ctt-20100131

Last Updated 9.28.10

October 17 - Don't Go Fishing?

(Jonah)

[Possible Kid's Story?]

Sunday Morning: Daybreak & Refresh

Jonah; Philippians 3:20-21
Matthew 5:3-12
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:43-47
To what nation do you give your greatest loyalty? To what nation to do you pledge your allegiance? What is the greatest enemy threatening that nation?
These are questions that are all raised by the book of Jonah! They are troubling questions because the answers we normally give are all wrong!
The story of Jonah reveals a prophet who knows this is true, yet his hate for his national enemy is so great, he would rather them be destroyed as his enemy than have them repent and become his brothers and sisters.
The story of Jesus is just the opposite. "Forgive them for they don't know ..." "Christ died, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God ..." Many of the first believers were those responsible for Jesus' death (Acts 2:33-37).
Our greatest hope as a world is not that the nations of Islam of be crushed, but that the lost of the world, including those who are Islamic, would come to Christ. Paul's words in Acts 17:29-31 still hold true and we want others to join us, and turn their hearts to Jesus, who died for all people so they could come to God (John 3:16-17; 1 John 2:1-2).
[Get Samuel's group to sing Jesus is the Answer on this Sunday?] [Tie into the 7 Nation Chorus in Thailand]
Focus: In the darkest moments in the world, the cure is not hate, it is not retribution, but it is Jesus' grace!

Sunday Evening: Sundown 10/17

From Craig Groeshel's book Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn't Exist.