• Wednesday Evenings

The message theme is a "new me in 2010..."

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

A New Start

Scripture: Psalm 139

Introduction: Psalm 139:16 says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them ever came to be.’’ At the beginning of another

set of 365 days, we can find our bearing by considering:

1. God knows (vv. 1–4).

2. God dwells (vv. 5–12).

3. God creates (vv. 13–16).

4. God loves (vv. 17, 18).

5. God judges (vv. 19–22).

6. God sanctifies (vv. 23, 24).

Conclusion: Make this your prayer for the New Year: Search me, O God, and

know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties. See if there is any wicked

way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Controlling anger in 2010

Scripture: James 1:19–21

Introduction: James offers five steps toward overcoming anger.

1. Be slow to speak (v. 19). Weigh your words carefully (Prov. 17:28 and

29:20).

2. Be quick to listen (v. 19). Avoid erupting into anger. Assume the

posture of a listener (Prov. 18:13).

3. Be slow to anger (vv. 19, 20). No amount of yelling at my children

will turn them into the righteous young people I long for them to be.

4. Get rid of all moral filth and evil (v. 21). When distracted by sin we

cannot dedicate ourselves to controlling our anger.

5. Humbly accept the Word of God (v. 21). Submit to the Word as the

final authority and guide for your life.

Conclusion: What if I do blow up? Admit it, ask for God’s help, confess to

the people you hurt, and continue.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

GIVE in 2010 Part I

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1–9

Introduction: Tithing is a practice followed by many of the heroes of Scripture,

but why should we give God ten percent of our hard-earned money?

1. The motivation of example (vv. 1–7). Paul used the motivating example

of the Macedonian churches.

2. The motivation of love (v. 8).

3. The motivation of grace (v. 9).

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:13—9:5

Introduction: This passage falls into three sections, each one giving us a

different guiding principle for the way the apostle Paul directed his own

stewardship campaign.

1. The principle of equity (8:13–15). Paul felt there was something wrong

among his churches when some Christians were overly wealthy while

others were starving. He believed those with greater resources had

an obligation to help those suffering from want. In other words, God

provides some people with more money that they might be of greater

help. There should be equality of sacrifice.

2. The principle of honesty (8:16–24). Here Paul reassured the Corinthians

about his handling of the monies raised. He wanted to avoid any

criticism about the way the funds were handled.

3. The principle of charity (9:1–5). We’re prone to ask ourselves, ‘‘How

little can I get by with? What is the least amount I can reasonably

promise to give?’’ But the Lord does not want gifts ‘‘grudgingly given.’’

Conclusion: God wants eager, enthusiastic, generous gifts—and givers.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Give in 2010 Part II

Scripture: James 5:1–6, especially verse 5.

Introduction: Jesus talked more about money than any other topic, often

warning of its danger. James tells us that money can hurt us when:

1. We value it wrongly (vv. 1–13). James doesn’t condemn money, but

the love of money because it is temporal and we are to focus on the

eternal (Matt. 6:19–20; Luke 12:15–21; 1 Tim. 6:17).

2. We obtain it wrongly (v. 4). Scripture commands against gaining

money deceitfully (see Deut. 24:14, 15). Do we lie about taxes or keep

the extra $10 the cashier accidentally gave us as change? This type of

temporal gain will always earn us spiritual pain.

3. We use it wrongly (vv. 5, 6). Those who hoard riches and neglect the

needy are pictured as fattened cattle headed for slaughter, unaware

of their fate! Enjoy God’s provision (Ps. 34:8), but beware if your

luxury is to the neglect or oppression of others (Eccl. 5:13)!

Conclusion: Be a good steward of God’s provision to you!