WHY IS EVERYONE ANGRY on MARCH 31st?

 PARABLE of NATIONAL ANGER DAY

COLLEGE KIDS EAT WITH THEIR PASTOR

The leader of the College group, Pastor Dave eats lunch with three college students having anger issues.

Radu the African American student asks, "Why is everyone angry every year on March 31st?"

Dave replies, "Could it be the weather, changing seasons or spiritual warfare provoking everyone to anger?"

Raul the Hispanic student adds, "Why don't we ask Jack, he's a red headed Irishman."

Jack blurts out, "It's a myth that having red hair or being Irish makes you more angry than anyone else."

Pastor Dave says, "What does God think about anger and how should we react?"

Radu smiles, " Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."  

(James 1:19-20 NLT - New Living Translation)

Raul states, "Anger is one of the emotions that the Lord has given everyone; but we need to control it."

Pastor Dave quotes, "Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, and don’t give place to the devil." (Ephesisans 4:26-27 WEB ~ World English Bible)

Jack adds, "I've seen people lose their tempers at church, weddings, birthdays, Christmas parties and even on airplanes."

Pastor Dave remarks, "Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,  envy, 

drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."  (Galatians 5:19-21  CSB - Christian Standard Bible)

Radu adds, "But now also put these things out of your life: anger, bad temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and using evil words when you talk."  

(Colossians 3:8  NCV - New Century Version)

Raul, "What makes me angry is wealthy people who have beautiful homes, cars and boats and I have to struggle to work for a living."

Pastor Dave replies, "Should we be wealthy building our kingdom now, or should we be storing riches in heaven?"

Radu speaks to Raul, "Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?"  (Proverbs 27:4  ASV - American Standard Version)

Pastor Dave continues, "One last question, is it wise to have friends who are always angry?"

Radu blurts out, "Don’t associate with an angry man; make no hot-tempered man your companion. If you do, you may learn his way and find yourself caught in a trap."  (Proverbs 22:24-25  CJB - Complete Jewish Bible)

Pastor Dave concludes, "God wants us to first examine ourselves.  If we are angry, get over it before sunset, and forgive everyone before you go to sleep.  Don't carry on your anger, day after day, year after year!  Remember, we're here to help and pray for each other.

                                RADU

 "I guess I have a hard time forgiving."

                                RAUL

 "I have a big problem with jealously."

                                JACK

 "I am no longer going to be angry because other people want me to respond in anger."

                                DAVE

"Soloman the wisest man who ever lived on earth said, "Control your angry thoughts.  Only fools allow their anger to continue."  (Ecclesiastes 7:9  EASY - English Bible) 

                                RAUL

"If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you.  But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."  (Matthew 6:13-15 CEV - Contempary English Version)

ARE YOU READY FOR A POP QUIZ?

 PARABLE AT THE BEACH 

YOUTH GROUP 

Bob the youth pastor finishes praying saying,  "Before I turn you loose, we're going to have a Pop Quiz!"  

If you know the answer please raise your hand."

The girl standing up says, "What's the question?  Can I win a prize?

Pastor Bob begins, "What is another name for the Temple in Jerusalem?"

Ginger replies, "Is it a synagogue?"

Bruce reads on his cell phone, "When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves,  and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”  (Mark 11:15-17  NLT - New Living Translation)

Pastor Bob says, "Where was Jesus' favorite place to pray while staying at Jerusalem?"

Margo reads her phone, "Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.  On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”  He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." 

(Luke 22:39-44  NIV - New International Version)

Pastor Bob speaks, "What time of day did Peter go up onto the roof in Joppa to pray?"

Cindy raises her hand, saying, "Was it 3pm?"

Mark shouts out, "I know, I know...it's 9am."

Billy reads from his cell phone, "About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.  He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance."  

(Acts 10:9-10  NIV - New International Version)

Pastor Bob says, "How do you cast out demons?"

Alice reads, "Then Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with him there. They said, “Why weren’t we able to force that evil spirit out?”  Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can be forced out only with prayer.”  (Mark 9:28-29 ERV - Easy To Read Version)

Pastor Bob reads, " Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20  ESV - English Standard Version)

Pastor Bob concludes, "Prayer can move mountains if you have the faith of a mustard seed. You can pray morning, noon or night and God will hear you.  

Are you allowing the temple of your body to be your house of prayer?  

Jesus found a place of solitude to pray in the mountains of Galilee and the mount of Olives.  Where is your special place to pray?  

Enjoy the day God has created for you.  

Go out and play in the beach."

GOD WHY AREN'T MY PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED?

 PARABLE OF UNANSWERED PRAYERS

PASTORS MEET FOR LUNCH

Four pastors from different churches in the community meet each month to share ideas.

After praying for the food, Scott the red haired pastor begins, "Jesus healed the blind, lepers and raised people from the dead; why aren't we seeing miracles today?  What's blocking our prayers?

Joe the Asian pastor smiles, "Maybe we are praying for lightning on our enemies instead of praying for them in love."

Pastor Raul comments, "What does the Bible say about God not answering prayer?"

Pastor Martin begins, "God does not answer the hypocrite's prayer.  Jesus said, "Woe to you, Pharisees, and you other religious leaders. Hypocrites! For you won’t let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven and won’t go in yourselves. And you pretend to be holy, with all your long, public prayers in the streets, while you are evicting widows from their homes. Hypocrites!"  (Matthew 23:13-14 TLB - The Living Bible)

Pastor Joe speaks, "Our prayers may be blocked when we ignore the poor.  Proverbs say, "Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor, he also will cry himself, but will not be heard. (Proverbs 21:13 MEV - Modern English Version)

Pastor Scott smiles, "Do we have faith or doubt when you pray?   "And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." (Mark 11:22-23 ESV - English Standard Version)

Pastor Raul adds, "Too often our prayers are self centered.  James said, "Or when you ask, you do not receive because the reason you ask is wrong. You want things so you can use them for your own pleasures."  (James 4:3 NCV - New Century Version)

Pastor Scott remarks, "Maybe we have sin or inquity that's blocking our prayers.  "If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear."  Psalm 66:18 NKJV - New King James Version)

Pastor Martin smiles, "Here's wisdom from Proverbs.  "If you refuse to listen to God's law,  God will refuse to listen to your prayers." (Proverbs 28:9 EASY)  

Pastor Joe comments, 'If we have unforgiveness God doesn't hear our prayers.  "And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your sins.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.” (Mark 11:25-26 MEV - Modern English Version)

Pastor Scott says, "Our condemning heart may block our prayers.  "for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him." (1 John 3:20-22 ESV - English Standard Version)

Pastor Joe speak, "Thank you gentlemen, I learned a lot from your wisdom of the Bible."

Pastor Scott continues, "We better eat, before our food gets cold.  I'm glad we meet together.  Iron sharpens Iron.

IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE FULL OF FLUFF?

 PARABLE OF WHIPPED CREAM

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

A Sunday school teacher puts a small piece of chocolate on an empty plate.  Holding the plate in front of her students, she asks, "Who wants this chocolate?"

A lot of hands are raised.  One boy even stands waving his arms.

The teacher continues, "I only have one piece of chocolate.  How do I know who I should give it to?"

Little girl blurts out, "By asking for it."

Teacher continues, "Our lesson is about prayer and asking him for things more than chocolates."  The class watches as she sprays the entire can of whipped cream over the chocolate."

How many of you went shopping with your mother, begging her over and over again for her to buy you candy or a toy?

A boy speaks, "I was begging her so much, she told me she would never take me to the store again."

Teacher continues, "Jesus said these powerful words:  “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray loudly. They want people to see them. The truth is, that’s all the reward they will get.  But when you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father. He is there in that private place. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.

“And when you pray, don’t be like the people who don’t know God. They say the same things again and again. They think that if they say it enough, their god will hear them.  Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."  (Matthew 6:5-8 ERV - Easy to Read Version)

Teacher says, "God knows what you need before you ask Him.  Just like you want the little piece of chocolate, the whipped cream is like your many words, repeating them over and over again, covering what you really want."

Little girls speaks, "Can I have the chocolate now."  The little girl comes up to the plate.

Teacher continues, "Go ahead put your hand in the whipped cream and take it."

All the class giggles, watching her put a fingertip into the whipped cream and returning to her seat.

Teacher continues, "When you are at the store treat your parents with love and respect.  If you want something, be polite and ask one time.  And they know what's good for you and they may say no.  And when we pray to God, treat him with love and respect too.  Don't whine like a little child in a shopping cart.

Little boy raises his hand, "May I have some whipped cream with my chocolate?"

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW ARE WE SUPPOSE TO PRAY?

 PARABLE OF THE PRAYER MEETING

PRAYER WARRIORS 

Four prayer warriors discuss which home they are going to have the next Sunday evening prayer meeting at.

Pam, the youngest speaks, "I hate when people interupt me when I pray.  It would be much better if we went around in a circle letting each person pray one at a time, without any interuption.  And they can pass if they don't have anything to pray."

Evelyn the oldest says, "Great idea!  I think some people attending our group need to learn how to pray.  Jesus taught His disciple how to pray using the Lord's Prayer."

Kim the Asian add, "It might be good if we carefully examine it."

Marie begins, "Jesus said, 'This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name..." (Matthew 6:9 NIV) Tell me, what comes to your mind?"

Pam answers, "We should begin our prayers with praise and worship.  Jesus said, "...Your kingdom come..."  (Matthew 6:10 NIV)

Evelyn adds, "We need to have compassion for the lost and interceed for the unsaved. Praying for harvest workers to make disciples of all nations.  Christ said, "Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven."  (Matthew 6:10 NIV)

Maria speaks, "I don't know about you, but I need to prayer each day for God's direction.  I need strength to accomplish His will and to interceed for others.  Our LORD said, "Give us today our daily bread."  (Matthew 6:11 NIV)

Pam smiles, "It's important that we pray for other people's daily needs first, before asking God for our daily needs.  Yeshua said, "And forgive us our debts, as also we have forgiven our debtors." (Matthew 6:12 NIV)

Kim replies, "That's one of the biggest problems in the world...people can't forgive one another.  If we don't forgive, than how in the world is Jesus ever going to forgive us?  The Son of God said, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one..." (Matthew 6:13 NIV)

Maria adds, "Pray for a hedge of protection like Job had in the beginning.  “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land." (Job 1:10 NIV)

Pam smiles, "Pray for protection from ourselves!  "And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.  Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away."  (James 1:13-14 NLT)

Evelyn says, "It's the world, our flesh and the devil who can be our worst enemies."  Jesus said, "For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever amen."  (Matthew 6:13 NASB)  End your prayers with praise!  OK, which one of you gals are hosting this Sunday?"

NIV - New International Version  

NLT - New Living Translation

NASB - New American Standard Bible

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?

 DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING 

COME FOLLOW ME

"A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,  “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.  And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

“But don’t begin until you count the cost.      For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?  Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.  They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?  And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.  So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.  

Luke 14:25-33  (NLT - New Living Translation)

THE GREAT COMMISSION was to make disciples, training up new leaders in the church to spread the Gospel to all nations. And making sure each generation will make new disciples.

A disciple must put Jesus first above family and may face rejection, persecution and death on a cross.  And you can't bring all your worldly possessions with you when you're walking with Jesus.  You need to trust in God's provision.

WHAT WAS ACACIA WOOD USED FOR IN THE BIBLE?

 TREES IN THE BIBLE

ACACIA TREES

Acacia wood comes from a large thorny tree.  It is a rot resistant hard wood from Africa.

“They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.  You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it.  You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it.  You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.  You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them.  The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it.  You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.  

Exodus 25:10-16  (NASB 95 - New American Standard Version)

“You shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long and one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high.  You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a gold border around it.  You shall make for it a rim of a handbreadth around it; and you shall make a gold border for the rim around it.  You shall make four gold rings for it and put rings on the four corners which are on its four feet.  The rings shall be close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table.  You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that with them the table may be carried.  You shall make its dishes and its pans and its jars and its bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold.  You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.

Exodus 25:23-30  (NASB95 - New American Standard Bible)

"I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive tree;
I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together, that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it."

Isaiah 41:19-20  (MEV - Modern English Version)