Week of May 14-20

Our secular culture asks, “What’s the big deal about worship?” To them, worship is little more than a “ritual” some people do, that has little bearing on real life. Even some religious cultures say, “It doesn’t matter what you worship, as long as you worship something.” Both cultures badly misunderstand worship!

Human beings were made to worship God. C.S. Lewis once remarked, “If people won’t worship God they’ll worship anything.” The effects of that will be chaotic! We all worship something, though many secular people don’t see themselves as worshipping anything.

What is worship? Is it a ritual? Is it more than a ritual? Is it something we do once/week? What role is worship to play in our lives? Why is it important? These are the questions we’ll be looking at this week.

DAY 1

Read Exodus 20:1-5

1. Ex. 20:3 is the first of the 10 Commandments. “You shall have no other gods before me.” The Hebrew word for “before” also means “besides.” Why is this Commandment #1? What is the significance of this?

2. Read Matthew 22:37-40. Jesus was asked what was the most important command in the entire Old Testament. What was His answer?

3. How does His answer compare with the first commandment?

4. “Worship” is simply attributing greatest worth to something. We “worship” whatever we value most.
What things or people do you value most?
___  Job/career

___ Children

___ Spouse

___ Sex

___ Boy/girl friend

___ Reputation

___ Money

___ Feeling like all is well

___ Car, house, clothes

___ Feeling appreciated

___ Leisure

___ Feeling happy

___ Importance/ being impressive

___ Feeling successful

___ Security

___ God; being in right relation with Him

___ Others: ________________________________________________

5. If we are honest with ourselves (and humble), we should be appalled that we really value a lot of other things/people higher than God. Yet, God continues to reach out to you, over and over and over again. Paul told Timothy “…”if we are faithless, he remains faithful–for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13). What response does God’s response of faithfulness to your unfaithfulness invoke in you?

6. Tell God.

DAY 2

1. Before God gave the Ten Commandments, of what historical event did he remind them? Why was that important for them to remember? (Exodus 20:1-2)

2. What is the 2nd Commandment? (Exodus 20:4)

3. What two actions (verbs) in 3:5 does God say not to do with an idol? What is the significance of both terms?

4. Human beings generally don’t see worshipping something other than God as a problem. What is God’s take on this? (Exodus 20:5-6)

6. Next to the following verses, write in what worship is:
* Deuteronomy 6:13

* 2 Kings 17:36

* Matthew 4:10

* Revelation 14:7

* Psalm 29:1-2

* Psalm 27:4

7. One of the phrases is “to fear the Lord.” The Hebrew word means to reverence or hold in awe. It also means to have a healthy fear of consequences when we disobey.

8. What struck you most about worship from today’s devotional?

DAY 3

Worship is first and foremost a heart matter. What you value most is at the core of worship.

Read Romans 12:1-2.

1. What items does Paul associate with our “spiritual worship?” List the top five items that strike you.
*
*
*
*
*

2. The prophet Malachi chastised the priests for how they approached worship. Read Malachi 1:6-8.
a. How should the priests should have been worshipping? (1:6)

b. They neither honored God nor feared Him. Malachi gives an example of their “worship” in 1:7-8. What were they doing? (for more insight, read Leviticus 22:18-25).

c. If you consistently bought cheap birthday, Christmas, anniversary presents for your spouse or friends, what would be the effect on the relationship? On you?

3. Just because the priests were “worshipping” does that mean that worship was really occurring?

4. What lesson do you draw from Malachi about worship?

DAY 4

As we’ve seen this week, worship is really a matter of the heart and values. What is it I really value most? Our fallen human nature is loathe to value God most. We’d rather value a host of other things and people more. Instead of repenting and getting our hearts right with God, what is our tendency?

Read Isaiah 29:13

1. The people have a major disconnect regarding worship. What does Isaiah tell them?

2. Jesus quotes this very verse in Mark 7:6. He then draws the conclusion about their worship in Mark 7:7. What does Jesus say is the real state of their worship?

3. The prophet Ezekiel sees a similar tendency in the people. (Ezekiel 33:31).
a. What two things do the people think is involved in worship?

b. What three problems does Ezekiel cite?

4. The prophet Hosea pointed out the same issues. Read Hosea 6:1-3
a. The people respond to Hosea’s prophetic word. How do these words “sound” to you? Does it seem they are on the right track?

b. God responds to their “sweet-sounding” words in verses 4-6.
* What did God see in their hearts in verse 4?

* What was God’s response to the people in verse 5?

* In verse 6:6:
–What had the people “offered” as worship?

–What did God expect?

Human nature will always trade the practice of worship for true heart devotion. We will go through the motions of worship as long as we continue to live life our way.

4. Does God really have your heart and devotion? Yield yourself to Him today.

DAY 5

Let’s look at a moment in time when Isaiah worshipped. The event tells us a lot about worship.

It’s been said that real worship begins when we get a clear picture of who God is, and a clear picture of who we are.

Read Isaiah 6:1-8

1. What does Isaiah “see” or understand about God in the following verses?
* 6:1–

* 6:2– (note: seraphim were angelic, six-winged creatures). Why do you think they covered their eyes and their feet?

* 6:3–

* 6:4–

2. What effect do these pictures of God have on Isaiah in verse 5?

3. Isaiah said, “Woe is me!” It was taught that if a man physically saw God he would perish. Read Judges 13:22 and Luke 5:8. What did Isaiah fear would happen to him?

4. Isaiah realized his sinful condition and that God’s judgment was deserved and probably imminent! But instead, something else happened! What did God do, beginning in verse 6, and continuing through verse 8?

5. Our worship is the deepest and most profound when the following occurs:
* We get a fresh glimpse of the holiness and power of God,
* We get a fresh glimpse of our depravity, our sinful human nature, AND
* We experience the wonder of God’s grace! Not only have we been forgiven, but He lavishes upon us Himself and His blessings.

How does Paul pull out each of these items in Ephesians 2:4-7?

6. What is your biggest take-away from this week’s devotions on worship?

Attention Jr. High & High School Youth!
Join us for a Marvel Movie Marathon!!!
(or Marvel Movie Madness… whichever satisfies the superhero in you)

Join us as we celebrate the release of the new Avengers movie by watching all 6 Avengers movies in just 2 days!!!
Iron Man
Hulk
Iron Man 2
Thor
Captain America
and The Avengers!

Friday, May 11th, 4:30pm-11:30pm
Saturday, May 12th, 12:00pm-TBA

(TBA = showtimes for the Avengers movie have not been released for that date yet)

Location: The Stuart’s house
(for address and directions please contact Pastor Kevin 949-552-6774 x25)

*Please bring snacks and/or drinks on friday, and money for dinner on saturday.

Come join us as we pray for our country, community, church, family and our lives!

You can drop in any time between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., and stay as long as you like!

We’ll be in the Youth Room / MPR.

Life Unscrewed–part 4

It’s all too easy to have parts of life get “screwed up.” It’s even harder to get them unscrewed! We’ve looked at (1) how we bring stress upon ourselves and others (part 1), (2) how we “screw up” male-female relationships (part 2), and (3) how we screw up work (part 3).

This week we’ll look at how we get our money screwed up. What drives us in bad directions regarding money? What things are “alive” in the human heart that lead us to screw up money?

 DAY 1

Read Exodus 20:17

1. When you think of the word, “coveting,” what comes to mind?

2. How would you define “coveting”?

3. “Coveting” is to long for, desire intently, or lust after something that is not yours to have.

4. What areas are specifically mentioned of which we are not to covet?

5. Why would God include this command in the Ten Commandments? What does coveting lead to?

6. How is coveting related to how you use money?

DAY 2

Read Ecclesiasts 4:8

1. List all the factors you see in this man’s dilemma.

2. On a scale of 0-100, how would you describe this man’s commitment to his work?

3. What did he believe would make him happy or content?

4. What his belief correct? What did he realize?

5. What do the following verses say about contentment?

* 1 Timothy 6:8

* Hebrews 13:5

* Philippians 4:11

* Philippians 4:12

6. How does discontentment relate to your finances? What does your heart hope will happen when you spend money?

7. What would help you be more content?

8. How’s your contentment quotient? Talk to God about it.

DAY 3

Read 1 Timothy 6:6-19

1. What factors does Paul list that help us be more content? (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

2. What dangers does Paul warn us about when we “want to get rich?” (6:9)

3. List two root drivers in the human heart Paul warns us about in 6:10?

* How would you describe “love of money?”

* How would you describe “eager for money?”

4. What dangers does Paul see with these drivers?

5. Paul does not condemn rich people. He warns those with the drive to get rich. Read 6:17-19. List the instructions Paul gives to rich people.

6. What new drivers is God trying to plant in the human heart? (6:17-19)

7. What is your takeaway from today’s verses?

Day 4

Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Solomon is a young man, testing different approaches to life (2:1-3).

1. What things did Solomon do with his money in 2:4-9?

2. He makes a “summary statement” in 2:10. What strikes you about this verse?

3. Time passed; the dust settled. He had a chance to look back at what he had done. What began to dawn on Solomon? (2:11)

4. What had been his driver during those years? What was his real hopes with regard to money?

5. Yesterday we looked at 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Read this again.

* What was missing from Solomon’s approach in Ecclesiastes? What things from Paul would have helped Solomon?

6. Do you use money or what money can buy to meet needs only God can meet?

7. Talk to God about your real hopes regarding money.

DAY 5

We’ve look at drivers of the heart that move us to “screw up” our finances: coveting, discontentment, love of money, and trying to meet internal needs with external resources.

Today, we’ll look at what can be done to “disable” those drivers?

1. Read the following verses and list the bible’s approach to turning our coveting, discontented, money-loving, idol-making hearts into hearts more like Jesus:

* Proverbs 11:24-25

* Matthew 6:19-24

* Luke 16:10-13

* Philippians 4:10-20

* Jeremiah 9:23-24

* Luke 14:26-33

2. What are your takeaways from today, or this week?

3. Take a few minutes to pray about your takeaway.

 DAY 1

Read Matt. 20:20-28

1. Why reasons contributed to the disciples’ indignation?

2. How did the rulers/leaders of the day approach their work? (v. 25).

3. Jesus offers up a completely new and opposite approach to life and leadership! What is it? (vv. 26-27)

4. Jesus is talking about voluntary servanthood, and voluntary “slavery.” How does this approach to life strike you?

5. What rewards does He promise when we adopt a servant-approach to life?

6. If anyone had a right to “claim my rights,” it was Jesus. How does Jesus illustrate what He just taught? (v. 28)

7. Where is God stretching you to adopt a servant approach?
___ Family
___ Work
___ Church
___ Community

DAY 2

Read John 13:1-17
1. The setting is the Last Supper. He knows that later that night He will be arrested, tortured and die the next day as a common criminal on a cross. If you knew this was your last night what would you be doing?

2. What did Jesus do on His last night?

3. How does that strike you?

4. What do you think He wanted to communicate to the disciples?

5. Jesus washed all twelve of the disciples’ feet, including Judas Iscariot’s. Did Jesus know Judas would betray Him that very night?

6. How hard would it have been for you to wash the feet of Judas? What would you have had to overcome in order to do it?

7. What points does Jesus want to drive home? (vv. 12-17)

8. What attitudes or actions do you need to add to your “bag of serving?”

DAY 3

Learning to be a servant has a positive effect on your life. You begin to see God using your life. You sense a new meaning to your life. You begin to become the light of the world where you live. But serving also comes with a cost.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:4-12

1. Paul describes the world we live in using the metaphor of darkness and blindness (vv. 4, 6) and light and knowledge (vv. 4, 6). What are some ways you see “darkness” and “blindness” in everyday life?

2. With such a context, how did Paul and his missionary team see themselves? What were their roles? (v. 5)

3. List four trials Paul experienced and his response to each trial. (vv. 8-9)
a.
b.
c.
d.

4. To which of these trials do you most relate? What strikes you about Paul’s response to the trial you chose?

5. In vv. 10-12 Paul uses an analogy of “life” and “death” to illustrate how our sovereign God uses trials to impact a world filled with darkness and blindness. Is Paul using “life” and “death” to describe physical life and death or is he talking about another kind of life and death?

6. In our daily lives, “death” occurs in some of the following ways:
___ When we don’t get what we want
___ When someone misunderstands us
___ When we are falsely accused
___ When we are unjustly criticized
___ When what we do goes unrecognized
___ When someone else gets or takes credit for something we did
How does “death” show up in your life, either in the examples above or in another way?

7. Thankfully, our experiences of “death” are not in vain. They are “pregnant with purpose!” What ways does Paul see “the life of Jesus” being shown in vv. 10-12. Look for three ways.

8. No trial is endured that is not “pregnant with purpose!” What do you want to remember today?

DAY 4

Sometimes serving costs us finances or time. But today, we’ll look at the steepest cost–when others treat us like a servant! Humility may the toughest virtue to implant in the human heart. It sooooo goes “against the grain.”

Read Luke 17:7-10

1. Jesus asks a series of rhetorical questions to His disciples in story form. In these questions he puts the disciples (and you) in the seat of the master who owns a servant.
This story, at first glance, is like “nails on a chalkboard.” What are some ways the mentality of the master rubs you the wrong way?

2. What strikes you about:

v. 7-

v. 8-

v.9-

3. In v. 9, Jesus hits upon a familiar theme–we demand recognition! We expect gratitude. Someone “ought” to acknowledge what we did. Is that how Jesus sees the mentality of a servant?

4. One reason this story rubs us the wrong way is we believe we deserve better treatment. How does Jesus address this issue head on in v. 10?

5. As you try to live with this mentality of a servant in your daily life, you will see just how committed to self you are! Ugly self will pop up over and over and over again. What should you do when you realize that old ugly self has raised its ugly head? (see 1 John 1:9)

6. If we saw Jesus as The Master in this story, and ourselves as the servant, how would this change your view of service?

DAY 5

We have talked about serving, the cost of serving, and the mentality of a servant. Today we’ll look at some of the rewards of serving.

Read Matt. 25:31-46

1. In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, two groups of people appear at the Final Judgment. What had the sheep done? (vv. 35-36)

2. What was the attitude or mentality of the sheep? (vv. 37-39)

3. What was God’s (the king) response? (v. 40)

4. What had the goats done? (vv. 42-43)

5. What was the response of the goats? (v. 44)

6. What was God’s response to the goats? (v. 45)

7. What rewards are promised for the sheep? (vv. 34, 46)

8. What consequences are promised for the goats? (vv. 41, 46)

9. What strikes you about the mentality of the goats?

10. How can you be a better sheep?

Week of April 16, 2012

 DAY 1

New jobs can be exciting, but eventually every job seems to devolve into some sort of treadmill. We want a job that “has” meaning. What is it we think gives our job “meaning?” Does meaningful work come from the job itself, or is “meaning” something we infuse into our job?

Read Genesis 1:1-2:4

1. God was busy at work! List some of the work He did.

2. How does it strike you that God works?

3. What does that say about the value of your work?

4. How many times does the writer say of God’s work, “and it was good” or “very good”?

5. What does that say about the quality of work you do?

6. God gave man and woman work to do. What was it? (Gen. 1:26-30)

7. How would you like to approach your work differently this week?

DAY 2

1. We look for work that is “satisfying.” We assume there is a job out there that will be one that is enjoyable, satisfying and fulfilling. How true are these statements for you?

Read Genesis 3:18-20

2. What should we expect when we go to work?

3. Why would a loving God curse our world like this?

4. What should happen when we are in the work world? For what will you be calling out to God?
___ Patience with problems
___ Patience with people
___ Satisfaction versus frustration
___ Strength versus weakness
___ Diligence versus laziness
___ Wisdom versus confusion
___ Other: ________________________________________

5. What would happen to human nature if work were perfect and fulfilling all by itself?

6. God has arranged the world (the curse) in such a way that is redemptive! We will have plenty of “opportunities” (troubles) in which to turn to Him! Which of the following is true for you?
___ Trust God
___ Seek Him
___ Realize our deepest needs can only be met in Him
___ Live for Him, not ourselves
___ Trust Him to change our pathetic attitudes about work and/or people
___ Other:__________________________________

7. Turn to God right now. Tell him what strikes you from our study, and what you’d like to do today.

DAY 3

God has to change our hearts! It is a mammoth undertaking. “We compulsively pursue our own vision and insist on our own way. We not only want to do what we want, how and when we want, but we also want our desires to have priority over everyone else’s…. We are competing in a contest we are sure to lose, but one we take on nevertheless.” – Ralph Mattson

God uses our work, whether it’s in the home or out of the home to assault the grand problems in the quote, above.

Read Nehemiah 2:17-20

1. What reasons does Nehemiah give for rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem?

Read Nehemiah 3:1-5

2. What strikes you about their work on the wall?

Read Nehemiah 4:4-6;-9-15

3. Nehemiah led and motivated the people. List how he did so.

Read Nehemiah 6:1-16

4. How did Nehemiah deal with this crisis? Look for at least six things.

5. What would you like to take from Nehemiah’s example?

DAY 4

It’s easy to have a “hierarchal” view of work- “Some work is more important than others.” From the bible’s perspective that is NOT true. God calls each person to work–that gives every work significance.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

1. Paul addresses the problem of “idleness” (verses 6, 11). What might be some of the causes of idleness?

2. Paul is quite blunt about how to handle this problem. What does he say to do?

3. How is his teaching actually the loving thing to do?

4. Besides supporting yourself and paying your bills, what other reasons are there to work in this passage?

5. At times, Paul made his income through being a tent-maker. At other times, he gave himself to missionary work through the generosity of brothers and sisters. How does Paul describe his own work ethic in this pasage?

6. The authors of Why Work? write, The bible never indicates that our jobs should be ‘fun’ or make us ‘happy.’ Fulfillment is more correctly understood in the sense of service, taking pleasure in the contribution that our work is making to the community.”

How would your life change if you defined your vocation in terms of service rather than in terms of self-fulfillment/

DAY 5

Scripture gives us lots of pictures of work.

Read Colossians 3:22-25

1. In the New Testament world, slavery was a reality, a way of life. When a slave became a Christian what should he/she do?

• What attitude should he have toward his master (or boss)?

• How hard should we work?

• For whom is the slave working?

• What rewards are there for his work?

• What can I expect if I do wrong at work?

Read Col. 4:1

2. What does Paul say is my responsibility toward those who work under me?

3. Read each verse and write next to it how it relates to your work, your attitude toward work or your work ethic:

Prov. 14:23-

Ephesians 4:28-

Prov. 10:4-

Prov. 13:4-

Prov. 12:11-

Prov. 12:15-

Prov. 15:22-

4. What strikes you from these verses?

5. As a result of this week’s study, what is the BIGGEST thing you’d like to change about you at work?

DAY 1
We continue in our series, “Life Unscrewed.” It’s very easy to “screw up” my life. It’s a lot harder to get it “unscrewed.” Last week we looked at how we bring stress upon ourselves.

This week we look at male-female relationships.

For millennia, in cultures around the world, women have been undervalued. One way our secular culture has tried to overcome this problem is by minimizing the differences between men and women in the hopes of creating equality of value. But to do that we lose important understanding in relating to the opposite sex. (The bible sees women as men’s equal in value before God).

Read Genesis 1:26-27
1. What attributes do men and women share together?

2. What do these verses imply about the value of women?

3. Verse 27 says, “…male and female he created them.”
How do you think man and woman are different?

A. Physically-

B. Sexually-

C. Emotionally-

D. Personally-

When I was a kid I remember comedians had a field day with “understanding the opposite sex”! The biggest joke was about the man trying to figure out his wife. Down in flames he goes, and the crowd roars in laughter. Why the hilarity? Because folks realize that understanding the opposite sex is a lot more complex than you ever imagined!

Tune in for Day 2!!!

 DAY 2
Today, we look at “a woman’s world…”

After the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God pronounced curses on Satan, woman and man.

Read Genesis 3:14-19

You may wonder, “Why in the world would God curse man and woman?” The answer is simpler than you might suspect. Now that man and woman had a sin nature, it would be impossible for them to respond to God in humility and obedience, willingly. Man and woman would only come to God when they realized they could not make life “work” like they wanted. In other words, man and woman needed to lived in a world where pain was inescapable.

Read Genesis 3:16.

1. What is the first pain women will experience?

2. Do you think God means this is limited to “labor and delivery?”

3. What is the second “pain,” – associated with a husband?

4. Note: The Hebrew word for “desire” means “the desire to control.” What battle will every wife fight internally?

5. The last part of the verse says that every wife will attempt to control her husband. According to the end of this verse will her plan work?

6. A woman’s “world” means she will experience her deepest pain and aggravation in relationships, and particular, her closest relationships. What insight does that give you into the women in your life? (daughter, wife, mother, in-law, sisters at church)

DAY 3
Today, we look at a man’s world.

Yesterday we looked at how the curse affected a woman’s world. Today, we look at how the curse affects a man’s world.

Read Genesis 3:17-19
1. In a woman’s “world,” her deepest pains are going to be relational. Where will a man feel his deepest pain?

2. Do you think this is just “bad news” for farmers, or is this affected in every man’s work?

3. Have you ever weeded a garden or flower bed? What can you expect 1-2 weeks later in the flower bed you weeded? Is there EVER a time when you won’t have to weed the garden or field?

4. When you plant flowers, vegetables or a crop what do you “expect” would come out of the ground? Gen. 3:18 says there are some other things that will pop out of the ground, as well! What are they?

5. What does 3:19 say to you about a man’s day?

6. A woman will experience her deepest pains relationally. Her tender spots will be things like rejection, insecurity, easily hurt, feeling unloved, etc.

A man will experience his “pain” in what he does, his work, chores, fixing things, etc. His “pain” will be experienced as things like:
___ Failure
___ Futility
___ Frustration

How does this strike you about a man’s world?

DAY 4

Today, we’ll look at a “woman’s world”

Today we’ll look at verses that relate to being a wife. THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO GIVE INSIGHTS INTO THE HEART AND SOUL OF A WOMAN…

Read Ephesians 5:22-33

1. How do verses 22-24 relate to Genesis 3:16?

2. Does God commanding a wife to submit to her husband “mean,” or is there “method to the madness?”

3. What are some of the benefits of submitting, whether it’s in a marriage, or as children to parents, workers to bosses, or soldiers to officers?

Read Ephesians 5:28-29
4. Paul illustrates how a man is to love his wife. What is his illustration?

5. Paul uses two verbs in verse 29. Put in your own words what you think he means?
* “Nourish” -

* “Cherish” -

Read 1 Peter 3:7

6. A man is to “understand” a woman or live with a “understanding” the make-up of a woman, that she is easily hurt. What does a man need to remember when relating to a woman?

7. We saw in DAY 2 that women experience their greatest pain in relationships. What strikes you about today’s verses?

DAY 5

Today, we’ll look at a “man’s world”

Today we’ll look at verses that relate to being a husband. THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO GIVE INSIGHTS INTO THE HEART AND SOUL OF A MAN…

Read Ephesians 5:22-33

1. What need does a man have that is specifically pointed out in verse 33?

2. How does verse 33 relate to Genesis 3:17-19?

3. What would the effect of being respected have on a man who daily deals with a sense of failure, futility and frustration?

Read 1 Peter 3:1-6

4. When a man tries to lead, whether in his home, work, church or community he will experience failure, futility and frustration. A woman has a unique opportunity to make his leadership easier. Peter mentions two qualities.

* Gentle spirit–this quality means “encourager.” She has the ability to be encouraging while helping the “team” move forward.

* Quiet spirit–this quality means, “calm in a crisis.” She has the ability to still help the man be responsible and believe he can lead even when the ship hit an iceberg.

5. What strikes you about these two qualities?

6. As you relate to the males in your life, whether they be husband, son, father, boss, neighbor, pastor, or friend what do you want to remember or do from today’s verses?