Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

Raise the Bar

PPM-3.jpg

 

Last Wednesday night was the Awana Awards Ceremony at our church. During the awards the kids all share some of the things that they learned during the year and they share some of the Scripture verses that are supposed to be memorized and treasured in their heart…

I went over my child’s verse with her repeatedly.

She knew it.

I knew that she knew it.

Yet she walked up on stage with a cheat sheet and began to read off the verse and was stumbling all over it. Before I knew it I had given the “momma finger snap” and told her out loud that she needed to put that paper down and say her verse.

Once the cheat sheet came down the verse flowed out smooth and clear.

There is a standard my husband and I hold for our children.

First things first.

God is to be first.

If my child can sing the Dora Explorer theme song at 2 years old while playing with her Dora doll in the tub, she can memorize Scripture.

If my child can learn the entire part of Imogene Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at age 8 she can memorize Scripture.

Last Sunday I had to confront my 12 year old on why she was walking out the house to church without her Bible in hand.

She responded that everything was in her Sunday school book, she didn’t need it.

Not an acceptable answer for this mom…

She has not been raised to be spoon fed off another’s plate. She’s been raised to feed herself… why on earth would we expect her to leave the children’s ministry carrying her own Bible and enter the youth without it. She doesn’t use someone else’s glove or bat when she steps on to the softball field… should we expect less when it comes to stepping into church.

We have lowered the bar in so many areas in what we expect from our kids in the area of their spiritual growth and even academics yet we have raised it to almost unreachable levels when it comes to sports and other hobbies. Of course the excuse for the drive is always for a “college scholarship” As if going to college will be their salvation in this life. Sadly when they get their and have put so little into their character and integrity many end up in a pit that they can’t get out of and end up losing that scholarship along with their name and their respect.

We need to learn to raise the bar in the right areas…

When we look at history we see that Jonathan Edwards entered Yale College at 12 years old. By the age of 17 he had graduated as valedictorian and by 19 years of age, after two years of study in theology he was filling a pulpit. By the age of 30 he was key in being used by God to begin the Great Awakening.

By the age of 11 years old J0hn Quincy Adams was a congressional appointed secretary to his father who was the American ambassador to France, by 14 years old he was appointed secretary to our ambassador to Russia, and by 16 years old he was recognized by the President of the United States, George Washington, as one of the most valuable characters abroad representing our country.

When we look to the Scriptures we see that at 8 years of age Josiah became king of Israel and by his eighteenth year as king, at 26 years of age, he read the book of the Law for the first time and brought revival to a nation.

Today, at 26 years of age in America grown adults are still required by law to be able to mooch off their parents insurance, even if they are healthy, strong, supposedly intelligent individuals.

There was a day when a 13 year old boy was considered a man.

Today we look at a 30 year old and still call them a kid.

Today we expect little, little is invested, therefore little is achieved.

In this great day of knowledge and technology and our supposed so far advancement from the dark ages… how is it that our knowledge grows , but our ability to be responsible for own actions and personhood diminishes.

We have a President today that mocks our past greatness… He stands on the platform of Planned Parenthood and mocks the foundations of this country and the integrity and character on which it was built… because some people seem to have a problem with men and women who call themselves doctors, who took an oath to heal and help, yet instead choose to kill and destroy.

Mr President if we were so dumb and backwards back then, why all the greatness of men and women who brought true and good change to our nation as they supported and strove for the rights of equality of life for all mankind, no matter age, sex, race, or religion?

If we have achieved such knowledge and grandeur in this day, how is it that in this country’s beginning an 11 year old was committed and cognitive enough to be an official ambassador representing our country and yet today in our country an 11 year old is doing good to be able to go to the bathroom by themselves and read Cat in the Hat?

I don’t believe this is the governments fault. I don’t believe it’s the schools fault. I don’t even believe it’s the cultures fault.

It’s our fault, dads and moms, our fault.

There was a day where it was the parent’s responsibility to teach their child. They understood it was their responsibility to teach their kids to succeed and learn and grow. It was their responsibility and great honor and desire and privilege to invest in the lives of their kids. It was their responsibility to tell their kids… You are not a kid anymore. What you say and what you do matters and has an effect on others. You were born to make an impact in the lives of those around you and that starts now. 

I not long ago had to have a conversation with my child about how her Sunday night class was treating their teacher. Her class is comprised of our 3rd – 5th graders. These kids seemed to be completely oblivious that their words and actions had power to affect the adults around them. They were too caught up in their own selves to even have concern for the one who was there trying to teach them. I explained to my child that the way she behaved demonstrated to her teacher whether she respected her or not, and whether she respected her or not demonstrated whether her teacher felt loved and appreciated and even liked.

Yes, at 8 years old what my child said and did and how she treated others had an affect on those around her… yes, even the adults around her. She needed to be made aware of that.

It’s not just about obedience and minding the teacher. It’s more about the fact that they should be aware that they carry an impact in this world.

They matter.

They matter in what they say and do and they matter in the fact that what they say and do has an effect on those around them which in fact impacts their community and their world.

Maybe you might think I am thinking too big… but I don’t think so.

Like I said, my husband and I expect much from our kids when it comes to the things of God and the things of kindness and common courtesy and using their heads.

We see the time, energy, and effort they are willing and able to put into things that have no eternal impact or benefit… why on earth would we expect and require less from them when it comes to the things that do?

It’s time to raise the bar in this nation.

It must begin with it being raised at home and it must be raised in our churches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 5:1-11)

PPM-3.jpg

 

Romans 5:1-11

 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

 

Read Romans 5:1. With what word does this verse begin?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Remember when we see a “therefore” we need to find out what the “therefore” is there for. We discover that information by looking at the verses that come before the “therefore”. When we do this we see that in Romans 4 the whole chapter was about how Abraham is God’s example to us that we are justified by faith, not works and not the Law.

 

Read Romans 5:1 again and fill in the blanks to complete the verse.

Therefore, having been __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ by __ __ __ __ __, we have __ __ __ __ __ with God through our __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __  Christ

 

Now that you have the verse completed, how do we have peace with God?

through __ __ __ __ __   __ __ __ __ __ __ 

 

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

The word peace in this verse in the Greek is eirene and it means exemption from the rage and havoc of war, peace between individuals.

Have you ever thought about the fact that before you are saved you are at war with God?

 

Read Romans 5:2. Who did we obtain our introduction by faith into the grace of God through? (hint: you find the answer in Romans 5:1)

__ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:2 again. Knowing that we are justified by faith and have peace with God through Jesus what can we now exult in? (the word exult means to boast in)

in __ __ __ __  of the __ __ __ __ __  of God

When we have peace with God we no longer are afraid of His glory, but we boast about it. We no longer hate Him, but we hope in Him.

 

Read Romans 5:3. What else do we exult in if we have been justified by faith and have peace with God. Unscramble the words to help you find the answer.

snoibirtulta    __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:3-4 and put in order what we know about our tribulations when we are saved.

tribulation, brings about __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

perseverance, proven __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

proven character,  __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:5. What do we learn about hope? 

hope  __ __ __ __    __ __ __  disappoint

 

Read Romans 5:5 again. How can we know that hope in the glory of God does not disappoint?

because the __ __ __ __ of God has been poured out in __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __  through the

__ __ __ __     __ __ __ __ __ __  who was given to us.

 

 

Let’s take a moment to learn a little bit about the Holy Spirit.

Look up and read John 14:15-17.

Who did Jesus say that the Holy Spirit would be to us?

the __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Look up and read John 14:25-26.

How did Jesus say that He would help us?

He will be __ __  you

He will __ __ __ __ __ you all things

He will bring to __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  all that Jesus says to us

 

Look up and read Ephesians 1:13-14. 

Let’s put in order what happens in these verses.

1) after __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to the message of truth, the __ __ __ __ __ __  of salvation

2) having also __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

3) you were __ __ __ __ __ __ in Him (Jesus) with the __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __   of promise

 

When was the Holy Spirit promised? Circle the correct answer.

When Jesus was talking with His disciples in John 14.

When Noah got off the ark in Genesis 9

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden in Genesis 3.

 

Look up Acts 1:1-9 and Acts 2:1-4. When did the promise Jesus made concerning the Holy Spirit come?

the day of __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Look up and read Acts 2:38. We have already learned that faith is a gift, that being justified is a gift, and that Jesus is a gift, now who else is a gift to us from God? 

the __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:6. Why is it important that God was willing to give us all this as a gift.

we were  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:6 again. Did Jesus die for us because we were good, loved God, and deserved it?

Circle your answer.

Yes           No

 

How does Romans 5:6 describe us?

helpless and __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:6-8. How does God demonstrate how much He loves us?

while we were yet __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ,

__ __ __ __ __ __   died for  __ __

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

WOW! So God did not wait until we were good before He sent His Son to die for us. He also does not wait until we are good before He shares with us the Gospel and gives us the gift of faith and justification. He meets us where we are and gives us His Word to help us if we will just believe Him. He loved us before we even wanted to be good.

How about we take a moment to tell Him how that makes us feel. 

 

Read Romans 5:9. How does this verse begin?

__ __ __ __    __ __ __ __   then

Have you ever seen an infomercial on television? A commercial were someone offers you a product and they begin to tell you what all you are going to get with it and then they say, “But wait, there’s more!”

As study through the rest of Romans 5 and really the rest of the book of Romans we are going to see what all we receive in this gift of grace and justification by faith through Jesus Christ. 

 

Go ahead read through Romans 5:9-11 and count how many times you read “much more”. 

How many times did you read it?

_____

 

Read Romans 5:9. Now that we are justified by His blood what else will be saved from because of what Jesus did when He died for us?

the __ __ __ __ __ of God

 

Read Romans 5:10. Romans 5:6 tells us that we were helpless and ungodly when Jesus died for us. What do we learn about ourselves in Romans 5:10?

we were __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of God

 

Read Romans 5:10-11. If we believe that Jesus died for us to reconcile us to God while we were helpless, ungodly, sinners, and His enemies, then what should we also know?

we shall be __ __ __ __ __ by His life.

 

What happened after Jesus died on the cross and was buried? Did He stay dead and buried? Circle your answer.

Yes            No

 

Read Romans 5:11. What can we do through Jesus Christ once we are reconciled to God?

__ __ __ __ __  in God

(To reconcile is to reestablish a close relationship between. It is to make peace between. To settle a matter.)

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

If not for what Jesus did by coming to earth as the Son of God and the Son of Man we could never have a relationship with God. 

Why don’t you get out a piece of paper and draw a picture or write a story about how Jesus makes us friends with God again. 

 

Previous posts for Romans Study For Kids: The Romans Project

 

Proven Path Ministries

Death Is No Respecter To Person

PPM-3.jpg

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world,

and death through sin, and so death spread to all men,

because all sinned—

Romans 5:12

 

No matter how great the sinner or how great the saint… no matter how mighty the king or how weak the child… death is no respecter of person. It doesn’t care who you think you are or how smart you think you are in your attempt to defeat and defy it… it does not fear you at all.

A week ago I learned of the death of a loved one… I did not find out about his passing until 15 minutes before the graveside service.

(I suppose that’s one of the downfalls of not reading or watching the news… I would not even be aware of what happened in Oklahoma if not for my husband telling me about it.)

Having just been made aware of the passing of this man I was so very fond of, a man who had been a father and grandfather to my cousin and friend for thirty of her thirty-five years…

(I don’t know what it is like in other areas of the world, but here in Alabama, at least in my part of Alabama, your first best friends are your cousins. I have always considered even my 4th and 5th cousins as close as my double 1st, because I really actually did grow up with them all. They are a lasting part of the memories of my childhood and even now in my adulthood and we are purposeful to make sure our kids know who each other are.)

I only had time to shoot her a text. I just wanted her to know that I knew and I was so very sorry and I was praying for them.

The next day I went to her mother’s house, taking a chance that they might be there. I am thankful that they were indeed there. We sat on the front porch and talked and cried and I listened as she told me what happened.

He awoke that morning as usual. Got up to eat his breakfast as usual,and was picking on and cutting up with his grandchild that had spent the night with them. He left the room to shower and get ready to head out on an outing with my cousins husband, his son-in-law, by every right. He entered back into the room not feeling well and chose to take an aspirin and sit down… he got up and left the room… and came back to take another aspirin and sit for a moment… then said he felt fine. He went on to shower and get dressed and came into the living room in his jeans and t-shirt with his shoes in hand feeling fine.

Then by the time he got his shoes on, he was concerned again and asked my aunt, his wife, to take him on to the hospital… they left the house and got into the car… and she said that before she could get backed out of the driveway… he leaned his head back on the seat and was gone. He never said a word. He was there. Then he was gone.

He was a healthy man Friday night… and Saturday he was gone.

Death is no respecter to person.

It doesn’t ask our permission. It doesn’t care if we had plans that day. It reigns where and when it will. It is not concerned with how healthy we are or how much we are loved and needed by others. It doesn’t care who will miss us. It doesn’t care if we are so young that our life is still developing in the womb or if we have lived so long that our flesh is shriveling and wrinkling and sagging with age.

Death is the curse. It is the curse that fell not only upon man, but upon the whole earth.

Cursed is the ground because of you;

Genesis 3:17

********************************************************

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Romans 8:19-22

This earth that was created by our God to sustain and provide for us life now turns herself on us to destroy and deprive us of life. Yet she groans. She groans because she knows it was not what she was created to do. She knows she was created for glory. So she suffers. We see her sufferings in the earthquakes and hurricanes and the likes of the recent Oklahoma tornadoes. Death dances her victory dance over the broken pieces of our hearts.

It’s not global warming… it’s not climate change… it’s sin and the wages of sin is death. Death proves it over and over. We might attempt to deny the reality of sin, but we cannot deny the reality of death.

It’s the groans of a creation of God that has been subjected to slavery because of sin and now is under the control of the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), the one in whose power the whole world lies (1 John 5:19), and death reigns in her and yet she knows she was created to produce living things… not death. She groans. She suffers. She anxiously longs for redemption.

The question as we look at the reign of death around us… is do we groan, do we suffer, do we anxiously long for redemption with her.

I know that I do.

I don’t like death.

Death hurts because it separates.

However, there is one death that shocked the very depths of death… death appeared and took its prize and drug Him into the grave in triumph. Death self-proclaimed itself as king… and why should it not… it was indeed undefeated. No one who had ever died had ever escaped its grasp. It reigned victorious over every man.

Until One Man appeared.

He snatched many from death’s grip as He walked on this earth… yet death did not fear much, because death knew they would return to its grave… and death waited for that One who appeared to be playing games with the grave.

Yet this One did not come to play games.

This One was the Only One who was really ever in it to win it.

Death opened her throat and swallowed Him whole. Death willingly paid sin for its prize and filled its belly with another soul… yet something was not quite right this time. The belly of death began to rumble with displeasure. It rolled and contorted and groaned for the first time ever with the awareness that it had just consumed something that was not to be consumed. The belly of death shook and revolted and finally vomited out its prize just as the belly of the whale vomited Jonah out many years ago…

This One death could not hold.

Death marched right back up to sin and asked for its payment back.

Yet sin had its pay… this was death’s problem.

Death had met its match and death lost. Death lost big. Death attempted to consume Christ, yet Christ consumed death. Now Christ stands with His life wide open inviting us to die in Him. This death does not separate… for the first time in all time, there is a death that unites to life.

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

Romans 6:5-9

Death still tromps around this earth, and this earth continues to groan, because sin remains. We never know when death will show up at our door claiming sin has required its payment… however we don’t have to live in fear of this payday… if we have died in Christ.

When death comes knocking at my door requesting that sin wants its pay… I shall smile and hand death my receipt that says Paid In Full

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 

It

is

finished!

And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:30

 

Whether my life on this earth be ripped from me through the winds of a tornado, by a destroying disease, by an out of nowhere accident, or by sudden failing of heart. It doesn’t matter. I am ready. I pray that if you are reading this… you are as well.

I pray that if you are a parent this is foremost in the front of your minds for your children… you never know when you put them on the bus or drop them off at daycare or send them home with a friend if this is the last time you will see them… do they know the Gospel… do they know about death in Christ… do they know that you know… do they know if death came to snatch you away from them that Christ would be there to make the interception because He had already paid your price?

Death is no respecter to persons.

Praise God, neither is Christ!

 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:8-13

 

Proven Path Ministries

The Charge of a Mother

PPM-3.jpg

On May 11th I spoke at a Mother Child Tea. As I studied while I prepared to speak in my fullness I posted The Meaning of Mother and then the The Call of a Mother. I am going to finish sharing what I learned through a series of post. Today we will look at the charge of a Mother…

As I studied through the book of Jeremiah I had never realized how well the study of this book could relate to the cry of a mother’s heart… As I read passages like

‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord;
‘I will not look upon you in anger.
For I am gracious,’ declares the Lord;
‘I will not be angry forever.
‘Only acknowledge your iniquity,
That you have transgressed against the Lord your God
And have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree,
And you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares the Lord.
‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares the Lord;
‘For I am a master to you,
And I will take you one from a city and two from a family,
And I will bring you to Zion.’

Jeremiah 3:12-14

 

One of the hardest things to watch as a parent is to see your children making wrong choices and living in the deceit of them instead of trusting in your words of truth to them. It is even harder when this thing is in absolute rebellion to God. There is nothing but the leaning into the sovereign arms of the Lord that can comfort a mother who is watching her child walk stubbornly and stiff-necked right into the death of sin…

To the Christian mother of today’s United States in the abundance of promoted immorality and having the seeds of evil and lies of Satan so fervently  sown in every direction no matter where you turn… the call of a Mother to pluck up and break down and destroy and overflow becomes all the more crucial and overwhelming.

How on earth can we win this fight?

How on earth can we build on the solid foundation and plant the good seed fast enough, deep enough, secure enough to keep the seeds of evil and lies from taking root and to keep the enemy of our souls from throwing up his make-shift shanties where the temple of the Holy Spirit of the Living God should be.

We hear the call, but how can we accomplish this call?

Thus the charge of a mother…

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you,

which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois

and your mother Eunice,

and I am sure that it is in you as well. 

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh 

the gift of God which is in you

through the laying on of my hands. 

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity,

but of power and love and discipline.

2 Timothy 1:5-7

First, be aware that God is mindful of the sincere faith that is within you. Be aware that God sees the desire of your heart to raise your children up in truth and to fight the powers of hell on their behalf. Be aware, mother, that He sees and He knows.

Then, remember what you have been taught by the generation before you. Why are you where you are today with this heart for God. Who has invested in you and how did they invest in you. Follow their example. Pour into your child the hope that was poured into you.

Then, kindle afresh the gift of God that is within you… His Holy Spirit… His Word. Never let the wellspring of the Living Water run dry in you. Never let the fire of His Spirit be quenched within you… keep yourself under the mentorship of other strong mature believers who can pray with you and encourage and exhort you. Stay in the Word and stay in the fellowship.

Finally, never ever forget that God has not given you a spirit of timidity. He has given you a spirit of power and of love and of discipline. You can answer this call of a mother because God Himself has prepared and supplied you with everything you need to do so.

Notice the list is power – love – discipline 

If love is not at the center in how you answer this call, then power and discipline will backfire and uproot all that you plant and destroy all that you build… be careful to keep love at the center. You can do this if you remember who you are in Him and remember that is Him who watches over His Word to perform it. It is not your job to force it… but His to perform it.

 

 

 

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 4)

PPM-3.jpg

The last handouts made for the Romans Study for Kids were on Romans 3:25-31. Today I am posting the Handouts for Romans 4. So this is a long post… but here is a study for Romans 4 that I believe you will be able to use with your kids to help them learn the glorious truth in this chapter.

Romans 4:1-8

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.

8  “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

 

In Romans 4 Paul shows us how God uses Abraham as an example to show all of us that justification is by faith and not by our works or by the Law.

Read Romans 4:1-2. Even if Abraham had worked really hard and been really good and was able to be justified by his works, could he boast about that before God? Could He impress God with his works? Circle your answer.

Yes              No

 

Read Romans 4:3. What does the Scripture say about how Abraham was justified or declared righteous? Fill in the blanks with your answer.

Abraham __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  God and it was

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  to him as righteousness

 

Read Romans 4:4. What do you learn about works and credit?

Now to the one who works, his wage is __ __ __ credited

as a favor, but as what is __ __ __

 

If you work for something is your payment a favor as a gift or is your payment due to you because you earned it? Circle your answer.

favor             due

 

Read Romans 4:5. What happens to the one who does not work , but believes in God who justifies the ungodly?

his  __ __ __ __ __  is  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  as righteousnessThe word “faith” in the Greek is pistis and it means conviction of the truth, belief. 

So it was Abraham’s conviction of the truth, his belief in God and what God said that justified him.

 

Read Romans 4:5 again. Who does God justify?

the __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Look back at Romans 1:18-19 and Romans 3:10-18. According to what you have learned in Romans so far, who are the ungodly? Circle all that apply.

Jews     Gentiles     Everyone    Noone

 

Read Romans 4:6. Who also speaks to us about God crediting righteousness apart from works?

__ __ __ __ __

 

What does David call this credit of righteousness?

a  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

The word “blessing” in the Greek is Makarismos and it means declaration of blessedness, to utter a declaration of blessedness upon one, to pronounce one blessed.

According to this definition, do you earn a blessing? Circle your answer.

Yes                 No

 

Read Romans 4:7-8. These verses come from Psalm 32:1-2. According to these verses who is blessed?

1)  those whose lawless deeds have been

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

2) those whose sins have been __ __ __ __ __ __ __

3) those whose __ __ __ the Lord will not take into account

 

The greatest blessing and gift we can receive is God forgiving our lawless deeds and not crediting us the wage of our sin. Read Romans 6:23 to see what the wages of sin is. What is the wage for sin?

__ __ __ __ __

 

When we believe God and His promise to us He credits us with righteousness and He pays sin for us. We did not earn the blessing, the forgiveness, or the righteousness… it is all the favor and gift of God to us for simply believing Him.

 

Romans 4:9-25

 

Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”

10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,

12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb

20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.

23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,

24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

 

Read Romans 4:9-10. What question does Paul ask about Abraham’s faith being credited to him as righteousness?

Did Abraham receive this blessing when he was

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ or

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ?

 

Look up and read Genesis 15:1-18. In what verse do we read that Abraham believed God and God reckons (or credits) Abraham as righteous?

Genesis 15:___

 

In what verse do we read that God make a covenant with Abraham?

Genesis 15:___

We learn that God made a covenant with Abraham on the same day that Abraham believed God and He credited it to him as righteousness.

 

Now look up and read Genesis 17:7-13. What did God say would be the sign of the covenant?

you shall be __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

According to what you have read in Genesis put the following in the order that they happened.

Circumcision           1. ___________

Believed God          2. ___________

Covenant made       3. ___________

 

What came last?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

If circumcision came last can it be what made God justify Abraham? Circle your answer.

Yes           No

 

Read Romans 4:10-12. When did Abraham have faith? Before or after he was circumcised?

Circle your answer.

Before        After

 

Read Romans 4:11 to find out why this is so important to know. Why was Abraham credited righteous before he received the sign of circumcision?

So that he might be the father of __ __ __ who

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ without being circumcised

 

According to what you have learned so far in Romans and the chapters you have read in Genesis, does a person have to be circumcised to be justified? Circle your answer.

Yes       No

 

Read Romans 4:13. Did Abraham receive his promise from God through the Law? Circle your answer.

Yes         No

 

When did Abraham receive the promise from God?

Look up and read Genesis 12:1-4 to find out.

 

When did God give Israel the Law?

Read Exodus 20:1-18 to find out.

 

According to the Bible what came first, the promise to Abraham or the Law? Circle your answer.

Promise         Law

 

Go back and read Romans 3:20. What is the purpose of the Law?

Through the Law comes the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of __ __ __

 

Read Romans 4:15. What does the Law bring about?

__ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:21-22. How do we receive the righteousness of God? Circle your answer.

Through the Law        Through faith in Jesus

 

Who can receive this righteousness? Circle your answer.

Those who are circumcised

Those who have the Law

Those who believe God.

 

Think about what you have learned so far in Genesis, Exodus, and Romans. Look at the list below and put everything in the order that they occur and put the Scripture reference that proves it.

Law                      1. ________________

Promise                2. ________________

Circumcision           3. _________________

Believed God          4. _________________

Covenant made       5. _________________

What came first?  _________________

 

What did Abraham believe? Circle your answer.

The Law       The Promise

 

THINK ABOUT IT….

What promise has God made that He has asked us to believe so that we might be saved?

Read John 3:16. 

Is there anything that God says we have to do before we believe? 

Is there anything that God says that we have to do after we believe?

 

Read Romans 4:16. How does this verse begin?

__ __ __    __ __ __ __     __ __ __ __ __ __

 

This verse tells us why God did not make the Law or circumcision the way for us to be justified and credited righteousness. If we were justified by the Law, who could be saved? Who can keep the Law and never break it? Can anyone? Circle your answer.

Yes                No

 

Read Romans 4:16 again. Fill in the blanks to complete the verse.

For this reason it is by __ __ __ __ __, in order that it may be in accordance with __ __ __ __ __, so that the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ will be guaranteed to __ __ __ the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us __ __ __

 

How can Abraham be the father of us all? Remember that Paul is writing this letter to the church, to the saints in Rome. Remember this and read Galatians 3:29 printed below.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. 

Galatians 3:29

According to this verse how do we become heirs to the promise and Abraham’s descendants?

if you belong to __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Look up and read Romans 10:9. How can we belong to Christ?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved

 

Read Romans 4:16 again. Read Ephesians 2:8-9 printed below and answer the questions. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

How are you saved?

by __ __ __ __ __ you have been saved through

__ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:24 and compare it to Ephesians 2:8-9, what do both of the verses tell us about being saved?

it is a __ __ __ __ of __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:27-28 and Romans 4:2 and compare it to Ephesians 2:8-9. Is there any one who can brag or boast about doing enough works to get themselves saved? Circle your answer.

Yes               No

 

Go ahead and read Romans 4:16-25. When you finish sit down with your mom and dad or another trusted adult as we study through and think about these last verses in Romans 4. As you read remember that Abraham is an example to us as to how God saves and keeps His promise to us. 

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

When we read about Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis we learn that Abraham was 75 years old when God gave him the promise. If we look all the way back to Genesis 3:15 we see that this promise was made first to Adam and Eve. Then it was made to Noah in Genesis 6:18. Now God gives it Abraham in Genesis 12:1-4. God promises that he would become the father of many nations. God gives the promise, but Abraham still has to believe the promise. As we read about Abraham we learn that he makes a lot of mistakes as He tries to obey God, but He keeps trying. In Genesis 15 we learn that Abraham really believes the promise that God made him, and so God credits him righteous, God saves Him. Then Abraham and Sarah tried to help God keep His promise, but they only made things worse. God wanted them and us to know that our works and our efforts do not determine whether or not God keeps His promise. God keeps His promise because He is God.

So God made Abraham and Sarah wait until both their bodies were unable to make a baby on their own. Their baby making parts were as Romans 4:17-19 says, dead.

But dead does not mean anything to the God who creates life out of nothing. So when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old, Isaac was born. God brought their baby making parts from death to life and fulfilled His promise… all because they believed Him.

In the same way our spirit inside of us is dead. It died when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. But God says if we believe in His promise, if we believe in Jesus, He will make our dead spirit alive. We will learn more about this as we study through the rest of Romans. It’s very exciting!

I want you to close your study today with working on memorizing Romans 4:20-21. Do this together with your mom and dad or your brother or sister. This is a very important passage to have hidden in your heart and mind. There is nothing more important than knowing that God will keep His Word. 

yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Romans 4:20-21

Write this verse on a card and read it three times a day.

You can also take a dry erase marker and write it on the mirror in your bathroom or bedroom. This way you can read it every time you go in there. 

Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

Purposeful Parenting

 

 

 

shiloh logo

 

If you are Christian parent you cannot deny that the enemy of our souls, Satan, the serpent of old, the accuser of the brethren, the deceiver… is after the hearts of our kids. Today is not a day that we as parents can sit by on the sidelines and just try to make it through the day. We must choose to purposefully parent in this day. This requires diligence and effort and training on our part. It also is going to require a strong support system and accountability.

Beginning on September 8th, 2013 Shiloh will begin a year of focusing on how to parent with purpose. We will start with an eleven week study, Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World.

 

raising godly children

Parents and parents-to-be will benefit from this Parenting Study Kit. With thought-provoking discussion questions and engaging homework assignments, parents at all stages are challenged and encouraged as they examine how to “train up their children in the way that they should go” … according to God’s Word!

In addition to the teaching of Ken and Steve, Christian parents who are currently navigating the same parenting challenges that you are offer biblical insights and practical parenting tips.

Discover what the Bible teaches about:

  • the roles of husband, wife, and children in the family
  • how we should discipline our children
  • how to make Scripture come alive for our children
  • important topics like communication, stewardship, and relationships
  • … how we can leave a godly legacy!

An 11-session, DVD-based study!

Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World lesson titles

  • Session 1: The Genesis Family 
  • Session 2: The Genesis of a Worldview 
  • Session 3: Vegemite Kids 
  • Session 4: God-Given Roles in Marriage 
  • Session 5: God-Given Roles in the Family 
  • Session 6: Discipline: Producing a Harvest of Peace and Righteousness 
  • Session 7: Communicating Biblically with Your Children 
  • Session 8: Growing a Godly Heritage 
  • Session 9: The Family Fortress 
  • Session 10: Developing a Biblical Mindset About Money and Possessions 
  • Session 11: Parenting Practices 

Parents attending this study are encouraged to purchase the book, Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World. The study guide and DVD’s will be made available during the class time.

As this study concludes with Parenting Practices we will then begin a study that will take us through the rest of the year, The Christian Parenting Handbook. This study will teach us hands on how to apply everything we learned in the previous study. 

 

bookandhandbook

 

Nuggets of parenting wisdom condensed into 50 short chapters, each one biblical, practical, and relevant for parents of children ages 2-18. Learn appropriate ways to correct, instruct, and set limits. Glean wisdom for dealing with emotions, conflict, and developing closeness in your family… and much more. These 50 strategies provide you with hands-on tools for parenting children of any age. 

You will learn

• A practical tool to stop children’s arguing
• How to separate firmness from harshness
• A strategy to help children change their hearts
• Ways to teach kids to add energy to family life
• Solutions for sibling conflict
• The relational side of parenting
• What to do when parents don’t agree
• How to help kids who are blamers
• and much more.

Parents attending this class are encouraged to purchase The Christian Parenting Handbook and Companion Guide. We will go through one chapter a week so that we can focus on and have an opportunity to put into practice what we learn without overload of information.

To check out more information on parenting go here:

Parenting seminar

 

 

I sincerely hope you will make plans to join us…

 

 

crossguard logo

Proven Path Ministries

A Moment of Sadness

PPM-3.jpg

Yesterday I witnessed one of the saddest things I have ever seen…

On our way to church this past Wednesday night we came upon a traffic jam coming up the mountain. There is road construction going on all over our area at the moment, so at first I suspected that it was simply that, just road construction traffic.

However as we began to climb the hill and make the curve, we saw the blue lights…

It was a wreck.

There appeared to be no injuries… there was no state of panic at the scene… not an ambulance there yet… but then I saw it… I saw him.

Standing there behind one of the wrecked vehicles, yet infront of one of the police vehicles. Standing there in the midst of shattered glass and vehicle debris. Standing there in the midst of stopped cars lined in front and behind, all full of spectators… there he stood.

My heart broke.

There he stood in a wrinkled light colored suit with a grey scruffy beard and long greying hair that was whipping around a broken face… There he stood with his arms stiff by his side as he watched the policemen for instructions as he waited to attempt to walk a straight line.

I have never seen a man look more broken.

I have no clue who this man was… I do not know his story… all I know is that from my driver seat as I looked at him through the right side of my windshield my heart broke and I began to pray for the man I saw behind his eyes.

The men is my life today are all strong men.

They are not controlled by a substance or another man. These are the men I am used to seeing. Men whose word is true and sound. Men who take care of their families. Men who love their wives and their children. Men who stand tall.

There is something so sad and heartbreaking about a man who cannot be a man because he is controlled by someone or something other than Christ.

I do not know what led this man to this place, but I have prayed that he might know the love of God and freedom that can be his in Christ. I do not even know if he was guilty of what he appeared to be being accused of… but still I prayed. Even if he was innocent and misjudged… every car that slowly drove by and saw… this would be their only remembrance of him.

I do not know what hurts and lies led this man to this place. All I know is that I did not see an evil, cold, bitter man in those eyes… I saw hurt. I saw very deep hurt.

How I pray that the policemen on that scene saw what I saw.

How I pray that they were kind and not ridiculing.

How I pray that this man reaches up and finds the healing hand of Christ.

 

 

Proven Path Ministries

Eternal Impact

PPM-3.jpg

There are some moments in life that we never forget… and some faces though they move away and be called to another place… we will never forget the impact that they had on us… because the impact was an eternal impact.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to a couple that have been a pillar in my life as a believer… a couple whose eyes I would search for these last eleven years to see if the words I were saying and teaching were in line with Truth… because I knew if it wasn’t they would let me know… and they would do so with the Word not their personal opinion.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to the woman whose story the Lord used to bring me to Himself…

“On December 9, 2001 Sue Fallin shared her testimony at Shiloh. She spoke of how God had healed her of four incurable diseases, but it was not the healing that caught my attention, it was the fact that she said she heard God say “I Am” and “I am faithful.” I knew then that I knew about God, but I did not know God. I knew that I had never experienced God in that way, but I wanted to. I couldn’t wait for the prayer of invitation to end before I was trying to get up to the altar. I knew I needed to be reconciled to God. I cried out to Him and He answered my cry, through faith in His beloved only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

I went to church that morning a broken woman, and I came home “a new creation in Christ Jesus” (2 Corin 5:17). I was forgiven. I was washed clean from the shame of my past, the sins of my youth (Psalm 25). Now the void within me was filled. Now I was complete.

I fell in love with Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. I had an overwhelming desire to tell my family, my friends, and the whole world about this amazing thing that had happened to me, about this amazing God-Man Jesus Christ!”

~ shared from my author page

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to the woman who spoke grace and love to me the evening my back stood straight and my attitude shot forth on the night she spoke about submission to our husbands… At the time I had never had a man other than my father truly love me, provide for me, and commit to me. As a new wife, in the back of my mind and heart, I expected my husband to eventually cheat on me and leave me stranded because that was what I knew the men of my generation to do and its not like I could stay young and in shape forever. So I was not planning on investing any submission to someone I expected to desert me. However, she taught me that submission to my husband was really submission to my God… and God I could trust… and God would never desert me. Through this submission to my God, I would learn also how to trust my husband.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to the woman who was the first to ask me to pray out loud… in front of people… and I don’t know if she had a clue that I thought I would throw up the moment she asked. Yet, I survived and made it through the prayer without any vomit on the chapel carpet.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to a couple who was not afraid to show that they loved God with all their heart and mind and soul and strength yet they were not perfect and they allowed me to see their imperfections because they taught with their life, not just their words.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to a couple whose prayers I could always count on, whose words of wisdom I could always trust in, and whose faith I could always learn from. A couple whose support was unwavering and who has been there prodding me along in my faith by their prayers and their smiles and their words and their willingness to take a chance on me and the ministries that I believe the Lord has given me.

Whether it be comforting me after I call in a panic after sharing an experience before the new Pastor and our whole church, an experience that I know now I was still walking through the stages of grief in, because I feared I had spoken words that could be misunderstood and take away from the Gospel…

Whether it be reading my books and writing endorsements for them and even sitting through book signings with me because I asked her to join me because the thought of sitting their on display by myself terrified me…

Whether it be encouraging me as I took on the ministry of Children’s Ministry Director as I stepped once again into unknown territory as I attempted to live in obedience to my God…

Or whether it be encouraging me in just being a wife and a mother.

Knowing that when I walked in the door they would see what was in my eyes and I would not have to say a word… they would know to pray… or just to remind me that they were praying for me.

Durwood and Sue Fallin, thank you for sharing your faith and your life with me and my family. I hope that South Carolina understands what and who God is sending their way… because this Alabama girl most definitely knows what and who they are receiving.

You have both made an eternal impact on my life and I love you both dearly.

 

me and Sue

 

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

John 17:18-23

 

 

 

 

 

Children's Ministry, Names of God Series, Proven Path Ministries

Names of God Study: Huios Anthropos

PPM-3.jpg

 

This post will end our Names of God Series for the summer… The Lord willing it will continue in the fall. There is still so much to learn about our Triune God from His names.  The name that we will look at today is Jesus’ favorite name for Himself… Huios Anthropos

Jesus said to him,

“The foxes have holes

and the birds of the air have nests,

but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 

Matthew 8:20

 

Huios Anthropos is Son of Man in the Greek. We have already studied Huios in our Names of God study, so lets look at Anthropos. Anthropos is a human being, whether male or female, generically, to include all human individuals. 

This name or title of Jesus appears in the New Testament 89 times. Here’s the kicker, 85 of those 89 are found in the Gospels and they are Jesus referring to Himself. This is why I say it is Jesus’ favorite name for Himself. The question I want us to ask and attempt to answer today is why. Why this name?

 

 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi,

He was asking His disciples,

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Matthew 16:13

 

Well let’s go to the Word of God and dig in. Let’s look at some of these 89 references to see what we learn about the Huios Anthropos.

 

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”

Matthew 9:6

********************************

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Matthew 11:18-19

**************************************

And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

Matthew 13:37

******************************************

just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give a ransom for many Matthew 20:28

**************************************

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10

*****************************************

For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

John 5:26-27

 

From these reference we learn that Jesus, the Son of Man, has authority to forgive sins. We learn that He came eating and drinking and without any false pretense of superiority over any other man. He came sowing a good seed. He came to serve, not to be served. He came to seek and save what was lost. He has life within Himself and He also has authority to execute judgment.

Let me pause for a moment and give you a “red flag” measurement. If any man claims to be a leader, especially claims to be a leader in religious things, if any man professes to be of Christ, yet expects others to serve him and not he them… this man is not of or from God. You can know that for sure. Christ came to serve. To give His life for others. Any who claim to come in His name, but expect to be served is not of Him.

Back to our references… we see that the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost… even those who were absolutely clueless that they were lost until they met Him.

Going back to our video, let’s think about Tarzan. Tarzan lived with the apes… and he was perfectly content there. He was not seeking to get out. He was perfectly happy swinging in the trees. He saw nothing wrong with the way things were going in his life.

Then one day something happened. One day someone enters his world from outside his world and for the first time he sees who he was created to be…

 

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

Genesis 1:26-29

 

Jesus, the Huios Anthropos, came and entered our world. He came to show us who God created us to be. He came to save us from death. He came to open our eyes and to teach us who we are and who we are supposed to be.

Jesus entered our world. He did not come as a tyrant. He did not come as a condescending dictator. He came as one of us… meeting us where we were… eating and drinking with us. Slowly teaching us by first building a relationship with us.

He came to show us that we not to be worshiping the things of this world… we were supposed to be ruling over them. We were created to have dominion on this earth, not worship it… or those who lived on it.

He also showed us the foolishness in our man-made religious systems… and how we so easily had taken even the law and gifts of God and twisted them and made them objects of idolatry.

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12:1-8

We had even forgotten that God had said “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;(Genesis 1:29)

 

Jesus came as the Son of Man to open our eyes… that we might see. Really see.

When we begin to watch and learn about this Son of Man we cannot deny that He is different… we cannot deny that we do not measure up… we cannot deny His beauty, His mercy, His love, His power, His majesty, His might and His glory.

When we look at our selves in the presence of this Huios Anthropos we have to stop and examine and evaluate where we are in our present situation… and is it really where and who we are supposed to be.

In His presence the blind see… or the seeing become blind… so that they don’t have to see.

 

The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out. Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.

John 9:30-38

 

Huios Anthropos, the Son of Man.

Precious one, who do you say that He is?

Do you believe in the Son of Man?

 

 

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:25b-31)

PPM-3.jpg

Picking up from Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:21-25a)

 

Read Romans 3:25 again. Why did God display Jesus on the cross publicly (in front of everybody)? The answer is in the verse. Fill in the blanks to answer.

This was to __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __   His

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ , because in the  forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

Have you ever thought about about all the sin that God has passed over? Think about the last time you broke one of God’s laws. The last time you told a lie. The last time you disobeyed your parents. Did God pass over that sin? Remember the wages of sin is death. If you did not die because of that sin, then your God chose to “pass over it”. Why would He do that? Does He have to do that?  

 

Read 2 Samuel 2:13 printed out below.

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. (2 Samuel 2:13)

David had broken a lot of God laws. He had committed adultery. He had lied. He had not honored his father or his mother. He had committed murder. He had not kept God first in his life. He had stolen. He had coveted. David had greatly sinned against God. God had every right to put David to death, but instead God passed over David’s sin. He passed over David’s sin because David was a man who even though he had messed up very bad, he looked forward in faith to the day that God would send a Savior. He looked forward to the day that Jesus would die for his sin.

 

Now read 2 Samuel 2:14 printed out below. Then answer the following questions.

However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die. (2 Samuel 2:14)

 

Who would die for David’s sin?

his  __ __ __

This may seem very hard to understand, that God would take away David’s son because of David’s sin, but I think God wanted David, and us, to understand what God’s Son would do. David’s son would die for this time for this sin of David’s, but God’s Son would die for all of David’s sin and for all the sin of the whole world.

Look up John 3:16 and write the verse out below.

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Read Romans 3:26. Why did God pass over David’s sin and everyone else, including you and me, who have broken God’s Law. Fill in the blanks below with your answer.

so that He would be __ __ __ __

and the  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  of the one who has

__ __ __ __ __  in  __ __ __ __ __

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

How well are you are able to keep all of God’s Law, even when you are trying very, very, very hard to keep it? 

Now, how glad are you that God saves us according to what we believe about Jesus instead of how well we can keep His Law?

Draw a picture below that shows how you feel about this.

______________________________________________

 

 

 

______________________________________________

 

Read Romans 3:27. 

What question does Paul ask?

Where then is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ?

 

How does Paul answer it? (The answer is in Romans 3:27)

It is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Boasting is bragging. Excluded is to be left out. Paul is letting us know that no one can brag about being a Christian, no one can brag about being a Jew, no one is any better than anyone else. All of us are saved by faith. All of us are saved because of God’s grace and God’s love for us. We had nothing to do with it.

 

Read Romans 3:28. How is a man justified?

by __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:29. Is God the God of both Jews and Gentiles?

Yes                    No

 

Read Romans 3:30. How are both the circumcised and uncircumcised justified by God?

__ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:31. 

If both the Jew and Gentile, the circumcised and the uncircumcised, are justified by faith and not the Law of God, does that mean we no longer need the Law of God? Do we nullify the Law through faith?

__ __ __  it __ __ __ __ __ be!

 

According to Romans 3:31, what does our faith do to the Law of God?

we  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ the Law

 

The word establish in the Greek is Histemi and it means to cause or make to stand, to make firm, fix establish, to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place, to stand, be kept intact.

Faith does not cancel out God’s Law. Faith comes only when we believe God’s Law. So our faith proves that we believe God’s Law and we believe God’s Word.

 

Let’s skip ahead a bit and read Romans 10:17 printed below.

 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

Now that you are hearing the Word, do you believe?

The writing and teachings of Nicole Love Halbrooks Vaughn