Christ Alone

A belief of many is that they are good enough, so they do not need any kind of salvation. Notice in our first passage (Philippians 3:2-6) that Paul actually says that if anyone had a reason to boast in being great before God, it was him: being a pure Israelite, and righteous in keeping the law.

Even Paul, as righteous as he was, found out that he was wrong (read Acts 8:1-3, and Acts 9 for what changed his mind). Salvation cannot be attained through human efforts. Paul is showing how our own righteousness or good deeds mean nothing apart from the hope that is offered in Christ.

CHALLENGE: Is anyone taking up the challenge from my last email about being in the bible daily? If so, post here and clue me in on your reading plan! I personally am reading through I Samuel.

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This week, we will discuss the "rewire" of what we think of as "gain"?

To the world: Money, good job with status. And also that we can achieve heaven/savlation just by being "good" according to the rules/law.

To Christians: read and find out!

Try reading the whole passage together to start with:

Philippians 3:2-4:8

More thoughts to come during the week. You may post any comments you like.

Weekly Update and Review

First, here is what we have planned this week:

1. Thursday night bible study: Meet at 7PM in the singles building. We are studying Matthew 27 this week. It is in the meeting room - first room to the left when you turn left after the stairs.

2. Saturday at 7PM: Meet in the singles building for fellowship time!

On this past Sunday we talked about injustice. Some verses about the wicked living long that I mentioned but we didnt discuss were from Eccl 7:15, 8:14.

Also, remember that we decided to do something about injustice. (See connect with your world from this past Sunday's lesson). Be praying about an injustice/cause we can connect to in the future.

Time Management

We all hear about time management, but how can we manage time? We cannot. We only get 24 hours per day.. we cannot add to or take from it. We only get to choose what we do with that time... to some degree.

Look again at Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. These times are not options, but occurences in life. We do not get to choose when or how they happen. ".. a time to give birth and a time to die ..." (v.2.), for example.

How, then, should we respond to these variations (ups and downs) in life in terms of them not being fully in our control but in the hands of God?

Anyone care to post their thoughts??

Challenge Time

The challenge for this month is to read the lessons before coming to class. But, in addition, I would like everyone to read through the book of Ecclesiastes. Here is the schedule for that:

By January 10th (this week): Eccl. 1-3

By the 17th: Eccl 4-8

By the 24th: Eccl 8-10

By the 31st: Eccl 11-12

I will begin posting notes of interest/questions/etc again to this blog during the week. I hope to post at least 2 or 3 times per week. Please feel welcome to post comments on my blogs! Its for your use!