iPray: 1 Corinthians 10:11-12

Warning labels can be helpful, scary, and sometimes funny as they state the seemingly obvious.

Consider these "funny"/"obvious" supposed warning labels:

For a Go-Kart:  "This product moves when used."
For an iPod Shuffle:  "Do not eat."
For a hairdryer:  "Do not use while sleeping."
For a tube of squeeze cheese product:  "For best results, remove cap."
For a Dremel:  "Not intended for use as a dental drill." 

Maybe it all started with someone needing a reminder that McDonalds coffee is hot.
Or maybe it started with grumbling and golden cows.

"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.  So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"  -1 Corinthians 10:11-12

When it comes to warnings, it seems as though they exist to advise, that they are informed by previous examples, and that they are relevant to us now.  Paul makes his purposes very clear in our beloved 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 passage.  He is intentionally pointing out the antics of the Israelites as more than just a "nice" story... more than just something to shake our heads at and go "wow, those Israelites"... no, Paul implies a relevance to readers ("were written down as warnings for us")... And it's not that complicated as to why... "if you think you are standing firm, be careful...") 

Warning:  You shouldn't eat an iPod Shuffle.
Warning:  You should indeed remove the cap from the cheese-squeeze product for best results.
Warning:  We need Jesus, our Rock, and His provision.  We cannot do it on our own.  Attempts to do so may result in golden cows and wandering for decades, snakes, destruction, and death.

How then should we pray?

Thankfully.  Jesus provides.
Dependently.  Jesus provides.
Vigilantly.  Jesus provides.
Constantly.  Jesus provides.

Dear Jesus,
Please be with us.  Thank you for Your provision.  Thank you for this reminder in your Word .  Thank you that in my powerlessness I find Your strength.  Please help me keep my eyes fixed on You and myself in Your presence so that through You I can stand firm.
Amen.

See you tonight at 6pm for PoC|Coverage.

Pastor Celia

Family It!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Family It!

Supplies: Bible, computer or smart phone to watch the youtube video “Mama Bear Wrestles Tree To Rescue Cub”.

SHARE
How many times a day do your parents tell you to “be careful”?  Do you listen to them?  Why should we listen to people when they try to warn us?  What could happen if we do not listen to the warning?

READ
Read I Corinthians 10:11-12 with your family.  Remember that this is a warning from Paul to the Christians in the church in the city of Corinth.

WATCH THE CLIP
What was the mother bear doing in the clip?  Why did the baby bear need the mom’s help?  What could have happened if the mother bear didn’t step in a help?

DISCUSS
1)  In the verses we read, Paul is giving a very important warning for us to be careful in our relationship with Jesus. Jesus cares for us in big ways.  What are some ways that Jesus has cared for your family?

2)  In the verses we read, Paul tells us to be careful so that we do not fall.  In your opinion, what does it mean to “fall” in our relationship with Jesus?

3)  Why would it be bad to “fall” in our relationship with Jesus?

4)  How is Paul kind of like the mother bear?  In what way is God like the mother bear?

PRAY
Jesus, thank you for these verses and warning.  Teach us to obey you when you call.  Teach us to quickly obey everyone who tries to keep us from danger.  Amen.

REPLY
Did you and your family enjoy this devotional blog? We'd love to know about it! Our hope is to continue providing this weekly opportunity for families to do a devotion together. If your family did this devotion, please shoot us an email, text or just post a comment to this blog.

EXPLORE IT - 1 Corinthians 10:11-12

1 Corinthians 10:11-12  These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.  ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

“That will never happen to me;” a statement most of us have said at one time or another when we find out someone we know has fallen into sin.  Maybe we learn someone is struggling with a substance abuse issue or is having an affair.  Maybe someone we know made some choices and is now having to file for bankruptcy.  We show concern, offer a listening ear, but in the back of our minds we’re thinking, “That will never happen to me.”

We think we are strong.  We think we are disciplined.  We know we would never make those mistakes.  The reality is that we all deal with temptation.  The challenge is realizing what tempts you may not tempt me.  Satan knows our weaknesses, he knows how to push our buttons, and he is clever in drawing us off God’s path one inch at a time.  From Genesis 3 when the serpent tempted Eve to eat from the Tree of Life through Revelation 12:9 where Satan is labeled as the one, “who leads the whole world astray,” Scripture is filled with stories of people who thought they were standing firm and eventually fell in one way or another. 

From King David, a man God labeled, “a man after his (God’s) own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) who then had an affair with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) to the Apostle Peter who declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you,” (Matthew 26:35) and then Peter denies Jesus three times (Matthew 26:75), Scripture tells stories again and again that should warn us to be humble.  We must humbly remain in God’s presence, seeking His guidance, asking for Him to reveal anything in us that is not of Him, show us any area in our life where we are letting temptation rear its ugly head so that we might build a fence around ourselves in order to keep the sin our of our lives.

In our passage this week, Paul continues to encourage us to not be arrogant in believing we are invincible to sin, but reminds us that we must always be on the alert.  1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  Continue to keep your eyes open and never assume “That will never happen to me.”

Blessings,
Pastor Amy

READ IT! - iROCK - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

 During the iRock sermon series, we're studying 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 each day.

"For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

- I Corinthians 10: 1-13

PREPARE FOR IT! - iROCK - 1 Corinthians 10:1-3

 During the iRock sermon series, we're studying 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.

"For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

- I Corinthians 10: 1-13