Please see below for notes…
Mission/Vision Statement
The Mission of the No Substitute Ministries Bible study group is to bring clarity and understanding to God’s Word so that we can apply it to our lives in a practical and effective manner, enabling us to impact the lives of others and bring change to our world through our application of the Gospel.
Bible Study Agenda
- Prayer
- Song
- Bible Study/Topic Discussion
- Questions/Answers/open discussion
- Close with prayer
Study Focus for Saturday, October 5th, 2013
Key Points of Discussion:
- Review
- Sustainability (Part 4) – Project Peace
Review
A. If your life, in action, definition, habits, and the regular focus and fruit of your effort does not line up with the agenda of Jesus Christ – Then change. Change begins with renewing your mind and it is a process, not a one time event, and it involves both the addition of “Good” and subtraction of “Bad” from your life – In order for change to take place around you, it must begin with you. Change begins with renewing your mind and altering the way you think to line up with God’s Word (Romans 12:1, 2).
B. Man is a tri-part being—spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23) – We ARE spirit beings, created in the image and likeness of God. We POSESS a soul – our mind, will and emotions. We LIVE INSIDE of a body. The spirit was never designed to be led by the Body, or by the worldly, sense-knowledge of the mind, but by the Word of God.
C. Avoid Strife at all costs – Strife is contention, discord, struggling, warring, quarreling, bitterness, and anything LIKE all of the above. Put away ALL forms of strife. Internal and External. Grow – Open your heart to receive from God. (1 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Galations 5:20)
D. Sustainability 101: Part 1 – Be Fruitful, Multiply, Replenish. God is a God of purpose. Everything he created has a purpose and that purpose will always point to sustainability. If you don’t know or understand the purpose – abuse (abnormal use) is inevitable. Our first purpose, the first directive given to mankind after the creation and the Blessing, was to Be Fruitful, Multiply, and Replenish. If you are not walking in this original purpose, there will be an absence of peace in your life as well as a departure from sustainability that places those that come after you in a compromised situation (Genesis 1:27-28).
E. Sustainability 101: Part 2 – Relax, Relate, Evaulate. Can you “reproduce yourself” with a sustainable outcome? What is your impact – The blessing that we carry implies a vast influence – what will you do with yours (Gen 12:3, 28:14)
- Local – Family, Close Friends, Associates
- Community – Church, School, Neighborhood, Work, Etc…
- Global – Environmentally, Politically, Nationally, Worldwide
F. Sustainability 101: Part 3 – Evaluation to Transformation Look at those people in your circle of influence – your children, your students, coworkers, family – Can those in your circle of influence run with your vision? If not, use the “Stop, Start, Continue” method to implement change!
Sustainability – The Plan of God (Pt. 4): Project Peace
Scripture References
- Acts 16:19-30
- John 16:33
- John 14:27
- Mark 4:1-20
- Rom 15:13
- Isa 55:12
- Act 14:22
- Rom 5:3
- Rom 8:35
- Rom 12:12
- 2 Corinthians 1:4
Preface
Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations. Everything within the plan of God, not only supports the principle of sustainability, but fulfills it abundantly, to the utmost.
Those of us that inhabit this world have been given authority over the present world. What we do determines the legacy that we leave for our posterity. The purposes, direction, and ultimate will of God is contains provision for those that come after us with much more than a future that has not been “compromised”, but a future that is better, empowered to succeed, imbued with power, and ever increasing in that power from generation to generation.
Project Peace
Trouble in this world is not an option – it is a guarantee. BUT fear not, the victory has been provided in the CHOICES that YOU make Jesus COMPLETED the work on the issue – Your work is on the relationship. (John 16:33, John 14:27, Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 1:4).
So how do you maintain peace in the face of trouble?
- Get in the presence of God – God provided one solution to every human problem – Jesus. Spend time close to HIM every way you know how. Be alone with Him, Go to church, Worship, Sing Dance, READ THE WORD (Acts 16:19-30, Luke 10:38-42)
- Meditate on your Assignment – Trouble comes for your assignment. The closer you get, expect to see and overcome opposition. So when you see it – CONTINUE. (Mark 4:38-41, Mark 5:9,22,29,31 – whole chapter, Romans 5:3)
- Get RID of unbelief – Frustration, worry, anxiety, etc, are all symptoms of unbelief. Locate your area of unbelief and eliminate it by receiving the word on it constantly. (Romans 15:13, Mark 4:1-20, Matt 13:21-23)
- Pray – talk to God, make your requests, release your faith based on the word (Romans 12:12)
