The Mid-Week Update...Express Edition!!!

Where's My Future Headed?

..is the title of the current portion of our study of Kings.  This weeks lesson will be centered on 2 Kings 24.

Easter EGGstravaganza 

...can use a few more volunteers.  Volunteer opportunities can be found on the sign up sheet in this week's SPOT Folder.

Linda Radick Offering

The envelope for this will be in this weeks SPOT folder, as well. For further details, see the blog post prior to this one.

Prayer Requests

• Continued prayers for Zenobia.
• Prayers of thanks that the doctors have determined that Kevin can be treated with medication.  He got home on Tuesday.

   

 

The Late mid-Week Update!!!

Since we had a Sunday of great fellowship instead of a lesson, there is no lesson recap.  Just a few familiar items to report:

Volunteering

Tomorrow volunteers from our class will be working on the Atrium as part of the church's Spring Cleaning.  We are still in need of folks to help at the Easter Egg-stravaganza.  Traditionally our class has worked in a game room, and I suspect once I let Debbie know how many folks are helping that it will be the same!

SPOT Camping Trip

I am still trying to get this put together.  The place were we held this last year is booked solid.  If anyone has any alternatives please give me a holler, or email to thespotspot@charter.net

Prayer Requests

• Continued prayers for Zenobia
• Please pray for Kevin's nephew who was in the Hyland Center this week after taking too much of his ADD medication.
• Pray for spiritual guidance for the church during the ongoing budget.

 

  

Winterjam!!!

If any adults or kids are interested in going to Winterjam on April 1rst, Lesa Stewart has reserved a van to take folks!  You can find more information on this amazing event by going here.  Contact Lesa if you are interested in going!

SPOTMail!!

Lesson Preview

We started a new unit of study last week titled, "Where's My Future Headed?"

We determined none of us can say with certainty that we know where our future is headed.  We do have hopes, dreams, plans and goals, but that's about as far as it goes. 

This week's lesson is about a child protege.  Josiah became king of Judah at age eight.  Suppose you are living in Judah under the leadership of an 8-year-old king; talk about an uncertain future!  Especially considering his father and grandfather were both evil (ungodly) rulers.  But there is a surprise awaiting us.  I hope to see you Sunday as we discuss it.  If you can't wait -- read about it in 2 Kings 21-23. 

See you Sunday,
Don

Church Work Day

April 2 is a church-wide Spring Cleaning day.  We are volunteering as a class to tackle one of the many projects that day.  There's an entire punch-list of items, from cleaning up the landscaping to painting the halls.  A sign-up sheet will be in the SPOTfolder so we know how many will be helping.  Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided for lunch.

Egg-stravaganza

Egg-stravaganza, the annual Easter party for our community, is on Saturday, April 16, 9 -11 a.m.  Volunteers are needed to help in this wonderful family ministry.  You can serve in a game room, help with crafts, hide eggs, supervise the chaotic hunt or donate a gift basket.  As usual, the sign-up sheet is in the SPOTfolder . . . so join in and have some fun!

SPOTlunch

SPOTlunch this week meets at El Maguey's in Concord Plaza right after class.  It's top-notch Mexican cuisine and, of course, the fellowship is always top-notch . . . well, maybe a little spotty at times . . . but you still won't want to miss it.

Big Chill-i Dinner

Thanks to everyone who made our Chili dinner for the kids last Saturday a success!  Kevin has pictures on the blog you'll want to check out.  You also may hear a report this Sunday about all the blessings coming out of this year's event.

Snacks  

• 3/27    Luther  
• 4/3      Meinhardt
• 4/10    Decker

Prayer Requests

• Zenobia thanks everyone for the loving support for her and her kids and asks for continued prayers for her muscle aches from the cancer medication.
• Lori Robbins is still suffering from shingles.
• Concord's continuing search for a fine arts minister
• Alan Decker's child custody dispute
• For Susan Hurt's mother, Marilyn, who is back in the hospital
• Church staff members, including Zenobia, dealing with pay cuts and restructuring
• Joe & Patti Endejan's business
• Those traveling during spring break

The Mid-Week Update!!!

Lesson Recap

Where's My Future Headed

2 Kings 18-20

Bible in Context: 

    From this point forward only the Southern Kingdom (Judah) remained.  A brief review of the Northern Kingdom's demise appears in 18:9-12, placed there most likely as a historical reminder that sets the stage for the Assyrian invasion of Judah during Hezekiah's reign.

Opposite Fates 18:1-12- Hezekiah became king of Judah six years prior to Israel's fall and exile.  Hezekiah and Hoshea, last king of Israel, went in opposite ways spiritually.  Hezekiah was a man of faith who attempted to govern Judah in line with God's covenant law.  The biblical writer commended Hezekiah's faith and unwavering devotion to the Lord.  Not so much with Hoshea.  He ruled over a people who persistently disobeyed the Lord.  That is why God allowed/caused Israel to be taken into captivity by the Assyrians.

Divine Deliverance 18:13-19:37- In Hezekiah's 14th year as king, Judah was invaded by Sennacherib, king of Assyria.  Hezekiah tried to avoind defeat and destruction by paying a heavy tribute to Sennacherib.  However, the king of Assyria demanded the total surrender of Jerusalem and it's people.  Encouraged by a prophetic message from Isaiah, Hezekiah prayed to the Lord for deliverance, and the Lord miraculously delivered the city.

Added Time 20:1-11- Suffering with a terminal illness, Hezekiah prayed for the Lord to remember his faithfulness. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord informed Hezekiah that 15 years would be added to his life.  The Lord confirmed the prophet's message with a miraculous sign.

Foolish Attitude 20:12-21- When the king of Babylon sent envoys and a gift to Hezekiah during his illness, Hezekiah foolishly responded by showing the envoys all the palace treasures.  Isaiah confronted the king about his inappropriate action and delivered a prophecy that Babylon would one day take the royal treasures along with the kings descendants into captivity.

Got to Have Hope 18:28; 19:5-9

Setting for 18:28-32- In the first part of chapter 18 the Bible writer portrayed Hezekiah as a profoundly faithful and successful king.  Not only did he keep the covenant and do what was right in terms of the law God gave to Moses, but he also strove to give Judah political and military independence. He ceased submitting to the Assyrians, and beat back the Phillistines.  In retaliation for Hezekiahs rebellion-the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, captured many of the forfeited cities.  Hezekiah tried to buy peace by paying tribute to Sennacherib.  In vv 17-18 we learn in Jerusalem officials from both kings met, and the king of Assyria made his demands known.  The Assyrian official questioned the wisdom of Hezekiahs rebellion and his alliance with Egypt, offered terms of peaceful resolution, insulted the Israelites military, and even claimed that the Lord, the God of the Israelites had sent him.  The fact that Rabshakeh (a title-not a name) spoke Hebrew showed that his goal was to add confusion and discouragement to the entire population, as well as to engage in official talks with Hezekiah.

Resist Temptations to Distrust 18:28-32

     Rabshakeh  wanted them to give up hope God could rescue them-, and to believe that Hezekiah was deceiving them and that if they surrendered they would prosper.  When and how are believers tempted to trust in people or things rather than God?  You are a Japanese believer living in Japan and severely affected by the recent devastation.  What implications does this point of study have for you?

Gain Strength From Other Believers 19:5-7

     To reassure the king's servants the first assured them that the words came from the Lord's heart-do not fear-God will deal with the Assyrian king.  Consider examples in your own life when other believers were a comfort to you.

Boldly Request God's Help 19:15-19

     Hezekiah asked God to listen, hear and open eyes, and to save His people from Assyria.  Hezekiahs request was not only for deliverance, but also that God would make Himself known to all the kingdoms of earth.  Vv 25-36 describes how God himself answered Hezekiah's prayer.  By making a bold request of God, Hezekias showed in confidence in God in the face of difficult circumstances.  How can you and I show our confidence in God's power through our prayers?  Remember a time when you have seen God's work in seemingly hopeless situations in your own life or the lives of others.  How does seeing past successes give one confidence in the future?  

Conclusion:

    What word best describes how you feel about your future?  What are some uncertainties that affect your future?  God would have us trust in His saving power-resulting in a hopeful outlook.  What are some strategies we could use for relying on God's power?  Ideas include reading the Bible, regular prayer, and to seek advice from mature believers .  There are many more ideas.

Many parents of teens worry about the uncertainty of the future.  However, believers can have the firm assurance that their future lies securely in God's hands.

Personal Challenge:

     List some of the uncertainties that affect your future.  Next, pray, placing these uncertainties in God's hands!

Volunteering

We have several upcoming opportunity to help the ministry here at Concord. We have the upcoming on April 16th the Easter Egg-stavaganza, where they need people to help man game and craft booths, help with the Easter egg hunt, or supply a gift basket.  We also have a Spring Cleaning day on Saturday April 2nd.  Our class has been given the assignment to clean sconces and windows in the Atrium.  A hamburger and hot dog lunch will be provided.  Sign up sheets for both of these events are in the SPOT folder.  You are encouraged to sign up for one...or both!

Big Chill-i Supper

All those present last Saturday had a great time serving tons of chili.  We have received countless thanks from the kids for the dinner.  Here are a few photos of the serving line!

 

Snacks

• 3/27 Luther
• 4/3 Meinhardt
• 4/10 Decker

SPOTLunch

 

...will be this Sunday (27th) after class.  We will be dining at El Maguey's in Concord Plaza.  Come enjoy some fun and fellowship!  

Prayer Requests

 

• Zenobia has asked for a prayer of thanks for the loving support for her and her kids.  She is also asking for prayers for muscle aches from the cancer medication.
• For Lori Robbins as she continues with the pain and fatigue from shingles.
• For the continuing search for a fine arts minister.
• For Alan Decker as he is having ongoing child custody issue with his ex wife.
• For Susan Hurt's mother, Marilyn, who is back in the hospital with what appears to be kidney issues.

 

SPOTmail!!

Lesson Preview

We start a new unit of study this week titled "Where's My Future Headed?"  Isn't it a little bit funny:  as teens, we were asking that question, and now, as parents of teens, we continue to ask the same question.

We spend a lot of time thinking about, planning for, and working toward the future.  Yet none of us can say with certainty that we know where our future is headed.  The background material for this week is 2 Kings, chapters 18-20.  The lesson comes from the last part of chapter 18 and the first half of chapter 19.  I'm still working on a title. 

Look at 18:28-32.  Is it just me, or does this sound like something we would hear coming out of Libya today?  It is simply amazing -- the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

Pray for the teens this weekend.  Pray for the parents of the teens.  Times like this have great hope for positive things. 

See you Sunday,
Don

Like to volunteer? Well, you can pick your poison!

We've got something for everyone on any weekend you're available!

Big Chill-i Dinner

Big Chill is this weekend (March 19), so be ready to help us serve a lot of kids on Saturday.  We'll open the kitchen at 4 p.m. to begin preparing the chili.  Dinner is served at 6 p.m., so make sure your goodies are at church by then, and, if you're helping to serve, you might want to be on hand by 5:30 p.m. at the latest.  Several of you have signed up to bring desserts -- don't forget we're feeding about 100 kids and a lot of them are teenage boys.  Need we say more?

Church Work Day

April 2 is a church-wide Spring Cleaning day.  We are volunteering as a class to tackle one of the many projects that day.  There's an entire punch-list of items, from cleaning up the landscaping to painting the halls.  A sign-up sheet will be in the SPOTfolder so we know how many will be helping.  Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided for lunch.

Egg-stravaganza

It's time for Egg-stravaganza!  Can Easter be far behind?  It's the annual Easter party for our community on Saturday, April 16, 9 -11 a.m.  Volunteers are needed to help in this wonderful family ministry.  You can serve in a game room, help with crafts, hide eggs, supervise the chaotic hunt, or donate a gift basket.  As usual, the sign-up sheet is in the SPOTfolder . . . so join in and have some fun!

SPOTlunch

It's been nearly two years since SPOTlunch met at El Maguey's in Concord Plaza.  Just so you can plan ahead, we're headed there again on Sunday, March 27 (that's next week for those of you who don't have your Blackberry handy).  The Mexican cuisine here is more authentic than many, so you'll be in for a treat.  Don't miss it! 

Snacks  

• 3/20    LaRowe
• 3/27    Luther  
• 4/3      Meinhardt

Prayer Requests

• Zenobia's continued recovery
• Thanksgiving that Kevin's sister's job was restored 
• Concord's kids are blessed through Big Chill this weekend 
• Ronda Bradshaw's stepbrother Michael's recovery from abcess surgery
• Church staff dealing with pay cuts and restructuring
• Joe & Patti Endejan's business

Prayer Request

...from Joe and Patti Endejan:

Hi there,

It is not often we ask for prayer requests for ourselves but we would truly appreciate you adding this to your prayers and pass along in your classes/friends/lifegroups at your discretion. 

We know many are having hardships now with the economy and we have been blessed so far that God has always worked it out for us. We know God will get us through, He always has, but we would appreciate the extra prayer support from our family. All we are asking for is prayers for the work to start coming in for Joe, and us to have the strength and wisdom to get us through.  Thank you.

In His Love and Care,

Joe and Patti

The Mid-Week Update!!!

Lesson Recap

Does My Decision Matter

2 Kings 11-17

Bible in Context:  2 Kings 11-17

     In the prior background passages, we saw that both King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah fell victim to Jehu's purge of the royal family of Ahab.  Jehu reigned 28 years over the northern kingdom.  Then at his death, Jehu's Jehoahaz became king.  The background passages for this lesson covered Judah's history from the reign of King Ahaziah and Israel's history from the reign of King Jehoahaz to the fall of the Northern Kingdom.

Reforms and Repairs-11:1-12:21:  After the death of King Ahaziah, his mother Athaliah usurped the throne and ruled over Judah for six years.  She sought to destroy all of the descendants of King David who might claim the throne.  She almost succeeded.  One prince, Joash, was rescued and hidden by Jehoiada, a priest of the Lord.  Jehoiada led a successful overthrow of the queen, established Joash on the throne, and then initiated a covenant reform movement. In time, Joash supported the reforms by insisting that repairs be made to the temple and by demanding better accountability for temple finances.  Eventually, however, a threatened attack on Jerusalem by the Arameans forced Joash to empty both the royal and temple treasures to buy a non-aggression policy from the king of Aram.  Joash reigned a total of 40 years in Jerusalem; but his servents conspired against him, and two of them assassinated him.

Gains and Losses-13:1-15:38:  In semi-altering fashion, these three chapters cover the reigns of eight successive kings of Israel, and the three successive kings of Judah.  Embedded in the description of these kings reigns are brief notices about the prophet Elisha's sickness and death and the Lord's grace and mercy toward His people.

Alliances and Disaster-16:1-17:41:  Chapter 16 describes the reign of Aha in Judah and the alliance he made with the king of Assyria against the kings of Israel and Aram, who had formed a separate alliance.  As a result of his alliance with the king of Assyria, Ahaz imported idolatrous worship into the temple at Jerusalem.  Chapter 17 includes a description of the reign of Hoshea, Israel's final ruler, and a prophetic explanation of the fall of the Northern Kingdom.  The chapter ends with a narrative about the foreign peoples who were settled in the territory once comprising the Northern Kingdom. 

What words do we use to describe sin?  In using these words, do we attempt to minimize the impact of sin?  Some adults disregard God's laws and live as they choose.  Others are aware of their sin, but try and hide it.  God calls us to examine our lives and quickly repent of our disobedient attitudes or actions. This lesson is not what we would think of as a fun topic.  But it is in the Bible, and is a continuation of our story.

If You Gonna Dance-You Gotta Pay The Fiddler  17:5-20

Payday Someday R.G Lee, (1886-1978) 5-9

      Israel had been entangled in years of increasing and political and social chaos, led by a series of rulers who rebelled against God.  God had promised the judgment was coming because of their disobedience.  Because of this, God allowed/caused the Assyrians to invade the land, capture the capital city of Samaria, and deport the Israelites.  This happened due to their persistent sinfulness. What consequences can we expect if we live in rebellion against God?  Sometimes punishment comes from God.  Sometimes God simply allows the consequences of sin to run their course.

Turn or Burn Charles H. Spurgeon, (1834-1892)  13-15

     God sent prophets and seers to speak warnings to the people urging them to turn away from their sin.  Grace and patience describe Go's warnings  The people rejected the words of God's prophets and seers.  The chased after idols adopting the habits of the pagan nations.  Today we put jobs, relationships, or material things ahead of our relationship with God.  We allow ourselves to be molded and shaped by our culture instead of being God's salt and light in the culture.

Sinners In The Hands of an Angry God Jonathan Edwards, (1703-1758) 18-20

     Because of His anger against their sin, God allowed the nation of Israel to be defeated and taken into exile.  How does our sin impact our relationship with God?  We can be forgiven, but sin always affects our relationship with God and others.  God warns his people today to repent by using warnings that come through His word, through Bible teachers and preachers, and through examples from history.

Conclusion:  Ignoring the Lord's warning regarding disobedience invites the Lord's judgment.

Big Chill-i Dinner

The time is almost upon us!  Big Chill is this weekend, and Saturday we are serving our kids a chili supper!  Doors will be open for those helping with preparation at 4.  Those helping make deserts (keep in mind that we are feeding around 100 kids!) can bring them anytime before dinner.  Dinner will be at 6, so those helping to serve should be in their places by then!

SPOTlunch

 ...will take place the Sunday after next (March 27th).  We will be dining at El Maguey's.  

Church Work Day

 On April 2nd there will be a church-wide spring cleaning day.  We will be volunteering as a class to tackle one of the many projects that day.  A sign-up sheet will be in the SPOTfolder so we know how many will be helping.  A lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided.

Easter Egg-stravaganza

This annaul event will be held on Saturday, April 16th from 9 to 11.  Volunteers are needed to help in this wonderful family ministry.  You can serve in a game room, serve in a crafts room, hide eggs and supervise the hunt, or donate a gift basket.  As usual the sign-up sheet is in the SPOT folder...so join in and have some fun!

Snacks

• 3/20 the LaRowe
• 3/27 the Luther's  
• 4/3 the Meinhardt's

Prayer Requests

• Continued prayers for Zenobia
• A prayer of thanksgiving that Kevin's sister will not lose her job after all
• Pray that our kids are blessed through the Big Chill this weekend.  Ask God to open their hearts to the passages they will be studying about.  They are Romans 3:24, Romans 8:29, John 3:17, and Romans 10:14.

• Ronda Bradshaw's stepbrother Michael is recovering from abscess surgery on his arm,  The surgery proved to be more complicated than expected.  Please pray for a full recovery.