This week at youth we are going to examine the sovereignty of God. Many people will say they believe that God is sovereign over everything but often their lives do not reflect this reality. Christians will say that God is sovereign but when dealing with specific issues like salvation, evangelism, prayer, or their own future, they will hold a very different belief. Correctly understanding the sovereignty of God will forever change the way you think and live your life. In other words, when you truly understand that God is God and you are not, your life begins to have stability, enjoyment, and confidence like no other.

As we exam and learn what the Bible teaches about the sovereignty of God, we will also discuss the popular questions if God is sovereign:  why pray? why evangelize? (share the gospel), why do anything?, why is there evil?, and any other why questions you may have.

Come ready to interact and discuss these great issues and don’t forget to bring a friend.

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Doctrinal Standards WSC #17 & 18

• Q. What happened to man in the fall?
• A. Man fell into a condition of sin and misery.
• Q. What is sinful about man’s fallen condition?
• A. The sinfulness of that fallen condition is twofold. First, in what is commonly called original sin, there is the guilt of Adam’s first sin with its lack of original righteousness and the corruption of his whole nature. Second are all the specific acts of disobedience that come from original sin.

Memory Verses

• ”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV).
• “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1, ESV).

Study Passage: Romans 3:1-20

Support Passages: Psalm 5:9, 10:7, 14:1-3, 36:1-4; 53:1-4; Isaiah 59

Bible Story: Numbers 13-14 (14:1-10)

Thoughts

• Adam and Eve were the only two human beings to live without sin. They did not have a sin nature until they disobeyed God by eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Since Adam and Eve, the Bible teaches that every single human is born with a sin nature. That is to say they we are “conceived in sin”. From the very beginning of an individual’s life their heart is sinful – they are an enemy of God. It is the death of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit that enables us to have eternal life.
• As a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, we display our own disobedience to the true and living God.  Our sinful heart is revealed by the words that come out of our mouth and our sinful actions.

Discussion Questions

• What is sin?
• What was the sin of Adam and Eve?
• What were the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin?
• Are individuals born sinful or do they learn how to sin? Explain.
• If we are born sinful, we are enemies of God. How do we become friends of God?
• What part does God play in this process?
• What part does man play in this process?
• What do our actions and words reveal about our heart?

Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady Romans 3:1-20
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How do you know when you have become an adult? Is it when you can legally drive a car? Is it when you reach the age 18? Is when you turn 21 and can legally drink alcohol? Or is it after you have had your first sexual experience? One thing is sure: our society, and much of the Christian community, does not have any idea when adulthood is reached much less a system to bring about and celebrate a child becoming an adult.

This Thursday we will compare and contrast the biblical life cycle to the modern secular life cycle. We will examine when the Bible deems an individual to be an adult and how we can practically apply that truth today in a culture that is very different than that of the Bible. We will also discuss the importance of a rite of passage in the life of an individual and how this concept is being applied at Emmaus Christian Fellowship.

I’m really looking forward to discussing this concept with our students and helping them to understand that they are an integral  part of the fellowship that happens in our church.

For more information on our approach to rite of passage see our resource page.

-Phil

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Doctrinal Standards WSC #16

• Q. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first disobedience?
• A. Since the covenant was made not only for Adam but also for his natural descendants, all mankind sinned in him and fell with him in his first disobedience.

Memory Verses

• “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, ESV).

Study Passage: Romans 5:12-21

Support Passages: Genesis 8:20-21; Job 14:1-6; Psalm 51:5; John 3:3-6; Ephesians 2:3

Bible Story: Genesis 6-8

Thoughts

• Scripture teaches, and many times assumes, the position that that Adam and Eve were the only two human beings created without sin. Once their “fall” took place sin entered into the nature of man and is passed down to each generation.
•  Below are a few scriptures that teach that mankind has inherited a sin nature from their parents:
  • 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, (ESV) “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
  • Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
  • Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.“
  • Genesis 8:21 (ESV) “And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.”
  • Psalm 14:2–3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. ³ They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
  • “If we are born innocent and good, why aren’t there at least some people who have continued in this state and remained sinless? The fact that everybody sins needs some explanation. The best explanation is that we are sinners by nature. Someone might argue that the reason all people sin is because society is sinful, and thus society renders it impossible for anybody to keep themselves entirely pure. But that only pushes the question back one step. How did society get sinful in the first place? If people are born morally good, then how did it come about that they congregated into societies that influence all people to sin?” (Matt Perman – Desiringgod.org).

Discussion Questions

• What was the covenant God made with Adam and Eve?
• What does it mean that the covenant was “not only for Adam but also for his natural descendants?”
• Are we able to keep the covenant that God made with Adam and all mankind? Why?
• Are you and I born a sinner or is it something we have to learn? Explain.
• Think about your own feelings or thoughts when you have the choice to do what’s right or wrong. Which choice does your heart prefer to choose? How does this prove sin nature?
• If we are born a sinner and are unable to keep the covenant that God made with Adam and all of mankind what hope do we have?
• A couple weeks ago we talked about covenants of work and covenants of grace. Explain the two types of covenants.
• Because of our sin nature what covenant must we be a part of in order to please God? Explain.

Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 Ephesians 2:1–3 Genesis 8:21 Psalm 14:2–3 Psalm 51:5 Romans 5:12-21
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Thursday, we will be discussing the importance of knowing and understanding doctrine. Many Christians will accept non-biblical doctrines or teachings about important issues because they don’t take the time to study and learn the word of God for themselves. This Thursday, I will present various statements about a particular issue and we will discuss whether or not the statement is based on biblical doctrine or of the world. We will also examine the power associated with correct biblical doctrine and the ramification of false doctrine.

Hope to see you there!

-Phil

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Doctrinal Standards WSC #14 & 15

• Q. What is sin?
• A. Sin is disobeying or not conforming to God’s law in any way.
• Q. By what sin did our first parents fall from their original condition?
• A. Our first parents’ sin was eating the forbidden fruit.

Memory Verses

• ”Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4, ESV).

Study Passage: I John 3

Support Passages: Leviticus 4; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Romans 3:9-24; James 2:1-13

Bible Story: Genesis 4:1-15

Thoughts

• “Sin never consists merely in a voluntary act of transgression. Every volition proceeds from something that is more deep-seated than the volition itself. A sinful act is the expression of a sinful heart (cf. Mk. 7:20–23; Pr. 4:23; 23:7). Our understanding of sin must always take into consideration  the perversity of heart, mind, disposition and will.”^[1]
• 1 John 3 is very adamant that the people of God are to not be caught up in sin. In verse 10 He writes that “whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.” There are a couple important words to examine to fully understand what John is telling us in this passage. The word righteousness is used in scripture in a couple different ways. Righteousness can mean our acceptance before God. We are righteous before God because of what Christ did on the cross which we had no part in. Righteousness can also refer to living right before God. We are to be “Holy as (God) is holy,” we are to obey the commands of God. In 1 John chapter 3 the word righteous has the meaning of the latter.  John is calling Christians to live a life in obedience to the commands of God.
• As Christians we are to practice living a life in obedience to the commands of God. We are to struggle to live a righteous life before God and when we do sin we can be obedient by immediately confess it to the Lord (1 John 1:9).

Discussion Questions

• What is sin?
• Who determines what sin is? Can it change?
• How does our culture view sin?
• If sin is not conforming to God’s law, what first must we know?
• Can we know what sin is without knowing God’s word? Explain
• Is ignorance a valid excuse to sinning? Explain
• Are acting upon a desire and temptation the same thing (Genesis 4:6-7)? Explain

Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady 1 John 1:9 I John 3
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This Thursday we will be examining the gospel message found in the scriptures. There will be two primary objectives for our study. First and foremost we must be confident that we understand the gospel message and what it requires of us in its entirety. Therefore, we will take time and discuss thoroughly the good news of Jesus Christ. The second objective, we will focus on is how to share the gospel with others. Many people are intimidated with the idea of talking to others about Jesus Christ. We will discuss how this process can be rather simple. We will review a number of bible verses that can be used to help guide a simple conversation about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. In addition, we will discuss how it’s not our responsibility to change the hearts of men and women but to share the hope that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Hope to see you there!

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Doctrinal Standards WSC #13

• Q. Did our first parents remain as they were created?
• A.  Left to the freedom of their own wills, our first parents sinned against God and fell from their original condition.

Memory Verses

• “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, ESV).

Study Passage: Genesis 3

Support Passages: Genesis 6:5-8; Psalm 89:46-48; Ecclesiastes 7:20-29; John 6:43-44; Romans 1:24-25; I Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-3; James 1:13-15; Revelation 21:4

Bible Story: Genesis 3

Thoughts

• The story of creation and the fall proves that the heart of man is completely depraved and utterly dependent upon the grace of God in order to please God.
• Adam and Eve as record in Genesis were created without sin. They lacked a sin nature unlike like you and I. Even though they lacked a sin nature their hearts were still eager to turn from their Creature and peruse the passions of self.
• The story of Adam and Eve proves that the heart of man even when created without sin is completely depraved and can do nothing that pleases God.

Discussion Questions

• Adam and Eve were created perfect with no sin in their lives. They were told they could do anything except eat the fruit of one tree. Given enough time what happed?
• What does this tell us about man’s heart and our ability to obey God?
• Can mankind on their own obey God? Explain
• What tactic did the serpent use to tempt Eve into eating the fruit (Gen 3:1-5)?
• Was their evil before the Adam and Eve (Gen 3:5)?
• Adam and Eve thought God was holding things back from them, particularly the “knowledge of good and evil.” Was God keeping something from man? Explain.
• What were the various ways Eve was tempted (Gen 3:6)? Explain
• Are you tempted to sin in the same type of ways?
• God knew Adam and Eve ate of the tree but He still asked them if they did. Why did God ask them?
• When confronted about their sin. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. Instead of blaming others for our sins what should we do? Explain.

Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady Genesis 3
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