Class Fellowship and Swimming Party
Thanks to all of you who were able to join us for the class fellowship and swimming party after church. We had a great time visiting, watching the kids swim, and snacking on picnic foods.
During our Sunday School lesson, Andy Stanley addressed one of the five things that he has identified that God uses to grow big faith. The first topic to be addressed in detail was "Practical Teaching." Andy pointed out that most people who talk about their spiritual journey will make reference to their initial exposure to someone or some group through which they were taught Biblical truths in a practical, life-impacting way. The reason this is important is that such teaching makes the Bible meaningful, practical, and applicable to everyday life. Mr. Stanley refers to Matthew 7:24-28 in which Jesus uses the parable of the man who built his house on a solid foundation as compared to the man who built his house on a foundation of sand. He compares the man who built his house on a solid foundation to one who hears the words of Jesus and puts them into practice--applies them. The man who hears the words of Jesus and fails to apply them in his life is compared to the house that was built on sand. When the winds came and the water rose, the house with a flimsy foundation collapsed. Likewise, you and I will be unable to stand up when the winds of life and the rains of conflict strike if we have not learned the words of God and then applied them in our life.
Remember, the teachings of the Bible have the power to be soothing and disturbing in our lives, depending on the circumstances and situation in which we find ourselves. However, the most important thing for us is to be sure that we make application to our lives of the Biblical truths that we hear and lean from practical teaching. I hope we will all seek practical teaching of Biblical truths in our lives and that we will apply those truths when we learn them.
Next week, we will look at "providential relationships." See you in Sunday School next week.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
September 19--Swimming Party Reminder & Lesson Review
REMINDER:
I apologize for forgetting to mention the swimming party scheduled for next Sunday during our announcements this morning. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us at the Emerald Forest Swimming Pool and Clubhouse after church next Sunday, September 26, 2010. We have rented the pool and clubhouse until 2:30 p.m. We chose that weekend because there is no Aggie game next weekend. I hope you will bring the kids and join us for a few hours of fellowship and fun with the family and with our class. Please bring a picnic lunch for your family and a little extra to share in case there are folks there who did not bring food. Also, please bring a salad item or dessert item to share with everyone. We will provide ice, water, and tea. We will be able to put our food in the clubhouse. We shall look forward to seeing you and your family at the party.
Jimmy
FIVE THINGS GOD USES TO GROW YOUR FAITH
We began our study of the Andy Stanley series, "Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith" today. In our class discussion prior to the lesson, I found it interesting that class members identified many of the same concepts as those identified by Andy Stanley--those things God uses to grow BIG faith. We talked about people in the church who demonstrate big faith as being good examples, we talked about learning from God's Word and prayer, we talked about good and bad experiences in our lives that often grow big faith, and we talked about learning from our children and from other important people in our lives.
As we watched Andy Stanley, he described the following five things God uses to grow our faith:
1. Practical teaching from the Bible
2. Providential relationships
3. Private disciplines
4. Personal ministry
5. Pivotal circumstances
I hope you will consider these concepts this week and contemplate their role in growing your own faith. I suspect you will find that all of these things have been at play in your life. While we may use other terms to describe some of these concepts, most of us would agree that these are significant influences in the development of our personal faith. Next week, we will begin looking at each of the concepts above in detail. I look forward to seeing you in Sunday School next Sunday.
I apologize for forgetting to mention the swimming party scheduled for next Sunday during our announcements this morning. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us at the Emerald Forest Swimming Pool and Clubhouse after church next Sunday, September 26, 2010. We have rented the pool and clubhouse until 2:30 p.m. We chose that weekend because there is no Aggie game next weekend. I hope you will bring the kids and join us for a few hours of fellowship and fun with the family and with our class. Please bring a picnic lunch for your family and a little extra to share in case there are folks there who did not bring food. Also, please bring a salad item or dessert item to share with everyone. We will provide ice, water, and tea. We will be able to put our food in the clubhouse. We shall look forward to seeing you and your family at the party.
Jimmy
FIVE THINGS GOD USES TO GROW YOUR FAITH
We began our study of the Andy Stanley series, "Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith" today. In our class discussion prior to the lesson, I found it interesting that class members identified many of the same concepts as those identified by Andy Stanley--those things God uses to grow BIG faith. We talked about people in the church who demonstrate big faith as being good examples, we talked about learning from God's Word and prayer, we talked about good and bad experiences in our lives that often grow big faith, and we talked about learning from our children and from other important people in our lives.
As we watched Andy Stanley, he described the following five things God uses to grow our faith:
1. Practical teaching from the Bible
2. Providential relationships
3. Private disciplines
4. Personal ministry
5. Pivotal circumstances
I hope you will consider these concepts this week and contemplate their role in growing your own faith. I suspect you will find that all of these things have been at play in your life. While we may use other terms to describe some of these concepts, most of us would agree that these are significant influences in the development of our personal faith. Next week, we will begin looking at each of the concepts above in detail. I look forward to seeing you in Sunday School next Sunday.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
END OF SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIAL
Well, the summer is over and school is back in session. Soon, the fall activities will be upon us. Before that time arrives, we would like to get together as a class one more time for fellowship and opportunities to get to know each other and our families better. Toward that end, we have scheduled an AFTER CHURCH SWIMMING PARTY on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at EMERALD FOREST SWIMMING POOL from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.--or later if you wish. We will ask everyone to bring a picnic main course (sandwiches and chips, sandwich fixings, barbecue, fried chicken, etc.--whatever your family likes--for your family and enough to share with someone else. Also, please bring a dessert or salad item to share with everyone. We will provide ice, cups, tea, and water and we will have the club house reserved for our food and drinks. If you prefer soft drinks, bring them as well.
Please mark your calendar and join us for fellowship and a picnic and swimming on September 26, 2010. SEE YOU AT THE POOL.
Please mark your calendar and join us for fellowship and a picnic and swimming on September 26, 2010. SEE YOU AT THE POOL.
September 12--Marriage Part 3
As we begin this final session of "The Life" with Bill and Anabel Gillham, I would be remiss if I did not wish my lovely wife Cindy a Happy and Blessed Birthday. Yes, today is her birthday and I am so thankful for her. Growing in the Church and growing in Christ with Cindy has been a blessing beyond description. Like most couples, we don't always see things the same way, but our life together has been a great one and I have been blessed beyond measure to have her as my wife.
Many of the things taught by Bill and Anabel have been true in our marriage as well. As I think about our family and pray for my girls even now, I often pray that the Lord will introduce them to God-loving, God-worshipping, Christian young men when and if His plan calls for them to have a partner in life. I want my girls to experience the joy of growing in a Christian marriage relationship, growing in the Church, and growing in Christ along with a loving partner if that is the Lord's will. Therefore, I pray regularly for those young men, whoever they may be, wherever they are in the world, even before we know who they are. And, I thank God daily that He gave me such a person with whom to share my life. Happy Birthday, Cindy!
Bill makes the point in today's lesson that most of us enter into the most important human relationship in life, marriage, without adequate preparation. God knows that we need instruction and He gives it to us in His Word. Bill suggests that we must recognize and confess our inability to carry out His instructions, and then determine to trust Christ to express through us the knowledge we gain about marriage from His Word.
In comparing the decision-making process for males and females, Bill states that it is generally true that males base decisions on systematic logic while females tend to base decisions on intuition or at least arrive at the decision through intuitive processes. He points out that neither process is wrong--they are just different. Bill states that it is the husband's responsibility to make a final decision for the family only after much prayer and discussion and consideration of his wife's viewpoint. The wife should then honor the husband's decision and be supportive, especially in front of the children. How often do you undermine your spouse's decisions or points of view in front of the children? We must be careful. This undermining can be subtle and even can be inadvertent.
Anabel points out that the wife in a modern marriage is often influenced by cultural norms that tend to reduce her role in the marriage to a sex object or to minimize her influence on pre-school age children, or limit her responsibility in the home to cleaning and organizing the house. In reality, God describes and directs the role that women should play in the sex relationship, in the homemaker role, and in the social and spiritual development of children. I especially appreciated the statement Anabel made, "A woman is never in an inferior place when she is in the place God created for her." She also pointed out that women who work outside the home are not necessarily missing God's will, provided their responsibilities at home are not compromised. She made reference to the Proverbs 31 Woman. You may want to take a look at Proverbs 31.
Bill and Anabel also point out that "Agape" love is crucial in any marriage (John 13:34). They define "agape" love as "doing whatever is the most constructive, redemptive thing for your spouse, regardless of the situation or circumstances."
Bill and Anabel also review the six perceptual needs of the female in a marriage relationship as derived from the description of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Those needs are:
1. Listen to me.
2. Let me know that you are thinking about me.
3. Tell me that you love me.
4. Be aware of me.
5. Spend time with me.
6. Don't be harsh with me.
A key concept from today's lesson is this: "Satan is putting forth every effort to blur the roles that differentiate the two genders. Following the enemy's plan instead of God's guarantees a marriage vulnerable to destruction."
FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION
Do you understand that your fundamental role is choosing to be obedient to Christ? Have you really tried to follow His plan for your marriage? Or have you been rebellious, believing you have the right to demand that your needs be met before you will meet your spouse's needs?
Perhaps you've viewed your marriage as a tangled mess that seemed impossible to realign on Godly principles? But now you see the Biblical foundation for marriage and have an understanding of where the power to begin loving your spouse comes from. Confess your need and unreserved dependence on Him to live His life through you and so make your marriage all He intended it to be."
I want to encourage you to read the book, "The Lifetime Guarantee" that the church provided with this curriculum. Cindy began reading our copy and she said it is an excellent supplement to the DVD Curriculum. I plan to read our copy after she finishes. Several class members testified regarding the relevance and impact that they have experienced from reading this book. If anyone wishes to obtain a copy of the book, shoot me an e-mail, comment on this blog, or let me know verbally and we will get you a copy. E-mail: jimmycreel@suddenlink.net
NEXT WEEK: We will begin a six week session with Andy Stanley called, "The Five Ways God Grows Your Faith."
REMINDER: END OF SUMMER SWIMMING PARTY--after Church on September 26 @ Emerald Forest Swimming Pool. Bring a picnic main course for your family and some to share and a dessert or salad entree to share. We will provide ice, tea, water, cups and a place for your kids to swim.....and you too if you like. We have the pool reserved from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. and if anyone wants to stay later than that, you can swim as Cindy and my guest.
WELCOME BACK TO SOME OF OUR CLASS MEMBERS WHOM WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN A WHILE
As you know, every year, there are members of our class who answer the call to serve in other capacities in our Sunday Morning Bible Study Program, making it impossible for them to be with our class on a regular basis. Also, there are class members who move to other classes or even some who move to other cities on a temporary basis and then return to our class. Even so, we are always glad to see our former class members again. In the past few weeks, including today, we have been honored to have Craig and Vicki Hillert, Dewayne and Leslie Whitten, and Rex and Leslie Woods joining us in class. I hope you will make a point to welcome these folks and, if you do not know them, to introduce yourself. At the same time, we need to be praying for those couples in our class who are serving in other capacities in our church this year and will not be able to join us on a regular basis. We will always make an effort to be sure they are aware of any activites scheduled for our class and that they are invited to join us in fellowship.
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Many of the things taught by Bill and Anabel have been true in our marriage as well. As I think about our family and pray for my girls even now, I often pray that the Lord will introduce them to God-loving, God-worshipping, Christian young men when and if His plan calls for them to have a partner in life. I want my girls to experience the joy of growing in a Christian marriage relationship, growing in the Church, and growing in Christ along with a loving partner if that is the Lord's will. Therefore, I pray regularly for those young men, whoever they may be, wherever they are in the world, even before we know who they are. And, I thank God daily that He gave me such a person with whom to share my life. Happy Birthday, Cindy!
Bill makes the point in today's lesson that most of us enter into the most important human relationship in life, marriage, without adequate preparation. God knows that we need instruction and He gives it to us in His Word. Bill suggests that we must recognize and confess our inability to carry out His instructions, and then determine to trust Christ to express through us the knowledge we gain about marriage from His Word.
In comparing the decision-making process for males and females, Bill states that it is generally true that males base decisions on systematic logic while females tend to base decisions on intuition or at least arrive at the decision through intuitive processes. He points out that neither process is wrong--they are just different. Bill states that it is the husband's responsibility to make a final decision for the family only after much prayer and discussion and consideration of his wife's viewpoint. The wife should then honor the husband's decision and be supportive, especially in front of the children. How often do you undermine your spouse's decisions or points of view in front of the children? We must be careful. This undermining can be subtle and even can be inadvertent.
Anabel points out that the wife in a modern marriage is often influenced by cultural norms that tend to reduce her role in the marriage to a sex object or to minimize her influence on pre-school age children, or limit her responsibility in the home to cleaning and organizing the house. In reality, God describes and directs the role that women should play in the sex relationship, in the homemaker role, and in the social and spiritual development of children. I especially appreciated the statement Anabel made, "A woman is never in an inferior place when she is in the place God created for her." She also pointed out that women who work outside the home are not necessarily missing God's will, provided their responsibilities at home are not compromised. She made reference to the Proverbs 31 Woman. You may want to take a look at Proverbs 31.
Bill and Anabel also point out that "Agape" love is crucial in any marriage (John 13:34). They define "agape" love as "doing whatever is the most constructive, redemptive thing for your spouse, regardless of the situation or circumstances."
Bill and Anabel also review the six perceptual needs of the female in a marriage relationship as derived from the description of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Those needs are:
1. Listen to me.
2. Let me know that you are thinking about me.
3. Tell me that you love me.
4. Be aware of me.
5. Spend time with me.
6. Don't be harsh with me.
A key concept from today's lesson is this: "Satan is putting forth every effort to blur the roles that differentiate the two genders. Following the enemy's plan instead of God's guarantees a marriage vulnerable to destruction."
FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION
Do you understand that your fundamental role is choosing to be obedient to Christ? Have you really tried to follow His plan for your marriage? Or have you been rebellious, believing you have the right to demand that your needs be met before you will meet your spouse's needs?
Perhaps you've viewed your marriage as a tangled mess that seemed impossible to realign on Godly principles? But now you see the Biblical foundation for marriage and have an understanding of where the power to begin loving your spouse comes from. Confess your need and unreserved dependence on Him to live His life through you and so make your marriage all He intended it to be."
I want to encourage you to read the book, "The Lifetime Guarantee" that the church provided with this curriculum. Cindy began reading our copy and she said it is an excellent supplement to the DVD Curriculum. I plan to read our copy after she finishes. Several class members testified regarding the relevance and impact that they have experienced from reading this book. If anyone wishes to obtain a copy of the book, shoot me an e-mail, comment on this blog, or let me know verbally and we will get you a copy. E-mail: jimmycreel@suddenlink.net
NEXT WEEK: We will begin a six week session with Andy Stanley called, "The Five Ways God Grows Your Faith."
REMINDER: END OF SUMMER SWIMMING PARTY--after Church on September 26 @ Emerald Forest Swimming Pool. Bring a picnic main course for your family and some to share and a dessert or salad entree to share. We will provide ice, tea, water, cups and a place for your kids to swim.....and you too if you like. We have the pool reserved from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. and if anyone wants to stay later than that, you can swim as Cindy and my guest.
WELCOME BACK TO SOME OF OUR CLASS MEMBERS WHOM WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN A WHILE
As you know, every year, there are members of our class who answer the call to serve in other capacities in our Sunday Morning Bible Study Program, making it impossible for them to be with our class on a regular basis. Also, there are class members who move to other classes or even some who move to other cities on a temporary basis and then return to our class. Even so, we are always glad to see our former class members again. In the past few weeks, including today, we have been honored to have Craig and Vicki Hillert, Dewayne and Leslie Whitten, and Rex and Leslie Woods joining us in class. I hope you will make a point to welcome these folks and, if you do not know them, to introduce yourself. At the same time, we need to be praying for those couples in our class who are serving in other capacities in our church this year and will not be able to join us on a regular basis. We will always make an effort to be sure they are aware of any activites scheduled for our class and that they are invited to join us in fellowship.
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Session 10 Marriage Part 2 September 5, 2010
It is hard to believe that we are already on Session 10 of our study with Bill and Anabel Gillham. Indeed, next week, we will conclude our DVD Study of "The Life". Fortunately, our church has provided each couple in our class with a copy of Bill and Anabel's book so that you can study their work in more detail.
The focus of today's session deals with each partner in a marriage union knowing the individual roles assigned to the husband and the wife. Such knowledge can be exciting and anxiety provoking. It is exciting in that we better understand our own needs and have the information we need to meet the needs of our spouse. It is anxiety provoking in that we are fearful that our spouse will fail to meet our needs, or that we can't satisfy the needs of our spouse.
Keep in mind that God doesn't expect us to persevere in our own strength to keep these assigned roles. His plan is for us to allow Christ to be our perseverance, our patience, our love, our gentleness. He wants to do it all for us.
The Emotional Needs of the Male
The basic emotional need of the male is found in Ephesians 5:33. He needs female praise. According to Bill, praise is a God-given need that is evident from an early age. A boy's mother will be the one who initially meets this need. A male's need for female praise is ultimately centered on his wife, who has been instructed by God to meet this need. Praise is accomplished through the wife by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and is to be exercised as an act of obedience. Keep in mind: It is not hypocritical to praise your husband when your feelings may not be in agreement.
The perceptual needs of the male include the belief that he is the head of the relationship. This is an innate need--not an ego problem. This is not an honor to be bestowed upon the male for good performance. Competition from his wife can be very destructive to a man. Marriage is not a competition, but a joint endeavor that brings glory to God.
The Emotional Needs of the Female
The emotional needs of the female are summarized by the list above. The twenty ways to love your wife are as vital to the female as praise is to the male. This performance by the husband can be accomplished only as he allows the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to do it through him.
Have a great week.
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