Jesus Is Coming Again recap -- April 30, 2012

Teaching a Sunday School class is a lot like launching a new product in the marketplace.  I painstakingly put together a lesson with discussion questions and video illustrations.  Then, it's revealed on Sunday morning to be voted thumbs-up or thumbs-down by you.

But, man.  The reception I got from this video still has me scratching my head. 

I never thought when I was getting this video ready that it would be met with snickers and guffaws.  I guess I was listening to the message more than looking at the people.  On reflection, though, it did look like Jesus (aka Guy Penrod), sporting a Texas-sized buckle, was belting out the third verse.

I'll be more careful next time.  Still, it wasn't a total loss.  At least I got you laughing (some hysterically); that's always good.

Remember the question we began with:  "If you could know with certainty that Christ would come one week from today, what would you do between now and then?"

Jesus is coming again.  No one knows when.  So we should live our lives as if it's later today.  That means we need to have those "uncomfortable" conversations with friends and family about where they stand with Jesus.  That means we need to be teaching our kids about Christ and what He did for them.  That means we need to be the hands and feet of God.

You won't be in it alone.  The Holy Spirit will guide you in what to do and what to say.  Just be receptive.  Listen.  Do.

I'll be praying for you this week; I ask for your prayers.  Live your life with purpose this week.  The time we have on earth is precious.  Use it wisely for God's glory.

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."  George Eliot

Remembering a Storm; Looking Forward to a Glorious Day -- April 27, 2012

Today is the first anniversary of the tornadoes that ravaged Alabama.  Do you remember where you were when the winds came through?

I was traveling home from Kentucky on April 27th, 2011.  My wife and kids had to ride out the storm without me.  Fortunately, they were able to stay with my parents.

As we look back on a day that brought horrendous destruction, we remember the lives changed.

But as bad as that day was, we had warnings that things would be rough.  We had time to prepare for it; time to run for cover.

Will it be that way when Christ returns?  The Bible says, "No".  We won't have James Spann telling us to get ready because tomorrow's forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of Rapture.

Sunday's lesson (9:50 a.m., right?) will look at Jesus' return.  Our scriptures will be from Matthew and Revelation.

Without tipping my hand on the specifics of our lesson, I will tell you that the three sections will be:

• Why We Wait     Revelation 22:12-14
  
• How To Wait      Matthew 24:36-44
• While We Wait    Matthew 24:9-14 and Revelation 7:9
  

Join us Sunday morning at 9:50.  That's assuming Jesus doesn't come by then.  If the Rapture happens before class starts, I'll be the one fishing along the outside bend of a river tributary flowing into the crystal sea.  Heaven should have some whopping largemouth bass.


Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“Men of genius sometimes accomplish most when they work the least, for they are thinking out inventions and forming in their minds the perfect idea that they subsequently express with their hands.”  Leonardo da Vinci

Jesus Works Through His Church recap -- April 23, 2012

Remember that the main question from yesterday's lesson was "What if the only hands Jesus had were yours?".

Our final scripture passage was the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20 which is a command for all Christians.  Every person in our class has been given different gifts.  The only thing God commands you to do is use those gifts for Him.

We ended by looking at how our action can lead to a ripple effect years and years later.  We watched a video that told the story of one man who changed the course of our nation's history.  His name was Joshua Chamberlain, and he took his action during one of the most famous battles of the Civil War.  Here's the video...

Have a wonderful week!  Look for opportunities to be Christ's hands.

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” – Orison Swett Marden

Excited but nervous -- April 20, 2012

To say that I'm excited about our lesson this week is an understatement.  It's going to be wonderful having the Ladies' Adult 6 class joining us.  But I'm also nervous.  It's sinking in that our guests will have lots more experience with the Bible than I do.  Can I keep them interested?  Will I bring something new to them and you?

Cue the diabolical laughter.

Our scriptures this week are Matthew 16:13-19 and Matthew 28:18-20.

Think about the following three questions for class on Sunday (9:50 a.m.):

"Who does the world say Jesus is?"
"Who do you say Jesus is?"
"What should you do about it?"

We'll look at what the Bible says and discuss answers to these three questions. 

It will definitely be Name-Tag Sunday this week--for both classes.  I want to see great interaction.  I'm even going toss down the gauntlet and challenge everyone to do something on Sunday.  You've got to be there to see if you've got the guts to do it.

So iron your "church clothes" Saturday night, set the alarm, and get you and the kids (if applicable) to Sunday School this week.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“One of the best places to start to turn your life around is by doing whatever appears on your mental ‘I should’ list.”  Jim Rohn

Choices, Choices, Choices -- April 13, 2012

This Bobby Petrino thing is fascinating.

It's a sports story that both males and females can discuss.  In case you don't know what I'm talking about, let me recap.  On April 1st (ironically), Bobby Petrino, the head football coach at the University of Arkansas, wrecked his motorcycle.  He suffered a couple broken ribs and severe "road rash" on his face.  The first statement released said he was alone on the bike.

Turns out he had a passenger.  Yes, 51-year-old Bobby Petrino, married father of four, had a 24-year-old female (who wasn't his wife) on the back of the motorcycle when the crash happened.

Turns out that passenger, Jessica Dorrell, was an Arkansas athletic department employee who was hired only days before by Petrino as the student-athlete development coordinator.

Turns out she got the job (presumably) because she had been having an "inappropriate relationship" with Petrino for a "significant period of time".  She's also received $20,000 from Petrino personally in the last six months.

A blog post from Greg Gilbert, a big Arkansas fan, intrigued me.  This was written before Jeff Long (Arkansas' Athletic Director) fired Bobby Petrino, but what it says is a bit of wisdom for all of us:

"This dark cloud was created by the choices of two people and as usual, bad choices will eventually land your ox (or Harley) in the ditch. As Mr. Long stated in the news conference, there is no committee. He will ultimately make this decision and We aren’t He. Hang with me. I want us to agree on something.

Point # 1. In most decisions or choices in life we are given two very visible options. Yes or No? Left or Right? Up or Down? Let me throw in two more options. Selfish or Selfless? A selfish decision considers ME and ME only. What I want and what I think is best for ME right now. A selfless decision considers the impact on others. Most people with high integrity will realize that a decision that benefits others will in turn, benefit them also. Can we agree that normally there are two routes and one is selfish and the other selfless?

Point # 2. Every decision Bobby Petrino and Jessica Dorrell made in the creation of this dark cloud was selfish. No one else was considered. The consideration of a spouse, fiancée, child, university, state or fan was nowhere in site. Don’t you just hate it when a decision impacts you and you are not consulted? (Sorry, don’t have time to talk about D.C. and politics.) None of us were even a glimmer in their mind. Can we agree that all decisions by the two parties were totally selfish?"

In this Petrino situation, no one comes out ahead.  It's a lose-lose-lose-lose-lose equation when you consider Petrino, his wife, his kids, Dorrell, and her fiance.

Choices made by two people have significant, short and long-term effects on others.  How many others?  Let's think it through.  Besides Petrino and Dorrell, Petrino's family, Dorrell's fiance, you must think about the assistant coaches for the Arkansas football team and their families.  Why them?  Because the new coach may not keep all the assistants; those ousted assistants will be looking for another job even though they did nothing wrong.  And don't forget the Arkansas fans.  They had just tasted success with their football program.  Now it comes crashing down.

Choices made by two people messed up the lives of countless others.

Choices, choices, choices.

Thinking of choices brought me to a question I ask both me and you, "As a Christian, are you choosing to follow Jesus every day?"

If you are a Christian, you have your "fire insurance".  But we are not to stop at just a decision to have Christ as our savior.  We are commanded to follow in Christ's footsteps in the way we live.

Our scripture passages this week (Sunday at 9:50 a.m.) are Galatians 2:19-21, Romans 6:1-7, and John 15:1-5.  We'll see what Paul and John have to say to us about being crucified with Christ, raised with Christ, and productive with Christ.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“The choices we make by accident are just as important as the choices we make by design.”  Dr. Shad Helmstetter

Jesus Rose From The Dead recap -- April 10, 2012

What a magnificent Easter we had Sunday!

It was fun having a full house for Sunday School.  Next time, though, remember to use your "quiet voice" so we don't disrupt our neighbors.  Priceless!

Here's the Josh McDowell video we watched to begin our lesson...

We looked at the proofs the Bible gives about Jesus' resurrection.  Remember the proof of the guarded tomb, the proof of an empty tomb, and the proof of eyewitness accounts if anyone asks what proof you have of the Easter story.

We closed with "He's Alive" by Dolly Parton:

The question was posed as to the writer of the song.  It was written by Don Francisco.  For me, Easter isn't Easter without hearing this song.

Our praise report for this week was for the six who were baptized on April 1st.  It was a wonderful time.

Keep Easter in your heart this week and throughout the year.

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"An idea in a cage is like a silver dollar buried in the ground.  Both are safe, but neither produces anything."  Dr. Myron S. Allen

The Proof of Jesus' Resurrection -- April 6, 2012

In high school, did you love Geometry?

Do you remember anything at all about Geometry?

Does the term "proof" come to mind?

You know, something like this (the angle sum theorem):

Since angle a, angle b, and angle c make a straight line,
angle a + angle b + angle c = 180 degrees
Since alternate interior angles are equal, angle a = angle x and angle b = angle y
Therefore, angle x + angle y + angle c = 180 degrees

Well, in Geometry, you use a series of proofs to get from a starting point to a conclusion.

This Sunday, we'll be looking at a different set of "proofs" to show that Jesus rose from the dead.  Our scripture passages will be Matthew 27:62-66, Matthew 28:5-8, and Luke 24:13-16,32-33,35. 

Simply put, we'll explore the proof of a guarded tomb, the proof of an empty tomb, and the proof of eyewitness accounts.

The goal for Sunday is to give you the ammunition you need to answer this question from non-believers:  "What proof do you have that Jesus really rose from the dead?"

If you'll be out of town visiting family for Easter, I pray for your safe travels.  But if you're in town, I hope to see you Sunday morning at 9:50 a.m.  If you get there earlier, you can partake of the refreshments and fellowship in the choir room from 9:20 to 9:50.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Days are expensive. When you spend a day you have one less day to spend. So make sure you spend each one wisely."  Jim Rohn