Calvary Chapel North Phoenix

Discussion Questions for Our Study in Philemon

(read the letter to Philemon before you begin)

1. Think back: is there a situation that occurred in your life when someone really offended you or stole something from you? How did that make you feel at the time?

2. If you happened to see them later on, what reactions did you feel?

3. Even if they paid you back for what happened, would you no longer have any ill feelings toward them?

4. The Bible says that every sin against others is also a sin against God; do you think that God is offended when we sin against Him?

5. But God’s love for us caused Him to send Jesus from Heaven to bring forgiveness of our sin. Whoever believes in Jesus with their whole heart is forgiven by God. Have you been forgiven?

6. Since God has forgiven you of all your sin, He wants you to live with a forgiving heart toward others. He has sent His Holy Spirit into your life to enable you to do this. Think about that person or those people who have wronged you. Why is it so hard to forgive them for what they have done?

7. If Jesus bore all the sins of every human who ever lived, who lives now, or who will ever live in the future, didn’t He bear that sin which was committed against you?

8. Read Philemon verses 17-21. Let these words be seen as Jesus’ words to you about that person or persons who sinned against you. Transfer their ‘debt’ to you upon the Lord Jesus. Did He pay for it?

9. Ask God to bring a release in your heart concerning that person or those people. Ask Him to put His love in your heart for them. They may never be your best friend ever again; but they are still loved by God. In doing this you will be set free because you have transferred their sin to Jesus and you can begin to have your soul restored (Psalm 23:3) and live out His forgiveness.

I had a thought that I wanted to pass by you for your consideration.

The government is about to send between $300 and $1200 to US taxpayers to help stimulate the economy. This is of course borrowed money just increasing our national debt. But it was designed to affect the psyche of the American consumer so they will spend more. These checks will begin to come out in May. To find out how much you will be receiving, go to the IRS special web address and follow their instructions.

Here’s the thought: How about before you make plans for that money you make a decision to set aside 10% of it for special ministry? It definitely comes under that category of ‘increase’ as Prov. 3:9-10 says:

Pro 3:9-10 NKJV Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; (10) So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Set aside that tenth, that firstfruit, and keep it untouched. Ask the Lord to set before you an opportunity to use it in His name to help someone in need and to open a door to share about what God has done in your life and how He has saved you. Don’t necessarily look for an organization to give it to.

What is on my heart is that YOU be the one who does the giving directly to the person in need. Then I would recommend using the remainder to pay down or eliminate any high interest credit card debt.

When you read the gospels and consider how the Lord Jesus was directing His disciples to be ‘others oriented’, I believe it implied personal involvement more than asking the synagogue to do the work of giving. If you are a part of a home fellowship, here’s an idea: pool all the 10% together and go out as a group and be Jesus’ hands and feet to minister into a situation of need.

All I’m trying to do here is stir you up to do the work of the ministry yourself. Although I am convinced the tithe of your income should go to the place where you are being fed spiritually, and that other ministries should come out of special offerings that the Lord lays on your heart, this situation is a little unique with the tax rebate.

What do you think? Pray about it. It’s not coming for several weeks. Lay the idea before the Lord and then follow what He directs you to do in your own hearts.

Pastor Bob Claycamp

Here we are at the beginning of the new year. We have new opportunities to serve the One who created us and has redeemed us. May we make the most of those daily opportunities as they arise.

Those of you with children know that although they are back in school now, the demands of their schedules have also stepped up. Many of you have children who are in school sports or in after school clubs or private lessons. You sit around the ‘war table’ on Sunday night just trying to figure out a way to get all your kids at their destinations on time and back again to the house.

Then there are the threats of cutbacks at work. Will your department be the one that gets the ax? Then what will you do? You’re not as young as you used to be and the job market is flooded with applicants because of the economy. What about the bills and the payments that will come due? These are realistic questions that must be faced in our current economic crisis.

But you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ are not lost in the shuffle. He knows what is going on. He knows what He wants to do in and through whatever happens economically. You have given your life to Him. He has laid down His life for you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

That being said, there may indeed be shakeups that will occur in your current life situation. Don’t be afraid; don’t panic. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. (Ps. 40)

It is just in times of upheaval that the Lord will show Himself powerful—if you bring everything to Him. What glories await those who trust the Lord and wait for His deliverance!

We as a church are simply a group of families—single and married—that need each other and are to help each other. We are not to be an island. Let’s let this year of 2008 be a year where we offer our time, our resources, our prayers to be the shining light He has called us to be in these last days.

Pastor Bob Claycamp

Greetings to all of you as you approach the end of the year! May the Lord pour out His grace upon every area of your lives! May He open your eyes to how deep and wide His love is toward you!

There are many challenges facing the families in our society and even in our congregation as we come to the close of 2007. All of the commercial marketing methods and cultural expectations (especially at this season) bring a tremendous demands upon us.

These things can cause us to alter sound thinking and go way beyond what we can really afford. They can really take away from focusing on what this season is truly all about: rejoicing in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

So let me put this additional challenge before all of us: Live simply on purpose. What do I mean by this? Willingly cut back on services and outings that we can live without as an individual or a family.

But there must be a higher purpose that motivates us than just seeing if we can live without these things. There needs to be an inner directive that living more simply will open up avenues of being more sensitive to help out others.

And for the believer in Jesus Christ, they have that special person of the Holy Spirit to give them unique prompting to step forward and offer aid.

Here’s what living simply on purpose might look like for some of you: rather than going out to eat so often, how about limiting those events to one special time a month?

Can you reduce your Starbuck’s intake in half? What about going to the movies less often? Instead rent a classic movie and making a special night at home with popcorn and soda? Take the difference monetarily and set it aside. Ask the Lord to give you direction on where it should go.

Living simply on purpose as a Christian has as its basis this reality: every single thing we have or will ever receive comes ultimately from the hand of God. It is put into our hands by Him as a stewardship.

I would encourage you (if you haven’t already done so) to set up a simple budget of your income and expenses. Give God the firstfruits, and then be faithful to follow those directives by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes God cuts back our resources so that we will turn to Him afresh and renew the reality that all resources come from Him.

Yes, He uses our work, our wisdom, our efforts; but the income and benefits ultimately still all come from His hand.

For the believer in Jesus Christ, living by faith on the promises of God is something we too often buffer ourselves from. But in this uncertain economy, there are going to be new opportunities to be schooled in this discipline of living by faith. And this is where we are going to learn new lessons about His faithfulness.

I would encourage you to sit down in a quiet place and ask God to take control of your finances. Ask Him also to change any of your habits and desires that seem to undercut what He’s trying to do in your life. May He give you the ability to live simply on purpose.

May you be open and ready to share with others who you know are needy. May the Lord be strong in our behalf as individuals, as families and as a church body.

Pastor Bob Claycamp

Twenty five years ago we began meeting together in a home in the north part of Phoenix. We had no idea just how gracious God was going to be to work in us and through us. Year after year we have been amazed at the faithfulness of God working in the lives of the hundreds and hundreds of people who have come through our doors. Many have gone on into full time ministry in other states and countries. We have watched the children of our members grow from the cradle all the way through to marriage and having children of their own. Now I am baptizing “grandchildren” of those first members so many years ago. We rejoice and look forward to more fruitfulness in the coming years “…looking unto Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith”.