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| God has a plan. His method of accomplishing that plan is not
always easy for us to see, nor do they always make sense to us.
However, he is working according to that plan, both general and
specific, for this world, for mankind, and for his children.
He has at least four basic goals in mind. 1. God wants to demonstrate his riches to his children. (Ephesians 2:7) 2. Christ will eventually be the center of everything. (Ephesians 1:10) 3. The church will be stewards of the Gospel of Christ in this present age. (Ephesians 3:10,11) 4. God will ultimately receive glory. (Ephesians 1:6) MONDAY God's Plan for the Lost God's plan for the world is that everyone should be saved. However, we know that everyone will not be saved. How does this fit into God's plan for them? When Adam sinned in the garden of Eden, he separated himself and all of his offspring from God. He caused a "gulf" in the fellowship between God and man. When God gave his son, Jesus, to die on the cross, he did all that he could do to bridge this "gulf" and restore that fellowship. However, if any man refuses to "travel" this bridge, he has chosen to continue this separation between himself and God. Therefore, all God can do is punish these individuals for their sin by eternally separating them from his presence. He does this by condemning to hell those who will not accept the payment he has offered for their sin. John 3:17-18 For ________ sent not his Son into the _________ to _______________the world; but that the world ____________ him might be ___________. He that ____________ on him is not _______________: but he that _______________ not is ______________ already, _________________ he hath not _______________ in the name of the ___________ begotten __________ of __________. John 3:36 He that ____________ on the Son hath _______________ life: and he that believeth ___________ the Son _____________ _____________ see life; but the ____________ of ___________ abideth on him. Revelation 20:15 And ______________ was _________ ________ written in the _________ of _________ was ________ into the ________ of __________. QUESTIONS: Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ 11______12________13________14________15________ _____________, ____________,______________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10_______ 11_______12_______13_______14_______15_______ __________,_____________,______________ _________________,________________ TUESDAY God's Plan for the Church Someone must tell the world about God! Who will that someone be? In the Old Testament times, Israel had that responsibility. But now God has a new will and with it comes a new administrator (someone to see to it that it is done and done correctly). He has chosen the church (assembly) to carry this out. No other group or individual has this right. Only those officially chosen of God can do his work for him. Mark 16:15 And he ______ unto ________, ______ ye into ______ the _______, and ________ the ________ to _____________ ____________. Matthew 28:19 - 20 _____ ye therefore, and ________ all nations, _________ them in the __________ of the __________, and of the __________, and of the ___________ __________: ______________ them to __________ all things ____________ I have ____________ you: and lo, I am __________ you ___________, even _______ the _______ of the _________. QUESTIONS: Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ 11______12________13________14________15________ ______________, ____________,____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10_______ 11_______12_______13_______14_______15_______ __________,_____________,_______________ _________________,________________ WEDNESDAY God's Plan for the Family The family and family values are under constant bombardment from the world and the Devil. Why are they so set on destroying this institution? It is because God has established the family unit to combat the wickedness of the world. The world has said it's okay for a man and woman to live together without marriage, but God said this was an abomination. The world has said that it's okay for two men or two women to marry, but God said this, too, is sin. The family unit as God set it up consists of one man and one woman and children. Husbands are to love their wives and children, wives are to love their husbands and children, and children are to be obedient to their parents. Parents are to teach children about the God who made them and what his plan is for them and the human race in general. Every worthwhile endeavor of man evolves from the basic unit we call the family. If Satan can destroy the family, he has effectively destroyed any plans God has for man. Genesis 2:24 Therefore _________ a man ___________ his father and his ___________, and shall ____________ unto his ______________: and they ________ be _______ _________. Hebrews 13:4 _____________ is ______________ in all, and the bed _______________: but ____________ and __________ God will _______________. Mark 10:9 What ______________ God hath ____________ _____________, let _______ man put _____________. QUESTIONS: Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ 11______12________13________14________15________ ______________, ___________,_____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10_______ 11_______12_______13_______14_______15_______ __________,_____________,_______________ _________________,________________ THURSDAY God's Plan for the Christian God expects the Christian to follow him. Any plans or decisions we make have one test of validity -- "Is this what Christ would have me to do?" God's plan is that his children would bring him glory and honor. Whether that individual is a student, housewife, or professional, the theme is still God's glory. Because we are his children, he has given us strength and courage to confront all of life's issues. He has also given us, for the first time in our lives, the ability to enjoy life. God's plan for every Christian is to follow him, bring him glory, enjoy the riches of his grace, and eventually be gathered to him so we can rule and reign with him in the new kingdom. John 12:26 If any man ________ me, let him __________ me; and ___________ I am, __________ shall also my _____________ be: if any man ____________ me, him ____________ my _____________ honour. Ephesians 5:1 Be ______ therefore __________ of _______ as dear ____________: John 10:27 My _________ hear my __________, and I _________ them, and they __________ me. I Peter 2:21 For even _______________ were ye _________: because Christ also _____________ for us, _________________ us an _______________, that ye ____________ _____________ his ___________: QUESTIONS: Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ 11______12________13________14________15________ ______________, ____________,____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10_______ 11_______12_______13_______14_______15_______ __________,____________,______________ _________________,________________ FRIDAY God's Plan for You It may be all well and good to know what God wants us to do in a general sense, but what does he want ME to do NOW? That can be complicated even for the most learned student of the Bible. If you sometimes think you are alone in your frustrations and insecurities of not knowing which way to turn or what to do at times, please be assured you are not. There are many Bible teachers, leaders, and even pastors who struggle with this question on a daily basis. Only YOU can know for sure what God wants YOU to do. Should I take this job? Should I marry this person? Should I buy this car? There may be hundreds of questions you seek the answers for. Following is a partial list of steps that are helpful in determining God's will for your life. 1. Pray. Earnestly seek God's guidance in the matter. 2. Wait. Give God time to reveal his plan and work it out for you. 3. Study. See what God's word has to say about the matter. (If you don't know the Word or where to find the answer, ask your pastor or your Sunday School teacher, or perhaps your best friend.) 4. Ask this question -- Will God get glory from this? 5. Be prepared for the answer. Be ready to receive "no" or some other answer you didn't want or think you need. Are you honestly seeking God's will for your life, whatever that may be, or are you just asking him to "okay" your plans? QUESTIONS: Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ 11______12________13________14________15________ ______________, ____________,____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first fifteen books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10_______ 11_______12_______13_______14_______15_______ __________,_____________,______________ _________________,_______________
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