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Sunday’s message in the Ruth – A Christmas Story series was called A Righteous Man taken from Ruth 2. Here is a brief outline of the message:

The story of a righteous man who offered kindness, protection and provision to a young woman in her time of need.

I. A righteous man puts God first in his life (Ruth 2:1-4)

II. A righteous man shows kindness to the poor (Ruth 2:5-10)

III. A righteous man encourages people in their walk with the Lord (Ruth 2:11-13)

IV. A righteous man protects and provides (Ruth 2:14-16)

V. God uses a righteous man to bless others (Ruth 2:17-23)

Back to the Christmas story: “Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man.” (Matthew 1:18-25)
“That I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” (Philippians 3:8-9)

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Sunday’s message in the Ruth – A Christmas Story series was called O Little Town of Bethlehem taken from Ruth 1. Here is a brief outline of the message:

The story of a young woman who made a radical commitment of faith to God and then journeyed to Bethlehem where she gave birth to a child who would change the world.

I. The flight from Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1-5; Matthew 2:13-18)

II. A young woman’s radical commitment of faith (Ruth 1:6-17; Luke 1:26-38)

III. The whole town was astir (Ruth 1:18-22; Matthew 2:1-6)

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Sunday’s message in the Foundations of Marriage series was called A Christian Response to Homosexuality. We began the message by reading 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 together. Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Understanding the issues
   A. Cause: nature or nurture (genetic or environmental)
   B. Description: orientation, choice or attraction
   C. Morality: sinful or morally neutral
   D. Practice: temptation vs. sin

II. What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
   A. Homosexual relations are unnatural (Romans 1:24-27)
   B. Homosexual practice is sinful (Lev 18:22; 1 Tim 1:8-10)
   C. Homosexual sin is forgivable (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

III. What about homosexuality and marriage?
   A. Marriage is to be honored by all (Hebrews 13:4)
   B. Marriage is between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:4-5)
   C. Sex outside of marriage is sin (1 Thessalonians 4:1-4)

A Christian response:

1. People who experience same sex attraction are created in God’s image and need to be treated with dignity and respect.
    
2. People who experience same sex attraction share in our brokenness and need to be treated with love and compassion.
    
3. People who experience same sex attraction – like all of us – are sinners in need of a Savior and need to hear the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
    

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Sunday’s message in the Foundations of Marriage series was called Challenges to Marriage. Here is a brief outline of the message:

Biblical definition of marriage: “Marriage was created by God as a sacred, covenant relationship between a man and a woman based on a public vow of lifetime faithfulness.” (see Matthew 19)

Marriage and sexuality are good gifts of God (Proverbs 5:18-19; 18:22)
   – Marriage was created by God

Five major challenges to marriage today –

1) The challenge of premarital sex (1 Thessalonians 4:1-4)
   – a challenge to marriage as a sacred, covenant relationship

2) The challenge of homosexuality (Matthew 19:4-5)
   – a challenge to marriage as between a man and a woman

3) The challenge of living together (Hebrews 13:4)
   – a challenge to marriage as a public vow

4) The challenge of divorce (Matthew 5:31-32, 19:6)
   – a challenge to marriage as a lifetime commitment

5) The challenge of adultery (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-30)
   – a challenge to marriage as sexual faithfulness

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Sunday’s message in the Foundations of Marriage series was called God and Marriage. Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Marriage is a picture of God as trinity
   A. Male and female as part of God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27)
   B. The headship of God and man (1 Corinthians 11:3)

II. Marriage is a picture of God and his people
   A. God is described as a husband to Israel (Isaiah 54:5)
   B. Our unfaithfulness to God is described in terms of adultery (Jeremiah 3:8-10; Ezekiel 16)
   C. God’s faithfulness to us is described in terms of marital faithfulness (Hosea 2:19-20)

III. Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church
   A. The relationship of husband and wife reflects the relationship of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:22-27)
   B. The oneness of husband and wife reflects the oneness of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:28-33)
   C. The marriage of husband and wife reflects the future glory of Christ and the church (Revelation 19:6-9)

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Sunday’s message in the Foundations of Marriage series was called In the Beginning, taken from Matthew 19:4-6. Here is a brief outline of the message:

Biblical definition of marriage: Marriage was created by God as a sacred, covenant relationship between a man and a woman based on a public vow of lifetime faithfulness.

I. Marriage was created by God (Matthew 19:4a)
   A. Part of the created order
   B. The first institution

II. Male and female (Matthew 19:4b)
   A. Created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27)
   B. Not good for the man to be alone (Genesis 2:18)
   C. A suitable helper (Genesis 2:19-23)

III. A lifetime commitment of faithfulness (Matthew 19:5)
   A. Leave father and mother
   B. Be united to your spouse
   C. The two become one flesh

IV. A sacred, covenant relationship (Matthew 19:6)

   – “What God has joined together, let man not separate.”

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From USA Today: This is an interesting chart showing the average earnings for professional athletes in various sports.

Here is the money quote: “Kobe Bryant makes more money in two field goals than the average American makes in a year.”

HT: Jesus Creed

Remember that hour of sleep you lost last spring? It’s time to reclaim it! Don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour tonight.

Related post: The Thief

Sunday we finished up the Lord, Make My Life Count! series with a message called Make Your Time Count! Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Your days are numbered, so number your days (Psalm 90:12)
   A. There only so many hours in the day (Genesis 1:5)
   B. There are only so many days in your life (Psalm 39:4, 139:16)

II. There is a time for everything, so manage your time well (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)
   A. Seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33)
   B. Find God’s balance in your time (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

III. The days are evil, so be careful how you live (Eph. 5:15-17)
   A. Live as wise, not as unwise (Romans 13:11-14)
   B. Make the most of every opportunity (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
   C. Understand the Lord’s will (Proverbs 16:9; James 4:13-15)

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Sunday’s message in the Lord, Make My Life Count! series was called Make Your Money Count! Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. The principle of ownership
   A. God owns it all (Psalm 24:1-2)
   B. God trusts you with his wealth (Luke 16:10-12)

II. The principle of stewardship
   A. Spend carefully (Luke 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:6-8)
   B. Save wisely (Proverbs 6:6-8, 22:3; Genesis 41:28-38)
   C. Keep out of debt (Proverbs 22:7; Romans 13:7-8)

III. The principle of generosity
   A. God loves a generous heart (Proverbs 11:25; 2 Cor. 9:6-7)
   B. Money is a tool for blessing others (Acts 20:35; Eph. 4:28)
   C. Store up treasure in heaven not earth (Matthew 6:19-21; Proverbs 19:17)

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Sunday’s message in the Lord, Make My Life Count! series was called Make Your Prayers Count! Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Pray early
   A. Morning prayer sets the tone for your day (Psalm 5:3, 119:147)
   B. God’s mercies are new every morning (Ps 57:7-8, Lam 3:22-23)
   C. Jesus set the example for you (Mark 1:35)

II. Pray often
   A. Bookend your days with prayer (Psalm 4:4-5)
   B. Pray at key points throughout your day (Psalm 55:17)
   C. Learn to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

III. Pray specific
   A. Pray for specific people (Philippians 1:4)
   B. Pray for specific needs (Ephesians 6:18)
   C. Pray for specific outcomes (James 4:2, 5:17)

IV. Pray big
   A. We serve a mighty God (Jeremiah 32:17)
   B. Jesus is our mediator (John 14:13-14)
   C. Pray in faith believing (Mark 11:23; James 5:16)

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Sunday’s message in the Lord, Make My Life Count! series was called Make Your Faith Count! Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Faith means trust (Hebrews 11:1; Proverbs 3:5-6)

II. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

III. Faith must be in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, 16:31; 1 John 5:11-12)

IV. Faith alone saves (Romans 4:4-5; Ephesians 2:8-9)

V. Faith that saves is not alone (Ephesians 2:10; James 2:14-17; Matthew 7:16-20)

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