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Family CROSSroad, Lesson 8: “Satan’s Arrows – Media: The Internet”

Note: Family CROSSroads is a Wednesday evening study for the fall quarter at North Charleston. Below are slides and helpful resources pertinent to our class discussions.

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[highlight]Lesson #08: SATAN’S TOOLBOX – “Media: The Internet” (October 22, 2014)[/highlight]

SUMMARY: Media is morally neutral, neither good nor bad. The Internet provides untold numbers of opportunities for good, but equally – if not more – possibilities for evil. This lesson focuses on two areas that God’s people need to understand about the internet: the issue of how we use social media, and the issue of pornography. Therefore, this lesson follows a three-point roadmap:

  1. The Focus for Christians (Col. 3:1-2)
  2. Facebook Use Done Right
  3. The Filth of Pornography

There are several invaluable resources below, especially regarding finding help for online addiction. Be sure to check out the resources.

SLIDES:

RESOURCES:

[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://roberthatfield.net/family” ]Family CROSSroads Series Page[/button]

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Family CROSSroad, Lesson 7: “Satan’s Arrows – Media: TV & Music”

Note: Family CROSSroads is a Wednesday evening study for the fall quarter at North Charleston. Below are slides and helpful resources pertinent to our class discussions.

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[highlight]Lesson #07: SATAN’S TOOLBOX – “Media: TV & Music” (October 15, 2014)[/highlight]

SUMMARY: Through the media, Satan has the potential to penetrate our homes. In this first lesson on the media, our focus is spefically upon TV and music. This lesson will focus on three sections:

  1. The Christian Armor (Eph. 6:10-18)
  2. The Potential of Media
  3. Food for Thought

SLIDES:

RESOURCES:

[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://roberthatfield.net/family” ]Family CROSSroads Series Page[/button]

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Family CROSSroad: Lesson 6: “The Culture of Death: Homosexuality”

Note: Family CROSSroads is a Wednesday evening study for the fall quarter at North Charleston. Below are slides and helpful resources pertinent to our class discussions.

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[highlight]Lesson #06: SATAN’S TOOLBOX – “The Culture of Death: Homosexuality” (October 8, 2014)[/highlight]

SUMMARY: Satan’s arrows have, for all practical purposes, penetrated the heart of America – at least the hearts of her lawmakers. This past Monday, October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear appeals involving five different states on the question of same sex marriage. In so doing, the Court effectively legalized homosexual marriage in 30 states.

As our families face the cross roads of decision morally speaking, we must know what the Bible teaches on this admittedly touchy subject. This lesson covers six areas of interest:

  1. Common misconceptions about homosexuality and the Lord’s church
  2. A word of caution
  3. In the News: An ongoing, uphill battle
  4. What does the Truth teach about homosexuality?
  5. Things to remember
  6. Scriptures to remember

SLIDES:

RESOURCES:

[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://roberthatfield.net/family” ]Family CROSSroads Series Page[/button]

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Family CROSSroad: Lesson 5: “The Culture of Death: Abortion”

Note: Family CROSSroads is a Wednesday evening study for the fall quarter at North Charleston. Below are slides and helpful resources pertinent to our class discussions.

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[highlight]Lesson #05: SATAN’S TOOLBOX – “The Culture of Death: Abortion (October 1, 2014)[/highlight]

SUMMARY: Of the many tools that Satan uses in our culture, abortion is the most prominent. Through the media and agendas of lawmakers, Satan has convinced many women that they have the right to choose to end their unborn child’s life. This lesson is designed to defend the life of that child by focusing on three areas:

  1. The Culture of Canaan
  2. The Sanctity of Human Life
  3. An American Application

Many great, FREE resources are also provided that will help you to learn more about the sin of abortion. There is also a video that is great for anyone who is wrestling with the thought of having an abortion.

SLIDES:

RESOURCES:

[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://roberthatfield.net/family” ]Family CROSSroads Series Page[/button]

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Family CROSSroads Lesson 4: “Jesus’ Teaching on Truth, Children, Discipleship”

Note: Family CROSSroads is a Wednesday evening study for the fall quarter at North Charleston. Below are slides and helpful resources pertinent to our class discussions.

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[highlight]Lesson #04: THE BRIEFING – CROSSroads: Jesus on Truth, Children, & Discipleship (September 24, 2014)[/highlight]

SUMMARY: In previous lessons, we have seen that we live in a culture that attacks absolute truth and God’s pattern for the family. Lesson three focused on the solution to these problems: discipleship. If Christians, disciples of Jesus, don’t stand up to defend God’s Word and to spread Christ’s light in our dark world, then who will?

This lesson focuses specifically on the teachings of Jesus relative to all three of these previously-studied topics. We will see how the truth, our families, and discipleship all tie together as we examine two major areas of emphasis:

  1. INFORMATION about Discipleship
  2. An ILLUSTRATION of Discipleship

Looking at these two areas of interest, three important concepts will come to light. First, we will see “the big three,” three things that Christians cannot afford to forget in our Christian journey. Second, we “none of self, all of Thee.” There is no room for self in discipleship. It’s all about Jesus. Finally, we will notice the little children discussed in Matthew 18:1-5; 19:13-14.

SLIDES:

RESOURCES:

[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://roberthatfield.net/family” ]Family CROSSroads Series Page[/button]

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Family CROSSroads Lesson 3: “The Solution: Discipleship”

Note: Family CROSSroads is a Wednesday evening study for the fall quarter at North Charleston. Below are slides and helpful resources pertinent to our class discussions.

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[highlight]Lesson #03: THE BRIEFING – The Solution: Discipleship (September 17, 2014)[/highlight]

SUMMARY: Do we have to accept our culture’s morality as an inevitable normality, or can we take action to produce change? In the Old Testament, Joshua made a decision for his family: “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh 24:15). Why can’t we do the same?

Some have said – and accurately so – that the solution to our culture’s problems lies in restoring our greatest moral pillars: family and integrity (see Wells, linked below). In my estimation, all of this and more is encapsulated in one important concept: discipleship. We are to go and make disciples of all the nations (Mat. 28:19). In this lesson, I want to challenge you to begin fulfilling that great commission call in your own family.

SLIDES:

RESOURCES:

[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://roberthatfield.net/family” ]Family CROSSroads Series Page[/button]

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Family CROSSroads Lesson 2: “The Target: Young People & Families”

Note: Family CROSSroads is a Wednesday evening study for the fall quarter at North Charleston. Below are slides and helpful resources pertinent to our class discussions.

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[highlight]Lesson #02: BRIEFING – The Target: Young People & Families (September 10, 2014)[/highlight]

SUMMARY: The term “teenager” wasn’t coined until the late 1930s to early 1940s. Not long thereafter, the culture began to see that it had been neglecting a prime market for too long. Today, teenagers there are two forces that could potentially shape the lives of teenagers: the home and culture. This lesson focuses on three areas:

  1. The origin of the teenagers
  2. Living in a Millennial world
  3. “As for me and my house…”

It’s time for us to recognize that our families and our young people are in Satan’s crosshairs. It’s time to reclaim our families.

SLIDES:

RESOURCES:

[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://roberthatfield.net/family” ]Family CROSSroads Series Page[/button]

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Family CROSSroads Lesson 1: “The Attack on Truth”

Note: Family CROSSroads is a Wednesday evening study for the fall quarter at North Charleston. Below are slides and helpful resources pertinent to our class discussions.

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[highlight]Lesson #1: BRIEFING – The Attack on Truth (September 3, 2014)[/highlight]

SUMMARY: Our culture is void of truth. A mindset of relativity permeates our existence and challenges the Christian belief in the Bible as the absolute, inerrant, and inspired Word of God. This lesson seeks to answer four questions:

  1. How did we get to this point?
  2. Where is this logic coming from?
  3. How do you know that God exists?
  4. How do you know that the Bible is from God?

Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). But Jesus had already answered that question during His ministry: “[God’s] word is truth” (John 17:17).

SLIDES:

RESOURCES:

[button color=”orange” size=”medium” link=”http://roberthatfield.net/family” ]Family CROSSroads Series Page[/button]

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An Open Letter About an Open Door

TN_to_SC

Dear friends,

For the past seven years, the Lord has richly blessed me to serve as one of the preachers for the East Hill church of Christ in Pulaski, TN. Having been raised in Pulaski, I have always known that East Hill is a special place. I have counted it a privilege to serve under the incredible eldership and alongside Paul Sain in my labors for the Lord there. The Christians at East Hill are amazing people. They are loving, forgiving, generous, and faithful. Throughout these past seven years, I have grown as a preacher, as a Bible student, as a Christian, as a husband, and as a man.

Today, we are humbled by God’s graciousness in opening a new door of opportunity to us. Lord willing, on July 20, 2014 Emily and I will begin to serve the Lord with the North Charleston church of Christ in Charleston, South Carolina. Brother Don Blackwell has labored there for the past eight years, and will be making the move to work fully with the Gospel Broadcasting Network as their executive director (a role that he has filled for several years while also preaching at the North Charleston church). The North Charleston church is a great church. Her elders are spiritual and capable. The Christians who worship there are spiritual, friendly, and kind. It will be an honor to serve the Lord with them.

Above all, this transition is about serving the Lord. We want to be where we can do the most good to the glory of God. After many, many prayers, Emily and I believe that this is the Lord’s will for our lives. We pray that He will be well pleased with us and that He will receive all of the glory.

Please understand that this decision was not lightly made. As already stated, both East Hill and North Charleston are great congregations of God’s people. We will deeply miss our brothers and sisters at East Hill and in the middle Tennessee area. I am extremely thankful for technology that enables us to continue to enjoy one another’s friendship through social media, text messages, phone calls, and through avenues such as The Light Network. Though miles separate us, we are all still one in Christ Jesus. Lord willing, we will be able to enjoy one another’s company at various events and locations. But if we are not so blessed, we will be reunited in heaven. That’s what this is all about.

Please pray for us throughout this transition. Thank you for your love and support.

In His Service,

Robert

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Click here to read Emily’s post about our move.