18:3. What is the lesson in this story? (LOOK IT UP)


8. How many chapters in the book of Matthew?

A. 25

B. 30

C. 26

D. 19



9. What is the last message Jesus gives in the book of Matthew?

A. Go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come.

B. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them

C. Eli, Eli Lama Sabachthani?

D. Be not afraid go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee



10. What is it called when Jesus tells them to go and make disciples?

A. The Beatitudes

B. Parables

C. The Great Commission