Burns Church of Christ

Enjoy a review game for John 1-11.

After you’re done playing, use your browser’s back button and leave your high score and your name as a comment on this post. Remember, questions are taken from the official sycamore Bible Bowl text, which is the NKJV.

Lacrimation is science’s fancy word for crying. Did you know that almost all mammals shed tears, but humans are the only creatures on this earth that shed tears because of emotion? Our culture tells us that “big girls don’t cry” and that crying is for sissies, not men, but that’s not what Scripture teaches.

Science says that the shedding of tears is beneficial. Doctors say that tears are cleansing—providing an exit for your body’s toxins. Ophthalmologists know that tears cleanse and lubricate your eyes. Psychologists say that a “good cry” is a psychological release, a catharsis that helps you deal with your emotions. It makes me wonder why we avoid it so much!

John tells the story of Jesus raising his beloved friend Lazarus from the dead. His family is very upset by his death, and people say all sorts of things to Jesus: “If you had been here, this wouldn’t have happened!” In the midst of all of the turmoil and pain of loss, we find the Bible’s shortest verse: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). The Bible goes further to say that he was troubled or grieved in his spirit.

Many things may have triggered Jesus’ tears that day: seeing his friends and family hurt, witnessing disbelief, or just understanding the consequences of sin in a fallen world. Regardless of the reason, our savior was human enough to cry. He had a heart vulnerable enough to feel pain, and he wasn’t afraid to show it.

We need to be more like our Savior. We must be willing to put down our armor when we love and be willing to have our hearts broken. C. S. Lewis once compared the human heart to concrete: it isn’t soft and pliable very often, and once it sets, it is nearly impossible to form again. May we work to keep our hearts tender!

This probably isn’t what you expected your bulletin article to say this morning, is it? Did you know that if you can understand your family on the phone, then you are neither tone deaf nor incapable of rhythm, either? It’s true; on the phone, besides caller ID, the only cues you have as to someone’s identity are tone and cadence. In other words—tone (pitch) and rhythm (speed).

Even if you are one of the less than four percent globally who are afflicted by amusia (tone deafness) – you can still worship God in song! “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”(Psalm 1001-2)

Music affects us. It soothes the savage beast. Psychologists have repeatedly documented its power to change our moods. Violent music (in terms of both lyrics and style) markedly increase aggressive thoughts and feelings. David’s harp and song were the only respite King Saul could find when afflicted with a harmful spirit (1 Samuel 16:23). It’s no wonder that James said, “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise!” (James 5:13).

Good songs provide a sort of spiritual fuel for us. They bury themselves in our psyche. The easiest way to memorize is with a song. Did you ever notice that the longest chapter of the Bible is in the book of Psalms?

Let me challenge you this week to fill your hearts and minds with spiritual songs—and see their wisdom doesn’t overflow into your life.

Good luck! Happy studying!

Crossword on John 1-11

Did you know that we have links to several great online Bible Studies and tools? Check out “Resources” or “Links” on the right-hand navigation.

One of the great tools that is available is an online video called Searching for Truth. Check out http://www.searchingfortruth.org/ for more information.

We reviewed John 1-11 on Sunday Evening. We used a presentation to go over the basic story after students have studied for the first several weeks. You can view the presentation and listen to our discussion online.

Here are the workshets we’ve covered so far — in case you’re missing some. The files are in 2007 Microsoft Office files and Adobe PDF files. If necessary, free viewers are available.

• What happens in JOHN
• Places in John 1-4
• Overview Questions John 9-11
• Map 1-11
• John 5-8 Review Questions
• John 5-8 places and numbers
• John 1-4 Review Questions
• Crossword John 7-8
• Crossword John 5-6
• Crossword – John 1-4
• Bible Bowl 2009 Plan

Money doesn’t buy happiness. It’s true-even when you’re talking about lots of money! Andrew Carnegie, the steel tycoon-turned-philanthropist is certainly qualified to talk about money and happiness: his net worth was a massive $309.2 billion (with a b!) dollars, adjusted for inflation. To put that in perspective, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet each have a paltry $40 billion in assets today.

Here’s what Carnegie had to say about money: “Millionaires who laugh are rare. My experience is that wealth is apt to take the smiles away.”

Someone whose name has been lost in time captured the essence of his thought more clearly: “Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail.”

God’s love is even more satisfying. The Hebrew author wrote, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he [God] has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6 ESV)

I pray that our nation, our churches, and our families will turn from seeking joy in things to seeking the face of God-and finding unending and incomparable joy! I pray that we will learn to “owe no man anything-BUT to love one another” (Rom. 13:8). I pray that we will look for joy in the arms of Jesus. It is he who became poor for our sake – and gave us the greatest riches ever known!

Jesus said, “It is finished.” John 19:30

When you look at the life of Jesus from a human standpoint, you might conclude that his life was a failure. From a purely human standpoint he didn’t do much.

He never traveled more than a few miles from his hometown. He never wrote any books. He never painted any pictures in giant cathedrals. He might have built a good yoke for oxen that fit well, but they are long gone and almost forgotten.

He never ran for public office. He never owned large portions of land. He never had thousands working for him in a business. He never invented something that made medical or aviation history.

He was a simple Galilean peasant who changed the world. More books have been written about him than any other in history. More cathedrals have been erected in his honor. More political systems have been affected by his followers and his teaching. More travelers have carried the word of this man to more places on the earth than any other. More pictures and sculptures have honored him than any man in history.

At the end of his life he uttered the simple phrase “It is finished.” That phrase speaks volumes. He accomplished what he came to do. He died that man might have a chance to live. His life was the greatest success of all time. His life and death is still making a difference in this world and is making a huge difference in my life and yours

It looked as if his ministry was a failure but he lives and that is all we need to know. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. (John 17:4)

A time to plant and a time to uproot Ecclesiastes 3:2

Gardening is always fascinating to me.  This time of the year I enjoy the fruit of the labors of many gardeners.  Ripe tomatoes make any meal go better.  Radishes are some of the first fruits of the spring garden.  They take only about one month to get ready for a veggie plate.  If one plants asparagus it will be four to five years before you get an editable veggie.

Many of us are restless and impatient when it comes to planting and harvesting.  We like the radishes and lettuce that grow up quickly and are ready to eat in one month. These are the ones is our churches who are concerned with getting fruit at the expense of patience.

Many in our churches are interested in getting on with the fruit and have little patience with those who are carefully challenging them to think and study.  Old ideas seem to be easier to hold on to than the challenges to study to show yourself approved by God.  The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were satisfied that their understanding of scripture was right and they refuse to be challenged by our Lord.

Today we are faced with new challenges to the truth of God.  We can sit back and throw rotten tomatoes or we can get into the fight and live as no other and think as God would have us think.  We can find safety in old forms and patterns or we can study again the mighty truth of God and learn His will for us.  We can find our garden full of radishes and weeds and have no abiding fruit for the masters’ table.

We must return to the principles of divine truth and teach them in their contexts if we are to have an active and dynamic faith.  Now is the time for us to sow and water and pray that the Lord of harvest will give the increase. It is time to plant!