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| The Young
Adults Bible Study Class is During Sunday School At 10:00 am.
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We'd like to take this
opportunity to extend a personal invitation to you to attend our bible
study.
Our current
studies are listed below.
August, 2010
Lessons
"
The
Marks of Christian Commitment
"
Genuine, long-term commitment
seems to be a rare thing today. A highly mobile culture offers fewer and
fewer exemplars of those willing to accept long-term obligations. Think
about how many people choose a short-term lease for a vehicle rather than
purchasing it outright and holding onto it for, say, eight years. Think of
all those tantalizing cell phone offers with “no contracts to sign.”
This trend to shorter-term arrangements is closely tied to
the expectations of a consumer-driven economy. How can one possibly bear
the inadequacy of last year’s technology? Why would anyone repair
something old when a newer version is within reach? The exceptional person
who wishes to repair and retain a certain product may soon learn that the
manufacturer seems to have conspired against that idea. For example, it
may cost almost as much to buy a replacement battery for one’s old
cordless drill as it does to buy a new cordless drill with one or
more batteries! To “just get a new one” often seems to be the easiest
route.
I wish I could say that Christians are immune to such a trend
in the spiritual arena, but I cannot. Church-hopping has replaced
long-term membership for some Christians as they “shop around” for an
experience to meet the moment’s felt needs. Even worse, some Christians
have taken to experimenting with non-Christian forms of spiritual
fulfillment under a “newer is truer” mind-set. Those who are tempted
(or already have been seduced) by this kind of thinking will especially
benefit from this quarter’s lessons.
August 1st We
discern various marks of Christian commitment in Paul’s letter to the
church in Philippi. This lesson teaches us that Christian commitment
must be unwavering. Paul conducted his ministry under opposition from
both those claiming and those rejecting Christ. He was able to endure by
placing Christ first. His letter encouraged the Philippians to follow
his example in that regard. They were to live worthily amidst whatever
suffering might come their way. So must we.
August 8th Christian commitment must be humble and selfless, For the
church to endure and flourish under suffering, its members must stay on
the same page. For this to happen, believers must follow the example of
Christ, who humbled himself and put the needs of others first. Only in
this way will we be able to shine brilliantly as stewards of the Word of
life. To “empty” ourselves as Christ did is our supreme
challenge—and our supreme privilege.
August 15th brings us the challenge of
distinguishing between past and future orientations. Paul is clear in
this regard: Christian commitment must be oriented to the future, to be
oriented toward a heavenly goal. To be enamored with the past, by
contrast, is to focus on one’s resumé of personal accomplishments.
Like the apostle Paul, we must be willing to renounce all of these. We
must resolve to know Christ alone as we press forward in Him. In so
doing, we experience both the fellowship of His sufferings and the power
of His resurrection in the present.
August 22nd teaches us that Christian commitment involves a zeal for
peaceful, joyous fellowship within the church. Churches that are
fractured by strife will not endure. No one wants to be part of a
joyless church.
Believers are to be at
peace not only with fellow believers but also with whatever
uncertainties the future may hold. Rather than dwell on what we cannot
control, we are to focus on the good that we know and have in Christ.
Like Paul, we must exhibit unflinching confidence that God will meet all
our needs.
August
29th Lesson shows us how Paul
embodied all of the above marks of Christian commitment during his last
recorded days under house arrest in Rome. Here we see unwavering
commitment while under persecution. Here we see a steadfast commitment
to proclaiming the reality of the present and future kingdom of God that
has been made possible by Christ. Paul lived what he taught until his
dying days. So must we.
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