1. The Bible does not prohibit debt. However, everywhere that debt is mentioned, it is discussed in a negative light.

The main reason for this, it makes you a servant to someone other than God.<br><br>Luke 16:1-2 AMPC<br><br>Luke 16:10-13 AMPC<br><br>Proverbs 22:7 MSG<br><br>*When you borrow, you become a servant to a bank, a business, a family member, a friend or whoever you borrowed from. When you borrowed, they put conditions on the loan, what you can do and what you can’t do. This makes you a servant to them. We are to be servants to God and to him alone.<br><br>*That’s why the Bible counsels us to avoid debt.

2. If you do borrow, you must pay back all of the debt. It is wicked to borrow and not repay.

Psalm 37:21-22 MSG<br><br>*If we don’t want to be counted among the “wicked,” we must repay any debt we owe. It really doesn’t matter if the circumstances are beyond our control. If we make a debt, we’re stuck with it. Just because bankruptcy is legal doesn't make it morally right in God's eyes.<br><br>Ecclesiastes 5:5 MSG

3. If you do borrow, you should do so only if you have a guaranteed way to pay it back.

*For instance, if you borrow to buy a car, have the money to pay off in an account or asset at anytime. If not, you should be able to put enough down so that the asset is greater than the liability at the time of purchase. Cars depreciate 20% the moment you drive them off the lot. Have a goal to put at least 20% down or greater before you purchase a new vehicle or buy used and pay cash.<br><br>*If you don't do this, you're signing under surety. By signing surety, we're presuming on the future. If everything goes as we expect, we’ll be able to pay the loans back. If things go wrong, as they often do, we may be left in debt. If believers would observe this one caution associated with borrowing, the most they could lose is the security they had pledged against a loan. They can usually sell the asset to pay off the liability.<br><br>*This is especially true of co-signing a loan for another person. Do not do it unless you are willing and able to pay the whole amount for the person.<br><br>Proverbs 17:18 NKJV<br><br>Proverbs 17:18 MSG

4. Do not accumulate long-term debt.

*The longest term of debt God’s people took on in the Bible was about seven years. During the year of remission, the seventh year, the Jews were instructed to release their brothers from any indebtedness.<br><br>Deuteronomy 15:1-2 NKJV<br><br>*Notice, the only debts that could exceed seven years were those made to non-Jews or from non-Jews.<br><br>*However, I’d encourage you to use this as the maximum length of time you’d borrow from anyone. Even if you have to take a 15-year montage loan, have a plan to pay it off in 7 years or less.

5. The best way not to have to borrow is to follow God’s laws and commands totally.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NKJV<br><br>Deuteronomy 28:12 NKJV<br><br>*However, if you do not follow God’s commands, borrowing will be a curse upon you.<br><br>Deuteronomy 28:15 NKJV<br><br>Deuteronomy 28:43-45 NKJV<br><br>Romans 13:8 NKJV<br><br>Romans 13:8 AMPC

Youth Ministry Thought for The Week

You're not yourself when your spirit is starving from the word of God and you feast on everything else (Social Media, TV, Texting, Netflix, Sports, Facetime) instead of the Living Word. If your Spirit is Malnourished how can you manifest Christ?

Children's Ministry Lesson

Hello Parents,<br><br>This Summer, Enjoy connecting with your children!<br><br>-Short opening prayer<br><br>-Praise and worship (2 of their favorites)<br>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMv3-gEONy0<br>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pD2zIuiC2g<br><br>-Books of the Bible rap<br>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT_yEowtcgY<br><br>-Family Devotional (attached)<br><br>-Closing prayer

Weekly Announcements - Next Steps (Step 1 is being offered Today)

<b><i>Next Steps</i></b><br>The Essential Habits of the Healthy Believer is offered on Sundays at 10:30am. We want to live out your God-given purpose with passion. This step  will help to provide you with the habits necessary to live a successful Christian.<br><br>Connect4: Next Steps (formerly known as Connect Classes) are now offered every 1st-4th Sundays from 10:30am-11:15am at the Marietta Campus.

Vacation Bible School 2017 (July 10th - July 14th)

<b>WHEN</b>:<br>July 10 – July 14 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.<br><br><b>WHERE</b>:<br>Linked UP Main Office Location<br>562 Wylie Road<br>Suite 7<br>Marietta, GA 30067<br><br><b>REGISTER</b>:<br>To sign up your child click here: https://linkedup.infellowship.com/Forms/362165/Register<br><br><b>VOLUNTEER</b>:<br>To Volunteer click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQBAK079dPR7uFeD4enBMzJ92TrzCzHLgs5CMMFUXywHl2Zg/viewform

Back 2 School Rally - Sunday, July 23rd

Linked UP Church will be blessing children and youth from LUC and the community that are in need with backpacks filled with school supplies. <br>The school supply giveaway will take place immediately following service on Sunday, July 23rd.<br><br>To register yourself or a family you know that may be in need stop by the Hotspot Table. You must be present on July 23rd to receive the school supply items.