Scripture Focus: Romans 3: The Words to live by: Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “ Jesus is Lord’ and belive in your heartthat God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Oct 4, 2014 Prayer Requests Unspoken – three requests Peggy & Danny -- Health Ruth Gawith – Health Liz Greene -- Recovery Anabelle – Praise & Continued Safety Eileen Phillips – recovery from accident Ginnie Jellison – Health Keith McNew – Salvation James Alexander -- Salvation

SundayTeacher.com Lesson Password: Perseverance Illustrated Bible Life Password: Fleece

SandraGreat Britain DavidMexico Saurabh Bangladesh, Angola, Namibia RuthIndia, Israel, Australia, New Zealand Keith & Ruth Switzerland SarahSwaziland WayneAfrica Love Lebanon school provides new starts for Syrian children October 17, 2014 Sonya*, a 12-year-old girl from Syria, remembers the sound of bombs exploding and hunger when gunfire kept her parents from leaving their home to get food. "My family came to Lebanon so we would not die in Syria," she said. Louay*, a 12-year-old boy, says when the Syrian army invaded his school, he grabbed his brother and ran home. Soon after, his family fled the bombings and fighting and went to live in Lebanon. Their stories are not unlike those of thousands of children whose families have had to flee from Syria in search of safety. Now they experience the love of God on a daily basis. The Nazarene Evangelical School in Beirut, Lebanon, provides education for Syrian refugee children.

Praying for the US & Canada Kansas pastor volunteers as male mentor at pregnancy center Hutchinson, Kansas (Hutch News, October 3) It hit Chris Gilmore at church one Sunday. As the associate pastor of First Church of the Nazarene, Gilmore was told by a woman that if she had an abortion, the last place she would go for help would be the church. She thought they would be too judgmental. "I felt awful," he said. "I knew I needed to change that mentality.“ Four years ago he began volunteering at Open Door Pregnancy Care Center, as a male mentor. More recently he began a new program, serving as the Open Door Men Ministry coordinator. On the wall in Gilmore's office, which he calls "the Man Cave," is a sign that reads: "Anyone can be a father. It takes a real man to be a dad.”Hutch News Chris Gilmore, an associate pastor at First Church of the Nazarene, is Men's Ministry coordinator at Open Door Pregnancy Care Center. (Hutch News photo)

Romans 3:20-24 (NIV) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. Righteousness Through Faith 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in [a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ( Peter Acts 10: )a 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 3:

Law Vs Faith What is the purpose of the law? What does it mean to say that we are “justified”? What does it mean to say that we are “justified freely by his grace”? Is it hard in today’s society for people to admit they are sinners? Why or why not? 7

What is Faith? What is the difference between belief and trust? What does our Christian faith cost us? Get in the wheelbarrow, on a tight rope across Niagara falls! Have there been times in your life when Christ has asked you for a deeper level of trust— to get “in the wheelbarrow”? We must get in with our whole being. 8

Romans 3:25-26 (NIV) 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, [a] through the shedding of his blood— to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—a 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 9

Salvation – Atonement – Sacrifice – Sanctification Did the Holy Spirit convict you of sin before you came to saving faith? What is God’s motivation for atoning for our sin the way He did? How does the atonement maintain God as a just and righteous God? In what sense is Jesus’ death a “sacrifice”? In what sense is our surrender to him a sacrifice? How does Jesus’ sacrifice and our sacrifice relate to sanctification? 10

Romans 3:27-31 (NIV) 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. 11

12 What are some wrong requirements Christians put on unbelievers? What does a person have to do in order to be saved? What decision was made at the Council at Jerusalem? What did they come to believe about circumcision and other Jewish laws? Even though we are not justified by keeping the law, Paul was adamant that faith does not nullify the law, but upholds it. How is this the case? What does it mean that we are all equal in Christ? What is Christ calling you to do right now? What is Christ calling you to do right now?

Isaiah 61 The Spirit of the Sovereign L ORD is on me, because the L ORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a] 2 to proclaim the year of the L ORD ’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the L ORD for the display of his splendor.a 13

God Breathed Why is the Bible important in Christian life? Doctrine & Nourishment are two elements of Bible study; how is each important? Why did John the Baptist struggle with doubt about Jesus? How did Jesus’ response help him? 14

Advice from Wesley Set aside a little time every morning and evening for Bible studey Each time read a chapter each out of the Old and New Testaments Read with the intent to know the whole will of God Read toward understanding the analogy of faith Begin with serious and earnest prayer for understanding Examine yourself in light of what you read 15

Unit 2: Wesleyan Perspective Next Week – Oct 26 Lesson 3: Wesleyans & Compassion Luke 18:35 – 19:10 Lesson 4: Wesleyans & Wisdom 2 Chronicles 34: 8, Lesson 5: Wesleyans & Hope Hebrews 6: