I want us to be men of God. As men of God, we need to be in community. I love that we're all good friends. But more than being good friends, we need to be a community wherein which we are united in one thing. What is that thing?

Jesus Christ. We need to be united in Christ.

Hebrews 10:24-25

• Let us consider one another: Discouragement made them avoid community at the very time they needed it most. Jesus meets us in one another to stir up love and good works.
• Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together: Forsaking fellowship is a sure way to give place to discouragement. This festers where God’s people are not exhorting one another.
• Many go to church if they feel they “need it” at the time. But our motivation for fellowship must be to obey God and to give to others. We can go to church looking to encourage someone who needs to hang in there against a tide of discouragement.
• “Christian exhortation means the expression of our hearts to others to urge them to continue on the Christian path. It may include testimony, and often will necessitate warning.” (Newell)
• So much the more as you see the Day approaching: As the Day of Jesus’ return draws nearer, we should be more committed to the fellowship of God’s people, the assembling of ourselves together.

​Hebrews 10:1-23

• Let's look at the context. Why is Paul encouraging them to stick together?
• "We can draw near because several issues are settled. The problem of access to God has been settled. The problem of a perfect High Priest has been settled. The problem of moral and spiritual pollution has been settled."
• "Perhaps they thought they had many problems: persecution, difficult relationships, hard times with culture or economy. But the real problem was that their relationship with God wasn’t on track. They didn’t draw near to God on the basis of what Jesus did on the cross, through the empty tomb, and in heaven.. "

Hebrews 10:26-39

• Here is our worldview, our mindset. We need to continue encouraging each other in this. This is why Paul was encouraging them to stick together.

Do you know the best way to love someone? What is love?

• "Love is doing whatever you have do at whatever cost to yourself to make people as happy as they can be forever" - John Piper
• "Love is doing whatever you have to do at whatever cost to yourself to help people have an all satisfying passion for Jesus forever" - John Piper

Bibliography

• Enduring Word Media

Clip of Barry asking Patty out on a date

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRfaw__Uzmo

Intro: What does the Bible say about dating?

• "Nothing. And everything! Our challenge is to think biblically about an activity that isn't in the Bible." (Phillips 12)
• "Our approach is to take the biblical principles of a healthy marriage and work backwards to a healthy dating relationship. The foundations for a healthy, godly marriage begin while dating" (Phillips 13)
• We will be looking at God's design for marriage

Split into groups
The first marriage Adam and Eve

• Read Genesis 1:26-30, 2:18
• Is it a sin to have a crush on someone?
  • No, it's natural to have a crush on someone. God has wired us for life long marriages (Gen 2:18).
  • It's a God given desire. It wasn't been placed there because of the fall. It's in our wiring. That's why I think it's not a sin. Some people would use that argument and say "ohh well I am selfish because it's in our wiring". But the reason why you are selfish, isn't because God intended for you to be that way. But with crushes, I think God intended for us to have crushes. It's part of who we are as created people. So how does that glorify God? you might ask. It glorifies God because it is in line with God's intentions. Maybe you're not thinking in your mind "ohh I'm crushing on this girl because I want to glorify God" but you are following God's wiring for you and that glorifies God. Another question to add to: "does this glorify God?" is "Is this what God intended for His creation?"
  • Is it wise to tell your crush that you have a crush on them?
    • Don't do it.. hahaha tell those who are mentoring you about it.
    • It's tempting because then you can see if they like you too. Then you can like each other until it's time to get married. That's how I used to think.
    • God has not wired us for mutual understandings and long term relationships, but rather life long marriages.
• In our culture, pre-teenage/teenage dating is common and looked at as a part of life. Is this normal? Is this okay?
  • Yes, in our day, it is "normal". But what society deems as "normal" should not be indicator of whether or not something is okay. As Christians, we should be determining what is "okay" by looking at God's Word.
  • Reflect: If you want to be in a relationship, do you want to be in a relationship because you want to honor God? Or do you want to be in a relationship for selfish reasons?
  • Reflect: If you are already dating someone, how is that going? Do you feel anxious, unsatisfied, or angry?
    • If so, the reason is because the both of you are trying to find salvation, acceptance, and satisfaction in each other. The other person is your functional savior. That will never work out well because humans make bad saviors.
    • If you are already dating someone, don't be afraid to tell someone at church that you trust about it. We won't judge you.
• If we want to honor God in our relationships, we should let Genesis and the gospel dictate our approach toward relationships. Based on what we know from this section in Genesis and the gospel, how do we date someone in a way that honors God?
  • Look for someone who would help you grow in your relationship with God and become more like Christ.
    • In the gospel, we see God making a way for us to be saved, so that we can turn back to God in worship.
  • Men: Look for someone who can help you in ministry. Women: Look for someone who you can help in ministry
    • In Genesis, we see God has given Eve as a helper for Adam.
  • "Since marriage is God's regular intention for mankind, we should date with an eye toward marriage" (Phillips 21)
    • this means we should date knowing that the reason why we are dating is not just for fun, but because we both have an intention to get married and we want to see if this is someone I can marry.
  • We don't look to relationships for our joy and satisfaction, but rather we find joy and satisfaction in God. We remember our righteousness in Christ how we no longer need to find acceptance from a boyfriend/girlfriend, but we can find full acceptance from God because Jesus Christ is our righteousness.

Marriage: the gospel displayed

• Read Eph 5:22-33
• What is one of the main purposes of marriage?
  • Clue: Read 31-32
  • One of the main purposes of marriage is to display the gospel.
• How does knowing this truth affect the way we approach dating?
  • We date with an intention of marriage. That doesn't mean we date and we are already intending to marry this person. It just means that we date, but in our minds, we know that this isn't just for fun. We're trying to see if we can marry this person.
  • We look for someone who really understands the gospel and understands it in such a way that it impacts the way they live. That means we don't date non Christians or Christians who still don't understand the gospel that well yet. We only date when we understand the gospel. If there's evidence in your life that you don't really understand the gospel, then maybe you're not ready. For example, if you find yourself always yelling and arguing with your parents/siblings. Then there's something missing in your understanding of the gospel. You should address that first.

Two exhortations

• Don't date until you are ready
  • Don't date too young. A lot of things can happen. As in, you will go away to college. People change. It's too early. It's like deciding that a team will win the game and it's only the first quarter.
  • How do you know when you are "ready" to start dating? - Matt Chandler
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiodfOz6A3w
• Don't date a non Christian
  • Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
    (2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV)
  • Unequally yoked - chaseGodtv
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5FOFNWVgfc

Bibliography

• Holding Hands, Holding Hearts: Recovering a Biblical View of Christian Dating by Richard D. Phillips and Sharon L. Phillips

Since Christmas was around the corner, we decided to have a special Bible study. We had a short devotion, exchange of gifts, and a bonfire with smores.

Thanks to all the parents for bringing the youth and the food! Special thanks to Tita Gerrie, Tito Jojo, Tito Dennis, Tita Jean, Tita Eva, Kuya Jaymer, Kuya Jerome, and Ate Venia for all your help! PC: Kuya Jerome

Merry Christmas!

Below are the lesson notes:

Do you guys know what the meaning of Christmas is?

• It's a celebration of the birth of Jesus

Who celebrates Christmas?

• Christians
• Non Christians

Why do you think non Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus?

• Cultural
• Christmas has been redefined by American culture.
• We see Americans do a lot of this.
  • Redefinition of marriage
  • Redefinition of morals
  • Redefinition of where we should find fulfillment

Why do we redefine a lot of things?

• Because of our experiences
• We base it off of the way we think

Based on Romans, how do we think?

• In selfish ways
• We twist what God has given to us to glorify Him. In order to glorify ourselves.
• We change definitions that are given in the Bible to define them in a way to suit our needs

Take Christmas for example:

• Santa - a way to get children to behave
• Stores commercialize it to make profit
  • They say you want to know what you can give for Christmas? Give this.
• Movies released at Christmas time to make profit
  • Star wars
• Have you guys ever wondered why we give gifts to people when it's Jesus' birthday?
  • Nikki and Paulines birthdays. Can you imagine if we went to their parties and instead of celebrating them, we made the party about ourselves?

But how about in our own lives? How have we twisted what God has given us to satisfy ourselves?

• One thing that always bothers me is when people talk about love and relationships. I would argue that the ultimate purpose of relationships aren't for the other person to make you happy. But in Eph 5 we see that one of the main purposes of marriage is to put the gospel on display.
• Church. We have twisted the purpose of church in our lives. When I was growing up, the main reason why I went to church was to see my friends or to see the girl I liked. When the purpose of church isn't to be with friends but to commune together and learn about God.
• God. We have twisted the purpose of God in our lives. When do you go to God? When do you pray? Why did you want to become a Christian? Because you saw God as a means to an end. You think if you believe in God, everything in life will go fine. If you believe in God, you will go to heaven. If you believe in God, God will provide everything you need. How different is your belief in God to that of Santa Claus? If you're good, you will get this. Do you see how twisted we are?

​
We are twisted people. And this is why we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Because while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us. While we were twisted and selfish people, Christ died for us. God sent His own son to die on our behalf. So instead of looking at you and seeing the selfish twisted person that you are. When you put faith in Christ, God sees the perfect life of Jesus. Isn't that good news?

Turn with me to Matthew 1: 18-25:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
(Matthew 1:18-25)

Who is Jesus Christ? He was born to "save people from their sins". He is "God with us". Isn't that amazing?

Last week, we participated in Operation Christmas Child by the suggestion of TIta Gerrie. We believe that the gospel calls us to be outward focused. In Ephesians 2:13, we read "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." As we read verses like these, we begin to not only care about followers of Christ, but even those who do not know or even reject Christ. Understanding that Christ was excluded so that we could be included causes us to desire to share Christ's love and the gospel to others who are excluded.

Thank you to all the youth and parents who contributed and helped pack these boxes! Our hope and prayer is that the children who receive these boxes would come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a personal way.

Because this program (Operation Christmas Child) is through the organization, Samaritan's Purse, we decided to go through the parable of Great Samaritan that was taught by Jesus. Below are the lesson notes:

Luke 10:25-37
The Good Samaritan

• A lawyer, an expert in Jewish Mosaic and rabbinical law, was looking for answers from Jesus. Jesus had been preaching and performing miracles. The lawyer wanted to ask an important question.
• What shall I do to inherit eternal life?
• And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
• The lawyer then asks, "and who is my neighbor?"
  • Observation: why is the lawyer concerned about the "neighbor"? When we really consider what the words mean, then who among us has loved God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind? 
• Jesus answers the question with a parable. In the parable we see those who were supposed to help did not, and the one who we wouldn't think would help, the samaritan did.
• Conclusion: the power to love God and our neighbors
  • The power to love God and our neighbors comes from the Holy Spirit working in us to think deeply about the gospel.
  • Our default position as humans is to hate God and use people for our self benefit. It is only until we truly understand the gospel that we are able to repent and change from living for ourselves to living for God and others.
  • How?
  • In the gospel we see, Jesus going above and beyond what the good Samaritan did. The good Samaritan took his enemy and brought him to an inn. Jesus died for his enemies and brought them into the family of God.
  • It is in our understanding of this that we are able to extend this same love to others.
  • Before the gospel, we only saw people as tools to accomplish our selfish agendas. After the gospel, we find true joy in God and no longer turn to people for joy, but instead love them with the love we have been shown, a love that is unselfish and God honoring, seeking to help them know God as well.
  • If you have never experienced a true love, how can you expect to show true love to others?
  • “Let it never be forgotten that what the law demands of us the gospel really produces in us.” (Spurgeon)
• Bibliography
  • Enduring Word Media by David Guzik