Sunday the 1st and Prayer

Hello class,

We will spend a part of our class time this Sunday planning for our 11:00 children's Sunday School. We will discuss teachers, curriculum, structure, etc. Please call (343-5675) or email me if you have input but will not be in church Sunday. When we are done we will continue our study of Exodus starting with chapter 8 verse 20.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Exodus 7:1 - 8:20

I failed to get this posted last week (and frankly, it has been awhile since I posted a blog update with lesson notes ... I'm working to correct that by uploading past notes to the archives section in the next couple of weeks). Anyway, since we just got partway through Exodus 7 last week, we'll be focusing on the first three plagues (referred to by some as the "loathesome plagues") in this week's lesson. Lesson notes can be downloaded by clicking here.

Tuesday/Wednesday: Birdhouses, Waterguns, and Pedicures - all Pictures of God's Plan

TODAY'S REPORT:

Tuesday and Wednesday were two very full days in Chicago. Lots of kids and quite a few of their adult guardians are participating in the week's "Family Camp" activities. Adult registrations for Tuesday were near 70 total contacts. Wednesday more than 100 adults registered. Most had multiple children with them so we are churning out custom birdhouses, water guns and handprint art about as fast as it can be done! Not to mention washing some feet and "prettying up" the ladies at tonight's "spa night."

Monday: Starting Work, Meeting People, BLOCK PARTY!

TODAY'S REPORT:

Sunup to Sundown Monday and each day is the plan while we are here. Today we kicked things off with an 8am morning devotional at James Ward Elementary before getting started on the day's projects. We have a team that is working on stripping and re-painting the school cafeteria during the day, while other teams prayer walk neighborhoods and hand out fliers inviting people to this week's evening "family camp" activities.  And there is a cake decorating class we are providing for several women (and a few men) in the surrounding neighborhoods. Then, in the evening, we wait to see who shows up to the block party.

Sunday: A Great Day of Worship, Re-Connecting, and Preparation

TODAY'S REPORT:

We spent longer than we had originally planned in Springfield, IL Saturday before tackling the final leg of our trip to Chicago. As a result, we arrived pretty late last night, about 18 hours ahead of the rest of the mission team from Second Baptist. This morning (Sunday), Rachael, Annie, Alex and I got up and headed to Sunday morning service with City South Church where they are currently meeting, at James Ward Elementary School.

Friday Departure: Brothers' and Sisters' Encouragement in Advance and on the Road

TODAY'S REPORT:

Tonight is my first daily blog update for friends, brothers, sisters who have committed to pray for our family as we share the gospel with the good people on the south side of Chicago, in and around James Ward Elementary School. Much good has happened since we and the Elliotts helped with last year's Chicago mission from Second Baptist Church (If you are feeling nostalgic or just want a refresher on that, check out our entries on this blog from July 2009 by clicking here. I actually quite enjoyed reviewing it in preparation for our return this week). City South Church now has a home. Each Sunday at 10am they hold services in that same elementary school where last year we taught Vacation Bible School.

Sunday the 4th and prayer

From: reggiebreshears@lawyer.com [mailto:reggiebreshears@lawyer.com] 

Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 11:25 PM

Subject: Sunday the 4th and prayer

Hello class,

No Sunday School this Sunday, and the service will only be held at

9:30. So that gives you two weeks to read Exodus Chapter 7 and lesson 4

in the study guide. No excuses! (And happy 4th.)

Exodus 2

Last week we completed Exodus 1 (which was MOST of the first lesson in our study guide - available at the Second Baptist bookstore now for less than $6). This Sunday, we will work to get through the second chapter of Exodus. Chapter gave us a feel for the context of the coming Exodus. The oppression and enslavement of the Israelites. The providential protection offered by God. The fulfillment of God's promises to Abram from early in Genesis.

It is in that setting that we begin following the life of Moses in Exodus 2. We will begin with the arrival of the child who one day would be God's chosen leader to deliver His people from bondage.As we follow Moses as an adult, we learn that God will use three unlikely methods to prepare Moses for the divine assignment that awaits him. God will utilize:

• A formal education from the most advanced civilization of the day;
• Moses' own personal failures; and
• An extended period of solitude and humble service.

To preview this week's lesson notes, click here to download. Looking forward to exploring God's word with you Sunday and learning what He has shown you in it.

God Bless,

Matt

Lesson 1: Exodus 1:1 - 2:10

I'm excited to be back at it in Old Testament, verse-by-verse study. Our study of Exodus begins Sunday, using Woodrow Kroll's Exodus: God's Plan, God's People.  The study guide is now available for purchase in the Second Baptist Church bookstore, so most of us will pick up our copies this Sunday morning when we are there. Crossway.org was kind enough to make a pdf excert of the study available that gives us the first lesson of the book for easy download, by clicking here. That should be a decent bridge to when we all have our own study guides.

Here also, are my lesson notes for the first lesson in the book. My plan is to take this study at a deliberate pace, though. We don't have a hard and fast date by which we need to be finished, so some of these lessons may be completed in a week or two. Other chapters in the study guide may require several weeks to fully explore. That sounds like fun to me, and I hope it does to you, too.

God bless you and I look forward to studying God's Word with you tomorrow.

Matt

1 John 1:1 - 2:2

And away we go! Starting our study of 1 John this week and I'm really enjoying getting back into a good, old-fashioned expository (verse-by-verse) study. This is going to be fun. This week, we will start by studying 1 John 1:1 - 2:2 (click here to download my lesson notes for this Sunday, January 10). The handout I shared in last week's overview ("Are You a born-again Christian?") is one I will be referencing periodically throughout our study of 1 John. This week our passage of scripture includes the first test of salvation ("A true Christian cannot ignore sin"), along with many other treasures in God's Word.

I'm really sorry about the confusion of the availability of our study guide in the Second Baptist bookstore last week (the shipment apparently had not yet arrived). I'm very hopeful it will be there this week. I'm more excited about the study guide we will use for this study than about any guide we've used so far since I've been teaching. I think it will be a great asset to you as together we dig deeper into God's Word. It is John MacArthur's Bible Study Series on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and Jude. It should be available for purchase at the Second Baptist Church bookstore Sunday morning for a very attractive, below-retail, sales tax-free price, or can also be ordered online. The guide is great, but the Word is perfect, so let's not let the guide's availability (or lack thereof) prevent us from experiencing God's blessing from carefully studying His Word.

Just a reminder that I will be travelling next week and won't be with you on Sunday, January 17. Kevin McCall will lead us that week. I'm so grateful that our class is filled with Godly and gracious servants of Christ who are so willing to put their gifts to work for His glory. Thanks again Kevin!

God Bless You.

Matt

Overview / Introduction to 1 John

Happy New Year! I trust all had a joyful celebration of Christmas and already are geared up for a great 2010!

I'm so excited about our starting our verse-by-verse study of 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Jude! We'll begin this week with an overview and introduction to the book of 1 John. My notes outlining this overview/introduction can be downloaded by clicking here.  There is supplemental material referenced in this week's lesson, as well. A handout (which I will bring in hard copy form to class for everyone) entitled: "Are You a born-again Christian?" This is a handy tool using five "tests" (right out of 1 John) that any believer can use to evaluate their own salvation. It also includes a quick walk through the plan of salvation for unbelievers seeking the truth. I shared this several weeks ago during a lesson in the "Cultural Dilemmas" study, but thought it would be helpful to review as we prepare to study 1 John.

I'm more excited about the study guide we will use for this study than about any guide we've used so far since I've been teaching. I think it will be a great asset to you as together we dig deeper into God's word. It is John MacArthur's Bible Study Series on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and Jude. It should be available for purchase at the Second Baptist Church bookstore Sunday morning for a very attractive, below-retail, sales tax-free price, or can also be ordered online.

God Bless You.

Matt