Month / December 2014

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson Plan #23 – Prayer

DIALOGUE # 23 – PRAYER
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: Remind people that God really and eagerly wants to communicate with us. This means that while we talk, He listens carefully, and also that He definitely talks while we listen reverently.

Welcome (15) – Fellowship
• How do you react when someone asks you relentlessly for something?
• Who is the friend with whom you could talk for hours?
• Why is it so special to talk to him/her?

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalms 40.1-3
• You are my King
• Ask the group if God has answered any of their prayers. Ask people to briefly give thanks to God for the answers to their prayers.
• Pray in groups of three.

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read Luke 11:1-13
• What is prayer anyway and how does it compares with “repeating” things from memory? Explain description of prayer as talking to a friend.
• Why do you think we need to pray?
• In Jesus’ model prayer He offers two main sections, the first about God (v2) and the second about us (v3). Why do we need to pray for those two subjects?
• Why should we pray when we are in trouble, when things go well, when there is no answer?
• What is Christ trying to teach us about prayer with the parable found in verse 5-8?
• How can we really ask, seek, and knock with prayer? V9
• In what ways does God answer our prayers? Which response is harder, a yes, a no, or wait? Why?
• Share with the group a short testimony of the great blessings of praying. Also on how God has answered your prayers.
• How will you pray from now on?
• What do you think is God trying to tell you tonight?
• Pray together in groups of two.

• To do: Please read out loud as a group, and challenge members to memorize Luke 11:9

Works – Witness (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• Think of people who need prayer and need to learn to pray.
• Pray for them, and invite them to the group.
• Ask: how do you feel about multiplication? Why do we need to multiply? What could happen if we don’t multiply?
• Review the vision of our Growth Groups!
• Is there any way we can pray for you?

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Find out how people did during the week and encourage them to take their burdens to Christ.

Additional Resources: Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 102-122

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson Plan #24 – Invited

DIALOGUE # 024 – INVITED
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: Invite people to see that our choices reflect our priorities and will determine our eternal consequences. Invite each one to choose eternal life today.

Welcome (15) – Fellowship
• Why do people in our days attend parties and banquets?
• What makes you decide if you would go or not? Be honest please!
• How do you feel when people don’t show up to a party you have organized? Why?

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalms 81:1-2
• Shout to the Lord
• Who am I
• Thanksgiving time: What is the most amazing thing God has done for you in your life? Briefly share it with the rest of the group. End praying in groups of three.

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read Luke 14:15-24
• Why do you think Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven with a huge party/banquet?
• Why do you think people excuse themselves from coming to the party? v18-20
• What was wrong with their excuses?
• How do you think God feels when we don’t value or even pay attention to the great feast that He is preparing?
• What can we learn from v21 where the outcasts are invited to come?
• How is eternal life similar and different to this party?
• Why do you think the master wants the house to be full? v23
• What is the role of our choices here? v23,24
• How do you feel with the idea that not everyone will get to participate in the party?
• In what way is our role before God similar to the servant who carried the invitation?
• What kind of changes do you need to make in your life in order to make sure you are not left out at God’s party?
• What do you think is God trying to tell you tonight?
• Pray

• To do: Read and challenge people to memorize Matthew 6.33

Works – Witness (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• Think of people who need to be invited to the feast.
• Mention their names and pray for them. Plan to do something so they are invited!
• What is the purpose of our group?
• How can we can pray for you tonight?

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Go around asking for names of people who need to be invited to Jesus Feast.
• Make sure you invite them to the party!

Additional Resources:  by Ellen White, Christ’s Object Lessons, 219-237

by In Light Of The Cross

What does a Relationship With Jesus Look Like?

I am writing tonight from beautiful and historic St. Augustine Florida.

I am writing tonight from beautiful and historic St. Augustine Florida.

A member of my New Believer’s Sabbath School class, in the Tampa First Seventh-day Adventist Church, had been struggling with getting Sabbaths off at work so she could observe the Bible Sabbath. She told me she had to work on Sabbath, and I would gently tell her that she did not have to work. She had a choice and was choosing to work. Consequences be what they may, she had a choice.

Recently I was giving a Bible study to the 7th and 8th graders at our church school, on the second coming, when we came to this verse,

The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive? Revelation 6:14-17 NLT

I told my students how sad it would be, for us to be hiding from the One who died for us when He came! How can we make sure we aren’t the ones running from Jesus? The students answered wisely, we must have a relationship with Jesus. I asked them to describe what a relationship with Jesus looks like. They gave some good answers, like prayer and Bible study. “Is that all”, I asked? I shared 1 John 2:4 NLT,

If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

While prayer and Bible study are crucial, that alone does not define a relationship with Jesus. John tells us, knowing God (having a relationship) involves obedience.

Jesus said,

If you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17 NLT

The commandments are relational. The first four define our relationship with God and the last six define our relationship with family and friends. This is why John said if we say we have a relationship with God but do not obey the commandments we are lying.

My Sabbath School class member finally exercised faith, and told her boss she must have Sabbaths off. It was granted. A couple of weeks ago things were busy at the store where she works. Her boss offered her a store gift card and sales bonuses if she would come in to work on Sabbath. As much as she needed the money, she answered “No. I will be in church Sabbath.” She gave her testimony that Sabbath in class. It did my heart good to see faith growing her relationship beyond just reading the Bible to actually doing what it said.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

Each one Reach one in 2015 at Tampa First Seventh-day Adventist Church

This Sabbath, December 20th the Tampa First Seventh-day Adventist Church will collect our Christmas offering.
Remember that this is not about money, but about the people that will be forever touched by it.  There are people inside and outside our church that need to know there is a loving Savior that longs to give meaning, purpose and forgiveness to their lives.
Our goal is to raise funds to continue to change lives through Bible studies, literature, training and the preaching of God’s Word.  We are praying to raise $20,000 for Evangelism for 2015.  Remember to bring your offering this Sabbath.  If you did not get an envelop in the mail we will have some available in the lobby.
You can also give online by Clicking here.
by In Light Of The Cross

When Should Someone Ask To Be Anointed?

 

I am writing tonight from beautiful Panama City Beach, Florida.

I am writing tonight from beautiful Panama City Beach, Florida.

Several years ago, a family form Central America, brought their toddler to Tampa, Florida for medical treatment, because she was not developing and was having seizures. The doctors did not have much to offer. After one of my Wednesday morning community Bible studies at the church, we had an anointing service for the baby. Months later when the family returned to the area, they told me their little girl never had another seizure after the anointing service. The Holy Spirit had delivered their daughter from the seizures. They are still living in Central America and have not returned to Florida for several years now, but the last I heard, the little girl was still having developmental problems but no seizures.

The family said they’re very fond of me after that Wednesday morning, but it obviously had nothing to do with me. Millions of people have been healed after an anointing service, not because of the person doing the anointing or the oil, but because of the Holy Spirit’s healing power. So the fact that God has healed millions without my help shows He really did not need my help this time either.

While their daughter’s sickness was not unto death, they still asked for an anointing. Some have the idea you have to be on your death bed in order to ask for an anointing. James did not ask, are any of you about to die, but is anyone sick?

Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. James 5:14-15 NLT

While we are counselled that,

It cannot be our duty to call for the elders of the church for every little ailment we have, for this would be putting a task upon the elders. –Ellen White, Pastoral Ministry, Page 223

Still there is nothing in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy telling us to wait until we are on our deathbed before calling the elders, as if it is a last rite instead of an anointing for healing. I have even had family members call me to anoint their loved ones who were incoherent, while the KJV makes it even more clear that the person who is sick is actually supposed to request the anointing, for healing. It is not a “last rite.”

“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church…”James 5:14 KJV

Again James asks, “Are any of you sick?” not “Are any of you about to die?” We don’t need an anointing for every scrape and bruise, yet it is our privilege to call upon and claim God’s promises at the first sign of something serious.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

When Job Prayed for his Friends

I am writing today from the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

I am writing today from the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.James 5:10-11 NLT

You know how you can read the same Bible story a hundred times, and then one day something in that story jumps out at you that you had never seen before? James acknowledges that we all know the story of Job, and how he was faithful in suffering, and in the end God restored to him what he lost. Of course the children could not be replaced, but thank God they too will be restored one day. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. While I knew the story well, it wasn’t till just a few months ago that something jumped out at me.

When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!” Job 42:10 NLT

What jumped out at me, was that, all this happened, “When Job prayed for his friends,” who were not exactly the best sources of comfort and encouragement. Still, praying for his friends is what improved Job’s own life.

Ironically Moses, who wrote the book of Job, had his own run in with those who were less than comforting and encouraging. In Numbers 12, Moses’ own sister Miriam rebels against Moses’ leadership instead of encouraging him. She is struck with leprosy and immediately Moses cries,

“O God, I beg you, please heal her!” Numbers 12:13 NLT

God healed her when Moses prayed for her. I wonder if Moses remembered Job’s life turning around for the better when he prayed for his friends, when he prayed for his sister? Either way the outcome is the same. There are wonderful blessings in store for those who pray for others, and especially when we pray for those who have been less than comforting and encouraging to us.

Remember, not only did God turn Job’s life around for the better, but He did it when Job prayed for his friends.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.