Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

It is comforting to remember that God is near us in our struggles. He is above — watching over us. He is beside — walking with us. He is in — making his home inside of us.

What a great privilege to walk by faith in a God who cares so much for us!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 

 Where is God When You Need Him?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This small group lesson is in harmony with Richard May’s sermon by the same title for June 1, 2008.

It is interesting how we tend to fail to learn from the past. We tend to repeat even the most basic things as we see in the account in Genesis 3. We fail to take personal responsibility when we make wrong choices. We want to blame others for our sins and mistakes. We shy away from accountability, yet that is what we need to help our spiritual walk.

I hope this lesson is useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• When you were a child, what games did you enjoy playing? (Monopoly; Hide ‘n Seek; etc.)
• If you could capture a special moment from the last week which one would you frame? Why?

Study

Read Genesis 3.1-13 and discuss the following:

• What do you think the serpent’s role is in this story?
• Who do you think is really at fault in this story?
  •   Adam
  •   Eve
  •   Serpent
  •   God
  •   A Combination
• Why do you think Adam and Eve were so quick to “pass the buck”? Why do we?
• What role does choice play in this story? Why does God restrict their choices with the one tree?
• Why do you think they hid from God?
• Why did God judge them so harshly?

Apply

• Where are you most vulnerable to the serpent? When has he caused you to doubt God’s words? <”Did God really say __________?”
• What do you tend to do when you see your own sins?
  • Beat myself up
  • Shrug it off
  • Blame someone else
  • Ignore it and hope it goes away
  • Deal with it in a healthy way
• In what ways do you need to take responsibility for yourself?
• What can this group do to help you be accountable?

You can tell a lot about someone by the company they keep. Jesus spent time with a variety of people. He ate with Pharisees. He ate with “tax collectors and sinners.” He allowed a sinful woman to wash his feet with her tears. He allowed another to anoint his body with costly oils for his burial. He welcomed children into his midst.

What does this say about him? One thing is that he came to reclaim people. His love knows no barriers.

That is a great comfort to us. While Jesus hates sin, he always loves the sinner. He is ready to make things right for us. The question is, are we?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 

 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

  Over the years I have observed that congregations are divided into three categories. This is not necessarily an equal division, but the members tend to fall into one of three areas within the church.

The first category, the “Proactive,” is composed of the members who want to “go.” Their motto is “Do Something!” They take the commands of Christ seriously and want to impact the world in a meaningful way. Sometimes zeal in this group can bounce them to the extreme of, “Do something, even if it is wrong!” However, when held within the boundaries of scripture, this group moves the church forward.

The second category is the “Reactive.” Their motto is, “I Shall Not Be Moved.” This group tends to react to new ideas as potentially threatening. They hold back and refuse to make changes. They may even hold the traditions of men on a par with scripture.

The third category is the “Inactive.” Their motto is “Whatever!?” This group is not concerned about the church’s direction, the church’s traditions, or even in some cases, the scriptures. Church is merely a convenience. As long as it does not interfere with their lives, they will attend. Service is a low priority.

We tend move between the categories, depending on our circumstances. Where are you right now? Are you pushing forward? Are you holding back? Do you not really care? If the church depended on you, what would she get?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

God keeps his word. This seems simple enough. Yet, how often do we forget that? How often does our faith slip because we forget God’s promises?

It is a faith-builder to read the promises of God and then see their fulfillment. The story of Israel is an account that God keeps his promises. The coming of Jesus tells us that God keeps his promises.

Like the song says, “Trust and obey for there is no other way.” God will follow through. It is up to us to follow.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 

 Marching Off the Map: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent word to Jesus to inquire if he was indeed the Messiah. Jesus sends word back for John to remember the facts about the Messiah. He quotes from Isaiah to describe what he was doing — raising the dead, healing the sick, preaching the good news, etc.

By the way, Jesus quoted most of the passage in Isaiah. He left out setting the captives/prisoners free. John may have been asking if he was going to get out of jail. By leaving that out, Jesus indirectly told John that he would not be set free.

There are times when you and I need to remember the facts. We need to look at who Jesus says he is and then at what he does. He is Messiah and he is bigger than the world in which we live. No obstacle will stand before him.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 

 Just the Facts: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I remember watching the movie, Hoosiers. One of the characters called, “Shooter” relived the glory of his High School days. He wound up being the town drunk and embarrassment to his family because he could not get over the long-passed disappointment of High School.

Shooter is not the only one to live in the past. How many people do you know who had their best years in the yesterdays of their mind? How many do you know who dwell in the past either in its regrets or in its glory?

Christians have the privilege of letting go of the past, both the good and bad. The best days for the Jesus followers are ahead, not behind. Faith and hope keep us going.

The following small group study is based on the sermon Richard May will present this Sunday, May 15, 2008. He has in mind encouraging the 2008 graduates to go forward and not live in the past. I hope this lesson is useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

  One of my passions is small group ministry. I am writing material for our groups and have decided to post some lessons from time to time. Perhaps they can be adapted and useful to others.

As I was doing my daily Bible reading, I ran across an idea that made me think. In light of the “Purpose-Driven” ideas it occurs to me that God acts in different ways to different people. Some people (as in Jeremiah 1:5) are given specific tasks. Other people, like Baruch in Jeremiah 45 are given the lee way to do a number of things. Each has the promise of the presence of God. Each has the potential for God’s glory.

I hope the following can be useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Baruch, De-Scribed

Jeremiah 45

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

1. If you had to choose one of the following to be with 24/7 for a month, who would it be and why?

• journalist
• TV personality
• missionary
• park ranger
• Olympic Gold Medalist
• salesman
• policeman
• therapist

2. If you could go anywhere and do anything, where would you go, what would you do?

Study

Please read Jeremiah 45 and discuss the following:

1. Jeremiah prophesied and saw the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah by the Babylonians. Baruch was his “secretary” or “scribe.” He wrote only what Jeremiah spoke. What do you think this says about the character of Baruch, especially in light of the coming devastation?

2. What do you think caused Baruch to be so discouraged?

3. In your opinion, what caused God to “uproot” his people?

4. Jeremiah had a God-given mission (see Jeremiah 1.5). It appears that Baruch does not, but God assures him of his presence and protection.

• What are the advantages of each situation?
• What are the disadvantages?
• Do you think God has a specific mission for each and every one of us (like Jeremiah) or do you think he allows some of us to make our own way as Baruch?

5. Why do you think Baruch is told not to seek “great things for himself”?

6. When do you think we need to seek “great things” and when do we need not to?

7. What do you think God means by his promise to Baruch in v. 5C?

Apply

Please share your responses to the following:

1. What things wear you out? How does this affect your relationship to God?

2. When you feel fatigue, what promises of God do you hold to? How have these made a difference for you?

3. Are you ambitious to seek great things or content to walk with God without the limelight? (See Philippians 4.11-13). Why?

 I am overwhelmed when I stop and consider what our founding fathers gave us in establishing the United States. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are indeed “unalienable rights” of all people. Somewhere along the way, we went too far.

The commercial says, “I want it all and I want it NOW.” We tend to think that we are actually entitled to any and everything that comes along. If we don’t get it, we won’t be” happy.” Of course our favorite credit card companies are eager for us to use their plastic to ensure that we are “happy.”.

I am not sure that is what the Founders had in mind. I KNOW this concept is not in the mind of God. Would it surprise you to know that God is more concerned about our character than our comfort? Or, that he is more concerned with our intrinsic holiness than our illusive “happiness”?

Having said that, would it surprise you to know that God has provided a way to truly be happy? It is not the way of the advertisers. It is found in Jesus’ way of serving God.

The Lord said, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13.15-17).

God, the source of happiness, blesses when we serve selflessly. This is the source of true, lasting happiness. It cannot be attained by pursuit. It is a gift that comes by the blessing of God.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

I watched the news a few nights ago and saw one of those small town feel good reports. This one was about a bank in a small Texas town. This particular bank was a throw back to former days. There were no computers, everything was done the old fashion way — by hand. The owner had no interest in coming into the 21st century.

I suspect that was indicative of the whole town. It was small and appeared to be on the way out. The population was mainly comprised of the elderly who had no intention of leaving their town — other than in a hearse. Their days of productivity were over. They waited for their time to “go home.”

How many churches are like the bank in that small town? How many refuse to step up to the changing  times to present an unchanging gospel? How many church leaders would rather skip all of the fuss and bother rather than make the necessary efforts to thrive?

We’ve heard all of the excuses — “We’ve never done it that way.” “I like the way we are doing it.” “Why do we need to change?” “It was good enough for my grandmother, it’s good enough for me.”

The bank and the small Texas town are going to die. Is it ok for our churches just to die? Who shares the gospel with the world when our churches no longer exist?

Certainly the truths of the gospel do not change. Jesus is who he is and his words are what the are — forever. The “trick” for the church is to be able to step in the world, co-exist with it and make an impact with the gospel. What worked in 1808 or 1908 does not work in 2008. What works in 2008 would not have worked in 1808 or 1908. Timing is crucial.

The church’s effectiveness begins with devotion to God and his Son. It is the great commandment of loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength that paves the way to love our neighbor as ourselves (the second greatest commandment-  see Matthew 22.36-40). As we love our neighbors, we reach out to them in ways that may change over time.

A friend of mine reminds me that the church is one of the few (or maybe the only) organizations that exists for the good of others. Too often our churches become all about us. Churches become political or social organizations with religious overtones. Their goal is self-gratification, not God-glorification. Church activities become little more than entertainment for the membership. This is why a preacher can have less character in his life as long as he has a good delivery in the pulpit (remember all of the controversies?). It is entertainment.

If churches do not make changes, churches will die. The most important change comes in our approach to God — we are his servants he is not ours. We await his beck and call, he does not await ours. When we recognize God’s place other things become less important. We can have “new wine in new wineskins.”

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene