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I told them to keep up with three activities for the coming month: pray for me, go to church, and read Galatians to Colossians.
The lesson for the day was a quick overview of what I wanted to teach over the course of two weeks: previously, I taught about the importance of love as the greatest aspect of Christian living. Today I went over the idea that they need to have a learning attitude and to live out what they've learned. School may have disillusioned them about the importance of learning, but it is vitally important to keep studying and growing. Then I told them to live out and apply what they've learned, from me and from their personal study of God's word. The only way for them to grow and change is to intentionally apply what they learned to their circumstances and experiences.
Showing posts with label Lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lessons. Show all posts
August 03, 2010
December 23, 2009
John 17
I gave the kids in youth group an assignment, one of many to start practicing how to study the Bible and have a devotional. I told them to give me a list of 10 ideas they learned from John 17, at least two of which are something they will apply to their lives. I gave it to them last week and none have done it yet. Well, since I'm the leader I might as well take the lead with it. And when I tell my students to do something quantifiable, I take the opportunity to do double the amount just to show it can be done.
John 17
When Jesus prayed, He lifted His eyes to heaven because He was having a conversation with God.
Jesus knew that His time has come to fulfill what He came to earth for.
The Father is glorified in the Son.
All power is given to the Son from the Father.
The Son has authority over all human beings.
The Father is the one who gives to the Son all who will have eternal life.
God chooses who He will save.
Salvation is given to those who believe in what He did.
Eternal life is knowing God the Father through God the Son.
God the Father and God the Son who He sent is the only true God.
Jesus glorified God on earth.
Glorifying God means giving attention to God, pointing to God, and reflecting God.
Jesus completed the task He was assigned to do.
Jesus knew exactly what He had to do because He was in line with God the Father.
Jesus first acknowledges the work of God the Father before asking for something.
Jesus showed He submitted to God the Father by being obedient all His life.
Jesus asked to be glorified with the Father once again.
Jesus existed before time began.
Jesus revealed who God truly is to the disciples.
God had given them to Jesus.
The disciples kept the word of God with them.
Having the word of God, the disciples were moved along by the Holy Spirit to write out what God told them.
The disciples walked with the Word of God as well.
The disciples know that God the Father gave them the Word Made Flesh.
Jesus gave the disciples the words God gave Him.
The disciples believed that God gave Him to them.
Jesus is the Truth.
Jesus intercedes for the disciples, not the world's system.
Jesus and God are one.
Jesus knew He was responsible to keep the disciples for God's purpose.
30 thoughts by verse 11, not bad. There are a lot of good stuff after that, but I'll just stop it there. Then I told them that they should include at least 2 ideas to practice, so here are 5:
I should always listen for God's leading.
Being obedient to what I already know is just as important as knowing a lot.
I have a responsibility to keep those I lead in God's name and not to lead them astray be it in word or action.
Knowing that God gave me those I'm now in charge of, I should constantly present them to God in prayer.
I need to be conscious of realizing the joy I have in Jesus and not allow my circumstances to change my attitude.
John 17
When Jesus prayed, He lifted His eyes to heaven because He was having a conversation with God.
Jesus knew that His time has come to fulfill what He came to earth for.
The Father is glorified in the Son.
All power is given to the Son from the Father.
The Son has authority over all human beings.
The Father is the one who gives to the Son all who will have eternal life.
God chooses who He will save.
Salvation is given to those who believe in what He did.
Eternal life is knowing God the Father through God the Son.
God the Father and God the Son who He sent is the only true God.
Jesus glorified God on earth.
Glorifying God means giving attention to God, pointing to God, and reflecting God.
Jesus completed the task He was assigned to do.
Jesus knew exactly what He had to do because He was in line with God the Father.
Jesus first acknowledges the work of God the Father before asking for something.
Jesus showed He submitted to God the Father by being obedient all His life.
Jesus asked to be glorified with the Father once again.
Jesus existed before time began.
Jesus revealed who God truly is to the disciples.
God had given them to Jesus.
The disciples kept the word of God with them.
Having the word of God, the disciples were moved along by the Holy Spirit to write out what God told them.
The disciples walked with the Word of God as well.
The disciples know that God the Father gave them the Word Made Flesh.
Jesus gave the disciples the words God gave Him.
The disciples believed that God gave Him to them.
Jesus is the Truth.
Jesus intercedes for the disciples, not the world's system.
Jesus and God are one.
Jesus knew He was responsible to keep the disciples for God's purpose.
30 thoughts by verse 11, not bad. There are a lot of good stuff after that, but I'll just stop it there. Then I told them that they should include at least 2 ideas to practice, so here are 5:
I should always listen for God's leading.
Being obedient to what I already know is just as important as knowing a lot.
I have a responsibility to keep those I lead in God's name and not to lead them astray be it in word or action.
Knowing that God gave me those I'm now in charge of, I should constantly present them to God in prayer.
I need to be conscious of realizing the joy I have in Jesus and not allow my circumstances to change my attitude.
February 05, 2009
Intro to Dating and Relationships with PD2
We were at the HUB for youth group. Pastor Deb (aka PD2) gave the lesson. Her youth group tends to be more activity based, so for the entire hour, we were playing a quiz style game while she gave the lesson on sexual purity. This was our introduction to our dating and relationship lessons for the next couple of months.
PD2 separated us all into three teams, Faith Alive youth group being on one team and most of her youth group split into two teams. She would get us to do a Bible drill style game and whoever read the verse first gets a question to answer. If they don't answer correctly, she moves on to the other teams. In the end we placed second after nearly an hour of playing. During that time, we went through several key principles:
Sex should be reserved for marriage.
Don't focus on the physical in the dating relationship.
Girls should wear modest clothing.
Guys should control themselves and be careful at what they look at.
Don't even kiss or make out because it will cause you to sin in one way or another.
Honor God by respecting the opposite sex.
Whoever you date could possibly be another's spouse in the future.
When you're tempted with sexual sin, FLEE!
Take a stand for sexual purity in this sex-obsessed world.
Near the end, PD2 handed out a box of chocolates for us to eat. A few of the pieces were bitten into. Then we checked the second layer and they too had pieces bitten into. By then, I realized it was a metaphor. She used the half eaten chocolate pieces as an illustration of what it's like when someone already has had sex before marriage. It was hard to think about eating the chocolate when someone else has eaten it already.
PD2 separated us all into three teams, Faith Alive youth group being on one team and most of her youth group split into two teams. She would get us to do a Bible drill style game and whoever read the verse first gets a question to answer. If they don't answer correctly, she moves on to the other teams. In the end we placed second after nearly an hour of playing. During that time, we went through several key principles:
Sex should be reserved for marriage.
Don't focus on the physical in the dating relationship.
Girls should wear modest clothing.
Guys should control themselves and be careful at what they look at.
Don't even kiss or make out because it will cause you to sin in one way or another.
Honor God by respecting the opposite sex.
Whoever you date could possibly be another's spouse in the future.
When you're tempted with sexual sin, FLEE!
Take a stand for sexual purity in this sex-obsessed world.
Near the end, PD2 handed out a box of chocolates for us to eat. A few of the pieces were bitten into. Then we checked the second layer and they too had pieces bitten into. By then, I realized it was a metaphor. She used the half eaten chocolate pieces as an illustration of what it's like when someone already has had sex before marriage. It was hard to think about eating the chocolate when someone else has eaten it already.
July 06, 2008
The "D" Word
"Like in The Karate Kid, where Miyagi forces Ralph Macchio to wash his cars and paint his fence and sand his deck. Miyagi gets everything fixed-up, ship-shape, and sparkling like a new penny. Ralph Macchio learns some new moves the only way you ever truly learn anything on this earth: through endless, moronic repetition."
- from the article "Mom's Home" by David Eddie of Mack Daddy AOL Canada Life and Style, July 1, 2008
"More often than not, excuses are simply lies that we tell to ourselves to abate the sharp sting of acknowledging our own shortcomings." - Damian Ross
I've been teaching the youth group kids about spiritual discipline. Discipline in general, with a focus on the spiritual aspect. The reason why the kids don't make it a priority to live a holy life is because they simply haven't disciplined themselves to doing so. Understandable, they're kids, it's rare to find a truly spiritually disciplined teen. Hey, even adults have a tough time trying to discipline themselves. But we're all working on it. And that's why it's always best to start when you're young, when bad habits aren't totally ingrained yet. Much harder for an adult to change habits. And that's where I started off, with bad habits, moral and amoral. Only by God's grace and His strength can bad habits be changed. Yes, there's will-power, but I'd rather depend on God's power - works much better than just weak old me doing the work. And besides, it'll count for eternity if I give it up to God.
To the left of the whiteboard, I wrote "bad habits" and in the middle I wrote "good habits." Between those two phrases, I drew an arrow pointing to the right and underneath I wrote "DISCIPLINE." It takes discipline and a whole lot of work to go from one to the other, and I emphasized God's strength referencing Philippians. Bad habits are both the immoral and amoral but unproductive. Good habits can be both moral and amoral but productive. The discipline will take them out of their comfort zone, which is the only way to get better. From there, to the right of the whiteboard, I wrote "better habits," which are more aligned with spiritual habits. I then extended the arrow of discipline and told them to keep growing and the way to do so is to read God's word, be mindful of their thoughts and actions, and to be around fellow believers as often as possible.
- from the article "Mom's Home" by David Eddie of Mack Daddy AOL Canada Life and Style, July 1, 2008
"More often than not, excuses are simply lies that we tell to ourselves to abate the sharp sting of acknowledging our own shortcomings." - Damian Ross
I've been teaching the youth group kids about spiritual discipline. Discipline in general, with a focus on the spiritual aspect. The reason why the kids don't make it a priority to live a holy life is because they simply haven't disciplined themselves to doing so. Understandable, they're kids, it's rare to find a truly spiritually disciplined teen. Hey, even adults have a tough time trying to discipline themselves. But we're all working on it. And that's why it's always best to start when you're young, when bad habits aren't totally ingrained yet. Much harder for an adult to change habits. And that's where I started off, with bad habits, moral and amoral. Only by God's grace and His strength can bad habits be changed. Yes, there's will-power, but I'd rather depend on God's power - works much better than just weak old me doing the work. And besides, it'll count for eternity if I give it up to God.
To the left of the whiteboard, I wrote "bad habits" and in the middle I wrote "good habits." Between those two phrases, I drew an arrow pointing to the right and underneath I wrote "DISCIPLINE." It takes discipline and a whole lot of work to go from one to the other, and I emphasized God's strength referencing Philippians. Bad habits are both the immoral and amoral but unproductive. Good habits can be both moral and amoral but productive. The discipline will take them out of their comfort zone, which is the only way to get better. From there, to the right of the whiteboard, I wrote "better habits," which are more aligned with spiritual habits. I then extended the arrow of discipline and told them to keep growing and the way to do so is to read God's word, be mindful of their thoughts and actions, and to be around fellow believers as often as possible.
January 22, 2008
Roe and Doe For Sho'
“The more people learn about Roe v. Wade and what Roe v. Wade has actually done to our country, the more people oppose the provisions of Roe v. Wade... That is the primary reason that groups like Planned Parenthood and the National Organization for Women and other pro-abortion organizations want to get out this disinformation — they don’t want people to know the truth about Roe v. Wade.”
- Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues at Concerned Women for America, in an interview with Family News in Focus
This is Sanctity of Human Life week. To know how to fight abortion on demand, you'll have to know what you're up against. Read up on Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton.
Here is a summary of those decisions included in the explanation of answers from the Roe IQ test:
1. Under Roe, the Supreme Court gave free reign for abortion in the first trimester, but seemed to rule that abortion could be restricted significantly or prohibited in the second and third trimesters. However, the court said that later regulations must allow for abortions needed to protect the woman's health. Roe's companion case, Doe v. Bolton (issued on the same day as Roe) defined maternal "health" as: "all factors – physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age – relevant to the well-being of the patient." These factors are so vague and open-ended that almost any reason can be and is cited to allow abortion in the second and third trimesters. (SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 164 (1973); Roe, 410 U.S. at 164; Roe, 410 U.S. at 164-5; Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179, 192 (1973).
2. A woman can have an abortion for practically any reason during her pregnancy, as long as the abortion is deemed medically necessary as defined by Doe v. Bolton as "all factors – physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age – relevant to the well-being of the patient." (SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 164 (1973); Roe, 410 U.S. at 164; Roe, 410 U.S. at 164-5; Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179, 192 (1973).
3. Under Roe and Doe, there were no restrictions on how late into pregnancy a woman could have an abortion or what abortion method could be used. (SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973); Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179 (1973).
4. Before Roe, the issue of abortion was decided by state legislatures and some states allowed abortion in certain circumstances. A Supreme Court decision overruling Roe would return the legalization and regulation of abortion back to the elected legislatures, as it was before. Prior to Roe, 30 states had laws criminalizing abortion. In 2006, USA Today, using data from Planned Parenthood's research arm, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, speculated that if Roe were overruled; 22 states would impose "significant" restrictions on abortion; 16 states would maintain the status quo of abortion available on demand; and 12 states would impose some restrictions on abortion. Pro-life groups have estimated that abortion would be legal in 43 states if Roe were overturned. (SOURCE: Susan Page, "Roe v. Wade: The Divided States of America," USA Today, April 17, 2006, Americans United for Life, Defending Life 2007, p. 59).
5. While various sources place the number of abortions anywhere between 40-48 million, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would approximate the number of abortions performed since 1973 to be 40,944,029. (SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abortion Surveillance – United States, 2003, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 55, No. SS-11, November 24, 2006).
6. Although 78 percent of Americans favor parental notification laws and 72 percent support parental consent laws, under Roe, there is no required parental notification, regardless of age. In several cases after Roe, the Supreme Court cited Roe to strike down state laws that tried to ensure parents would be involved if their minor daughters had abortions. (SOURCES: Rust v. Sullivan, 500 U.S. 173 (1991); Opinion Dynamics Poll, April 27, 2005).
7. Under Roe and Doe, there are no apparent restrictions on sex-selection abortions. Instead, Doe's protection of abortion for a woman's health explicitly includes "emotional, psychological, [or] familial" health, which would allow a woman to decide that having a child of a particular gender would be unhealthy for her or her family. (SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973); Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179 (1973).
8. Fewer than 1 percent of abortions are done because of rape and incest. (SOURCE: A. Torres and J. Forest, "Why Do Women Have Abortions?" Family Planning Perspectives, 20:4 (July/August 1988, 169-76; A. Bankole, et al., "Reasons Why Women Have Induced Abortions: Evidence from 27 Countries," Family Planning Perspectives, 24:3 (August 1998), 117-25, 152).
9. None of the founding documents contains the phrase "right to an abortion." The "right of privacy" that was used to justify Roe, came out of the 1965 U.S. Supreme Court decision Griswold v. Connecticut, when the court wrote: "The 'right' of privacy is based on the Bill of Rights [which] have penumbras, formed by emanations from those guarantees that help give them life and substance." A penumbra is defined by the Encarta Dictionary as a "partial outer shadow that is lighter than the darker inner shadow umbra, e.g. the area between complete darkness and complete light in an eclipse." (SOURCE: Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 484 (1965).
10. The answer is Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the court's most liberal member and former counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union. (SOURCE: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, "Some Thoughts on Autonomy and Equality in Relation to Roe v. Wade," North Carolina Law Review, 63 (January 1985); 375-386, at 376).
11. Finland does not allow abortion on demand but only under certain circumstances such as life of the woman, as well as rape and incest. [including "health" may be confusing in light of Doe; this change is still consistent with the reference graph] Great Britain does not allow abortion on demand, or for rape and incest. Abortions for other reasons such as the life and health of the woman are only legal in the first six months of pregnancy. Ireland only allows abortion if the life of the woman is in danger; abortion is illegal under all other circumstances. Mexico only allows abortion during the first trimester, and then only under special circumstances (life of the woman, rape, incest, and birth defects). Abortion in the United States is legal for practically any reason throughout all nine months of pregnancy. (SOURCE: "Summary of Abortion Laws Around the World," www.pregnantpause.org/lex/world02.htm).
12. Roe does not specify who can or cannot perform abortions. SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973); Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179 (1973).
- Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues at Concerned Women for America, in an interview with Family News in Focus
This is Sanctity of Human Life week. To know how to fight abortion on demand, you'll have to know what you're up against. Read up on Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton.
Here is a summary of those decisions included in the explanation of answers from the Roe IQ test:
1. Under Roe, the Supreme Court gave free reign for abortion in the first trimester, but seemed to rule that abortion could be restricted significantly or prohibited in the second and third trimesters. However, the court said that later regulations must allow for abortions needed to protect the woman's health. Roe's companion case, Doe v. Bolton (issued on the same day as Roe) defined maternal "health" as: "all factors – physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age – relevant to the well-being of the patient." These factors are so vague and open-ended that almost any reason can be and is cited to allow abortion in the second and third trimesters. (SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 164 (1973); Roe, 410 U.S. at 164; Roe, 410 U.S. at 164-5; Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179, 192 (1973).
2. A woman can have an abortion for practically any reason during her pregnancy, as long as the abortion is deemed medically necessary as defined by Doe v. Bolton as "all factors – physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age – relevant to the well-being of the patient." (SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 164 (1973); Roe, 410 U.S. at 164; Roe, 410 U.S. at 164-5; Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179, 192 (1973).
3. Under Roe and Doe, there were no restrictions on how late into pregnancy a woman could have an abortion or what abortion method could be used. (SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973); Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179 (1973).
4. Before Roe, the issue of abortion was decided by state legislatures and some states allowed abortion in certain circumstances. A Supreme Court decision overruling Roe would return the legalization and regulation of abortion back to the elected legislatures, as it was before. Prior to Roe, 30 states had laws criminalizing abortion. In 2006, USA Today, using data from Planned Parenthood's research arm, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, speculated that if Roe were overruled; 22 states would impose "significant" restrictions on abortion; 16 states would maintain the status quo of abortion available on demand; and 12 states would impose some restrictions on abortion. Pro-life groups have estimated that abortion would be legal in 43 states if Roe were overturned. (SOURCE: Susan Page, "Roe v. Wade: The Divided States of America," USA Today, April 17, 2006, Americans United for Life, Defending Life 2007, p. 59).
5. While various sources place the number of abortions anywhere between 40-48 million, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would approximate the number of abortions performed since 1973 to be 40,944,029. (SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abortion Surveillance – United States, 2003, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 55, No. SS-11, November 24, 2006).
6. Although 78 percent of Americans favor parental notification laws and 72 percent support parental consent laws, under Roe, there is no required parental notification, regardless of age. In several cases after Roe, the Supreme Court cited Roe to strike down state laws that tried to ensure parents would be involved if their minor daughters had abortions. (SOURCES: Rust v. Sullivan, 500 U.S. 173 (1991); Opinion Dynamics Poll, April 27, 2005).
7. Under Roe and Doe, there are no apparent restrictions on sex-selection abortions. Instead, Doe's protection of abortion for a woman's health explicitly includes "emotional, psychological, [or] familial" health, which would allow a woman to decide that having a child of a particular gender would be unhealthy for her or her family. (SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973); Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179 (1973).
8. Fewer than 1 percent of abortions are done because of rape and incest. (SOURCE: A. Torres and J. Forest, "Why Do Women Have Abortions?" Family Planning Perspectives, 20:4 (July/August 1988, 169-76; A. Bankole, et al., "Reasons Why Women Have Induced Abortions: Evidence from 27 Countries," Family Planning Perspectives, 24:3 (August 1998), 117-25, 152).
9. None of the founding documents contains the phrase "right to an abortion." The "right of privacy" that was used to justify Roe, came out of the 1965 U.S. Supreme Court decision Griswold v. Connecticut, when the court wrote: "The 'right' of privacy is based on the Bill of Rights [which] have penumbras, formed by emanations from those guarantees that help give them life and substance." A penumbra is defined by the Encarta Dictionary as a "partial outer shadow that is lighter than the darker inner shadow umbra, e.g. the area between complete darkness and complete light in an eclipse." (SOURCE: Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 484 (1965).
10. The answer is Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the court's most liberal member and former counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union. (SOURCE: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, "Some Thoughts on Autonomy and Equality in Relation to Roe v. Wade," North Carolina Law Review, 63 (January 1985); 375-386, at 376).
11. Finland does not allow abortion on demand but only under certain circumstances such as life of the woman, as well as rape and incest. [including "health" may be confusing in light of Doe; this change is still consistent with the reference graph] Great Britain does not allow abortion on demand, or for rape and incest. Abortions for other reasons such as the life and health of the woman are only legal in the first six months of pregnancy. Ireland only allows abortion if the life of the woman is in danger; abortion is illegal under all other circumstances. Mexico only allows abortion during the first trimester, and then only under special circumstances (life of the woman, rape, incest, and birth defects). Abortion in the United States is legal for practically any reason throughout all nine months of pregnancy. (SOURCE: "Summary of Abortion Laws Around the World," www.pregnantpause.org/lex/world02.htm).
12. Roe does not specify who can or cannot perform abortions. SOURCE: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973); Doe v. Bolton, 41 U.S. 179 (1973).
April 01, 2007
The Dating Lessons, Part 3
Practical Thoughts
I used to have so many specific definitions for dating and courting and all that's involved. Now, I just have a few ideas to give single people parameters if they want to have a successful dating relationship.
Know your purpose:
You should go into dating with specific ideas of what is expected in the relationship. First and foremost is the given - to see if you're compatible. Not if you like the same kind of food or hobby, but to see if you can communicate well. Ideally, it's to see if your strengths can help the other's weakness and vice versa. Besides compatibility, you should also have an idea of what you want out of life and to see if both of you can blend those ideas in some way.
Know your perimeter:
Your dating relationship should have physical boundaries. This should be acknowledged and set in your mind even before you begin seeking the relationship. Dating is not a permission to be touchy-feely with the opposite sex which of course would lead to petting and inevitably premarital sex. So to help with that, it's best not to find hiding spots to "keep your conversations private." It's good to have privacy, but it's best to be in areas where you know people may accidentally walk in on you. Staying pure is of utmost importance in a dating relationship because it fosters trust in more ways than one.
Know who you're pleasing:
Entering a dating relationship is not about pleasing yourself. It's learning how to please the other person, but in the context of good communication. As previously stated, dating is not license to satisfy physical desires nor is it a place to salve emotional pain. Both lead to false expectations and does not allow for a freedom to leave the relationship if it is not in the best interest of both parties. In effect, the only one you should please in a dating relationship is God Himself. He is supposed to be the tie that binds the relationship, not sex or sexual contact, or even emotional or physical attraction. It is foremost a friendship that helps to develop your communication skills with the opposite sex.
In dating, you are essentially practicing to be married. Develop the habits now to have a healthy marriage instead of what is common in dating relationships these days: broken people who continue to break each other. By developing those good habits now, you will not only help the other person, but you will know how to deal with the challenges common to marriage relationships.
I used to have so many specific definitions for dating and courting and all that's involved. Now, I just have a few ideas to give single people parameters if they want to have a successful dating relationship.
Know your purpose:
You should go into dating with specific ideas of what is expected in the relationship. First and foremost is the given - to see if you're compatible. Not if you like the same kind of food or hobby, but to see if you can communicate well. Ideally, it's to see if your strengths can help the other's weakness and vice versa. Besides compatibility, you should also have an idea of what you want out of life and to see if both of you can blend those ideas in some way.
Know your perimeter:
Your dating relationship should have physical boundaries. This should be acknowledged and set in your mind even before you begin seeking the relationship. Dating is not a permission to be touchy-feely with the opposite sex which of course would lead to petting and inevitably premarital sex. So to help with that, it's best not to find hiding spots to "keep your conversations private." It's good to have privacy, but it's best to be in areas where you know people may accidentally walk in on you. Staying pure is of utmost importance in a dating relationship because it fosters trust in more ways than one.
Know who you're pleasing:
Entering a dating relationship is not about pleasing yourself. It's learning how to please the other person, but in the context of good communication. As previously stated, dating is not license to satisfy physical desires nor is it a place to salve emotional pain. Both lead to false expectations and does not allow for a freedom to leave the relationship if it is not in the best interest of both parties. In effect, the only one you should please in a dating relationship is God Himself. He is supposed to be the tie that binds the relationship, not sex or sexual contact, or even emotional or physical attraction. It is foremost a friendship that helps to develop your communication skills with the opposite sex.
In dating, you are essentially practicing to be married. Develop the habits now to have a healthy marriage instead of what is common in dating relationships these days: broken people who continue to break each other. By developing those good habits now, you will not only help the other person, but you will know how to deal with the challenges common to marriage relationships.
March 31, 2007
The Dating Lessons, Part 2
Different Views
Matchmaking
This is the ancient way of bringing people together for marriage. It didn't matter whether or not the two even knew each other, what mattered was the agreement of arrangement. There were three main ways:
By their fathers - usually was a business deal.
By the matchmaker - a person, usually an older woman, who arranged the match using their experience and intuition to achieve compatibility.
By pick - the man chooses among eligible women.
Courting
A woman is wooed by one or more men and a man woos one or more women. Their relationship is strictly on a communication basis. There is very limited physical contact, if there is any. When a pick is chosen, there's a familiarity period. If the girl doesn't like the suitor, the family will protect her from him and the suitor must move on. This is not necessarily the "dating" that we understand it.
The whole purpose for the above was to make a match for marriage.
Dating
In the 1930s, with the advent of the car and the telephone, courting and matchmaking began to change drastically. The couple would go out on a date to get to know each other. Then if they begin to date consistently, they are considered "going steady" with the purpose of marriage. That's when the boyfriend/girlfriend terms were commonly used. This definition is still true for older adults these days. But dating changed even more in the 1950s and 1960s, when dating became more of an activity that gave couples opportunities for the physical benefits of marriage while not really being married. From then on, it went downhill. Younger people in this generation generally understand dating as that mutated form, the license to develop a friendship to the level of a sexual relationship with no obligations. The attitude of the 1960s and 70s, with the cultural acceptance of casual sex, brought about this collapse of premarital standards. All is not lost, yet, because we still have the intuitive sense to stay with one person for life. At least there are still boundaries, like "dating" one person at a time, although that's breaking down also.
God created us for relationships, but as fallen people, we corrupt it. We desire the idea of dating because we're made for relationships and dating is the generally accepted way to be married. As people of God, we have to have standards for dating, we have to have premarital behavior that glorifies God. Doing so will please Him and our relationships will be blessed because of it.
Matchmaking
This is the ancient way of bringing people together for marriage. It didn't matter whether or not the two even knew each other, what mattered was the agreement of arrangement. There were three main ways:
By their fathers - usually was a business deal.
By the matchmaker - a person, usually an older woman, who arranged the match using their experience and intuition to achieve compatibility.
By pick - the man chooses among eligible women.
Courting
A woman is wooed by one or more men and a man woos one or more women. Their relationship is strictly on a communication basis. There is very limited physical contact, if there is any. When a pick is chosen, there's a familiarity period. If the girl doesn't like the suitor, the family will protect her from him and the suitor must move on. This is not necessarily the "dating" that we understand it.
The whole purpose for the above was to make a match for marriage.
Dating
In the 1930s, with the advent of the car and the telephone, courting and matchmaking began to change drastically. The couple would go out on a date to get to know each other. Then if they begin to date consistently, they are considered "going steady" with the purpose of marriage. That's when the boyfriend/girlfriend terms were commonly used. This definition is still true for older adults these days. But dating changed even more in the 1950s and 1960s, when dating became more of an activity that gave couples opportunities for the physical benefits of marriage while not really being married. From then on, it went downhill. Younger people in this generation generally understand dating as that mutated form, the license to develop a friendship to the level of a sexual relationship with no obligations. The attitude of the 1960s and 70s, with the cultural acceptance of casual sex, brought about this collapse of premarital standards. All is not lost, yet, because we still have the intuitive sense to stay with one person for life. At least there are still boundaries, like "dating" one person at a time, although that's breaking down also.
God created us for relationships, but as fallen people, we corrupt it. We desire the idea of dating because we're made for relationships and dating is the generally accepted way to be married. As people of God, we have to have standards for dating, we have to have premarital behavior that glorifies God. Doing so will please Him and our relationships will be blessed because of it.
March 30, 2007
The Dating Lessons, Part 1
Historical Context
From the very beginning, Satan wanted us to do our own thing apart from God.
In the 1700s, Kant developed his categorical imperative, the first part being "act only on that maxim that you would will to be a universal law." So even though Kant tried to make a universal law to his theory on morals, he unfortunately paved the way for the rationalizing of relativism. He was one of many enlightenment philosophers who attributed moral development to reason alone and not on absolutes by the revelation of God intuitively known by all human beings. Kant, along with others during that time period, thought humans could set the standard.
In the 1850s, Darwin proposed the idea that humans did not come about the way the Bible described. He believed that we are a more developed animal and that some races of the human species are better than others. He allowed for the idea that God's word is not reliable. Not long after that, Neitzche claimed that God is dead and that man is all there is. His philosophies helped to spawn Communism and the brutality that ensued.
By the 1950s, the existentialists, popularized by the Beatniks, believed that you are what you do, think, and believe. This concept influenced the hippies of the 1960s and 70s. They thrived on their relativism and the belief in "free love."
From the very beginning, Satan wanted us to do our own thing apart from God.
In the 1700s, Kant developed his categorical imperative, the first part being "act only on that maxim that you would will to be a universal law." So even though Kant tried to make a universal law to his theory on morals, he unfortunately paved the way for the rationalizing of relativism. He was one of many enlightenment philosophers who attributed moral development to reason alone and not on absolutes by the revelation of God intuitively known by all human beings. Kant, along with others during that time period, thought humans could set the standard.
In the 1850s, Darwin proposed the idea that humans did not come about the way the Bible described. He believed that we are a more developed animal and that some races of the human species are better than others. He allowed for the idea that God's word is not reliable. Not long after that, Neitzche claimed that God is dead and that man is all there is. His philosophies helped to spawn Communism and the brutality that ensued.
By the 1950s, the existentialists, popularized by the Beatniks, believed that you are what you do, think, and believe. This concept influenced the hippies of the 1960s and 70s. They thrived on their relativism and the belief in "free love."
January 25, 2007
The main difference between Creation and Evolution
We had our capstone lesson on Creationism by having each person answer questions posed to them using this list of facts. I wanted it to be more like I was playing the evolutionist and they had to respond, but it ended up being more like an open book verbal test.
Creationism
In defense.
"Einstein said, "God does not play dice." He was right. God plays scrabble." - Philip Gold
In the debate between Creation and Evolution, it all boils down to two avenues:
Creation relies on an intelligent agent as its foundation.
This implies that everything came from an infinite source, that intelligence produces fine-tuning, and that information comes from an informer.
Evolution relies on random chance processes.
This implies that everything came from nothing, that randomness produces fine-tuning, and that chaos produces organized information.
One fact point of each area to show evidence of Intelligence, from largest to smallest and from past to the future:
The Galaxy - Our solar system is just at the right spot in the galaxy to have habitable life, between two major "arms" of stars and far enough away from the center with a great abundance of stars, not suitable for life. Any other place would cause tremendous shifts in radiation, gravity, rotation, etc. No other place in the galaxy is habitable because of these factors. We are perfectly placed to be able to see the galaxy and discover quite a lot of it from the safety of Earth.
The Solar System - The sun is a rare star and is just at the right distance. Most stars are red dwarfs. The gas planets are perfectly positioned for protection and all the planets have safely positioned orbits. The biggest clock in existence is the precise balance between the sun, moon, and Earth.
The Earth - Gravity on Earth is just right because if it is too strong, poisonous gases would be pulled closer to the ground, and if it is too weak, most of the oxygen would be released into space. This planet is perfectly designed so that we can discover it. There is just the right amount of all necessary components for life.
The Environment - The distance and tilt of the Earth gives just the right moderate temperature range and it is not as drastic. The amount of water keeps everything balanced. The flow of the molten lava, the ocean currents, and the air currents helps to create an environment well suited for life.
The Human Body - So complex and reasonable in its structure, it is more finely-tuned than the machines we create. Everything, all the different systems, are coordinated with accurate precision.
The DNA - Evolutionists cannot account for its origin and its massive complexity on such a microscopic level. Francis Crick, who didn't believe in God, ironically paved the way for the beginning of scientific thought acknowledging Intelligent Design. If the molecules of DNA were left to combine by themselves, it would turn into a crystalline structure and not life. All the information stored in the DNA betrays an intelligence.
The Molecule - If random, not one molecule would have combined with others to form the way they did. It would take a lot of intelligence to bring atoms together to create simple structures like amino acids that do not even form by itself outside of a biological system. The Miller-Urey experiment, which tried to create life in a test-tube that would've resembled life on an evolution based early Earth, did not demonstrate life coming from random processes. It only showed that life could not have come together without an intelligence intervening in the process (the lab technician who put it together).
The Atom - Unbelievable amount of power in each atom. There is no way the structure of the atom could have been put together randomly. Its very existence owes itself to a power much greater than the power that holds it together.
The Past - Everything in existence came from something! This "something" has an infinite amount of power and intelligence, is outside of our understanding and outside of time, is personal because of the volitional decision to create in the first place.
Evolutionists say that Creationists merely attribute the things they do not know to God, as in, "Since we don't know how the universe came to be, God must have done it." This thinking is called "God of the gaps". But evolutionists have it wrong! We DO know that God created everything and that as we keep discovering more and more scientific evidence, it will only further prove that this universe could only have been MADE. Evolutionists are the ones who have the "evolution of the gaps" thinking, as in, "We haven't found all the evidence, but we know that evolution did it", which is nothing more than circular reasoning. They believe that evolution did it, even without the evidence. That is called "faith" to some people, a wishful thinking, a belief similar to believing in the tooth fairy, which is not Biblical faith. Darwin believed that his case can be disproven if there are no transitional forms. Since the 1850s, when Darwin came out with the Origin of the Species, there hasn't been ANY evidence of transitional forms!
Creationism
In defense.
"Einstein said, "God does not play dice." He was right. God plays scrabble." - Philip Gold
In the debate between Creation and Evolution, it all boils down to two avenues:
Creation relies on an intelligent agent as its foundation.
This implies that everything came from an infinite source, that intelligence produces fine-tuning, and that information comes from an informer.
Evolution relies on random chance processes.
This implies that everything came from nothing, that randomness produces fine-tuning, and that chaos produces organized information.
One fact point of each area to show evidence of Intelligence, from largest to smallest and from past to the future:
The Galaxy - Our solar system is just at the right spot in the galaxy to have habitable life, between two major "arms" of stars and far enough away from the center with a great abundance of stars, not suitable for life. Any other place would cause tremendous shifts in radiation, gravity, rotation, etc. No other place in the galaxy is habitable because of these factors. We are perfectly placed to be able to see the galaxy and discover quite a lot of it from the safety of Earth.
The Solar System - The sun is a rare star and is just at the right distance. Most stars are red dwarfs. The gas planets are perfectly positioned for protection and all the planets have safely positioned orbits. The biggest clock in existence is the precise balance between the sun, moon, and Earth.
The Earth - Gravity on Earth is just right because if it is too strong, poisonous gases would be pulled closer to the ground, and if it is too weak, most of the oxygen would be released into space. This planet is perfectly designed so that we can discover it. There is just the right amount of all necessary components for life.
The Environment - The distance and tilt of the Earth gives just the right moderate temperature range and it is not as drastic. The amount of water keeps everything balanced. The flow of the molten lava, the ocean currents, and the air currents helps to create an environment well suited for life.
The Human Body - So complex and reasonable in its structure, it is more finely-tuned than the machines we create. Everything, all the different systems, are coordinated with accurate precision.
The DNA - Evolutionists cannot account for its origin and its massive complexity on such a microscopic level. Francis Crick, who didn't believe in God, ironically paved the way for the beginning of scientific thought acknowledging Intelligent Design. If the molecules of DNA were left to combine by themselves, it would turn into a crystalline structure and not life. All the information stored in the DNA betrays an intelligence.
The Molecule - If random, not one molecule would have combined with others to form the way they did. It would take a lot of intelligence to bring atoms together to create simple structures like amino acids that do not even form by itself outside of a biological system. The Miller-Urey experiment, which tried to create life in a test-tube that would've resembled life on an evolution based early Earth, did not demonstrate life coming from random processes. It only showed that life could not have come together without an intelligence intervening in the process (the lab technician who put it together).
The Atom - Unbelievable amount of power in each atom. There is no way the structure of the atom could have been put together randomly. Its very existence owes itself to a power much greater than the power that holds it together.
The Past - Everything in existence came from something! This "something" has an infinite amount of power and intelligence, is outside of our understanding and outside of time, is personal because of the volitional decision to create in the first place.
Evolutionists say that Creationists merely attribute the things they do not know to God, as in, "Since we don't know how the universe came to be, God must have done it." This thinking is called "God of the gaps". But evolutionists have it wrong! We DO know that God created everything and that as we keep discovering more and more scientific evidence, it will only further prove that this universe could only have been MADE. Evolutionists are the ones who have the "evolution of the gaps" thinking, as in, "We haven't found all the evidence, but we know that evolution did it", which is nothing more than circular reasoning. They believe that evolution did it, even without the evidence. That is called "faith" to some people, a wishful thinking, a belief similar to believing in the tooth fairy, which is not Biblical faith. Darwin believed that his case can be disproven if there are no transitional forms. Since the 1850s, when Darwin came out with the Origin of the Species, there hasn't been ANY evidence of transitional forms!
January 11, 2007
What we've learned so far
In youth group, we discussed some of the notes I wrote down from the DVDs we watched these last few months. These were not all the notes I took and I didn't even get to finish, there is just so much information.
From the DVD, A Creation Seminar, we learned that...
Many beliefs are accepted, but there is an undercurrent of bias against Jesus Christ and Christianity.
The Four Great Questions:
1) Who am I? 2) Where did I come from? 3) Why am I here? 4) Where am I going when I die?
The answers are directly related to a person's worldview.
The idea that non-life becomes life is merely belief - anyone can believe that, but it's not true.
Where do we get right or wrong if evolution is true?
Humanist - you are your own god, you have no one to be accountable to.
Creationist - God is the Master Creator and you have only Him to be accountable to.
Satan is the master liar, and he will do his best to lie and let people believe they are their own god.
The devil knows that if Genesis crumbles, Christianity crumbles.
You can take a lie and repeat it for 20 years and it can be accepted as true.
Advertisements shape our buying habits. Evolution is marketed as fact when it is not and yet many people bought it.
Evolution is found in things from kids books to science journals to movies and all touted as true science.
Evolutionists mainly believe their "facts" but these do not fit the evidence.
Evolutionists have a belief system, not a science.
Creation vs. evolution is not religion vs. science but religion/science vs. religion/science.
Science is observable, testable, demonstratable.
God could not use evolution because the mechanism for evolution is based on unintelligent, random chance.
Creation and evolution go in opposite directions. Creation says we were in a perfect state and when sin entered, everything fell apart and continues to do so. Evolution says we were simple organisms and information kept being added on by random chance until we've reached our point and maybe even become as gods.
1st Law of Thermodynamics - energy is neither created nor destroyed (evolution says "nothing" produced "something")
2nd Law of Thermodynamics - entropy, anything in the state of high order will break down (evolution adds information)
Evolution is not just bad science it is NOT science, but a belief system ornamented with scientific jargon.
From the DVD, Unlocking the Mysteries of Life, we learned that...
Many scientists today doubt the validity of Darwin's theory.
Dr. Michael Behe coined the term irreducible complexity, which means that everything in life, no matter how small has an arrangement of different parts that need to work together to function. If one of those parts is missing, it does not function.
A mousetrap is a good example, you need all the parts to catch a mouse.
Simple-celled organisms, like bacteria, are more complex than previously imagined.
The tiny flagellum, which is the bacterium's "paddle", is not too different from an outboard motor. It has a rod with a driveshaft, several cylinders, and a propeller, all ion-driven. It is a biological machine, not just a glob of protein.
Co-option is the evolutionists way to try to get around it, but it is not possible to have any specific part develop on its own.
Simple cells are made up of proteins and these molecular structures confuse evolutionary scientists because they need to be arranged in a very specific way.
From the DVD, A Creation Seminar, we learned that...
Many beliefs are accepted, but there is an undercurrent of bias against Jesus Christ and Christianity.
The Four Great Questions:
1) Who am I? 2) Where did I come from? 3) Why am I here? 4) Where am I going when I die?
The answers are directly related to a person's worldview.
The idea that non-life becomes life is merely belief - anyone can believe that, but it's not true.
Where do we get right or wrong if evolution is true?
Humanist - you are your own god, you have no one to be accountable to.
Creationist - God is the Master Creator and you have only Him to be accountable to.
Satan is the master liar, and he will do his best to lie and let people believe they are their own god.
The devil knows that if Genesis crumbles, Christianity crumbles.
You can take a lie and repeat it for 20 years and it can be accepted as true.
Advertisements shape our buying habits. Evolution is marketed as fact when it is not and yet many people bought it.
Evolution is found in things from kids books to science journals to movies and all touted as true science.
Evolutionists mainly believe their "facts" but these do not fit the evidence.
Evolutionists have a belief system, not a science.
Creation vs. evolution is not religion vs. science but religion/science vs. religion/science.
Science is observable, testable, demonstratable.
God could not use evolution because the mechanism for evolution is based on unintelligent, random chance.
Creation and evolution go in opposite directions. Creation says we were in a perfect state and when sin entered, everything fell apart and continues to do so. Evolution says we were simple organisms and information kept being added on by random chance until we've reached our point and maybe even become as gods.
1st Law of Thermodynamics - energy is neither created nor destroyed (evolution says "nothing" produced "something")
2nd Law of Thermodynamics - entropy, anything in the state of high order will break down (evolution adds information)
Evolution is not just bad science it is NOT science, but a belief system ornamented with scientific jargon.
From the DVD, Unlocking the Mysteries of Life, we learned that...
Many scientists today doubt the validity of Darwin's theory.
Dr. Michael Behe coined the term irreducible complexity, which means that everything in life, no matter how small has an arrangement of different parts that need to work together to function. If one of those parts is missing, it does not function.
A mousetrap is a good example, you need all the parts to catch a mouse.
Simple-celled organisms, like bacteria, are more complex than previously imagined.
The tiny flagellum, which is the bacterium's "paddle", is not too different from an outboard motor. It has a rod with a driveshaft, several cylinders, and a propeller, all ion-driven. It is a biological machine, not just a glob of protein.
Co-option is the evolutionists way to try to get around it, but it is not possible to have any specific part develop on its own.
Simple cells are made up of proteins and these molecular structures confuse evolutionary scientists because they need to be arranged in a very specific way.
November 09, 2006
Back to the Basics
As Christians, we have two jobs and both are done to glorify God: To know Him and make Him known. Everything outside of this is incidental. Make sure you always take this phrase into account and see how it can apply to what it is you are doing - How can I get to know God better through (fill in the blank) and to make Him known through (fill in the blank)? As you read the Bible, you will know more about who He is and what He wants you to do. As you live life in obedience to what He says, you will grow more and see who He is. You may not understand why you did what He told you to do, but that will come in time. All he wants you to do is to obey. As Chambers stated, "understanding comes through obedience."
Amen or ouch? Ouch. Man, sometimes I feel that the lessons I give to the youth group are more applicable to me than it is to the kids.
Amen or ouch? Ouch. Man, sometimes I feel that the lessons I give to the youth group are more applicable to me than it is to the kids.
November 06, 2006
Have a thoughtful faith
What do you think of when you hear the word "thoughtful"? It implies both reasoning and compassion. Our faith in Christ should be reasonable and should show compassion, not simplistic, thoughtless rhetoric and posturing.
Don't be a mindless/thoughtless Christian. You can't claim ignorance in this life; God already gave you His word to understand Him better and to make Him known. The main reason why people don't live a full life, a God blessed life, is sheer laziness, which results in ignorance. Laziness stems from fear - fear of work, fear of effort, fear of failure, fear of being different, fear of whatever. The ignorant Christian only has fire insurance and doesn't live too differently from the worldly, unsaved person. At best, the ignorant Christian, the thoughtless Christian, has the basics and still goes with the flow of his feelings and/or the opinion of the world, and not on obedience to Christ.
Is your belief merely a program in your mind or is it a personal possession? Is your belief real and truly yours or is it no different from the belief you had in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus? My job as your youth leader/teacher is to move your perspective and your beliefs from the point of passive indifference to a passionate reality.
Don't be a mindless/thoughtless Christian. You can't claim ignorance in this life; God already gave you His word to understand Him better and to make Him known. The main reason why people don't live a full life, a God blessed life, is sheer laziness, which results in ignorance. Laziness stems from fear - fear of work, fear of effort, fear of failure, fear of being different, fear of whatever. The ignorant Christian only has fire insurance and doesn't live too differently from the worldly, unsaved person. At best, the ignorant Christian, the thoughtless Christian, has the basics and still goes with the flow of his feelings and/or the opinion of the world, and not on obedience to Christ.
Is your belief merely a program in your mind or is it a personal possession? Is your belief real and truly yours or is it no different from the belief you had in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus? My job as your youth leader/teacher is to move your perspective and your beliefs from the point of passive indifference to a passionate reality.
September 15, 2006
The Bible and your money
Money is talked about in the Bible almost as much as heaven and hell combined. The reason being is that we have to learn how to handle it well and be good stewards of what God gives us.
The Scripture reference: Luke 16:1-13 - "He who is faithful in little will be given much."
1. Use WISELY!
In Gen. 1:27-30, we read that Adam was given dominion over the Earth. Dominion means "to take care of". He had to work! Work is what we were made to do. The more productive the better, and if it helps others, even more so.
Prov. 13:4 and Commandments 4, 8, 9, and 10 in Ex. 20. are good, solid, foundational principles to hold onto. The Proverbs verse talks about not being a sluggard, not being lazy. The 4th Commandment reminds us not to overwork, but to take a rest day. Commandments 8, 9, and 10 are don't steal, don't lie, and don't covet; the first two are usually a little easier to control, but the last one everyone needs to work on. Those three, when broken, are almost always seen together.
Mt. 6:19-21; 25-34 and Prov. 11:28
Don't love money. Doing so would get your focus away from what God wants for you and He wants to bless you beyond anything you can imagine. He will definitely give you what you need. Do not worry about it! When you trust in Christ, you become joint-heirs with Him, and since God owns all, you have inherited eternal life and all the wealth you can imagine. Just because I only have a few thousand in the bank, it doesn't mean I only have a few thousand. The bank statement is not the measure my wealth. The world sees it as such, but by being an inheritor, I have everything. I'm not just talking about spiritual ideas/blessings; this is material as well. Does that mean I can go out and buy a Ferrari now? No, that's out of God's will because I wouldn't be using my money wisely. I may be able to have one down the road, but that's not important. Things do not identify who I am.
Because I am an heir, I can simply ask God to provide something, and I know He will provide. It may not be in my timing and it may not be the amount I ask for, but He provides. There are many accounts of people with this strong trust in God and God providing in just the right time with just the right amount. Sometimes it was more. But it is all given to bring glory to Him.
2) Save well.
Prov. 21:20 - This is part of using your money wisely but I think it's important enough to have it as a separate item. Some Christians think that saving money is selfish and not helping the kingdom. No, I'd have to disagree, saving money is helpful to the kingdom. It's always good to follow all the Biblical principles of money, not just part of it. One way to see how it will help is through interest. Saving money in a bank will help it grow and then use it for a time when you can help someone with it, if you decide to do so.
3) Tithe consistently.
Mal. 3:10 - This is the only time God allows people to challenge Him. This shouldn't be an issue. He gives you everything, He only asks for ten percent back. It's a matter of trust. Once that trust is established, He promises to bless you greatly and in many ways, not just materially. And this isn't to be confused with giving. Tithing is ten percent of your gross pay no matter what. Giving is above and beyond that. One Bible teacher taught that you tithe what is in your heart to tithe. No, this isn't Biblical, tithing is ten percent no matter how you feel about it. It's preferable that you have a good attitude about it because God did give that promise of showers of blessings. He didn't put it in His word for nothing.
4) Give cheerfully.
II Cor. 9:7 - Be cheerful about giving. Paul reminds us to be cheerful because this is already past the ten percent. It's tough enough to let go of a good chunk of your money, so a change of attitude and perspective is necessary. Also, we're reminded in the previous verse of the Law of the Harvest, that what we sow, we reap. We sow a lot, we will reap a lot. That should be ample reason to give with a huge smile in our heart and on our face.
An easy way to remember these principles is to think of the acrostic:
Give
Use
Tithe
Save
As in "it takes GUTS to handle money well"
or TUGS, as in "God TUGS at your heart to be a good steward".
The Scripture reference: Luke 16:1-13 - "He who is faithful in little will be given much."
1. Use WISELY!
In Gen. 1:27-30, we read that Adam was given dominion over the Earth. Dominion means "to take care of". He had to work! Work is what we were made to do. The more productive the better, and if it helps others, even more so.
Prov. 13:4 and Commandments 4, 8, 9, and 10 in Ex. 20. are good, solid, foundational principles to hold onto. The Proverbs verse talks about not being a sluggard, not being lazy. The 4th Commandment reminds us not to overwork, but to take a rest day. Commandments 8, 9, and 10 are don't steal, don't lie, and don't covet; the first two are usually a little easier to control, but the last one everyone needs to work on. Those three, when broken, are almost always seen together.
Mt. 6:19-21; 25-34 and Prov. 11:28
Don't love money. Doing so would get your focus away from what God wants for you and He wants to bless you beyond anything you can imagine. He will definitely give you what you need. Do not worry about it! When you trust in Christ, you become joint-heirs with Him, and since God owns all, you have inherited eternal life and all the wealth you can imagine. Just because I only have a few thousand in the bank, it doesn't mean I only have a few thousand. The bank statement is not the measure my wealth. The world sees it as such, but by being an inheritor, I have everything. I'm not just talking about spiritual ideas/blessings; this is material as well. Does that mean I can go out and buy a Ferrari now? No, that's out of God's will because I wouldn't be using my money wisely. I may be able to have one down the road, but that's not important. Things do not identify who I am.
Because I am an heir, I can simply ask God to provide something, and I know He will provide. It may not be in my timing and it may not be the amount I ask for, but He provides. There are many accounts of people with this strong trust in God and God providing in just the right time with just the right amount. Sometimes it was more. But it is all given to bring glory to Him.
2) Save well.
Prov. 21:20 - This is part of using your money wisely but I think it's important enough to have it as a separate item. Some Christians think that saving money is selfish and not helping the kingdom. No, I'd have to disagree, saving money is helpful to the kingdom. It's always good to follow all the Biblical principles of money, not just part of it. One way to see how it will help is through interest. Saving money in a bank will help it grow and then use it for a time when you can help someone with it, if you decide to do so.
3) Tithe consistently.
Mal. 3:10 - This is the only time God allows people to challenge Him. This shouldn't be an issue. He gives you everything, He only asks for ten percent back. It's a matter of trust. Once that trust is established, He promises to bless you greatly and in many ways, not just materially. And this isn't to be confused with giving. Tithing is ten percent of your gross pay no matter what. Giving is above and beyond that. One Bible teacher taught that you tithe what is in your heart to tithe. No, this isn't Biblical, tithing is ten percent no matter how you feel about it. It's preferable that you have a good attitude about it because God did give that promise of showers of blessings. He didn't put it in His word for nothing.
4) Give cheerfully.
II Cor. 9:7 - Be cheerful about giving. Paul reminds us to be cheerful because this is already past the ten percent. It's tough enough to let go of a good chunk of your money, so a change of attitude and perspective is necessary. Also, we're reminded in the previous verse of the Law of the Harvest, that what we sow, we reap. We sow a lot, we will reap a lot. That should be ample reason to give with a huge smile in our heart and on our face.
An easy way to remember these principles is to think of the acrostic:
Give
Use
Tithe
Save
As in "it takes GUTS to handle money well"
or TUGS, as in "God TUGS at your heart to be a good steward".
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