QUESTIONS ? by Pastor Mark

SCRIPTURE - Acts 17: 11b -

….. for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

OBSERVATION

When Paul preached the word to the Bereans, they began to search the scriptures every day to determine if what Paul was saying about Jesus was true.

APPLICATION

In our New Life Construction Discipleship series we are learning about the importance of God’s word. That the Word is life to me as a Christian and I need it every day – just like I need physical food every day. But here, the writer points out that the Bereans searched the scriptures every day for answers. They had questions. They wondered if this stuff that Paul was preaching was true and dug into the scriptures to find out. Makes me realize that God is not afraid of my questions. In fact, I think He welcomes them, just like a loving father welcomes the questions of their child when they come and ask – “Daddy, what about …... ?” I always loved when my daughter asked me questions and I was able to impart some small gem into her life to help her grow. Even now, as a 26 year-old woman, my daughter comes to me with questions. Earlier this week she called me from Florida to ask how to stain and varnish an old dresser she bought. Not a very “spiritual” question, but I loved it just the same ! That’s the same desire that God has for us. He loves to show us truth. He waits for us to come to Him just like I love to get those phone calls from my daughter. So if I have questions, I shouldn’t be afraid to ask God for answers. He waits for us to come to Him with questions and He loves to provide answers to our questions as we search His Word.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to remember that you are like a loving father - yearning to teach and train me, like a small child. Your desire is that I come to you with my questions and seek the answers in your Word. Help me to grow as I search the Word for answers and help me to remember I need to seek you out daily, just like the Bereans did, searching the scriptures in Acts 17. Thank-you for this reminder. I love you, my Father. In Jesus name, Amen.

STOPPING GENERATIONAL SINS. By Ken Primeau

Scripture
When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “my wife,” thinking, “the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is beautiful.” Genesis 26:7

Observation
Isaac, the son of Abraham, failed to learn from his father’s mistakes. Abraham had twice faked that his wife was his sister so that outside rulers wouldn’t harm him. Both times we see that it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. Isaac, instead of learning from his father’s mistakes, repeats the same generational sin.

Application
We need to learn from others mistakes instead of repeating them over and over again. If we want to advance God’s kingdom, we are going to need to learn his ways not from trial and error, but from the wisdom of others.
What sins can I learn from other people instead of repeating for myself? Neglect of family, sexual sin, not spending time with my children, etc...

Prayer
“Lord, give me discernment to see my pitfalls and to learn from other’s experiences. I don’t want to repeat the same mistakes that I’ve seen others make. Teach me your ways lord so that I don’t need to fall to learn the lessons. In Jesus Name Amen.”