Objective: In order to begin to understand life’s ills, we will ponder deep thoughts through a biblical lens for biblical answers. You may not like most of the answers, but you’ll learn to live with them in a healthy, holy, and happy way.

Go Ahead & Free Yourself

Matthew 18:21-35 NLT Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. 26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. 31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters[m] from your heart.”

Introduction: Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve. Humanity has no problem accepting God’s grace, but we struggle extending that same grace to others.

Transition: During a teaching moment, Peter asks Jesus about forgiveness. Forgiveness means to cease feelings of anger/resentment for an offense; to cancel a debt. Jesus responds with a parable (an earthly story to illustrate a moral and/or spiritual lesson).

Exposition: In order to handle forgiveness like Jesus, remember…

-Forgiveness is a choice

-When you forgive, you’re taking a chance

-But forgiveness always sets you free!

Conclusion: “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” ~I John 1:9

Objective: In order to begin to understand life’s ills, we will ponder deep thoughts through a biblical lens for biblical answers. You may not like most of the answers, but you’ll learn to live with them in a healthy, holy, and happy way.

What About the Poor?

Amos 8:4-8 NLT Listen to this, you who rob the poor and trample down the needy! 5 You can’t wait for the Sabbath day to be over and the religious festivals to end so you can get back to cheating the helpless. You measure out grain with dishonest measures and cheat the buyer with dishonest scales.
6 And you mix the grain you sell with chaff swept from the floor. Then you enslave poor people for one piece of silver or a pair of sandals. 7 Now the Lord has sworn this oath by his own name, the Pride of Israel: “I will never forget the wicked things you have done! 8 The earth will tremble for your deeds,
and everyone will mourn. The ground will rise like the Nile River at floodtime; it will heave up, then sink again.

Introduction: Insufficient (not enough) and /or inferior (not good enough) defines the word poor.

Transition: If our neighbors aren’t alright, then we aren’t alright!

Exposition:

-Be aware of their plight

-Be active in problem solving

-Be appreciative

Conclusion: “He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a samritan.” Luke 17:16

Objective: In order to begin to understand life’s ills, we will ponder deep thoughts through a biblical lens for biblical answers. You may not like most of the answers, but you’ll learn to live with them in a healthy, holy, and happy way.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Job 1:13-22 NLT One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, [14] a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, [15] when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” [16] While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” [17] While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” [18] While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. [19] Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” [20] Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. [21] He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” [22] In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Introduction: It is not a question of if but when bad things happen. Time is filled with swift transition, and it behooves us all to live, to live as if we have an authority, and to live as if we have an adversary.

Transition: Job is an old patriarchal story, composed of testing, trouble and triumph. It causes us to raise legitimate questions when bad things happen to good people. Questions like… Where is God? When will bad get better? and Why do bad things happen to good people?

Exposition: When bad things happen…

–Grieve

–Give God glory

–Give the satan/accuser a black eye

Conclusion: “Job’s story does not directly answer the question of innocent suffering. However, it does help Job understand his creatureliness and mortality. He comes to know that God is real and accessible to the people who call upon God and that God is present in their struggle to face and overcome suffering.” (Troublesome Bible Passages, Wingeier and Watson, page 24)

Revelation 14:13 NLT – And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

Introduction: Memories are a blessing.

Transition: There are only two ways to die, either in our sins or in the Lord.

Exposition: When saints die in the Lord, they are RELEASED (II Corinthians 5:8), CARRIED (Luke 16:19-31) and WELCOMED (Acts 7:54-60).

Rest belongs to those who work!

The proof is always in the pudding!

Conclusion: For those of us who remain, we can live despite the void because God never leaves us!

*Maroon 5… Memories Video https://youtu.be/SlPhMPnQ58k?si=hKS2-7I9rMAI1Fg3

Objective: To establish that when you think you’ve reached the pinnacle of what life has to offer, that God knows how to bless your socks off!

Genesis 22:1-2 NLT Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” ² “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Introduction: Listening to God is a skill that believers learn and finds delight in. Obeying God is sometimes difficult, because what we hear is a far cry from what we actually want to do.

Transition: God’s testing significantly differs from Satan’s tempting.

Exposition: Faith is risky business, but the reward is worth it!

1. The confusion: Abram means exalted father but Abraham means father of the countless.
2. The consumption: Can you be obedient without a why?
3. The conviction: “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” (verse 5)

Conclusion: No matter what you’ve heard, seen, or experienced, remember that God provides (Yahweh Yireh/Jehovah Jireh)! God not only provides for today, but for tomorrow too…

Objective: To establish that when you think you’ve reached the pinnacle of what life has to offer, that God knows how to bless your socks off!

Genesis 18:9-15 NLT “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked. “She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied. 10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

Introduction: Christians must invest in their relationship with God, to avoid tragedy and hilarity. The investment is trust in God’s track record, timing, and truth.

Transition: When you think you’ve figured your life out, you run into a gotcha moment without warning. God shows up and turns your winter of decline into a wonder of development!

Exposition: Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90 years old, but God’s Gotcha! has interrupted their acceptance of mediocrity…

Revealed Prophetically (verse 10a) -Removes Sarah’s Shame -Rekindles Abraham’s Ambition

Received Poorly (verses 10b-12) -Laughed at her current condition -Laughed at the condition of her husband

Rectified Providentially (verses 13-15)