Purpose Kids: Temptation in the Garden

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Tempted in the Garden

Purpose Kids: In the Beginning

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Purpose Kids:In the Beginning

The Great House of God

The Great House of God

“You are one step away from the house of God. Wherever you are. Whatever time it is. Whether in the office on Thursday or at soccer practice on Saturday, you are only a decision away from the presence of your Father … all you need to change is your perception.”

1.     What does it mean to you to be in the presence of God?

Remember, this is no house of stone. You won’t find it on a map. You won’t find it described in a realtor journal.

But you will find it in the Bible. You’ve seen the blueprint before. You’ve read the names of the rooms and recited the layout. You’re familiar with the design. But chances are you never considered it to be a house plan. You viewed the verses as a prayer.

Indeed they are. The Lord’s Prayer. It would be difficult to find someone who hasn’t quoted the prayer or read the words. Children memorize it. Parishioners recite it. Students study it … but I want to challenge us to do something different. I want us to live in it … to view it as the floor plan to our spiritual house. In these verses Christ has provided more than a model for prayer, he has provided a model for living. These words do more than tell us what to say to God; they tell us how to exist with God. These words describe a grand house in which God’s children were intended to live … with him, forever.

2.     What part of the Lord’s Prayer means the most to you?

3.     How would you describe someone who lives close to God?

24 The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands.

25 This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; he has everything he needs. 26 God began by making one person, and from him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. 27 God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us: 28 ‘We live in him. We walk in him. We are in him.’ Some of your own poets have said: ‘For we are his children.’ ”

Acts 17:24–28

4.     How do people reach out to God?

5.     How would you describe God’s dwelling place?

6.     If God is not far away from us, what causes us to feel so removed from him at times?

9 So when you pray, you should pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,

may your name always be kept holy.

10 May your kingdom come

and what you want be done,

here on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us the food we need for each day.

12 Forgive us for our sins,

just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us.

13 And do not cause us to be tempted,

but save us from the Evil One.’

Matthew 6:9–13

7.     What phrase of this prayer is particularly meaningful to you today?

8.     In what ways does God provide your daily bread?

9.     What does this prayer say to you about dwelling in God’s presence?

“You were intended to live in your Father’s house. Any place less than his is insufficient. Any place far from his is dangerous. Only the home built for your heart can protect your heart. And your Father wants you to dwell in him …. Your Father doesn’t just ask you to live with him, he asks you to live in him.”

Journal

In what ways do I live outside of God’s presence?

For Further Study

To study more about dwelling in God’s presence read Psalm 23:1–6; 27:4–5; 90:1–2; 139:7–12; John 14:23.

Additional Questions

10.     If God’s house were a house in your city, what would it look like?

11.     What do you think are the significant rooms in the house of God?

12.     How does prayer give someone access to the dwelling place of God Almighty?

How to deal with Fear: Loss

DEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO THE LORD

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

PSALM 37:5

Having found our deepest delight in God, we realize that we must give all of our lives to Him. This isn’t a temporary commitment, a halfway intention, or the feeling of a moment. It’s a choice and a contract of the heart. As in marriage, we commit ourselves to that partnership for the rest of our lives.

How does committing to the Lord help us in times of material loss? In committing to Him, we cast all our burdens upon Him. He becomes our life—the place where we bring our problems, our joys, our marriages, our families, our careers. Life and happiness are no longer dependent on financial success or material possessions. It’s now all about Him.

The verse above ends with the phrase “And He shall bring it to pass.” When we trust Him, depend on Him, and respond to Him in faith, He will make our greatest dreams come true by elevating them from the material to the eternal.

God is also the answer when our losses leave us unable to help ourselves:

The helpless commits himself to You;

You are the helper of the fatherless.

PSALM 10:14

When we dedicate ourselves to God, helpless becomes a word without meaning. When we’ve lost our jobs, our houses, or our savings, and debt or bankruptcy stares us in the face, it’s as if we’re crushed under the weight of an enormous sack filled with every problem facing us. It’s a burden too heavy to bear. We can’t take another step. We can’t lift it—but God can. He gently says, “May I take that upon Myself? My shoulders are stronger.” As we say yes, life brightens and becomes joyful.

Cast your burden on the LORD,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

PSALM 55:22

[Cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 PETER 5:7

Why keep struggling with your losses on your own? Why not give the burden to Him? Nothing could be more liberating.

              

Waiting

 

Waiting...
Waiting is easier said than done. Can’t say that I like it. Time moves like a glacier...slowwwww.  The clock ticks every five minutes, not every second. When we want something, it feels like someone pressed the pause button. Life in slo-mo. We don’t like to wait.  We weave through traffic, looking for the faster lane. We frown at the person who takes eleven items into the ten-item express checkout. We drum our fingers while the song downloads or the microwave heats our coffee. “Come on, come on.” We want six-pack abs in ten minutes and minute rice in thirty seconds. We don’t like to wait. Not on the doctor, the traffic, or the pizza.
Not on God?
Take a moment and look around you. Do you realize where we sit? This planet is God’s waiting room. Consider the story of Joseph:
While in prison, Joseph had asked the butler to put in a good word for him. “Remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house . . . I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon” (Gen. 40:14–15).
We can almost hear the butler reply, “Certainly, I will mention you to Pharaoh. First chance I get. You’ll be hearing from me.” Joseph hurried back to his cell and collected his belongings. He wanted to be ready when the call came. A day passed. Then two. Then a week . . . a month. Six months. No word. As it turned out, “Pharaoh’s cupbearer . . . promptly forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought” (v. 23 NLT).
Time slowed...seemingly standing still...
Chapter 41 starts like this: “Two years passed and Pharaoh had a dream” (v. 1 MSG).
Two years passed!!!  Twenty-four months of silence. One hundred and four weeks of waiting. Seven hundred and thirty days of wondering. Two thousand one hundred and ninety meals alone. Seventeen thousand five hundred and twenty hours of listening for God yet hearing nothing but silence.
Plenty of time to grow bitter, cynical, angry. Folks have given up on God for lesser reasons in shorter times. There have been times the we have given up...in much less time.
Not Joseph.
When the call came to free Joseph because of the kings bad dreams...
Joseph emerged from his prison cell bragging on God. Jail time didn’t devastate his faith; it deepened it.
And what of us? We aren’t in prison, but we may be infertile or inactive or in limbo or in between jobs or in search of health, help, a house, or a spouse. Where we are is in God’s waiting room if we keep our eyes upon HIM! Here is what we need to know: while we wait, God works.
“My Father is always at his work,” Jesus said (John 5:17 NIV). God never twiddles his thumbs. He never stops. He takes no vacations. He rested on the seventh day of creation but got back to work on the eighth and hasn’t stopped since.
Just because we are idle, don’t assume God is.
Joseph’s story appeared to stall out in chapter 40. Our hero was in shackles. The train was off the tracks. History was in a holding pattern. But while Joseph was waiting, God was working. He assembled the characters. God placed the butler in Joseph’s care. He stirred the sleep of the king with odd dreams. He confused Pharaoh’s counselors. And at just the right time, God called Joseph to duty.
He’s working for us as well. “Be still, and know that I am God” reads the sign on God’s waiting room wall. We can be glad because God is good.We can be still because he is active. We can rest because he is busy.
To wait, biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst, worry, fret, make demands, or take control. Nor is waiting inactivity. Waiting is a sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and belief. To wait is to “rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; . . . not fret” (Ps. 37:7).
But...being who we are sometimes...we don't take heed to this...
Let me leave you with this if you are ready to  give up, Lose faith, Walk away.

Don’t.
For heaven’s sake, Don’t. All of heaven is warring on your behalf. Above and around you at this very instant, God’s messengers are at work.
Keep waiting. GOD is moving
Be Encouraged...

Today's message: Treasure

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A new Bible Study...Stress

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Lets talk about Sex

The truth about worrying

The truth about worrying:

Worry gives small problems big shadows. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength. Worry scuttles our lives, hurts us, and most sadly, dishonors God. God says: “Every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good” (Romans 8:28). Worry takes a look at catastrophes and groans, “It’s all coming unraveled.” God’s Word says, “[God has] done it all and done it well” (Mark 7:37). Worry disagrees: “The world has gone crazy.” God’s Word calls God “the blessed controller of all things” (1 Timothy 6:15 PHILLIPS). Worry wonders if anyone is in control. God’s Word declares, “God will take care of everything you need” (Philippians 4:19). Worry whispers this lie: “God doesn’t know what you need.” God’s Word reasons: “You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?” (Matthew 7:11). Worry discounts and replies, “You’re on your own. It’s you against the world.”

Worry wages war on your faith. You know that. You hate to worry. But what can you do to stop it? These three worry stoppers deserve your consideration: 

Pray more. 

No one can pray and worry at the same time. When we worry, we aren’t praying. When we pray, we aren’t worrying. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV). When you pray, you “stay” your mind on Christ, resulting in peace. Bow your knees and banish anxiety. 

Want less. 

Most anxiety stems, not from what we need, but from what we want. “Delight yourselves in the Lord, yes, find your joy in him at all times” (Philippians 4:4 PHILLIPS). If God is enough for you, then you’ll always have enough, because you’ll always have God. 

Live for today. 

Heaven still has her manna house.  You still have today. Don’t sacrifice it on the altar of anxiety.  “Go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time” Hebrews 4:16 . You cannot change yesterday...You are not promised tomorrow... Seize what God has given you right now...Today. 

Be Encouraged

Purpose Church Podcast

Post by Adam Edelstein.

Still

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10 niv). 

This verse contains a command with a promise. 
The command? Be still.
Cover your mouth.
Bend your knees.
The promise? You will know that I am God. 
The vessel of faith journeys on soft waters. Belief rides on the wings of waiting.
In the midst of your daily storms, and in this storm that has swept over our country and even the entire world, make it a point to be still and set your sights on him. Let God be God. Let him bathe you in his glory so that both your breath and your troubles are sucked from your soul. Be still. Be quiet. Be open and willing. Take a moment to be still, and know that he is God.

Sing...

Sing:
Here's a situation where it seems the enemy taunted the Jews. They were slaves in a foreign land. And the enemy says, “Now sing one of those songs.”

Maybe you've been there. Your husband comes in and says, “I'm leaving you and the kids.” And the devil says, “Now sing your song.” The doctor says it's cancer. And the devil stands taunting you saying, “Sing you song now!” Your baby dies, your boss hands you a pink slip, your teenager runs away from home....and the devil dares you to sing. What do you do when you don't feel like singing?

Job's attitude was, “I don't understand why. And I don't know for how long. But this one thing I do know. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord. And devil...you can't have my song?”

SING ANYWAY !!!

Never forget this when you are looking  for encouragement not to stop singing your song, the supreme example has to be Christ.

Jesus never stopped singing. In the garden, in the shadow of the cross He sings, “Not my will but thine be done.” They pluck He beard, they reject Him and beat Him and nail Him to a cross, and the devil though he had silenced the song, but from the cross He sings, “Forgive them Father, they know not what they do.” He dies on the cross, He is buried and the tomb is sealed and the devil thinks he has silenced His song. But on the third day the tomb burst open with Jesus robed in splendor and He's singing, “Ain't no grave gonna hold my body down.” He said, “Devil...you can't have my song, and I'm gonna give this song to my children, and you can't have their song either.

And because Jesus never stopped singing, He gave us a song that we never have to stop singing. And one day we will join the heavenly host and sing a song the angels cannot sing, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see.”

Only Human...Sermon from Journey Church

Here is the video of the service from Journey Church yesterday: 

Only Human 

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Please email your results to me at Purposechurch@outlook.com , and please print and bring your results to Small Group. 

http://enewhope.org/spiritualgifts/evaluation.php

Be Blessed

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A People Worth it??? A Bible Study

Are People Worth It?

What did Jesus know that allowed him to do what he did? What internal code kept his calm from erupting into chaos? He knew the value of people.

Vent...its ok Really go ahead.  Without giving a name, describe one of the most difficult people you've ever had to deal with....

Relate...In our house we call 5:00 p.m. the piranha hour. That's the time of day when everyone wants a piece of Mom.

Piranha hours: Parents have them, bosses endure them, secretaries dread them, teachers are besieged by them, and Jesus taught us how to live through them successfully.

When hands extended and voices demanded, Jesus responded with love. He did so because the code within him disarmed the alarm. The code is worth noting: "People are precious."

Review what our Lord faced ...

Immense crowds—a Niagara of people followed him everywhere.

Insensitive interruptions—he sought rest and got people.

Incredible demands—crowds of thousands clamored for his touch.

Inept assistance—the one and only time he asked for help, he got a dozen "You're pulling my leg" expressions.

But the calm within Christ never erupted. The alarm never sounded. What did Jesus know that enabled him to do what he did? He knew the incredible value of people. As a result:

He didn't stamp his feet and demand his own way.

He didn't tell the disciples to find another beach where there were no people.

He didn't ask the crowds why they hadn't brought their own food.

He didn't send the apostles back into the field for more training.

Most important, he stayed calm in the midst of chaos. He even paused, in the midst of it all, to pray a prayer of thanks.

Remember ...Honesty.2. What is the natural human response to our piranha hours?

Stop and think about this...3. Why do we tend to devalue people when they irritate us?

The Word

38"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' 39But I tell you, don't stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also. 40If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles. 42If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don't refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you.

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemies.' 44But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. 46If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. 47And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don't know God are nice to their friends. 48So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Matthew 5:38–48

The following questions will force us to move beyond self...

4. Describe the crux of the difficulty of loving the unlovable.

5. How can Jesus' example help us have patience with the people who aggravate us?

6. Explain the temptation to still live by the creed, "an eye for an eye."

More from The Word

14I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.

What you have done is wonderful.

I know this very well.

15You saw my bones being formed

as I took shape in my mother's body.

When I was put together there,

16you saw my body as it was formed.

All the days planned for me

were written in your book

before I was one day old.

Psalm 139:14–16

7. How can the way God values people help us to be more patient with others?

8. If we are aware that God values us, why do we spend so much energy worrying about daily concerns?

9. How does the patience we have with ourselves affect the patience we have with others?

Remember

When is your piranha hour? When do people in your world demand much and offer little?

What did Jesus know that enabled him to do what he did? He knew how the people felt, and he knew that they were special.

You are precious to him. So precious that he became like you so that you would come to him.

When you struggle, he listens. When you yearn, he responds. When you question, he hears. He has been there.

Now i want you to Journal your impressions, reactions, thoughts and questions 

What kind of compassion do I need from God and how can I pass that compassion along?

For Further Study...Great Word 

To study more about the value of people Leviticus 24:17; Jeremiah 31:3; Matthew 6:25–34; Matthew 12:11–12; John 3:16.

Additional Questions

10. How does society place a value on people?

11. How do you think the world would function differently if, for the most part, our society valued humans the way Jesus did?

12. What is the most difficult part of dealing with people?

Purpose...

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God.

It never was between you and them anyway.