Page 23 - 2017 JFBNews - July
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kindred ministry update

          Hello from the Kindred adults of JFBelievers Church.  Who are  After  that,  we  break  into  small  groups  and  hit  the  town  with
       we?    We  are  a  spiritual  family  of  brothers  in  sisters  within  the  posters advertising our 10AM Sunday Morning Services on The CW
       church,  who  love  each  other,  encourage  each  other,  and  are  TV  station.    To  date,  we’ve  covered  Menomonie,  Eau  Claire,
       accountable  to  each  other,  while  we  seek  to  impact  the  world  Altoona, Nelson, Wabasha, and Alma.  This month we hope to hit
       around us.  That’s who we are and why we are here.  So… what  Chippewa Falls (which will no doubt include a stop at Olsen’s Ice
       have we been up to lately?  Glad you asked…             Cream shop).
          One  of  our  regular  activities  is  our  Sunday  afternoon  Bible     Lastly, about once a month we’ve begun to meet with a Core
       Study Recaps.  This is where we bring our notes from the Sunday  Group of Kindred adults to address the vision and discipleship of
       Bible Study and discuss together how it impacted us personally.  It  our entire Kindred  family.   This group consists of active  disciples
       is  good  to  verbalize  what  we  are  hearing  and  get  feedback,  within  the  group  who  have  volunteered  themselves  for  greater
       encouragement, and accountability from one another.  During the  responsibility over and accountability to the Kindred adults.  Our
       summer,  we  hold  these  at  local  parks,  or  around  a  fire,  or  hope  is  that  these  disciples  will  help  lift  others  up  into  a  more
       someplace that serves up ice cream.  We may be adults, but we  committed walk with Jesus and each other.  This is a relatively new
       still scream for ice cream!                             group, so we are excited to see where it goes in the future!
          We  are  also  enjoying  road  trips  and  impacting  the     If  you  are  interested  in  finding  out  more  about  the  Kindred
       communities  around  us  with  our  Sunday  Drives.    About  once  a  adults of JFBelievers Church, email us at kindred@jfbelievers.com.
       month, right after church we all jump in the church van and head  We’d  love  to  get  to  know  you  and  would  welcome  you  to  our
       to a nearby community.  Our first agenda is eating together as a  spiritual family of brothers and sisters.  Hope to see you soon!
       group.    Recently  we’ve  eaten  at  Eau  Claire’s  Pizza  Ranch  and
       Nelson’s J&J BBQ (both are highly recommended for large groups).


             A Way That Leads To                               4. GLUTTONY

                                                                   I  love  how  much  of  creation  is  edible.  Eating  and  drinking
                            Death                              should be done to the glory of God, so in a moment, stuffing your
                                                               face until you feel sick may feel like a harmless enjoyment of the
          One of the biggest spiritual dangers that Christians experience   good  things  that  God  intended  for  us  to  enjoy.  But  such  logic  is
       on this side of eternity is death masquerading as life. The enemy
                                                               delusional. The Bible warns that if your belly is your god, it will lead
       will promise life, but what it actually results in is death. It was the   to destruction (Philippians 3:19), and drunkenness to debauchery
       lie that tricked Adam and Eve, and frustratingly, our sinful hearts
                                                               (Ephesians 5:18).
       continue  to  fall  for  the  false  promises.  That's  why  we  need  to      Lest you be discouraged or confused, God doesn't just write
       remind ourselves daily of the warning in Proverbs 14:12 - "There is   up a prohibited list and wait for us to violate it. No, he offers us a
       a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."   life-giving alternative to the empty promises of the world: himself!
          Here are four everyday temptations that appear life-giving but   (Ephesians  5:18,  for  example,  tells  us  to  be  filled  with  the  Holy
       will ruin us.                                           Spirit instead of wine.)
       1. INDIVIDUALISM
                                                                   You see, there is a better, richer, and more satisfying life to be
          You see this foolishness at every age, from toddlers to teens to     found in Christ. There are delights to be known that will transcend
       grown  adults.  Human  beings  were  never  created  to  live  life  on
                                                               anything the world could ever offer.
       their own, without authority from God and wisdom from others.
                                                                   To conclude, I want you to worship your way through the first
       While the draw to be self-ruled is very appealing and deceptively   three verses of Isaiah 55:
       life-giving, the biblical promise for a long and successful life is to   Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has
       those  who  obey  their  parents  (Exodus  20:12)  and  who  surround   no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without
       themselves with wise counsel (Proverbs 15:22).
       2. LUST                                                 money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that
                                                               which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
          Adultery,  whether  fully  physical  or  momentarily  emotional,
                                                               Listen  diligently  to  me,  and  eat  what  is  good,  and  delight
       feels  life-giving  to  the  sinful  soul.  It  invigorates  the  senses  and
       makes us feel full, for a moment. Proverbs 5:3-6 says that what is   yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that
                                                               your soul may live.
       sexually forbidden "drips honey and is smoother than oil." But in
       the  end,  sex  outside  of  God's  beautiful  design  is  as  "bitter  as     God bless, -Paul Tripp
       wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword and follows the path
       to Sheol."
       3. MATERIALISM
          Possessions are marketed to us as if they have the power to
       give life, and because they can be seen and touched, we can feel it.
       Surround  yourself  with  fine  things  that  indulge  the  senses  and
       make others envious, and you'll experience momentary delight. All
       the while, materialism robs of us life because created things can
       never satisfy the soul.
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