Avalon Church Blog
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Bible Study to Go - Ps 63:1-8
http://avalonchurch.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry071207-190744
Ps 63:1-8 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
No questions this week, just uplifting scripture (what else do you need?)
Discuss this passage Friday morning, December 13, 2007 6:30 a.m. at the church office.]]>Bible Study to Go - Ephesians 4:22
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Eph 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
What three things were the Ephesians taught to do with regard to their former way of life?
How do you put off your old self and put on the new self?
What does it mean to be made new in the attitude of your mind?
What does being created like God in true righteousness and holiness mean to you?
Discuss this passage with the Friday Morning Seekers at 6:30 am at the church office on December 7.]]>Bible Study To Go - Psalm 105:3
http://avalonchurch.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry071116-060000
Ps 105: 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, 6 O descendants of Abraham his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones. 7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
This was written to the Israelites. Why would it be important for Christians to remember the wonders God has done, His miracles and the judgments He pronounced?
Can you remember what wonders or miracles God has done for you?
Why do you think God’s judgment is included in this narrative along with wonders and miracles?
Discuss this passage at the Church Office with the Friday Morning Seekers at 6:30 am November 30.]]>Man Fleeing Police Eaten by Gator
http://avalonchurch.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry071114-011150
The story reminded me of Jonah who, when called by God, tried to escape, only to be swallowed by the great fish. The distinction in the two stories is very important. God was not out to kill Jonah for his wrong doing, but rather, God was out to discipline Jonah because of God's great love for him. The point is that God is relentless in pursuing us. He wants what is best for us so much, that He was even willing to sacrifice His own son so that we might have the best.
It is true that one cannot run from the consequences of sin, as the thief mentioned in the article found out first hand (assuming they found the hand). But as children of God, we can take solace in the fact that God is on our side and will always do what's best for us...even if it hurts a little. "If God be for us, who can be against us."]]>Bible Study To Go - John 12:25
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John 12:25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!"
What does it mean that a man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life?
What condition is placed on serving Jesus? What two rewards await the ones who serve Jesus?
What does Jesus mean by “this hour?” Was the name of the Father glorified, and, if so, how? ]]>Bible Study To Go - John 3:34
http://avalonchurch.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry071026-060000
John 3:34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
What do these verses tell you about the relationship between the Father and the Son?
How do you reconcile the fact that the Father has placed everything in the hands of the Son with the current condition of the world?
What does the reality of God’s wrath mean to you?]]>Bible Study To Go - Matthew 11:27
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Matt 11:27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
What do you think Jesus means that no one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son has chosen to reveal Him?
Jesus tells us to take His yoke on us, and that His yoke is easy. What is His yoke?
Verse 27 doesn’t seem to go with verses 28-30, yet Jesus taught these truths together. How does verse 27 relate to verses 28-30?
Men - join the Friday Morning Seekers to discuss at the Church office this Friday morning at 6:30 AM.]]>John 3:19
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John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Read the preceding 18 verses in John 3. Why does John start verse 19 with, “This is the verdict?”
If everyone who does evil and hates the light will not come into the light, how does one ever get saved?
What does the phrase, “so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God," mean to you?
Men - join the Friday Morning Seekers to discuss at the Church office this Friday morning at 6:30 AM.]]>Consider the End...Connect the dots
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In doing this, Solomon is laboring to counter that favorite tool of temptation. Start looking for this theme, and you'll see it all over the book. Just to single out a few instances:
1. They seem like a fun, active group of kids, don't they? And they want you! It would be great to "belong," wouldn't it? Ah, yes, but consider the end: how a violent life leads to a violent end (Proverbs 1:10-19)
2. My, that young thing's hot! And she talks so sweet; really makes you feel like a man, doesn't she? Ah, yes, but consider the end: how going after her invites ruin and waste to your character and life, and humiliation before those who did stick with the way of wisdom (Proverbs 5).
3. Bed is so inviting, isn't it? All dark and warm and quiet; not the hassle and hustle and bustle that you know lurks Out There. Just a few more minutes won't hurt... and a few more.... Ah, yes, but consider the end: how a life of leisure leads to loser's end (Proverbs 6:6-11).
4. Boy, that jerk really has it coming to him, doesn't he? And you know just what to say, to hit his personal bull's-eye; and it would feel so satisfying! Ah, yes, but consider the end: how quickly a warm situation can be escalated to a shooting war (Proverbs 15:1).
5. It's so hot, and you're so tired. You can just let that chore go. Probably something good on TV, isn't there? And something after that. Ah, yes, but consider the end: how taking the easy way now makes the way much harder in the future (Proverbs 15:19).
6. That guy keeps beating you over the head with the Bible. You hate that! Besides, you don't want that kind of legalistic, book-religion. You don't worship a book, right? You want a real spirituality. You find prayer much more fulfilling. Ah, yes, but consider the end: how you shutting your ears to God's Word today, means that God will shut His ear to your repulsive, self-worshiping, idolatrous prayer tomorrow (Proverbs 28:9).
Sin never presents itself to us in all its repugnant hideousness. How would that be tempting? No, it sells itself as harmless at worst, desirable and delightful at best. The knife is always hidden behind the back.
The way of wisdom is to consider the end of this temptation. We must go beyond the pleasing exterior. If you respond to this enticement, what comes next? And then what? And what after that?
Force yourself to see how the lingering look can lead to a flirtation; the flirtation to emotional involvement; the emotional involvement to physical involvement; the physical involvement to the shaming of the name of God, the heartbroken betrayal of every loved one, the destruction of character, to ruin and shame and misery. Connect the dots. ]]>On Trusting God
http://avalonchurch.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry070815-142708
when you do not feel it, is the noblest. He may be but a little Christian who knows God’s love, but he is a great Christian who believes it when the visible contradicts it and the invisible withholds its witness.