Women as Salt & Light

~2016 Study~

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth…the light of the world;

Therefore, let your light so shine before this world, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:15-16, 18 IV

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Dear Sisters,

We are pleased to offer you this study. Our hope

is that it will be an instrument in bringing you

closer to our Heavenly Father and broadening

your understanding of how important it is for us to

be “Women of Salt & Light” in this world.

There are several ways this study could be used.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. as a monthly study for 10 months

2. as weekly study lessons for 10 weeks

3. a group study or

4. an individual study

Please use this as a study that fits the needs and

desires of you and others.

Also, we have included a special Advent

Worship Service for December. All that you need for

this service is included. Of course, you are free to

adjust and alter it as you desire.

We pray that the Lord will minister to you as

you study and prepare to be “Women of Salt & Light”

that others may see your good works and glorify

our Father in Heaven [Matthew 5:18].

You Sisters in Christ,

2015-2016 Restoration Women’s Ministries Committee

Karen Bates Holly Milford Debbie Newman April Richardson Jani Thomas Lorrie Turner Betty Vickery

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Women as Salt & Light Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be, the salt of the earth…the light of the world…Therefore, let your light so shine before this world, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16, 18 IV

LESSON THEMES LESSON 1: Salt & Light LESSON 2: Women Promote the Kingdom LESSON 3: Women Share Their Resources LESSON 4: Women Take Risks LESSON 5: Women Radiate Reliance Upon God LESSON 6: Women Meet Community Needs LESSON 7: Women As Servants of Light LESSON 8: Women Are About the Father’s Business LESSON 9: Women Express Loving-Kindness to All LESSON 10: Women With Full Commitment to His Kingdom

ADVENT WORSHIP SERVICE: The Light of the World is Jesus

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THEME HYMN: “Are You Witnessing For Him?”

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Acknowledgement

Theme Hymn: “Are You Witnessing For Him?” #237, Hymns of the Restoration, Revised Edition Copyright 2007; Restoration Hymn Society, Inc., 1524 S. E. Silkwood Lane, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063, 816-525-4953

Lessons & Service Prepared by the

RWM Committee Members:

1 Debbie Newman

2 Karen Bates

3 Lorrie Turner

4 Karen Bates

5 Jani Thomas

6 Debbie Newman

7 Betty Vickery

8 Barbara Giertz – sub-committee member

9 Betty Vickery

10 Jani Thomas

Christmas: Advent Fellowship Service – Debbie Newman

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~ Shaking & Shedding ~ Living as a relevant witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ

In Matthew 5:15-16 the Lord calls His followers to be His salt & light to the world, to be generously “shaking” to promote savor towards God’s ways and abundantly “shedding” the light of the Word of God in such a way to be appetizing to others taste buds that will wet their appetites to respond to the Word & that they will develop a relationship with God & Christ. We do this through our acts/ actions, teaching, ministering to the needs of others and responding to the Holy Spirit. 1 Chronicles is an account of the genealogy beginning with Adam and continues to David. Most of the record up to Chapter 10 is simply reciting the lineage as he/she “was the son(s) of” or “the wife of” or “begot of” etc. Very little is said about each person until you come to Chapter 4 verses 9 & 10. Suddenly the record becomes more descriptive of one person; Jabez. Right after these verses the account changes back to the same pattern as before verses 9 & 10. There must be a very good reason for this and we can learn a lot through the writings and prayer that Jabez offered. Let us look closer at this account:

1 Chronicles 4:9-10: [9]And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bear him with sorrow…

First we notice that Jabez was an honorable person. However, his mother gave him a name that would be hard to bear, always knowing he caused his mother sorrow.

[10] And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed,… Jabez was asking for a double blessing: 1) to be blessed by God and 2) the word “indeed” means to ask for God’s favor to be with you. We should ask to be blessed, indeed!

…and enlarge my coast,… Coast can refer to a territory or boundaries. We should pray for our “coast” to expand and be broadened so we will have more people to shed the Lord’s light upon and season, preserve and be a savor to for the benefit of their souls.

…and that thine hand might be with me,… “Thine hand” means the power and presence of God in us, intervening for us, so we may succeed in doing what He wants while being His salt and light. We should ask for the Lord’s hand to be with us.

…and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!... Jabez knew of the evil temptations of the world and he didn’t want them to influence his life or cause him grief. We should pray to be kept from evil influences that personal sin would not hinder our testimony of Jesus Christ, who is the Savior and Light of the world.

…And God granted him that which he requested.

Let us daily pray like Jabez so that we may live as a relevant witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shaking & shedding His Word & Light.

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Every lesson will begin with: Prayer of Meditation & Consecration: As you meditate and offer prayer, ask God to enlighten your mind to ways and people to whom you can daily be Salt & Light. Refer to the study Preface for more detailed information on “Shaking & Shedding.”

As you read the lesson and pray, record your enlightenment on the page entitled “Shaking & Shedding” found at the end of this lesson. Remember the Lord’s Prayer began and ended with “…thy kingdom come, thy will be done…for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.” Continue recording as God speaks to your heart. “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine

hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” 1 Chronicles 4:10

Meditate and offer prayer now before reading on. And at the end of every lesson is a page titled Shaking & Shedding. It is a personal activity page designed to stimulate us to be His salt & light to the world. Everyone is encouraged to use it. We need to be “shaking & shedding” for the benefit of the souls of mankind and to glorify God. We need to become ‘salt & light’ to all we come into contact.

[The page will look like this]

~ Shaking & Shedding ~ Living as a relevant witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ

As you work your lesson, ask God to enlighten your mind to ways you can daily be Salt & Light and to guide you to people who will respond to the testimony of Jesus Christ. Below record what God reveals to you. Also, record how the Lord worked through you & always give glory to God. Remember, because Jabez knew the word of the Lord and prayed according to God’s word Jabez called on the God of Israel…God granted him that which he requested [vs. 10 beginning & end]. Now act upon it. PRAYER OF MEDITATION & CONSECRATION:

Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! 1 Chronicles 4:10

Date: God Revealed to Me To: God Worked Through Me to Be Salt & Light: Date: