Treasure Bible Study Guide

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Treasure (ISSN# 8960038) Volume 9 • Number 3

Faithfulness Faithfulness

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief Elizabeth Hodges Managing editor Phyllis York

the theHome Home

WNAC Board Diana Bryant, Florida Janie Campbell, Arkansas Pam Hackett, South Carolina Amy Johnson, Indiana Jonda Patton, Kentucky Sarah Sargent, Ohio Tracy Payne, Oklahoma Khristi Shores, Oklahoma LeeAnn Wilfong, Missouri

Contributors Diana Bryant, Florida Sarah Sargent, Ohio Elizabeth Hodges, Tennessee Diane Conn, Tennessee Emily Faison, Oklahoma Kristi Johnson, Spain Amanda York, New York

Studies March Faithfulness Outside April The Door

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TREASURE (ISSN# 8960038) is produced and printed quarterly by Women Nationally Active for Christ of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc. 5233 Mount View Road, Antioch, TN 37013-2306. Copyright privileges reserved. 2017 Member of the Evangelical Press Association.

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Inquiries Mail questions or comments to Treasure, P.O Box 5002, Antioch, TN 370115002; treasure@wnac.org or online at wnac.org and through Facebook: Women Nationally Active for Christ.

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Heartfelt Behind the Scenes Thirtysomethings Vision

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by Diana Bryant

Recently, the final answer in a championship Jeopardy! round was: “President Calvin Coolidge was inaugurated in 1925 with a Bible opened to this six-word first line of the Gospel according to John.” Much to my surprise, all three contestants got it right by asking, “What is ‘In the beginning was the Word?’” While knowing the Word of God will probably not win you thousands of dollars, the benefits of being able to recall it when needed, having it hidden in your heart, is priceless.

Perhaps you started this year with a resolution to read the Bible every day, to increase your understanding, or to memorize portions. This is not meant to induce guilt if you haven’t perfectly kept that promise, but I wish somehow, we could all develop a hunger for the Word so it becomes a craving we can’t deny. Not merely reading the Word, but becoming biblically literate, familiar, knowledgeable, and applying scriptural principles correctly to every area of our being. It is life changing!

Knowing the truth intimately is more vital than ever, since lies come packaged so cunningly and shrewdly in today’s culture. We must know truth to detect false teaching when it increasingly comes to us disguised as enlightened thinking.

Faithfully studying the Word increases your knowledge of God, strengthens your faith, and enables you to store it in your heart and recall it when faced with decisions or uncertain direction. When your daily reading doesn’t seem to apply on a particular day, it will remain deep in your spirit and rise when needed. If the answer is, ‘Essential for spiritual survival,’ the question is definitely, “What is daily scriptural nourishment?”

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Not long before we launched Hope Alive Church in Japan, someone asked me what my job title was for the church. While that should have been an easy question to answer, I found myself not knowing what to say. “Missionary” wouldn’t make sense to our Japanese church people. I looked around at others working alongside us, and it was clear to see exactly what their roles were and the titles that go along with them. The all too common voices of discouragement and inadequacy began to fill my mind. Perhaps my work was all too insignificant. However untrue these lies were, it took a lot to refocus on what God had called and equipped me to do.

I have discovered that while the translation work, preparations for Sunday service, Bible studies, scheduling, reporting, newsletter writing, etc., that I do each week are all important, God has also given me the supporting role for the work of my husband. I get the opportunity to take care of so many things that must be done every week related to our family and work so he can have the focused time he needs to prepare his sermon in two languages.

However, more importantly than all of this, I have come to understand the greatest role I can play behind the scenes is that of prayer. Through prayer we have seen God do unimaginable things!

We must have prayer as the foundation for everything we do. We cannot know what God is leading us to do in ministry if we haven’t spent time seeking His face. We must trust that this background work of prayer is not the least we can do; it is the best we can and must do to see great things happen for His glory.

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Faithfulness the Home

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Faithfulness is used to translate several words in Scripture— firmness, righteousness, goodness, true, mercy, and faith. When you search for the word faithfulness in the Bible, you will find many references about God’s faithfulness to us (Psalm 36:5; 40:10; 88:11; 143:1; Isaiah 25:1; and Lamentations 3:23). Psalm 89:1 states, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” As His disciples, we must make known His faithfulness and follow His example in our lives.

In this study, faithfulness will focus on how believers are to be true, firm, and righteous in expressing and holding to the faith.

Paul’s letter to Timothy is a prime example of how our faithfulness extends to those around us. Timothy witnessed the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in the example set by these women (2 Timothy 2:14-15). Paul also charged Timothy to communicate to others what he had learned from Paul (2 Timothy 1:13; 2:2).

Faithfulness in the Workplace Colossians 3:23 tells us to do whatever we do as if doing it for the Lord. God expects our best in everything. You cannot share Jesus with your co-workers if you are not faithful to do your best. Your example will speak louder than your words.

Work hard!

If Jesus is your joy, that will spill over into your workplace. It should not matter whether you are on the lowest rung of the ladder or at the top. A Christian worker should be humble enough to learn from others and teach others patiently.

Christians in the workplace are a beacon to unbelievers.

They see how Christians respond to disappointment, setbacks, hurts, and office gossip. Christians also present a different perspective, a different worldview. Let Jesus shine through you, so you can share words about Him with others.

Daniel was recognized for his good work ethic and faithfulness (Daniel 6). Unfortunately, this also made him a target.

Christians may face similar challenges in the workplace.

With wisdom, we can act on principle as Daniel did, so we can trust God with the outcome whether we are promoted or face the lions.

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How are you showing Christ to your co-workers?

What challenges have you faced in the workplace because of your faith?

In what ways will your legacy speak of your faithfulness to God?

Faithfulness in the Church Authentic is a buzzword used in the relational world today.

It means be yourself, be real.

Don’t try to be something you’re not. Along that line, faithfulness in the church involves each believer doing their part, based on their calling, giftedness, role, and maturity.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul used the metaphor of the body in comparison to the church.

We each have a different role in the body. We can’t all be the eye. We can’t all be before the congregation, but we can all be faithful in whatever place God has put us.

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(1 Timothy 1:12). The reason God put Paul in ministry was because God found him faithful. Paul And I thank didn’t begin as a Christ Jesus our missionary church Lord, who hath planter. He started enabled me, for his ministry by sharthat he counted ing his testimony me faithful, putand debating with ting me into the the Jews in the ministry;

synagogue. He was so effective the dis- 1 Timothy 1:12 ciples had to sneak him out of town! He eventually migrated to the outskirts of the Jewish territory in Antioch, where he was chosen to accompany Barnabas on a mission trip.

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In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul told the church at Corinth that he was sending Timothy to them, because Timothy was “faithful in the Lord.” In Romans 16, Paul recommended that the church receive Phebe because of her dedicated service. For whatever reason, she was traveling to Rome and the apostle instructed the believers to assist her however she needed.

We don’t know what role Phebe served in the church.

We don’t know anything else about her, but at the beginning of a long list of commendations and acknowledgements, Phebe topped the list.

Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned second in Romans 16. We know more about them.

Paul met them in Corinth during his second missionary journey.

They provided him lodging and worked with him as tentmakers.

Then they traveled with him and assisted his missionary efforts.

We know specifically that they mentored Apollos and hosted a church in their home.

Much of the work in a church is done behind the scenes. On any particular Sunday, nothing will be said about the bathroom being cleaned, the chairs being arranged, the doors opened, the heat or air conditioning turned on, unless these things weren’t done. Those who serve faithfully behind the scenes do it as an act of service and worship toward God. Those who are on stage humbly know their work is facilitated by the work of others. The faithfulness of everyone on the ministry team is necessary to accomplish the task.

What tasks require faithfulness in your role in the church?

How does maturity affect the opportunities for leadership in the church?

Who have you seen faithful in little things that make a big difference?

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Faithfulness in the Community If you hear a conversation about “unfaithfulness,” you automatically think of a marriage situation. Faithfulness in marriage is extremely important, but faithfulness applies to all areas of our lives.

In James 1:17, God is described as “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

God is faithful to His Word, His promises, His laws, and His creation—especially humanity.

He loves us and is faithful to us, even when…

According to Ephesians 5:1, we are to follow (imitate) God. Paul’s instruction for the Christian was to be like our Father, faithful in all our ways.

Serving in the community allows you to show Jesus’ love even when you can’t speak about it. To be an influencer to unbelievers in your community, you have to be alongside them.

How will they know of your Father and His love if you are not serving and working with them?

Christians need to make the effort to be involved in the public school program. This can mean volunteering, attending sporting events (even when you don’t have a child on the team), 10 treasure

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and making yourself available to help however is needed.

Civic organizations need Christian influence. Christians care about the community and can find common ground with a variety of organizations and causes. Be a bell ringer during Christmas. Serve at a soup kitchen. Help stock at a food bank.

Organize a fundraising drive.

Coach a little league or soccer team. Whatever is happening in your community, be involved.

As you develop relationships, you will gain the opportunity to speak into people’s lives. And people’s lives are messy. There are risks, but if you look at the example of Jesus and the early disciples, the risks are necessary.

Some may not like that you are there. But, you cannot allow the wisdom of Christ to be absent from the public square.

You may be asked questions you can’t answer. Don’t offer some lame explanation. You don’t have to be the expert on everything. Tell them “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you.”

Then research, talk to your pastor or another reliable resource.

There are good answers to hard

questions. Keep in mind, for most of the problems people face, we do have “The Answer”—Jesus Christ. It won’t be a quick fix. Salvation is instantaneous, but discipleship is a lifelong process.

Christians are called to be salt (Matthew 5:13). Scripture doesn’t explain what that involves, but we recognize that salt can preserve, purify, and flavor. Scripture does caution that the salt not lose its usefulness. While working in the community, it is imperative that you be faithful in all you do. You have to be conscious of what you say, how you act, and how you represent Christ to others.

A bad example is worse than no example.

Christians are also the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). In order to fulfill this role, your light has to be visible. You can’t hide in your church building or home and shine the light of Christ to the world. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Find a candlestick, and shine!

What are the civic organizations in your community in which you can participate? Brainstorm ideas with the other ladies in your group.

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What reliable resources can you use to answer difficult questions? (Consider these: www.icr.org; www.answersingenesis.com; www.carm.org; www.seanmcdowell.org; www.rzim.org; www. truelife.org; or email: hardquestions@randallhouse.com)

Faithfulness in the World You may have limited opportunities to be actively involved beyond your local region. There may be some cross-cultural opportunities you can support. There are missionaries who definitely need your financial and prayer support. And you may be able to visit a mission field. But, how can your faithfulness extend to the world?

What about the Internet?

Technology provides us with connections literally around the world. You can receive regular updates from missionaries through social media. Several missionaries have Facebook groups where they share prayer requests, needs, and news. Some of these may be secret because of the area of the world in which they serve.

You can also communicate through email. Share a word of encouragement. Keep it short. Don’t forward junk and don’t include them in group emails. Be aware that international data plans can be limited. Also, be aware that some governments monitor everything. Check with your missionaries and find out what is the best way to communicate with them. You can also check with their sending agency, IM,Inc. (iminc.org) or North American Ministries (fwbnam.com).

Social media connections don’t have to be limited to missionaries. You can also become friends with Christians and even unbelievers around the world. You could help someone practice communicating in English. You can participate in discussion boards or share ideas on Pinterest. Through these groups you can develop friendships around common interests and hopefully share your faith.

Be especially mindful of the need to be nice. Avoid arguments.

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Be careful. Don’t give out any personal information.

You may also have the opportunity to be involved in shortterm service projects. You can share your expertise in rewarding ways. The Hanna Project (www.HannaProject.com) and ELIC (www.ELIC.org) are two ministries to consider.

Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, provides a shoebox gift and the gospel to children in need. You can organize a shoebox drive, volunteer at a collection site, or help sort in a regional distribution center (www.samaritanspurse.org/ operation-christmas-child).

WNAC (www.WNAC.org) also offers opportunities for ministry. You may want to organize a provision closet drive to help provide household goods for missionary families. You can also give to the various scholarship funds, which offer educational opportunities to young women. Shine!, another ministry of WNAC, offers blogs, conferences, and resources for teen girls—and for their moms and youth leaders (www.ShineFWB.com).

What can you do that is outside your comfort zone, but within your ability with God’s help?

What other ministry opportunities can you share with your group?

How has your life been affected by someone else’s service?

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Conclusion In a parable regarding faithfulness (Luke 12), Jesus referenced the principle, to whom much is given much is required. By any measure we all have been blessed. We have the opportunity and responsibility to do what we can to faithfully share the gospel.

Jesus told His disciples to look up and notice that the fields are ready for harvest. Basically, this means the harvest is what you see where you are. You don’t have to go anywhere to be involved in the harvest.

Just be involved. Wherever you find yourself, recognize that your purpose for being there is to be a faithful representative of Jesus Christ. You may have a highly visible role or serve behind the scene. Paraphrasing what Jesus said, “She that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10).

About the Writer: Diane Conn is a freelance proofreader and editor.

She has served as WNAC bookkeeper and in numerous offices on the local, district, and state level in Florida and Oklahoma. Diane earned a B.A. in Theology from Randall University. She resides in Springfield, Tennessee, with her husband Danny and a high-energy yellow Lab named Tuck. Diane is a preacher’s daughter, preacher’s wife, and she loves Dr. Pepper, Braum’s ice cream, and reading on her porch swing.

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As Christians, we are commanded to share our faith. As Americans, we are admonished to keep our religion to ourselves. One of the most common places we feel this tug-of-war is in the workplace. It can often be a challenge to find opportunities to speak about God openly.

I was seven months pregnant and running late for my brandnew job in a brand-new state. I finally found parking and quickly waddled across campus. I arrived...breathless, red-faced, and sweating profusely. That was my embarrassingly awkward first impression on Becca. Yet, that was the night we became friends.

American Sign Language (ASL), like any language, has varying accents for which geographic location plays a role. Being from Ohio, she picked up on my accent and asked what brought me to Buffalo. I told her we were there to plant a Deaf church. Little did I know how God would use that simple question to begin Becca’s journey toward becoming a Jesus follower!

Obedience and conformity are distinct. God requires our obedience to His righteous commands. The world pressures us to conform to its set of standards that is woefully debased. We must resist conformity and embrace radical obedience to God. In Acts 4, we see Peter and John being told to cease and desist teaching in the name of Jesus. After miraculously healing a man, they were arrested. The next morning their opportunity to radically obey came in the form of a question.Their accusers challenged, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, gave an expert answer, “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ... whom you crucified...by Him this man is standing before you well” (Acts 4:10-11ESV).

The Sadducees couldn’t refute their testimony. The man who had been unable to walk since birth, was healed. So, they tried to silence their message with threats! But Peter and John rebelled against the gag-order (Acts 4:19b-20). Peter and John would not tap out.

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Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

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The Door of My Lips Read: Lamentations 3, Hebrews 10:23, Romans 8:31-39 Deuteronomy 7:9 declares “he is God, the faithful God.” In the Old Testament, God’s faithfulness was demonstrated in His covenantal relationship with His people. Faithfulness is not only a characteristic of God, but it also indicates a relationship. Being faithful requires someone to be faithful to.

In this study, we’ll be looking at faithfulness with the tongue.

Who are you faithful to with your words?

Read: Galatians 5:22-23, John 15:4-8, Matthew 6:33, Exodus 34:14 “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13) Being faithful can be hard. It’s okay! We are in a constant battle with human, sinful nature. Our human nature causes our faithfulness to sway with our circumstances and feelings. That’s why this line from 2 Timothy is like a breath of fresh air every time I read it: “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful.” In the ESV, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful.” Even when I’m not faithful, He is!

Faithfulness is part of God’s character, and here it is demonstrated as part of Jesus’ character.

Let’s look at the familiar fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23) The ESV and NIV translate longsuffering as faithfulness—an aspect of the character of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

To read the fruits of the Spirit as a list of characteristics to attain is futile. If we focus our efforts on simply trying to do all of these things, we will fail. Instead, these fruits are produced by a relation18 treasure

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ship. Reread John 15:4-8. We can’t do it on our own anyway! As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself…neither can you. Another breath of fresh air! We cannot simply produce the fruits of the Spirit, including faithfulness, without being part of Christ.

When we talk about faithfulness in this study, it is not a task to check off or a rule to follow. It’s “Faithfulness is a the cornerstone of a devoted relafruit of the Spirit, not tionship. Being faithful isn’t about a fruit of my efforts.” maintaining a perfect list of do’s —Diana Stone https://shereadstruth.com/ and don’ts, but it is about simply faithfulness abiding in Him. Unlike us, He is unchanging.

When our faithfulness seems to lessen with changing circumstances, we can rest in His enduring faithfulness.

Have you ever felt your faithfulness shift, perhaps in the wake of a circumstance that left you feeling abandoned or caught off guard? Was your faith eventually restored?

What other devotions compete for your heart’s affections? Does anything sometimes seem to beat God out for the top spot? Why? Be honest with yourself and pray about it

Read: Colossians 4:6 I love grits. Buttery, smooth, with a little bite from salt. If you’ve ever (hopefully mistakenly) eaten grits without salt, you know that grits can easily transform from a golden breakfast staple to a bland pile of mush.

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Salt is important. It seasons food by enhancing the best characteristics of the dish, by bringing out the best notes of flavor. Likewise, Paul notes in Colossians 4:6 that words should be seasoned.

Grits don’t come salted—salt must be added. Seasoning your words means speaking with intention.

Speaking with grace, or seasoning your words with grace, is a way to build faithfulness in your relationship with Christ, even while engaging with the world around you. Grace is a filter for the words you say and a lens for interpreting the words you hear.

The Message paraphrase of Colossians 4:6 offers some practical application: “Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.”

1. Make the most of every opportunity. We’re well acquainted with James’ lessons on the tongue. We know the tongue is a rudder and a spark—words are powerful. Every time you speak, you exercise power in the words you choose to use. Ephesians 4:15-16 tells us that speaking truth in love “makes the body grow” (ESV). Words of truth lead to growth. Let your words be an opportunity to grow in faithfulness by speaking with kindness and truth.

2. Be gracious in your speech. Graciousness takes practice. Sometimes our words seem to escape before we can catch them. The best way to train your speech to be gracious is to train your mind to be gracious. When we abide in the Holy Spirit and learn to see others as Christ sees them, grace towards others will grow.

By the way, grace and kindness don’t have to be synonymous with bland and boring. Being gracious with your speech doesn’t have to mean replacing all personality with insincere niceties. God made us with humor, personality, and charisma—and for some of us, that means sarcasm and ironic wit. The key here is spirit. Are your humorous words mean-spirited and inconsiderate?

Let’s look at the next one.

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3. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Slow down and think about what you are saying before you say it. To bring out the best in others, you first must listen to what the other is saying. Speaking with grace is about listening as much as it is speaking. Whether in witty banter, everyday conversation, or difficult conversations, put away “evil speech” and be kind.

Although I hope these points offer some practical ways to think about grace-filled words, try not to lose focus on the heart of it all: faithfulness. Faithfulness is bigger than a list of rules. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself…neither can you. Just like the fruits of the Spirit do not manifest without abiding in Christ, neither can your speech be full of grace. Learning to speak with grace-filled words is part of tending a growing relationship—it’s part of our living and dynamic relationship with Christ.

Words of truth lead to growth. Have you seen growth in an area of your life as a result of your words? Are there any stagnant areas of your life that could use more words of honesty and kindness?

Have you ever found yourself surprised by the words coming out of your own mouth? What are some areas where you could practice speaking with more intention?

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Read: Ephesians 4 “Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.” (Psalm 5:8-9) Although its users number in the billions, Facebook is no longer just a website. It’s almost completely integrated into our communities and shapes the ways we inhabit our world.

For me, and many others, Facebook is actually part of my job. Some companies and brands forgo their own website in favor of a well-maintained Facebook page. Rather than an account users log off and onto, Facebook is a parallel plane of our lives.

This parallel plane, although often called virtual reality, contains all of the same traps and pitfalls that we face in offline life. Unfortunately, we’re not always as guarded on Facebook or other places online as we are in the physical world. Sometimes, when we enter scrolling mode, we forget to stop and process what we are seeing.

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shared (“Did you know? The average cup of tea has 5x more caffeine than a cup of coffee!”) simply isn’t true just because it looks believable. Be wary of sharing posts or “facts” without checking for credible sources.

Although some lies are silly, others are more insidious.

God, lead me through the maze of lies and dishonesty.

Just like any gathering of people in a physical space, Facebook is rampant with fabrications and falsehoods, as well as downright maliciousness.

This is not a Facebook problem, it’s a people problem.

Have you ever encountered a comment thread that seemed to spiral into a pit of meanness, misunderstanding, and even hatred? It seems like people will type and share thoughts on social media comments they would never say out loud. Just as our spoken words are a reflection of our heart’s condition, so are our actions online Reread Ephesians 4:31-32.

This applies on social media, too! Every social media interaction is an opportunity to use

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grace-filled words, build one another up, and be faithful.

I traveled to New York recently for work. On Instagram, I posted a photo from the High Line, a park built on a former elevated train line. To the uninformed, it might have appeared that I spent the weekend crunching fall leaves in New York

to post personal details. People have varying levels of comfort with what they choose to share

parks. In reality, I spent two 13hour days working in the base-

absorb to the photos we share, let’s be faithful on social media.

ment of a convention center. On the last day of the conference I

Let’s remember that posts aren’t meant to carry the full weight of

was working, I escaped with a colleague for a quick break. That was it! I spent 20 whole minutes at the High Line. That anecdote isn’t an exercise in how to get away with lying on social media, but rather, a reminder that no single post on a social media platform is meant to share the entire breadth of an experience.

The family vacation photo your friend posts might not tell the whole story of the year they spent scraping and saving to afford a trip to the beach. Please don’t mistake me. Sharing a happy family photo isn’t a bad thing, and no one is required

every experience. Let’s post with joy and honesty, but also with

publicly, both online and in person. Whether your Facebook friends share a lot or only a little, social media is just the highlight reel. It isn’t designed to represent the whole truth.

From the information we

balance and sensitivity. Let’s read and respond to comments with thoughtfulness and grace— or simply not respond at all.

Let’s not fall prey to the lies and false information that circulates the Internet by using common sense when we read and share information. Let’s be faithful offline by not letting “Instagramperfect” photos interrupt truly beautiful moments with our present families and friends.

Let’s be faithful both offline and online.

Have you ever found yourself believing something, whether good or bad, you read on Facebook without stopping to make sure it was true?

How do you represent yourself on social media? How are you faithful with the words and images you post?

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Faithfulness to the truth is a two-way street. Are you faithful in what you post? Are you faithful in what you take in?

At the end of the day, faithfulness is bigger than our daily conversations. It’s bigger than what we read or post on social media.

But these day-to-day moments can be helpful in revealing and diagnosing our inner condition. Remember: As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself…neither can you.

About the Writer: A Florida native, Emily Faison currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she is an editor at Brief Media. She is also the associate editor for IMages, published by IM, Inc.

Our words can build or destroy lives.

Our words can help heal broken hearts, or break them. Our words can spell life, or even spell death.

JB Cachila Christiantoday.com

When Rebellion is Obedience continued As Christians we must be bold yet discerning when we share our faith. We must emulate Paul’s passion in Ephesians 6. He begged Christians in Ephesus to pray for him that he would be given the words to speak boldly as he opened his mouth to proclaim the gospel as he ought to speak. Like Paul, we are ambassadors of this gospel. We must be bold, even when it could cost us everything.

About the Writer: Amanda York and her husband Tim are part of North America Missions church plant in Buffalo, New York. She is the mom to Bryson (7) and Haddon (6). Amanda works as a free-lance American Sign Language interpreter that specializes in medical interpreting.

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In today’s society, the word “friend” is often used as a verb. Facebook has taught us that, right? We often say, “Can you friend me?” or “I was friended by three people this week.” Maybe we should also be using the word “friend” as a verb in our non-virtual lives.

So, what does it mean to truly friend someone? And how can we make these friendships last longer than some of our Facebook friendships that often appear out of nowhere and get hidden soon after. We need to build friendships that will endure not only for a Facebook minute, but for a lifetime. Let’s look to the Scriptures for some examples of friends who were faithful.

MOSES AND AARON Click on Moses’ profile to see how he and Aaron showed us a good example of a partnership with their friendship.

Read: Exodus 4:10-16. What did Moses claim as his weakness?

Who did God use to fill that need?

Have you ever felt inadequate when asked to speak? Maybe it was a devotion you shared with your ladies’ group. Or maybe it was teaching a Sunday School class with energetic eight-yearolds. Or possibly it was just sharing your faith in a spontaneous conversation with a friend over coffee. Do you remember how you felt? Maybe you didn’t know which words to use, or how to put them together to say what your heart was feeling.

Describe a time when you felt inadequate about speaking, whether to a group or to an individual.

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Look at Exodus 4:10-11. God gave Moses a wonderful reminder.

He said, “Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord?”

Fill in the blank about what God says to Moses in verse 12: “Now therefore go, and I will be thy ______________, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”

God has often used friends to give me the words I needed to speak when I was unsure of myself or as Moses felt…“not eloquent.” While Facebook friends’ posts offer a lot of help, God has also used my real-life friends over the years to be that mouth.

Many times I have found wisdom in talking to a friend, like my missionary teammate in Spain, Lea Edgmon. Time and time again her wisdom has helped me think through situations and gain insight into what I needed to say. God used her to fill my mouth with the words I needed to share. She’s been my Aaron, taking over in my weakness and showing true partnership of a friend.

Can you think of a friend (or friends) who have partnered with you when you felt inadequate? Spend some time thanking God for them, and then take a moment to send them a quick note, email, or a Facebook message letting them know just how much you appreciate them.

DAVID AND JONATHAN What if we could friend David or Jonathan? In 1 Samuel 18:3-4, we see that they model a friendship we rarely see in today’s society.

Read these verses, paying careful attention to David and Jonathan’s sacrificial friendship.

When someone loves as his own soul, there is a commitment to doing the very best for that person. Looking out for them.

Thinking of them before self. In the Facebook world, we try to make ourselves look good. What can I post that will get more “likes”? Very rarely do we look out for someone else. But Jonathan defies the Facebook frenzy as he makes friends with a very unlikely person based on their circumstances.

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Verse 4 gives us a closer look at how much Jonathan loved David. What things did he give to David?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Look again at the fifth object…his girdle. As ladies, we don’t often give our girdles away because Spanx is something valuable to us. We need it to make sure we look good in our clothes. In Jonathan and David’s time, their girdles were probably nothing like our Spanx today, but it was still valuable. And Jonathan shared his girdle with David. What a gift!

While this gift was just a small symbol of their friendship, we can read the rest of their story throughout the books of Samuel to see how their friendship was forged even deeper, often in the midst of troublesome times.

Do you have a friend in your life who loves you sacrificially? If so, describe your friendship.

Are you loving someone sacrificially the way Jonathan loved David?

Jonathan and David had many things that could have kept them from being friends. Jonathan was a prince. David a shepherd boy.

Jonathan was probably around 50 years old, while David was likely 28 treasure

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in his 20s. But their common bond was their love for God and their faith in Him. They remained faithful to each other, despite many obstacles that could have separated them.

JESUS AND US “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

This is probably a very familiar verse to you, but take a few moments to read it out loud. Think about each phrase. Read it again.

Let each word wash over your soul. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing. There is nowhere we can go that He won’t be with us. Not even in the very darkest places of our own minds where we sometimes allow ourselves to fall. Even there, He is our Friend.

Re-write this verse using your own fears as the first few lines. It could read something like this: “Nor my child’s sickness, nor bankruptcy, nor a scary cancer diagnosis, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“Nor ____________________, nor _____________________, nor ________________________, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Write out John 15:13.

What does this verse say to you?

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Our greatest example of a friendship is Jesus Christ. He loved us (his friends) so much that he gave His life for us. How many of us can say this of our earthly friendships? How many of us are willing to give up our own comfort, our free time, our desires, our resources…for a friend in need?

Think about a friend in your life who could use your help right now. Spend some time in prayer asking God to show you how you can help her in a way that is meaningful. And follow up on this within the next week. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). What are you willing to lay down for a friend this week?

FIVE WAYS TO HAVE FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIPS: 1. Walk with friends through the good and bad times.

When I was in my 20s, Tim and I lived in Nashville, Tennessee, and rented a duplex apartment from Bert and Dianne Tippett. We were newlyweds. They were grandparents.

Many mornings Mrs. Tippett and I would walk together. We both had busy schedules, so it had to happen VERY early.

We would brave the cold temperatures and the dark streets to get in our exercise. I found the Hebrew saying to be true…“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” Mrs. Tippett was not only a good companion in our dark morning walks, but she was also a friend who was faithful to listen, give advice, and mentor me as a young wife in the early days of marriage and ministry. Two ladies. Two different generations. One friendship that has impacted me deeply over the years.

2. Use the “like” button as often as possible.

Encourage! Encourage! Encourage! Our words of affirmation can change lives. One small “I love you” or “I appreciate you” goes a long way.

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3. Take the time to build deep relationships, even if it’s a sacrifice.

Jonathan loved David, even with the knowledge that David would take his place as the next king of Israel. Swallowing his own pride and ambitions, he loved David with a sacrificial love.

4. When your “memories” pop up from years past, take some time to look through them.

Don’t you just love seeing photos from three, four, or five years ago come up in your Facebook feed? It reminds you of that wonderful meal at Christmastime, how much your kids or grandkids have changed, or just a photo of you and a special friend. These memories are a part of what makes our friendships so special. We all need to take time to look back at God’s goodness to us through the years, and be thankful for the friends that He has given us.

5. Don’t let the “urgent” get in the way of the “important.”

If you have Facebook messenger, you probably get notices on your phone when someone sends you a message. It’s tempting to pick up your phone each time it dings, but sometimes we are with friends who need us to stay focused on them. Let the “important” people who are right in front of you take precedence over the things that can wait.

The next time you log in to Facebook, remember these principles and use them in both your virtual and real-life friendships.Friending someone isn’t a click of a button on your iPhone or laptop, but a continual daily commitment to being a friend like Jonathan or Aaron or even Jesus himself.

About the Writer: Kristi Johnson and her husband, Tim, have spent the last 20 years in Spain serving as church planters with IM. Kristi enjoys having coffee with friends, finding great bargains on sale racks, and capturing the world through the lens of her camera. But her all-time favorite pastime is being with Tim, Alejandro, and Ana while they explore new cities and exciting foods.

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thirtysomethings

by Sarah Sargent

Take a moment and think about your friendships. Think about the people who make you laugh and those who challenge you to be a better person. What about the friends you can talk to about anything; the good, the bad, and even the ugly. Who are the friends you would do anything for? I’m sure one or two friends come to mind. Hold onto their faces.

Over the last year God brought something to my attention numerous times in various forms. I saw on Instagram how much friendship meant to a woman suffering a miscarriage. I attended a funeral viewing where a woman traveled 1,000+ miles to sit beside her friend. God even used this picture of a dog and cat to challenge my heart.

God made it so clear to me that this is something He wants us to do for each other. Sometimes the greatest way to show our faithfulness in friendships is to sit with each other in silence. Simply supporting each other with our presence. In our hardest moments, sometimes the greatest comfort can be to know we are not alone.

Our friends, unfortunately, might find themselves in situations where we can’t possibly think of words to say to be an encouragement. I believe it is in those moments when God wants us to simply sit beside them.

While Job’s friends aren’t typically classified as ideal friends, they managed to get this act of friendship spot on. When Job was unrecognizable because of his grief, they sat in silence with him for a week and simply ministered to him with their presence. Remember those faces you thought of at the beginning of the article the next time they are struggling. Pray and open your heart to see if God is asking you to minister to them with just your presence.

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VISION by Elizabeth Hodges

On March 28 ladies from many states will meet together at Central Free Will Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia, for our first FLOURISH Ladies Day Event. There will be times of Bible study, break-out sessions, testimonies, fellowship, and networking developing the theme of Grace in the Chaos. There is no registration fee BUT you need to register at https://www.wnac.org/flourish/.

Order your $10 lunch in the process. If you cannot join us, please pray for each attendee and ask God for a mighty moving of His Spirit among us.

What’s new at FWB Women’s Ministries? As we seek to broaden our outreach to incorporate women in all of our Free Will Baptist churches, we have a new set of resources on our website: https://www.wnac.org/espanol/.

This is a work in progress. You will find Bible studies, resources, and articles. Many have asked for Treasure to be available in Spanish.

This is our first step. Help us spread the word. Share the link with your Spanish-speaking friends. Pray for us as we seek to expand this outreach.

Are you an online giver and bill payer?

The WNAC app will be available to download in early April. Connect and engage with us! Discover upcoming events and learn more about us. You can also give a donation by (1) texting to give, (2) using a debit or credit card, or (3) establishing a recurring bank draft (which I did). Push alerts will keep you abreast of current events. Another first and we are excited!

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P. O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN 37011-5002 www.wnac.org 877-767-7662

A Ministry Worth Supporting

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