ctt-20101114

Last Updated 11.12.10

November 21 - Not Hot Enough

(Shadrach, Meshach, Abnego)

[Possible Kid's Story?]

Sunday Morning: Daybreak & Refresh

Please still sing the song If You Say Go, We Will Go immediately before the message
Great Communion Focus would be Jesus in the Garden praying to His Abba Father, "Not my will, but yours be done."

Daniel 1:1-17; Daniel 3:1-30, esp. vs. 16-18; Luke 18:1-8; Romans 8:18 -> Hebrews 12:12-14
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Times are dark. They couldn't be much darker. Handsome guys for the ruling class are hauled from the homes, their homes and nation are destroyed, and they are selected to serve the King of their enemies -- i.e., very likely to be perceived as traitors by their own people. They know they will constantly walk the tightrope between their faithfulness to God and the job to which they've been assigned, which ensures the preservation of their own lives. Time and time again, they choose faithfulness ... regardless of consequence.
Nothing, however, gets to the bottom line of the issue quite like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abnego's statement in Daniel 3:16-18. God can do it, but even if he doesn't we will be faithful!
Jesus asks us to pray, believing that God will hear and answer. But there are times when it seems he either doesn't hear or doesn't answer.
- In addition to the Psalms that allow us to cry out, what will we do?
- Will we be faithful "even if ..." or will be faithful "only if ..."?
Key Point: Faithfulness is not about God doing what He promises, but it is about what we do when we don't seem those promises happening soon enough in our time -- we must help each other be faithful "even if ..."!

Sunday Evening: Sundown November 21

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