How do we know if any of these images are Jesus or Mary? We do not have any photos of Jesus. Bottom line… is it really that important that we have these images?

This video could be used in a bible study on John 20: 24-29

²⁴Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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A Chinese emperor was about to die and he had no sons to follow him on the throne. So, he decided to choose the next emperor of China. With the help of his council, the emperor gathered the smartest and most talented young men of China.

One day the emperor gave each young man a seed and asked them to go home, plant it and take good care of it. Then at the appointed time, all of them were to return to the palace and bring their plant with them. You see an emperor has to be able to take good care of his subjects.

Chang was one of the young men chosen. When he got home he did the best job he could do to plant the seed, water it and offer it plenty of sun. After weeks of waiting Chang realized his seed was dead. The hope of having a plant from the seed the emperor gave him was lost forever. Ashamed and embarrassed, Chang refused to return to the palace. However, his mom, a wise woman, encouraged her son to go, and if asked about his plant, she advised him to tell the truth, to be honest.

The appointed day finally arrived and everyone brought their beautiful plants. The emperor walked among them and asked different young men about their plants -  what type each was, and what he had done to help it grow, etc.

After few minutes he noticed a boy without a plant. The emperor stopped.

“Young man, what is your name?”, he asked.

“My name is Chang, Your Majesty.”

“Where is your plant?”, asked the emperor.

“I don’t have one. Although I planted my seed, watered it every day and took the best care of it, it never sprang up, Your Majesty.”

Silence filled the room. Finally the emperor motioned to the boy to come to him.

“Chang, I choose you to be the next emperor of China”.

Everyone was shocked and with big eyes they waited for an explanation.

“I gave all of you a boiled seed,” said the emperor, “and boiled seeds are dead; they never grow. Chang is the only one here who was brave enough to be honest.”

In many ways our hearts are like a garden.  Weeds grow without being planted or watered. So if we intend to have a good crop, it is important that we make sure we plant good seeds and faithfully tend to the soil.

The question is, what will you plant in your heart this spring?

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2. When does someone have enough (riches)? {“Just a little more…” – Never enough} Is there a place where you can have too much?

3. Name some situations when silver and gold (money) are worthless. (You are in a desert and you are carrying a sack full of diamonds, but have no water.)

*During the time when James is writing this epistle the rich were the wealthy landowners as v. 4 reveals. The rich of that time were those who owned and continued to buy land and who exploited the people they forced to work their land. There was no middle class then only rich and poor. The term “rich” can occasionally be used as synonym for “the unrighteous”.[1]

4. Verse 3 in James 5 is very intriguing:
a) (NIV – Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.)
b) (NLT – Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment.)
c) (The Message – Your greedy luxuries are a cancer in your gut, destroying your life from within. You thought you were piling up wealth. What you’ve piled up is judgment.)

5. Why would James characterize wealth/luxuries as cancer?

Someday some of you may be business people. Others of you may be CEOs or managers. You may be a boss someday. LISTEN… Do not be greedy, do not cheat, and do not be dishonest.  (v. 4)

Greed will catch up with the greedy and some of the greedy will be punished here, others will   be punished here and also after they die.

6. “Riches are a threat to genuine discipleship”. AGREE OR DISAGREE? What are your comments? (Luke 6:24-25; Revelation 18:10-24)

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Following is an extrass from her article.

We can choose to take advantage of our time alone and embrace it with a godly purpose, as His provision for us. If we use it to spend time with Him, it can become a productive experience with positive results.

A.   Time alone should be embraced as an opportunity for uninterrupted prayer.
1.   Old age: widowhood.

1 Tim 5:5 “The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.”

2.   The life of Jesus.

Mk 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”

B.  This should be often – as a habit, not a last result; as the rule, not the exception.

Luk 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

C.  It is alone, in our place of deepest need, when we can turn to none other, that God meets us.
l.   Spiritual blessing was imparted as the result of a spiritual battle fought alone.

Gen 32:24 “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.”

2.  Ministry may require much time alone with God.

Exo 24:2 “… but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”

Mk 1:45 “Jesus … stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.” [For more on the solitude of Jesus, see also Section III-A.]

3.  The Word of the Lord often is received alone, in the Presence of God.

1 Ki 19:9, 11 [Elijah] “went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him…. The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

4.  Visions are usually imparted when the individual is alone, as his spirit is fully directed and focused upon God.

Dan 10:8 “So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale…”

5.  Revelation is usually imparted while alone.

Mk 4:10, 34 “When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables …”

Luk 9:36 “When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone … when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met them.

The causes of loneliness and rejection may vary.

A.  Physical disease. Lev 13:46
B.  Circumstantial difficulties – widowhood, childlessness, death of a loved one, family breakdown, etc. 1 Sam 1:2, Job 29:12 Psa 27:10, Eccl 4:8 1 Tim 5:5
C.  The hand of God. (Sometimes it is God who has set us aside: “for himself.”) Psa 4:3
D.  Rejection and misunderstanding in ministry.

1.  The prophet Jeremiah “sat alone” as a result of the critical message God gave him to deliver. Jer 15:17 2.  The prophet Elijah felt so alone, he wanted to die. 1 Ki 19:3-5, 10, 14
3.  Paul was deserted by his coworkers in the gospel. Acts 15:38 2 Tim 1:15, 2 Tim 4:10
4.   Jesus was “despised and rejected of men.” Isa 53:3

5.   Believers can expect rejection by family and friends for their convictions regarding the gospel message. Mat 19:19

God has a solution for loneliness.

A.  Draw near to God. (Scripture provides us with several spiritual consolations.)
1.  We are never truly alone. Deut 31:6, 8 Psa 22:1, 11, 16 , Jn 8:16, 29

2.  God sees; He knows. 2 Ki 14:26
3.  God cares. Psa 34:18; 55:22; 103:13, Psa 72:12

4.  God alone can meet our deepest needs. Psa 62:1
5.  Jesus understands. (See Section IV-D4.) Heb 2:18; Mk 15:34

B.  God’s answer may be practical.

1.  Family. Psa 68:6

2.  Marriage. Gen 2:18

3.  Friendship. Eccl 4:10

4.  Ministry. 2 Corin 7:6 , 2 Corin 1:3-7

TO SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE/STUDY GO TO http://www.dianedew.com/lonelins.htm

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EXODUS 20:15: “You shall not steal.”

When does someone become a thief?
It’s when someone is not content with what he/she has and he/she covets other people’s possessions.

What is Stealing?

Most people are probably thinking about shoplifting (five-finger discount).

**Dictionary.com defines stealing this way: to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, esp. secretly or by force.

[In Islam, Shariah Law teaches that under certain circumstance, (if you are sane and if you steal a certain amount of gold/money) you will lose your hand for stealing.]

Stealing from People

Why do teenagers steal? Some are stealing because it’s cool or daring and because it gives them a thrill. Others steal because their friends shoplift and they want to be part of the gang. Others steal because they want things their classmates have, but can’t afford.
These days we don’t take stealing very seriously. In fact, media romanticizes stealing – television programs portray police officers using a “pick” to break into locked quarters, where they steal incriminating evidence.

On the other hand stealing is more complex today than it was in the ancient times.
In the ancient world, very tangible objects were stolen: cattle, property, wives, and the like. One could hardly argue that he had not taken anything if it were found in his possession.
We now live in an age of sophisticated technology. For example, we have ideas which are patented and materials which are printed, both of which can be stolen. Credit cards and electronic banking have made matters even more complicated. And then there are the electronic gadgets. Satellite dishes are available to “steal” electronic signals from the sender, electronic recordings may be duplicated, so that the owner does not get any remuneration for his labor^.[1]

Have you thought about illegal download of music and movies as stealing?
It is a fact that today people struggle with the stealing of the intangibles more that they struggle with the stealing of the material things.

Every one of us has been tempted to download music and movies and then share it with our friends.

The music an artist produces is his livelihood. Sometimes they will give away some free music, but most of the time they want to sell it. That’s how they will be able to pay their bills.

Someone may argue that artists have enough money and that they won’t go hungry if someone steals some of their music. That may be true, but just because someone has enough money does not make stealing ok.

How about sharing the music, you purchase; is it ever ok to burn CD’s for all your peers?

Under US copyright law, you are allowed one backup copy for fair rights usage. You may not distribute this copy, lend it out, nor ever permit both copies to be used concurrently.
You all would like to make big money, don’t you?

What do you think?

Recently a teenager was discovered to have made thousands of dollars by investing in $2 stocks. After purchasing the stocks, the teenager, using many different names, would enter many “chat rooms” on the Internet and encourage others to buy the same stocks. He would assert (without any knowledge of the companies’ financial state, nor the quality of their product or service) the stocks were sure to increase greatly in value quickly. The teen would then sell his stock shortly thereafter when others, following his advice, bought stock thus raising the value of it. Do you think that the teen was guilty of breaking the 8th commandment? Why or why not?^[2]

Tell me, does it matter how you make money? Does it matter we are deceitful and dishonest?

Stealing of Reputation – Can you steal someone’s reputation?
If you ever wanted to make someone look bad in front of someone else (peers, teachers, parents, etc), you attempted to steal that person’s reputation. You didn’t care they would be looked at as stupid, lazy, untalented, weak, etc. When we care, we treat people kindly, with patience and we do our best to make them look good. It feel good when someone makes us look good, doesn’t it?

The bible teaches us to go talk to those we see doing stupid things and try to win them for Jesus. If they listen to us, we saved our brother or sister. (Matthew 18:15-20)

If he or she does not listen to us, take another person with you and then go talk to your sister or brother.
Sometimes they will not listen at all -people are stubborn and do not want to change. I’m sure you have no idea what I am talking about J.

In each instance, we must not share with the whole world what happened. Our gossip, will steal that person’s reputation. If someone is acting foolishly, they will ruin their own reputation, but God will not hold you and me accountable for it.

Stealing From God

MALACHI 3:8-9: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

In the Old Testament, when someone would give their tithes and offerings to God, they would take them to the temple. Today we take them to the church.

Some people give money to good causes and consider that as “tithe”. Friends, I am afraid that our reasoning is not good. HERE IS A HIGHER STANDARD – We ought to do both… give 10% to God (the church) and on top of that we ought to give to others.

Again, we see from these verses that God takes stealing from Him seriously.
* What should our attitude be in paying tithes and giving offerings?
** Can we steal spiritually and not physically?

Adam and Eve stole from God – Read Genesis 3:1-6.

They took and ate from a tree that belonged to God. Adam and Eve knew that because God told them not to eat of his tree. Adam and Eve stole their way out of (the paradise) Eden.

No one can steal his or her way into paradise. On one of the crosses next to Jesus was a thief. That man realized in his last hour on this earth that he deserved to die, because what he did (stealing) was wrong (sin). The thief nest to Jesus realized that he can’t trick God and therefore he asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus was in His Kingdom.

“In the final analysis, stealing evidences a man’s lack of faith in God, and in His promises to provide for His people, who keep His commandments. Men trust in stealing because they refuse to trust in God. In the final analysis, the thief trusts himself more than God.
Stealing is an act that is completely contrary to the character of God. Perhaps the reason why God hates stealing so much is that it is a crime which completely contradicts His character. God is gracious; the thief is greedy. God gives; the thief takes. God responds to the cries of the needy; the thief callously creates needs and tragedy. Nothing could be more contrary to the graciousness of God than the cruelty of the thief.”^[3]

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

Paganism would rob others of what is rightfully their own; Christianity leads me to give to others what is rightfully my own.^[4]

Questions:^[5]

1. Can you steal only objects? Does the cost of something make stealing it okay or not okay?
2. How does stealing differ from borrowing? What is the Christian approach to borrowing?
3. Have you ever had anything stolen from you? If so, what was your emotional reaction? How did it make you feel?
4. List ways in which people can steal from others: (a) at school; (b) on the job; (c) playing games.
5. What are some consequences for stealing? What is the ultimate punishment? (Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and comment.)

[2] http://www.ucg.org/teenstudy/8thcommandment.htm

[3] http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=155

[4] Pulpit Commentary Software, Exposition on Ephesians 4: 28

[5] http://www.ucg.org/teenstudy/8thcommandment.htm

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