Young Ladies Winter Bible Class

YOUNG LADIES WINTER BIBLE CLASS

November 7^th – January 30th

Written by Ashley Woods

Compiled by Ashley Woods & Amber Head

Read & Reviewed by Amber Head, Julie Woods & Patti McClelland

Photo Credit: Shawna Liles

YOUNG LADIES WINTER BIBLE CLASS SCHEDULE:

NOVEMBER 7TH

GOSSIP & CONFRONTING

NOVEMBER 14TH

COMING FORWARD & ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS

NOVEMBER 21ST

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

NOVEMBER 26TH (TUESDAY)

HOMOSEXUALITY & TRANSGENDERS

DECEMBER 5TH

FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLY

DECEMBER 12TH

CHRISTIAN MUSIC

DECEMBER 19TH

FASTING

DECEMBER 26TH

GHOSTS & DEMONS

JANUARY 2ND

NO CLASS

JANUARY 9TH

HONESTY, LIES & DECEIT

JANUARY 16TH

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOVE

JANUARY 23RD

GIVING & SPENDING MONEY

JANUARY 30TH

REVIEW GAME

NOVEMBER 7TH

GOSSIP & CONFRONTING

1) Is gossiping a sin?

Yes! It's very clear that in the bible, God disapproves of gossip.

Ephesians 4:25, Proverbs 12:22 When we hear gossip and spread it, we don't know if it's true or not! We can easily be lying and telling false things which is not okay.

Ephesians 4:29-32 We are told to be kind, loving people!

Romans 1:29-32 There are so many things listed here, even gossiping! In verse 32 it says that we even deserve to die when we do these things.

James 3:3-6 Even just a few simple words can change the direction of our lives, we need to always be on guard.

2) If we aren't supposed to gossip, what do we talk about?

We need to keep others short comings small, so instead we need to say positive things about each other and talk about things that are pleasing to God.

3) Where does it say in the bible that we have to confront our brothers and sisters rather than gossip about them to others? Do we really have to talk to them about how we feel or what we have heard?

Yes. If this person has sinned against you, read Matthew 18:15-17. It can be uncomfortable to do this, but the purpose is to restore someone who is not doing God's will. God hates sin and we should hate it like He does, but also have compassion as well.

If they have not sinned and there is just a personality conflict, it doesn't mean someone has sinned. We need to learn to deal with it and love them anyways! Galatians 5:14

4) Why should we take the answer to question number three literally?

We need to trust that God has given us the tools to handle situations like this. 2 Peter 1:3

What other way could we handle the situation? That's what it says, there is no figurative language here.

5) Where's the fine line between gossiping and really trying to seek advice and help?

Sometimes, we just don't know. It's really difficult sometimes to make a decision, but in the end we need to make a judgment call. We always need to be thinking about what's best for that person, and every situation with every person is different.

NOVEMBER 14TH

COMING FORWARD & ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS

1) Do we need to ask for forgiveness of our sins even if we are already baptized?

Yes! 1 John 1:9

2) Does it say in the bible that we need to come forward to the church?

It doesn't say specifically that we need to come forward to the church, but it does say that we need to confess our sins to one another and forgive each other. Colossians 3:13

Coming forward to the church is just one of the ways we can ask God for forgiveness.

3) What's the difference between asking for forgiveness to God and coming forward to the congregation?

For an example, imagine a guy who was very open about sleeping with a lot of women and was known for being a “player”. If he wanted to ask for forgiveness, he would need to come forward. Why? Because if the general public knows about his sins, there are several reasons why it's appropriate to come forward to the church:

• It's a convenient time to let everyone know of your situation and that you're asking God for forgiveness.
• An outward show of your repentance, saying that you have changed.
• It's an easy way to let everyone know you are struggling and in need of prayers.
• It's also a way to publicly ask for forgiveness in regards to how it affected the church.

4) When is coming forward to ask for prayers in certain situations appropriate? Does it have to be something "big"?

If it helps a person to really change, it's a very good thing. If it's just a constant thing, it's not necessary.

It doesn't matter if it is something “big”. Sin is sin and God hates it! 1 John 3:4

5) When it comes to asking God for forgiveness, do we need to pray about every single sin we make? What happens when we don't realize we are sinning?

If we know that we have sinned before we were baptized, there isn't a need to ask for forgiveness about it because our sins were washed away when we were baptized. John 3:16

But when we have sinned after we have been baptized and we do come to the realization that we have sinned, we do need to ask God for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9

We might not always realize that we have sinned at times, but we should always be seeking God's word and what he expects from us. We will be held accountable for our actions on judgment day.

Acts 17:30-31

NOVEMBER 21ST

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22-26

1) What does the fruit of the spirit actually mean?

“Fruit” is a common term meaning your actions, deeds or words.

“Spirit” can mean multiple things, but in this case it doesn't specifically specify. It's mostly likely talking about the Holy Spirit. If it doesn't say other wise, it doesn't really matter in the end.

When both of the terms are combined, it means that the Fruit of the Spirit is a physical manifestation (meaning the act of disclosing what is secret or display) of Christ.

2) Are we supposed to have the Fruit of the Spirit in us?

Yes! Romans 8:1, 9-11 Our physical bodies do not matter, we need to have the Fruit of the Spirit. It clearly says in verse 9 that if we do not have the spirit, we are not with Christ.

3) Do our works need to be evident to others around us? Should people be able to see the fruit of the spirit in us?

Absolutely! Matthew 7:16 People should be able to recognize that we are set apart from the world.

4) What does it mean in verse 23 when it says "against no such things there is no law?"

Paul is saying that they will be fine if they have any of these things. There is no way that the people of Galatia can get in trouble with the law.

5) Where are some examples of women in the bible who had the Fruit of the Spirit in them?

There is no place in the bible where it says directly that someone had the Fruit of the Spirit in them, but it was shown in their actions.

Dorcus: Acts 9:36-39 She was full of good works! The widows really loved her and were grateful for what she had done for them.

Lydia: Acts 16:13-15 She showed kindness and love to Paul and Silas.

6) Why is the Fruit of the Spirit even important to understand?

Matthew 12:43 When we get rid of the bad things in our life, we can to fill it with good things.

1 Peter 1:15-16 Holy means to be set apart, so it's everything we are supposed to be!

Galatians 5:19-21 If we don't work on it, this is what we are.

NOVEMBER 26TH

HOMOSEXUALITY & TRANSGENDERS

1) Where does it say that homosexuality is a sin?

1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Romans 1:26-32

2) Is homosexuality genetic? Is it possible to be born and or develop an attraction to be gay?

No. A study taken in 2003 by the International Human Genome Consortium proved that there is no such thing as a “gay gene”.

People can absolutely be predisposed by their environment and can definitely develop an attraction. (Parents have a huge role in this!) In our society today it's also a trend to “go both ways” so it's also becoming a choice. Hormones can also make people feel more manly or more girly, but people have the choice to act Godly or not.

3) Since it is a sin to be acting on homosexual feelings, does that mean that it is sinful to be a transgender?

A lot of people who are transgender say that they were born in the wrong body. When people say this, in a way they are saying that God makes mistakes, but He doesn't! God made us who we are.

Genesis 1:26-27

People who say that they are transgender would probably feel a lot more comfortable with themselves if they didn't have the opportunity to change what they look like. Back in the bible times, people didn't have the option to have surgery and get new body parts.

We need to remember that it's important for us to have compassion for others who are struggling with being gay or transgender, but that we also need to hate the sin. Matthew 5:43-44, 2 Timothy 2:24-26

4) There is a huge revolution going on today about voting for gay marriage to become legal. Does it really matter if they are legal or not, since they are just going to act the same way anyway?

Although it may not seem like fighting against gay marriage will make a difference, it will! The whole concept of marriage will be destroyed if we allow gays to marry each other. Romans 1:26-27 God does the binding. If gays have no right to each other in the eyes of God, they aren't really married anyways.

If gay marriage does become legal, other things like polygamy, being able to marry an object, etc. will become legal as well. If we destroy the image of marriage that God has created then anything will eventually become “okay”.

5) Is it really possible to “pray the gay away”?

With God, anything is possible! Matthew 19:26 God gives us strength and our faith can save us from sin and disabilities. Sin just makes everything worse, but we can have the capability to alter our brain chemistry with light, which is God's word. Luke 18:27

DECEMBER 5TH

FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLY

1) Does it say anywhere in the bible that we need to go to church Sunday nights and Wednesday nights?

Hebrews 10:24-25 It does, but not specifically the days. It says don't neglect to meet together, which is what people do when they don't show up to services.

God does understand when we get sick, but this verse is talking about the idea of choosing not to go. There is a huge difference between being sick and choosing not to be at church. Hebrews 10:26-29

2) How do we decide how many times as a church we meet together and how much time we

should spend together as a church? What if we wanted to change it? Who makes the decision?

The bible doesn't give us a specific time or the amount of time we need to spend together to worship God.

Tradition is why we meet on the times and days that we do. The people who started Queen Way decided that meeting twice on Sundays and once on Wednesdays was the best decision.

We are absolutely able to change the times days of our worship (Except that we need to gather together on the Lord's day).

Our elders would be the ones who would have the authority to change our times and days for worship. They would be in charge of making the decisions and talking to the congregation about it.

3) Is it a sin when people in our congregation choose not come to services on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights?

Yes. Hebrews 10: 26-29 We can't be lukewarm for God, we need to be on fire for him!

Revelations 3:15-17

4) Why is it the people choose not to come to certain services?

There are multiple excuses that people make, but it's not just because they are tired or “sick”. Not coming to worship is a symptom for another serious problem that should be addressed. We need to be careful though, we shouldn't be judging others.

5) How should we go about approaching someone who is not coming on Sunday nights and Wednesdays?

Encourage people to come, send them messages saying that we miss them! Or if you are relatively close with someone, pull them aside and talk to them about it. We should always be careful when we do this, we don't want to be discouraging.

We need to be kind and encouraging to one another. Micah 6:8, 2 Peter 1:5-7

DECEMBER 12TH

CHRISTIAN MUSIC

1) Is it wrong to listen to music that is religious and uses instruments?

The bible doesn't say that it is wrong to listen to Christian music but instruments are not mentioned anywhere in the New Testament. Instruments are only mentioned in the Old Testament.

Colossians 3:16

When it comes to these types of topics, it ultimately comes down to a judgment call, but that doesn't mean we aren't given some examples in the bible of what happens when we don't do exactly what God wants us to.

Leviticus 16:12, 10:1 Just because they got the fire from a different place, they weren't doing exactly what God told them do to. We need to do exactly what God tells us to do.

2 Samuel 6:3 Uzzah and Ahio carried the ark wrong, again, not how God asked them to.

What can we take away from these two stories? We need to do things exactly how He says, or we risk the chance of losing our future in heaven. No ifs ands or buts about it!

2) Since listening to Christian music is a gray area, how are we supposed to decide whether or not it brings glory to God?

If God doesn't say it's a sin directly that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. We need to make a big judgment call here. We need to remember that even the devil can disguise himself as light.

2 Corinthians 11:14

Think of it this way: Is listening to Christian music really worth the risk of not getting into heaven? Is it really that important to us so we can't live without it?

3) Is it wrong to take Christian music and make our own version of it and sing it without musical instruments?

Not at all! God commands us to sing, but He doesn't explain exactly where we need to get our songs. We are given the choice to choose which songs we want to sing.

4) Do we really need to take this so seriously? If it's a gray area why is it so important?

Our life in heaven is at risk if we don't take this seriously. If we are sinning, we risk our life in heaven.

We are also not respecting God and His word if we aren't doing what He's asked us to. We need to be living our lives for God, not for ourselves. The bible never says that we get to put our own personal twist on things.

DECEMBER 19TH

FASTING

1) What is fasting?

The Greek definition of fasting means to abstain from food religiously.

2)Why did people fast back in the bible times? Where is an example of it in the bible?

People fasted back in bible times to ask to God to help them. They fasted in times of struggle, stress and fear.

2 Chronicles 20:1-4 Jehoshaphat was scared for his people and he knew that only God could help him. He decided to gather all the people of Judah and fast together.

2 Chronicles 20:13-17 The Spirit of the Lord comes to them and tells them not to worry. God was with them and they wouldn't even have to fight. If they hadn't fasted the way they did to God, do you think that they would they have lived? Probably not.

Esther 4:15-17 Esther fasted so that God would be with her people and that she would succeed in saving the Jews.

3) Is it wrong to fast? Can we fast in a sinful way?

No, if anything it is encouraged! In Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus approved of fasting if they were going to be sincere about it. Fasting can be looked at as a stronger commitment, it means that much more to God. Our prayer life needs to be constant!1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

But it is possible fast in a sinful way? Yes. Isaiah 58: 3-7 They were misusing it because they were doing it for themselves. They wanted to be looked at and appear to be holy.

Matthew 6:16 Some of the people weren't doing it to truly bring glory to God. People were even making their faces seem ghostly so that people would think highly of them for fasting.

4) How come many Christians don't fast?

Fasting is a very personal thing. Going back to Matthew 6:17-18, it talks about being in secret and humbling ourselves before God. We aren't necessarily doing what God wants us to if we are telling everybody we know that we are fasting.

Other simply choose not to. We don't want to deny ourselves food, and many think that prayer is just enough.

DECEMBER 26TH

GHOSTS & DEMONS

1) Were there ghosts and demons in biblical times?

Yes!

Ghosts:

1 Samuel 28:3-20 Saul has a conversation with Samuel who had already died!

Demons:

Demon possession is never mentioned in Old Testament. Only in the New Testament do we read about them.

Matthew 12:22-28 Jesus healed a man who was possessed by a demon.

Acts 19:13-17 This gives us proof that demons had control over peoples thoughts and actions.

Matthew 12:43-45 Unclean spirits could rest in humans and it was not uncommon for people to see them.

2) Can they exist today? Is it possible for a person to really see a ghost?

We know in Matthew 12:25-29 that Jesus bound Satan. Just because Jesus bound him though doesn't mean that he can't do anything to harm us. It only limits him.

Ghosts are spirits and when they appeared to people in the bible, it was always for a purpose.

3) Some religions believe that demons live here on earth and that they can take over your soul. Why do they believe in this and do exorcisms?

There are people out there who think demons take over your souls because it has historically happened before. Acts 19:11-16

Movies like “The Last Exorcism” portray a false idea of what demon possession can be like. It doesn't happen unwillingly, like to a little girl. Satan will come into your heart if you welcome him in.

So, is it really possible? It can be, it's a choice.

4) Is it wrong to watch movies about ghosts and demon possession?

No. What we do need to remember though is that they are just movies. (Just like movies such as Harry Potter, it's fictional!) We shouldn't put our faith in movies like that or allow it to make us question our God.

JANUARY 9TH

HONESTY, LIES & DECEIT

1) What do honesty, lying and deceit really mean? What are the differences between lying to someone or being deceitful to them?

Greek definition of deceit: A decoy or trick. Something that has the appearance of truth, and can contain some truth, but is still false. (For example: a “white” lie) Mark 7:22, Romans 1:29, Romans 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 2:3

Greek definition of lying: Pseudos which means a falsehood, Revelations 21:8

Greek definition of honesty: Kalos which means of literally or morally good that is valuable or virtuous. Ephesians 4:25

2) Where does it say in the bible that we need to be truthful and trustworthy?

Matthew 5:33-37 (In James 5:12 this is repeated again also). We need to let our yes be yes, and our no be no! We don't need to make oaths or “pinky promises” because we should be trustworthy people.

We are told to be like Christ, and He has always been honest. He never sinned on earth and His promises in the bible haven't changed. 1 Kings 8:56, Nehemiah 9:8, Hebrews 6:13-18

2) Where is a example of someone being deceitful and lying in the bible?

The story of Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:1-11

The story of Peter Luke 22:31-34

3) Why is it important to be honest? Do we always have to be?

Yes! It's who we are and what we are supposed to be as Christians. Ephesians 4:25

We also need to show people who God is. How we are supposed to do that if we are lying and being deceitful all the time? Again, we are supposed to be like Christ and we need to be trustworthy.

4) How are we supposed to act when someone lies to us or is deceptive?

We need to react to it just as we are told to in Matthew 18:15-17.

We also need to be forgiving and loving to one another. It's hard trying to get to heaven, and it's so easy for us to sin.

It's important to move forward if this person has asked God for forgiveness and trust them. It can be hard but we are told to be trusting and to not hold a grudge against one another.

JANUARY 16TH

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOVE

1) What are the four different types of love?

Greek definition of agape : charity, affection or benevolence

Greek definition of phileo: to be a friend to or have affection for

Storge: love that one has in relationships that is deep and bonding (for example a mother's love for her child)

Eros (which is not mentioned in the bible) : romantic, erotic and sexual love

Agape, storge and phileo are translated as love, so when we read verses in the bible that have the word love in it, it could mean any of those three.

2) Why do our translations use the word love instead of agape, phileo and storge since they all have different meanings?

People have translated the bible have their own way when it comes to interpreting the bible. Some versions do use agape, phileo and storge though.

3) Where are some examples in the bible of agape and phileo?

Agape: Matthew 5:43 , Matthew 19:19 We are told to agape our neighbor!

Ephesians 5:25-29 Husbands are told to agape their wives like Christ agape the church.

Phileo: Romans 12:9-12 This is talking about brotherly love (could also possibly be storge as well)

John 21:15-17 He didn't have the right kind of love! He didn't understand what Jesus was asking him.

4) Why is it important to understand the different types?

Titus 2:4-5 We are told to teach it to our younger women.

Ephesians 5:25-33 It has so much to do with marriage!

1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 13 Love is better than spiritual gifts. It's better than hope and faith!

5) How come eros is not mentioned in the bible? Is it wrong to have eros love?

Eros is not mentioned in the bible because there is no need for a command to have it. It comes naturally to people, and it's an instinct. It is also not a sin to have eros love, but we are still told to keep our passionate and lustful thoughts at bay.

JANUARY 23RD

GIVING & SPENDING MONEY

1) Where does it say in the bible that we need to take up a collection? Why do we do it in the first place?

1 Corinthians 16: 1-2 This is the main authorization for taking up a collection.

Romans 15:25-27 Here we see an example of taking up a collection to relieve the needy saints in Jerusalem.

Why do we do it? Acts 2:44 They took care of each other, no one was in need!

2 Corinthians 9:5 Explains more on how we should give. God loves a cheerful giver!

2) How do we determine how much money we should give to God's church?

In the Old Testament, they would give 10% of what they had Deuteronomy 14:22, Leviticus 27:30

We don't need to give exactly 10% today because Jesus nailed the old law to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 There is nothing said in the New Testament that we need to give exactly that much but some people like to use it as a guideline.

When we are thinking about giving our money, we need to keep in mind the concept of 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 and Proverbs 11:24-25. The more we give, the more we get back! God will provide for us.

Can we still apply Proverbs even though it's in the Old Testament? Yes, because it's just basic wisdom. If we want a good, happy life we should do what Proverbs says!

When it comes down to it, it's a huge judgment call on how much we should give.

3) Where does it explain in the bible how the church needs to use their money?

2 Corinthians 16:1, 9:1,12 For the saints (also known as Christians) and for God's worship. We use the Lord's money as an aid to worship (buying grape juice, bread, songbooks, etc.) We don't use it for basketball courts or doughnuts because it doesn't aid to our service for God. That's using money for what we personally want.

Acts 2:44-45 There was a need to take up a collection (shelter, food, etc.), and there still is one today.

James 2:14-16 We need to be full of good deeds!

1 Timothy 5: 4-16This explains a lot of what churches need to do with their money.

4) Is it okay to not give money?

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 It tells us to lay something aside and is very straight forward.

What excuse do we have to not give in the first place? Why would we choose not to give? Is it to save money? If that's the case then we don't understand the concept of giving and trusting God.

Mark 12:41-44 The poor widow put in all that she had. It doesn't say anything about what happens to her afterward, but with her love and trust for God He had to have taken care of her.

6) Does age matter when it comes to giving?

Age does not matter, but what does matter is when you're a baptized believer. If we are making some type of income and we are baptized, we need to give. It needs to be a priority in our lives and should have a purpose.

Fearing Heaven

One of the things that I learned through studying the bible was that when we are baptized, we can enter heaven because our sins have been washed away. For most of my life though, I have honestly struggled with the idea of heaven. It might sound strange because I am a Christian, and I know that going to heaven will be the best thing that could ever happen to me, but a part of me is still afraid of the unknown.

In my junior and senior year of high school, I had a teacher who would always give me a hard time about raising my hand and asking questions. I always wanted for her to get to the point and to give me all the answers, which irritated her a lot but it made me uncomfortable. I always wanted to know what to expect for class and I wanted to prepare myself for what was ahead. Needless to say, I drove her crazy, but after looking back on my relationship with my teacher I've grown to realize that I absolutely hate the unknown. I think that this directly relates to my feelings about going to heaven and the whole concept of death.

I know it might sound weird to say because I am a Christian, but I'm honestly not ready to die. I'm actually pretty terrified of dying, even the thought of breaking a bone gives me the shivers. I have always been uncomfortable with talking about death, especially because I know that I have no control over it and I really have no idea what to expect. I don't know how it will feel when I pass away and I have no idea what heaven will feel or be like. All I really know is that it's a place a desperately want to be, but for some reason that hasn't taken fear out of the equation for me.

In all honesty, I hope that over time I will become more comfortable with the thought of going to heaven and seeing God for the first time. I pray sometimes that I can live to be around 80 years old and I will be totally ready to face God and have no fear. Although I have absolutely no control over when God will take me, I just hope that over the years (Lord willing) I will learn to look forward to heaven. I hope that I can be one of those people who will say “I'm so excited to meet my maker.” 

Till then, I will continue to study more of God's word and pray that I can trust Him more and that I can stop being afraid of death or heaven. I know that maybe some of you who are reading this may not relate to my situation at all, but I hope that you can take the time to look into your life and see what you might be having a hard time trusting God with. We always need to be working on our relationship with God and I know that we can conquer our fears through Him.

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Lukewarm

If you're a Christian, you're bound to have experienced someone (or multiple people) who are what you would call lukewarm for God. They make it clear on their posts on social media that they believe in God and love him. They have been baptized and believe that Jesus died for their sins. They post bible verses, and will talk about God casually in conversation. They will ask for prayers requests through times of struggle, and talk to people who they are close to within the church. Granted, all things are wonderful to do. It is not wrong to do these things, but there is something very large missing from the equation.

I wrote in another article called "Growing Spiritually and Becoming Stronger" that becoming a Christian changed my entire life, and I honestly believe that that is how it should be when we are baptized. So, I can tell you from experience that there is nothing more disappointing when you go onto things like Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and you see cuss word after cuss word on someone's page or you see a photo of them getting drunk at a party. After all this time, you thought that their spiritual life was okay, and now it's not. When you see that they haven't been coming to church as often and that they don't go to church functions anymore... nothing is quite as heartbreaking as someone who is lukewarm. Not only is it hard for faithful Christians to deal with, but it not acceptable in Gods eyes.

Revelations 3:15-16 “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

So many times I have seen people my age try to be of the world and still try to be a Christian. I've seen church camp friends of mine say cuss words outside of church or post them online. It's like the saying to God you want to have your cake and eat it too! I think it's so important for us all to understand that this is not possible.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Sin clearly separates us from God, and if we are not willing to change, our relationship with God is right where it was before.

So then, what should we do when we see this happen to the people that we love? I've sadly had to ask myself this several times and it has honestly been a struggle. I've always been the type of person who wants to change people. I want to open their eyes let God work through me, but I've come to realize that we can't make people change. I can't make people stop partying or drinking or cussing no matter how I hard I try. You could spend months studying with someone, and no real change will happen unless their hearts are convicted and they make the decision to change for themselves.

At Queen Way Church of Christ, we recently had a ladies seminar and our topic was on influence. We talked about how our influence on others is strong, and sometimes we don't even realize who we are having an affect on. I loved this topic for this year because it reminded me that even if I can't make someone change their life, I can still be an influence. I may unfollow someone on Instagram or hide a persons profile because I don't want to see or read cuss words, but what we can all do is still keep our lines of communication open. I'm still friends with people on Facebook and I try to make it known that I love them and am always here when they need to talk. People who are lukewarm or who have fallen away should know that we as Christians are always here for a bible study or available to talk to. When I was struggling with this, a friend of mine told me that I need to keep my communication open with others no matter how upset I can get with them. We shouldn't completely shut out others who may need us, and might some day come to realize that they are living in sin. 

I may not have found the exact answer to help with this issue and I am clearly not perfect, but what I do know is that we need to all try our best everyday to always glorify God and please Him. 

Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Wearing the Cross

One of my favorite apps right now has to be Vine. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's an app where people post 7 second videos, most of them being very funny. Although I have watched some really hilarious videos on there, the other day I watched a video that was under  the "On The Rise" category that really disturbed me.

This girl was standing in a mirror, wearing a shirt that had a giant leopard print cross on it. She went on to say "People ask me when I wear this shirt: Oh! Are you religious?! 

And I say: Hell no! I'm just into fashion!" 

In Matthew 27:46, we read the last words Jesus says before he was crucified on the cross to wash away our sins. He went through excruciating pain and agony up on that cross for us.

It's sad to think that in today's society, we look at a cross and instantly think "fashion". Jesus didn't die for us to be more fashionable, he died because he loves us.

When we do wear clothing that has crosses on it, we need to be asking ourselves if we are respecting what Jesus did for us. Are wearing a cross tank top because we want to stand out and be "trendy"? Or are we wearing this cross because we want to remind others of what Jesus has done for us and to share our faith?

It's sad to think that clothing companies such as Forever21 sell 355 items (yes, I went online and looked) that have some sort of cross on it. Some of them even have upside down crosses, which some people don't even realize is a symbol for being anti-christ. 

How often do you think that the people who buy these items even have a relationship with God? Or have even sat down recently and prayed to Him? It's hard for me to think about, but I believe the odds of the people who actually go to that store buy those cross pants or necklaces because they want to represent what Jesus did for us.

We need to respect, love, praise, and give our hearts to God always. Jesus died on the cross for us, and we need to respect the powerful meaning that a cross has.

For All Have Sinned

As I learn and study the bible more, I've been realizing specifically about what is right in God's eyes and what is sinful. While I'm learning, lately I've found it hard to not think of people in my life who have sinned. It's so extremely difficult to look at my friends and family from the past and present when I read what God disapproves of. It's so easy for me to point the finger at them and scrutinize them for what they did or are doing wrong. 

I feel like we all at times are like this. We can have a hard time looking at ourselves and our mistakes, and we would rather talk about how others are sinners. 

We, myself obviously included, need to stop and take a look in the mirror. We are ALL sinners.

Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Jesus died on the cross for not just my college classmates who party, drink, have sex before marriage, etc, but for me as well. 

A few months ago, I saw on Facebook and heard from a lot of my friends who go to UNR that there was a group of "Christians" who had a booth outside on campus. I heard horrible stories of this group yelling at people saying to other students on campus that they were going to hell because they were sinners.

I think it's interesting how they call themselves Christians, but yet they don't even understand the concept that they are sinners too. When we are baptized, are sins are washed away and we are forgiven.

Acts 2:38 "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Just because this is true, it doesn't mean that we don't sin and that we are perfect because we are Christians. Everyone of us has given into temptation and gone away from what God wants. If we think that yelling at others is the way to get people to know God and His plan for us, they don't even understand the concept of God.

We are told to be like Christ and because He is a forgiving, merciful God, we need to be too.

I know that for some people, this can be an easy task. For me, it can be a struggle sometimes. It's not easy to look at ourselves and face our imperfections, but it's necessary and important if we want to be loving, humble, kindhearted people. 

Growing Spiritully & Becoming Stronger

This past month, I have been thinking a lot about growing. I'm sure that most of us have photos as kids in elementary and middle school, and when you look at them, you can't help but realize how much you have changed and grown over the past years. It's hard for me to even imagine that I used to be a small little baby that my mom would rock to sleep. Although I have obviously grown since birth, it's so interesting for me to think about my spiritual growth.

About 7 months ago my life totally changed. Getting baptized was the best thing I ever did, and I've probably grown more mature in these past few months than I have in four years combined. One of my good friends Sucelly, who was just baptized a few weeks ago, told me the other day that even she had grown to be a different person in just a few weeks of being with the church and putting God first in her life. There is no doubt in my mind that when we commit our lives to God, we will become stronger.

Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."

Psalm 29:11 "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

One of my professors this past semester made a really good point that I won't ever forget. She said to the class "If you are never feeling uncomfortable, you aren't growing." I think this quote stuck with me so much because I have always hated being uncomfortable. I mean, who likes feeling out of their comfort zone? I think that's one of the reasons why it took me so long to get baptized. The idea made me squirm! I had been to church all my life and heard about how extremely important it was.. I just always felt this huge pressure. My life would change. My relationships with people would change. My priorities in life would change. I was scared of all these things, and I was honestly scared to grow. Turns out though, that change was the best decision in my life that I have made. 

Now, I'm not saying that you should always go out and do something that makes you feel extremely uncomfortable, but I think it's important for us to sit back and look at the current situation and ask ourselves if it's an opportunity to grow and be stronger Christian people.

"You're Missing Out."

The other day, I met up with a friend who I went to high school with that I hadn't seen in a really long time. Although I only graduated a year ago, it was surprising to me how much we had both grown apart. For the longest time I thought we were on the same page on about everything: no partying, no drinking, no drugs, the list goes on and on.
As we got to talking though, I noticed that things had completely changed. They started talking about how much they loved drinking with their college friends and how one night stands were frequently common and accepted in their life. After their little speech about how awesome and amazing the "college life" was, I explained about my faith. I said that I had really changed in the past year, and that I didn't really care about my college experience, what I cared about was God and my relationship with Him. A few seconds after, my friend said something that really stuck with me. They said the words: "Well, you're really missing out."
At the time, I honestly felt like I was. I see videos and pictures all the time on Facebook, Vine, Instagram, etc. of people looking like they are having an awesome time doing stupid stuff with their friends. So what was I supposed to say to that comment? What could I say that was going to make worshiping God sound better than partying all the time?
I quickly changed the topic to something different, and we agreed to disagree in the end, but after our talk I couldn't help but think, I am missing out. I'm missing out what people would call the college experience, but they are missing out on a Godly experience, which is the most important one?
Parties and kickbacks can be fun, but do they last forever? No.
Does God's love last forever? Yes.
Does drinking and smoking and cussing bring me to heaven and closer to God? No.
Does going to church and worshiping Him make my life better, and my relationship with Him stronger? Of course!
I really wish that I could go back to that conversation with my friend. They made me feel like such a little kid, and so inexperienced in life that it even made me feel bad about myself.
I think sometimes that we can all at one point feel this way when we talk to others who are not Christians. We are embarrassed at times to be open, and honest about God's word. I truly believe though that over time, we don't have to feel insecure when these things happen. We need to be more proactive in expressing what the Lord wants us to do, including myself.
So I say ask yourself, which one is more important to you: partying or heaven? The choice is yours, but for me, I know I'm not missing out on the greatest thing in the world: God.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 " For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, ³ because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."