Aug. 07, 2022

What if Everything Changes?

August 6 & 7, 2022

Primary Text:  1 Peter 1:23-25      

Previous Teaching:  What if I Quit?

1)  The Products of Perseverance

James 1:2-4:  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Romans 5:2-5:  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

DQ 1) Are you tempted to “quit” in some aspect of your life?  Why?

DQ 2) Why is perseverance in the face of difficulties important?

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2)  Running the Race

Hebrews 12:1-3:  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

DQ 3) How did Jesus model perseverance?

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This Week’s Teaching

1)  Dust in the Wind

Isaiah 40:6-7:  "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass." 

Psalm 103:13-18:  As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.  As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.  But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--with those who

keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. 

DQ 1) Identify the various ways in which life is always changing.

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2)  Unchanging

Malachi 3:6:  "I the LORD do not change.  So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."

James 1:17:  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 

DQ 2) What are the primary attributes of God (such as love, grace, etc.)?  Why is it important to recognize that God and His characteristics never change?

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3)  The Enduring Word

1 Peter 1:23-25:  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.  For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. 

Psalm 33:4-6:  For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 

Psalm 119:89-91:  Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.  Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.  Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. 

DQ 3) What is “the word of the Lord”?  What are different ways that it endures?

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4)  Renewed

2 Corinthians 4:16-18:  Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

DQ 4) What does it mean to be inwardly renewed?

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