The event will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2010, 5:30 pm at the Tenth Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall located at 1701 Delancey St. Philadelphia, PA 19103. The cost for a working adult is $ 5 and FREE for students/children.
If you are able, please consider arriving early to help set up and/or staying after to help with clean up.
We look forward to seeing you there!
"Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." (Philippians 3:17)
How does God shepherd us? Is he always leading you with a special revelation of the holy spirit? Does every circumstance you face require new insight and a unique response from God? Certainly God has the hairs of our head numbered. Nothing escapes his attention.
But God has already provided abundant means of shepherding us. One of them is the example of other godly people. When faced with uncertainty about how to proceed, sometimes the simplest thing is to consider the example others in your circle of believers would act. In that way, God multiplies godly behavior and shepherds his flock in a consistent direction.
1. Who is the last person you considered when you wanted a good example of how to act in a situation?
2. Why is that person a good example? What about them makes you want to follow their pattern?
3. Are you a good example to others? Can you think of a case where someone said they were thinking of you when they faced a difficult situation?
-- Charlie
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
What is God's means of redeeming us from our sin-sickness that he describes in verses 7-8? That we abandon self-reliance and trust completely in him. What's the sign of someone who is healing from their sin-sickness? They abandon self and trust wholly in God. What does that look like? God is helpful here in creating that visual. He pictures a tree planted near water. Not in a desert, but near a source of life. As a result, it survives heat and drought. Even under bad conditions, it still looks OK and bears good fruit.
1. How do you plant yourself near God's supply of nourishment for you? Think of some examples of God's means of feeding you.
2. Trees don't grow alone. They are always together with other trees. What does this mean for you and your life as a Christian?
3. Trees don't move around looking for new sources of nourishment. They stay planted by the reliable source of water. What does this mean for you?
-- Charlie
"Peter said to him, 'Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.'" (John 13:37)
Sometimes we're quite eager to be ambassadors for our Lord. Peter was. But sometimes, our King's plan for our service is quite different than our ambitions. Peter was not short on ambition or devotion. At least in his head. But Jesus' plan for him was different than his own. Jesus knew that Peter would fail.
Jesus, in his wise way of teaching, knew that Peter had to go through the bitter experience of falling. When God gives us something empty or blank, we need to accept that and not try to fill it in with our own scheme. Wait patiently on God's providence before taking action in service.
1. Are you eager or impatient with your current circumstances? What is God not allowing that you think should be happening?
2. Can you imagine what might go wrong if you had your way right now?
3. How will you know when it's God's time for you to move on to the next thing in service to him? What might the clear indication be that he is leading you?
-- Charlie
"When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood." (Genesis 22:9)
I have to acknowledge Oswald Chambers for today's thought.
What was God, Abraham's heavenly Father, teaching him here? Abraham, Isaac's father, was obeying God to the point of sacrificing his only son for him. Is that what God wanted? Clearly not. What God wanted was Abraham's full and complete devotion. He wanted nothing to come between them.
Abraham could only live for God if he died to everything else dear to him. And this is the means God used to rip away that one idol that would come between Abraham and God: his precious only son. Now, Abraham was free to adore and love God with nothing in this world holding him back. He loved his son Isaac no less, but he now unconditionally loved his Father in heaven.
1. Has God ever taken you to the point of letting go of something in order to have your full devotion to him?
2. When you let go of that something, what have you gained?
3. Have you considered all of the talents and capabilities God has given you and how he wants to use them? What's holding you back from using all of who you are more fully in God's kingdom here in this world?
4. Pray, if you dare, that God will remove any remaining loves that come between you and him.
-- Charlie
"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37-38)
Whenever God pronounces his judgment on people, his mercy is not far away. Peter presents a case for what God has done in Jesus—who they killed. Their reaction? They were devastated. Peter's words convicted them of their rebellion against God. But they also wanted to know what they could do. Peter's answer: the God you have rejected will also save you. Repent and be baptized. Turn from your rebellion. Ask God to forgive you in the name of Jesus. He will, and he will give you the Holy Spirit. God is as thorough in his redeeming work as he is in his judgment.
1. How often do you consider God's judgment and his eagerness to forgive you?
2. Do you think this applies only to those who don't yet have a relationship with God?
3. What is your reaction to God's firm offer to forgive you and give you his Holy Spirit?
-- Charlie
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