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Self-EsteemBible 5-1

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WORSHIP L Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, C have mercy and hear us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen  

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Worship - 2 C . I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the

Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

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Worship - 3 L Show us your mercy, O Lord, C and grant us your salvation. L Clothe your ministers with righteousness. C Let your people sing with joy. L Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; C for only in you can we live in safety. L Lord, keep this nation under your care, C and guide us in the way of justice and truth. L Let your way be known upon earth; C your saving health among all nations. L Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten, C nor the hope of the poor be taken away. L Create in us clean hearts, O God, C and sustain us with your Holy Spirit.   L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.

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Worship - 4L We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus

Christ your dear Son, that you have this day so graciously protected us.

We beg you to forgive us all our sins and the wrong which we have done. By your great mercy defend us from all the perils and dangers of this night. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls, and all that is ours.

Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us.

C Amen L Let us bless the Lord. C Thanks be to God. L The + Lord bless us, defend us from all evil, and bring us

to everlasting life. C Amen

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ExperienceIt is normal in our growing up years to be

concerned about how we interact with the people around us. Will they accept us as we are? Will they value our gifts and talents? Will they remember us when we leave? Will they love us?

Are you concerned about such things? On a scale from 1 (low) to 10 (high), how concerned are you?

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Discussion & reflection:Much has been said about self-esteem

over the last 50 years or so. Self-esteem may be described as…

a feeling of confidence and satisfaction in our self and in our interaction with other people.

Are you concerned about such things? On a scale from 1 (low) to 10 (high), where is your self-esteem?

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Discussion & reflection:What, in your own experience, contributes to

LOW self-esteem?

What, in your own experience, contributes to HIGH self-esteem?

Do you think self-esteem is over-emphasized in school and society?

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Discussion & reflection:What does God say about our concern for self-

esteem?

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

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Discussion & reflection:Psalm 139:13-14 For you formed my inward

parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth

Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

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Discussion & reflection:Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and

are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

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Discussion & reflection:Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord

your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Luke 12:7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

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Discussion & reflection:John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that

he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

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Discussion & reflection:Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I

say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

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Discussion & reflection:2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is

in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

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Discussion & reflection:2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every

effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,

1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

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Discussion & reflection:There are many other scripture lessons that

could be listed. Do you understand the thrust of these that you have read?

Is it not true that God had made us, and loves us, and has given us gifts so that we can love others, ourselves and God?

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Discussion & reflection:When you think about it, it really isn’t

important what people think about us. People are imperfect and will usually disappoint us sooner or later.

The issue is how do we relate to other people. And that is determined by our relationship with God. The way we treat God is the same way we will treat our neighbor and even ourselves. When we love God, we will love ourselves and our neighbor.

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Discussion & reflection:Are you are anxious and worried about how

others are treating you?

If so, there is room to grow in your love for Jesus, who will teach you how to love Himself, our neighbor and yourself.

From your own experience, on a scale from 1 (low) to 10 (high), how much do you love Jesus? What are the signs of your love for Jesus?