16th March 2008

Lesson: Total TRUST. SURRENDER.

1. Do you trust your parents not to eat you while you sleep?

2. What would happen if you were convinced that your Mom wanted to poison your food.? Would you eat anything? Would she be able to give you nice food?

3. Can our parents love us and give us nice things if we don't trust them and think they are trying to kill us or that they want to make us miserable?

4. Would we accept stuff from them.?

5. If we sort of half trusted them, and said “we'll go with you to town, but we won't trust your driving to take us on a long trip” How would they take us to Umhlanga for a 5 week holiday at a 5 star hotel on the beach?

6. So if we trust our parents completely, then they are able to do good things for us right?

7. Do we trust God?

8. With how much of our lives? 10%? 60%? 100% ?

9. OK, lets find out how much you trust God.....

10. Are we willing to say to God “You can take any of my stuff and do what You like with it. I give it all to You” ??

11. Are we willing to say to God “You can send me anywhere – I'll go”

12. Are we willing to say to God “ I'll never get married if that's what you want”

13. Are you willing to say to God “I'll stay poor for ever if that's what You want in my life..” !!!

    1. Isa 25:9 When it happens, everyone will say, "He is our God! We have put our trust in him, and he has rescued us. He is the LORD! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us."

14. Are we willing to say to God “I'll stay here in Vryheid and die here if that's what You want me to do”

    1. Psa 33:4 The words of the LORD are true, and all his works are dependable.5 The LORD loves what is righteous and just; his constant love fills the earth.

    2. Psa 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The LORD protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid. 2 When evil people attack me and try to kill me, they stumble and fall. 3 Even if a whole army surrounds me, I will not be afraid; even if enemies attack me, I will still trust God.

15. Can we say to God “ I trust you with my future. You can take away my family, my money, my cell phone, my future, whatever, and I'll still follow You. I know that You know best, and that You will always look after me.“

16. In other words, are we certain that God is a kind, good God who will only do what's BEST for us, or do we have doubts about that?

17. If we believe this about God, then do we think He will do stuff to us that will make us scared, or hurt us, if He is a kind and gentle God who loves us?

18. So can we trust in God TOTALLY ? Yes we can because that allows Him to bless us. He won't FORCE His blessings onto us, but if we trust Him and let Him take us to His places, then He will be able to bless us.

19. Will all the scary things we expect actually happen? More than likely not.

20. How does total trust in God make us happy? We can relax because we know that He's driving, like we do in the car when our Dad is driving – we know he's not some maniac!!

21. Isa 12:2 God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid. The LORD gives me power and strength; he is my savior. 3 As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty, so God's people rejoice when he saves them."

Trust God with your whole life. Don't keep anything back from His control.  Don't stop Him from blessing you.

Remember, He's driving. You must just stay on the bus !!

The BOTTOM LINE

Trusting God is a total thing

Either you trust Him

or you don't.

Which one are you?

Lesson: The whole universe was made for us.

THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY BIG NUMBERS IN HERE...

1. How big is the universe, the known universe? 20,000,000,000 light years across. (20 billion light years)

2. How old is the universe? Not the earth, but the universe? 15-20 billion years old.

3. When did time start? When the universe was created. Scientists have proved that the universe had a “beginning” - it has not always been there.

4. People who don't believe in God, like Stephen Hawking, try hard to disprove that the universe had a “beginning” - why is this?? Because it means someone had to begin it, and make it from absolutely nothing at all

5. Have there been universes before ours? No – this is not possible. Been proven by the bounce theory. A universe can't collapse and “bounce” back into existence again.

6. How many other solar systems are there, like with planets, a sun, moons, stuff like that? About 10²² which is 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 solar systems

7. So can't there be intelligent life on one of these planets? No. Why? Because the probability of intelligent life developing is one in 10³⁰ and there are only 10²² solar systems, so there aren't enough solar systems to make it possible for even a humanoid form to develop, let alone an intelligent one.. The fact that the earth has intelligent life already defies the odds.

8. What is the chances that a human being could “evolve” by chance or random joining of molecules? About 10¹⁰⁸ which is 1 with 108 nougths after it.. see below: So there hasn't been enough time for humans to evolve by chance, since there have only been 10

9. The universe had to be this big. If it had been any smaller, it would have been too hot for us to survive. The earth would not have been able to form. The universe had to cool in order for carbon to form; and we are made mostly from carbon.

10. The universe is expanding. The speed at which it is expanding is critical to our existence. If this speed was faster or slower by

    1. 0.0000000000 0000000000 0000000000 0000000000 0000000000 001 % the universe would have recollapsed and we would not exist.

11. People, clever people, say that there is no design in the universe; it just happened, things evolved. Do you think this is possible?

12. God says: Isa 66:1 The LORD says, "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house, then, could you build for me, what kind of place for me to live in? 2 I myself created the whole universe! I am pleased with those who are humble and repentant, who fear me and obey me.

13. Does God exist inside the universe, or outside of it? Both: He is transcendant and immanent, outside and pervading the inside too.

14. Col 1:16 For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him.

15. Heb 1:3 He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

16. Heb 11:3 It is by faith that we understand that the universe was created by God's word, so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.

17. If there was intelligent life on other planets, would they also be included in thiose going to Heaven? Yes!! Rev 5:13 And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea---all living beings in the universe---and they were singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!"

18. There are many other things that are in an incredibly fine balance. Electromagnetic forces, Gravitational forces, Nuclear forces – they are all critically balanced to enable us to live. This universe, this earth we live on; this body we have – were all precisely designed for our benefit. There is NO WAY this could have happened on it's own.

    The BOTTOM LINE

The universe was created by God

to make a place for us to live

on earth.

The whole universe was made just for us.

Lesson: Dealing with the Morbs

1. Who has felt depressed or sad or morbid before?

2. How do you guys deal with the Morbs?

3. In the Bible, Ahab the king, Jeremiah, Elijah, Daniel and David were all depressed at one time or another.

4. Are there good and bad reasons for becoming depressed, or only bad reasons?

   1. Being depressed about your sins is probably not a bad thing

   2. Being depressed over your friend having a better cellphone than you is very bad!!!

5. OK, how do you get undepressed ?

   1. THINK POSITIVE THINGS

6. What type of positive things must you think?

   1. Verses from the Bible,

      1. Psa 59:10 My God loves me and will come to me; he will let me see my enemies defeated.

      2. Joh 16:27 for the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me and have believed that I came from God.

      3. 1Th 1:4 Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own.

   2. Get to know God's character; how much He loves you and looks after you.

      1. 2Ch 30:9 The LORD your God is kind and merciful, and if you return to him, he will accept you."

      2. Joe 2:13 Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing your clothes is not enough." Come back to the LORD your God. He is kind and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his promise; he is always ready to forgive and not punish.

   3. and also this list of stuff.. (Hand out paper and pens...)

   4. I have the following: Write down what you have to be thankful for..

      1. a bed to sleep in A cellphone A pet Parents who love me Money eyes to see with Airtime A friend food Legs to walk with Music Arms that work water to drink air to breathe taste a house to live in Time A toilet (How many people do not have a toilet of any kind..) electricity running water A hot shower/bath an education TV and radio smell clothes to wear a Bible to read A garden to chill in A pool God's salvation can speak A Teen Church!! A job a fridge An indoor stove! Shoes teeth hair safety

7. Millions upon millions of people do not have even the basic things in life. So be grateful and thankful.

8. Does God love you? Why do you say that?

9. If God loves you and cares for you, do you have any reason to be down or depressed?

   1. Surely then everything is under His control?

   2. Heb 13:6 Let us be bold, then, and say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"

   3. Joh 14:27 "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.

10. Is being happy good for you? YES!!

    1. Pro 17:22 A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

11. What can we be happy about? Give me lots of suggestions...

    1. that we're alive. That we're together having fun. That God loves us.

12. What does this Bible verse mean: 1Th 5:16 Be joyful always, 17 pray at all times, 18 be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

13. How can we stay joyful all the time?

14. Does God want us to be happy and joyful? Yes !

15. Is it hard for a non-Christian to get out of depression?

16. Why is it easier for a Christian to get undepressed?

17. Are you glad that you've got a happy God cheering you up??

18. Can we remain POSITIVE at all times? YES, we can because Jesus is in control of everything.

The BOTTOM LINE

Think positive.

Jesus is totally positive and in control.

DON'T LET YOUR FEELINGS RULE YOU.