Letter from the Shepherd

Students,

I hope your semester at Westside has been as enjoyable as mine has been. From Bible Study Retreat to Outreach Night this past week, even to our normal evenings of discussion, I have enjoyed every moment. Thank you for making our Bible Study what it has been. Please be sure to pay attention to the schedule provided on our site. My hope is to make the information available to you via email and via our blog. If there are any questions about anything you see there, please do not hesitate to send me an email. Thank you also for taking time to periodically check our blog and to interact with the postings. May "your love continue to abound more and more" and may you increase in your "affection of Christ Jesus for each other" (Phil 1:8-9).

With the affection of Christ,
Kelly Wright

Laziness

I know this topic is talked about a lot, but its always helpful to remind ourselves about Laziness. In Proverbs 6 it talks about how the ant works without even being told to. "Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. " So many times I think we recognize that something needs to be done, and we just pass over it and do our own thing. We really should be like the ant and pick up something when it needs to picked up, or start taking out the trash because you know it has to be done that day, stuff like that. So I challenge all of us this week, to try and be aware and find something that needs to be done, and then do it without being asked.

Introduction/ Impatience?

Hello fellow west-siders. I've been appointed the new blog person thingy (w/e they're called). i will try and post something at least once every week. it all depends on my work load.

So I was reading Proverbs 15 the other day and in verse 1 it says "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." I thought about that and I realized that whenever we are impatient, we are angry. It seems so simple, but I don't think a lot of us think about that (i know i don't). Say your mom asks you to do some extra work after your done with homework and you become impatient. You are actually angry because your mom is taking time away from something "better" that you could be doing. It's an interesting thought.



Till next time,
David

Christian Worldview & Current Events

Our purpose on this earth is to serve God

The Christian worldview is defined by the Bible

What shapes your Christian worldview?

• Bible input
• Practice - living it out
• People around you
• What you watch/listen to/where you go

Your worldview must be apparent in the way that you live every day, not just when you go to church or bible study.

What do you talk about with friends? Do you talk about important issues or events?

Example:

As Christians, what should our response be to the Virgina Tech incident?

• Pray for the victims and our attitudes


• Realize that it could have been us victimized


• Recognize the great opportunity for ministry to non-Christians and take action with this realization.

How is our view different from that of the world on topics such as global warming, atheism, and bringing the Bible to public schools?

We must be able to defend our views and positions biblically.

I Peter 3:15

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

Spiritual Maturity

What is spiritual maturity? Spiritual maturity can be described as the regular choice to live a godly life by submitting to the Scripture. Maturity is personal growth or improvement. It is also known as the sanctification process that the Holy Spirit works in every Christian.

Here are a few descriptors of spiritual maturity in the life of a believer:

• Understanding of the Gospel and the fundamentals of the faith


• Pursuing discipleship


• Consistent time in God's Word individually


• Consistent time in God's Word corporately


• Consistent time in prayer


• Regular worship


• Service in the church


• Regular fellowship with believers


• Evangelism


• Perseverance

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. [II Peter 1:5-9]

Spiritual maturity is evident by some of these characteristics:

• Discerning Truth

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. [Hebrews 5:13-14 and see Philippians 1:9]

• Approved Workmen

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. [II Timothy 2:15]

• Servants

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. [Romans 12:1]

• Holy

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [Galatians 5:16]

• Found Faithful

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.[Philippians 3:14]

Much more can be said on the subject of spiritual maturity. Can you think of additional descriptions or characteristics of spiritual maturity? What other Scripture passages address spiritual maturity?

How can you evaluate yourself to determine spiritual maturity? How can you pursue spiritual maturity today?

The Marriage Bank

Preparation for marriage is likened to a checking account that is presented to your spouse on your wedding day and thereafter. Whatever is in the "account" is all you have to give...nothing more and nothing less. This is why it is so important to think through marriage long before it comes.

Preparing for marriage allows you to not only become a great spouse but, more importantly, a great man or woman of God!

The following are the five areas to grow in from the group discussion on Wednesday:

• Financially
• Spiritually
• Emotionally
• Physically
• Mentally

Everything that you do every day will either be a deposit or a withdrawal from your "checking account". Here are some practical ways of making deposits and some cautions on making withdrawals:

Financially

• Deposit: Learn to save money


• Withdrawal: Spend what you earn on unimportant things


• Deposit: Discuss with your parents how to budget and spending priorities


• Withdrawal: Ignore the realities of life and money

Spiritually

• Deposit: Pray for wisdom


• Withdrawal: Don't pray - rely on yourself


• Deposit: Deepen your love for Christ - strive for holiness


• Withdrawal: Live a seemingly "religious" life without concern for Christ


• Deposit: Develop leadership / serve in the church


• Withdrawal: Be a pew potato


• Deposit: Learn submission by submitting to parents, teachers, employers, etc.


• Withdrawal: Continue to live independent of authority

Emotionally

• Deposit: Learn to think biblically


• Withdrawal: Respond to feelings


• Deposit: Girls - ask for help. Ask for counsel through times of not responding biblically.


• Withdrawal: Convince yourself that sinful attitudes are alright because it is natural


• Deposit: Men - learn patience


• Withdrawal: Justify your anger


• Deposit: Don't run from issues


• Withdrawal: Ignore problems


• Deposit: Study girl emotions


• Withdrawal: Never consider the emotional aspect of females

Physically

• Deposit: Take care of your body


• Withdrawal: Neglect your body


• Deposit: Eat moderately


• Withdrawal: Eat whatever - whenever


• Deposit: Be organized


• Withdrawal: Be a slob


• Deposit: Value and maintain your purity


• Withdrawal: Follow the culture

Mentally

• Deposit: Absorb everything possible in school


• Withdrawal: Neglect school


• Deposit: Learn from others - become well rounded


• Withdrawal: Be content with knowing a lot about a little

Prayer Requests

Brooke- Dads salvation; that she will be a witness to others at school that are unbelievers

Haine- To be strong and diligent and to do her best in school

Beth- that she will have the whole bible study as friends and to thoroughly enjoy bible study

Joanna- That she will be more loving towards others and that her attitude towards her mother will be better

Michelle- Her aunt has passed away and pray for her uncle and cousin

Derek- pray that he will be more diligent in school and not to slack off

The 10 Commandments

Exodus 19-20

Introduction
The 10 Commandments are just a portion of over 600 laws given by God to Israel. The first 4 commands refer to man's relationship with God and the remaining 6 refer to man's relationship with other men.

God made clear that He had the prerogative to dictate to Israel how they should live because He had delivered them from captivity and slavery in Egypt (20:2).

Before God would give the law, Israel had to first commit herself to obeying (19:5-8) and second had to cleanse themselves before coming before a holy God.

The Purpose of God's Law:
1) To reveal man's sinfulness (Rom. 3:19-20)
2) To demonstrate the repulsiveness of sin (Rom. 7:8-13)
3) To demonstrate God's holiness (Lev. 19:2)
4) To bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24)
5) To preserve Israel from sin

The 10 Commandments reveal God's great concern about the details of life - nothing is outside of His interest or involvement.

I. No Other gods - Polytheism
(20:3) All other gods are false and in opposition to the one true and living God.
Worship of any other god is incompatible with the worship of the god of the Bible.
See Acts 14:15 for New Testament (NT) affirmation

II. No Graven Images
(20:4) The production of images or likenesses of a god is forbidden.
Idols are not to be worshipped or even created - besides doesn't it seem foolish to worship something made by men - something that is subject to man?
See I John 5:21 for NT affirmation

III. Do Not Use the Name of the Lord in Vain - Swearing
(20:7) We are to be truthful at all times and should not need to use the name of the Lord to swear by.
See James 5:12 for NT affirmation

IV. Keep the Sabbath
(20:8) The 7th day of the week was reserved for God. People were forbidden to gather manna, sticks or to light fires on the Sabbath. Traditions developed to the extreme by the time of Jesus so that it was found difficult to even do a good deed on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:5ff).
See Col. 2:16-17. This is the only commandment that was nullified in the NT.

V. Obey Your Parents
(20:12) To honor is to reverence and obey in godly sincerity. Deut. 21:18-21 prescribes the death penalty for dishonoring parents. This is the only commandment that is given with a promise: Long life for those who obey. Both the death penalty and the promise demonstrate the importance of this command to God.
See Eph. 6 for NT affirmation

VI. Do Not Murder
(20:13) Life is sacred - we are made in the image of God (Gen. 9:6)
Anyone who murders destroys the image of God represented in that person (James 3:9).
The death penalty is also prescribed for murder. Note: this is not the same as capital punishment. This command is to the individual and does not include governments who use the "sword" to punish evil-doers (Rom. 13)
See I John 3:15 for NT affirmation

VII. Do Not Commit Adultery
(20:14) This command is to protect marriage and the home. In Matt. 5:27-28 Jesus adds to this command by saying that anyone who lusts also commits adultery.
This is another command which prescribed the death penalty as punishment.
See I Cor. 6:9-10 for NT affirmation

VIII. Do Not Steal
(20:15) Protection of property from dishonest gain.
See Eph. 4:28 for NT affirmation

IX. Do Not Lie
(20:16) Protection of the truth - dishonesty will lead to the breakdown of justice and makes the justice system ineffective. Lying is serious enough to warrant the death penalty.
See Col. 3:9-10 for NT affirmation

X. Do Not Covet
(20:17) Protection of the heart - the root from which covertness and sin come from. This command is important because it reminds us that God is concerned about the heart and our intentions (I Sam. 16:7). Sin usually begins with a wrong thought. It then develops into evil desire which then leads to sinful action (James 1:13-15). Covetousness has a degrading effect on us. It leads to theft, adultery and many other sins.
We are instructed to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (II Cor. 10:5).

The Law and the Believer

• Remember that all Scripture is profitable (II Tim. 3:16)


• We are no longer under the law but under grace (Rom. 6:14-15; Gal. 5:18; I Cor. 9:20)


• We are not saved by the law (Rom. 3:20)


• Christ brought a new era or dispensation of grace and truth (John 1:17)

The Law is revealing and instructive. It gives insight into the mind of God and helps determine the standard of holiness that He expects from those who follow Him.

Amazing Grace

www.amazinggracemovie.com

"No man, has a right to be idle...Where is it, that in such a world as this, health, and leisure, and affluence may not find some ignorance to instruct, some wrong to redress, some want to supply, some misery to alleviate?"

-William Wilberforce, A Practical View of Christianity [see Matt. 5:16]

Amazing Grace the movie is the story of William Wilberforce, leader of the anti-slavery movement in Britain's Parliament in the 18th century. Under the advice of John Newton, Wilberforce remained in parliament to serve as an Evangelical Christian in government. As a result of his leadership, the British Empire made slave trading illegal in 1807 and abolished slavery in 1833 - just 3 days before his death.

The Virtue of Chastity

Here is a word you don't hear often: Chastity
What does it mean? To be pure in conduct and intention

I. The Problem

• 4 out of 10 girls get pregnant at least once by the age of 20
• 60% of high school seniors have reported having intercourse
• Pornography is a $12 Billion industry in the US
• Revenue from pornography exceeds the revenue of all professional football, basketball, and baseball teams - combined.
• 12% (4.2 million) of all internet sites contain pornography
• 47% of professing Christians have admitted that pornography is a problem
• 17% of all women admit to having an addiction to pornography
• 64% of all TV programing contains sexual content

*CDC and Kaiser Family Foundation

We expect the world to behave like this (II Tim. 3:2-4) but should immorality be characteristic of us as Christians? No - God has called us to be different from the world...

II. God's Purpose for Your Life

I Thessalonians 4:3-8 says: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you."

Sanctification is the process by which God makes us holy. God's will is that we would be holy, pure, and righteous. We are not to be characterized like the heathen - the world.

Remember:

• Your body was created to glorify God (I Cor. 6:13)
• We are members or joined to Christ (I Cor. 6:15)
• Our thoughts are to be pure (Matt. 5:28 / Phil. 4:8)
• We are to be content with what God has given us (Heb. 13:5)
• Sex is God's gift for marriage (Heb. 13:4 / I Thess. 4:3-5)

III. The Plan to Promote Chastity

Throughout the Scripture we are told to flee or run from temptation and sexual immorality. (I Cor. 6:18 / II Tim. 2:22 / Also remember Joseph's example with Potiphar's wife Gen. 39)

Our motivation should be first and foremost to obey and to bring glory to God. Why? Because we were bought with a price and are called to glorify God with our bodies (I Cor. 6:20).

Sexual sin is sin against your body. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God will avenge those who take advantage of or defraud another.

Consider chastity now and make preparations to maintain your purity.

1) Set your heart to do God's will - check your motivation

2) Draw lines - set boundaries to preserve your purity.

CS Lewis gives 3 reasons why it will be difficult to be chaste: Our nature is warped, we don't think this it is possible, and psychology (the world) teaches that it is wrong to repress our sexuality.

No temptation is greater than we can handle - God will always provide a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13). James 1:12 says that we are blessed if we endure temptation and that we will receive the "crown of life" when we are approved.

Things to Consider:

• Do you live a life that is chaste - pure?
• What can you do to develop chastity?
• What can you do to help others be pure?

*What if its too late and you have not kept yourself pure? Know that God forgives sin and it is never too late to repent and to develop chastity. Be sure to find someone who will keep you accountable and encourage you toward godliness.

For further reading check out CS Lewis' work "Mere Christianity" chapter 5 on sexual morality. Also "Passion and Purity" by Elizabeth Elliot and "Sex is Not the Problem (Lust Is)" formerly "Not Even a Hint" by Joshua Harris http://www.joshharris.com/

Joseph & The Sovereignty of God

We are all familiar with the story of Joseph: The 17 year old who was sold as a slave in Egypt and became the second most power man in the most powerful nation at the time.

The life and experience of Joseph is found in Genesis 27-50. At first we learn that a huge injustice was committed against Joseph when his own jealous brothers betrayed him and sold him as a slave to Egypt. This was not the last time Joseph was unjustly treated. Wrongly accused of impropriety, he was sent to jail for several years.

Throughout these difficult times the Lord blessed him and made him successful. As a slave he was placed in charge of his masters' household. As a prisoner he was placed in charge of the prison. When released from prison he was made governor over all of Egypt and given charge over preparations for the coming famine.

We learn of Joseph's understanding of theology and God's sovereignty in chapter 45 when Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance." (45:7)

Joseph reveals his confidence in the Lord again in chapter 50, years later when again addressing his brothers: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (50:20)

The same is true for us as Christians today. We can have confidence that God is sovereign and is working all things together for good (Rom. 8:28). This does not eliminate the pain of trials, injustice, or any difficulty we experience but knowing this will provide comfort, assurance, and will sustain us.

It is through these experiences that God will sanctify us and make us more like Christ (see James 1:2-4). Our desire as Christians should be for spiritual growth. Many times we even pray that God would change us to be more like Him.

How do you respond to trials or difficulties? Can you say with Joseph that God meant it for good? Does your speech and actions during these times reflect your theology (your understanding of God and His word)? Can your friends and family say that your faith and trust in our sovereign God is just as strong during difficulties as it is when life is "good"?

Is life currently good or easy right now? What can you do to strengthen your faith? Can you prepare for those trials before they inevitably arrive?