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Notes from Oct 7 Bible Study

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:07:50 +0000

n the story of the Bible there are many names and several key events. Here is a brief timeline:

Creation, Adam and Eve, the story of Abraham and his descendants, Exodus under Moses, the giving of the aw and making of covenant with God, entering into promised land under Joshua, the period of the judges where the spiritual leader and the political leaders were one and the same, the beginning of the monarchy with King Saul, then David and then Solomon, after Solomon the nation split into two separate nations: Israel in the north under a series of rulers, and Judah in the south under David’s descendants. The prophets arise at this time to be God’s mouthpiece to the nation and call them back to the obedience to the covenant. After 300 or so more years, the Northern Kingdom, Israel is taken captive by the assyrians because of their refusal to obey God by keeping the covenant and being a light tot he nations, 220 years later Judah is captured by the Babylonians. The people are deported. After 70 years some of the people are allowed to return to Jerusalem, although they are still ruled by the Medo-Persians. The Bible then details how the people struggled to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple and return to God. The other stream of attention goes to the exiles who never return who learn how to serve God in foreign countries. During the time of the exile and beyond, the prophets talk of a messiah,a servant whom God will send to initiate a new covenant, one that affects real heart change.

Details of the first few chapters:

When it all started the earth had no shape and there was nothing on it. God spoke. Out of nothing he created the gorgeous, the fanciful, the practical. The waters the lands, the light, the dark, the rocks, the mountains and all living things. He made one creation above all the others. Everything else he spoke and it appeared, but this creation he formed with his hands out of the dust of the ground. He sculpted it and made the form and designed the innards and added touches to make it very like himself. Then he breathed on the creature and it lived. Lived, not merely as animals lived, because life is more than just inhaling and exhaling. But he breathed into his creature, this human and endues it with something else, he made it a living soul and it was the most prized part of his entire creation. He made a second creature by hand like the first, but also different so that the two could have companionship. And that is how it was, man and woman and God, living in harmony working, talking, enjoying one another and the created world.

Enter the tempter, assuming the form of a serpent. He whispered to the woman that God was hiding something from them, that he wanted to keep her and the man ignorant. He planted seeds of doubt. God being good, endowed man and woman with the ability to choose obedience or disobedience, and the people made a choice. They chose to disobey God’s command to not eat of the forbidden tree. Chaos and death entered the world as a result of their decision. God was still in control of the universe, and he allowed his greatest creation to live even though they had chosen rebellion against him. But, the perfect harmony between God and people was shattered. Then God put into motion a plan of redemption, a plan to gain forever fellowship with people. The people were removed from their haven of the garden and the daily presence of God, eventually they would die. But yet God began putting a plan in motion that day which would gain back life for mankind, yet satisfy his justice.

The man and the woman had children who had children who had children, and people groups were formed. As the generations went on further and further from those first people in the garden, the reality of the true and living God became hazier and hazier and people became more and more wicked. Finally, God looked at how most of the earth’s population was just concerned with doing wickedness all of the time, and His heart was grieved. He found only one family on the earth who truly sought to know and obey Him. And God sent a flood on the earth and saved that one family through the flood to begin the world’s population again with a righteous beginning.

And after the flood people again spread throughout the earth, and God’s plan for humanity continued.

The plan involved choosing a group of people for himself. A group of people that he would call his own. To begin that process he began with a man. One man, a man who was a friend of God, called Abraham. God spoke to him and said, “Go to the land I will show you” and Abraham left. God continued to speak to Abraham and Abraham continued to listen. God promised to make a nation out of Abraham’s children and through that nation bless all humanity. He promised him that one day his children would inherit the land in which he now journeyed as a stranger. Though many years and through trials and tests of his faith Abraham came, although he made mistakes trying to fulfill God’s promise in his own way, God rewarded him at age 100 with the son of the promise. The son by whom God would build his beloved chosen people. That son’s name was Isaac, which meant laughter, because Abraham and Sarah knew people would laugh when they heard about a 100 year old man and his 90 year old wife having a newborn son. God worked in a way that there was no mistaking that it was He at work.

Key verses:
Genesis 3:15

This is the first thread of God’s plan revealed here: He will crush your head
Key for us to understand: God is not surprised by sin, but from the very beginning has had a plan to bring people back into relationship with God, through the “offspring” “seed.”

Immediately after the man and woman are caught in their sin, God gives them judgment, but there is also a surprising ray of hope. God tells the serpent in Genesis 3:15 that “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head and you will bruise his heel.” What is amazing is that even before God pronounces judgment on his sinful people Adam and Eve, there is this word of hope. This verse is the first time that God hints at redemption, the first time that God hints that he has a plan to redeem humanity, and that plan is centered on this person called the seed or offspring, who would take his revenge on the serpent for his deception and crush his head. The theme of the seed is carried on through scripture- Abraham is promised a seed, David is promised a seed, the Messiah is to be THE seed!

Vacation Bible School Pics

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:37:34 +0000

Click HERE

Olivet is going on an Extreme Camping Trip to Camp E.D.G.E.

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:19:14 +0000

Olivet is going on an Extreme Camping Trip to

Camp E.D.G.E.

EXPERIENCE + DISCOVER GOD EVERYWHERE

WELCOME CAMPERS:

At Camp E.D.G.E., you will join an extreme camp adventure where you will come to know that your strength and might come from God.

Extreme Bible treks will introduce you to Bible characters who have experienced and discovered God in many ways. You will learn an E.D.G.E. Pledge with each story to encourage you to live on the E.D.G.E. everyday.

You and fellow campers will learn through activities such as making memories in the Art Apex, singing in the Music Max, participating in projects and enjoying tasty snacks from the Snack Express.

All Campers from age 4 (as of June 14th) thru grade 6 are welcome to attend.

Registration forms are available in the church office. (610-534-2270)Please register as soon as possible because class size will be limited to the first 20 campers who sign up for each age group.

There is no fee for our VBS but we will be collecting a free will offering each night.

Our Wednesday night offering will go to our Mission, Loaves and Fishes Pantry.

Come join us for an Extreme Adventure on

Sunday, June 14th thru June 19^th,

From 6:15p.m. to 8:30p.m.

Camp Counselors are waiting for you!

The Lord is my strength and my might.

Psalm 118:14a

The first Vacation Bible School was begun in 1919 with an average attendance of 20 children. Now we have between 60 and 80 children. 2009 marks our 90th year of treating kids to FUN!!

Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 April 2009 11:17

Congregational Announcements

Saturday, 04 April 2009 00:00

Fellowship Activities

Senior Fellowship Luncheon – Third Tuesday of the Month

Scheduled Meetings

Deacons – First Sunday of the Month
Christian Ed – First Monday of the Month
Praise Team – First Tuesday of the Month
Building & Grounds – First Tuesday of the Month
Personnel Committee – First Wednesday of the Month
Worship Committee – Second Sunday of the Month
Evangelism Committee – Second Tuesday of the Month
Money, Missions, and Memorials Committee – Second Tuesday of the Month
Session – Third Tuesday of the Month
Website Committee Meeting – Third Sunday of the Month
Women of Worth Conference – Last Saturday of the Month

Volunteers needed

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 April 2009 19:05

Olivet Newsletter

Tuesday, 24 March 2009 18:48
Coming soon!

Did you know

Tuesday, 24 March 2009 17:27

Learn About the Presbyterian Denomination And Olivet Church

The Pastor is the Minister of Word and Sacrament. His/her responsibilities:

For a quality of life and relationships that commend the Gospel to all persons and communicate its joy and its justice
For studying, teaching and preaching the Word
For administering Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
For praying with and for the congregation
To encourage the people in the worship and service of God
To equip and enable them for their tasks within the church and their mission in the world
To exercise pastoral care, devoting special attention to the poor, the sick, the troubled, and the dying
To participate in governing responsibilities, including leadership of the congregation in implementing the principles of participation and inclusiveness in the decision making of the church
To reach out in concern and service to the life of the human community
To share in the ministries of sympathy, witness and service
For sharing in the ministry of the church in the governing bodies above the session and in ecumenical relationships
To moderate the session

The Session (Elders) Responsibilities

To provide opportunities for evangelism
To receive members into the church
To lead the congregation in participation in the mission of the church in the world
To provide for the worship of the people of God, including the preaching of the Word, the sharing of the Sacraments and for the music program
To provide for the growth of its members and for their equipment for ministry, through personal and pastoral care and educational programs
To develop and supervise the church school and the education programs
To lead the congregation in ministries of personal and social healing and reconciliation in the community
To challenge the people of God with the privilege of responsible Christian stewardship of money and time and talent
To establish the annual budget, determine the distribution of the church’s benevolences, and order offerings for Christian purposes
To lead the congregation continually to discover what God is doing in the world and to plan for change, renewal and reformation
To engage in a process for education and mutual growth of the members of Session
To instruct, examine, ordain, install, and welcome into common ministry elders and deacons on their election by the congregation
To delegate and to supervise the work of the Board of Deacons
To provide for the administration of the program of the church, including employment of non-ordained staff
To provide for the management of the property of the church, including determination of the appropriate use of church facilities
To maintain regular and continuing relations to the higher governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (Presbytery, Synod, General Assembly)
To establish and maintain those ecumenical relationships necessary for the life and mission of the church
To serve in judicial matters in accordance with the Rules of Discipline
To keep an accurate roll of the membership
The pastor shall be the moderator of the Session

Deaconate (Deacons) responsibilities

To minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith
To assume such other duties as may be delegated to them by the Session

Last Updated on Monday, 06 April 2009 14:54

Olivet Family Ties

SMASHING SUCCESS!!

OLIVET OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Our Olivet Presbyterian Church was a smashing success!! The moon bounce, face paiinting, church tours, free magnets, craft, games, and of course…FREE FOOD…all seem to drive the number of visitors to our beloved church.

We now look forward to hearing our nominated minister speak on May 17th and holding a congreational meeting shortly thereafter.

To say the Lord is showing us the path would be an understatement. We are looking forward to continuing our Mission Work, and to be a continual vital source of inspiration to our members and the community as a whole.

Pastor Rick Warren on Wife’s Cancer

admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:38:49 +0000

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having ‘wealth’ from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, ’Purpose Driven Life ‘ author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life?

And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body– but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act – the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn’t going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you’re just coming out of one, or you’re getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that’s not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys – you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don’t believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it’s kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems:

If you focus on your problems, you’re going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.’ But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her- It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder.. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don’t think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions?

Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God’s purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn’t put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He’s more interested in what I am than what I do.

That’s why we’re called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD