September 2021 week 4

Friday

Does Everyone Know Who You Are?

Scripture: Matthew 5: 13-14

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Lesson Objective:  We are change agents.

Christ came to create a change in the world. As disciples of Christ it is our responsibility to be a change agent in our community, on our job and in all facets of our life. We are to be a beacon of hope for the despondent and difference maker in the lives of people around us who need us. I read a recent quote that said “ I pray every morning that God will guide me to someone who needs my help”. Salt is of no use until it is sprinkled in food. Light is of no use in the day. We are of no use if we do not reach out and help those who are in need. It is not about me but how I can  make a difference in the lives of others.  I believe that one can lose their gifts if they are not put to use and gifts only get better with regular exercise. Daily exercise is important.

Thought for the day:  How will you use your God given gift today?

Thursday

Study of the Beatitudes

Scripture: Matthew 5:  9-12;

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you against you because of me

Lesson Objective: To revisit the Beatitudes which were delivered by Christ and is commonly called Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are the peacemakers– It is important that we not feed into disagreements. We must understand that when people are talking about others negatively and we are listening, it can appear that we are in agreement. We must either walk away or voice our peacemaking efforts. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness– We are not going to be the most popular person on the block when we consistently stand up for what is right. We cannot be silent when wrongs are being committed. Blessed are you when people insult you– People will try and discredit you when you are known for taking a stand against evil. Let your actions speak volumns and let those who accuse you, accuse you of doing good and not evil. Rejoice and be glad – We should be happy when folks talk bad about us. There is a song that says” Every time a lie is told on me that is another brick in my brand new home in heaven.

Thought for the day: Never be afraid to stand up for what is right no matter the cost

Study of the Beatitudes

Scripture: Matthew 5:  6-8;

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Lesson Objective: To revisit the Beatitudes which were delivered by Christ and is commonly called Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,  for they will be filled. Hunger and thirst are the basic needs to be filled  for life. Christ told the women at the well that he is the water from which one drinks and they will never thirst. She then went forth spreading the news. We have an obligation to not just partake of the living water but also to share the good news.In John 6:35 Christ states that he is the Bread of Life.  It is vital that we seek Christ to be in our life if we are to  have the eternal life of ceasing to be hungry and suffer thirst. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. This is the first Beatitude that demonstrates how we must treat others. Mercy is given even when it is not deserved. We can do nothing to earn the mercy that God has given us and likewise we must show that same mercy to others. Blessed are the pure in heart. God told Samuel that man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart. Our motives when interacting with others must be pure and honest with no deceit. How we talk to others is directly related to our heart for the mouth speaks from the heart.

Thought for the day:  We are blessed by God to be a blessing to others

Tuesday

Study of the Beatitudes

Scripture: Matthew 5:  3-5;

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

Lesson Objective: To revisit the Beatitudes which were delivered by Christ and is commonly called Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes are seen by many as the attributes of a true disciple of Christ. The Beatitudes are examples of how Christ came not to change the law but to fulfill the law.  While we think of the Beatitudes in the New Testament, we can also find them in the Old Testament. The Beatitudes are often compared to the Ten Commandments as the first four is about our relationship with God and the last six are about our relationship to man. There are also similar verses in the Old Testament such as Isaiah 61: 1-2. Blessed  are Poor in spirit—Greek term  ptochos which means entirely dependent on the grace and mercy of others. We are totally dependent on God. Bless those that mourn- Things happen on this journey called life that can cause us moments of sadness but we can rejoice knowing that God will bring us comfort. Bless are the Meek- Some mistake this to mean weak. It does not mean weak but means being humble and knowing that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Thought for the day:  No matter what know that you are greatly blessed and highly favored.

Monday

Building Lasting Relationships through Real Friendship

Scriptures: Proverbs 17:17;

A friend loves at all times,  and a brother is born for a time of adversity

Lesson Objective: To determine how we can build lasting friendship through Christian principles.

What is true Friendship? The world’s definition of friendship is not consistent with the Biblical definition. The world’s definition  friendship is based on what you can do for me right now or in the future. Friendships are most often not long lasting and friendship is based on mutual needs which can change from time to time.  However Proverbs 17:17 states that a friend loves at all times. Real friendship is based only on love. To often we use the word friend to describe a relationship which at best should be called acquaintance.

Friendship can be defined as:

Love relationship through Christ

Always forgiving

Helping each other to continue to grow in the spirit

If there are problems they are solved through Christ

Friendship is based on my actions and not those of others.

Thought for the day:  Who can call you a true friend?