Bonus Point Time!!!

It is Thursday night, and that means time for a bonus point opportunity from Sunday's sermon.

Remember, it has been a very close competition so far, so bonus points could be the deciding factor in who wins the reward at the end of quarter. 

We have 4 weeks left,  and it is still anyone's competition to win.

Here is the bonus point that is available to you. 

Does going through hard times mean that God has forgotten us; that we are not following God's plan for our life?  If not, then what can it mean?

Email your answer to me or bring it with you on Sunday. 
Hope you were listening!!
CP

New Homework Questions Posted

Hey all,

Just a quick note to let you know that I have posted the homework questions for next Suunday.  Click here to get them!

Review From November 7th

Hello 56ers

Here is the review from last Sunday, and if you stay tuned to the end of this review, there will be some bonus point opportunities.

Our topic of the day was "Is there anything God can't do?

We began by looking at some crazy stories that I tested you on by asking if you believe the stories happened or not.  ( I have posted links to the stories in the "for students" section , or see them by clicking here.)
We then started our discussion by looking at Luke 1.26-38.
Here, we read the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary to inform her that she will soon be mother to God's son Jesus. This in itself is a mind trip, an angel, telling a young girl (a teenager) that God's son will be born to her.  Mary says it isn't possible for her to have a child, but God makes it happen.  Do we trust God even when the situation seems impossible.

Next, we read Jeremiah 32.17 & 26-27
We explained these verses in our own words.  We looked at the relationship with oil and water.  There is something that God cannot do, we learned about.  God cannot go against His nature.  He cannot lie, sin or become unholy or impure.  We looked at a bottle that had oil and water in it.  No matter how much I shake it and try to mix it, it will not mix.  Water and Oil repel each other, like God and sin.  They don't mix.

We looked at Leviticus 19.2
We discussed "holiness" and what that means. It means "set apart, completely other" God is holy, and he asks us to be, too.  We are to be set apart for God and His purposes.

Next, we read Numbers 23.18-19
Here we read about somethings that God cannot do.  He will not lie.  We asked if knowing that there is something that God "cannot" do, does that change the way we think about him?

God is able to do anything, which encourages us as we go through hard times in this live.  But he also cannot be around sin, or be unholy.  Our challenge this week is to trust in the Power of God and be confident that you cannot give Him a problem that He doesn't know how to deal with, or have a solution.

We finished by singing "Mighty to Save" by Seventh Day Slumber.  I have also posted a Seventh Day Slumber video (of a different song) on the blog.  Click here to check out the article. I will give a bonus point to anyone that can give me the names of the 4 members of the band Seventh Day Slumber (you can find them through the links)
Check back on Thursday to find another bonus point opportunity.

CP

New Link Added

Hey guys.

I've put a new link in the link list.  Click here to check it out.  If you can tell me (as part of your homework) what new link I added (hint - it is at the bottom of the link list) then I will give you a bonus point!

Homework Question Posted!

CLICK HERE to get your questions for this week -- answer them and EARN POINTS for your team!!

Review from October 31

Hey 56ers,  Hope you are having a great week.  We had a really good discussion on Sunday morning, -Our topic was "Why does God let bad things happen?" it was a tough topic, but at the same time, there is hope that can be found, no matter how hard life gets.

We spent a lot of time looking at the story of Job - found in the Old Testament.  Job was a man who had a lot, a large family, lots of livestock, land.  He then lost it all.  We read in chapter one that Satan had to ask permission to attack Job, and God allows him to do it, but he limits what Satan can do to Job.  Anyway, Job loses almost everything, bang bang bang bang bang! and  his reaction is, in our memory verse (chapter 1.20) he got up, tore his robe, and worshipped God.  WOW!! really!  He doesn't curse God, he doesn't turn away, but he trusts God and chooses to put him first!  

We also glimpsed quickly, but ran out of time to get really deep into the story of John the Baptist from Matthew 11 and 14.

John the Baptist and his followers have been looking for the Messiah, and they think Jesus is him, but John asks for confirmation because he is in prison and knows that Jesus could free him.  Jesus confirms to John's followers that Jesus is the Messiah, and that people are getting healed.  A couple of chapters later, John is executed.  John was Jesus' follower, he was doing great things to let people know about Jesus, so why didn't Jesus miraculously free John from jail?  Maybe John was wondering if God even care? But John stayed true to God.  John didn't get to see the end result of his hard work, but God used him.

Our final passage was Isaiah 43. 1-5  God promises to be with us no matter what we go through.  He knows us,  he has paid the ultimate price for us.  We are precious to him and He has our best interests in mind.  

It is a hard topic to discuss.  We want our God to make our life easy.  That isn't the business that He is in.  He cares more about our heart and our devotion to Him than He does about our comfort.  We need to trust Him like He is the only one that can help us, because He is!  He is in control and He is on our side. That alone is worth worshipping. 

Bonus Point Opportunity

As mentioned, I will give 5 bonus points to each person who can answer the following questions about pastor Ivan's sermon on Sunday.  Here it is:

Pastor Ivan gave us 8 "dynamics of temptation" (8 things to know to help us battle against temptation)  name 1 of those 8 points.

email your answer to livealifealive@gmail.com or write it down with your homework questions and bring it to me on Sunday.

CP