Bill Maye

iwantanewmarriage - What's Got To Happen For a Marriage To Work? - Wk2

Marriage is tough. Without a passionate relationship with Christ, marriage becomes next to impossible.
Two people placed together with different backgrounds, beliefs, personalities and preferences that do
not have Jesus as the unchanging center of their lives, practically destines a marriage to fail. Jesus is that important. It’s not enough to say, “Yeah, we’re Christians.” In order for the marriage relationship to endure, our connection to Jesus must be dynamic.

>> Do you believe that marriage is sacred? Why do you think the divorce rate among Christians is no different than among non-Christians?

>> Why does God hate divorce? Why do so many believe that divorce is not a sin? (Malachi 2:16, Matthew 5:31-32)

>> Why does the misconception of love hurt so many relationships? Please read 1 Corinthians 13.

>> From a biblical standpoint, what is love? It has been said that love is a decision not a feeling. Do you believe that is true?

>> What misconceptions about marriage did you have before the nuptials? What kinds of questions should singles ask before marrying?

Many say, “God doesn’t want me to be miserable,” as a justification for seeking divorce.  Jesus tells us
in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will
have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  Is happiness your right as a believer?
How has Jesus made your marriage better?

>> What are you doing to make your relationship with Jesus stronger? How can you protect the integrity of your marriage?

>> How can you keep finances from becoming your Achilles heel?
>> Are you communicating well and enough?
>> Are you spending time together?
>> Are you meeting each others emotional and physical needs?

If you’re not asking your spouse these questions, you should start. Today.

iwantanewmarriage - Forgive & Live - Wk1

Here are some study notes for you guys that want to go deeper.

Bill

Read 2 Samuel 11.1-27. All the lies and deceit, the adultery and the murder began with David taking a stroll on the roof of his palace. For David, apathy toward his integrity led him to eventual personal disaster.  Everyday thousands of marriages end in divorce because couples fail to proactively protect their marriage.  Decisions made about your relationship early while things are going great will payoff later during times of hardship and temptation.

>> What are some things that can be done to affair proof a marriage? What is keeping you from proactively protecting your marriage?

>> What unrealistic views of marriage do you think exist among singles? What kinds of choices should be made about your marriage before actually getting married?

Read Matthew 5:27-30. What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it way”? What kinds of things can you remove from your life that will help your marriage?

Read 2 Corinthians 10:5. What strategies do you use to help you overcome temptation?     

Read Ephesians 6:10-18. What defenses have we been given against attacks from the enemy? How are you using those weapons to your advantage?

>> What do you feel is the biggest cause of adultery?

>> What do you think your needs are? Why is it difficult to communicate those needs to your spouse?

>> Do you think you’re expecting your spouse to meet needs that only God can meet?

Ephesians 5:1-3 says, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”  The Bible says that there should not be even a hint of sexual immorality and yet we’ve all caught ourselves asking the question, “How close can I get to the edge without falling?” Shouldn’t we instead be asking, “How close to Jesus can I get?”

New Series Comming Next Week - Zip It!

These gas prices are out of control.  I don’t like this, and I don’t like that.  I hate this and I hate that.  Do you ever think that God may get sick and tired of hearing our negative words?  The Bible says in the tongue there is the power of life and death.  So many of us speak words of death:  complaining, gossiping, lying, criticizing.  We are going to speak words of life, and when it comes to words of death, we are going to zip it.

Starting Next Week at BCC!

Practical Atheist Week #4

Open

Describe what your life was like before coming to know Christ.

How was your life changed when you entered into an intimate relationship with Him?

Explore

Read Matthew 7:15-23. In this passage Jesus compares true disciples as being like trees that bear fruit. 

> Against whom did Jesus warn us? Why?  (7:15)
> What do false prophets look like on the outside? (7:15)
> What are false prophets like inwardly? (7:15)
> How did Christ say we could recognize false prophets? (7:16, 20)
> What does nature reveal about a tree and its fruit? (7:16)
> What kind of fruit do good trees bear? Why? (7:17-18)
> What type of produce grows on bad trees? Why? (7:17-18)
> What happens to trees that fail to produce good fruit? (7:18)
> Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? (7:21)
> How will some people try to talk their way into heaven? (7:22)
> What credentials or accomplishments will some people claim? (7:22)
> How will Jesus respond to these impostors? (7:23)
> What is necessary for entry into heaven? (7:23)

Reflect

>> Why do you think we continue to sin if we have Christ in our heart and the Holy Spirit in our lives?
>> What does this passage tell us about the importance of doing good works? 
>> How do good works and salvation fit together? 
>> How can people be "religious" yet not follow Christ?  
>> What kind of good works have you been working to produce  lately? 
>> What evidence in your life points others to your relationship with Jesus?

Apply

What are some specific things you can do this week that will help you allow God to cultivate a deeper relationship with you?

In what area of your life right now do you have the greatest opportunity to increase your  good works?  

Practical Atheist Week #5

For Further Study
 
John 12:12-19

Open: 

How do people usually react when they meet a celebrity? Why?  Who are today's religious celebrities?  

Explore: 

> What had the crowd heard about Jesus? (12:12) 
> How did the crowd greet Jesus when He arrived in Jerusalem? (12:13) 
> What prophetic event took place? (12:14-15) 
> When did Jesus' disciples realize the significance of these events? (12:16) 
> What did the crowd that was with Jesus do when He raised Lazarus? (12:17) 
> Why did many of the people go out to meet Jesus? (12:18) 
>How did the Pharisees react to this event? (12:19) 

Contemplate: 

>> What did you hear about Jesus that led you to seek Him? 
>> When are you reluctant to allow Jesus to take His rightful place as King in your life? 
>> How should we honor and worship Jesus as King?  

Apply: 

How will you honor and worship Jesus with your life today?

Psalm 96:1-13

Open: 

> What are some common elements of worship in your church? 
> For you, what can cause church worship services to become stale or boring?  

Explore: 

>> What call introduces the psalm? (96:1-3) 
>> How far did the psalm writer want the praise of God's people to extend? (96:1-3) 
>> What reasons did the psalm writer give to the nations to praise the Lord? (96:1-13) 
>> What does this psalm reveal about God's character? (96:1-13) 
>> Why should God's people be motivated to praise God? (96:4-6) 
>> Whom did the psalm writer call to worship God? (96:7-9) 
>> What will motivate creation to praise the Lord? (96:11-13)  

Contemplate: 

What should be our motivation in praising God? 
What about nature inspires you to praise God? 
What kind of worship does God desire?

Apply: 

What is one thing you can do to revive your worship of God or make it more meaningful?

30 Day Challenge Day 23

I know, it's been awhile.  I've just not been able to sit down long enough to share my thoughts.  I will tell you that the middle section of proverbs has got it going on!!!!  There's some good stuff in there.

So I'm going to start back at today.

Proverbs 23:17-18 - Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.  18 You will be rewarded for this;  your hope will not be disappointed.

This verse really speaks to me every time I read it because I seem to always do this.  I see people who don't care anything about God and they appear to be successful and it pisses me off!  The biggest reason I do this is because having faith can sometimes be hard.  It's that total trust in God for what I hope for and the inability to create it on my own.  That goes against my very nature and it's a discipline to wait for the Lord to move.

What I need to realize is that success is not measured by appearances.  Those who might appear to be successful on the outside could be the most miserable people on the inside.

Bill

What do ya do on a Snow Day?

Well we only get snow about once every 4 years so when it comes we take serious advantage of it. Michelle & I went to the Waffle House for breakfast & then rode around & took pictures... well she did anyway, I just drove. "Where yous want me ta drive ya now misssss Mayyyeessssyyy?" LOL!!!!

Practical Atheist Week #3

Here's a study guide for those of you who want to go beyond the Sunday experience.

Open

What does it mean to you to be truly happy?
Why do most people want more money than they already have?

Explore

Read Ecclesiastes 5:1-20

This passage explores the futility of wealth and how it does not
lead to true happiness. 

>> How should a person go into the house of God? (5:1)
>> How did Solomon encourage us to conduct ourselves in the house
of God? (5:2-3)
>> What did Solomon say about vows made to God? (5:4-6)
>> Why should we stand in awe of God? (5:7)
>> What should not surprise us? (5:8-9)
>> What grievous evil did Solomon notice? (5:13-17)
>> What is good and proper for a person to do? (5:18)
>> What sort of experience did Solomon describe as a gift from God?
(5:19)
>> What does this verse say happens to the person who has wealth
and possessions? (5:20)

Reflect

>> Why is it important to approach God with the right attitude? 
>> Why is it hard to keep the promises we make to God? 
>> What does it mean to you to stand in awe of God? 
>> Why is money unable to bring happiness or contentment in our
lives?
>> If we cannot take anything with us when we die, why do you think
we work so hard to acquire things in our lives?
>> How should we go about finding satisfaction in our daily work? 
>> What does it mean to accept one’s lot in life?
>> What is the connection between accepting one’s lot in life and
finding happiness? 
>> Why is it so hard for us to accept our lot in life? 

Apply

What is one thing you can change today in your life that will help
shift your focus away from money and possessions and back 
towards God?

What can you do this week to accept and better appreciate the
things God has given to you? 

30 Day Challenge Day 13 & 14

Day 13

This is still one of my favorite Proverbs; Proverbs 13:12 - "Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life." That's cool!  The message version reads like this, "Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around."

What dreams do you have that you're hoping for?  Have you grown heart sick because it's still a dream and not reality?  Keep them in your heart and don't loose hope.

Day 14

Proverbs 14:6 - "The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves.".  It's like looking in the mirror at what you really look like but thinking your something totally different.  Sometimes we all need to face the reality of who we are, good or bad, then we can allow God to change us on the inside so that our character that's seen by everyone will reflect Christ.

Bill

Practical Atheist Week #2

Here's a Study Guide for Week #2 for those of you who want to "go deeper"

For Further Study

To use this resource, simply select one or two questions from each category below that you think
will help your group discussion. Alternatively, you can use these questions and Scriptures in your
own personal devotions during the week.

Open

During your childhood or teenage years, describe the most disobedient thing you ever
did? How did your parents react?

Explore

Read Ecclesiastes 12: 9-14. Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes in this 
passage by saving his most important  piece of wisdom for his final thought. (12:13-14)

How did Solomon conclude this book? (12:9-14)
What did the Teacher do with his knowledge? (12:9)
For what did the Teacher search? (12:10)
How did Solomon describe what the Teacher wrote? (12:10)
How did Solomon describe the words of the wise? (12:11)
What did Solomon say about books and study? (12:12)
What is a person’s whole duty? (12:13)
Why did Solomon tell his reader to fear God and keep His commandments? (12:14)

Reflect

With what mood would you say Solomon concluded this book?
What is the relationship between fearing God and keeping his commandments? 
How we can benefit from the wisdom of other Christians? 
In what ways can you be a teacher or advisor to at least one other Christian? 

Apply

What specific areas of your life are you struggling to obey God’s commandments? 
Who do you need to seek out for the wisdom they could provide in helping you with your
areas of struggle?