Embracing Your Identity

“The Resolution”

Session 2 – Embracing Your Identity

Q:  How did this week’s reading inspire you to take a stand for godly manhood or womanhood?

Q:  Who mows the lawn at your house? Takes out the trash? Does the laundry?

We are wired to accept responsibility. Embracing responsibility is part of who we are. As men, God wants to empower us to lead our families. We must get busy cultivating and protecting everything within our jurisdiction.

Our chances for success are about as good as succeeding as a courageous parent/grandparent without the Spirit of God empowering you. The task of being a courageous parent is even more daunting than the mission of an unarmed police officer that we just talked about.

In John 15:5, Jesus stated, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.”

For many parents, their results have nothing to do with their intention and everything to do with their redemption.

Q:  On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 representing deadbeat parent and 10 representing Super Parent), how would you rate yourself in your parenting over the past year?

You may spend the next 10 years trying to move up a couple of numbers, but unless you have experienced a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and have His Holy Spirit guiding you, then your efforts will be in vain. Your family is at stake, and you can’t get right with them until you get right with Him.

The path to heaven is not built by consensus. It has not and will never be put to a popularity vote. Someone gets to heaven only by the way that the Maker of heaven provides. It would be a disservice not to stop and state the obvious: It is impossible to be all that God wants you to be on your own. You need Someone to step in and do the work of grace for you.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
                           Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

Q:  What phrases did Paul use to describe salvation in Ephesians 2:8-9?

In verses 8-9, Paul states that good works cannot save us. However, in verse 10, he says we are to have good works.

We are not saved by good works, but good works will show up after we are saved. If good works don’t’ save us, how is someone saved? We are saved by faith, which gives us a new identity and perspective in Christ. Salvation is an undeserved free gift of grace to demonstrate God’s kindness toward us.

God was convicting David about his past failures as a dad and his need for Him, and Nathan listened and responded sensitively. Nathan did not stop to make a formal presentation but shared his faith with someone he knew and cared about. He didn’t judge David, but highlighted on God’s justice and holiness. He shared what happened to him- he was a new man in Christ- and how a person can be saved. Correcting a common misunderstanding of salvation by good works. Nathan gave David an example he could understand. Asking whether David understood what he had shared, Nathan called for a decision.

Nathan was living out his faith and sharing it with others. He was ready.

Q:  Did this clip make you think of a friend or acquaintance who might need to know the gospel? How could you share that message with them as Nathan did?

Your Testimony

While people may resort to arguments concerning Christianity, no one can argue with true results and personal experience. The best witnessing technique is to share your testimony, or your own faith story.

Paul shared his testimony three different times in the Book of Acts. (see chapters 22;24;26). In each occasion, he shared three key elements:

   1 – His life before Christ
   2 – His conversion experience
   3 – His life after Christ, how he had changed

To better grasp our own conversion and improve our abilities to share our testimony, we need to practice.

So many people secretly doubt whether they truly know Christ and will go to heaven when they die. This is too important for us to not be absolutely sure. If you are not confident in your salvation, then use today’s lesson for assurance.

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves.”

                         2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

Let today be the day that you truly turn from your sins and cry out to God for forgiveness of your sins and for His free gift of eternal life. If you are a believer, take time to stand amazed at the power of the gospel and commit to sharpen your skills in sharing His message with others who need to know Him personally.

^“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

                         Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)

In some of Jesus’ words to His disciples before he was crucified, Jesus taught them what it means to abide in Him.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
                         John 15:4-5 (NLT)

Abiding in Christ means staying in close fellowship with Him, confessing our sins, seeking Him in His Word, and walking in love and obedience. We must be constantly connected to Christ in order to succeed at anything. Apart from the Source of our salvation, we are unable to do anything. With Him and His power, all things are possible.

Personal Growth This Week:

COMMIT TO MEMORY:

“Look how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children.”
                  1 John 3:1 (NLT)

READING:
   Men:       “A Lifelong Vision of Fatherhood” (pp. 25-37)
                  “Resolve to Lead Your Family” (pp. 71-85)

  Women:  “Divine Appointments” (pp. 68-74)
                  “I’d Like A Word With You” (pp. 79-85)

A Witness . . .

At some point in our life, we have probably been involved in some sort of court case. I’m not talking about Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, or any of these other made for TV court shows. I’m talking about a real deal court case where important decisions will be made. Maybe you were the victim of a crime, maybe you’ve had the misfortune of being involved in a car accident (I’ve had a few… a LONG, LONG, LONG time ago), or maybe you’ve fulfilled your civic duty and served on a jury. No matter the circumstance, having a witness is always an important part of the outcome.

As I looked back over the Scripture from Session 1, I noticed something that I think we can learn from and apply in our faith family today. In Joshua 24, Joshua has gathered his “faith family” together (the Israelites) for a little family talk. In verse 15, Joshua makes a declaration, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord…”  As we continue reading, we see that the Israelites took this as a challenge. They set aside their idols and committed to love God with all their hearts. But verse 22 is what really stood out to me. Joshua sees what is happening and he says, “You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

WOW!!! What we just read was one of the first accounts of accountability within the faith family. I believe what Joshua was saying was, “Hey church, you guys just made this decision together as a faith family. Now, hold each other accountable and support each other!”

A witness plays a vital role in the final outcome of any court case. This is no different in our spiritual journey. Having a witness to hold you accountable can make all the difference in the final outcome! How much stronger would we be as individuals and as a faith family if we were able to be a witness and hold each other accountable for the commitments we make to God on this journey together?

“As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.” (Proverbs 27:17 – NCV)

Trying to finish well,
Pastor David

The Ladies Side ~Resolved~

I'm not sure if this will always be some sort of "confessional" or not, but this post is going to be.

I want to be perfectly clear, that I am NOT a perfect parent. I totally lost it this week. I personally think that the devil decided to "turn up the heat" around here and when he did- I failed miserably. You know though, I was able to look at my failure and ask myself how I could have done better. I asked the child involved to forgive me, and better than that, I asked the Lord to forgive me and help to change me. I remember at one point during the week, saying to David, with tears and snot a streaming, that I did not want to be that person, that I refused to be that way ever again. And you know what, I meant it. I felt something within me, as I read this week, change. I became resolved.

The words from our reading this week echoed in my mind: "This is about what you will do, what you will become by God's grace from this day forward. This is the Resolution for WOMEN. More specifically, one woman. You." It was because of God's grace that I was able to find forgiveness when I failed so miserably. It was God's grace that helped me get up from falling and start again. It was God's grace that held my hand while I apologized to my child for losing my temper. And it is God's grace that continually helps me to daily be resolved in my choices.

Ladies, we gave ourselves the pat on the back, we've high-fived each other, but now it's time to become Resolved.

I can't wait to see all of you on Wednesday night...I can't wait to see how the Lord is going to change us and make us to be more like Him as we decide to choose His ways and not our own.

Love & Blessings,
Theresa

Accepting Your Responsibility

“The Resolution”

Session 1 – Accepting Your Responsibility

Welcome to the blog post for Session 1 of “The Resolution”.

We all have different backgrounds, different family situations, and different parenting styles. Even with all those differences, I think we all have one thing in common; we want more for our family. No matter your background and experience, Theresa and I are glad that you’re here.  It takes courage to be here but it will be worth it!

Q:  Imagine that your family is about to move into a new home. Before you occupy it, what steps must be taken?

Lots of details to buy a new home… real estate agents, contracts, home inspections, financial agreements, lawyers, etc… All that BEFORE you even move!

We can all easily list the things that are required to occupy a home… Have you ever thought about what is required for a child to LEAVE that home? What do our children need to possess by the time they need? What kind of people should they be?

As parents, how are we making sure that they have all they need to thrive once they are gone? Unfortunately more time is spent, preparing to occupy a house than turning it into a home. Making a house a godly home starts with recognizing our God-given roles and responsibilities.

Q:  How do you think the majority of moms and dads would define “successful parenting”?

In a recent survey, here is how 1200 respondents measured their parenting success:

Having good values                            25%

Being happy adults                             25%

Finding success in life                         22%

Being a good person                           19%

Graduating from college                      17%

Living independently                           15%

Being godly or having faith in God          9%

Families are taking their cues from culture. You may be here attuned to Scripture’s teachings or you might be clueless about God’s thoughts on parenting. Regardless of where you are, this eight week journey has the potential to change your life! The decision is yours! You will be challenged to get out of your comfort zone, work through the hidden issues from your past, and make some sacrifices for the sake of your family!

Are you up to the challenge of raising that 9% statistic related to raising children of faith? It all starts with you and your relationship with God!

Q:  Why was “good enough” not good enough for Adam? How did his friends react?

In this clip, Adam Mitchell was raising the bar and accepting the stewardship the God had given him to mold the lives of his children. Later in the movie, Adam’s resolve would be expressed by this bold affirmation… “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord…” This part of Adam’s resolution is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua…

As the book of Joshua begins, Moses has died and Joshua took over as the leader. God charged Joshua to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-9). Fought in many battles and his courage allowed Israel to take back what was theirs…

Now, fast forward to Joshua 23 – 24. The war for the land was over but the war for the family was just starting. Joshua had a team huddle. He gave the people one final challenge before this next phase in their life.

Let’s look at Joshua 24:14:24

¹⁴ “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. ¹⁵ But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

¹⁶ The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. ¹⁷ For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. ¹⁸ It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”

¹⁹ Then Joshua warned the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. ²⁰ If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”

²¹ But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!”

²² “You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.”

“Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.”

²³ “All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

²⁴ The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone.”

                                                       Joshua 24:14-24 (NLT)

Q:  What did Joshua want to happen among the families that day?

He wanted the people to follow and obey God and get rid of all the other gods that they had accumulated along the journey.

Q:  What factors from the past make it hard for you to lead your family spiritually like Joshua did?

Someone must take the lead and set the direction in your home. Paul makes it clear in the book of Ephesians.

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

                                                 Ephesians 6:1-4 (NLT)

Paul is encouraging the children to obey their parents. By honoring their father and mothers, children will receive the blessings of God. Notice in verses 1-3 Paul is speaking to the fathers and the mother, but in verse 4, he raises the standard for the men! Since the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) to many men have stood passively by instead of standing for holiness in their homes alongside their wives!

Q:  In Ephesians 6:4, what did Paul command fathers to do and not to do?

Application:  What would these things look like in your home?

Q: What would happen to the next generation of children if fathers around the world took this command seriously in their homes?

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Q:  How does Adam’s speech illustrate his desire to live out Ephesians 6:4?

Q:  How will you respond to the challenge?

Personal Growth for the week:

Commit to Memory:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

(Joshua 24:15, NASB)

READING:

Men:

“Why We Need Men of Resolution” (pp. 11-23)

“Resolve to be a Man of Responsibility” (pp. 55-69)

Women:

“The Resolution Revolution” (pp. 1-7)

“The Secret” (pp. 17-22)

“Purposely Feminine” (pp. 31-48)

Finishing Well

There are so many scenes in this movie that force us to stop and think about the past. However, this scene is my favorite scene of the movie. We can never make up for the mistakes that we've already made. All we can do is seek His guidance, follow His lead, and finish well!