What a great day!

Today was fantastic! (last night Jason asked me where to get the "happy juice" that I am always drinking! I'm just blessed with one of those energizer bunny attitudes... Some bunny's gotta be happy!)

So, anyway, about my day! Two new Bible studies started up today.

The first was a group Baptismal class at Hillard Christian School. There were supposed to be 14 kids enrolled. But, when I got there 19 kids were waiting and eager to study the Word! WOW! God is good. So, we studied the first of the 10 Questions for God studies and I went to the office and picked up 5 more for next week. (pretty impressive how I did that quick calculation of how many more I needed, eh? Didn't even use a calculator...)

The second study was with a lovely couple - Brendan and Kathy Sproule - and one of their fine friends. We began studying a book by Charles Stanley. I preread the chapter and decided to focus on a couple of the Bible verses that he used and to leave a copy of the chapter with them to read during the next week. They came up with some fantastic stuff while looking at John 10:10.

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (NKJV)

Here are some thoughts from the notes that I took during our study. These all came from asking, "What's the main point (BIG IDEA) in this passage?" And then writing the BIG IDEA as a question and answering the question from the text... very quick, easy and effective way to dig into a text with a group.

BI: Satan takes away, God gives all we need
Q. If Satan takes away your life, what does God give in return?
A1. life
A2. Abundantly - Everything

BI: The Devil Destroys, we need Jesus who gives abundantly
Q. If the Devil destroys, what can God give back?
A1. God gives back all the Devil destroyed, all the Devil took and more
A2. Abundantly!

BI: Satan destroys life, Jesus gives life
Q. How can God give us what Satan has taken away?
A1. Jesus gives life
A2. More is returned than was taken
A3. How does God do it? "I have come!"

I was really encouraged as we finished studying this passage and the line "I have come" emerged as the key answer to the problem of all the Devil's evil. Look at the text again...

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." - John 10:10 (NKJV)

You can see the problem - Satan the theif steals the joys of life, destroys the purpose life, and kills life altogether... But Jesus, who gives abundantly, has come that we may have life... Jesus gives back what the Devil has taken. And his gift is available because HE HAS COME!