Encounter Church

Everyone will face troubles. Jesus actually promises that we will face troubles, but He ends the warning with ‘take courage…’. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. -John 14:27
This week, we talked about how God wants us to respond to the troubles we face. We looked at how King David responded to the troubles he faced.
16 “But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness..” – Psalms 59:16-17
We also looked at how Paul and Silas responded to being thrown into jail for serving God. Acts 16:23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.
We ended our time by applying this teaching to ourselves and then listening to God for ourselves and others.

Think About It:
Jesus does not want us to be discouraged in this world.

Devotional
This week, I want you to start your prayers by thanking God that even in our troubles, He wants us to take courage because He has already overcome the world and all of its troubles.
I know it is not easy to have courage or peace when you are facing troubles of many kinds, but there must be a reason why our King directs us to take courage during these troubled times.
Christians have a dual existence: they are in Christ and in this world. In connection with Jesus, we have peace, but the world (things that live against =God’s kingdom.) exerts a hostile pressure. The world system, the enemy of God and His people, opposed Jesus’ message and ministry. John 1:5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. John 7:7 “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.
But Jesus won the victory over the system; He has overcome the world. As the “strong man” who came and ruined Satan’s kingdom Matt. 10:25 “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! Matt. 10:26 “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. 28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”
Jesus has won. Jesus wants us to remember this fact and to rejoice in His victory. We are to approach every trouble, challenge, and obstacle, knowing our King has already beat it. Therefore, the victory is ours despite the outcome in this world.
OUR PEACE IS IN HIM!

Group Questions:
1. What did this lesson teach you about God?
2. What did this lesson teach you about you?
3. From this lesson what is He asking you to do and/or what is He going to do?
4. How did you hear from God today?

God Encounters:
A few weeks ago, we talked about intercession. Weeks back, one student shared that he had been praying for one of his friends at school to know Jesus. This student began sharing the gospel with his friend by telling his friend that God is alive and is excited to keep on praying for him.

“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,” – Ephesians 6:18

Testimonies:
This week, we had a sweet time in the presence of our Lord. I am writing this in faith as it is Tuesday, five days before the actual service. I am reminded that God said that He would never leave us and that where there are two or more gathered in His name, He is there in our midst. With Him here even the bad times are good.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” -Hebrews 13:5

$20 Memory Verse: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Resources for Those in Need:
Support services are available for people in need.
A list of available resources is available by visiting the following link:
www.ecdenver.org/resources

Upcoming Events:
Christmas Cookie Fun: Dec 7, 2024- 10am
Royal Ball: March 7th at EC Denver- 6pm
VBS: June 8th-12th- 8am-12pm
Family Laser Tag Sept 26th- 1pm
Movie On the Lawn- Sept 12th- 7pm
Movie On the Lawn- Oct 17th- 7pm
Christmas Cookie Fun: Dec 6th, 2025- 10am

Parents: You are the most important person in your child’s life. – Proverbs 22:6 Spend time helping your child understand the lesson and the devotional.
If you should have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 720.900.7385.