Scripture for Life

Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[g] And by him we cry, "Abba,[h] Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Future Glory
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that[i] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Footnotes:
a.Romans 8:1 Some later manuscripts Jesus, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit,
b.Romans 8:3 Or the flesh; also in verses 4, 5, 8, 9, 12 and 13
c.Romans 8:3 Or man, for sin
d.Romans 8:3 Or in the flesh
e.Romans 8:6 Or mind set on the flesh
f.Romans 8:7 Or the mind set on the flesh
g.Romans 8:15 Or adoption
h.Romans 8:15 Aramaic for Father
i.Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
j.Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God
k.Romans 8:28 Or works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
l.Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
m.Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers
New International Version (NIV)

Sermon: It is All Good,

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

Prayer: Oh God, we love You today. We pray for all people for Your power to make all things good in Christ Jesus. We Praise Thee and give You all the Glory A-men.

Sermon: It is all good. This is a bold statement. God is good, but what about everything else? We need to know that we are safe. This is a basic need. Without safety, it creates tremendous fear and people will do just about anything. The unknown is frighting. The scripture tell us that all things work together for good.

Our message today is to give you some solace in knowing and understanding Gods word that may give you comfort during these tough days. It is all good with God and for those who love God and pray for Gods Will. We have faith in God to protect us for our betterment. God will do as God has done in the past. We thank God all in Christ Jesus for all he has done for us and this ministry.

In closing, it is all good in the Lord. God is in control of everything. All things work for God. The people who truly love God will trust in His grace. God gave us Jesus who died for our sins on the cross and was raised again for our salvation. This was was the greatest act of love ever known. It is good because God is good and He loves us and we I pray in the name of Jesus that we love him, for it is all God, A-men.

True Comfort

We look for comfort in so many places, yet it is hard to find the peace we need to feel convertible. Arthur Pink is one the best Christian writers of all time. Do read this passage and pray for our continued progress in the Lord:



COMFORT FOR CHRISTIANS

Introduction


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The work unto which the servant of Christ is called is many-sided. Not only is he to preach the Gospel to the unsaved, to feed God's people with knowledge and understanding (Jer. 3:15), and to take up the stumbling stone out of their way (Isa. 57:14), but he is also charged to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression" (Isa. 58:1 and cf. 1 Tim. 4:2). While another important part of his commission is stated in, "Comfort ye, My people, said your God" (Isa. 40:1).

What an honorable title, "My people!" What an assuring relationship: "your God!" What a pleasant task: "comfort ye My people!" A threefold reason may be suggested for the duplicating of the charge. First, because sometimes the souls of believers refuse to be comforted (Ps. 77:2), and the consolation needs to be repeated. Second, to press this duty the more emphatically upon the preacher's heart, that he need not be sparing in administering cheer. Third, to assure us how heartily desirous God himself is that His people should be of good cheer (Phil. 4:4).

God has a "people," the objects of His special favour: a company whom He has taken into such intimate relationship unto Himself that He calls them "My people." Often they are disconsolate: because of their natural corruption's, the temptations of Satan, the cruel treatment of the world, the low state of Christ’s cause upon earth. The "God of all comfort" (2 Cor. 1:3) is very tender of them, and it is His revealed will that His servants should bind up the broken-hearted and pour the balm of Gilead into their wounds. What cause have we to exclaim "Who is a God like unto Thee!" (Micah 7:18), who has provided for the comfort of those who were rebels against His government and transgressors of His Law.

May it please Him to use His Word as expounded in this book to speak peace to afflicted souls today, and the glory shall be His alone.

—A. W. Pink, 1952


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Devotion: Blessed is the Lord

Prayer: Oh Lord our God, we humble ourselves completely unto thy power. Forgive us of all sin as we forgive all in the name of Jesus.

We thank you for all blessings and the gift of salvation. We pray for all people. We ask that you continue to bless our members all over the world. We pray for love, peace and joy to ring in our hearts, minds and souls.

Lord, we praise you today. We magnify Thy Holy Name. In Jesus name we continue to pray. A-men.

Song: Blessed is The Rock

Blessed be the Rock of my salvation,
Blessed be the Rock of my salvation,
For the Lord is on my side,
And He's made His victory mine
Blessed be the Rock of my salvation,

Blessed be the Rock,
Blessed be the Rock,
Blessed be the Rock,
Blessed be the Rock,
Blessed be the Rock of my salvation

Praise God for whom all Blessings...A-men

Bible Study: Being Thankful

A Reason For Reading, Level I: The Ten Lepers
By Concerned Group

Discover the key to reading success with values-based stories that make reading FUN! Little Books help teach kids powerful reading strategies that lead to success. NOTE: Levels in Reading reflect student ability, not grade level!

In The Ten Lepers Jesus heals ten men, but only one returns to thank him. Level I. 24 pages.




Search: Title Author/Artist ISBN CBD Stock # Keywords Publisher



Jesus Heals Ten Lepers
To Remember: We all have a lot to be thankful for.


Vocabulary
leper: a person with an incurable, contagious disease that attacks the whole body
Lesson

Luke 17:11-19 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Leprosy was a feared and horrible disease, and still is. To this day, it is still predominately incurable. Because it was easy to catch, lepers were not allowed in the city, and were not allowed to approach others. That is why these ten lepers kept their distance and called out to Jesus. These lepers were, in all, a good bunch. They were obeying the laws: they stayed out of the city and did not approach Jesus or his followers. They believed in Jesus' ability to heal. They obeyed Jesus without question when he told them to go to the priests, even before they were healed.*

*Leviticus 13 explains how leprosy was handled under Moses' law. The priests were the men who decided whether leprosy was contagious or not. The priests had the power to declare these men healed and clean.

So these men were respectful, obedient, and trusting. What they weren't was thankful. Only one of the men, when they learned they were healed, was grateful enough to return and praise Jesus. Do you think he was the only one that was happy? I doubt it. Do you think it was easy for him to be the only one to return to Jesus? Probably not. He wanted to be declared clean by the priests so he could return to his family, his job and his friends. But he was thankful enough to stop right then and thank Jesus and praise God for this wonderful gift.


Discussion: What excuses could the other nine have given for not returning and thanking Jesus?
But he told us to go to the priests - we're only doing what he said!
He's God, he knows I'm grateful.
I have so many things to do now that I can be a normal person again! I'll thank Him later.
Do we often make excuses for not thanking God? What excuses do men make today for not thanking God?
I'm obeying God - so he owes me these blessings.
God knows my prayers before I offer them. Why should I have to tell him?
I'm very busy right now, I'll thank him later.
I hurting so much because of ________. Why is he not helping me?
God didn't do that for me, it was: my hard work, nature, my friend, luck.
Discussion: How are we to thank God? For what? Why? Study the verses on the worksheet and discuss their application to our lives.


Worksheet: Be Ye Thankful


Sing:I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy


Craft:
Make a thank you card to God. Fully thank him for one blessing and what it means to you.
Make a mural of blessings that the church provides for the students. Display the mural where the congregation can see it.
Activity:
Musical blessings
Around the room: Have students stand in a circle. Have the first student say one thing they are thankful for. Have the next person repeat the first and add a second. Continue around the room until everyone has added two or the group can't continue.
Worksheet: I'm Thankful For...
True or False
God wants us to thank him once a year in November. F
Some days may go by without anything to thank God for. F
God appreciates our praise even when he already knows we're thankful. T
There is more than one way to thank God. T
God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. T
Memory Work:

1 Thess. 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."


Psalm 138:1 "I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise."

Review Questions for gameboard

linguistic questions
Name four blessings that start with the letter T.
Unscramble this word: frunatelug
Recite the memory verse.
activity questions
Draw a blessing for which you are thankful.
Put together a puzzle made from the picture of the leper.
Turn to the person next to you and thank them for something.
emotion questions
How can we cheer ourselves up when we are disappointed, discouraged, or upset? (count our blessings)
How do you feel when you do something nice for someone and are not thanked?
How must God feel when we are not appreciate of his gifts?
What kind of relationship does God want with us?
application questions
Can we be obedient without being thankful? (2 Cor. 9:7)
Read Romans 1:28-31. Can we be pleasing to God without being thankful?
Read Phil 4:6. Thankfulness can bring us _____________.
fact questions
How many lepers returned to thank Jesus?
Was the thankful leper a Jew?
What did the other lepers do that was right?
review questions
Who else can we show our gratefulness to?
Name three reasons why the healed lepers would be grateful. (healed from a fatal illness, can live inside the city, can be with their families and friends again, can worship God in the temple again...)
Are ungrateful people happy? How can we be happy?

Share your ideas!

Prayer Time

The Lord's Prayer Words

(traditional)



Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen



(King James Bible AD 1611

Sermon: The Goodness of God

Prayer: Almighty God, we praise Thee in Thy Full Glory found in Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit A-men.

Sermon:The Goodness of God may be found in the following scripture.

Text
Luke 18:18-23 (with the context of vss. 24-30 also)

[18] A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

[19] "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good -- except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"

[21] "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

[22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

[23] When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

[24] Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! [25] Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

[26] Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"

[27] Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

[28] Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"

[29] "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God [30] will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.

We Praise God and Thank God for you. We pray in Jesus name that these words are indeed a blessing for all people. The story of The Rich young ruler is one of profound meaning to us all. The rich man loved Jesus. He also wanted to follow him as well. He called Jesus good. Jesus said that only God is Good.

The rich man had all that money could buy. He also followed the laws as well. Jesus said give all that you have to the poor and follow me. The ruler simply walked away sadly with his money.

We have a choice today. To follow Jesus or walk away and be sad. God is good. He loves us so much.

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life. Yes we must follow Jesus today. We must follow Him to the cross so that we may live forever in His Love and Joy.

Early one Sunday morning, because of The Goodness of God, Jesus rose up with all power,honor and glory.We praise God today for His Goodness. We Praise God for His Love, All in Christ Jesus we pray for the Goodness of God all in Christ Jesus we pray.