This week's lesson comes from Collegevue church of Christ. The speaker is, Greg Gwin.

  Misuse of Ps. 46:10   Introduction You’ve heard the old phrase, “Take time to stop and smell the roses.” This means that in life, sometimes we get so busy with our day-to-day activity that we don’t stop and appreciate the little things in life. We take for granted the landscape that is before us. If we don’t stop, once in a while, and admire the beauty of God’s creation, we might miss these opportunities when they are no longer available. In Psalm 46:10, the psalmist writes, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (NKJV) Is this the same sentiment as “stop and smell the roses”? Let’s see in this article.   Out of Context People today take this verse and use only the first part; Be still, and know that I am God , and plaster it all over things like mugs, T-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. It’s to give us the “warm fuzzy” feelings that God want us to remember Him in our busy day-to-day lives. In ...

  Misuse of Jer. 29:11   Introduction Have you ever had this happen to you? You go through life and a string of negative things take place. And when you feel really low about your current situation, someone will come along and say something like, “Don’t worry, God has a plan for you!” Although God does have a plan, this is not what they mean. They make it sound like He has something in the works specifically for you and no one else. The verse, from scriptures, that they connect to this is Jeremiah 29:11, which says, For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (RSV) Is this what the prophet was talking about?   Out of Context As we stated, this is a sentiment given to those who are at a “low” in their life; laid off from work, in between jobs, a crisis at home, or tragedy within the family. Sometimes it might be encouragement for those arriving at the next step in their life; grad...