UPCOMING EVENTS:
Classes for all ages Every Sunday Morning at 9:30 & Wednesday PM @ 7.
High School Bible Study is every Thursday

Thursday, Sept. 29  - High School Bible Study
Saturday, Oct. 1 - TX Ranger Baseball Game
Sunday Oct. 2 - LIFE Chain from 3:30-4pm
Wednesday Oct 5 - Regroup for grades 7-9.  At the Watson's home.  4:30-7pm
Sunday, Oct. 9 - Devo for Youth Grades 7-12
Friday - Sun, Oct 14-16 - NETSYS Retreat at Camp Deer Run

The Sanctity of Life

             On January 22, 1973 the United States Supreme Court made a decision that made the known deaths of over 57 million unborn children legal in the US.  The case is known as Roe v. Wade.  The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that a right to privacy under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment extended to a woman’s decision to have an     abortion.  

It is sad to see so many encouraged and enabled to give up their babies.  Thanks to some who were encouraged or planned to have an abortion, but changed their minds and did not go through with their intentions.  A few, out of many, who were almost aborted but hearts were changed and given the chance at life include:  Tim Tebow, Cher, Celine Dion, & Nick Cannon.  All of these people, who were almost aborted, have become famous in the public eye. 

What does the Bible say about abortion?  The Bible teaches that life starts at conception and it is not our choice to take a life.  Genesis 25:21-26; Jeremiah 1:5; Amos 1:13; Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:40-41; and Psalm 139:14-16 describe life beginning in the womb.  I think it is      interesting to notice God’s view on hurting life in the womb according to Exodus 21:22-25.  If harm is given to a child in the womb, you shall give life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. 

When given the opportunity, let us take a stand for life!

Evolutionary thought is all around us.  From the kids movies of "The Good Dinosaur" to the running tv series "The Big Bang Theory." Evolutionary thought is in just about everything we do.  If you don't believe me look around you this next week and see how many times it is referred to on a movie, book, billboard, tv series.  When you start to look for it you will realize how much it had infiltrated our society and accepted as fact.

Here are 5 Reasons Not to Accept Evolution

I am talking about Macro-evolution which is the thought that all life descended from a common ancestor.

1. The Lack of Fossil Evidence - millions of fossils have been collected and cataloged but there is not one single transitional fossil that shows one species evolving into a new species.  Examples that have been debunked include: Neanderthal Man, Nebraska Man, Piltdown Man, Java Man, and Rhodesian Man to name a few.  All of these were thought to be the missing link only to come up short.

2. The Impossibility of Life by Blind, Random Chance - Most scientist acknowledge that any possibility less than (1 x 10^50) one in 10 to the 50th power is considered an impossibility.  Yet Evolutionist Harold Marowitz estimated the probability for chance formation of even the simpliest for of living organism at 1 x 10^340,000,000.  This is impossible.

3. It Contradicts the Laws of Science - Evolutionary thought goes against the 2nd law of thermodynamic, the law of cause and effect, and the law of Bio-genesis.

4. It Fails to Pass the Scientific Method - The testing done for evolution cannot be accepted because it is falsifiable which meas the hypothesis is bad and must be reconsidered.

5. It Fails to Answer the Question of How Something Came from Nothing. 

Rom. 1:18-20 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

If we seek out truth we will find it.  Have you found God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? 

The Northern Conquest

Read: Joshua 11:1-15 
Thought: Once again Joshua is up against a large army that has come up against him and Israel.  God reminds Joshua to not be afraid because it is God who fights for His people.  This is a faith builder for Israel, but is should also be a faith builder for us.  Continue to see how God helps His people. 

Questions:

1.      What nations were in the west that came up against Israel?

2.      Where did all the kings meet and camped together?

3.      Did Joshua do all that the Lord commanded him?

4.      How does this apply to us today?

Exercise: Rock, Paper, Scissors

Take turns playing best 2 out of 3.  See who comes out as the champion.

Prayer: Pray that our faith continues to increase in God every day.  May God bless you in the battles you fight and the victories that you will have with God’s help.  Thank Him for His never ending love.

Answers:  1. Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, Jebusite, & Hivite (11:3)     2. Waters of Merom (11:5)    3. Yes (11:15) 

Read: Joshua 9:15-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Josh.+9%3A15-27&version=NKJV

Thought: WWYD stands for What Would You Do.  If you were put in Joshua’s position, think about how you would react.  Because Joshua and the elders of Israel did not take counsel from the Lord, they made an oath that they now could not go back on.  We as people of God need to make sure that we are making good decisions by first asking counsel of the Lord and asking for His blessing on our lives. 

Questions:

1.      What covenant did Joshua make with the Gibeonites?

2.      What cities were considered the Gibeonites?

3.      Why did the Gibeonites lie to Joshua in the first place?

4.      The Gibeonites did own up to what they had done in v.24 what did they say next that we could learn a lesson from?

5.      How did the Gibeonites serve the Israelites?

Exercise: Water Carriers

Objective: To move a cup of water from place to another (ex. Kitchen sink to back door; It needs to be at least 1 room length. Not bathroom sink to tub, unless you have little kids).

You may have up to 4 people.  You may only use 1 finger per person & you may not bend your finger.  (If anyone’s finger bends or water spills) you must start over.  Good Luck.

Prayer: Pray that we will seek God’s wisdom in our lives.  Also pray that when we do mess up we will be willing to admit it and be able to endure the consequences.

Answers:  1.  To let them live (v.15)    2. Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim (v.17)    3. They were afraid (v.24)    4. They asked the Israelites to do what they saw fit as a punishment (v.25)    5. Woodcutters & Water Carriers (v.27)

Following the Leader

Following the Leader

Read: Joshua 1:10-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A10-18+&version=NKJV

Thought: Joshua is preparing the people to cross over the Jordan and take the land that God has given to them.  Notice the response the people give to their leader, Joshua.  Verse 16 – “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.”  A good thought to mimic in following our leadership at Jscoc.  Let us through good times and bad times be strong and courageous in our efforts for kingdom growth. 

1.      How many days did the people have to prepare to cross over the Jordan?

2.      To whom did Joshua tell they would stay on this side of the Jordan, but would have to help their brethren fight?

3.      Did the people recognize Joshua as their leader?  Y or N

4.      What would happen to those who rebelled against Joshua’s command?

Exercise:   Follow the Leader

Take turns and play a simple game of Follow The Leader. 

-          How hard was it to follow the leader sometimes?

-          How hard is it do follow the leadership in the church, from God? 

o   He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.  – Aristotle

Prayer: Pray that we will be good followers of God and those who lead us now so the we can prepare ourselves to be leaders.  Pray that God’s will is always accomplished in our lives.

Answers: 1. 3       2. Reubenites, Gadites, ½ tribe of Manasseh                3. Yes (v.17)         4. Put to death (v.18) 

God is Greater

 “Give us this day our daily bread.”(Matt. 6:11)

A family devotional to help get the spiritual food we need!

Read: 1 John 5:9-12 - If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

Thought: When we are confused about who is telling the truth of the matter, always go back to scripture.  Let the Bible be your guide to truth and let the witness of God always reign in your life.

Questions:

1.       What witness has God given to us? 

2.      If you don’t believe, what do you make God?

3.      What has God given us that is in His Son?

4.      What happens if you don’t have the Son?  

Exercise:

Read the story online at: http://www.ecclesia.org/truth/son.html

Prayer: Pray that we accept the testimony and witness of God so that we can obtain that eternal life!

Answers: 1. His Son (v.9)                  2. A Liar (v.10)                   3. Eternal life (v.11)          4. You don’t have life (v.12)