Teaching Notes

TRUE LOVE

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. - 1 John 3:16

If you ask what love is, you will get several different answers. Some may tell you about the love that a parent has for a child. Others may tell you about the love of one friend towards another. Yet another, would tell you about the love of a husband toward a wife. These answers are correct, but none of these examples of love express the purest form, which comes from God.

This month of February is a month set aside for us to express our love for each other. While we are doing that, let's also remember to express our thanks for the great love that God gives to all mankind.

The first scripture states love started with God. God loves mankind so much that he offered His own son to pay the penalty for our sins that we could not pay. Our good deeds, trying to be nice, all fall short of satisfying the judgment that is on our lives because of sin. God did not desire for mankind to perish so he made a way for us to be able to be with him. What Jesus did was offer to God His life so that we did not have to pay the price of being separated eternally from God. Jesus makes a way for us to be forgiven of our sins because He gave His life for ours.

This love is offered to us not because we are lovable, or good, or smart, or right. This love is in fact offered to us while we are sinful, unlovable, wrong, and foolish. God offers us this love and when we accept it, God then fills our hearts with His love, which allows us to fulfill the next scripture.

1 John 3:16 has always been an interesting scripture to me. The reason is the similarity to the scripture address of John 3:16. I do not believe this was just an accident or something that just happened. I believe these addresses are so close because their purpose is so closely linked together.

They in a sense sum up the message of the Christian life. We are saved by the love of God through Christ so that we can go and love the world to God through Christ. That's the essence of true love. God loved us first, therefore we are now equipped to do and live out 1 John 3:16. We are to go and become living sacrifices for others by giving up our rights so that someone else has the right to meet Jesus through us.

While you are buying your candies, cards and flowers for Valentine's Day, give someone a sweet treat of the truth of God's love, write on the heart of someone the Lord's love song and deliver to someone a sweet arrangement of the salvation message. This February go and spread the message about true love, the love that originated with God.

Teaching Notes

Psalm 38 - Penitential Psalms



LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior. - Psalm 38:21-22


Penitential psalms express sorrow for sin. Basically the psalm expresses sorrow for sin and asks God for forgiveness. In this psalm, David describes the guilt that overwhelmed him as he dealt with sin. 

David express how his sin has brought him so low and how he is feeling the disconnect with God because of his sin. In this last verses of this chapter, David ask God to see about him. He expresses that God is his Lord and Savior. 

What is significant for us to understand is that no matter how our sins have effected us, we must be like David and turn to the only one that can heal our situation and our condition. That is God. David as God not to forsake him and not to leave him where he is, in his sin. The beauty is God will not leave us in our sinful condition if we ask him to help us. 

What do you need God to forgive you of? Did you know that all you have to do is ask him and he will see about you. But the only way that can happen is if you do as David did and seek him as your Lord and savior.

Is God the head of your life? If not, make the decision today to release the control of your life into His capable hands. 

Prayer: Lord, today help me to release the control of myself into your hands. I need you to help me. I need you to forgive me for the sins I have done against you. Lord, I need you to come quickly to rescue me from myself because you are my Lord and savior. Help me Jesus, amen.

Teaching Notes

Lesson in the Psalms

The book of Psalms is divided into five books. The division of the psalms  are Psalms 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, and 107-150. The closing verses of the last psalm in each collection typically contains some kind of doxology or ascription of praise to the Lord that serves to "tie off" that part of the book of Psalms. There are different types of psalms. Hymns, penitential, wisdom, royal, messianic, imprecatory and lament.

Hymn - writers praised the Lord and offered him thanksgiving for who he was and what he had done.

Penitential - express sorrow for sin.

Wisdom - related general observations about life.

Royal - focus on Israel's king.

Messianic - describe the Messiah, God's anointed one.

Imprecatory - call for God's judgment on the psalmist's enemies.

Lament - They typically containe three elements: bemoan one's condition, the psalmist confesses trust in God, and the psalmish usually ends with some kind of praise.

Now let's take a look at one of the psalms. This psalm is in the 4th book and is a hymn because it is a song that talks about the goodness of God. It offers praise.

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his[a]; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

This isn't a long psalm it is only 5 verses, but it expresses to the reader the psalmist message. The psalmist wants the reader (listener because it was song) to understand something about God. Let's look at the points the psalmist wanted us to know:

* God is worthy of praise from all people.
* When you worship the Lord, you should do it with gladness.
*The people of God should sing songs that honor him.
*The people of God should have an understanding of who God is.
*The people of God were created and called by God. He formed us and he redeems us.
*The people of God should go to worship God with a thankful heart.
*God's love for his people will last forever.

I pray during this holiday month as you prepare for Christmas that you fill your life with music. Music that reminds you like the psalmist did of who God is. Go to worship him with a grateful heart and with gladness for the opportunity to do so. Remember who you belong to and that God's love for you is forever. I pray that you would also share this Good News with someone else.

Prayer: Lord help us during this month of December to tell everyone we meet about you. Help us to radiate the joy of the Lord in our lives so that someone else would want to know what is it that makes us different? Then we can tell them it is the light of Christ shining brightly in our souls. Help us bring the real reason for Christmas to someone this season, amen.

Teaching Notes

PERFECT PRAISE

Psalm 33:1-8 ~ Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.

PERFECT PRAISE. This is the thought I had on my mind on yesterday when I went to church. What do I mean by perfect praise? Perfect praise means we give God the ideal praise, without any interruption from outside forces. This means we will not allow our concerns, our issues, our problems to stand between us and the praise that God is due. We will pay tribute to God uninterrupted. Sometimes we must first remind ourselves of why we praise. We praise him because he is as he said to Moses, "I AM, THAT I AM", he is Jehovah/Yaweh. He tells us he has always been and will always be. He is our deliver, our God, our way maker, our peace – Jehovah Salom, our provider, Jehovah-jireh, his is our covering, our Jehovah-nissi, He is our ever present God, Jehovah-shammah. He is our savior.

Once we remind ourselves of who we are worshipping, we can do as the psalmist and sing joyfully. The psalmist tells us to praise him with the instruments. If you play the piano, then play it. If you sing, then sing. Whatever gift you have, use it to praise God.

The psalmist says to sing a new song; one that is filled with the love and thankfulness to the Lord. We are also told to play skillfully. This means that whatever talents we have we should use them to honor God by practicing and giving our best. The psalmist gives a few of the reasons why God is worth praise when he writes that God made the heavens by his Word.

This is that portion as I stated before where you have to remind yourself about who God is. The psalmist was reminding himself of why God was worthy of ideal (perfect) praise. He is the all-knowing, all-powerful God and he deserves our very best.

This praise I am talking about is not only what you do in church. Do you praise God in the quietness of your home? Do you raise holy hands, do you sing, do you give your talents with skill and purposefully? We need to be mindful that we can praise God at anytime. In our homes, in our churches and in our quiet time when we read his Word.

This perfect praise is not only for the mature, but even for the young. It is so important that young people learn that God wants to have a personal relationship with them. He wants you involved in a time of praise with him. He desires to meet you for a time together. Do you set aside a time for God? I know it gets busy and we sometimes forget, but it is really important for us to make that time with God, especially if we desire to grow.

I challenge us this month to begin to make more time with God for worship. Not just a time of asking him for something, but a time where he invites us into his presence and we spend it with him, honoring, loving and adoring him. That's perfect praise!

Prayer: Lord help us to set aside time to have perfect praise with you. It is perfect because we are not allowing anything to get in between us. Not our problems, our worries, nothing. Help us this month experience that perfect praise with you. Amen.

Teaching Notes

Be Strong and Go!



The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ~ Deuteronomy 31:5-7 (New International Version)


Moses is preparing the Israelites for leadership change. He has led the people and now he is 120 years old. He tells them that he will not be going with them, but for them to have courage and not be afraid because God was going to go with them.

Moses is giving the people the instructions to go forward and take the land that the Lord has for them. Now this land is not empty. There are other people living there, but God promises them that if they follow him, he will give it to them. If you read this entire chapter you will see that God also knows that the people will rebel and not do all that they are told to do. Yet, God still encourages Joshua to be strong and go.

What's the lesson for us today? God has some things that he has especially for you. He is encouraging you not to be afraid of what the road to the land looks like, but to go. God wants his children to go and conquer the places he has set aside for each one of us. We cannot look at what's standing in the way of us receiving our land (just like the Israelites could not look at the people already possessing the land and let that keep them from receiving what God had for them).

What is the land God has for you? The first land is one of safety. God desires that you know him and have an intimate relationship with him. You can only do that through the acceptance of salvation as offered by his Son. The next land he has for you is one of purpose. God desires you to seek him so that you can find what he has for your life that will glorify him before others.

Today, I want to encourage someone to be strong and go. Go and find what God has for your life. Do not be afraid of the battle. It seems hard, and it might even look like you might lose. However, God promises that he will accompany us on our journey and that he will help us in our times of need.

Prayer: Lord help us your children to hear your message of courage and of sending. You are sending your children into some places that you said are ours but fear, not knowing what we will face and lack of faith keeps us from receiving what you have. Help us today so that we do not miss your blessings for our lives. This we ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Teaching Notes

Who Am I to you?

But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. " - Mark 8:29


Jesus asked his disciples a question.  He asked them, who do people say I am? They responded and said, some say you are John the Baptist and some say you are Elias and others one of the prophets from before. Jesus then asked them, who do you say I am?
 
Peter answered and said, you are the Christ. This was not a long interaction, but a vital one for you and I to understand. Jesus initial question of who do they say I am and the response from Peter are important for believers to understand if we are going to walk worthy of our calling as disciples of Christ.
 
In Jesus' day they thought he was someone else. They thought he was John the Baptist that had been beheaded come back. Some thought he was one of the prophets. The problem was they were wrong and no one thought he was who he was, the Son of the Living God. They did not acknowledge that he was the promised Messiah that God had sent to earth to save his people.
 
This is true in our day. Some believe that Jesus was a good teacher, some believe he was a prophet that came to pave the way for another messiah. Whatever they believe about Jesus if it is not that he is the Son of the Living God, they are missing the mark. Many today still do not believe they must accept Jesus as Lord in order to be with God because they do not really know who he is.
 
Jesus' question turned from what the world thought about him to what his own disciples thought. It's true for us today. Jesus' turns to you and I and ask who do you say I am or more personally "Who Am I to you?"
 
As disciples of Christ we must believe Jesus is who he says he is. We cannot believe what the world tries to tell us he is, but in fact believe what his word reveals him to be. He tells us he is the Christ, the Son of God. He is the one that died for our sins and intercedes on our behalf.
 
We cannot believe the world's view that he is simply a good man, and that there are many paths and many ways to reach God. We cannot believe that any behavior or actions are suitable to present to Christ because, well he loves us and he'll take whatever we give him. He revealed himself as the Son of God and that His Father is a holy and righteous God that requires a Holy and righteous people.
 
When Christ comes to you and ask, "Who am I to you?" How will you answer? Will you answer and say to Him that he is your Lord and savior and that he is Christ in your life? Or will you answer like the world?
 
Prayer: Lord today help us so that we can answer this question with an affirmative answer that you are the Christ. Not simply because we said it from our mouths, but that our lives reveal that you are Christ dwelling in our hearts. Lord today help us release ourselves in your hand so that we can learn who you are, as you teach us what our identity is in you. Amen.

Teaching Notes

What's Your Reflection?

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." ~ John 3:20-21

We live in a time where people are saying one thing, but doing something else. In my time we called this being "two faced". Sometimes people are doing things that are not right but they try to hide it. They are not so quick to come around areas that would "shine the light" on what they are doing because they do not want to be exposed.

We hear it in our news, political people having to say they are sorry or resign positions because the evil they were doing has been exposed. Companies have gone bankrupt because of the deeds of CEO's being exposed.

God's word speaks to us today about these kinds of things. Those that do wrong hate the light. There are different applications here regarding light. Light first and foremost represents God and his truth. People that do wrong try to hide from God's light because it shows them for what they are. Another application for light is a place of transparency. In the dark it is hard to see things so a person can hide things, but when a spotlight has been placed on something you can see it clearer.

This is the requirement of God. He wants his children to put themselves in the light. First to be his child you must be a child of Light. And when you are a child of light, you must walk in the light so that others can see your actions plainly and know that God's Spirit dwells within your hearts.

The question is, what's your reflection? If you look at yourself in the light will you find somethings reflected there that need to be changed? Are you going to church on Sunday's and appearing to be one of the group, but during the week you are hanging out with friends drinking, smoking, having sex and things that God says to refrain from? We need to really take a true look at ourselves so that we will not be fooled about who we are.

Have you looked at yourself in the dark in the mirror and saw nothing wrong, but when you turned on the light you were able to see the blemishes or imperfections on your face? Well that is how it is if we try to do things in the dark. We begin to think we look alright because we are seeing our reflection in a darkened stated. But when light is reflected upon us we see all the blemishes and imperfections in our lives.

This month, that the time to truly reflect on your life. Is there anything (big or small) if exposes in your life would be displeasing to the Lord? Then get rid of it!

Praying this month for God to help our reflection to reflect more of his son so that when others see us, they will truly know that God is doing something in us.