Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 9.3.10.

FRIDAY — Love Dare Wrap Up
Big Point: Honoring each other in marriage lays a solid foundation to allow for the growth and nurturing needed to raise children in a Godly manner.

     God surely wants to meet many needs through our spouse. But only He can meet all of our needs. Plus, we must remember that not every perceived need is an actual need in our lives. Sometimes what we expect from a spouse is exactly the opposite of what God knows we need in order to become more like Christ. As painful as it may be to accept, my wife, Marsha, is God’s primary instrument for making me a better person. - Excerpt from It Starts at Home, page 47

READ…What does the Bible say?
1 Corinthians 13:13 (New Living Translation)
“Three things will last forever – faith hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.”

Proverbs 16:31 (New Living Translation)
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.”

1 Corinthians 14:1 (New Living Translation)
“Let love be your highest goal!”

THINK and LIVE…What will you do now?
Over the past two weeks, we have been exploring what it means to love our spouses with the Agape love. This is the love with which Christ loved the church. The Love Dares challenged us to put our loved one’s needs and wants before our own. They empowered us to boldly confront the selfish ways the world tells us we should live. This Agape love is the driving force that will propel your relationships to new heights.

What was the most successful dare you completed? What made it a success?

The book, It Starts at Home, focuses on three main areas: the marriage relationship, the parenting relationship, and the grand-parenting relationship. The Love Dare enables us to go deeper in the marriage relationship. The act of parenting from a biblical perspective encourages us to mold our children in the image of Christ. But what about grandparents?

Grandparents have the wisdom of the past to draw from and the excitement of the future to look forward to. The guidance they provided for their children is passed down to their grandchildren. They can also provide much needed relief to exhausted parents (who live in close proximity). Grandparents can and should set the tone for the generations to follow them. How have your own grandparents influenced your life? If you are a grandparent, how can you influence your family?

LOVE DARE CHALLENGE:
LOOK BACK OVER THE DARES FROM PREVIOUS DAYS. WERE THERE SOME THAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU? HAVE YOU REALIZED YOUR NEED FOR GOD TO CHANGE YOUR HEART AND TO GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO LOVE? ASK HIM TO SHOW YOU WHERE YOU STAND WITH HIM, AND ASK FOR THE STRENGTH AND GRACE TO SETTLE YOUR ETERNAL DESTINATION.

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

What do you believe God is saying to you? Is there a stirring in your heart? What decision have you made in response to this?

The Love Dare book is available at any CedarCreek Campus in The Source bookstore.

Just for Fun, Children’s Quotes about Love:
-”I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”
-”Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt.”

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 10
10:1–2 It seems Paul’s opponents were accusing him of only being courageous from a distance. They might have confused Christ-like meekness with weakness. Meek is not the same as weak.
10:3-4 “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do…” Greek philosophers often used warfare imagery to describe their battle against false ideas. Paul uses the same imagery to demonstrate his battle for spiritual conquest. “False arguments” are the philosophical teachings that sway people away from the true teachings of Christ.
10:6 “…we will punish everyone who remains disobedient” Paul may mean that believers must work harder to make up for time lost through disobedience.
10:9-10 “I’m not trying to frighten you…” A basic rule of writing was that one’s letter should match his or her personality when present. Paul was trying to help the Corinthians understand that he cared for them even though his words were powerfully written against his opponents.
10:11 Philosophers and Jewish teachers often contrasted words and deeds; deeds weighed more heavily. Even if Paul was a bad speaker, he believed his lifestyle would back him up.
10:12 Paul uses satire (more like sarcasm!) to compare himself to the other philosophers — satire was very common (very interesting!)

Introducing… HomePointe Family Ministry!
This weekend, August 28th and 29th, Steve Stroope, author of the book It Starts at Home, Senior Pastor of LakePointe Community Church and co-designer of the original HomePointe Family Ministry, was the guest speaker at CedarCreek Church.

HomePointe is…
At CedarCreek we believe that home is one of the primary contexts of our spiritual formation—for better or worse. HomePointe is a CedarCreek ministry that will help you become highly intentional about fulfilling your God-ordained role at home.

HomePointe Family Ministry Format…
The following are the four kick-off components that will begin to help you create a catalyst for building a family that intentionally lives out Godly principles. The components are as follows:

1.  The HomePointe Family Activity can be found in the weekly Living It Out. This Family activity allows for families and/or Life Groups to have meaningful conversations about God and what they experienced on the weekend at CedarCreek.

2. Free HomePointe Brochures can be found at the HomePointe Center. These topically – formatted brochures are for people of all ages and dynamics. The following are sample titles of the brochures available:
· Hope to Marry
· Single
· Engaged
· Considering Children
· Preparing for Baby
· Intentional Parenting
· Introducing Your Child to Christ
· Preparing Your Child for Adolescence
· Navigating Rebellion
· Launching Young Adults
· A Difficult Marriage
· The Empty Nest
· Influencing Grandchildren
· Blending Families

3. HomePointe Classes will be offered during each of our three semester blocks (Fall, Winter/Spring and Summer). These courses will be taught by professional Christian psychologists, counselors and CedarCreek instructors. Here are some of the courses offered this Fall:
Taught by Dr. Dan Schaffer
· Turning Conflict Into Connection
· Forgive and Forget?
· Overcoming Staggering Struggles
Taught by Tim Butler
· Parenting Through the Ages (Babies through 18 years)
Taught by Raquel Wilson
· Parenting Your Child Through Tough Times
· Parenting Your Child Through Grief and Loss

4.The HomePointe Marriage and Parenting Seminars will be offered once a semester. This Fall we will host the marriage seminar at all campuses on October 16th. It will kick off a six-week (Life Group format) marriage study at each campus with childcare provided. The following will be the topics of the various six week studies:
· Love and Respect
· The Love Dare
· Sacred Marriage
· Built to Last

Visit the all new HomePointe ministry wall and bookstore display at every campus. There you will find free brochures and resources with topics related to families.

Are you ready to live intentionally as a family? Do you want to begin living out Godly principles in your home? The following steps would be a great start:
· Attend this weekend’s kick-off message, or watch the message online.
· Pick up your own copy of the book It Starts at Home and read it!
· Make a point to visit your campus HomePointe Center with your family.
· Sign up for a Fall class that will help your family grow.
· Set aside time weekly to go through the HomePointe Family Activity.
· Pray for your marriage, children and the people who influence them.

HomePointe Family Activity
Big Point for Parents: Setting aside time for your family to grow in relationship often does not happen accidently.
Big Point for Children: God gave children, parents and grandparents so that they would have the opportunity to be taught how to live. How does God want us to live, you might ask? He wants us to live a life that honors Him!
Family Corner: There once was a time when families ate around the table at most meals. With our hurried schedules, parents working and volunteering more, and kid’s sports, eating breakfast or dinner at the table seems to have gone out like the dinosaur. What if you were given hard facts that the following would most likely occur in your family just by eating at the table together at breakfast and/or dinner?
· Improved relationships with each other
· Improved grades in school
· Better adjusted children
· Better nutrition
· Overall a healthier life physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

Would you make it happen? There is a lot of hard data that supports this information, as well as scripture that support relating to each other in this way (Hebrews 10:24).Eating together as a family is just one way you can move toward building an intentional family that instills Godly principles in everyone’s lives.
Activity: Try it — Ideal mealtimes include breakfast and/or dinner — strive for at least six meals together this week, shoot for 15 minutes at the table together.
Pray: Lord, as we plan to be intentional about teaching and practicing Godly principles in our hope, bless us. We want to honor You in everything!
Resources: Just Live It — www.FITatudes.org; “The Surprising Power of Family Meals” by Miriam Weinstein
(Family activity written by Diana Patton)

Living It Out: August Scripture Memory Verse
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. – Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)

Living It Out
It is the dream of CedarCreek that everyone who calls this their church home will be reading and studying the same topics, both individually and in groups. Each week, join with thousands of others at CedarCreek Church in applying God’s Word, the Bible, into your daily life. Our hope is that while we learn and grow together, as individuals and as a church, we will collectively live out the weekend message.

Living It Out resources, such as the Daily Bible Study, Daily Bible Reading Plan, Discussion Questions and Scripture Memory Verses, are designed to help us embrace a missional mindset…a mindset that compels us to love Jesus, serve others and tell the world about Christ.
Living It Out: Daily Bible Study…Daily Bible study activities to reflect on the weekend message
Living It Out: Daily Bible Reading Plan…Read through the New Testament in a year
Living It Out: Discussion Questions…Weekly questions to discuss with others
Living It Out: Scripture Memory…Memorize one Bible verse per month

All of these resources are also available electronically at www.livingitout.tv, where you can subscribe to have any or all of them emailed to you as they are updated.

We Want Your Feedback!
Tell us about any questions or comments you have about this week’s Living It Out: Daily Bible Study. Forward them to chanteleh@cedarcreek.tv.

RESOURCES:
The Bible
It Starts at Home by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope

This week’s Living It Out written by:
Kaye Kinney
Rick Kinney
Tammy Kaiser
Emily Lee
Greg Ritz
Nicki Zunnoor

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 9.2.10.

THURSDAY — Go with Their Grain
Big Point: Determine whether your child is in the Imprint, Impression, or Coaching period. Use teaching methods suited to his or her stage of development.

When it comes to spiritual training during the coaching period, we can’t “wing it.” Pat answers won’t cut it. We must be willing to wrestle with the tough issues right alongside our teenage children– making every effort to be informed ourselves– searching out and finding resources that can address difficult questions in an honest, authentic, and credible manner. Again, a good coach may not have all the answers, but he or she knows which way to point. – Excerpt from It Starts at Home, page 125

READ…What does the Bible say?
Ephesians 6:4 (New Living Translation)
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

THINK…Find the answers
What is the purpose of discipline and instruction when raising a child?

LIVE…What will you do now?
Imprint Period (ages 0—7) – Children are all ears at this age, wanting to know what mom and dad think, and are looking for acceptance. Playing games, singing, and telling stories are powerful tools for instilling Christian beliefs and values.

Impression Period (ages 8—15) - This age group is still highly impressionable and open to discussion and influence. As at their earlier age they want to know “the why” with the added desire to know “the what.” Maintain an open door of communicating your own beliefs with positive debates and discussions that promote independent thinking.

Coaching Period (ages 16 and up) - The parents’ opportunity to equip is over and the door for their own opinions and values is opened. We can challenge our kids’ thinking and point them in the right direction but we must remember to let them make their own mistakes. We can motivate, encourage, challenge and advise.

How does reaching your child at the appropriate stage improve their odds for living their life for Christ?

LOVE DARE CHALLENGE:
SPEND TIME IN PERSONAL PRAYER, THEN WRITE A LETTER OF COMMITMENT AND RESOLVE TO YOUR SPOUSE. INCLUDE WHY YOU ARE COMMITTING TO THIS MARRIAGE UNTIL DEATH, AND THAT YOU HAVE PURPOSED TO LOVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT. LEAVE IT IN A PLACE THAT YOUR MATE WILL FIND IT.

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

What were some of the hesitations you had in writing this letter? How do you expect your spouse to respond to it? How did God help you in writing it, and what did the process teach you about yourself?

The Love Dare book is available at any CedarCreek Campus in The Source bookstore.

PRAY…God, What do You want me to know and do?
Lord, grant me the wisdom to reach my children where they are. Help me to be a light to those around me and to always reflect Your love.

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 9
9:3-5 “I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you…” The region surrounding Corinth was known for its prosperity. While there were some poor individuals in the congregation, Paul makes it clear that collectively they are capable of making a generous donation.
9:6 “Remember this…the one who plants only a few seeds…” Reaping what one has sown is an ancient proverb. While Corinth was not agriculturally-based, they would have still connected to the wisdom of this proverb.
9:7 “You must each decide in your heart how much to give…” Paul taps into Jewish wisdom, which supports his vast understanding of Old Testament theology.  The heart is the beginning of the entire giving process because what is in our heart ultimately determines our actions.
9:9 Paul is referencing Psalm 112:9 in the context that a person’s reward for sowing seed (giving generously) to the poor is remembered by God as righteousness. This verse also connects with Matthew 6:19-20 doing things that will last for all eternity rather than just chasing down what only lasts on earth.

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 9.1.10.

WEDNESDAY — Defining Normal
Big Point: By defining “Normal” for your family you will lay the foundation that will be with your children for the rest of their lives.

The Lenses Principle: Our children need the corrective lenses of truth in order to navigate the deceptive roads of life.
We live in a culture that has in a large part rejected this principle, with tragic consequences. One of the reasons that beliefs and behaviors once considered depraved are now considered normal is that parents have been reluctant to teach children a standard of absolute moral truth. – Excerpt from It Starts at Home, page 105

READ…What does the Bible say?
Deuteronomy 6:7 (New Living Translation)
7 Repeat them (scriptures) again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 

1 Corinthians 11:1 (New Living Translation)
1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

THINK…Find the answers
In Deuteronomy 6:7, how are we directed to create “normal” in our children’s lives?

How does Paul tell us to live our lives in 1 Corinthians? What does “imitate” mean?

LIVE…What will you do now?
As adults, we can see how our childhood norms have shaped what we are today. In the same way, we have the opportunity to establish in our homes the environment that will shape our kids’ futures. It is great to tell our kids what to do. But if we don’t walk the talk, we can be seen as the worst kind of Christian, a hypocrite.

No one is perfect, think about areas of your life are you not the example you want to be for your family? What is the danger of leaving those areas unchanged?

What changes can you make in your home that will create a lasting faith in your children? How will you know if those changes were the right ones?

LOVE DARE CHALLENGE:
FIND A SPECIFIC, RECENT EXAMPLE WHEN YOUR SPOUSE DEMONSTRATED CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN A NOTICEABLE WAY. VERBALLY COMMEND THEM FOR THIS AT SOME POINT TODAY.

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

What example did you choose to recognize? How many other ways could you celebrate their growth in Godliness? How could you encourage them to persevere in it?

The Love Dare book is available at any CedarCreek Campus in The Source bookstore.

PRAY…God, What do you want me to know & do?
Lord, give me the power and wisdom to live my life as an imitator of You so that I can be the example to my family of Your love. Allow me to create a home environment where You are loved, honored, and cherished by all. Amen.

“My wife and I are mentors for engaged couples at CedarCreek. One thing we do is have the bride and groom individually complete a questionnaire about their family upbringing. We sit down as a group and compare the results. Both people see their upbringing as normal and anything else as different. The point is, they need to establish what they want ‘normal’ to be for their new family as it has a powerful shaping affect for the future.” (Greg, LIO Writer)

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 8
8:1 While Paul avoided asking for money to fund his own ministry, he was concerned about the viability of the Corinthian church as well as the needs of the poor.
8:3 Since the Macedonians were already poor, it seems they were more in touch with needs of less fortunate believers in Judea; therefore, they were willing to live on little less so that those in need would have a little more.
     As we think about local, regional and international missions projects we support at CedarCreek, we have the opportunity to give to others who are in need. While the economy has been difficult, we are still more substantially blessed than 90% of the rest of the world.
8:4 Once Paul’s stern message was delivered and well-received, Titus was able to collect the delayed offering for the believers in need.
8:7 Paul uses the word “perisseuo” to describe both the Corinthians’ spiritual gifts (charismata) as well as the Macedonians’ generosity. He wants the Corinthians to excel in both spectacular as well as in less dramatic gifts.
     Have you asked yourself what it would mean for you to be generous? When you think about how passionate the Macedonian believers were about helping others, does that inspire you as well? Paul’s challenge for the Corinthians is the same challenge we face today: How can you be generous toward others to build the kingdom of God?
8:13  The concept of “equality” was very important in Greek democracy and the subject of many speeches by many well-known philosophers. Paul understood that economic disparity would likely create disunity in the church and so he was trying to prevent it.

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 8.31.10.

TUESDAY — Play the Odds
Big Point: Nurturing a healthy relationship with your child makes it far more likely he or she will want to embrace your beliefs and values.

     What is the “secret formula” for successfully passing on our values to the next generation? What is the common thread between these and other homes that seem to have beaten the odds in parenting? As we’ve watched over the years, we have noticed the same important ingredient. The specific tone and makeup of each family varies, but the “secret formula” is the same. Every one of these couples discovered and mastered the art of enjoying their children and allowing their children to enjoy themselves. Put simply, they learned to create an environment where they had fun together! – It Starts at Home, page 99

READ…What does the Bible say?
Proverbs 22:6 (New Living Translation)
6 Direct your children onto the right path and when they are older, they will not leave it.  

Deuteronomy 5:33 (New Living Translation)
33 Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

THINK…Find the answers
Read Proverbs 22:6. Why do you think the training someone receives as a child is likely to stick with them into adulthood?

In Deuteronomy 5:33, what does it mean to “stay on the path that God has commanded?”

LIVE…What will you do now?
In the context of a healthy relationship, children tend to embrace the beliefs and values of their parents. Trying to instill values in the context of a distant relationship can do more harm than good (this can apply to any relationship – not just parent and child).

The values you teach will be more meaningful if your child can enjoy you as a person. That will come from spending quality time together and having fun! Think of some things you could cut from your schedule to carve out time for your family. What are some activities you can do together?

LOVE DARE CHALLENGE
ISOLATE ONE AREA OF DIVISON IN YOUR MARRIAGE AND LOOK ON TODAY AS A FRESH OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY ABOUT IT. ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL ANYTHING IN YOUR OWN HEART THAT IS THREATENING ONENESS WITH YOUR SPOUSE. PRAY THAT HE WOULD DO THE SAME FOR THEM. AND IF APPROPRIATE, DISCUSS THIS MATTER OPENLY, SEEKING GOD FOR UNITY.

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

Did the Lord open your eyes to anything new that might be giving fuel to this point of disagreement? How do you intend to respond? What do you hope to see God do in your spouse as well?

The Love Dare book is available at any CedarCreek Campus in The Source bookstore.

PRAY…God, What do you want me to know & do?
God, help me to be the very best example I can be of Your ways so that my children and others can benefit. Help me to be diligent in investing time in the relationships in my life so that I can impart Your values effectively. Amen.

Just for Fun, Children’s Quotes about Love:
- Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.
- Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 7
7:2-3  Paul is trying to appeal to the Corinthians by speaking to them with great affection. The greatest expression of devotion in the Greek culture was the willingness to die for someone else.
7:5-9 Paul had sent Titus to the church with a harsh letter intending to produce shame among the believers for their bad behavior. Paul understood the Corinthian culture, so he knew that such a harsh letter could create many hurt feelings. However, Paul also knew that confronting sin was worth taking the risk of hurt feelings. That is an important lesson for us to remember…
7:13 “…we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was…” it was very important in Jewish and Christian cultures to treat travelers with utmost hospitality.
7:14 “…I told him how proud I was of you…”  Patting one’s self on the back was considered déclassé. Boasting about one’s friends was always acceptable.
7:15-16 …when he (Titus) remembers the way all of you obeyed him…” If the Corinthian Christians received Titus with respect – even after he gave them Paul’s letter – that means they saw Titus as Paul’s own representative.

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 8.30.10.

Series: EPHESIANS
Essentials for Great FAMILIES

     John was always the smart kid in school. Introverted by nature, his home was always a safe place. Other kids wanted to ride bikes or go on adventures, but John was just fine being in the comfort of his own walls. Home was the place where all the dangers and bad things just melted away. That is, until the fights began. John’s dad was drinking more than he could ever remember and his mom spent a lot of time on the computer. After a while, John could feel the coolness in the room whenever his parents were around each other. When they finally sat John and his sister down, it was not a shock to hear that they were getting a divorce. John cried his eyes out, not knowing what was next.

“When I spend time wrestling with our boys in the basement, I have done more to make our values stick than when I read them a Bible passage.” –Steve Stroope

     After his dad moved out, John and his sister still went to church with their mom. It was the same church he had went to his whole life, but something had changed. Every time the pastor spoke about unconditional love and God’s promises, John could only shake his head. So many broken promises in his own life – where was God then? If God loved him so much, why would He let his parents separate? That just was not supposed to happen. As John sat through the sermons, week after week, he was consumed with an idea. One day he would not force his own son to listen to the lies.
     Does this story sound familiar? For many, it hits painfully close to home. Even though it is fiction, this scenario is being played out everyday in Christian homes all across America. A new generation of de-churched adults is growing up, rejecting everything they were taught about Jesus. A 2003 Barna study revealed that 17 percent of emerging adults became more religiously active than they were during high school, while 55 percent backed away from active faith.
     Pastors, like Steve Stroope, believe that the problem is not what’s happening in the church, but what is happening in the home. Consider the following quote from Pastor Stroope: “No matter how creatively we proclaim God’s Word to children at church, they are more likely to believe their experience of the faith at home. That’s because incarnation (literally ‘en-flesh-ment’) trumps proclamation.” He gives the analogy of holding four budding flowers, which represent his four kids. If these flowers aren’t planted, they will never grow. It doesn’t matter the style or size of the watering can (the church). Roots only grow if planted in soil (nurturing home life). Without this, the water will fall off the roots and splash to the ground. Growth only happens when church and home work together.

This week, our study will focus heavily on It Starts at Home by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope. It can be purchased at The Source Bookstore.

THIS WEEK’S STUDY WILL FOCUS ON LEADING SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN YOUR OWN HOME.

MONDAY — Leverage Legacy
Big Point: What you do today will have long-term influence on your child’s tendencies, beliefs and actions, for good or for bad.

Some parents mistakenly think they can train their children spiritually without confronting their own spiritual condition. The message they give to their children is, “Do what I say, not what I do!” It doesn’t work. The first and most important step in the Legacy Principle is making sure our own hearts are right with God…Once we have established a right relationship with God, then we are ready to begin making the Legacy Principle work for rather than against our children. – Excerpt from It Starts at Home, page 84-85

READ…What does the Bible say?
Exodus 20:5-6 (New Living Translation)
5 I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected — even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

Further reading of multi-generational patterns…
Genesis 12:10-13, 17-20 — Abraham lied about his wife.
Genesis 20:1-7 — Isaac, Abraham’s son, lied about his wife.
Genesis 26:6-10 — Jacob, Isaac’s son, lied to his father about his birthright.
Genesis 50:15-21 — Joseph, Jacob’s son, refused to follow the family cycle.
2 Kings 12 — Joash broke a string of rulers who made the wrong choices

THINK…Find the answers
Just as bad usually breeds more bad, good usually leads to more good. It may not seem fair but this is a reality we cannot deny.

The Bad News: Children with alcoholic parents have a greater propensity toward alcoholism. List other types of negative behaviors that people tend to duplicate from their families:

The good news: The impact of righteousness is also multi-generational. What positive characteristics have you picked up from your parents? What about yourself do you hope to pass on to your children and/or grandchildren?

LIVE…What will you do now?
We are all influenced by multi-generational patterns, but none of us need to continue to be victims of them. It is possible to break away from bad cycles and launch a new era for ourselves and future generations! What are you going to work toward changing in your life to hopefully have a positive affect on future generations?

LOVE DARE CHALLENGE…This is a continuation of last’s week’s marriage message. These challenges are for married couples to do each day.

PURPOSEFULLY NEGLECT AN ACTIVITY YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO SO YOU CAN SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR SPOUSE. DO SOMETHING HE OR SHE WOULD LOVE TO DO OR A PROJECT THEY’D REALLY LIKE TO WORK ON. JUST BE TOGETHER.

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

What did you decide to give up? What did you do together? How did it go? What new thing did you learn (or relearn) about your spouse?

The Love Dare book is available at any CedarCreek Campus in The Source.

PRAY…God, What do you want me to know & do?
God, I know that I need to have a right relationship with You. I realize that I am sinful and need Your forgiveness. God, I want my kids to see that I trust You completely and that You are the most important thing in my life. Thank You for all you have done for me and my family. Amen.

Just for Fun: Children’s Quotes about Love:
- “Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”
- “Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the tastes is OK.”

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 6
6:1-2 Reference to Isaiah 49:8.
6:3 It was important to Paul to point out that he was not there to offend anyone in the crowd or cause them to turn their backs on the gospel message.
6:4-7 Philosophers often listed out their hardships. Paul is listing out the virtues of the believers because imposters were prevalent and Paul needed to stress his pure motives. Additionally, he wanted to show that he was well-versed in his audience’s cultural expectations with regards to public speaking.
6:8-9 “We are honest, but they call us impostors…” Paul uses a series of paradoxical statements as part of his technique to turn the comments of his accusers back against them. Using paradoxes was a standard rhetorical technique, again showing that Paul knew how to connect with his audience for the purpose of sharing the gospel message.
     This is a great reminder of why we structure our weekend messages to connect with people where they are in our culture instead of expecting them to understand big, fancy religious speech.
6:10 “We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others…” A leathermaker, Paul was better off than a simple peasant, but he remained poor because he could not establish any social status while moving around.
6:16-17 Jewish law forbade Jews from transacting business with Gentiles on pagan festival days or any other days associated with idolatry.

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for the week of 8.30.10.

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 8.27.10.

FRIDAY — Getting to Know You
Today’s Big Point: Whether you’ve been married for 50 days or 50 years, there will always be something new to learn about your spouse.

Proverbs 2:6 (New Living Translation)
For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

20 QUESTIONS
The questions below are a great tool to get to know your spouse better. Find a quiet place where you can focus on each other. Keep things positive. Offer encouragement and a listening ear. Refuse to allow this to become an argument or time for you to criticize. Let this be a time for your mate to express themselves.
Personal questions
What is your greatest hope or dream?
What do you enjoy the most about your life right now?
What do you enjoy the least about your life right now?
What would your dream job be if you could do anything and get paid for it?
What are some things you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the opportunity yet?
What three things would you like to do before the next year passes?
Who do you feel the most “safe” being with? Why?
If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
When was the last time you felt filled with joy?
If you had to give away a million dollars, who would you give it to?
Marriage Questions
What are three things that I do that you really like?
What are three things that I do that drive you crazy?
What have I done in the past that made you feel loved?
What have I done that made you feel unappreciated?
What are three things that I can work on?
Of the following things, what would make you feel most loved?
~Having your body massaged and caressed for an hour
~Sitting and talking for an hour about your favorite subject
~Having help around the house for an afternoon
~Receiving a very nice gift
~Hearing encouragement about how appreciated you are
What things in the past do you wish you could be erased from ever happening?
What is the next major decision that you think God would want us to make as a couple?
What would you like your life to look like five years from now?
What words would you like to hear from me more often?

PRAY…God, What do You want me to know and do?
Spend time in prayer today thanking God for your marriage and your spouse. Ask God for His wisdom to strengthen and improve your marriage.

Ephesians 5:21 (New Living Translation)
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Today’s Love Dare Challenge
ELIMINATE THE POISON OF UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS IN YOUR HOME. THINK OF ONE AREA WHERE YOUR SPOUSE HAS TOLD YOU YOU’RE EXPECTING TOO MUCH, AND TELL THEM YOUR SORRY FOR BEING SO HARD ON THEM ABOUT IT.

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

What discoveries about love did you make today? What specifically did you do in this dare? How did you show kindness?

When you place high expectations on your spouse that they don’t feel internally motivated to attain, what does that tell you about yourself? What are some better ways to deal with these disconnects?

Here are ten ways that we protect our marriage.
1. Spend regular time enjoying life with your spouse.
2. Add a little fun to your relationship.
3. Thank God daily for your mate—imperfections and all.
4. Ask your spouse how you can pray for him/her during the day.
5. Share temptations with your spouse.
6. Regularly remember why you married your spouse.
7. Expect challenges in life and remember that we’re not in heaven … yet.
8. Don’t go into marriage thinking that it’s a 50/50 partnership.
9. Don’t say everything that you think.
10. Sign a marriage covenant to create a way to remember your sacred promise.

Here are a few additional ways to protect your marriage with children.
1. Do things you both love.
2. Take a long weekend.
3. See a Christian counselor if you need to.
4. Give each other some free time.
5. Do something spontaneous.

Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate. – Barnett R. Brickner

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 5
5:1 “Tent,” is a good symbol of the transient and temporary; fitting since Paul was a tentmaker. No tent lasts forever when exposed to the elements; and the same is true of people’s mortal bodies when exposed to the erosion of time.
5:3 Nakedness was more distasteful to Jews than to Gentiles, for both theological and historical reasons. Theologically, it was associated with Adam’s transgression and the shame that followed.
5:4 His “groaning” is not for release from the shackles of the body, but for the transformed physical state received on Christ’s return.
5:5 Like the English word “deposit,” the Greek term Paul employs here (arrabōn) denotes an initial down payment in promise of full payment at a later date. Here, full payment involves being clothed with our heavenly bodies.
5:8-9 The Greek “ekdēmeō” (away from) describes a traveler who, in view of his civic duties, might notify the proper authorities before journeying abroad.
5:12 This was directed at the arrogant and egotistical false teachers. They were claiming external advantages, probably their wealth or social standing; when “in heart” they were wolves in sheep’s clothing.
5:17 See Genesis 41:45 for an illuminating parallel to this verse. Conversion is a complete and irreversible break with the past.
5:18-19 Our reconciliation is accomplished by God who appoints all believers as His ambassadors.
5:21 The great ‘substitution’ passages of Isaiah 53 are behind this declaration. Christ bore the sins of all people; his stripes healed all people; his punishment was the peace of all people; his suffering was the salvation of all people.

Introducing… HomePointe Family Ministry!
(Next weekend, August 28th and 29th, Steve Stroupe author of the book, It Starts at Home, Senior Pastor of LakePointe Community Church and co-designer of the original HomePointe family ministry will be the guest speaker at CedarCreek Church.

HomePointe is…
At CedarCreek we believe that home is one of the primary contexts of our spiritual formation—for better or worse. This ministry will help you become highly intentional about fulfilling your God-ordained role at home.

HomePointe format…
The following are the four components that will begin to help you create a catalyst for building a family who intentionally lives out Godly principles. The components are as follows:
1. The HomePointe Family Activity can be found in the weekly Living It Out. This Family activity allows for families and/or LifeGroups to have meaningful conversation about God and what they experienced on the weekend at CedarCreek.
2. Free HomePointe Brochures can be found at the HomePointe Center. These topically-formatted brochures are for people of all ages and dynamics. The following are sample titles of the brochures available. Here are some examples of the different brochures that will be available: Hope to Marry, Single, Engaged, Considering Children, Preparing for Baby, Intentional Parenting, Introducing Your Child to Christ, Preparing Your Child for, Adolescence, Parenting Through the Ages, Parenting Your Child Through Tough Times, Launching Young Adults, and The Empty Nest
3. HomePointe Classes will be offered during each of our three semester blocks (Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer). These courses will be taught by professional Christian psychologists, and counselors as well as our CedarCreek teachers. Here are some examples of different courses: Boundaries in Parenting, Parenting Through the Ages, Parenting Your Child Through Tough Times, Strong Families, and Parent/Child Dedication
4.The HomePointe seminars will be offered once a semester. For example, this fall we will host a marriage seminar that will kick off a six week (Life Group style) marriage study at each campus with childcare provided. Examples: Love and Respect, The Love Dare, Sacred Marriage, Turning Conflict into Connection, Forgive and Forget, and Overcoming Staggering Struggles

Visit the all new HomePointe ministry wall and bookstore display at every campus. You will find the free brochures and resources with topics related to families.

Are you ready to live intentionally as a family? Do you want to begin living out Godly principles in your home? The following action steps would be a great start.
~ Attend next weekend’s kick off message, or watch the message online.
~ Pick up your own copy of the book It Starts at Home and read it!
~ Make a point to visit your campus HomePointe Center with your family.
~ Sign up for a fall class that will help your family.
~ Set aside time weekly to go through the HomePointe Family Activity.
~ Pray for your marriage, children and the people who influence them.

HomePointe Family Activity
Big Point for Parents: (Today we will introduce a “Love Dare” to our children.) We love our kids. Speaking kindly should be easy, but it isn’t sometimes.
~Kindness becomes challenging when children question our authority. A harsh tone is the temptation. Modeling “slow anger” is possible when we decide how we are going to respond before the situation occurs.
~It is also important to understand what makes us angry. Knowing this and with the Holy Spirit, responding kindly is possible.
~Learning to respond with kindness inside of adversity is tied in with the legacy we will leave our children.

“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” James 1:19

Big Point for Children: The message today is age-old, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Keeping our anger under control is possible. As you grow and learn, you will find that anger will come and go. How you decide to act when you are angry has the potential to destroy or bring a sense of pride about your self-control and faith in God.

Lesson: Often we get angry when we don’t get what we want. Much of the time, we feel entitled to things and if we don’t get them we become angry. We do this with the people we love all the time. We lay expectations on them to give us what we want and when they don’t deliver we get angry. The first step to getting angry less is to stop laying expectations on others that are not reasonable.

Activity: Keep a journal for a day. Record your angry moments. Answer the following questions. Was I expecting something from someone? Was I angry because I didn’t get what I wanted? What can I change or do differently next time?

Pray: Lord, help me to have more self-control with my anger. Amen.

Living It Out…August 2010 Scripture Memory
May you experience the love of Christ,
though it is too great to understand fully. 
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness
of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:19 (New Living Translation)

Living It Out
It is the dream of CedarCreek that everyone who calls this their church home will be reading and studying the same topics, both individually and in groups. Each week, join with thousands of others at CedarCreek Church in applying God’s Word, the Bible, into your daily life. Our hope is that while we learn and grow together, as individuals and as a church, we will collectively live out the weekend message.

Living It Out resources, such as the Daily Bible Study, Daily Bible Reading Plan, Discussion Questions and Scripture Memory Verses, are designed to help us embrace a missional mindset…a mindset that compels us to love Jesus, serve others and tell the world about Christ.
Living It Out: Daily Bible Study…Daily Bible study activities to reflect on the weekend message
Living It Out: Daily Bible Reading Plan…Read through the New Testament in a year
Living It Out: Discussion Questions…Weekly questions to discuss with others
Living It Out: Scripture Memory…Memorize one Bible verse per month

All of these resources are also available electronically at www.livingitout.tv, where you can subscribe to have any or all of them emailed to you as they are updated.

We Want Your Feedback!
Tell us about any questions or comments you have about this week’s Living It Out: Daily Bible Study. Forward them to chanteleh@cedarcreek.tv.

RESOURCES:
The Bible
The Love Dare, Stephen and Alex Kendrick
Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
It Starts At Home, Bruner and Stroope

This week’s Living It Out: Daily Bible Study written by:
Amber Distel
Chantele Henry
Barb Roose
Kristen Sattler

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 8.26.10.

THURSDAY — The Crazy Cycle
Today’s Big Point: Without love, usually wives react without respect. Without respect, husbands usually react without love. This is the crazy cycle!

Learn how to control the crazy cycle, or it could just go round and round and where it stops nobody knows. What if similar principles apply in other types of relationships? Look at the following scripture with one or two lenses. If you are not married…consider how this scripture could help strengthen your interpersonal relationships. The scripture commands us to love one another. Perhaps love and respect should apply to our relationships with fellow believers as well. – Adapted from: Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

READ…What does the Bible say?
Ephesians 5:21-33 (New Living Translation)
21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. 25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of His body. 31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Psalm 119:130 (New International Version)
“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding”

THINK…Find the answers
What does it mean to submit to one another?

When a man loves his wife, who is he showing love for as well?

PRAY…God, What do You want me to know and do?
God, help me to submit to others. I take my trust and place it in You. Some of the relationships that You have brought my way have their rough spots, but help me to love and respect as You would have me to do. Amen.

Today’s Love Dare Challenge
DEMONSTRATE LOVE BY WILLINGLY CHOOSING TO GIVE IN TO AN AREA OF DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE. TELL THEM YOU ARE PUTTING THEIR PREFERENCE FIRST.

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

What issue did you choose? What did giving in cost you? How will this help you in the future?

LIVE…What will you do now?
Knowing now that wives need love and husbands need respect, insert the appropriate names in the following blank.

If you are a wife complete this… My husband, ____________, is to obey the command to love, even if I, his wife, ___________ does not obey the command to respect, and I, _______________,his wife is to obey the command to respect even if my husband, ____________, does no obey the command to love.

If you are a husband complete this… I, ____________ is to obey the command to love, even if my wife, ___________ does not obey the command to respect, and my wife, _______________ is to obey the command to respect even I, ____________ do no obey the command to love.

If you are a wife, how well do you respect your husband without conditions?

If you are a husband, how well do you love your wife without conditions?

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 4
4:2 Paul described this brand of philosophers using the word “doloō”, meaning to “distort, adulterate, water down.”
4:4 This passage doesn’t assign deity to Satan—referring to him as a “god of this world.” Christ broke Satan’s grip on mankind, but his remaining power is so great that Paul calls him the god of this present evil age.
4:5 Paul refers to himself in many ways but the Greek word he uses here, “doulos,” is better translated “slave.” There’s only one Master, and it’s purely “for his sake” that Paul assumed this role.
4:8-9 These are the great paradoxes of the Christian life. In each instance, the anticipated outcome is unexpectedly curtailed–intending to create empathy and respect for anyone undergoing such trials.
4:13 Paul revealed the first of four reasons that explained his endurance of so many trials: he truly believed God’s word.
4:14 Reason two, Paul offers, is that he knew that death itself would not rob him of the crown of life, or rob his Corinthian converts, despite the fact that both he and his converts would pass through it.
4:15 “All of this is for your benefit” is the third reason Paul’s hardships were actually contributing to the conversion of many souls, and also to their being grounded and established in the faith.
4:16-17 The inner spiritual life, which is the glory of the “new creature” in Christ, does not diminish or fade. For those who are without this treasure, the decay of the outward is the decay of everything.
4:18 The entire genius of the Christian life, indeed the entirety of faith in both the old and new covenants, appears here in its purest essence – trusting God, believing and obeying Him, and nothing more.

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 8.25.10.

WEDNESDAY — The Energizing Cycle
Today’s Big Point: We are to value each other as equals. Paul writes that there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)

You can be right but wrong at the top of your voice. – Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

READ…What does the Bible say?
1 Peter 3:7 (New International Version)
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Ephesians 5:8-20 (New Living Translation)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
   ”Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THINK…Find the answers
What things are we supposed to be careful of because the days are evil?

Instead of doing unwise things, what does Paul suggest we do?

LIVE…What will you do now?
How do you treat other people? Do you value them equally? List the evidence.
1.
2.
3.

PRAY…God, What do You want me to know and do?
God, Help me to honor people and cast away my judgments that I have about them. Let me treat all people as equals. I want to honor You in all I say and do.

Today’s Love Dare Challenge
ASK YOUR SPOUSE TO TELL YOU TREE THINGS THAT CAUSE HIM OR HER TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE OR IRRITATED WITH YOU. YOU MUST DO SO WITHOUT ATTACKING THEM OR JUSTIFYING YOUR BEHAVIOR. THIS IS FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE ONLY.

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

What things did your spouse point out about you that need your attention? How did you handle hearing it? What do you plan to do to improve these areas?

     Genesis 2:24 says, “So the man leaves his parents, unites with the woman, and they will become one flesh. Now the one flesh seems to be about their having sex, which of course it is, but there is so much more going on here.  ”One flesh” the word for one in Hebrew is ECHAD. Echad is oneness made up of several parts or members. So the man and woman are 2 people, 2 seperate, independent beings, and yet when they come together, they’re “one”.
     The Lord is one, The Lord is echad. God is echad. Adam and Eve are ONE as God is ONE. Same word. This marriage between a man and a woman, their having sex is about something much bigger than the relationship itself. It points beyond them to somebody else…to God.
     The point of marriage isn’t marriage. It’s a picture. A display. A window that you look through…. to something else.  Our world isn’t echad. It isn’t one. It’s broken, shattered, fractured with pieces lying all over the floor. We all have friends from “broken homes.” A couple “split up.” Somebody’s marriage fell apart and she’s “picking up the pieces.” A marriage is designed to counter all of this.
     Not to add to the brokenness of the world but to add to the “oneness” of the world. This man and this woman who have given themselves to each other are supposed to GIVE THE WORLD A GLIMPSE OF HOPE; A DISPLAY OF WHAT GOD IS LIKE. They are A BIT OF ECHAD ON EARTH. – Sex God by Rob Bell

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 3
3:1 Travelers wishing to avoid sordid roadside inns would carry letters of recommendation with them to rely on local hospitality. The letters introduced one party to another–usually with a view to social advancement. Paul was in a different category and needed no letters from any person or church to commend him. He’d performed mighty miracles there and elsewhere; and the very existence of their congregation proved the genuineness of his apostleship.
3:2-3 Paul reminds us that our personal conduct should confirm the faith we proclaim. Disconnects between our faith and our practice of it damage our message.
3:10-11 The glory of the new covenant surpasses that of the old in the same way the sun outshines a candle. Paul’s attempt to convince them of how ill-founded the false teacher’s boasting was—honoring himself and his knowledge of the law. This false teacher wrongly taught obedience to the law as necessary to salvation.
3:12-13 Concealment wasn’t necessarily Moses’ motive for the veil, but God’s divine intervention prevented the Israelites from seeing the glory fade.
3:14-15 Without Christ, the Old Testament is an impenetrable mystery. Paul pointed out here that the unbelieving Jews were blinded to many of the most significant things in the Old Testament.
3:17 Receiving the Holy Spirit, believers also gain freedom from: the law (Galatians 4:18); fear (Romans 8:13); death (Rom. 8:2); sin (Rom. 6:18); and corruption (Rom. 8:21).
3:18 All Christians behold the glory of the Lord–no veil required.

Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 8.24.10.

TUESDAY — Not even a whiff!
It’s easy to point fingers at those we see behaving badly—especially other Christians! However, we aren’t so quick to point a critical finger at our beliefs or behaviors. Often, we rationalize bad behavior or fail to address wrong behavior because we say “Well, at least I’m better than ‘so-n-so.’” However, we fail to realize God’s standard for how we show love. In God’s economy, there is no sliding scale of acceptable sin.

READ…What does the Bible say?
Ephesians 5:3-7 (New Living Translation)
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

THINK…Find the answers
When you look at Ephesians 5:3-6, what does God say about how much of these unloving, ungodly behaviors we should allow in our lives?

LIVE…What will you do now?
Look at Ephesians 5:3-7 and identify behaviors/beliefs that have captured you at one time or another. How did they hinder your ability to love?

For some of you, today’s scripture reading has introduced quite a bit of tension into your life. Perhaps you’ve been challenged to think about some things that you’ve neglected to sufficiently address. Do you believe God is leading you to make some changes? If so, in what areas?

PRAY…God, What do You want me to know and do?
Dear God, the world presents so many attractive, yet counterfeit ways to receive or give love. Yet, I know the only true love comes from You. God, help me see the places where I am settling for counterfeit love. Amen.

Today’s Love Dare Challenge
IN ADDITION TO SAYING NOTHING NEGATIVE TO YOUR SPOUSE AGAIN TODAY, DO AT LEAST ONE UNEXPECTED GESTURE AS AN ACT OF KINDNESS

____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

What discoveries about love did you make today? What specifically did you do in this dare? How did you show kindness?

Every couple learns about daily conflicts, which Solomon calls “the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” (Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV).

There is a connection between loving your wife and respecting your husband that can be drawn from Ephesians 5:33. It seems to be saying that a husband is to obey the command to love even if his wife does not obey this command to respect, and a wife is to obey the command to respect even if the husband does not obey the command to love. There is no justification in the Bible for a husband to say, “I will love my wife after she respects me” or for a wife to say, “I will respect my husband after he loves me.” When a husband feels disrespected, he has a natural tendency to react in ways that feel unloving to his wife. When a wife feels unloved, she has a natural tendency to react in ways that feel disrespectful to her husband. – Adapted from: Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

The Love Dare book is available at any CedarCreek Campus in The Source bookstore.

Daily Bible Reading Commentary: 2 Corinthians 2
2:5  The conduct of the incestuous man was a public disgrace to the whole church. It’s impossible to think such an affront to Christian morality hadn’t deeply affected the group.
2:7-8 Thinking that the man’s sin was unforgivable was based on a lack of understanding that the blood of Jesus is more than enough to cleanse all of  sin. The incestuous man wasn’t any greater a sinner than many of the other Corinthians. Nothing could be worse than withholding forgiveness from anyone needing and asking for it.
2:10 Titus had informed Paul of the offender’s successful discipline. Some of the church seemed unwilling to forgive and reinstate him. Paul added the record of his own forgiveness “with Christ’s authority” for the man, as added incentive for them to reconcile.
2:11 Paul’s aware of Satan’s scheming and of his demonic influence on our affairs. “Evil schemes” include an unforgiving ‘holier than thou’ attitude in response to another believer’s sincere repentance and changed behavior.
2:15-16 Vast quantities of incense were burned along the route of a Roman triumph; the irresistible odor that marked it meant death for some, life for others. It’s the same with the gospel, it saves some and destroys others (not the gospel itself, but people’s response). 
2:17 The figure here is of a bar keeper who mixes poor wine with good to increase his profits. Two things appear: first, the true motive of false teachers in the gospel business is self-profit; second, a method of such teachers is to add false things to the gospel.