Did you miss Lesson 8? Want to follow along with the podcast? Download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://newinstance.com/podcast/08%20til%20is%20a%20Big%20Word.pdf
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/08%20til%20is%20a%20Big%20Word%20(Answers).pdf
Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lesson 08: 'til is a big word
Yeah, you said it at your wedding... but what does it mean? 'til death do us part, you said. Sounded good then, and even sounds good now... on most days. But what about when you're fighting? What about when you can't get past an issue?
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Give me the broken
I spend a lot of time each morning praying for Sparks Fly. That's not because I'm some sort of overly-sanctified, spiritual person. It's just that Sparks Fly is a really important piece of my life. I get a lot of fulfillment in teaching that class, and God is really teaching me so much every week through the class.
And, like many things in my life, God actually teaches me as I verbalize what I'm wanting and hoping and longing for in my prayers. For instance, early on in the life of this class (8 weeks is a long time for me, it seems), I prayed a lot for numbers. I prayed each week for a specific number of people. And while God gave us over and above what I'd prayed for that opening week, He had never answered my specific numerical prayers since that first week. Then, a friend and leader in the class challenged me: "Man, stop worrying about the numbers. Worry about depth, and let God bring who He brings." This really broke me, and I realized that I was caring more about bodies than people. Not good... and since I've begun to pray about the people we have, it seems as if God has been bringing us more people.
Lately, then, I've been praying about people. And I've gotten to know some of the people in our class. Specifically, I'm starting to see some "trends" in the people we're attracting. In a word, they're broken. I mean, these are hurting people. People that don't like themselves; people that are in sin and struggling with sin; people that don't feel comfortable at church; people that want to be loved even more than they want to love; people that want community and not just events; people that want someone to struggle alongside them, and call them on their sin.
These are broken people.
I've always believed that we as humans tend to gravitate to other people like us. In Baptist churches, especially big ones, it's easy to want everyone to be the same: we tend to hide our real selves, and look for other people that will let us do that.
But here, in Sparks Fly, I'm still finding it to be true: we attract what we are. I've become so broken these last few years. God has humbled me and humiliated me, and made me realize who I am apart from Him, and who I am in Him. I can echo Paul, and say, "O wretched man that I am! Who can deliver me from this body of death?" Only Jesus.
But here's what's cool: as I've become Scriptural about who I am, and I've been open about my struggles and brokenness, God has brought us people that are the same. We're seeing people that are tired of the perfect images and contrite words showing up... and they come back. We've got people that say, "I don't feel loved. But I love coming here." We're seeing life change and marriage change... and we're just getting started!
Last week, at lesson's end, I confessed some tough struggles I have. I don't do community well. I long to hide my junk. I can teach easily, but I have to constantly repent of my selfishness and arrogance. And though confession in a public forum like a Sunday School class isn't exactly the norm, people seemed to respond.
Look, I'm not saying everyone came forward and wrote all their sins on cardboard and held them up for everyone else to see. What I am saying is that people keep coming. And we're hearing that they, too, are broken; that they, too, want to struggle, and live in community, and worship as broken people loving a perfect God.
So Lord, bring us the broken. If you're looking for Biblical Christianity clothed in flesh, come. If you're intent on lots of social events, on face-value relationships, on surface-level theology, you may not be comfortable. But come and be challenged. If you desire community that goes deeper than activity, come. If you just want to be encouraged, you will be pushed. But come anyway.
If you're broken -- and we all are -- then we're praying for you. See you Sunday.
And, like many things in my life, God actually teaches me as I verbalize what I'm wanting and hoping and longing for in my prayers. For instance, early on in the life of this class (8 weeks is a long time for me, it seems), I prayed a lot for numbers. I prayed each week for a specific number of people. And while God gave us over and above what I'd prayed for that opening week, He had never answered my specific numerical prayers since that first week. Then, a friend and leader in the class challenged me: "Man, stop worrying about the numbers. Worry about depth, and let God bring who He brings." This really broke me, and I realized that I was caring more about bodies than people. Not good... and since I've begun to pray about the people we have, it seems as if God has been bringing us more people.
Lately, then, I've been praying about people. And I've gotten to know some of the people in our class. Specifically, I'm starting to see some "trends" in the people we're attracting. In a word, they're broken. I mean, these are hurting people. People that don't like themselves; people that are in sin and struggling with sin; people that don't feel comfortable at church; people that want to be loved even more than they want to love; people that want community and not just events; people that want someone to struggle alongside them, and call them on their sin.
These are broken people.
I've always believed that we as humans tend to gravitate to other people like us. In Baptist churches, especially big ones, it's easy to want everyone to be the same: we tend to hide our real selves, and look for other people that will let us do that.
But here, in Sparks Fly, I'm still finding it to be true: we attract what we are. I've become so broken these last few years. God has humbled me and humiliated me, and made me realize who I am apart from Him, and who I am in Him. I can echo Paul, and say, "O wretched man that I am! Who can deliver me from this body of death?" Only Jesus.
But here's what's cool: as I've become Scriptural about who I am, and I've been open about my struggles and brokenness, God has brought us people that are the same. We're seeing people that are tired of the perfect images and contrite words showing up... and they come back. We've got people that say, "I don't feel loved. But I love coming here." We're seeing life change and marriage change... and we're just getting started!
Last week, at lesson's end, I confessed some tough struggles I have. I don't do community well. I long to hide my junk. I can teach easily, but I have to constantly repent of my selfishness and arrogance. And though confession in a public forum like a Sunday School class isn't exactly the norm, people seemed to respond.
Look, I'm not saying everyone came forward and wrote all their sins on cardboard and held them up for everyone else to see. What I am saying is that people keep coming. And we're hearing that they, too, are broken; that they, too, want to struggle, and live in community, and worship as broken people loving a perfect God.
So Lord, bring us the broken. If you're looking for Biblical Christianity clothed in flesh, come. If you're intent on lots of social events, on face-value relationships, on surface-level theology, you may not be comfortable. But come and be challenged. If you desire community that goes deeper than activity, come. If you just want to be encouraged, you will be pushed. But come anyway.
If you're broken -- and we all are -- then we're praying for you. See you Sunday.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Lesson 07: Handouts (Does it Take a Village?)
For those of you who missed Lesson 7, and want to follow along with the podcast, you can download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://newinstance.com/podcast/07%20Does%20it%20take%20a%20village.pdf
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/07%20Does%20it%20take%20a%20village%20(Answers).pdf
Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional.
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/07%20Does%20it%20take%20a%20village%20(Answers).pdf
Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional.
Lesson 07: Does It Take a Village?
The hero stands alone, right? I mean, that's what all the movies tell us... but they're wrong, oh so very wrong. What is real community, and why do we fail so miserably at it?
These aren't easy questions, but they're Biblical ones. This week, we explore you, God, and that deep-seated need we all feel... the one that says, "I'm lonely."
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
These aren't easy questions, but they're Biblical ones. This week, we explore you, God, and that deep-seated need we all feel... the one that says, "I'm lonely."
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
Monday, March 16, 2009
Where are the devotionals?
It's about this time every week that our weekly devotionals become available. If you're looking for your devotional fix, listen to this podcast to see what's going on. You can click the title above, or this link: http://newinstance.com/podcast/Where%20are%20the%20Devotionals.mp3, and of course subscribe via iTunes to get all of the latest podcasts.
Lesson 06 Handouts: Fight the Future
For those of you who missed Lesson 6, and want to follow along with the podcast, you can download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://newinstance.com/podcast/06%20Fight%20the%20Future.pdf
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/06%20Fight%20the%20Future%20(Answers).pdf
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/06%20Fight%20the%20Future%20(Answers).pdf
Lesson 06: Fight the Future
So you've forgiven, forgotten, and loved. That's all well and good... but what about tomorrow? How do you protect yourself, and your spouse, against the temptations of the future.
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
Monday, March 9, 2009
Lesson 05 Devotions: Once and For All
This was a tough lesson for me to prepare, and I hope it challenged you and encouraged you -- truly Christ is interested in more than our behavior. He wants us to draw near to Him. This week's devotionals are all focused on the law and grace and Christ and relationship. So enjoy your devotionals, and your feedback is always welcome.
You can pick up the devotionals through the podcast, or click here for this week's devotions. If those links don't appear, manually copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://newinstance.com/devotions/05%20Once%20and%20For%20All.pdf
You can pick up the devotionals through the podcast, or click here for this week's devotions. If those links don't appear, manually copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://newinstance.com/devotions/05%20Once%20and%20For%20All.pdf
Lesson 05 Handouts Available
For those of you who missed Lesson 5, and want to follow along with the podcast, you can download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://newinstance.com/podcast/05%20Once%20and%20For%20All.pdf
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/05%20Once%20and%20For%20All%20(Answers).pdf
Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional. Look for the rest of the week's devotions by the end of Monday.
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/05%20Once%20and%20For%20All%20(Answers).pdf
Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional. Look for the rest of the week's devotions by the end of Monday.
Lesson 05: Once and For All
Most couples live big event to big event. They're waiting for their love to be rekindled by a weekend retreat or a big church fellowship, or even by a fiery Sunday School lesson. But event-driven marriages will never result in deep relationship. Find out why in this in-depth study of Hebrews 7, and even get insight into the strange and wonderful King of Salem, Melchizedek.
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
Monday, March 2, 2009
Lesson 04 Devotions: What Are You Waiting For?
Hopefully you've already had some time to mediate on the lesson yesterday, and work through the discussion questions at the end of your handout. If you haven't, use those questions to guide you into some time with God tonight. Then, download the latest devotions to keep you walking with Christ this week.
You can pick up the devotionals through the podcast, or click here for this week's devotions. If those links don't appear, manually copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://newinstance.com/devotions/04%20What%20Are%20You%20Waiting%20For.pdf
Enjoy.
You can pick up the devotionals through the podcast, or click here for this week's devotions. If those links don't appear, manually copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://newinstance.com/devotions/04%20What%20Are%20You%20Waiting%20For.pdf
Enjoy.
Lesson 04 Handouts Available
For those of you who missed Lesson 4, and want to follow along with the podcast, you can download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://newinstance.com/podcast/04%20What%20are%20you%20waiting%20for.pdf
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/04%20What%20are%20you%20waiting%20for%20(answers).pdf
Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional. Look for the rest of the week's devotions by the end of Monday.
If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://newinstance.com/podcast/04%20What%20are%20you%20waiting%20for%20(answers).pdf
Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional. Look for the rest of the week's devotions by the end of Monday.
Lesson 04: What Are You Waiting For?
Last week, we learned that God's forgetfulness wasn't as simple as it seemed. This week, we return to the subject of forgiveness... and we'll find some surprises once again. Jesus' character as it relates to forgiveness is all-encompassing... and will change your marriage forever.
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or click here to subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
You can click the title above to listen to the podcast, or click here to subscribe to "Sparks Fly" using iTunes, your web browser, or another podcast listener: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly
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