The Best Part of the Journey

This is the Life & Leadership weekly email from Pastor Troy Gramling.

I remember a couple of years ago, on a particular weekend, I had a hard time catching my breath. It could have been the weather change or the chili I ate the night before. Either way, due to heart disease and stents in my heart, when coupled with chest pain, you start wondering if it's the "Big One." What if that weekend had been my last opportunity to proclaim the Good News? That simple thought brought a flood of emotion because my favorite part of teaching is your response to God's word. It's your transformation when the light bulb turns on. For me, teaching doesn't start with an idea that I have, but with the questions you have. My responsibility is to walk through the Bible with you to find the answer... and the best part of the journey is YOU.
Obviously, that weekend was NOT my last weekend to teach, but it did serve as a reminder of the power of God's word and the reason I love to teach. This week, look inside yourself and identify the best part of being who God created you to be!

The Aphrodisiacs: Tempted - Week Two

Tempted is our new series dealing with how to have a fulfilling sex life, and how to avoid the traps that lead to bad choices about sexuality. This is Week Two.

Read Matthew 4:3-7, Ephesians 4:26&29, and Proverbs 25:11

• The devil wants to tempt you to stay at surface level with communication. Pastor Brian said, "A satisfying sex life starts with good communication." Discuss.
• Can you trust that people always say what they mean? What is an example of a spouse not saying what they mean? How might this affect the couple's sex life?
• What are some non-verbal forms of communication?
• Can something the husband or wife does in the morning have an effect on their intimacy at night?
• Timing (knowing when to bring something up), tone (think about how they will receive it), and temperature (it it gets too hot, cool it... if it's been cold for a while, heat it up) are all crucial in communication. In light of Pastor Brian's message, give some practical examples of how this is true.

The Aphrodisiacs:
Read James 1:19, 1 Peter 3:7b, Genesis 2:24, and Ephesians 4:31-32. Discuss each of the items below. How can they contribute to emotional and physical intimacy?

• Actively LISTEN
• Intentionally LEARN
• Remember your LINK
• Passionately LOVE

Connect Group Challenge - this week, focus on really listening to other people, intentionally trying to understand what they are saying (or not saying) both in their words and body language.

Apologetics Class starts next week at FLAMINGO!

Do you have an answer for people who talk to you about other religions? Do you feel "stumped" when people ask you questions about your faith? Are you intimidated by discussions about whether or not the Bible is true?

So are most people! This is why we are offering the next class in the Seminary Gear. The textbook is When God Goes to Starbucks: A Guide to Everyday Apologetics, by Paul Copan.

"Apologetics" seems like a big word, but it simply means learning to articulate what you believe, and give a strong explanation of your faith. It doesn't mean to apologize!

Please don’t be intimidated. Dr. Lema has tons of grace for people who feel inadequate with all of this. As an example: in our last class, in an exercise we used Viva La Vida, by Coldplay as our text! Dr. Lema has a direct and easy to understand teaching style, and is super approachable. The classes are relaxed, and you can feel free to ask questions. If you are serious about ministry, and don’t want to get left behind, this class is for you. There is a good buzz around this class, and we are excited.

Please consider taking the time to participate in this class, and encourage your team members to do so. It is only five weeks long, on Thursday evenings at the Cooper City campus. Cost is $90 (with a $25 registration fee if you did not take the summer class).

Please email questions to Janis Whipple, who is coordinating the class, at jwhi954@aol.com.

Thank you for thinking about this! And if you have any questions please contact Barby Ward at ext 220 or at barby.ward@flamingoroad.org

Tempted - Sex, Lies & Adultery

This week's iMAX (weekend discussion guide) comes with a PG-13 warning! Tempted is our new series dealing with how to have a fulfilling sex life, and how to avoid the traps that lead to bad choices about sexuality. This is Week One.

Read Matthew 26:41; I Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 4:1-4

• The temptation Jesus faced was to satisfy normal desires, but at the wrong time in the wrong way. Have you faced similar situations?
• Pastor Troy said, "Life is about more than two naked bodies, techniques or an orgasm." Discuss.

Celebrate Our Love - Read I Corinthians 6:16-17; John 8:10-11

• "For sex to be fulfilling it has to have: Purpose, meaning and commitment. Outside of marriage, it becomes a competition." What does this mean?
• What are some physical consequences of being sexually active outside of the marriage relationship?
• What are some mental consequences of being sexually active outside of the marriage relationship?
• What are some spiritual consequences of being sexually active outside of the marriage relationship/
• In the light of John 8:10-11, what hope can you give to a person who has been involved in this way, and now wants to change?

Capture Your Mind - Read Matthew 5:27-29; Romans 8:5-7

• Some people feel that, if thinking it is the same as doing it, they might as well do it. Pastor Troy said, "It is the same betrayal, but not the same consequences, because of the number of people involved." Discuss.
• "If you feed your lust, it will grow into a monster. Lust is the ultimate act of selfishness." Discuss.

Cherish Their Body - Read I Corinthians 7:3-5; Ephesians 5:25-28

• Do people ever use sex as a weapon or bargaining tool? Is this wrong? Is it ever okay? Why or why not?
• In light of the scripture in Ephesians 5, how is the marital relationship meant to parallel/mirror our relationship with God? What does it say about how God "feels" about us?
• Is it possible for married couples to continue to have a sexually fulfilling relationship throughout the lifetime of their marriage?

Connect Group Challenge - How can the Church help single people to deal with this issue? What encouragement can you give to the singles in your life? If you are a single Christ follower, how can you encourage other singles?

When God Goes to Starbucks

Do you have an answer for people who talk to you about other religions? Do you feel "stumped" when people ask you questions about your faith? Are you intimidated by discussions about whether or not the Bible is true?

So are most believers! This is why we are offering the next class in the Seminary Gear. It will feature the book When God Goes to Starbucks: A Guide to Everyday Apologetics, by Paul Copan. We will also use the Holman Quicksource Guide to Christian Apologetics, by Doug Powell.

Dr. David Lema has a direct and easy to understand teaching style. The classes are relaxed, with an atmosphere where you can feel free to ask questions. They are ideal for lay people who want to be more informed, and for people who are considering becoming more involved in ministry.

Please consider taking the time to participate in this class, and encourage the members of your Connect Group to do so also. It is held for five Thursday evenings, from 7-10 pm at the Cooper City campus. It is fully accredited through the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please email gears@flamingoroad.org if you have any questions. You can register online here.

Thought of the day!

"The way you deal with life each day depends on what you bring to life each day"

Colored Perception

This is the Life & Leadership weekly email from Pastor Troy Gramling.

It is amazing how experiences color perception. There are two companies that carry a trusted brand name, but a couple years ago, we had bad customer service with both of them. Now on numerous occasions, they had done the right thing. But this ONE time they didn't, and that ONE time colored everything. I wonder how many people we don't get second chances with? How many people have ONE bad experience at church and it ends up coloring their entire perspective? It may not be fair, but it is true. The fact that I may never walk into either of those companies again doesn't have eternal consequences but when people give up on the Church it could. This week, as you go about your normal routine in your usual environment, take time to ask, "What am I doing to make sure the experience I'm offering is getting colored with the best perception?"