Sep. 18, 2022

What if is My Passion?

September 17 & 18, 2022

Primary Text:  Psalm 37:3-7               

Previous Teaching:  What if I’m Mad?

1)  The Actions of Fools

Proverbs 14:16-17:  A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.  A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated. 

DQ 1) Why is it usually wrong to fully vent one’s anger?  

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2)  Anger Without Sin

Ephesians 4:26-27:  "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

James 1:19-20:  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 

DQ 2) What tends to happen when people foolishly act in anger?

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3)  Wisdom in Action

Proverbs 15:1:  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

Proverbs 19:11:  A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. 

DQ 3) How do gentle, kind words defuse anger?

DQ 4) Do you exercise wisdom with regard to anger?

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This Week’s Teaching

1)  The Desires of Your Heart

Psalm 37:3-7:  Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 

DQ 1) How does God instill desires in our hearts?

DQ 2) What are the primary desires of your heart?  Why?

DQ 3) Are the desires of your heart God given?   

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2)  Prepared in Advance

Ephesians 2:8-10:  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

DQ 4) How does God prepare us in advance for good works?

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3)  Grace Gifts

Romans 12:4-8:  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 

DQ 5) What are your primary gifts?  Are you using them for 

            God’s glory?

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4)  My Reward

Revelation 22:12-13:  Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 

DQ 6) Why will there be rewards for those who serve Christ?

DQ 7) Do you need to change anything in your life to refocus on 

           using your gifts for God’s glory?

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