Good News For Confused Christians

A Shocking Surprise Called Easter

John 20:1-18

Good News For Confused Christians

1. We don’t have to everything .
   Job 38-55/ Isaiah 55:8-9
   

2. Discipleship is not an .
   1 Corinthians 1:20-31 & 8:1/ Matthew 23:13-33/ Micah 6:8 & Matthew 22:34-40/ Revelation 2:1-7
   

3. God’s PLAN is always clear in the . Don’t expect to have it figured out .
   John 20:9/ 1 Peter 1:10-12
   

4. God’s is not dependent upon our and
   John 20:1-2, 11-14/ 2 Corinthians 1:20/ Proverbs 21:30; 19:21; 16:4/ Philippians 1:6/ Luke 17:3-6
   

The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info.

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Food for Thought for the week of December 3, 2023

1. In his message this weekend, Larry encouraged and reminded us that there is good news for confused Christians. Like Mary not finding Jesus in the empty tomb, we can feel perplexed and uncertain of what God is up to in our lives. Thankfully, the Bible provides us with clarity and instruction we can turn to for comfort and guidance.

Reflect on Isaiah 46:9-11. Have you ever seen God’s purposes clearly after a time when His purposes seemed confusing? What was it like?

Isaiah 46:9-11 New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Remember the former things, those of long ago;     I am God, and there is no other;     I am God, and there is none like me. ¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning,     from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand,     and I will do all that I please.’ ¹¹ From the east I summon a bird of prey;     from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about;     what I have planned, that I will do.

Have you ever felt like God did not understand what you were going through? What truths in Psalm 139:1-6 can you rely on should that feeling arise in the future?

Psalm 139:1-6 New International Version (NIV)

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

2. Larry reminded us God’s faithfulness is not dependent upon our understanding. Just like we saw with Mary and the tomb, the victory has already happened, whether we know it or not. As we head into the Christmas season and celebrate the birth of Christ, we’re able to celebrate because Easter has already come. We’re not fighting for victory but from victory. As you read Ephesians 1:3-14, which “spiritual blessing in Christ” is a:

• truth that can help you live from victory?

• promise from victory you need to remember?

• reason to praise God for the victory He’s given you?

• source of encouragement for you during this Christmas season?

Ephesians 1:3-14 New International Version (NIV)

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.