He Said/She Said Lesson 03: He Explains (Handouts)

Did you miss Lesson 3, or want to hear it again? Want to follow along with the podcast? Download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://newinstance.com/podcast/hsss/hsss-03_handout.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/hsss/hsss-03_handout%20(answers).pdf

He Said/She Said Lesson 03: He Explains

God says what he means. But do we KNOW what he means? How can we? This week, we'll look at the most basic and simple rule for understanding Scripture: using other Scripture. Don't miss this foundational look at how to study the Bible.

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

He Said/She Said Lesson 02: He Rules (Handouts)

Did you miss Lesson 2, or want to hear it again? Want to follow along with the podcast? Download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://newinstance.com/podcast/hsss/hsss-02_handout.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/hsss/hsss-02_handout%20(answers).pdf

He Said/She Said Lesson 02: He Rules

Jesus is in heaven with God. So does he look the same? Is he still lowly and without reputation? And what does any of this have to do with us? What are the implications of who Jesus is today?

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

He Said/She Said Lesson 01: He Speaks (Handouts)

Did you miss the opening lesson of our new series? Want to follow along with the podcast? Download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://www.newinstance.com/podcast/hsss/hsss-01_handout.pdf

If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://www.newinstance.com/podcast/hsss/hsss-01_handout-answers.pdf

He Said/She Said Lesson 01: He Speaks

Jesus does speak, and the implications of that are simply mind-blowing. But what does Jesus say? And how do we hear him today? Find out in the first lesson of our new series, He Said/She Said.

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

My prayer for Sparks Fly

God, it’s Sunday morning again, and I confess that I’m tired, and would love nothing more than crawling back into bed. So it’s at times like this that I thank you for the people you lay on me, that weigh on me, so heavily.

In a few hours, I’ll see those people. And God, my tendency is to start rattling them off, and wondering who will come and who won’t; it’s to count and measure and judge by appearance and things. Lord, forgive the shallowness that plagues me. Allow me today — and forever, but let’s just take today — to catch a glimpse of the joy you feel over just one sinner coming to you. Give me eyes to see the rejoicing you feel for just one of your children that draws closer to you through meeting with you today. God, remove the scaly, numerical, counting-based, shallow-minded, everything-is-about-headcount covering over my eyes that robs my joy.

Lord, I beg you to meet with us this morning. Today’s lesson is simple, but so important. I ask not that you’d make me an effective teacher, but that you would effectively teach. If that means we need the technical hijinks of last week to make a point, bring it on. But if you are best seen today by things going well — by the wireless working and the slides coming off as they should and the handouts being what they were intended to be — then I pray that all will go smoothly.

Most of all, Lord, tear down the curtain between your children in the chairs and your children at the head of the class. For the newest or most un-confident Christian, display the logical and rational way your Bible is laid out. Make it clear how to read Scripture, how to understand the context of a verse, and how a free online Bible program can reveal the life bound up in your word.

Lord, please get your glory today. I know that’s a silly prayer, so maybe it’s better said like this: Lord, please allow us to work toward your glory; please allow us to joy in you; please don’t look upon us today, and determine that you’ll have to work in spite of us once again. We recognize that we have nothing to offer, but we ask your Holy Spirit to awaken in us a desire to worship; a desire to see you rightly; a desire to pour our fleshly desires out and fill ourselves with your Spirit.

God, thank you for being gracious enough to allow us to meet with you. Bring those who need to hear you into our class today. Allow us to serve you well, and to display the manifold wisdom of Jesus.

It’s for your glorious name we pray, Jesus,

Amen

Scripture Interpretation Worksheet

This week in Sparks Fly, we're looking at how God explains his word to us. I've created a simple interpretation worksheet that you can use as a tool as you're reading Scripture, and trying to figure out what it means.

The link above will take you to the worksheet, as will this link. I've also created a version without the handwritten notes to remind you what things are, also available here.

As always, you can subscribe to this feed via iTunes, or just head over to http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SparksFly.

p.s. If you're waiting for Lessons 1 and 2 in this new series, we'll post those soon.

Lesson 11 Handouts Available

Did you miss Lesson 10? Want to follow along with the podcast? Download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://newinstance.com/podcast/11%20Sex%20to%20Save%20the%20Marriage.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/11%20Sex%20to%20Save%20the%20Marriage%20(Answers).pdf

Lesson 11: Sex to save the marriage?

Anyone that tells you sex is primarily for procreation has been sold a lie, and is passing it along. Get a Biblical view of why sex is critical not just for marriage, but to get past your worst arguments.

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

Lesson 10 Handouts Available

Did you miss Lesson 10? Want to follow along with the podcast? Download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://www.newinstance.com/podcast/10%20Its%20not%20about%20you.pdf

If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://www.newinstance.com/podcast/10%20Its%20not%20about%20you%20(Answers).pdf

Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional.

Lesson 10: Seriously... it's not about you

How many times have you been told you're God's chief purpose, His greatest love? It's just not true. And in light of that, what does it mean to serve one another? Why do we need to serve at all?

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

Lesson 09 Handouts Available

Did you miss Lesson 9? Want to follow along with the podcast? Download the handouts by clicking the link above, or clicking here: http://www.newinstance.com/podcast/09%20is%20good%20for%20the%20soul.pdf

If you made it to class but missed an answer or two, here is the same handout with the answers filled in: http://www.newinstance.com/podcast/09%20is%20good%20for%20the%20soul%20(Answers).pdf

Enjoy, and don't forget: you can use the discussion questions at the bottom as your Monday morning devotional.

Lesson 09: ...good for the soul

What does confession mean in the Bible? Are we REALLY supposed to confess our faults and sins to one another? Why?

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

Easter Handouts

To go along with our Easter lesson, "Who is Your Jesus?", download the handouts from class by clicking the title of this post, or by clicking this link to the class handouts.

You can also download the handouts with answers, in case you missed something in class. Enjoy, and think deeply upon our Savior!

Easter: Who is Your Jesus?

I know we've been running a bit late with the podcasts, but hang tight; we'll catch up soon. We'll be posting Lesson 9 from the "Sparks Fly" series shortly, but while you're waiting on our technical elves to take care of that, here's a special Easter lesson, taught April 12th, focusing exclusively on Jesus Christ.

Who do you worship? Is it the Jesus of the Bible? Is the Jesus that is right now in existence? Or do you pray to a media-driven Jesus? What about a Jesus that once existed, but now is entirely... not what you thought?

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

Lesson 08 Handouts ('til is a big word)

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.

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

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.

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.