But Why

Destiny

May 9, 2018 • Scott Johnson

Morality

May 2, 2018

OVERVIEW: Every day we are faced with situations where we have to make a decision whether something is right or wrong. Some things are obvious and almost self evident such as, “is it right to murder someone?” However, there are other things that are harder to answer such as, “Is capital punishment for a crime murder?” “Is lying to protect someone from harm ok?” “Is plastic surgery sin?” But whether it seems self evident or not, how do we determine something is right or wrong? Do we determine it ourselves, by culture or is there a divine truth that determines right from wrong that we are obligated to follow? SCRIPTURE: Romans 7:7—I would not know sin without the Word of God Daniel 6:4—No cause for accusation Romans 3:10-18—There is none righteous no not one Hebrews 12:2—Fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith Jeremiah 17:9-10—The heart is desperately wicked Psalm 51:10—Clean my heart of God DISCUSSION: Where does your PERSONAL (NOT WHAT IS THE BIBLE ANSWER) sense of morality (or right and wrong) come from? How do your parent’s opinions impact your morality? How will that change when you move out? How do your friend’s opinions impact your morality? How does that change as you hang out with different people? How do your youth leader’s opinions impact your morality? How will that change when you leave for college? If you had a stricter sense of morality, what would change? If you had a more relaxed sense of morality, what would change? If you are unsure something is right or wrong, what are some ways you could determine an answer? CHALLENGE: You won’t always live under your parent’s roof, have the same group of friends, or have youth leaders checking in on you each week. Your morality must be grounded in scripture. This week, pick a topic that interests you or a topic that you think is ok but others in your life say is not (or vice versa). Find out what the Bible says while praying to understand God’s heart on the matter.

Purpose of Life

April 18, 2018 • Scott Johnson

Overview Why are there so many religions? How do I know which one is the right one? Does it even matter or are they all the same? Does it really make a difference as long as I believe in a higher power? Since the beginning of time people have been trying to answer 3 basic questions: ORIGIN: How did I get here? PURPOSE: Why am I here? DESTINY: What happens when I die? Since then, mankind has answered these questions through making objects to worship, hoping they will bring good luck or by praying and offering sacrifices to forces of nature, hoping their lives may in some way be blessed. Their main goal has been living a peaceable and good life, hoping the good they do outweighs the bad. But in each of these things we find a common theme, mankind trying to earn favor with a deity by doing something they think a deity will look favorably on. In each scenario, mankind is trying to control their destiny. But this leaves us wondering if any of it works. How do we know any of it is true or if all along we have been carrying around a lucky rabbits foot hoping something good will happen to us Discussion Questions: -When you consider all the different versions of ORIGIN, what things are you sure of? Where do you have questions? -If you feel certain of your view of origin, how would you explain or defend it to someone with an opposing view? -Why does a person’s view of origin matter? (Does it really matter, as long as you believe in Jesus?) Challenge: This week take some time to find evidence that stands for your view of the origin of Life. And ask yourself a few questions about it. -Where does the evidence come from? -Is it a reliable source? -How do you know it is true?

Origin of Life

April 11, 2018

OVERVIEW: Why are there so many religions? How do I know which one is the right one? Does it even matter or are they all the same? Does it really make a difference as long as I believe in a higher power? Since the beginning of time people have been trying to answer 4 basic questions: ORIGIN: How did I get here? PURPOSE: Why am I here? MORALITY: How do I know what is right and wrong? DESTINY: What happens when I die? Since then, mankind has answered these questions through making objects to worship, hoping they will bring good luck or by praying and offering sacrifices to forces of nature, hoping their lives may in some way be blessed. Their main goal has been living a peaceable and good life, hoping the good they do outweighs the bad. But in each of these things we find a common theme, mankind trying to earn favor with a deity by doing something they think a deity will look favorably on. In each scenario, mankind is trying to control their destiny. But this leaves us wondering if any of it works. How do we know any of it is true or if all along we have been carrying around a lucky rabbits foot hoping something good will happen to us? DISCUSSION -When you consider all the different versions of ORIGIN, what things are you sure of? Where do you have questions? -If you feel certain of your view of origin, how would you explain or defend it to someone with an opposing view? -Why does a person’s view of origin matter? (Does it really matter, as long as you believe in Jesus?) CHALLENGE: This week take some time to find evidence that stands for your view of the origin of Life. And ask yourself a few questions about it. -Where does the evidence come from? -Is it a reliable source? -How do you know it is true?

Equally Yoked

March 21, 2018

OVERVIEW: In a society that teaches the ideal of, “You do you,” sadly it is rare to see a biblical marriage, let alone a marriage that sticks it out through thick and thin. Proven by the statistic that 50-60% of first marriages end in divorce. For many of those that don’t end in divorce, they live a life of misery. Bound by a covenant that they have made to a man or woman they no longer love. Because of this example, a new trend in society is that men and women of God are choosing to live in sin rather than even entertain the concept of marriage because of the idea of marriage that they have been raised to know. So what does it take to make it? How do we have any hope that if we got married would wouldn’t follow the trend of divorce or be stuck in a relationship that we are miserable in? QUESTIONS: -What are your feelings about marriage? Do you have any fears? Anything you’re excited for? -What do you think God’s purpose for marriage is? -How do you think you can prepare now for an awesome, godly marriage? What things do you do now (or could you be doing now) that would harm your hope for a godly marriage? -Do you have any bad examples of marriage in your life? What can you learn from them? -Do you have any good examples of a godly marriage in your life? What can you learn from them? CHALLENGE: Find a godly couple or a few godly couples and hang out with them for an ordinary day. Observe their attitudes, how they love each other, and what they do to put the Lord first and each other second. Begin working on areas of your life that won’t mesh with a godly marriage and start praying for your future spouse. If you have fears about marriage, seek the Word of God and grab a leader and talk them out!

Polygamy & Divorce

March 14, 2018

Today, when talking about biblical marriage or one man and one woman forever, we often hear phrases like, “its 2018- that ship has sailed,” and “we need be be more inclusive.” We see and hear things on on social media, TV, movies, and music about doing what pleases you. If marrying more than one person makes you happy…go for it. If that means having an open marriage…go for it. If that means getting divorced…go for it. “You do You!” But is this truth? Or is this the enemy- a wolf in sheep’s clothing, who has come to steal, kill and destroy your life? What does God, the creator of all of it, have to say about it? What does He say in the Bible about marriage and how we are to do it? Discussion: -In your opinion, what’s the purpose of marriage? -Do you have any fears about marriage? If so, what are they? -Thinking about the purpose of marriage, how could being with multiple people (through marriage or an open relationship), hinder that purpose? -How could it (being with multiple people) harm you or the people you are in a relationship with? -Thinking about divorce, do you think its ever acceptable? And if so, when? -Why do you think the Bible warns against divorce? -Regarding multiple or open relationships and divorce, how do these things help or hinder you in your walk with the Lord and pursuing his calling for you? -How do they help or hinder your testimony? Challenge: Marriage is more than just choosing one person to spend your whole life with. It gives you a partner to pursue God with. Together, the two of you can do amazing things for the kingdom as you follow after Christ together. Ask God to transform your thinking about relationships to reflect this. Determine now what your fears, questions, or misconceptions might be and begin working with a leader to overcome them through scripture.

Should I live modestly?

February 28, 2018 • Brian & Kristy Motte

When ‘modesty’ is mentioned, how does that make you feel or what does it make you think? Do you think ‘more rules that limit my life?’ Do you get annoyed or frustrated because ‘it’s my body I can do what I want with it?’ Do you get annoyed because you think the Bible is clear about modesty and “christians” do not live modestly? But what if modesty wasn’t a set of rules to limit you but a principle of living to free you? What if it isn’t your body but Christ’s when he purchased you on the cross? What if judging others is not your job, but you are to instead live as an example to others? How do we live our lives like 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says to “honor God with our body?”

How far is too far

February 21, 2018

How Far is too far? As we grow up the opposite sex becomes enticing. We wonder what it like to see, touch, taste, etc… But this curiosity finds us in a place where we are asking the question of, “how far is too far,” rather than the question of, “how can I honor God with my relationship?”

Is homosexuality sin?

February 14, 2018

In our society today, we hear many things like, “What is true for you is not necessarily true for me.” The guiding principle for many people is “You do you” or “do what feels good.” But what about when this idea is applied to morality or deciding whether things are right and wrong? Is “stealing is wrong” a negotiable truth as long as it seems right to me? What about murder? Or homosexuality? Can we apply this thought to morality or is morality decided by something outside of ourselves? One way this idea is applied today is to sexuality. Some say that if they have the attraction to a certain person, then “god” created them that way. Therefore, they believe they have the right to decided whether it is right or wrong to pursue someone of the same gender. But what does the Bible say about it? And was the Bible’s mandate cultural for the time it was written or is it something that is true all time, no matter the culture or tradition?

Men & Women

January 31, 2018

“You do you.” In today's American society that we live in, people have taken a principle from things you prefer and applied it to the way you have been created. For example, Coke or Pepsi? That is completely based on your own tastes. But society now tells us that our gender, or who we are and the way God created us to be is up to us and what we decide we want to be. But what does the Bible say about who God created us to be?

Identity

January 24, 2018

Who am I? How did I get here? And what’s my purpose? How do we know our answers to these questions are true? We have to have something that is an authority in our lives that we know is truth. Then we have to run our thoughts, culture, etc… through this filter so that we do not conform to the world but we are transformed by Truth.

Honor Authority

January 18, 2018

Everyone of us has been in a position where we didn’t agree with what those in authority over us were doing. Maybe this was a parent, teacher, boss or the government. But what does the Bible teach us about how we are supposed to respond in this situation? Are we to stand up for what we believe in? Or are we supposed to bow to their authority?

Is cursing a sin?

October 18, 2017

“Why is profanity wrong? Aren’t words just words? How can one word be a bad and another one be good, its just a sound you make.” While this might sound logical. Logic does not always equal truth. If words were just sounds then they wouldn’t mean anything to you and me. But we know that’s not true. Another person’s words can crush you or make you feel like a million bucks in an instant. When we speak, we are communicating to another person what is within us. We are communicating the intent of our hearts. So maybe a better question than, “Why is profanity wrong?” You should ask yourself the question, “What is the intent of my heart when I speak?

Is that stealing?

November 1, 2017

Have you ever said the phrases, “Well they owe me,” “They won’t even notice,” “Someone else already paid for it,” “I found it online,” “Its not hurting anyone if I take this,” “No one will even miss this?” Today we have so many things at our finger tips that others own and yet we find some excuse as to why we have reason not to pay for it. Why? Just because we want it. When we find ways to get whatever it is without paying, we also justify why we can have what doesn’t rightfully belong to us. The reality? We’re stealing and clearly violating one of God’s commands.

Anger

October 25, 2017 • Jon Buswell

Have you ever said, “I’m just an angry person.” Or maybe, you say a certain person, place, or situation “just makes me so angry.” In those moments, who owns your heart? Who or what rules it as lord? Maybe you’re like others who are tempted to quote Ephesians, where we are told to be angry but not sin, as license to hold onto your rage. After all, you’re not pursuing a way to hurt the other person back, right? But what’s the condition of your heart? Your mind? And when that anger creeps out and does boil over, be ready- it will tarnish your testimony and become a hindrance to the gospel.