From the message this past weekend, we wanted to "zoom in" on the portion about humility.  A number of people have asked for the list of nine questions presented, and so we've pulled an excerpt from the manuscript for you here.

Enjoy!

Getting low before the Lord is the first and most important part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It’s a theme that’s emphasized in the Bible over and over again. Jesus himself was humble. Humility is a fruit of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul told the Ephesians to “be completely humble and gentle.” (Ephesians 4:2)  The Apostle James said, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10) The Apostle Peter said, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand...” (I Peter 5:6)

Humbling yourself, getting low before the Lord, is so critical to the life of the believer and, at the same time, so thoroughly counter-cultural that a lot of people who profess to follow Christ don’t know the first thing about it.

There’s an old book by Jeremy Taylor, written in the fifteenth century, which talks about the practice of humility. Even though it is more than four hundred years old, it’s some of the most practical advice I’ve ever read on the subject. Taylor offers nine suggestions. I give them to you here in the form of a question. I’d encourage you to get this list, take a question a day and ask God to search your heart.

Here are the questions:

1. Do you think better of yourself because you’re better at something than someone else?

2. Do you understand that humility is not about criticizing yourself, or wearing ragged clothes or behaving like a doormat?

3. If you want to be humble and you know you’re unworthy than why are you angry when others agree with you?

4. Do you do good things in secret, hidden from the eyes of others?  You have to resist the desire to be recognized, the urge to call attention to yourself. You have to be content to go without praise. If you determine to do good things in secret, if you ask God to release you from the need for praise and recognition, this one thing alone will enable you to avoid being upset every time someone slights you or undervalues you.

5. Do you often go fishing for praise or compliments from others?

6. Do you actively resist pride? Some people spend their time dreaming of greatness. They are driven by their fantasies of wealth, power and recognition. Taylor says that all of this is nothing but the fumes of pride exposing their heart’s true wishes.

7. Do you take an active part in the praising of others?

8. Do you compare yourself with other people? Taylor says that you should never compare yourself with others unless it is to advance your impression of them and lower your impression of yourself.

9. Do you regularly try to excuse all your mistakes?

(questions from Devotional Classics, Foster and Smith, pgs. 269-272.)

The Many Facets of Faith

Ordinary People, Extraordinary God

May 19, 2013

Judges 4-5

Getting Started

1. Read Lamentations 3:19-26 together. See how much you can recite without looking.

2. Have you had times in your life when you were more or less able to hear God? What defined those periods?

Going Deeper

1. Do you struggle to “be the nothing that opens the way for God to be all”? Is there a specific source of pride that is more difficult to give up than others?

2. Is there something keeping you from hearing God? Not wanting to hear? Not listening? Not listening anymore?

3. Are there stories of God’s miraculous intervention that you or someone in your family tells over and over again? How do those stories strengthen your faith?

Do the Stuff

1. “Faith without works is dead.” If you feel that God is leading you to do something, pray with your small group for the strength to step out on faith.

2. Read the nine questions on humility over the next nine days and consider whether pride is holding you back from being faithful.

3. Read the summary on Hearing God’s Voice.  Pray that as you read through it, you would become more aware of God’s voice speaking to you.

4. If you are not currently participating in the Compelling Love Giving Campaign, pray for openness to God’s direction in giving your resources to the visions for Vineyard OP. Pray for favor with the city and for God’s provision as we move forward.

5. Read Judges 6-8, the story of Gideon, in preparation for next week.

The Holy Spirit helps us do what’s right.

Bible Verse

“And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death” (Romans 8:2).

Talk It Over

The Holy Spirit helps us do what’s right.

• Can you think of a time you felt the Holy Spirit telling you what to do? What happened?
• Share about your favorite way to listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Take a “Heads or Tails” trip with your family! Start just outside your front door and say something like, “Heads, we go to the left; tails, we go right.” Then flip the coin, and go in the appropriate direction. Take turns with other family members flipping the coin to decide which direction to go each time you come to a stop sign, road, crosswalk, or house. As you walk, talk about how reassuring it is to have the wisdom of the Holy Spirit guiding you instead of having to flip a coin. When you get back home, say a prayer of thanks for the Holy Spirit.

Check It Out

• Read John 14:15-17. Why doesn’t the world understand the Holy Spirit?
• Read John 14:25-26. How has the Holy Spirit helped you learn about God?
• Read Galatians 5:22-23. How can this “fruit” help you to be healthy?

Faith Walk

Each night at dinner, light a candle to remind you of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Ask family members to share how they’ve noticed the Holy Spirit during their day and how the Holy Spirit has guided them. Talk about what a comfort it is to have such a helper with you daily.

Fun Food

Place two unpeeled bananas and some unshelled peanuts in front of you and a friend. Explain that you can’t see inside the peels and the shells, but you know there’s food in there. Discuss how that is like knowing the Holy Spirit is in our lives even though we can’t see him. As you peel the bananas and shell the peanuts, talk about ways the Holy Spirit reveals himself in your life. Crush the peanuts in a bowl, and then roll the bananas in the crushed peanuts. Enjoy your snack.

Adapted from Group's hands-On Bible Curriculum, Grades 3 & 4

The church supports missionaries.

Bible Story

Give to missionaries. (1 Corinthians 16:1-3)

Bible Verse

“Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you: (3 John 5).

In Touch

Today your child learned that the church supports missionaries. The children learned that when they support missionaries, they, too, share in bringing God’s love to others. They also learned different ways churches support missionaries. Use these ideas to encourage your child to be sensitive to the needs of missionaries.

Starry Night

Help your child cut several stars from stiff paper. Use glitter or glow-in-the-dark poster paints to decorate the stars. Poke a hole in the top of each star, and tie thread or fishing line through the holes. Each night at bedtime, look at a map of the world, and help your child choose a country. Write the name of the country on the back of a star. Pray for missionaries in that country, and hang the star from the ceiling in your child’s bedroom. Soon your child will have a sky full of glittery reminders to pray for God’s missionaries all over the world!

Spare Change

Our class is collecting spare change for missionaries. Please help your child collect spare change over the next few weeks, and remind him or her to bring it to class. This activity will help the children learn that they, too, can financially support missionaries.

Around the World

Let your child learn about missionaries and the people they help by making a missionary scrapbook. Staple together three sheets of paper. Photocopy a world map, and glue it to page 1. Have your child color the map, and help him or her label some of the countries. Cut out magazine pictures of people from other countries, and glue the pictures to page 2. Ask your church for names and locations of missionaries it supports. Draw their pictures on page 3, and then look on the map to find where they’re serving. Update the scrapbook each time news comes from one of your missionary families.

Bubblin’ Over

Have some bubble-blowing fun with your child. Purchase a small bottle of soap bubbles. Make a bubble wand by cutting two plastic drinking straws in half and then taping the four pieces together, side by side. Blowing through the straws will send lots of tiny bubbles in several directions. Explain that the bubbles are like God’s love. When we support missionaries, we send God’s love all over the world.

Adapted from Group's Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2

Lydia: Follower of Jesus

Your Children Will Learn

Paul shared the good news. Lydia became a follower of Jesus.

Memory verse for unit 9

“God sent the good news to his people. It’s good news about the peace Jesus brings.” Acts 10:36

Just for Parents –

We live in such a fast-paced society today. We talk fast, we eat fast, we drive fast, and we have to go to sleep fast so we have the energy to get up and start another day of “fastness!” Our minds are often working so fast thinking about what we have to do next or tomorrow that we can’t see what might be right in front of our noses. With that pace, sometimes it is so difficult to stop and look for opportunities to share the good news of Jesus. It’s really as simple as taking the time to talk to the person next to us at the soccer game or in line at the grocery store. We never know. They may turn out to be just like Lydia, a woman who worshiped God but didn’t know about Jesus. Take the time this week to slow down and see those around you. You might have an opportunity to share the good news!

Monday - Read & Do

Read Acts 16:6-15. Ask your child, “What is the good news? Who shared it with Lydia? Can you share the good news, too?” Say: “The good news is all about Jesus. Jesus came to earth and died on the cross so we could live with Him in Heaven. And He came alive again. That’s good news!”

Tuesday – Art

Lydia made purple cloth. You can make purple cloth with your child at home. Fill a shallow container with red and blue food coloring, water, and a teaspoon of white vinegar. Gently dip an old white t-shirt in the mixture and stir it with a spoon. Wear gloves to take it out, squeeze out the water and hang it to dry.

Wednesday - Pray & Praise

Lydia was a worshiper of God. You can be worshipers of God, too. Worship is more than singing songs. Worship also involves having a thankful heart, loving others and being obedient to God’s Word. Teach your child to worship God by weaving these forms of worship into your day.

Thursday - Out & About

Lydia knew about God even before Paul told her the good news. We can see God everywhere. Take a walk outside and engage in a God-search with your child, looking for signs of God in everyday life. Tell your child that everything they see was made by God. Practice your memory verse as you go.

Friday – Play

Paul and Silas didn’t need passports when they traveled but today we need a passport to get into other countries. Let your child take a pretend trip using an expired passport or an extra checkbook cover with their picture inside as their own “passport.” As your child plays, talk about how Paul and Silas traveled to many different countries to share the good news. Ask, “What was the good news Paul and Silas shared?”

Adapted from ©2010 Little Son Catchers, Year Three, Spring Quarter

From my message this weekend, I mentioned that I'd share more on hearing God's voice.  So, here is a practical summary of the sources and principals of hearing God's voice from me.  Enjoy!

- Mark

Hearing God’s Voice

Sources and Principles

The 4 Wells of Guidance

Scripture teaches that God speaks to us through 4 main sources.

1. The Bible
   • Primary source of guidance (95% of all the guidance we get comes from the Book). Gohere first!
   • God breathed and represents God’s thoughts on the vast majority of things that touchour lives (II Timothy 3:16)
   • Foundational—all other sources of guidance should be tested using the filter ofScripture (Acts 17:11—Bereans).
2. The Counsel of Godly People
   • There are numerous verses in Scripture that encourage us to get counsel from godlypeople. God often speaks through the counsel of others (Proverbs 15:22)
   • God often uses those around us to speak into our lives (Exodus 18).
3. The Inner Voice of the Spirit
   • Jesus called the Holy Spirit our “Counselor” (John 14:16, 26). It stands to reason thatwe can expect him to counsel us.
   • The Bible refers to the Spirit as the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, knowledge andcounsel (Isaiah 11:2).
   • The Bible says that the Spirit lives within us and that He reveals things to us (ICorinthians 2:9-12).
   • The Bible indicates that God’s voice is often a gentle whisper (I Kings 19:12).
4. The Supernatural
   • The word “supernatural” is unfortunate because God speaking to us in any way issupernatural (i.e. The Bible, the inner voice of the Spirit).
   • This represents a very small percentage of the way God guides us.
   • Supernatural means of guidance would include:
     • Words of wisdom and knowledge (I Corinthians 12:8-9)
     • Prophetic words (I Corinthians 12:10)
     • Dreams and visions (Acts 2:17 plus various Scripture)
     • Angelic appearances (195 references to angels in Scripture)

Things I’ve learned about the Voice of God

Principle #1 - When I am listening for the Lord's voice, I am listening for spontaneous thoughts.

• Spontaneous thought—Intersecting thought: You've heard of people who were washing the dishes, they're driving in the car, and all of a sudden they get this impression, thisthought cuts across their mind, "You need to pray for John, you need to pray for yourmother." It's like, "Where did that come from?" Do you know what I mean?
• Spontaneous thoughts in Prayer: I lead with my heart for the person and many times,God will drop these thoughts into my mind, or throw a picture of something up where Ican see it, or I'll feel a burning sensation here or there but I don't try to make thathappen. I just try to pay attention when something does happen.

Principle #2 - God's voice often causes a special reaction within me.

I feel this sense of excitement orconviction or joy. It's not just that there's a spontaneous thought but something inside confirms that it is God. It resonates in my spirit and I say, "Yeah, that's it. This isn't just me, this is God." There's thisconfirming "YES" in my spirit.

Principle #3 - God's voice often comes in response to a question.

Principle #4 - God's voice is often light and gentle and will be easily cut off by my analysis or self-exertion.

I have found that it easy for me to crush, to trample down the voice of God by analyzingwhat he has said, probing for every detail, or trying to interpret everything I hear instead of just takingit at face value and letting God be God. If God tells me to lay hands on and pray for somebody, I don'talways need to know why, I just need to do it and let God take care of the rest. There are times whenI've gotten something and I put my jaws in to it and started picking it apart, and analyzing it and it wasjust gone. We value being naturally supernatural. We want the voice of God to be a natural part of ourdaily lives.

Principle #5 - God's voice often has a surprising content.

It is better and often different than mythoughts. I need to say that I have found the voice of God to be much more gentle, much more loving,and compassionate than I could possibly be. That's one of the ways I know it is Him, it just seems totake me to new levels of compassion, new levels of understanding, new levels of love for people,beyond my capacity to love.

Summary: So the voice of God is this flow of spontaneous, intersecting thoughts, like impressions thatwould cross your path. Gentle, light, surprising impressions that you know could not be you. That'swhat God's voice sounds like. I also believe that God speaks through dreams, he speaks through visions;he speaks through visual impressions, even film-like impressions.

Words of Caution:

• I'm not talking about visualization. I'm not talking about you trying to stir something up. I'mnot talking about using your imagination to work up an image. We're talking about giving Godpermission to bring to our minds pictures, images, and we make sure that those things are consistentwith God's Word.
• More than that, I want to recommend to you that you share what God has given you with areal sense of humility. If God gives you a word, or an impression, if he puts a picture in your mind forsomeone, please share it with the gentleness of Jesus. I never say, "Thus saith the Lord God..." I try to let people know that I'm new at this, I'm not sure this is for them, that it doesn't always make sense tome, but this is what I see and I believe it's God.
• You also need to hear that sometimes God doesn't have anything to say. So if the Lord is notspeaking to you and you've gone through this process, and you're convinced of his affection, and youhave slowed down, and you're not crowded and you're being honest with God, and you're tuned in tospontaneity but you're still not picking anything up, well maybe God doesn't have anything to say. Youneed to know that you're okay, that you're in his will, that God is happy with you, and just relax, don'tworry about it.

© 2013 Mark Warner | vineyardop.org2

The Value of Life Experience

Ordinary People, Extraordinary God

May 12, 2013

Judges 4-5

Getting Started

1. Read Lamentations 3:19-26 together. See how much you can recite without looking.

2. Have you ever known anyone who seemed determined to repeat the same mistake over and over again? What happened to them?

3. How valuable is life experience? What has your life experience taught you? What lessons have you learned?

Going Deeper

1. Have you ever witnessed the effects of a parents sin being visited upon their children and grandchildren? Explain.

2. Do you see anything in your life that you first recognized and maybe objected to in the lives of your parents? What positive deposits have they made in you?

3. How does Satan tempt you most often? Where are you weakest?4. “God will often reveal the ‘what’ and conceal the ‘how.’” Why do you think that is?

Do the Stuff

1. If you’re concerned about the spiral of rebellion effecting your children and grandchildren, ask the group to pray for you.

2. If you’re struggling to hear the voice of God, check out the Hearing God Summary posted by Pastor Mark at www.vineyardop.org.

3. Read Judges 4 and 5, the story of Barak, in preparation for next Sunday. Think about what questions you have and what you feel like God shows you as you read.

Jesus teaches us how to pray.

Bible Verse

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

Talk It Over

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus taught his disciples- including us! – how to pray.

• What’s your favorite part of that prayer, and why?
• What part of that prayer do you think your family does best?
• What part of that prayer would you like to work on doing better with your family?

Way to Pray

At the beginning of the week, have each person in your family write one prayer request on an index card. Each night after dinner, shuffle the cards, distribute them, and have each person pray for the request on his or her card. You may want to take the card you receive to school as a reminder to pray in spare moments.

As the week goes by, see how the prayers are answered. Write the answer on the card, along with the date. Post these cards as reminders of God’s faithfulness.

Idea!

Make an old-fashioned telephone with string and two paper cups or tin cans. Punch a hole in the bottom of one cup, put one end of a long string through the hole from outside to inside, and tie a knot to keep the string from slipping through the hole. Do the same with the other cup and the other end of the string.

Have a friend hold one cup while you hold the other. Carefully pull the string taut. Talk into your cup while your friend puts the other cup up to his or her ear and listens. Experiment with loose string and tut string. Talk about the problems with this system and contrast them to the perfect line we always have to God.

Check It Out

• Read Philippians 1:3-4. What musical instrument do you think Paul’s prayers would have sounded like when he prayed with this attitude? What instrument do you think your prayers sound like?
• Read Daniel 9:4. How do you think Daniel’s prayer was pleasing to god?

Adapted from Group's hands-On Bible Curriculum, Grades 3 & 4

The church sends out missionaries.

Bible Story

Sent by the church. (Acts 13:1-5)

Key Verse

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

In Touch

Today your child learned that the church sends out missionaries. The children learned that it’s important to send missionaries to faraway places to teach everyone about God’s love. Use these activities to teach your child that missionaries are sent out by the church and that they, too, can tell others about Jesus.

Happy Send-Off

Before a missionary leaves for a mission field, a college student leaves for college, or a parent leaves for a long business trip, send him or her off in style. Help your child create a send-off box by filling a shoe box with goodies such as trail mix, a magazine, stamped postcards, hand lotion, and a prepaid phone card for a quick call home. Be sure to include notes of encouragement, too.

Prayers Around the World

Use a globe or a world map for a unique kind of prayer. Spin the globe, and have our child close his or her eyes and point to a spot on the globe. Talk about the country your child points out, and then pray for the people who are teaching about Jesus in that country. Repeat this process once or twice a week until you’ve prayed for missionaries around the world.

Adapted from Group's Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2

Barnabas: Faithful Friend

Your Children Will Learn

Barnabas loved God. Barnabas was a good friend.

Memory verse for unit 9

“God sent the good news to his people. It’s good news about the peace Jesus brings.” Acts 10:36

Just for Parents –

“Two people are better than one. They can help each other in everything they do. Suppose someone falls down. Then his friend can help him up. But suppose the man who falls down doesn’t have anyone to help him up. Then feel sorry for him!” (Ecclesiastes 4:10) God has put you and your family in your church for a reason. We all need each other, certainly, to live out our Christian walk. But look deeper. Is there somebody in your church who needs you to be a friend and help him or her up? Barnabas was a true friend to Paul, a man who was going through a major life change. Paul needed Barnabas to encourage him and to listen to him. Without Barnabas’ introduction, the other believers remained in fear of Paul! Be a “Barnabas” to each other today.

Monday - Read & Do

Read Acts 9:26-30; 11:20-26. Ask your child, “Who was Barnabas a good friend to? How did he help Paul? Who are your good friends? How do you help them?”

Tuesday – Out & About

Barnabas was a good friend. He shared the good news of Jesus with others. With your family, think of some ways to be like Barnabas. Who can you be a good friend to? Who needs to hear the good news? Who needs encouragement? Ask God to show your family who you can be a good friend to.

Wednesday - Art

Pull out an old roadmap, and let your children have fun tracing the roadways with a crayon. You can also go a little crazy and dip some play car wheels into paint and let your child “drive” them all over the map. Talk to your child about Barnabas and what a good friend he was to Paul. They traveled to many different places and shared the good news of Jesus.

Thursday - Snack

Have your child invite a friend or friends over for a movie and pizza party. Consider inviting someone who is new to the area, new to your church, or just needs to meet more people. Pray with your child that God will bless your time together and help your friends to feel welcome and loved. Remind your child about Barnabas and how he was a good friend.

Friday – Pray & Praise

Barnabas was a good friend. He was so happy when he shared the good news with people and they believed in Jesus. This week, think of someone who may need you to pray for them and perhaps become a friend to them. That is what the good news of Jesus is all about!

Adapted from ©2010 Little Son Catchers, Year Three, Spring Quarter

The Push and Pull of Getting Unstuck

May 5, 2013

Ephesians 2:1-6

Getting Started

1. Read Lamentations 3:19-26 together. See how much you can recite without looking.

2. Have you ever, like Pooh, been physically stuck someplace? In a tight parking spot? In a hole? What happened?

3. Have you ever witnessed a child’s sinful nature? Do you have any stories you would like to share?

Going Deeper

1. Have you ever struggled to see the depth of your depravity, how far you have come?

2. Have you felt the pull to constantly desire more? How have you countered that desire?

3. Since you submitted your life to God, how have used your intelligence differently? Your money? Other gifts and skills you have?

4. “The Gospel is more pessimistic and more optimistic than we are. More pessimistic about human nature and more optimistic about the transformation brought by salvation.” What does that statement mean to you?

Do the Stuff

1. If you are stuck in a place of great tightness right now, ask for prayer from the group.

2. The story of Pooh demonstrates that getting unstuck takes time, humility, and wisdom and advice. Pray that God would give you what you need to get unstuck.

3. Read Judges 4 and 5, the story of Deborah, in preparation for next Sunday. Think about what questions you have and what you feel like God shows you as you read.

Cornelius: Generous Believer

Your Children Will Learn

Cornelius helped poor people. Cornelius loved God.

Memory verse for unit 9

“God sent the good news to his people. It’s good news about the peace Jesus brings.” Acts 10:36

Just for Parents –

Let’s be honest, we all make judgments about people, especially people who are different from us. We make comparisons of performance, looks, and intelligence. We make racial and socio-economic judgments. We make judgments to elevate our feelings about ourselves, to protect our family, and even to defend our religious beliefs. Peter, in a manner similar to us, carried around judgments. His particular judgments were about the people of his day who were not Jewish. Much like us, he even had a preconceived idea of how God viewed these “unclean” pagans. Then God rocked Peter’s world. Peter discovered the truth that God loves everyone, no matter what they look like or where they come from. From then on, Peter shared the good news of Jesus with everyone. “Jesus said, ‘Go into all the world. Preach the good news to everyone.’” (Mark 16:15)

Monday - Read & Do

Read Acts 10:1-8; 19b-34, 44. Ask your child, “How did Cornelius help poor people? Why did he help them? How did God feel about it?”

Tuesday – Art

Have fun making “play” money with some construction paper, markers and a little imagination. Talk about Cornelius and how he helped poor people. Say, “Cornelius showed he loved God by giving money to poor people and praying for them. What can we do to help poor people?”

Wednesday - Pray & Praise

Cornelius loved God and regularly prayed to Him. Think of a way to pray more regularly in your family. Try praying before meals, naptime or bedtime, or when the family gets up in the morning.

Thursday - Out & About

God challenged Peter to love Him more by crossing cultural and religious barriers. Befriend a family at church or in your neighborhood who is different from your family. You might see salvation come to an entire family, or you might help to bridge the gap between Christians who might not otherwise have anything to do with one another. Remind yourselves of this by practicing the memory verse.

Friday – Play

Play a game with the play money you made for art this week. You might pretend to be a banker, go grocery shopping, or give money to the poor. Ask your child how Cornelius helped poor people.

Adapted from ©2010 Little Son Catchers, Year Three, Spring Quarter

Missionaries tell others about God’s love.

Bible Story

Tell of God’s love. (Acts 4:1-22)

Bible Verse

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

In Touch

Today your child learned that missionaries tell people all over the world about God’s love. The children learned from Peter’s example that we can tell people about God’s love even when others try to stop us. They also learned that there are many different ways to share the message of God’s love. Use these ideas to encourage your child to tell others about God’s love.

Spread Out

Your child will have fun trying this trick with simple ingredients found in the kitchen. Fill a shallow bowl with water, and have your child sprinkle pepper in the center of the water. Explain that the dots are like missionaries who want to tell people about God’s love. Let your child put a drop or two of liquid dishwashing soap in the center of the pepper. As the dots spread to the edges of the bowl, point out that missionaries go to the ends of the world to teach about God because God wants everyone to know him.

Kid Crafts

Have your child make a cute hot-air balloon to tell someone about God’s love. Begin by blowing up and tying a small balloon. Then tie two 12-inch lengths of yarn to the balloon. Use a pencil to poke four holes in the rim of a paper cup. Tie a string from the balloon through each hole. Help your child use markers to write, “God loves you,” on the balloon. Fill the paper cup with raisins, nuts, or other treats, and then hang the hot-air balloon on someone’s doorknob to tell about God’s love.

Surprise Cookies

Help your child make sandwich cookies by placing small chocolate-peppermint candies between round crackers. Put the “cookies” on a cookie sheet, and bake them in a preheated 350-degree oven for about three minutes or just until the chocolate begins to melt. Melt a 12-ounce package of chocolate chips over low heat. Use tongs to dip the cookie sandwiches into the melted chocolate, and then place the cookie sandwiches on wax paper to harden. Let your child put a few cookies on a paper plate, wrap the plate with aluminum foil, and add a gift tag with a verse that tells about God’s love, such as John 3:16. Accompany your child as he or she delivers the cookies to a lonely person in your neighborhood.

Adapted from Group's Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2

Because God loves us, we can love others.

Bible Verse

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

Talk It Over

Because God loves us, we can love others.

• How can you as a family show greater love to one another?
• How can you as a family show God’s love to others outside your family?

Make a goal for the week, and get started loving!

Idea!

Trace your hand on a sheet of construction paper. Write “Love comes from God” on the palm of your paper hand; then on each finger, write something that you love about a family member or friend. Cut out the handprint, and tape it to the person’s door or seat at school. Then show that person how much you love him or her with a big hug or word of encouragement.

Check It Out

• Read Romans 13:10. What would your family be like if you followed this advice? What would your school and community be like?
• Read 1John 4:20-21. Why might it be harder to love someone you know well? What must you do to show your love for God?
• Read Romans 5:8. How did what Jesus did show God’s love for us? What if Jesus hadn’t died?

Adapted from Group's hands-On Bible Curriculum, Grades 3 & 4

In my message this past weekend, I taught on the passage in the book of Judges that deals with the assassination of Eglon, king of Moab at the hand of Ehud.

Here's the text:

"Ehud then approached him (king Eglon) while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them." - Judges 3:20-23

Then I said this about that text:

"I feel compelled to stop right here and point out that what Ehud did here is not a license for followers of Jesus to commit violent acts against those who actively oppose God. I'm compelled to state this because of the many violent acts committed in the name of God because someone read this passage in isolation without putting it into context with the other 65 books of the Bible and they determined it was OK to use lethal violence to solve our disagreements today.

"It's not OK to shoot abortion doctors, and that's not what this text is saying."

This post is intended to address the concern that I didn't address in the weekend message because I felt like there were other things that God wanted me to focus on.

Besides seeing a story like Ehud's as a license to commit violent acts, some people who wouldn't consider themselves followers of Jesus have used this violence as a reason to distance themselves from God. They say things to themselves like, "If your God would use and assassination, then that's not a God I can follow."

The argument often goes like this:

IF God is an eternal being

AND he is unchanging

AND if he was willing to use assassination 3,300 years ago

THEN he is still willing to use an assassination today.

The short answer is "yes" that's quite possible. The longer answer looks like the rest of this blog post:

1. God is God.

The first and most important thing to remember about what happens in the Bible is that God's ways are not our ways. He is transcendent and we should not expect to comprehend all his choices and actions. Many who stand against God find this to be a tired and old argument, but it is only tired because they do not believe. If they knew the God who had created the stars and the sky and they were able to sense even a fraction of his power, then they would understand this explanation.

Most of us have trouble imagining a transcendent being, and we tend to try and recreate him in our own image, making him more and more like ourselves. We tend to hold court over him as if he were just like us - someone who could be sat down and scolded for what we perceive as bad behavior. The irony is that if God actually could be treated the same as a common human being, then he would cease to be God.

The truth is that he is the Creator Being who reserves the right to uncreate as he sees fit. The very breath we use to criticize and judge him is the breath he graciously grants us. We have difficulty wrapping our minds around God as the most real reality we can possible know. We see this when we say things like, "I can't follow a God who would sanction assassination." This is akin to saying, "I can't obey a gravity that only lets me fall down." Good luck with that.

We should feel comfortable with the notion that we will not comprehend all the things a transcendent and wholly "other" being like God says and does.  Some of the things this deity does will confound us. And because of this, we must rest on the trust we have in God, born from experience in relationship with him.

2. This Was Wartime 3,300 Years Ago.

The second thing I want to point out here is that we tend to read our 21st century context into the biblical narrative and, in doing so, we commit a fallacy and draw poor conclusions concerning what the text means to convey.

We tend to interpret history in the light of what we believe and understand today. We have a hard time imagining a world of non-renewable resources, limited farming land, and limited access to water among numerous other hardships. We think of the world in the context of plenty, where we consider peaceful tactics like the redistribution of wealth and the fair allocation of plentiful resources as the best ways for two nations to address conflict. But when we read that perspective into the oppressive struggle between two nations 3,300 years ago in the ancient Middle East, we are going to get confused about the point of the story.

Can you imagine the reality of the situation for the Israelites in the 13th century B.C.? Can you imagine being the head of the tribe and looking across a plain and thinking to yourself, "There isn't enough to go around. It's either them or us. If I don't take their land, my family will die."

Especially here in the U.S.A. we think of the invading Moabite forces in Judges 3 in the terms of the distant and seemingly innocuous skirmishes we read about in the news every day. It's hard for us to imagine the grinding poverty an oppressive force like the Moabites could inflict on the Israelites, with even the tribute being enough to make some starve and go without. We have great difficulty imagining the devastation caused under the crushing boot of the Moabite oppression.

War in the ancient near east was as much, if not more, about survival than it was about acquisition of wealth.

And so when God asks Ehud to do this thing, this wartime act, Ehud is not offended, not because he is calloused and evil, but because God is asking him to do something perfectly normal for his day and age.  The tactic of "kill the head and the body will die" was a perfectly valid and quite effective strategy in that day and age.

I tend to think that God probably chooses to act this way in all times and cultures. I feel like he chooses to ask his followers to do things that make sense in respect to the immediate culture and societal climate. This isn't to say that he is limited by these factors, but instead that he chooses to act in ways relevant to the culture he is drawing to himself.

I'm using such tentative language because this is simply a perspective I find compelling. If you attempt to elevate it to the level of doctrine you will find it falls apart rather quickly. For instance, our culture has chosen to enact laws that stand in clear violation of biblical principals (e.g. same-sex marriage, abortion, etc.), and God is still calling his followers to abide by the biblical standard regardless of the "damage" this stance will cause to his relevance in the culture. But I still find it to be useful as a general guideline.

All throughout Scripture, the things God asked his followers to do may be out of bounds for the 21st century, but completely relevant and even appropriate for their day and age.

I said all this to say that we have other options in the 21st century. Violence is near the bottom of the list anymore, and if you think you hear God telling you to shoot the local abortion doctor, then you can confidently assume it isn't God. And you also may want to come to the church, as you may have some demonic influence going on and you need Jesus to set you free.

There are numerous other discussions about this topic, but I've found these two explanations to be the most compelling.

Now, get back to work.

David Andersen

Vineyard Church of Overland Park

Ready, Willing and Armed with a Cattle Prod

Ordinary People, Extraordinary God

April 28, 2013

Judges 3:7-31

Getting Started

1. Read Lamentations 3:19-26 together. Continue to work on memorizing these verses and sharing what God is saying to you through them.

2. Read Judges 3 as a group. What did you learn from the sermon? What else do you see in this chapter in the stories of Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar?

Going Deeper

1. Have you experienced the pattern of rebellion, retribution, repentance, and rescue in your life? What does this pattern tell us about God?

2. The Israelites were subject to the Moabites for 18 years (Judges 3:14-15) before they cried out to God. Have you ever stubbornly clung to your failure, refusing to call out to God, even if it meant living in slavery? What finally prompted you to turn to Him?

3. Ehud was the one through whom the Israelites sent their tribute to Eglon (Judges 3:15). He had to personally deliver the evidence of Israel’s subjection to the Moabites year after year. Have you ever found yourself in a humbling position where God was able to use you in a powerful way?

Do the Stuff

1. Do you have specific skills that you feel God has given you? How is God calling you to use these skills? If you feel that God is directing you towards a new area of service, share your calling with the group and ask for prayer.

2. Do you sometimes think that you are not good enough for God to use? Or that you don’t have the right tools for ministry? Share your concerns and pray for God to open your heart to being used by Him even if you do feel inadequate.

3. Commit to reading Judges 4 and 5 in preparation for next week, asking God to speak to you through His Word.

God wants us to confess our sins.

Bible Verse

"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9).

Talk It Over

It's been said that confession is good for the soul.

• Does anyone in the family need to confess to any other family member? There's no better time than the present!
• Does your family have any confessions to make as a group?

Way to Pray

Have family members think about sins they need to confess to God. Have each family member use a washable marker to write one or more of those sins on a plastic foam meat tray or on a stiff piece of plastic. After family members have written their sins and silently confessed to God in prayer, put the meat trays or pieces of plastic in the sink or in a dishpan. Pour water over the written sins or wipe over the writing with a wet sponge as a reminder that God wipes away our sins.

Check It Out

• Read John 1:8-9. What effect does sin have on your life? Why should you confess when you sin?
• Read Psalm 51:15-17. What does God want us to offer him? What are some ways you can do that?

Notables

Cut out a heart from construction paper. Write “I’m Sorry” on the heart. Give it to someone you need to confess too. Tell that person you’re Sorry for whatever wrong you've done. When the person forgives you, have him or her turn the heart over to show you that your heart is pure again.

Faith Walk

Dip a cotton swab in lemon juice, and use the swab to write something you've done wrong. Allow the paper to drive for a few minutes. Then turn on a light and hold the paper near the light bulb. Watch as your "invisible" sins suddenly become visible. Think about the following questions:

• How do you try to hide your sins?
• Do your sins ever just become "invisible"?
• How does confession help your sins really disappear?

Adapted from Group's hands-On Bible Curriculum, Grades 3 & 4

God loves all people the same.

Bible Story

God loves us all. (Acts 10:1-48)

Bible Verse

“Then Peter replies, ‘I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right’” (Acts 10:34-35).

In Touch

Today your child learned that it doesn’t matter if people are rich or poor; what they do for a living; or what they look like – God loves all people the same. The children learned that God gave people different talents and abilities, but we’re all connected by God’s love. Use these ideas to help your child learn that God loves everyone.

Creative and Different

Fold several pieces of paper in half. Open one of the papers, dribble paint inside it, and then fold it again. Unfold the paper to let the paint splotch dry. Continue until you’ve made paint splotches on all the papers. Have fun asking your family members what they think each paint splotch looks like. Then thank God for making people creative and different from each other.

People-of-the-World Diorama

Find a medium-size box while your child gathers several different kinds of toy people. Have your child use markers to decorate the inside bottom of the box in a way that will remind you both of all the different cultures of the world. Your child might want to draw different flags or a globe. Then use paper and tape to create costumes for the toy people to make them look like they come from different countries. Set the box on its side, and place the people inside the diorama. Put it where it will remind you to pray for all the people of the world.

Gifts for Jesus

Make cookie people with your child. Use your favorite homemade or commercial cookie dough and a person-shaped cookie cutter. Frost all the cookies. To some, add sprinkles and candies. Then read James 2:1-4 together. Talk about how you know that all the cookies are good, not just the fancy ones, because you made them all with your own hands. Enjoy the cookies with milk, and thank God for loving all people no matter how rich or poor they are, what they do, or what they look like.

Different and the Same

Explore the wonderful diversity that exists in God’s creation. Take a walk and count how many different kinds of trees, animals, and flowers you can find. Also look at the people you come across on your walk – everyone looks different. Explain to your child that no tree, animal, flower, or person looks exactly like any other. Thank God together for creating each thing a little different and for loving everyone the same.

Adapted from Group's Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2

Beggin’ at the Beautiful Gate

Your Children Will Learn

The beggar was healed. The beggar praised God.

Memory verse for unit 8

Jesus said, “I’ll send you the gift my Father has promised.” Luke 24:49a

Just for Parents –

Isaiah 35:1-6 speaks to the anxious and afraid, the blind and deaf, and the thirsty and weak. The prophet promises healing, joy, renewal and gladness. The beggar in Acts 3 is the fulfillment of Isaiah 35:6a, “Those who can’t walk will leap like a deer.” This promise of the blessings of the kingdom of God was for him! And while Isaiah could only look forward to it, this disabled man was one who actually experienced the kingdom of God. The beggar was so excited that he couldn’t contain his joy, leaping and shouting for everyone to see! The kingdom of God came into his life in a way he never expected, fulfilling his secret longings to be made whole, to have dignity, to be productive, and to be loved. Isaiah 35:10 closes with these hopeful words: “Joy that lasts forever will be like beautiful crowns on their heads. They will be filled with gladness and joy. Sorrow and sighing will be gone.”

Monday - Read & Do

Read Acts 3:1-16. Ask your child, “Where was the beggar? What was he doing? Who did he talk to? Then what happened?”

Tuesday – Art

In the Bible story, the beggar jumped for joy after he was healed. For this activity, make pictures of the beggar as he jumped for joy using spaghetti noodles. Cook the noodles according to the directions on the box. Add a little bit of oil and food coloring into the water and watch what happens. Drain and rinse the noodles. Your child can then arrange the noodles on stiff paper to make a picture of the beggar jumping for joy. The noodles will dry and stick to the paper.

Wednesday - Pray & Praise

The beggar praised God by jumping up and down and saying good things about God. What can you praise God for today? Make it a habit, with your child, to find something to praise God for each and every day.

Thursday - Out & About

While outside playing, have your child watch ways our bodies move. Ask, “What do our arms help us do? What do our legs help us do?” Talk about the beggar in the story who couldn’t use his legs at all. His family had to carry him everywhere. Then he was healed and he could walk again.

Friday – Snack

This simple snack will make you jump for joy like the beggar. Brush 3 or 4 tortillas with melted butter and sprinkle them with cinnamon and a dash of sugar. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 5 minutes. Cut into wedges and enjoy! Practice your memory verse while eating this treat.

Adapted from ©2010 Little Son Catchers, Year Three, Spring Quarter

Mark Warner talks about “The Battle for the Mind – Part I” at Vineyard OP’s Men’s Breakfast on April 20, 2013. Audio and notes sheet are available for download.

Where is God when People Fail?

April 21, 2013

Ordinary People, Extraordinary God Series

Judges 1:1-3:6

Getting Started

1. Read (or quote) Lamentations 3:19-26 together. What are you learning from these verses? Has God brought them to mind over the past few weeks?

2. Has God spoken to you through a passage in the Bible that is often overlooked? Share the passage with the group.

Going Deeper

1. Have you been through a period of failure in your life? How was God present during that time?

2. Have you experienced or witnessed any of the ways that God works to bring us back? Like withholding help and blessing, letting you fall into a trap, allowing the enemy to "sift you like wheat," actively working against you, or putting you to the test?

3. Have you wondered where God was when bad things were happening to you or those around you? Have you been tempted to look to progress or other solutions during those difficult times?

Do the Stuff

1. Are there areas of failure in your life where God is working to bring you back to Him? Pray that your eyes would be opened to these areas, that you would receive grace and strength from God to begin to overcome them, and that you would be aware of His continual presence. Ask for prayer for specific areas of failure.

2. Are there "crucial conversations" that you need to have? Pray for God to give you wisdom and discernment as you seek reconciliation through those conversations. If you can, share the situation with your group to receive their prayers and encouragement.

3. Continue to read the Bible, asking God to shape you through His word on a daily basis.

We’re not able to earn God's love.

Bible Verse

"Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it" (Ephesians 2:9).

Talk It Over

In most families, everyone has certain jobs that are expected of them.

• How is that like being a part of God's family?
• If you don't do your job in your earthly family, will everyone stop loving you?
• If you don't do your job in God’s family, will God stop loving you?

God and your family love you no matter what. So do your chores to show how much you love being a part of the family!

Wait to Pray

Place a sweet treat in a large box. Wrap the box in pretty paper, and attach a little card that says, "Especially for you". Bring the gift to dinner one night, but don't say who it's for. After dinner, pass the gift around the table, and have each person guess what's in the box. When everyone has guessed, tell your family that although no one has earned this gift, they're all free to take it anyway. Have someone open the box and share the treat with your family. Talk about how God's love is a gift we don't deserve, but one we can enjoy. Before you all enjoy the treat, take turns thanking God for his precious gift of love.

Gift of Love

This week, make a point of doing something special for each member of your family – perhaps you could do one of your brother’s chores, give your father a big hug, or draw a picture for your mother. Tell each person that you've done this for no other reason than to say, "I love you."

Check It Out

• Read Titus 3:5. How do you think God feels about you since he’s offered you a new life through Jesus?
• Read 2 Timothy 1:8-9. How can you show you’re one of God’s own people?

Adapted from Group's hands-On Bible Curriculum, Grades 3 & 4

We can ask God to forgive us when we do wrong.

Bible Story

God forgives. (Acts 8:9-25)

Bible Verse

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1John 1:9)

In Touch

Today children learned that God will forgive their sins when they say they’re sorry and repent. The children learned that true repentance means they’ll do everything they can to not make the same mistake again. The children also learned that God sweeps our sins away like morning mist or clouds in the sky and throws them into the deepest part of the ocean. Use these ideas to teach your child that God takes away our sins.

Sin Stains

Use food coloring or grape juice to stain a rag or an old washcloth. Let it dry. Then work with your child to clean the cloth. No matter what you try, some of the stain will remain. Talk about how, no matter how hard we try, we can’t clean ourselves from our sins – we need Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s forgiveness.

Gone Forever

Make bread crumbs from stale pieces of bread, and take them and a Bible to a nearby body of water. It could be a stream, a river, a pond, or even an ocean. Then participate in this Orthodox Jewish custom. Ream Micah 7:18-19. Then repeat verse 19 three times as you toss the bread crumbs into the water. Imagine that God is throwing all of your sins into the deepest part of the sea.

Cloud Watching

One afternoon, find a comfortable spot outside, and watch the clouds drift by. Have fun finding shapes in them. Read Isaiah 44:22, and talk about God removing your sins as you watch each cloud float by.

Forgiveness Covers

Have your child crumple pieces of aluminum foil and talk about how sin can “crumple” our lives. Talk about the damage that sin does to people. Then read Proverbs 10:12b. Smooth out the foil, and wrap it around a small piece of cardboard. Cut flower shapes from construction paper, and tape them to the foil. Cover the foil with colored plastic wrap. Talk about how God’s love and forgiveness take away our wrongs and make us beautiful.

Adapted from Group's Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2

Gettin’ Filled with the Holy Spirit

Your Children Will Learn

Jesus kept his promise. The Holy Spirit filled the people.

Memory verse for unit 8

Jesus said, “I’ll send you the gift my Father has promised.” Luke 24:49a

Just for Parents –

What an incredible experience it must have been to be present on the day of Pentecost! Added to the excitement and wonder of God’s power that day was the realization that Jesus had kept His promise. The gift of the Holy Spirit came. His friends would not be alone in the world without His presence through the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus went to heaven, He said these words to His special friends: “But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears. And he will tell you what is still going to happen. He will bring me glory by receiving something from me and showing it to you.” (John 16:13-14) So, we can be at peace when we feel that we don’t know what is the right way; and when we feel that God has little or nothing to show us. The Holy Spirit is real and active in us. Pray to be aware of His presence!

Monday - Read & Do

Read Acts 2:1-13. Ask your child, “Who sent the Holy Spirit? What happened when the Holy Spirit came? What does the Holy Spirit do? How does the Holy Spirit help us?”

Tuesday – Art

Make a windsock by cutting a piece of colored construction paper in half the long way. Form a tube and staple each end. Use crepe paper or ribbons for the streamers. Glue them along the edge. Hang your windsock in a windy place! Practice your memory verse and talk about how the Holy Spirit felt like wind blowing in our Bible story this week.

Wednesday - Pray & Praise

The Holy Spirit helps us to do God’s work and makes us more like Jesus. When we pray, we usually pray to God or Jesus, but we can also ask the Holy Spirit to help us. Read John 16:7.

Thursday - Out & About

Check out a CD/tape from the library in another language and let your child listen to how different it is from the language you usually speak. Make friends with a neighbor or someone at church who speaks a different language than you. Teach each other words or phrases in your languages. Say to your child, “When the Holy Spirit came the people, the people spoke in different languages.”

Friday – Play

On the next windy day, take a kite outside and watch it fly! Don’t have a kite? You can find simple kite-making instructions on the internet. Talk about how the Holy Spirit felt like wind blowing.

Adapted from ©2010 Little Son Catchers, Year Three, Spring Quarter

Why People Fail

April 14, 2013

Ordinary People, Extraordinary God Series

Small Group Study Guide

Getting Started

1. What have you learned about the book of Judges so far?

2. Can you think of other characters in the Bible who have failed besides those mentioned in the sermon? Share their stories with the group.

Going Deeper

1. When do you notice a tendency to stop listening to God in your life? When things are going well? When things aren’t going the way you think they should? When God isn’t saying what you want to hear?

2. Have you seen hypocrisy in the church? How have you dealt with hypocrisy in others’ lives? In your own life?

3. Have you been tempted to read the Bible by “googling” it? How have you found ways to avoid this tendency?

4. Have you struggled with questions about the violence of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament? Or the violence of hell suggested by the New Testament? Share your questions with the group.

Do the Stuff

1.Read the Bible. Start by reading a few more chapters of the book of Judges (or the first three chapters again). Pick one of the stories of failures in the Bible mentioned in the sermon and read the whole story: Lot (Genesis 19), Abraham (Genesis 12, 20), Isaac (Genesis 26), David (2 Samuel 11-12), Peter (Matthew 26:69-75)

2. Pray that God would identify areas of your life where you have stopped listening to God, made a covenant with the world, or began to worship other things instead of God.

3. If you didn’t last week, read all five chapters of Lamentations to learn about the context of the memory verses—Lamentations 3:19-26.