Bible Study June 28, 2012

Can you name these two men?

Billy Graham & Charles Templeton

• In 1936, at the age of 21, Charles Templeton converted to Christianity and became an evangelist. In 1945, at the age of 30, he co-founded Youth for Christ International, they hired Billy Graham as their first full-time evangelist. Graham and Templeton would tour Europe on crusade for Youth for Christ.
• Templeton was plagued with doubts about God. It began with a photograph in Life magazine. Picture of a black woman in Northern Africa. They were experiencing a devastating drought. She was holding her dead baby in her arms and looking up to heaven with the look of – why? I looked at that and thought, is it possible to believe that there is a loving or caring Creator when all this woman needed was rain? And how could a compassionate God allow such a ghastly illness like Alzheimer’s to torture its victims and their loved ones like it does?
• Charles Templeton was torn with questions he couldn't answer, much less defend.

Can You Answer These Questions?

If there is a loving God, why does He permit, much less create, earthquakes, droughts, floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters which kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children every year?


How can a loving, omnipotent God permit, much less create, encephalitis, cerebral palsy, brain cancer, leprosy, Alzheimer’s, and other incurable illnesses, to afflict millions of men, women, and children, most of whom are decent people?


How can one believe the biblical account of the creation of the world in six days when every eminent physicist agrees that all living species have evolved over millions of years from primitive beginnings?


Is it possible for an intelligent man or woman to believe that God fashioned the first male human being from a handful of dust and the first woman from one of the man’s ribs?

Why, in a world filled with suffering and starvation, do Christians spend millions on cathedrals and sanctuaries and relatively little on aid to the poor and the needy?


Why does the omnipotent God, knowing that there are tens of thousands of men, women, and children starving to death in a parched land, simply let them waste away and die when all that is needed is rain?


Why would the Father of all mankind have a Chosen People and favor them over the other nations on earth?


Why would a God who is “no respecter of persons” prohibit adultery and then bless, honor, and prosper a king who had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines?


Jesus’ last words to His followers were “Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. And, lo, I am with you always.” But, despite this and to this date, some two thousand years later, billions of men and women have never so much as heard the Christian Gospel. Why?


If I’m still plagued by doubts, then is it still possible to be a Christian?  




In 1957, at the age of 42, Charles Templeton the ministry and became an agnostic – his final book was entitled, “Farewell to God.” In 2001, at the age of 86, he died from Alzheimer’s disease.

We are beginning a 13-week series on Apologetics – what is apologetics?

• The Case for Hope, Jesus and the Christian Life
• Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith; it has nothing to do with apology.
• Apologetics aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and attempt to expose the flaws of other world views.

What would be some reasons that apologetics would be important for you today? There are several reasons why we need apologetics.

1. We are commanded to defend the faith: 1 Peter 3:15.
2. It helps Christian’s know their faith. This is something that is sadly lacking among believers. Most don't know much about their faith, let alone be able to describe the Trinity, the two natures of Christ, His physical resurrection, or even to tell the difference between justification and sanctification.
3. Apologetics is an attempt to save people’s eternal lives. God takes sin very seriously. As Christians, we should be motivated to present the truth of salvation in Jesus. Salvation is not found in Buddhism, Islam, relativism, or in one's self: It is only found in Jesus. We need to not only defend God's word and truth, but also present the gospel to all people so they can be saved.
4. To counter the bad image Christianity has in the media and in culture. Televangelists and their scandals—both sexually and monetarily—are a disgrace to Christianity. The Catholic Church hasn't helped with its scandals involving priests. On top of that, the media is very biased against Christianity, and you will see negative opinions of Christianity promoted everywhere.
5. There is a constant threat of apostasy in the Christian church. Such is the case with the Metropolitan Community Church denomination, which openly advocates the support of homosexuality in violation of scripture (Rom. 1:18-32). Also, as of 2002, the Evangelical Lutheran Church is in risk of apostasy by entertaining the idea of accepting homosexual relationships into church. Or "The supreme court of the United Methodist Church was asked Thursday to reconsider the denomination's ban on gay clergy." (Church court of United Methodists asked to decide on gay clergy ban, NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Oct. 25, 2001, AP WorldStream via COMTEX). Such examples are demonstrations of the incredible need for defending biblical truth within those churches that claim to be Christian.
6. The many false teachings out there. Mormonism teaches that God used to be a man on another world, that he brought one of his goddess wives with him to this world, that they produce spirit offspring that are born into human babies, and that you have the potential of becoming a god of your own world. The Jehovah's Witnesses teach that there is no Trinity, that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, that there is no hell, and that only 144,000 people will go to heaven. Atheism denies God's existence, openly attacks Christianity and is gaining ground in public life and schools. Islam teaches that Jesus was not God in flesh, that Jesus did not rise from the dead, and that He did not atone for our sins. It teaches that salvation is partly based on one's works and partly based on Allah's grace. It teaches that the Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel (Surah 2:97; 16:102); that Jinn are unseen beings created (51:56) from fire (15:27; 55:15); and that Muhammad was greater than Jesus. Even within the Christian church there are false teachings.
7. The rise of immorality in America. This is a threat not only to society but also to Christianity. This is a serious issue because an immoral society cannot last long. The Barna Research group statistics show that 64% of adults and 83% of teenagers said moral truth depends on the situation that you are in. 19% of the adult population believes that "the whole idea of sin is outdated." 51% believe that "if a person is generally good, or does enough good, he will earn a place in Heaven." When a society's morals fail, the society fails. Just look at history and think of Ancient Rome and Greece. Immorality seeps down into all areas of our culture. God tells us in Phil. 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. We cannot ignore God's word without a consequence.
8. Because schools are not friendly to Christianity. My own experience in non-Christian schools was a strong awakening to the unprovoked hostility that exists in school, where the philosophy teachers, history teacher, and even the art teacher all took shots at Christianity. Don Feder in the Conservative Chronicle, in his article of Sept. 22, 1993, titled "Fighting Censorship, PAW Does it Its Way," said that in some junior high libraries, book titles included The Joy of Gay Sex and How to Make Love to a Single Woman. There is an impressions series for grades one to six which promote the New Age and the occult; a controversial drug education program called Quest, which tells students that they alone can decide whether or not it's OK to use drugs; as well as texts that direct students to fantasize about suicide, attack religion and undermine family authority.

I. BE PREPARED – 1 Peter 3:15-17

15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.



What does it mean to be prepared to answer why you have hope? How does one prepare to defend their faith?



What is the hope that we have?

• Before Peter met Jesus, he only had mundane hopes. His biggest hope each day was for a bigger catch of fish. The fish that Peter caught spoiled quickly. Likewise, all of our hopes in this world for jobs, promotions, cars, fame, and fortune will perish, spoil or fade. They are all dead hopes.
• The Christian's witness must center in God's Son. He, after all, is the source of genuine hope. Thus, apologetics involves a concerted effort to declare the facts about Jesus Christ and to show forth the attractiveness of following Him. There are countless reasons why a person should follow the Savior; the believer's task is to share these.
• When have you been able to relate to hopelessness? Why are such times of difficulty important for sharing Christ without hurting someone? What is the “reason for the hope that is in you”?

What do you think it means to set apart Christ as Lord in your heart? Why is setting apart Jesus as Lord in our hearts not merely a private activity but one that becomes public?

• Keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master (MSG)
• The starting point for making your case is to set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts.
• Set apart – means to keep something apart or above all other things in significance.
• The heart represents the motive for all thoughts, words, and actions.
• The results of setting Christ apart in our hearts are a life that reflects devotion to God and activities that are pure and honorable.
• This private devotion to God results in a public life that will be evident to others.
• Your walk will match your talk because people watch.

Is the goal of apologetics to win an argument?

• The goal is to lovingly respond to someone who asks questions about God.

How do we respectfully share the gospel without being soft on sin?




4 functions of apologetics:

1. Vindicate or prove Christianity as a belief system that should be accepted. Involves philosophical arguments as well as scientific and historical evidences for the Christian faith. Logical implications of the Christian worldview so that they can be clearly seen and contrasted with alternate worldviews.
2. Defend Christianity against attacks by critics of carrying belief systems. This function involves clarifying the Christian position in light of misunderstandings and misrepresentations; answering objections, criticisms, or questions from non-Christians; and in general clearing away any intellectual difficulties that nonbelievers claim stand in the way of their coming to faith.
3. Refute opposing beliefs. Answer the arguments non-Christians give in support of their beliefs.
4. Persuade people to commit their lives and eternal futures into the trust of the Son of God who died for them.

 
Luke writes in the book of Acts today where Paul shows us a classic example of an apologist approach in the midst of a mob of skeptics.


II. KNOW TO WHOM YOU ARE TALKING – Acts 21:40-22:3

40Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:

……………………………………….

1"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: 3"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.


The people were out for blood. They had seized Paul at the temple, thinking him a heretic, and would have killed him had the commander not intervened.



Why do you think the mob became “very quiet” when they heard Paul speak their language?

• Paul had connected with them by using their Hebrew language.
• He got their attention.

What was the significance of Paul’s next strategy – to share his background?

• He looked for things they shared in common.
• He too was Jewish, Jerusalem was his second home, he had been educated by one of the most respected teachers of their day, and in other words, he was just like them.

If you had to tell your story of what you were like before Christ, what would you say?

 
III. SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW – Acts 22:4-10

4I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. 6"About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?' 8" Who are you, Lord?' I asked. " 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 10"'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. "'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.'



What was the focus of Paul’s defense in these verses? What details did he point out about himself?

• Continued establishing connections with the crowd, he too had persecuted followers of Christ, in fact his very own encounter with Jesus came while he was on his way to Damascus to arrest more followers. But there his life was changed forever.

At what point in life were you forever changed by Christ?

• A changed life is a powerful apologetic.
• Loving loyalty to God draws people to God.
• The best witnesses are authentic ones.

So, what will we do? Final points:

1. Make Christ Lord in your heart.
2. Be gentle and respectful.
3. Find common ground with the person you are talking to.
4. Tell your story in a winsome way.

Practice explaining what you believe and why you believe it. Be sure to include how you came to know Jesus but focus on how He guides your life today.

This week we begin a 13 week study on "Apologetics" and your role in the defense of your faith.  

See you on Thursday! 

In His Love, 

David

Bible Study June 21, 2012

Seven Days in Utopia

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Hey Gang,

At the end of the seven-day journey Johnny brings Luke to the Cemetery and he challenges him to bury for good all the lies in his life that he believed were so important. He challenges him to begin answering to a higher calling, a place beyond tradition, and a place of truth. Significance in life is not a golf score or how successful you become. Significance will be defined by your faith, hope and love.  




What’s yours going to say? Your epitaph, your headstone… what are people going to say about you when you’re gone? Maybe it will say that you shot a 59! Maybe it will say that you were the president of a company! Maybe it won’t say anything!

What really matters?

I. WE ARE COMPELLED TO LOVE – 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-15

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.


Who are we to live for, and why? What does it mean to not live for yourself?

• God invented love. While living on earth, Jesus Christ modeled how love behaves. So as we let Christ’s love compel us, we will show true love.
• I, or my ideas, are at the center of any sin. Try to name a sin that doesn’t start with self-focus.
• Doing everything for the glory of God - family, work, and social. God will bless this.
• God’s love is not merely to be received and enjoyed; it must be shared and multiplied. There are three types of love: Eros - a sensual love between a man and his wife; Phileo - a brotherly love we have for a friend; and Agape: God's type of love that is unconditional. An Agape love is not emotional, it's an act of the will.

Why are we compelled to love? Because…

1. God loves us.

2. God commands that we love.

3. It’s how we love God.

4. It shows we are saved.

5. It’s practice for eternity.

6. It’s a witness to the world.



Why did Johnny ask Luke in the beginning to spend seven days in Utopia? Was it to fix his game? Why did Johnny thank Luke for everything when he left Utopia?

• Johnny knew that Luke’s problem wasn’t performance – it was a heart problem.
• He needed hope, faith, and love in something besides a game.

II. WHAT MATTER’S MOST? – GALATIANS 5:6 (CEV)

6 If you are a follower of Christ Jesus, ... All that matters is your faith that makes you love others.

Have you ever wondered what matters most to God?


“What the World Needs Now is Love” 

• In the 60’s and 70’s Love was a common theme: It was a common theme of the music of the day and much of the political scene as well. Love was viewed by some as the answer to all of our social, political and world problems.

Would you say that this is true today? 

III. LOVE IS THE ANSWER – MATTHEW 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”


Jesus summarized the entire Bible in two principles: Loving God and Loving Others.




The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that three things will continue forever? Which is the greatest of the three?



1. Faith

2. Hope

3. Love




As adult believers, we have an impact on younger generations and others we influence with a gift that will outlast our days. It’s a gift that’s not to be repaid, but passed along. It’s an inheritance that matters more than wealth, property, or possessions. It’s a life of significance expressed in faith, hope and love.

S F T Everyone!

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me share and show Your love to those persons for whom I am accountable. Amen 

Well, we bring this week of Utopia to a close. "I don't think your coming here was an accident. But only you can decide what to do from here on out, because me, well, there's nothing more I can teach you son." 

What does really matter in your life today?

"Utopia is defined as a place of mythical perfection. But I knew differently, Utopia is indeed real. It's a place where the voice of truth resides and eternal trophies line the shelves; a place where there are no accidents" 

See you at the Texas Open on Thursday!

In His love,

David

 

Bible Study June 14, 2012

Coffee for Dad - Happy Father's Day

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Hey Gang, 

1. In our first lesson, Johnny tells Luke you need some Conviction. You need to understand why you do the things you do – from the grip to the swing. It’s the foundation of your golf swing – Moses would tell us that our Conviction in life is to love God above all other things.

2. Last week, Johnny tries to get Luke to begin to see things from a different perspective – there’s more to life than winning. Hannah would teach us that our hope in life has to be in God and that prayer should be the first thing we do not the last.

3. This week we look at the importance of faith.


This week’s question is where do you find faith? Can you See it, Feel it, or Trust it?

• Johnny is going to put Luke through a series of lessons today to get him to feel something beyond seeing it. Johnny wants Luke to begin to feel something he’s never felt before - Faith in God’s presence and provision.

Two Types of Legacies

Self: Those who are living mainly for this world, themselves and not for Christ. Their legacy teaches to look out for number one. This legacy is always short lived.



Faith: Abraham left a faith legacy. His legacy was centered on his walk and trust in God. His legacy would impact his son, his people, and a nation. His legacy continues today and the world is blessed because of it.



What do you think would be the most difficult or craziest thing someone could ask you to do?

• How about staying seven days in a place called Utopia?
• How about learning about golf from fly-fishing, painting pictures or flying a plane?
• How about using putter that you know everyone will laugh at if you do?
• How about burying everything you believed was most important in life in a grave?
• How about sacrificing your only son?

Seven Days in Utopia 

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The legacy we are called to pass on is simple: Faith in Jesus Christ.

Funny

A man fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. The following conversation ensued:

"Is anyone up there?"
"I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?"
"Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can't hang on much longer."
"That's all right, if you really believe you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch."

A moment of pause, then: "Is anyone else up there?"

I. FAITH WILL BE TESTED – GENESIS 22:1-3, 7-10
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. 2 “Take your son,” He said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” 3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.

……………………………………………

7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.


Lessons at the river, painting a picture of a golf shot and a game of ring toss are all lessons for Luke to understand three truths: S  F  T 




How is S F T helpful to executing a good golf shot? How does S F T apply to our Faith?

• Luke never saw life through the eyes of faith. Faith often requires us to walk to the brink of trust, and then take another step of obedience.
• To see God’s face is to understand His character and purpose. To know Him, not just about Him.
• To feel His presence is to walk in the Spirit. To abide in Christ.
• To trust His love is to obey.

Johnny said, “I have a respect for tradition but a passion for the truth.” What was the significance of the “Face On” putter Johnny introduced to Luke?

• What is the tradition and what is the truth in life?
• God has a greater calling for you than what you may think is so important in life.
• He wants you to see God’s face, feel His presence and trust His love – so that you can begin to see that life is about faith, relationships, character and integrity and not a golf game, how much wealth you may have, or what position you may hold.

 


Johnny told Luke to “Take control of this plane…Keep your wits about you.” What was he trying to teach Luke about times of crisis in our lives? 

Trust God to provide in any test you face even when you cannot conceive of how God will do so. 


Remember Indy's leap of faith?

A Leap of Faith 

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What is the purpose of testing? Why does faith have to be tested? Was God’s test really with the intent to sacrifice Isaac? 

• Understanding, Trust in God
• We like Abraham, experience challenges. We build a legacy of faith by the way we respond to them.
• At the final point of a test, all might be uncertain except for God's presence and providence. We have no answers, only trust and obedience. That’s when we will realize that relationship with God is the ultimate treasure.
• God’s intent is that we trust Him even with our most treasured gift. God’s intent is to transform us from inside out so all expressions of our lives honor Him. God’s intent is to realign our most cherished priorities.
• God wasn’t testing Abraham’s love for Him; He was testing his faith in Him. He promised Abraham that he would be blessed through Isaac’s children, so Abraham knew that he would come back down off that mountain with Isaac his son. See verse 5: And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

How did Jesus test the rich young ruler?

• Is there anything you love more than God? God may test you on that.
• All tests involve something very precious or important to us. God highlighted Isaac's importance to Abraham by describing his son as "your son, . . . your only son Isaac, whom you love."

What did Luke have to sacrifice?

• Bury his lies – Failure in Golf is not a failure in life. My calling in life is more than a game.
• There is something more important than a golf score – faith.
• Luke had a greater calling than golf.
• At the end of the seven-day journey Johnny brings Luke to a Cemetery. It’s here where he teaches him the most important lesson of all. But first, he has to get rid of the baggage he was carrying. What was his baggage?
• His baggage was a list of lies that he believed were the significance to his life.

   

The Lies of Significance in Luke’s Life:

1. My golf scores are a reflection of my self-worth.
2. Failure in golf is failure in life.
3. Success in golf will bring the fulfillment that I long for.
4. My calling in life is to play golf.
5. The opinions of others are paramount in the choices I make.
6. God is a crutch for the weak.
7. Tradition is sacred and never to be challenged

What might be our baggage of lies be that need to be buried?

• We think that our worth, our value, our identity, is based on how we perform, by how much money we make in life, by what position we hold.
• Think about it – what eternal significance does any of these things have?
• Every man who has ever won a prize, reached a goal, or achieved a milestone learns that the fulfillment of that moment quickly fades. No victory ever seems to be enough. Striving for more seems to be the only hope, but success never fulfills. While men were made to achieve, there is a deep calling to go BEYOND SUCCESS.
• Beyond success is measured by significance, not a golf score. Significance is defined by your faith, relationships, character and integrity, not by a golf score. Johnny would tell you not to just think about this, SEE IT!

Johnny told Luke that his gift wasn’t meant to be repaid, it was meant to be passed along. What did he mean by this and how does this apply to each of us? 

• The question isn't if we are passing on anything to others. It's what are we passing on. Many people follow our example. What they see us do, they do. Our children become who we are.

What do people see in you? Do they see your faith? Johnny said, “Don’t think, see!” What do people see in you?

1. Do they see you read your Bible and pray?
2. Do they see you walk through the tough times in life depending on God with a peace that passes all understanding?
3. Do they see you walk in love?
4. Do they see you walk in integrity?
5. Do they see you treat people with kindness and respect?
6. Do they see you turn the other cheek?
7. Do they see you ask for forgiveness?
8. Do they see how Jesus has transformed your life?

See God's Face     Feel His Presence      Trust His Love

Faithfulness to God can have a powerful influence on your family and others. 

At the end of the seven-day journey Johnny brings Luke to the Cemetery and he challenges him to bury for good all the lies in his life that he believed were so important. He challenges him to begin answering to a higher calling, a place beyond tradition, and a place of truth. Luke's significance in life would not be measured by a golf score or how successful he might become. Significance will be defined by your faith, hope and love.

• All of us are still in the process of building legacies. The major component of those legacies should be faith. How do you respond to the challenges you face? A faithful life is eternally valuable, impacts the present, and alters the future in ways you cannot imagine.
• Faith in God is the most important thing any of us could possess. Faith is not transmitted through the genes or automatically bestowed on all people. The faith of one generation must become real for each new generation. Parents especially must pass on their faith to their children. Children often will remember and imitate good examples. Faith must be caught as well as taught!

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me join with other faithful believers in passing along the legacy of faith. Amen 


 

This week Johnny teaches Luke his final lesson from Utopia. Be in prayer this week that you too will learn all there is left to learn from this special place and this special person of God! 

See you on Thursday in Utopia! 

In His Love, 

David 

Bible Study June 7, 2012

Seven Days in Utopia 

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Last week we looked at how we build a lasting foundation of a Legacy and Stephen Covey's quote is right on target: "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." The main thing in our legacy is to put God first in all things! 

This week's lesson says that hope is essential to a right legacy, but our hope must be in God. When Luke came to Utopia last week all his hope in life was in a game. His understanding of success, achievement and performance were based on the lie that his life would be measured by how well he played the game and he thought his career was over. He was truly at a moment in life of desperation and hopelessness.

  


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“I had come here desperate for hope, and it had been given. I had been desperate for answers to golf’s most baffling challenges, and I found them. I had been in need of a mentor, and he showed up.” - Luke Chisolm

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Obermeister - "Masterpiece"

Have you ever been in a situation that all you could do is pray?

 

I. HOPE IN TIMES OF HOPELESSNESS – 1 SAMUEL 1:10-20

10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. 11 Making a vow, she pleaded, “LORD of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.” 12 While she continued praying in the LORD’s presence, Eli watched her lips. 13 Hannah was praying silently, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and scolded her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” 15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the LORD. 16 Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.” 17 Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you’ve requested from Him.” 18 “May your servant find favor with you,” she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent. 19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the LORD. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from the LORD.”


How did Johnny end up in Utopia? Why is a Johnny Crawford important in our lives? 

• Johnny had a desperation story too – Utopia was his salvation and he chose to stay and pass on what he had learned. All of a sudden he understood the significance of a relationship with Christ.
• They give us hope. We should pass it on. Barnabas – Paul – Timothy

What did the river have to do with golf? How about with life?

• Rhythm, balance and patience that what you need to stay in your game. Same with fly-fishing. It takes a calm mindset, a focus on the feel, rather than the outcome, it takes emotional control.
• What did he mean by this? Why would this be important in life?
• Rhythm – Order to life, Balance – Perspective in life, Patience – Stay calm and trust God to work things out.
• It takes emotional control to with stand the temptations in life and to stay focus on God.
• What again is my game? - Life
• My foundation in life: Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. – Rhythm, balance, patience.

What was the fish’s downfall? What made him fall into that trap? How can a loss of control hurt your golf game? How can loss of control hurt you in life?

• He was mad – took that fish out of his game today.
• To stay in balance in your golf swing you have to control your emotions. (bad hole can affect the next hole too)
• The Bible says that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Emotional balance is as important as physical balance.
• People will try to take you out of your game in life – self-control is needed to stay calm and respond in the right way. Don’t let anger be your response to anything – it will only hurt.
• Lucas Glover – US Open win – no one thought he had a chance. Emotional Control...

What made Hannah’s situation in life seem hopeless?

• Her inability to conceive a child. In Old Testament times, a childless woman was considered a failure. Her barrenness was an embarrassment to her husband.
• Her jeers from Peninnah made her feel hopeless, depressed and would erode her self-confidence

What made Luke’s situation in life seem so hopeless?

• His meltdown at the tournament with his Dad on the bag. It was an embarrassment to his Dad.
• Going back and playing again. Reconciling with his Dad.

How should we cope with situations in life that cause us to feel hopeless and desperate? What does Hannah teach us to do during the desperate times in life?

• Instead of giving up hope - take your burdens to the Lord and pray. Be honest in confessing your heartbreak and desperation. God hears and answers prayer.
• Pray and trust God!
• God can bring good out of every situation if we will trust Him. Jesus Calling (May 7th) If you learn to trust Me – really trust Me – with your whole being, then nothing can separate you from My peace. Everything you endure can be put to good use by allowing it to train you in trusting Me. This is how you foil the works of evil, growing in grace through the very adversity that was meant to harm you. Joseph was a prime example of this divine reversal, declaring to his brothers: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Do not fear what this day, or any day, may bring your way. Concentrate on trusting Me and on doing what needs to be done. Relax in My sovereignty, remembering that I go before you, as well as with you, into each day. Fear no evil, for I can bring good out of every situation you will encounter. Genesis 50:20
• Power of Prayer

When was the last time that you heard someone say, “Well, I guess all I can do is pray?”

• The real message in such a statement is that only after every other resource has been exhausted for addressing the problem, all to no avail, prayer finally gets a chance, but mind you, only as a last resort. Such a position seems natural for someone who doesn’t believe in the power of prayer. However, this sentiment is usually expressed by those who profess to be in a vital relationship with God. Why would anyone who professes to believe in prayer turn to it only when all else has failed? Could it be that many professed Christians don’t possess an accurate understanding of what prayer is really all about? I believe the problem is heavily associated with a limited understanding of the power and purpose that prayer is to play in the lives of believers. Sadly, for many, prayer is often relegated to being a last resort instead of the daily, life-giving communion with God that it was meant to be.
• “Prayer is inviting God, who happens to be the most powerful force in the universe, to intervene in the affairs of my life, knowing that He has my best interest at heart.”
• If I truly believe that whenever I pray I am granting the most powerful force in the universe permission to intervene in every aspect of my life, knowing that He will do only what’s in my best interest, then why in the world would I ever use prayer merely as a last resort? This is a question that should be answered by all believers. Why would one wait to use such a powerful means that is dispensable 24 hours each day as a last resort? For a Christian, prayer should be the first response to absolutely every situation in life. The apostle Paul puts it this way in Philippians 4:6,7 (NKJV)*: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” One of the likely reasons there is so much stress and tension in the daily lives of professed Christians is because answers to life’s challenges are sought from just about every direction but God’s. His Word makes it clear that we are to bring every care, every challenge, every hope, and every dream to Him first. And the emphasis is on the word “first.” In a sense, prayer for God’s children should be as spontaneous as reflex responses. It should just be the natural thing to do in time of need. And when we do this, the promise is that God will grant us a peace that will be difficult to comprehend.

What if we pray and things still don’t turn out the way we wanted?

• Praying calls for faith to believe that God can answer your prayer and trust that He will answer according to His wisdom and love. Prayer is not for wish-granting; it’s for learning what to do and how to do it.

How does painting a picture of your golf shot help you execute the shot? What does this have to do with life?

• Golf is an art – play the game out in front of the golf ball.
• All golf shots start with a blank canvass. We paint the shot with our eyes first so our bodies can reproduce the shot accurately. Don’t think – see!
• Painting a picture – seeing the shot gets the mind off all the negative things and all the things that could go wrong, and focuses them on what is it that you are trying to accomplish.
• What does this have to do with life? See the big picture, what’s most important in life – a relationship with God.

During his stay in Utopia, Luke learns about life and golf through activities such as painting, fly fishing, and cowboy poker. While these adventures improve Luke’s game, they also take Luke on a faith journey designed to do more than lower his handicap. They lead directly to the biggest question of all: is winning the ultimate goal? What do you think?



Is winning the ultimate goal in life? What should we know and teach about winning?

• Luke thought so – Girl asks Luke, There’s more to life than winning right? Luke says, “Like what?” Family, Friendship, Faith, Love…those things.
• Luke learns that becoming who you were meant to be has nothing to do with winning and everything to do with how you approach the game or the truth of life.
• Tim Tebow, Bubba Watson win at the Masters – Can’t take this green jacket into eternity.
• Give thanks to God for all of your successes in life and realize that your gift is to be passed on.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me to see and to model a legacy of hope to those in desperate need. Amen 

I want to thank each of you for participating in our Bible study series last week and we hope to see you back next week. Johnny begins to peel back the layers of lies that Luke has been taught and he starts teaching Luke to "See it" from a different perspective. 

Hope to see you back in Utopia next week! 

In His Love, 

David