“In the Beginning…”
(Genesis — Revelation)
Paradise Made/ Paradise Lost/ Paradise Regained
“In the beginning — God!”
Evolution?
Creation?
Romans 1:18-32
Bias? What is the best bias to be biased about?
Absolutes?
6 Days? Why? (Hebrews 10:25-26)
Hebrews 9:22 John 5:45-47 Psalm 11:8
The Foundation?
Give a R _____________ — not an O ________!
Who sets the rules?
(Marriage/ Sexuality/ Authority?)
If no God –- set your O __________ rules.
God is Creator!
A HEART OF CONTENTMENT
(Philippians 4)
Happy = __________________________
Content = _________________________
Psalm 63:3-5; 65:1-4; 107:4, Psalm 23, Matthew 6:25-34
Sinful contentment???
Great gain — I Timothy 6:6 Hebrews 13:5-6
Not what ________ — Who ________ ME!
SIN OF DISCONTENT:
SO THE BIG ?
HOW DO I GET A HEART OF CONTENTMENT?
L ____________ yourself in O ________.
“In the Lord” A command that can be O _______!
D _________.
“My Rights” 4:5 — “Gentleness” =
(VS. 6-7)
I Peter 4:7 “God of Peace — Peace of God”
Don’t feed the monster!
Yet — “Holy Discontent”
Psalm 17:15
Still Thankful?
James 1:17
How do I get my Thanksgiving “Out of Control”?
2 Bible stories: Exodus 12:35-36; Exodus 35 & 36
II Corinthians 8:1-5
4 LESSONS:
For God’s G _________!
II Corinthians 9:7
Make the connection —
Look behind the plate!
When learn / practice 1-4 —
WATCH OUT!
“Stuff”
(I Chronicles 29)
? Who’s Stuff?
The Context …
The Challenge …
Who am I?
The issue?
Heart like that?
Ask God —
“God Loves — God Gives!”
I Timothy 6:17-19
Old Testament? Tithe? Freewill?
NEW TESTAMENT? 7 Principles:
Luke 6:38 Matthew 6:19-21 II Corinthians 9:6-8
Mark 12:41-44 Luke 16:10-12
II Corinthians 8 / 9
Luke 16:11-12
Luke 19:1-8 II Corinthians 8:3-4
II Corinthians 9:12
II Corinthians 8:8-9
I Corinthians 16:1-2
“Treasury”
RESULT OF ALL?
I Timothy 6:19 —
II Corinthians 9:6, 10, 11 —
Acts 20:35 —
“The Lord be with You!”
(II Thessalonians 3:16-18)
The Lord is with you! And gives 4 Blessings:
PEACE
STRENGTH
TRUTH
GRACE
Saved by Grace — Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace not over!
Grace is:
Essential for salvation, and:
E _________ (II Corinthians 12:9-10; Proverbs 3:34)
S ________ (Romans 12:6; I Timothy 1:12-14; I Peter 4:10; Ephesians 2:10)
G ________ (Acts 20:31; II Peter 3:18)
G ________ (II Corinthians 8:1-9)
A MYSTERY / PARADOX!
Balance: Colossians 1:28-29
AMAZING GRACE!
SO: E ___________
Serve/Give/Grow/Live Worthy
S __________ with unbelievers.
S __________ with believers.
Colossians 3:12-14
HOW SWEET THE SOUND!
“The Lord be with You!”
(II Thessalonians 3:16-18)
4 Blessings from God — Who is with you!
PEACE (vs. 16)
STRENGTH (vs. 16)
Psalm 46:1
Benefits?
Colossians 1:29; I Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 13:20-21)
(Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20)
He is with you! (Ephesians 3:16-19)
Philippians 4:13 Romans 8:37
TRUTH (vs.17)
“By my Hand” II Thessalonians 2:2
II Corinthians 4:2
God is T ________ Numbers 23:19; I Samuel 15:29
Titus 1:1-3; Hebrews 6:18
Christ is T _______ John 14:16; John 1:14, 17
Ephesians 4:21; Revelation 19:11
Holy Spirit is T ______
John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; I John 5:6
So the church is to be a pillar of the T _________!
I Timothy 3:14-15
II Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6 James 1:18 I Peter 1:22-25
Hebrews 4:12
The Lord is with you —
Therefore have Peace, Strength & Truth!
“The Lord be with You!”
(II Thessalonians 3:16-18)
4 BLESSINGS FROM GOD — WHO IS WITH YOU.
Peace
Not “False Peace” But from “Lord of Peace”
Such peace is:
1. D ___________.
2. A G __________.
Numbers 6:23-26 Psalm 29:11 John 14:27 Romans 15:17
2 “Peace Interruptions”:
1. S ______________
Psalm 85:10 Deuteronomy 29:16-21
2. Not a P _____________
No such thing as peace w/o H ___________.
Thomas Watson: “You may as well suck health out of poison, as peace out of sin.”
True peace — Grows stronger out of ___________.
3. Continually A ____________.
HOW DO I RESTORE PEACE?
A. T ___________ God. ( Psalm 42:11)
Thomas Watson: “If you would have peace — make war with sin.”
B. If forfeited by S _________ – R _________/
O __________ (Leviticus 26:3, 6)
C. Accept God’s D ____________. (Job 5:17-27)
D. Walk in the S ____________. (Galatians 5:22)
E. Love God from the H _______, avoid L ______.
(Galatians 6:12-16)
F. P _________ God will restore it.
4. Exists in E __________ circumstance
ANCHORED IN GOD.
UNBREAKABLE!
“Work, Work, Work!”
(II Thessalonians 3:6-15)
Third time mentioned to Thessalonians.
(I Thessalonians 4:11-12; 5:14)
SIX INCENTIVES:
DISFELLOWSHIP (vs.6)
EXAMPLE (vs. 7-9)
Acts 20:18, 33, 34-35
“The Right”? Galatians 6:6 I Timothy 5:17
I Corinthians 9:3-15
SURVIVAL (vs. 10)
Literally: “Not wishing to work”
Proverbs 16:26
HARMONY (vs. 11-13)
“Busy” vs. “Busy bodies”
I Timothy 5:13
Psalm 37:21, 26/ 41:1 Proverbs 28:27 Isaiah 58:7
Luke 14:12-14 Acts 20:35
“Don’t tire of living up to your calling”
SHAME (vs. 14)
“Be Ashamed” Literally: “Turn on Himself”
The Goal?= _____________
LOVE (vs. 15)
Not as enemy — Warn as a ___________.
Galatians 6:1 I Timothy 6:1
How work @ this?
At you job?
In Christ’s Church?
“Work, Work, Work!”
(II Thessalonians 3:6-15)
Why Work?
(I Corinthians 10:31)
God C ______________ it.
Exodus 20:19
God sets the E _____________.
Part of C _____________.
G ___________ from God.
5. Working for the L ______________.
Ephesians 6:5-7 Colossians 3:22-25
Proverbs 10:26 / 15:19 / 20:17 / 24:30-34
Third time mentioned to Thessalonians
(I Thessalonians 4:11-12; 5:14)
So now — Directly confronts the issues.
Six Incentives to get to work:
Disfellowship
“Command”
“Keep Away”
Matthew 18:15-17
“Idle” =
“Live according to the teaching” =
II Timothy 3:16-17
Why so Drastic?
GET TO WORK!