The Mid-Week Update!!!

Lesson Recap

Numbers-1:1-8:26

Stay True To Your Commitments 6:1-15

Summary of Background Material:

1:1-2:24 This section describes the preparation for the journey from Mt. Sinai to Canaan.  the first task was to get a count of all males 20 years and older (excluding Levites) for military purposes. The total number of fighting men was 603,550

3:1-4:49 Special instructions were given for a census of the Levites not included in the military count.  The Levites' solemn duties emphasized the vital role they performed in the worship of God.

5:1-6:27 Instructions were given regarding ceremonial cleanliness, compensation for offenses, marital fidelity, Nazerite vows, and blessings.

7:1-8:26 Instructions were given for consecrating sacrifices, lamps for the tabernacle, and ceremonial cleansing of the Levites.

This lesson focused on God's expectations of faithfulness in a study of the ancient Nazerite vow.  The emphasis is on keeping our promises to God and our fellow man regardless of the cost.

Take Your Commitments Seriously vv 1-8

In v.2 we see for the first time in scripture the term 'Nazerite'.  The Hebrew term, Nazir, means to dedicate or consecrate.  Thus a Nazerite is a dedicated or consecrated person.  The person is the one who chooses to be consecrated, not God. The first Nazirite mentioned in the Bible is Samson in Judges 13.  Paul took two vows. The Nazerite vow included 3 prohibitions.  They are:

1. Vv 3-4 Abstinence from anything produced from the grapevine
2. Vv 5-6 Not cutting one's hair during the period of the consecration
3. Vv 7-8Not coming in contact with a dead body

What is it about these three prohibitions that might cause one to count the cost and take the Nazerite vow seriously?  What are some commitments we make to God that might cause us to count the cost? 

Rededicate Yourself When Needed vv 9-12
In these verses we see that for the when the Nazerite vow concerning 'no contact with a dead body was broken', then the only fix was restitution and rededication.  God made a way for people to continue their vows even after breaking the because He is merciful and wants to help us succeed in keeping our commitments to serve him.  There are four basic suggestions on what we should do when we drop the ball on a commitment we made to God:

1. Confess
2. Repent
3. Rededicate
4. Complete

Honor God From Start To Finish vv 13-15
Most commitments are costly.  Would you say the greatest cost is in making or keeping the commitment and why?  The offering made at the conclusion of the vow was costly because God required a demonstration and acknowledgement of God's worthiness.

Conclusion: How do my offerings of time, talents, and finances demonstrate my view of God's worthiness?

SPOT Super Bowl Party

February 5th at 5:30 PM at the Hurts.  bring a snack to share, and join in on the fun, fellowship, and football.  Map is in the upper right hand corner of this blog!  There will be a corresponding youth party at the Howards. Details on the youth party to come!

SPOT Lunch

...will be at Fazoli's on Jeffco Blvd. in Arnold next Sunday right after class.  Come join us for some Italian cuisine!

  

Snacks

• 1/29 Phillips
• 2/5 Perry
• 2/12 Hurt

Prayer Requests

• Pray for Rich and Linda Conrad on the passing of Rich's dad, Sylvester.  
• Prayer of thanks and healing for Mark Sweetnam, Concord's primary bass guitar player. He underwent quadruple bypass surgery yesterday morning.
• From Terresa-Pray for JT's lack of sleep from work Nights are starting to have a huge affect on him.
• Prayer of thanks for Kevin's brother-in-law.  the nodules found in his lungs are not believed to be malignant.
• Pray for Curtis, a child on Jim's basketball team.  He had surgery on his elbow.
• Pray for Zenobia's upcoming surgery on both hands.
• Pray for Kevin's friend and mentor who is suffering from a rare disease.    

 

  

Rich Conrad's Father

Dear friends,

Everything happened so fast, and we've been overwhelmed with emotion and arrangements for the family, so if you didn't know this already...we apologize.

Rich's Dad had a massive stroke sometime during sleep hours Saturday night into Sunday morning, and it was more than his 96 year old body could throw off. He fought hard, but his labored breathing took a toll on him, and he died at 11:34 p.m. Sunday night, January 22 at St. Clare Medical Center in Fenton.

 

He lived a long life of 96 years, and we have been so blessed to have had him living with us here in St. Louis for the last 3 months. There is much to be thankful for and lots of special memories, but now he's home in that glorious mansion that Jesus said He was preparing for him.

 

Rich and I will be travelling to Kansas later this morning for his funeral and burial. All of our family will be attending as well.

 

Here's the arrangements for Rich's Dad ~ Sylvester G. Conrad

This Friday, January 27, 2012

4:00 - 8:00 p.m. visitation/service at Janousek Funeral Home in LaCrosse, Kansas

Saturday, January 28, 2012

10:30 a.m. -- Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in McCracken, Kansas (Rich's hometown)

Memorials

In lieu of flowers, any memorials should be made out to:

"Saint Mary's McCracken Heritage Association"

Address: 304 E. Florence, Rush Center, KS 67575

This is an association that was formed by the parish members of St. Mary's in order to preserve the beautiful St. Mary's Church, of which Sylvester was a parishioner.

 

Thanks,

Rich & Linda

 

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday today to Justin Cole!!!

Prayer Request

Mark Sweetnam (Concord's primary bass guitar player) is having bypass surgery this Wednesday morning at 9 am. Please pray for him and his wife, Kathy.

Update on Rich Conrad's Dad

Hello,

 

Thank you for your prayers for my father-in-law. As you know from an email I asked Taryn to send...Rich's Dad had a massive stroke. It occurred sometime during the night after we all went to bed on Saturday night. We found him with slurred speech in his bed Sunday morning when we were getting ready for church. His whole left side was unresponsive, and we called 911 right away.

After a long hard day at St. Clare Hospital...he fought till the end, and he died last night at 11:34 p.m.

His body will be sent home to Kansas, and the funeral will be at a funeral home in LaCrosse, Kansas.

 

We will be making arrangements today with Rich's brother Roy (the one who had 2 strokes in the fall and who lives in Dad's hometown of McCracken, KS), and it may be this weekend. 

 

Please also pray for Brian Carosone's Aunt Barb as she went in the hospital yesterday throwing up blood. She was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Thanks,

Linda