Finishing Up

I know there haven't been too many blogs lately - mainly because we've been really busy. Regardless, for those reading this - thanks.

Ok, we'll have Lesson 8 (Unio Mystica: Am I Alone?) this Tuesday, Dec 11th. We'll go through the remaining four lessons on Saturday, December 15th.

Here's a snap-shot of the remaining schedule:

Lesson 8 - Tuesday, Dec 11th @ 7:00 PM
Lesson 9 - Saturday, Dec 15th @ 10:00 AM
Lesson 10 - Saturday, Dec 15th @ 11:15 AM
LUNCH BREAK 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
Lesson 11 - Saturday, Dec 15th @ 1:00 PM
Lesson 12 - Saturday, Dec 15th @ 2:15 PM
FINISHED - Saturday, Dec 15th @ 3:30 PM

We may finish earlier - as you can see, I left 15 minutes in between each lesson for discussions and restroom breaks (coffee re-fills).

So this will be the last blog for this Life Group; but I'll start another one when we do it again. As for doing it again, we're going to take a few "irons out of the fire" in the coming months simply because there are things that we want to do, but don't have the time. This was the hard one to put on the 'no do' list; but as I stated, we will do it again sometime next year (2008), but not immediately.

Thanks to my wife Jo and Cheryl Gray for all their support during this Life Group semester! You gals are awesome and a blessing!

Until next time remember to always - TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH!

Be Blessed,
F. Matt Williams

Lesson 5, Science - What Is True?

Thanks for understanding and allowing the group to take a week off last week! Truly, I needed a night to rest.

This week we started the wordview tour as it pertains to science. Naturally creation versus evolution is one of the larger topics of this.

"the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1) so that the Creator's "invisible attributes are plainly seen" (Romans 1:20), mankind has nevertheless chosen to ignore the obvious truth.

Isn't that something to ponder? It is plain to see the wonder of His works on this earth. I've looked at a flame in our fireplace and thought, "how does the flame know to stop without seeking more fuel beyond the fireplace boundries?" I'm sure that a person much smarter than me could expain why - fire also needs oxygen; therefore the size of the flame is proportionate with the amount of air being allowed in the confined space thereby keeping the overall size of the flame minimal given the amount of fuel it's given to consume. But... how does it know that? The wonder of God's work... it is plain to see is everything.

I like the "Did You Ever Wonder" Video played in Lesson 5 (you can view it from this link):
http://connect.thetruthproject.org/content/video/lesson5/dvd/DarwinScien.html

I'm looking forward to next weeks lesson - part 2 of Lesson 5 and I believe we will try and move onto Lesson 6 (History) as well.

I truly am greatful and thank God for Mrs. Gray and my wifes comittment to these lessons and this Life Group.

Again - if anyone is reading this and you want to attend... WE WELCOME YOU! We meet at my house every Tuesday night at 7 PM. Contact me at: fireteamwilliams@cox.net if you want to attend and need directions.

Lesson 3, Who Is Man

Ok, this entry is a bit late... I've had a few irons in the fire and felt that sleep was the priority ;-)

You know... If I didn't know better I would have thought that Pastor Jay read over these lesson notes (based on this morning's sermon). It was right in "lock step" (per se) with this lesson.

Here is a quick overview of last Tuesday's Life Group Meeting:

* Who is Man? Who is God? - The answers to these two questions form the foundation of every one's worldview. The battle within – Galatians 5:16-17 – Our sinful nature is in constant conflict with God's Spirit – Romans 7:15-25, Romans 6:12, Romans 8:5-14.

* Man's Essence - The States of man:

Innocent – Genesis 1:27
Fallen – Romans 5:12, Genesis 6:5
Hell – Revelation 20:15, Hebrew 9:27
Redeemed – Revelation 5:9
Glorified – 1 Corinthians 15:42
Dualistic or Monistic – Both flesh and spirit or purely material?
Naturalistic Philosophy Implications – no gods or purposive forces, no foundation for ethics, no free will, no life after death, no meaning in life

* IMAGO DEO Versus IMAGO Goo...

* RC Sproul's Comments (video):

http://connect.thetruthproject.org/content/video/lesson3/dvd/BattleWithin.html

REMEMBER - Lesson 4, "Who Is God" will be on WEDNESDAY October 24th (not on Tuesday) at 7 pm.

Have a great week and see you soon!

Matt

Lesson 2, Philosophy & Ethics: Says Who?

Hello again! Well, we had another great night with The Truth Project Life Group. If anyone is reading this and would like to attend - WE WELCOME YOU TO ATTEND. We meet at my house every Tuesday evening at 7 pm. Usually we sit around and talk for a couple minutes - my wife always has some cookies, crackers, etc to snack on - then we open with a prayer and begin the lesson. Once the lesson is finished we go around the room and talk about it, i.e. what were the particularly interesting points for you, etc. So, feel free to join us and if you decide that you'd like to make up the lessons that you've missed... we'll sit down and find a time and date to do so.

Back to Lesson 2. Truly too much to blog about, so I'll go over some of the more salient highlights that we discussed as a group. I believe we all recognize that Carl Sagan is deceived and truly believing a lie - to think that we are all created from 'star stuff'...? and to actually think that the cosmos is all that ever was, is, or will be...? WOW, that is true deception. I hope that we all can pray for men & women who think and believe this way - truly they are lost as they attempt to put the answers in a box or "the cosmic cube". Those who are unwilling to look outside “the cosmic cube” for the fulfillment of this need try to find ways to “bring God inside” by identifying Him in some way or other with “the stuff in the box.” This is the source of spiritual naturalism, paganism, pantheism, and panentheism.

Other highlights from the lesson are:

1. Philosophy: The love of wisdom. The systematic examination of basic concepts such as truth, existence, reality, freedom, etc. Webster's 1828 dictionary definition: "The objects of philosophy are to ascertain facts or truth, and the causes of things or their phenomena; to enlarge our views of God and his works…" True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same
principle.

2. Ethics: The standard, the line, that which ought to be. The principles of conduct governing a person or group of people.

3. Universals: Broad "universal" truth claims that provide meaning to the smaller "particular" questions in life. "Universals" provide answers to the great philosophical questions we face.

4. Particulars: Individual truth claims; the small details that describe "particular" objects.

5. Metamorphoo: Greek for "transformation." Root of the word "metamorphosis." This is the primary goal of The Truth Project: for individuals to be transformed into the likeness of Christ by gazing on the face of God. This process is not easy and we often struggle with God's Truth claims in the "cocoon." Metamorphoo is used in Romans 12:2, where it is usually translated as "transformed."

I'm looking forward to Lesson 3 - Anthropology: Who is Man? After Lesson 3, we may take a the next Tuesday to simply fellowship and discuss more of Lessons 1 thru 3.

So if anyone is interested in attending - let me know or just come by.

Be Blessed & Testify to the TRUTH!
F. Matt Williams
fireteamwilliams@cox.net

Lesson 1, What Is Truth?

We had a great night - overall it took about two hours which included introductions, a little discussion about the course, how I foresee the flow and/or execution of the course as a home-based Life Group, watching lesson 1, then discussing. What a simple question - What is Truth? But very profound. Jesus told Pilate, "...for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37) I love that scripture.

God is Truth (period). Yet we loose our bearing as a people (of God) and allow the world to sway our perspectives on reality and believe the lies. Bad, is not that bad, and can be tolerable and almost deemed good - it's a lie. To the point, anything that is contrary to God (His nature, His word, His Truth) is a lie. Odd that more and more we allow the influences of this world to impact us, instead of us impacting it. Remember there is no truth in the father of this world - the father of lies.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Don't allow yourself to be deceived by this world and what may appear truthful and then fall victim to the lies. Furthermore, MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY when we're with outsiders (Non-Christians). Remember to love them - they are deceived and believing a lie - be full of grace & seasoned with salt.

Consider Isaiah 44:14-20. In short, a man cuts a log in half - with 1/2 of the log, he starts a fire and cooks his meal and stays warm, and with the other 1/2 he carves an idol and worships it... then he asks the idol to save him. Now verses 18 thru 20 says ->

18 They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

19 No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

In closing, we were left to ponder this - Do you really believe that what you believe is really real? As Dr. Tackett stated - That question is haunting.

For the first meeting, I think we had some great discussion. I truly look forward to next weeks session "Philosophy & Ethics - Says Who?"

The Truth Project Video

Cut & Paste this link to your browser:

http://www.youtube.com/v/2OCOpL0IZbQ

OR, click on one of the video links (to the left).

Always Praise!
Matt

A Quick Pre-Lesson One, Question To Ponder...

Hi everyone! I hope you're as excited as me & looking forward to starting The Truth Project as a Horizons Church Life Group. I reallize that not everyone will be able to attend all 13 sessions - we'll gladly work with you and welcome you to attend as many as you can. We'll talk more about these details later...

Here is a seemingly simple question to think about before the first meeting- we will discuss this (in detail) during The Truth Project Life Group: Why was Jesus born...? For what reason did He come into the world?

Paul, in 1 Timothy 3:16, spoke of it this way: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

John, in John 1:14, spoke of it this way: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I don't suppose we can properly grasp the full essence of what it meant for the infinite, holy, omnipotent God of the universe to put on the form of finite man and dwell among the living dead. The reasons for Him doing this are probably deeper than we could possibly contemplate. However, it is not as if we have to guess about this thing. God has given us clear testimony in His Word concerning the reasons why He humbled Himself and "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philipians 2:7)

Here are a few references that may pop to mind (there will be more during lesson one):

Matt 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Luke 12:51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.
Luke 12:49 "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
John 12:47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
1 Tim 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
1 John 3:5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
John 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 638 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

But the final reason I ask this question is to focus on the very specific words of Jesus as He was giving the "good confession" before Pilate. In one short reply, Jesus states why He was born and came into this world. Truly it is one of the clearest and most objective statements that Jesus made about the reason He came into the world. This statement doesn't override the others, in fact, I think it helps to clarify many of them.

I look forward to lesson one and going over this very topic with you all.

Laus Deo Semper!
Matt

Coming Soon!

Beginning Tuesday, September 25th we will begin the 13 session "The Truth Project". Here's our church link - http://www.horizonschurch.com/lifegroups/truthproject.htm.

What is The Truth Project? Glad you asked...

In a recent study, the Barna Research Group revealed a stunning statistic that continues to reverberate throughout the evangelical world. Only 9 percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview. Because of this, today's believers live very similarly to non-believers. A personal sense of significance is rarely experienced, we spend our money and time on things that fail to satisfy and we begin to wonder what life's ultimate purpose really is. We are, in short, losing our bearings as a people and a nation. To counter this slide within the body of Christ, Focus on the Family launched one of their most ambitious and powerful projects in the history of ministry—Focus on the Family's The Truth Project.

The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group (Life Group) curriculum comprised of 13 one-hour lessons taught by Dr. Del Tackett and lead by one of the many Truth Project certified leaders. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life. As it has been throughout history, God continues to call ordinary people to make an eternal difference in our world.

We invite you to be a part of this cultural change by participating in this home based Life Group. To read a bit more about The Truth Project, you may visit www.thetruthproject.org. Once you complete all the lessons in this Life Group, your course leader may grant you full access to The Truth Project website in order to access all available materials and the ability to order a copy of the DVD curriculum for yourself. Most important, upon completion you will be equipped and authorized by Focus on the Family to lead your own Truth Project group. I believe the intent of this project is best explained in II Tim 2:2.

Look forward to seeing you all!
Matt