This summer we'll be covering a few selected Psalms.

Continuing after our series of lessons by Carl Lungstrum (link), we'll be diving into the applications of becoming sons of light in a material world.

The letters from Paul (and Silvanus and Timothy) record some of the earliest documents of the new testament. Their desire is to strenthen and encourage these young-in-the-faith Christians after having only been with them for a short time (Acts 17). They had turned from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thes 1:9). Throughout both letters to the Thessalonians, we are reminded of the coming day of the Lord.

"1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thes 4:1-3)

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Adventures in the Wilderness await the children of Israel as they camp toward Canaan.

Numbers Chapters 1 - 10 reveal last minute (month) preparations before they begin the march from Sinai to Kadesh.

Chapters 11 - 12 Finds the 603, 550 men of fighting age and their families marching toward Canaan.

Chapters 13 and 20 are the sight of a faithless rebellion and the attendant consequences.

After approximately 39 years of wandering around in circles until a faithless generation of men die, the people are back at Kadesh.

Chapters 20:14 - 22:1 Now a new generation marches from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab, east of Canaan.

Chapters 22:2 - 32:42 A second generation has assembled east of Jordan and dispossesses kings and conquers land areas. Balak, king of Moab, seeks the prophet Balaam to curse the children of Israel. Although unsuccessful with his pronouncements, Balaam does share with Balak the deceitful plan to tempt the Israelites into idolatry. After the plague is stopped a second census is taken. All but two of the men of fighting age that left Egypt have died in the wilderness. A new generation must be trained for war and then peace as they carry out God's orders (Gen. 15:6) against wicked inhabitants. God is about to fulfill His promise regarding a land given the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The book concludes (33 - 36) with a review of the journey and matters of land inheritance.

Deuteronomy finds the children of Israel in the plains of Moab awaiting the orders to cross into the land of promise. Moses is 120 years old and gives final instructions to a new generation to love and obey God. Failure to do so would result in a similar destruction as that experienced by their fathers. Once again God offers a covenant and the people are called upon to accept the terms. These include the blessings of obedience and curses of disobedience (27 - 30).

The document can be divided into three major addresses:
First address: (1:1 - 4:43)
Second address: (4:44 - 28:68)
Third address: (29 - 33)
Moses' death (34)

"Before the World Began, God Made a Great Plan." This class walks cronologically through the bible to see large picture aspects of God's redemptive love and our special heritage in Christ.

Having spent the fall semester mining the depths of the gospel in our Romans study, the winter break provides an opportunity to warn and equip brethren against specific distortions of that gospel prevalent in our community and even creeping into our church.

Winter Class Overview: "Grace, Faith and Obedience"

-       “The Gospel” (2 Classes)

-       “Modern Distortions of the Gospel” (4 Classes)

"The Gospel”: (2 Classes)

Summarize and present the gospel message following the outline provided in Romans while drawing from the background, urgency and power of the same truths presented in Galatians.  

Outline:

-       All are under sin (stress personal guilt for my individual actions)

-       God’s grace through Jesus’ blood

-       Access by faith (obedience of faith) (active faith not simply intellectual faith)

-       Walk by the Spirit (stress the need to practice righteousness rather than giving into sin and returning to the slavery of sin and death)

Points of Emphasis/Objectives:

*Address righteousness, justification, grace, redemption, propitiation, faith, obedience, law, works, etc.

*Highlight abuses/perversions of the gospel in the first century - namely false doctrines of “law” (Gal. 5:4) and “liberty” (Gal. 5:13)

*Utilize Romans and Galatians especially 

*Additionally: clarify the difference between James’ use of “faith” and “works” compared to Paul’s use of the same terms. Note the different background and points in context.

“Modern Distortions of the Gospel”: (4 Classes)

Rather than emphasizing “labels” (e.g. "Calvinism,” etc.), introduce these specific subjects as "distortions of the gospel" (cf. Gal. 1:6).  Build off the gospel overview presented in the first two lessons, showing how certain views depart from this foundational truth.  Encourage critical thinking and meaningful discussion to equip individuals to identify any departure from the gospel.

Specific Subjects:

-       Born in Sin or Born a Sinner  (Total Depravity)?

-       Election and Atonement:  Conditions or Not?  Limited or Not?

-       Grace and Righteousness: Can they be resisted or rejected  (Imputation of Christ's righteousness)

-       Once in Christ can we so sin as to be eternally lost?  (Perseverance of the saints)

Galatians 1:6-9; 2:21 and 5:4 especially emphasize the danger of false thinking and teaching regarding the gospel of grace.  What seems small on the surface is deadly at its core.

Hopefully this format impresses us with the truth of the gospel and then like Paul in Romans and Galatians (and other letters), we identify the error/false teaching that is active in our community (and church) and address it head on.

-Mike and Alan

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Women's special series of studies for the summer.

Titus 2:3-4  "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,  so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."

Your brother,
Mike

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Men's class that seeks to sharpen each other and resolve to live by the standards God calls us to as men of God, husbands and fathers.

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Life is about relationships.  Our first and most important relationship is with our heavenly Father.  This college aged class meets in the back building.  Teachers: Ryan Cummings, Josh Read, & Micah Snabl