Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15)
Can you relate to this struggle?...
"I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. (Romans 7: 15-25, The Message)
Join us as we examine the potential minefields in life. Starting October 14, The Psalm One Oregonia Bible study be discussing the nitty gritty of the Christian life through CS Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters.
“A masterpiece of satire, this classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below." At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C.S. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldly-wise old devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging and humorous account of temptation -- and triumph over it -- ever written.”
This is a book about on how to live the Christian life, the subtle sins that trip us up, the interior battles we think no one knows about, and the mercy, grace, love, power and patience of our Lord. It is really a book about us--humans in all our stumbling. But it is told in such a creative way that you will find yourself laughing one moment, deep in thought about the insight another moment, and crawling under the carpet to escape conviction another.
This Tuesday study is for men and women, lay and clergy, single or married, any age, any church, anyone who really wants to know the Word and draw closer to God. We start with a fabulous pot luck dinner at 6:30, followed by digging in the Word together. In a society where so much material is simplified, watered down and spoon-fed, are you hungry for some real depth and solid meat? Come along as we seek to know and obey Christ and His Word!
We’d love to have you join us! Bring your Bible and a copy of The Screwtape Letters--one you can highlight and mark up and jot notes into—and join us this for this unique study on the challenges and triumphs of the Christian life.
After Screwtape, we’ll be digging into the gospel of John. What treasures await us as we observe the Living Bread, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Son of God… John shows us Jesus in a way no other gospel can.
Interested in joining us? Contact Linda Kline.
Psalm One Ministries
Oregonia, OH