God's Story: God Instructs His People

Introduction

 

Hopefully, everyone is having a good summer and is taking a break from all that school work.  Have you ever wondered about why we have all those rules we have to follow?  Did you know that God has rules that you have to follow?  Have you followed all those rules?  Well even if you haven't or do not know about the Laws that God has given us we will be discussing those in this installment of our Wednesday night Bible study called Revolution.  In this lesson we will learn about God instructing His people after he delivered them from bondage in Egypt.  Today you will learn how to apply those Commandments to your life so that you can honor God and follow His laws.  Maybe, then we will understand why we have laws that govern humanity.

 

 

 

Bible Verses

 

 

Exodus 20:1-4; 7-8

Exodus 20: 12-17

Exodus 24:4-8

 

 

 

Videos

 

Part 1

 

 



Part 2

 

Closing Thought

 

Remember that if you have any questions about what we discussed in these videos about God's Law please leave a comment and we will answer your questions.  Next week 7/17/2013 , we will be continuing the our study into God's Story, so hope to see you there.  

God's Story: God Delivers A People

Introduction:

 

 

For the last few weeks we have stopped doing the book of Revelation because with out basic background in the Old Testament and other books of the Bible it is hard to understanding some of the symbolism that takes place in the book.  So we began to take a look at a new study called God's Story, which puts the Bible in perspective that it is all about God and it is his story of Redemptive love.  On this particular night we discussed with our new Interim Youth Minister how God Delivered a People.  This is also the first night for which we will be filming our Wednesday Night Bible Study.  For those of you who are not familiar with our Youth Group we call our Wednesday Night Activities Revolution and we meet from 6:30-7:30pm.  The video had to be split into two parts to make it easier to put on FBC Mesquite, Texas You Tube Channel.

 

Bible Verses:

Exodus 3:7-10
Exodus 12:12-13, 29-31
Exodus 14:5-6, 13-14, 21, 26

Lifehouse Student Ministry (Revolution)

 

God Delivers A People (Part 1)

 

God Delivers A People (Part 2)

Revelation (Overview Part 2)

Here are three videos that are part of our study in the Book of Revelation, this is the second part to our Youth Ministry beginning to study Revelation.  As with the previous part to this overview of what Revelation is and about, throughout this study we will not determine the future but instead determine how God wants us to apply Revelation to our life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stand Your Ground (Week 12)

Love with Christ/Waiting for Dating

Discuss/Think About It

1.      How many of you are in a relationship? If not, are you looking?

2.      Do you ever feel like you are missing something by not being in a relationship?

3.      What are qualities you look for in a boyfriend/girlfriend?

4.      Would you date a person if you knew they didn’t believe in Christ? If you would, would you try and get them to go to Church?

5.      Do you ever turn to Christ about finding someone? When you start/are looking, do you think Christ should be a part of your decision?

6.      Do you believe God has someone in mind for you?

Read 1 John 4:7-12

Verse 7 Dear friends; let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Verse 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Verse 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. Verse 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Verse 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another Verse 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

God in Relationships

·         You should NEVER be without Christ in your life

o   This includes relationships

·         Christ is a good foundation to start your relationship on.

7.      If your boyfriend/girlfriend doesn’t believe in Christ, does that put a strain on your relationship? Does it put a strain on you?

God at the Center

·         A relationship without Christ at the center is difficult

8.      As young adults, are you tempted to do things?

·         Yes, everyone is, not just teenagers.

·         Many temptations come into a relationship and in every situation.

·         Overcoming these temptations can be done only with the strength Christ gives.

·         In, a relationship, temptations can be hard to overcome if Christ isn’t a part of the relationship.

Strengthening Your Relationship

9.      What are some ways you can strengthen a relationship?

·         Sharing the same faith and the love of Christ strengthens a relationship.

·         If your boyfriend/girlfriend doesn’t believe it can often be difficult to be together

·         It may add to the already tough problems you deal with while dating as teenagers

·         Dating can be hard, without adding this complication

God’s Gift

·         True love is a gift from God

10.  How many of you want to find true love?

·         It was displayed when…

o   He created human life in a perfect world

o   He sent Jesus to die for us

o   Every day as we build relationships with family members and others

·         Christ demonstrated his love for us, so we can share love with others.

Your Relationship

·         God’s love will strengthen the love you share and can make it last.

·         Find someone who(m)…

o   You feel comfortable talking about Christ

o   Will share your faith in Christ

·         Your relationship will grow and be strong with the help of God!

·         Remember…

o   Love and relationships are gifts from God

o   God should be at the center of any relationship

o   Put God and His love into your relationship

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9

Verse 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Measuring Up

11.  Do you ever feel that you’re not good enough?

12.  Do you think you should change in order to get a boyfriend/girlfriend?

·         No!!

·         Don’t ever think you have to change in order to impress a guy/girl.

·         I know Peer Pressure is tough to ignore

o   You should never feel ashamed of yourself

o   You don’t want to be ashamed of your faith

God’s Plan

·         Look back at question #5

o   Do you ever turn to Christ about finding someone? When you start/are looking, do you think Christ should be a part of your decision?

·         Even if you don’t think so, God is always a part of your life.

·         He has a plan for you, so he watches over you and guiding you to make the right decision

·         If a certain guy or girl, whom you like, doesn’t like you, it’s his/her loss not yours

o   It just means that wasn’t the person God wanted you to be with.

Turning to Christ

13.  What do you usually ask God for when you pray? Do you pray for your future boyfriend/girlfriend?

·         I know, at most of your ages, I didn’t pray for my future boyfriend

o   As you get older you probably will, pray for your future boyfriend/spouse

·         You just have to remember, as you get older, Christ is there to help

Dating with God

·         You should turn your dating life over to Christ

·         Use him to help guide your decision on who to date

·         Someone is waiting for you,

o   God knows who

·         You should rather have your love life in God’s hand, not your own

·         He knows who is perfect for you, you can trust the Lord

Remember

·         God should be at the center of your relationships

·         God has a plan for you

o   This includes the person you end up with

·         Let God help guide your decisions

o   He knows best

·         Put God and his love into your relationships

Silent Prayer Time

Reflect/Pray about what the lesson has taught or said to you. Also, mention anything that may be on your hearts/minds.

Stand Your Ground (Week 11)

Change/Changeless

Discuss/Think About It

1.      What does the word change mean/represent to you?

2.      What are some life changes you go through as a teenager?

3.      How do you handle or deal with change?

4.      Do some things stay constant or does everything, in the world change?

5.      When you become a Christian, how does/should your life change?

Change

·         Change: To make or become different, to replace with another

·         It can be hard for some people to deal with change

·         Sometimes change can have a big impact on a person’s life.

6.      What are some examples of changes that can have a big impact?

Read Hebrews 13:7-8

Verse 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Verse 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

God’s Love

7.      Do you ever feel like God’s love for you changes?

8.      Do you think God’s love should change?

·         No matter how our lives change God stays the same

·         His love for us is the one truly constant thing in the world

God is Constant

·         He will always be our Savior

·         Even when you don’t think he cares about you he does.

9.      Have you ever had doubts or fear that God has stopped loving you?

·         His love and compassion can overcome any doubt that you have about change.

·         He will remain faithful to his word, and never change

Changes and God

·         I’m sure you have had many changes in your life, I know I have.

·         But I feel confident knowing God will never change.

·         He is there to help us deal with change.

·         When change occurs in your life take comfort that the one thing that won’t change is Jesus Christ and his saving love he gives to us.

Read James 1 16-18

Verse 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Verse 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Verse 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Changes in Life

10.  How much does life change?

11.  How well do you adjust to changes in your life?

·         I know, over the years, my life has changed so much.

o   My friends

o   Family

o   Choices I make

Changes and God II

12.  When we become Christians, are we asking God to change us?

·         Yes, we want him to change our hearts.

·         But not just when you are baptized…

o   God is continually washing us clean of the sin that changes our lives.

God is with us

·         God is always with you when you need to make a big decision that will change your life.

·         Know that Jesus will guide you through the changes.

·         He will always be the same loving and forgiving Savior today and forever

The Next Time You Face Change

Think about this…

13.  Why does God allow change in your life?

14.  Can good things come out of change?

15.  What reassurance does the Bible give to us about change?

16.  What change for the world occurred when Jesus died for our sin?

Related Scripture

·         1 Corinthians 15:51

Verse 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.

·         Malachi 3:6

Verse 6 I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

·         Numbers 23:19

Verse 19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

·         Ephesians 4:22-24

Verse 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; Verse 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; Verse 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Remember

·         God helps us deal with change

·         Christ is the one constant in our lives

·         He is the same today, tomorrow, yesterday and Forever

·         God will NOT abandon you

Silent Prayer Time

Reflect/ Pray about what the lesson has taught you, and anything else you may have on your mind.

Stand Your Ground (Week 10)

Well Watered/Letting God Guide

Read Ecclesiastes 3:11

Verse 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time, He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

1.      Have you ever seen a plant grow from a seed?

God as a Gardener

·         Imagine our hearts as a seed or plant (God is the gardener)

·         God has planted faith in our hearts (just like a gardener plants seed in soil)

2.      Where do we get nourishment?

·         Our hearts need nourishment just like plants

·         We get our nourishment from Christ and the filling word of God

·         Christ is the life giving water

·         Nourishment from any other source is like contaminated water

o   It takes the place but only for a little bit

Earthly Desires

Read Colossians 3:2

Verse 2 Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things

·         We will never be completely satisfied with things of this world

·         Do not let things of this world take over your heart

·         Water your heart

Protect Yourself

Read Romans 12:2

Verse 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3.      How do you think you can protect yourself?

·         Immerse yourself in God’s word

·         He is there to help you with your struggles

God’s plant

·         God has planted a special gift in your heart

o   His faith

·         He has not left you without tools to nourish your heart

Think About It

4.      What are you using to nourish your heart?

5.      Are you leaving your heart in the care of somebody other than God?

Letting God Guide

6.      Have you ever tried to out shine someone? (Trying to show them that you are better than they are)

7.      Have you ever felt like you needed to earn some body’s approval or love?

8.      Do you ever try to reach perfection with everything in your life?

Read Romans 5:1-2

Verse 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Verse 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Our Identity in Christ

9.      Do we ever have to fight for God’s love or approval?

·         Many Christians find it hard to believe they are new creations in Christ

·         They think they have to try harder and be better to gain the identity they have been freely given

Perfection

10.  Do you find yourself trying harder or performing so you can feel valuable or loved by God?

·         We strive for perfection

·         In other words a perfect Christian life

11.  What are some of the things we associate with the term “perfect Christian?”

·         Perfection is impossible

·         God expects us to fall

·         When we don’t reach perfection we feel discouraged

Failing With God

Read Romans 3:23

Verse 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

·         You cannot be a perfect Christian on your own

·         You need God’s help

Read 2 Corinthians 5:21

Verse 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

·         When we fail God freely forgives through Jesus Christ

·         He sends the Holy Spirit to guide us in our walk

·         No matter the sin all you have to do is believe and ask for forgiveness

Silent Prayer Time

Write or think about what God has said to you through this lesson or just about anything that is on your mind.