Last week, we learned about God’s unending love and mercies. This week we talked about “If one wishes to know how God has demonstrated His love, he need only look at the fact that God sent His One and only Son into the world that we might obtain eternal life. Moreover, this love was not a response to man’s love, but an initiative on God’s part. By it the Son became an atoning Sacrifice.
God also listed how we can see him.. In verses 12-16 he showed how this love, experienced among Christians, can make God visible to them.
In the experience of mutual love among believers, this invisible God actually abides in us. As in 1 John 2:5, the idea of God’s love reaching completeness in a believer may suggest a deep and full experience of that love.
The statement in verse 13 is intimately related to the ideas just expressed. We know that we live (“we abide”) in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. The mutual abiding of a believer in God and God in that believer is indicated by that believer’s experience of the Spirit. The Greek for “of His Spirit” suggests participation in the Spirit of God, literally, “He has given us out of His Spirit.” The same construction occurs in 1 John 3:24. When a believer loves, he is drawing that love from God’s Spirit. who is also the Source of his confession of Christ (1 John 4:2). Both the faith and the love enjoined in the dual “command” of 3:23 are products of the Spirit’s operation in a believer. A believer’s Spirit-led obedience becomes the evidence that he is enjoying the mutual abiding relationship with God that John wrote about.”
Bible Knowledge Commentary

Think About It: God wants to prove His Love.

Group Questions:

1. What did this lesson teach you about God?
2. What did this lesson teach you about you?
3. From this lesson what is He asking you to do and/or what is He going to do?
4. How did you hear from God today?

Devotional:

This week, I want you to start your prayers by thanking God that He wants a relationship with you.

What is prayer all about? What is the essence of prayer? Is the essence of prayer talking to God? Asking things of God? Praising God? Giving thanks to God? Listening to God? Confessing our sin to God? All of these things are important, but I could not say that any of them is the essence of prayer. Prayer, at its core, is all about loving God. Prayer is connecting with God, drawing close to God, communing with God. Prayer is all about a love relationship, a love relationship between you and—get this—the God of the universe. He already loves you perfectly, infinitely, and outlandishly. And you, ideally, are falling in love with Him more and more. You have fallen for Him. Prayer is the overflow of this love. And right here we come to the essence of prayer: the overflow of a loving relationship between you and your God.

Lovers talk. Lovers hang out together. Lovers enjoy each other’s presence. David felt this love. Oh, did he ever. “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” What about you? Do you feel this love? Deep within your heart, do you sense the stirrings of love? This thirst for God, this hunger for God, this spontaneous outburst of your soul that says, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.”
This is prayer. Not religious duty. Not checking a box. Not clocking in. Not ritual or liturgy. Not talking God into something. Prayer is the overflow of love.”
Source: You Version, After God’s Heart, Devotional.

God Encounters:

Because of the health of our nation, I want to remind us of something God has been teaching me. I kept encountering God this week in my struggles. Father God is so kind and loving; He didn’t leave me to face these concerns alone. God said that those who trust in Him will remain strong. We don’t do anything to deserve this love. He loves us simply because we are His children. I think one of the caveats is to trust Him. We trust Him because He is our Father.
Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Testimonies:

Even corrections from God are testaments to His goodness. Two weeks ago, I implemented God’s directions to close teaching with a small group and ask four questions. I did and witnessed why He wanted them to know who He is, Who they are, what He is going to do, and what He wants them to do as a result of each lesson. He wanted us to review these questions because He wanted us to apply the lesson to our lives. The kids are getting better each week with applying the lesson to their lives. Thank you, Lord!

“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,” – Ephesians 6:18

$10 Memory Verse:
‘This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him. ‘ – 1 John 4:9

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Last week, we learned about grace being at the center of Father God’s Heart. This week we talked about the newness that God gives us every single day. His mercies are new every single day. Lamentations 3:22-24 says, “The Lord’s love never ends. His mercies never stop. They are new every morning. Lord, your loyalty is great. I say to myself, “The Lord is what I have left. So I have hope.” He offers us a fresh supply of everything we need every single day. Just like He did for the Israelites in the wilderness. Every morning, there was fresh manna, bread, to sustain them. God gave them exactly how much they would need for that day. Some people gathered extra in fear that God would not provide tomorrow. When they did that, it spoiled (Exodus 16:13-16). We must trust that God will not only provide what we need, but also trust that what He gives us is enough. And what He is giving us, is Himself. “Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. He who comes to me will never be hungry. He who believes in me will never be thirsty.” -John 6:35. Everything we will ever need is wrapped up in Jesus. He is called the bread of life, meaning He sustains us. It is so important that we understand we cannot live without Him. When we take communion, we eat the bread and remember what He did for us on the cross. We thank Him, we honor Him. “Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘A person does not live only by eating bread. But a person lives by everything the Lord says.’” Matthew 4:4. He has given us full access to HIM every single day! He gives us new mercies; He provides for us, and He gives us hope. He has endless resources, and He is trustworthy, we will never lack a single thing if we trust in Him.

Think About It: God’s word is enough to sustain us. HOLD ON.

Group Questions:

1. What did this lesson teach you about God?
2. What did this lesson teach you about you?
3. From this lesson what is He asking you to do and/or what is He going to do?
4. How did you hear from God today?

Devotional:

This week, I want you to start your prayers by thanking God that His mercies are new every day. How patient our God must be to give us new chances every single day.
No matter how good a human can be, he or she will always need God’s grace every day. The Bible reads that even a righteous person sins seven times a day. Prov. 24:16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
My point is we need His forgiveness each day.
The more we realize that we need forgiveness, the better our position is with God. When we pretend that we don’t sin anymore, we can become like the Pharisees. That self-righteous behavior does not do us any good. We may fake out the people around us, but God always knows.
We need to walk humbly with our God. When we make mistakes, own up to them and then ask for forgiveness.
I used to deflect problems that I created, either by lying or doing something else that was wrong. I have learned that it does no good. The people who I wronged would eventually learn the truth, and I would have to face it. Also, when I lied, I would have to remember the lie I told so that I wouldn’t get caught. That took a lot more of my time than just telling the truth.
Knowing that God has new mercies for me each day gives me the freedom to admit my mistakes to the people I wronged and to God. In no way does this freedom permit me to do wrong.

God Encounters:

Because of the health of our nation, I want to remind us of something God has been teaching me. I kept encountering God this week in my struggles. Father God is so kind and loving; He didn’t leave me to face these concerns alone. God said that those who trust in Him will remain strong. We don’t do anything to deserve this love. He loves us simply because we are His children. I think one of the caveats is to trust Him. We trust Him because He is our Father.
Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Testimonies:

Even corrections from God are testaments to His goodness. Two weeks ago, I implemented God’s directions to close teaching with a small group and ask four questions. I did and witnessed why He wanted them to know who He is, Who they are, what He is going to do, and what He wants them to do as a result of each lesson. He wanted us to review these questions because He wanted us to apply the lesson to our lives. The kids are getting better each week with applying the lesson to their lives. Thank you, Lord!

“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,” – Ephesians 6:18

$10 Memory Verse:
“Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law but under God’s grace.” – Romans 6:14

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November 24, 2024

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November 17, 2024

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November 10, 2024

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The crown is a symbol of power and authority. Our King has ultimate authority. He is the King of all other kings. Revelation 19:16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Being a king is different from being the president of a country. A president is elected by the people, but a king isn’t elected, he is born to be king. For us, we need to follow our King of kings, Jesus.

Our King, King Jesus, although He is the highest King, King Jesus did not come to be served but to serve us. He did the ultimate in service by laying down His life for us.

During His last days on earth, Jesus was arrested and put on trial. John 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” He was only interested in doing the will of His Father, God. He was born to be king, but His kingdom is not on this earth — it’s in heaven. He only came to earth to make a way for us to live with Him in heaven.

Jesus “just can’t wait to be your king.” He has invited you to enjoy eternal life in His heavenly kingdom. Will you crown Him as your King today?

Think About It: Jesus is the King of all kings.

Group Questions:

1. What did this lesson teach you about God?
2. What did this lesson teach you about you?
3. From this lesson what is He asking you to do and/or what is He going to do?
4. How did you hear from God today?

God Encounters:

Because of the health of our nation, I want to remind us of something God has been teaching me. I kept encountering God this week in my struggles. Father God is so kind and loving; He didn’t leave me to face these concerns alone. God said that those who trust in Him will remain strong. We don’t do anything to deserve this love. He loves us simply because we are His children. I think one of the caveats is to trust Him. We trust Him because He is our Father.
Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Devotional:
We hear a lot about the importance of following Jesus, our King, but what does that look like? Our walk with Him begins at salvation and continues throughout our earthly lifetime and into eternity. But how do we know whether we’re still on the right path or have drifted away?

Following the Lord requires obedience to God’s Word and sensitivity to His Holy Spirit. For example, Scripture clearly teaches us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Eph. 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Anger, resentment, and a desire for revenge are natural responses, but following Christ requires that we turn from these and pray to have a forgiving spirit and God’s supernatural love for our offender. It may take time to reach this point, but as we let Holy Spirit change our minds and hearts, forgiveness will come. We must keep trying.

God has provided everything we need to faithfully follow our King. His Word is our guide, and His Spirit enables us to overcome our natural impulses and obey His instructions. We need to be obedient to what we already know to be right. We must cooperate with His work in us by denying our sinful responses and choosing instead to walk in the power of His Spirit each day. Following Jesus isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a way of life.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Your Son to be our Lord and King. Help us today, and every day, to honor Him, obey Him, and follow His will for our life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sources: This week’s devotional was adopted from an In Touch Ministries devotional.

Testimonies:
Even corrections from God are testaments to His goodness. Last week, I implemented God’s directions to close teaching with a small group and ask four questions. I did and witnessed why He wanted them to know who He is, Who they are, what He is going to do, and what He wants them to do as a result of each lesson. He wanted us to review these questions because He wanted us to apply the lesson to our lives. Thank you, Lord!

“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,” – Ephesians 6:18

$10 Memory Verse:
And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” – Revelation 19:16

The post Crown Him King appeared first on Encounter Church.

This week, I felt the leading of Holy Spirit to teach the same lesson as the TOTs and K2 classes but for the older kids. So, this week, we talked about the Old Testament judges that God would send. Before He sent the judges, we would turn the Israelites over to their enemies.
In Judges 2:13–14, it reads, “They made the Lord angry because they deserted him. They served Baal. They also served female gods that were named Ashtoreth. The Lord became angry with the Israelites. So he handed them over to robbers. The robbers stole everything from them. The Lord handed the Israelites over to their enemies all around them. Israel wasn’t able to fight against them anymore and win.” (NIrV)
God let them fight their own battle, and because God was not fighting with them, the Israelites could not defeat their enemies. Their enemies plundered them.

It began when they no longer followed God, Instead of doing things God’s way, the Israelites did things their own way and worshipped other gods. What a terrible mistake! As a result, God would let the enemies of Israel would defeat the Israelites.

When they were defeated and then plundered, they would remember God and turn back to Him. The Israelites would cry out to God, our forgiving Father, and in return, He would send them a judge to help them do things His way again.

Think About It: Always remember, God’s Ways are Better!

Group Questions:
1. What did this lesson teach you about God?
2. What did this lesson teach you about you?
3. From this lesson what is He asking you to do and/or what is He going to do?
4. How did you hear from God today?

God Encounters:
I kept encountering God this week in my struggles. Father God is so kind and loving. When I face struggles, He doesn’t leave me alone. He is with me always. I don’t do anything to deserve His presence. He cannot deny Himself, He said. “I will never leave you.” Yes, there are times when we cannot feel His presence, but He is still there. And, every time this week when I became worried about whatever, He would graciously send me more peace.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
– Deut. 31:6

Devotion:
It can be hard to always walk in the way of the Lord. Even when we want to walk with Him, the distractions of this world can sometimes pull us from Him. Though the distraction might pull us away from God, He never leaves us. He is always with us. Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I believe this is one of the reasons why God wants us to have a Christian family. They can always help us find our way back to God, much like the judges of the Old Testament. He does not want to be surrounded by bad influences. 1Cor. 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

The Israelites fell away from God seven times in 350 years. Each time they did, God would forgive them and send them a judge to help them find their way back.

I want you to remember that every time the Israelites fell away from God, God would welcome them back. Therefore, since God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, He wants to welcome you or your family or friends. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Jesus promised that we would suffer hardships, but He said to have courage, He has overcome the world. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

It is our King who helps us when we need it. We just need to stay by His side. If we are not by Him, we are to repent and come back to Him.

I want you to use the teaching from this lesson to help yourself and/or to help others.

Testimonies:

Even corrections from God are testaments to His goodness. Last week, I implemented God’s directions to close teaching with a small group and ask four questions. I did and witnessed why He wanted them to know who He is, Who they are, what He is going to do, and what He wants them to do as a result of each lesson. He wanted us to review these questions because they were not applying each lesson to who He is and who they are. Thank you, Lord!

“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,” – Ephesians 6:18

$20 Memory Verse:
‘The ways of God are without fault. The Lord’s words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him.’
– Psalms 18:30

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November 3, 2024

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It is often confusing to know the difference between when we are supposed to be still and when we are supposed to be at work.
In this week’s lesson, we focused on being still in the presence of our God.
I believe the best way to know when we are supposed to be still or on the move is to know the heart of God. When God wants us to know that He is God, He wants us to be still.
Think about that. God is all-powerful. Is there anything you can do to help Him show you His power? NO!
When God wants us to be still, He wants us to show our trust in Him and simply be still.
Waiting on the Lord is harder than it seems. At first, it is easy, but as time goes on it becomes harder and harder. In our culture of fast-paced and loaded distraction, we either become bored or can’t wait because we are unable to stay focused on God.
When God wants us to be still, I believe it is usually because He wants to bless us. So, thank Him and then wait patiently.
Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
Psa. 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Mark 4:39 And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Think About It: God Wants us to Be still in His Presence.

Group Questions:
1. What did this lesson teach you about God?
2. What did this lesson teach you about you?
3. From this lesson what is He asking you to do and/or what is He going to do?
4. How did you hear from God today?

God Encounters:

I kept encountering God this week in my struggles. Father God is so kind and loving. When I face struggles, He doesn’t leave me alone. He is with me always. I don’t do anything to deserve His presence. He cannot deny Himself, He said. “I will never leave you.” Yes, there are times when we cannot feel His presence, but He is still there. And, every time this week when I became worried about whatever, He would graciously send me more peace.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
– Deut. 31:6

Devotional: “Know that I Am God”

Colorado is known for beautiful sunrises and sunsets. You can’t really appreciate them in the city, though. You have to go out in the country to get free from distractions to really see the sunrise. There are too many buildings, billboards, and many things in our way. And the same is true with our relationship with God. We have so many distractions that we do not know how to be still.
How do I be still and know that He is God… in my life? How do I really rest in Him and see the beauty of the sunrise… in my darkness?
We are looking at the buildings and the billboards. Our phones and also our fears are keeping us from seeing the beauty of God. Our hurry and our worry are keeping us from seeing the sunrise of God in our lives. What “be still” is saying, and what we are going to consider in this devotional series, is removing those distractions, so that we can see the sunrise of God in all the circumstances surrounding our lives.
Deep people are still people. They understand that God is over their pain in cancer, and their pleasure when it is the greatest day in the world. In all of our hustle and bustle, all of our buildings and billboards, can we see the sunrise and know that He is God and that He is right there with us?
Do you need to see God more clearly? Do you need to rest more deeply? Are your fears and your phone keeping you from really staying on task and keeping you frazzled? Are you running so busy that your hurry and worry are wilting your soul? God has a word for you today:

“Be still and know that He is God.”

Stillness will allow the sun to rise in your life.

Testimonies

A few weeks ago, we talked about intercession. Weeks back, one student shared that he had been praying for one of his friends at school to know Jesus. This student began sharing the gospel with his friend by telling his friend that God is alive and is excited to keep on praying for him.

“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,” – Ephesians 6:18

$20 Memory Verse: Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah PSALM 46:10-11

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October 27, 2024

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