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Displaying results from "50" to "75". (161 found)
| 2010-03-02 - To Live is Christ - Partners in the Gospel Philippians 1:16 Philippi was named for Philip of Macedon It was a roman colony - not actually a place one would expect the message of Jesus to take hold A roman jail is where you would expect Paul and Silas to be Paul made a career of being with other and influencing their lives - reduced to visits from the guards Through many hard times he had learned to overcome the most challenging of circumstances Five lines into the letter, Paul remembers his relationship with God and other disciples:
Only when we have been in the trenches with others will we have relationships that are full of life |
| 2010-04-24 - Life to the Full - In His Steps (part 5) According to Peter, evangelism must be:
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| 2010-05-02 - Renewing Your Spiritual Passion for God (part 1) Preached by Richard Dixson (1997-05-18) 1 Samuel 16:7
Psalms 51:4-9
Psalms 63:2-4 - Remember God's Power Psalms 63:6-7 - The night bed and protection from God Psalms 91:4 - We are being attacked all the time Psalms 63:8 - Confidence - God holds us up |
| 2010-05-11 - World Hates Jesus (part 3)
John 5:16-23
John 6:68-69
What are you going to do? |
| 2010-05-30 - Desire's Journey - Assault on Desire Battle of desire is not something that just takes place with us or even between us - but against us Advirtisers play on our desire of creating an image that everyone who is anyone has the object for sale The evil one has two ploys:
Our addictions are our own worst enemies Like the rich, young ruler - we find we can not give up our treasures even though God has something much better |
| 2010-05-31 - Desire's Journey - Cruel or Kind? Sometimes God seems cruel:
Isn't this the reason we fear to desire in the first place? Unless we understand our desperate hearts and our tenacity to arrange life as we want it - these events seem cruel Eden - we had it all but we threw it away by mistrusting God's heart and taking control of what we wanted Addiction exists whenever persons are internally compelled to give energy to things that are not their true desires Addition becomes our idol - we must give it up |
| 2010-07-03 - Desire's Journey - Great Restoration (part 4) Too many of us have placed eternity somewhere out there I will create new heavens and a new earth - Revelation 21:1 Won't the whole earth be destroyed? Noah's day of the Lord |
| 2010-07-06 - Desire's Journey - The Grand Affair (part 3) On that day, Jesus appears and announces himself as the Bridegroom - Matthew 9:15 Jesus makes his proposal: I will prepare a place for you - John 14:2-3 We have become betrothed to the Bidegroom The whole life of the good Christian is a holy longing - Augustine |
| 2010-07-11 - Desire's Journey - The Adventure Begins (part 3) You would expect:
More often than not we think of godliness only in moral terms We are made like God because we are to be like God on earth - Genesis 1:26 We humans beings are never happier than when we are expressing the deepest gifts that are truly us The opportunity reveals the our creative nature All we want is to be released to be who we are God has created us and our gifts for a place of his choosing Our creative nature is essential to who we are as image bearers It brings us great joy to live it out with freedom and skill |
| 2010-07-13 - Desire's Journey - The Adventure Begins (part 5) Creation awaits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed - Romans 8:19 The kingdom of God prepared for you since the creation of the world - Matthew 25:31-34 He will put the faithful and wise servant in charge of all his possessions - Matthew 24:47 They will reign forever and ever - Revelation 22:5 We will take the position for which we have uniquely made and will rule with him Much of the activity of God in our lives brings us to the place where we can be entrusted To each their own Each person will live out the passion of their heart - given by God The kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it - Revelation 21:24 Hard to believe that we can add anything to the splendor of God That is exactly what we are designed for and what our future involves |
| 2010-07-22 - Desire's Journey - Orchestra like worship You may have heard an orchestra tuning up before a concert Then the violins plays a long C and all the instruments join in The the players become focused, centered, and ready to preform This is what happens with chaos of our desires when we turn our souls to God in worship All the other desires find their place as we give God his place Delight yourself int he Lord and he he will give you the desires of our hearts - Psalms 37:4 Our delighting in God, he heals our false desires as our souls come true in the light of the Maker Worship becomes the means by which we most deeply heal our desire |
| 2010-07-27 - Desire's Journey - Letting Go (part 4) If we do not give our ache a voice, it does not go away It becomes an undercurrent of our addictions Pleasure becomes necessary in larger and larger doses The paradox of grief is that it is healing - somehow it restores our souls Control is the enemy; grief is our friend When we let go of controlling, something better takes its place - mourning Comfort is in store for those who mourn and healing for the brokenhearted - Isaiah 61 This idea was the center of Jesus' mission None of this makes sense until we admit our brokenheartedness and give our sorrow a voice in mourning Only then will we know His comfort Solomon said that it is better to go to the house of mourning that it is to a house of feasting We need to mourn, it is the only way our hearts can remain both free and alive in this world |
| 2010-08-10 - Waking Dead - Myths (part 1) Myth - sometimes thought of as not factual true Jacob saw earth in a whole new way in his dream - Genesis 28:12 |
| 2010-08-13 - Waking Dead - Heart of All Things Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life - Proverbs 4:23 Tin man had once been a real man
After a series of blows, his humanity was reduced to efficiency If we can disable or deaden your heart, then we have effectively foiled the plan of God |
| 2010-08-17 - Waking Dead - Thoughts and Courage of the Heart Our deepest thoughts are held in our hearts Our behavior is driven by our heart Scripture judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart - Hebrews 4:12 Not the feelings of the heart but the thoughts It is with your heart you believe and are justified - Romans 10:10 They hear with their ears and understand with their hearts - Matthew 13:!5 The heart is the dwelling place of our true beliefs It takes courage to love and takes courage to follow Jesus Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid - John 14:27 Courage > Old French cuer > Latin cor = heart The battle for the heart is going to take all the courage you can muster |
| 2010-08-18 - Waking Dead - Point of all Living Everything you love is what makes a life worth living Action: Set down the book and make a list of all the things you love
Jesus was asked what was most important He boiled it down to loving God and loving others - everything else will fall into place The heart is the connecting point; can not love without it If we can truly love, be loved, and never lose love - we would be finally truly happy If we worship efficiency, we can not grow in our love Some try to master all sort of principles and and never know God intimately, heart to heart. If do all sorts of Christian things without knowing God, he will say "I never knew you" - Matthew 7:22-23 The point is not the activity but intimacy with God Taking a course on anatomy won't help you love you spouse Taking a religion class will not help you love God You will find God when you seek him with all of your heart - Jeremiah 29:13 |
2010-09-02 - Waking Dead - Ask God
When Christ arose, he did not let Peter sweep the whole matter under the rug - John 21:15-17 It would have haunted the old fisherman for the rest of his life Most of us try to "put things behind us"
Jesus was asked would he feed his sheep times - for each betrayal Lessons that have been laid down in pain can be accessed only by pain Christ must open the wound not just bandage it over Instead of burying the pain, ask God what he is wanting to speak to you |
| 2010-09-06 - Waking Dead - Deep Restoration (part 3) Chris came not only to pardon us but to heal us Jesus can and wants to heal your heart. What does that rouse in you?
The heart is God's dwelling place If you ignore your heart, it is like looking for him everywhere but at home It might be a surprise to you that Christ ask our permission to come in and heal Behold, I stand at the door and knock - Revelation 3:20 He does not force his way in There are sometimes rooms we have kept locked up We must give him permission to come in there - ask Jesus for your whole heart back |
| 2010-09-07 - Waking Dead - Deep Restoration (part 4) We need time in the presence of the Lord - Pslam 86:11-12
We declare the authority of Jesus over our hearts - he made our hearts - Psalms 33:15 He has redeemed our hearts - Romans 2:29 Sometimes he will take us back to a memory, a time and place where a shattering blow was given Anytime someone says, "I feel like there's this part of me..." we need to listen - somewhere in the heart Hidden many times because of a false comfort |
| 2010-09-08 - Waking Dead - Deep Restoration (part 5) Our sin give the enemy a certain claim to our lives - Romans 6:16 As we renounce any sin, we also renounce any claim we've given to Satan in our lives This often comes in the form of "agreements" - Satan has suggested something to us and we have said yes.
As long as we have unhealed places in our hearts, it is next to impossible to live in freedom and victory No matter how much discipline we apply to it Our enemy knows them well and trying undermine us and uses it against us with a disabling effect |
| 2010-09-19 - Waking Dead - Setting the Heart Free All spiritual warfare follows a simple pattern - James 4:7 Submit and resist Submit ourselves to Christ and resist whatever has come against us or those we love Their needs to "dailyness" to our walk 1. We have to choose to abide in Christ Consecrate our whole body:
Take our place under the headship of Christ The faith of centurion, he understood authority - Matthew 8:10 Most sins fall under:
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| 2010-09-22 - Waking Dead - It Must Be Small Jesus did not march around backed by hundreds of followers He had a band of brothers - the Twelve Through we are part of a great company, we are meant to live a little platoons Groups small enough for each of the members to know one another as friends and allies Who's heart will you fight for? Who will fight for your heart? He spoke to the masses but lived with his closest twelve His followers took his example and lived this way too
Anytime an army goes to war or expedition, they break down into platoons and squads You can not be devoted to a mass of people Devotion takes place in small units like a family |
| 2010-09-28 - Waking Dead - Devotion and War Caring for your heart is also how you protect your relationship with God Your heart is where life flows Whoever believes in me - streams of living water will flow from within him - John 7:27-38 God's friends care for their heart because they matter to Him What does your heart need? Some needs are common to all hearts like silence and solitude Very early Jesus went away to a solitary place - Mark 1:35 We need to make time to get away - our entire lives are ruled by the expectation of others and the heart is the first to go The enemy will tell you this is foolish "You have many more important things to do with your time" Caring for your heart is an act of obedience, faith and an act of war The first wave of any strike against us is to rob us of the heart to fight it Hyenas cannot bring down a lion in its prime - they run it, taunt it, and wear it down to the point of exhaustion The strategy of our Enemy in the age we live is busyness and drivenness Most will say when asked how they are doing is "really busy" That we way we are going to get burned out and lose touch with our hearts The empty heart is more vulnerable to temptation |
| 2010-10-01 - Contagious Christian - Benefits (part 1) Ever had an idea only to find your enthusiasm fading when you realize the effort it would take? The goal may be noble, the intentions sincere, the plan in place but we still do not take action What is holding us back? We must be convinced that it is worth the effort and expense Business managers understand this and have developed process called cost/benefit analysis to help them see the whole picture In Christianity, this is called counting the cost - Luke 14 While reaching out to irreligious people may sound great, it is the actual effort that will entail significant personal expense Personal Benefits
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| 2010-10-31 - Contagious Christian - Barriers to Relationships (part II) 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Bad company corrupts good character
Jesus not only risked his reputation but ruined it He was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard - Luke 7:34 Tells you want kind of people He was around Jesus said that He associated with sinners because they are sick people that need a doctor - Matthew 9:12-13 The danger was that the doctor may be mistaken as one of His patients The religious people mutter how inappropriate it was for Him to associate with such disreputable people Jesus cared much about the lost than his reputation |
| 2010-11-09 - Contagious Christian - Samaritan Woman Invitational Approach Samaritan woman was living an immoral lifestyle Jesus ignored all conventional wisdom - John 4 It didn't take long to realize she wasn't talking to any ordinary teacher but the Messiah She immediately went to town and brought people back to hear Jesus Now we have seen and heard for ourselves and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world - John 4:42 Many would make great strides if they just make strategic inviting to a church service or event Primary question you will need to answer is which event will be appropriate to bring them to Invitation are great way for all of us but some just have the knack for getting people to go places with them Many of these Christians tend to stay out of the limelight but they make a big impact to their world |
| 2010-11-13 - Contagious Christian - Indirect Method This method involves taking some element of conversation and utilizes it to turn the conversation to faith Business How is your year going? Financial, OK; family-wise, pretty well; spiritually, going great. Which one are you talking about? Relocations Moving to a new neighborhood Have you found: places to shop, dining out locations, get your car repaired, a good church? Hobbies and Spare Time Talk to someone about your hobbies and roles in relating to church If you work with the sound system, website, children programs, etc - share about that Nature Talk about what God may have been thinking when creating plants and animals Goal is to raise the topic, not to envoke an affirming response - this may spur a discussions Shared Struggles Difficulty in a common with someone can be an opportunity to share how God has helped you Holidays They are an excellent opportunity to turn conversations toward the spiritual side
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| 2010-11-28 - Mission - Baptizing Them Heaven is a place of continual celebration God original place for us was to with him in a state of perfection
God had a radical plan to bring back into a relationship with him and to destroy the power that Satan had over us To this point, most Bible-believing world would agree What about baptism? Marginal matters are not in the Great Commission Paul included in his list of "seven ones" - Ephesians 4:4-6 We are united in baptism with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus - Romans 6 The master deceiver and father of lies has changed the road signs and send many to spiritual dead ends |
| 2010-12-09 - Mission - Cannot Fail The harvest is plentiful; ask the Lord of the harvest - Luke 10:2 Those who have taken up the work must devote themselves to prayer What they get from him is something they can not find in themselves Prayer is not the only important thing needed, it is just the most important thing to the harvest Obstacles are many for those working in the harvest There is not one that cannot be overcome with prayer Efforts to bring the harvest often stop because the workers run into problems or frustration Problem begin to look larger than the mission They lose their fire and joy Jesus says there is a problem (workers are few) but there is not despair The problem is an opportunity for perseverance and faith Frustrations and challenges differ but two things remain the same
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| 2010-12-11 - Seeking God (part I) What are you looking for in life? Acts 17:16-28
Jeremiah 29:11-14
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| 2010-12-28 - Repentance (part II) Ephesians 4:20-24.
2 Corinthians 7:8-11.
Luke 15:11-32 or Luke 19:1-10
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| 2010-12-29 - Baptism into Christ (part I) 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Acts 2:36-41
Romans 6:1-4
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| 2010-12-30 - Baptism into Christ (part II) Ephesians 1:3-10
Galatians 3:26-29
Infant Baptism? Colossians 2:11-12
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| 2011-01-26 - Followup - Prayer (part I) Introduction
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| 2011-02-28 - Servant of God (part II) The last will be first Mark 9:33-35
What ways should you be serving? It will take faith:
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| 2011-04-04 - Old Testament - Evangelism Old testament evangelism scriptures
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| 2011-06-27 - Mind of Christ - Helping People (part II) The following attitudes can help bring about a heart of compassion:
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| 2011-07-17 - Mind of Christ - About Self (part III) B. Fruits of self centered life: 1. It causes people to be extremely concerned about their personal rights - Genesis 13:5-7 |
| 2011-07-19 - Mind of Christ - About Self (part V) Christ’s example of self denial: A. He emptied himself ~ Philippines 2:5-11 B. He inconvenienced himself
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| 2011-07-26 - Mind of Christ - Servant (part II) The nature of a servant A. He is emptied of self interest
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| 2011-07-28 - Fearing God - Infinitely Greater Than Nature Isaiah 40:12 v40:12a - God measures the water in the hallow of his hand We can probably hold about a tablespoon and not for very long 2/3 of the earth is covered in water and in places 6 miles deep Yet God says He holds all that water in his hand v40:12b - God marked off heaven with his breadth of his hand Breadth = the distance from the tip of your thumb to the tip of your little finger, spread apart Ours is somewhere eight inches We can not even calculate the distance across the universe Nearest star beside the sun is 26 trillion miles away v40:12c - Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket? Weighted the mountains and hills? Baskets measurement is around 1/4 of a gallon He holds the dust in such a container and weighs the mountains on a set of scales As we think about these truths we will more and more appreciate God's greatness |
| 2011-08-11 - Daughter Needs - Loving Kindness A daughter needs a father's gentleness, protective favor to intercede for her against those who would do her wrong Two tendencies to limit their kindness:
Do you give your daughter far more positive comments then negative? Say something positive, then say "do better" next time? |
| 2011-08-30 - Fearing God - Turning Aside Wrath It is difficult for us to think about God's wrath; we prefer to think about his love We envision a wrathful person as out of control God's wrath is controlled, it is also described as anger, fury, and indignation Unrepentant people are storing up wrath - Romans 2:5 We were born by nature as objects of wrath - Ephesians 2:3 Through condemnation of Adam's sin and our own personal sin On the cross, Jesus suffered God's wrath in our place "Why have you forsaken me?" - Matthew 27:46 Really start to enjoy fearing God:
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| 2011-09-12 - Followup: Purity (part I) Our society exalts sexual immorality, and it’s raging out of control. Teenagers have hormones that are newly active and they can let them rage out of control. Singles are looking for love in all the wrong places. Marriages are ending in divorce more now than ever before even though more people claim to be Christians. God has made it clear that he wants us all to let the natural sexual desires remain dormant until they can be expressed within the marriage relationship. In the Bible the term “purity” is most often referring to sexual purity, but it also is used to refer to being free from contamination by worldliness in general. Contaminated water is undrinkable, just as a contaminated heart is unacceptable to God. Question: Have you ever had food poisoning? What happens?
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| 2011-09-13 - Followup: Purity (part II) 2 Timothy 2:22 A. What does it mean to “flee” from something?Ephesians 5:3-7
* We overcome sin by meditating on God’s precepts (word) and following his statues.James 5:16 (we as a family are here for each other, not to judge but to support) * God wants you to be pure and holy, he’s given you his word and spiritual brothers and sisters to help you on your spiritual journey. |
| 2011-09-17 - Proverbs on Purity (part II) #3. Cling to what is Good Proverbs 7:1-5 - God's word will lead us to purity of mind There’s a saying, “Garbage in Garbage out”
#4. Avoid the temptation Proverbs 4:14-15 - Don't take the path of evil people. Don't live the way sinners do. Proverbs 4:25-27 - Don't turn to the right or left. One way to not give in to lust is to avoid it or flee from it. James 4:7 - Resist the devil, and he will flee from you Avoid the places that are tempting to you (wild parties, lustful parts of the city, TV shows)
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| 2011-09-18 - Proverbs on Integrity (part I) Proverbs 19:22 - Poor person is better than a liar Proverbs 20:17 - Gains by fraud ends up being worthless The 1996 New York Times had a story on a golfer named Jeff Sluman.
When someone is a person of integrity he/she is someone that has wholeness about him either.
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2011-10-01 - Genesis 1 - Creation & RecreationSummaryGod created the heavens, the earth and everything that lives. He made humankind in his image and gave them charge over the earth. ObservationsGenesis 1:1 - the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, Personal ApplicationGod is bigger than I think he is. I have made him too small in my mind and do not allow Him to take control -- this is absurd since he has control over the universe and does a perfect job at it. My actions show that I don't fully trust God in this way. |
2011-10-02 - Genesis 2 - Creation & Recreation Recap SummaryGod formed a man and gave him the garden in Eden, except for the tree of knowledge. Adam was alone so God made a woman as his partner. ObservationsGenesis 2:7 - from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life Personal ApplicationMany times I look for ways on how to automate work (it is part of the work I do as part of my career) but sometimes lose sight that work is what I am suppose to be doing. When automating tasks, I need to make sure I am using my additional time to do even more useful things that God has called me to do. |
| 2011-12-01 - Growing (part II) Take it upon yourself; don’t only rely on others
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| 2011-12-02 - Guarding Your Heart (part I) Keeping your heart in good condition is not just an important physical principle, but a spiritual one as well. A bad spiritual heart will cause spiritual sickness and ultimately spiritual death – separate from God. The Bible gives us some great information on how to keep our hearts in good spiritual shape and keep them beating strong and healthy for God until the day we die. We guard our hearts to keep the good and keep away the bad we’re tempted to do
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| 2011-12-04 - Day 1 - Saved Completely DAY ONE: "Saved Completely" What God has done for you through your baptism into Christ is truly AMAZING! Colossians 1:21-23
Hebrews 10:19-23
Keep it in a special place to re-read later. |
| 2011-12-30 - Day 27 - Learning to be Loyal What does loyalty mean to you? 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
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| 2012-01-11 - Day 39 - Faith is the Victory Mark 2:1-12
Application: What are some things in your life (or someone's) for which you really need God's help? Keep a prayer list and keep on praying! |
| 2012-01-14 - Ministry - Driven By Zeal for God John 2:12-17; Romans 12:11; Numbers 25:6-13 Jesus faced many challenging situations in the ministry. He faced the overwhelming needs of the sick, the poor, the faithless and the empty but antagonizing religious leaders. He also faced an overwhelming sinful scene at the temple one day. Seeing that the temple worship had become simply a place to make money from others as they were sacrificing animals, Jesus decided to take action! After making a whip, he drove everyone from the temple area, overturning tables and scattering money everywhere! With many rebukes and challenges laid out to the religious crowd, the disciples thought of one word, "zeal." God blesses us when we take action against sin with our hearts full of zeal! Jesus was not afraid to be driven by zeal! Jesus was not holding back when challenged by sinful situations! He did not ignore, forget, and walk away thinking "tomorrow" or cowardly crumble with fear! Questions
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| 2012-02-03 - Ministry - A Righteous Response Mark 11:15-17, John 2:15,16 How does Jesus deal with anger? I know many of us, consider Jesus' response to the temple being used for a marketplace as an example of righteous anger. However, I studied eight different translations and the scriptures never state "Jesus got angry. John records that Jesus "made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area. It is hard to imagine myself doing this without harshness and anger but I did not conclude that Jesus was harsh or mean. In Mark 11:17 it simply says that he next "taught them". In John, the disciples saw his actions as "zeal" and when confronted by the Pharisees he answered their questions with profound teaching. This was not a man out of control while responding to mistreatment of his Father's house. Jesus was very God-focused in the way he dealt with the emotion of anger. In Mark 3:5,6 the scripture points out that Jesus was angry "at their stubborn hearts" because they could not respond to his questions due to evil intentions in their hearts. Jesus was angry. How did he deal with it? Further study indicates Jesus combined anger with being/feeling: "deeply distressed. His next response was to heal a man with a shriveled hand and to teach us all an amazing lesson about how deeply God cares for us. WOW! I'm not like Jesus when I get angry, how about you? Challenge:
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| 2012-02-09 - Ministry - Jesus Stayed Focused Amidst Challenges Matthew 14:13-21 How do you respond to bad news? Do you get angry? Faithless? Hard hearted? Self-piteous? When John the Baptist's disciples came to Jesus to tell him that his predecessor and cousin had been beheaded (Mt.14: 12) Jesus "withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place." When Jesus withdrew it wasn't to indulge in his emotions, but to call on his Father in heaven for the strength to handle pressure. Jesus didn't withdraw to escape the demands of the ministry. His dependence on God made it possible for him to deal with pain and still meet the needs of those around him. "Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." (Mt.14: 14) It's a temptation for me - when I am feeling all the pressures from my life - to place limits on how much I love and serve others. Even though Jesus had just received news of his cousin's death, he didn't get irritated with the demands of the crowds. He healed their sick, then fed them. He didn't "send them away", as his disciples had suggested earlier. If we want to have impact like Jesus did, we must treasure our solitary time with God so that we can remain focused of the needs of others. At some point today or this week, you are going to be confronted with a challenge to give when you really do not want to. You may have to stay up late, get up early, or give in an uncomfortable, inconvenient way. Respond with a spiritual perspective. Respond with compassion. |
| 2012-02-12 - Ministry - But Because You Say So Luke 5:1-11 Peter's faith was ebbing with the tide. No fish, no breakfast. After a frustrating night of fruitless fishing he was struggling to accept a carpenter's fishing tip to let down the nets yet again. Yet Peter softened his will to the Master's will and obeyed out of faith. He had no other reason to believe he would even get a nibble at the net. As the fish came in Peter got that sinking feeling of realizing the depth of his own sin. He deferred to Jesus and knew he did not deserve to be in the Master's presence. I am struck by Peter's decision to follow Christ's command to let down the net again even though years of experience and an empty-netted night begged him not to. Sometimes experience can breed cynicism because we are used to certain results and have formed certain expectations. Cynicism replaces obedience and robs us of faith. It gives us a reason to not have to believe because "we have been there, done that" and it has never work. Peter's humility is convicting and his responsiveness to Jesus is a powerful example. We can easily be deceived by experience that has result in fruitless and netted us nothing. Is your evangelism producing fruit? Maybe you are letting your nets down in the wrong place or in the wrong way. Find a new fishing hole. Consider reaching out to different kinds of people. |
| 2012-03-02 - Fear of Failure - I get knocked down, but I get up again by Angel Calica - Ministry Intern: San Francisco Church of Christ 2 Corinthians 4:9 The scriptures say we will get knocked down. The question is are you going to stay down, or get up again and keep going? Failure tests what kind of character we have. Do you give up easily and stay down (quitter)? Or are you a fighter and get up again? What are the sins that can keep us down?
Hebrews 4:6
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| 2012-03-09 - Blessings In Christ (part V) Continue studying through the blessing of Jesus: 21. We receive imputed righteousness - Romans 4:6 22. Our names are written in heaven - Luke 10:20 23. We are given a blessed hope of Christ's returning - Titus 2:13 24. We are seated in heavenly places - Ephesians 2:6 25. We have fellowship with the trinity - 1 John 1:3 |
2012-08-02 - Genesis 21 - The Birth of IsaacSummaryAs promised, Sarah had a son: Isaac. She had Hagar and Ishmael sent away but God preserved them. Abraham and Abimelech made a treaty. ObservationsGenesis 21:1 - The LORD visited Sarah just as he had said he would and did for Sarah what he had promised Personal ApplicationI need to unmoved by the changing seas around me. I go all over the place on where I stand on giving to others without resolve. Need to be consistent as I faithfully follow the Lord. |
| 2012-10-01 - Prayer of the Righeous - God is Running Prayer starts with the right view of God Our God runs through the field over the hills searching for us with all of his heart He thinks we are worth it - when we understand this, it is much easier to pray Jesus traveled all the way from heaven to come Just to give us a chance to be saved He then arranges the times and places for us to reach out for him - Acts 17:26-27 He is not far from each one of us How did your experiences growing up shape your view of God? How has your view changed of God since your baptism? How did God run after you? |
| 2012-10-03 - Prayer of the Righeous - God is Crawling (part II) We think he could never accept us just as we are Peter: Go away from Lord - Luke 5:8 When Jesus started getting too close, he was afraid Legion: Ran from Jesus when he saw him - Mark 5:6 He was wearing a mask of anger and violence and self-destructive habits to hide the pain inside his hear We feel too sinful to let him in Our relationship suffer because we are afraid of rejection because of lack of closeness with God He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand - Psalms 40:1-2 He is willing to get dirty and and get involved with the real you Confession and humility you closer He will not reject you no matter how dirty you are Are you afraid of rejection to the point of finding it difficult to pray? |
| 2012-10-30 - Losing Heart (part I) Life of the heart is a place of great mystery:
Without the heart, life is not worth living - it is the wellspring of life To lose heart is to lose everything We need to return to a child-like heart where not everything can be explained |
| 2012-10-31 - Losing Heart (part II) Life has taught all of us to ignore and distrust the deepest yearnings of our heart Teaches us to only live in an external world where efficiency and performance are everything Very seldom are we ever invited to live out of our heart We are most often wanted for what we can offer functionality Our external story is where we carve out the identity most others know
We live doing the things we ought to do rather than from our desires There is a step program for a happy marriage, become a Christian, success Communication with God is then replaced by activity with God Given the right plan, everything in life can be managed except for the heart |
| 2013-03-18 - Prayer of the Righeous - God is Preparing a Place (part II) John was given a glemce of what heaven would be like in Revelations:
Heaven is a place full of blessings Jesus referred serveral times to our reward in heaven No eyes have seen, no ears have heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 No one can stop us from going to heaven but ourselves Do you think of God as one who wants nothing more than to bless your life? |
| 2013-06-19 - Why we need men of resolution (part I) A story about a man falling asleep at the wheel while his family is in the car - illustrates where countless men are today We have been lulled into a dream by our own passivity and laziness Women are stressed out and longing for the man in their lives to wake up, rescue them. God’s Word commands husbands and fathers to lovingly lead. Men are being told they don’t have the permission or responsibility to lead. No man and no family is a lost cause when God gets involved. Because you are the one in the driver’s seat, you can become the one He uses to steer your family back onto the path that will lead them to a place of safety, strength, and health. Leadership determines direction. |
| 2013-06-25 - Why we need men of resolution (part II) Our relationship with our father is very telling as to why we are and who we are. “What does my dad really think about me?” Lots of fathers don’t realize their vital role. Many issues come from fathers having lost their sense of purpose. Society is guiding boys to remain boys as long as possible— extending childhood into their thirties—while forcing girls to become women long before they are ready. Millions of young men are staying single. They want the privileges and rewards of manhood but only the responsibilities and moral requirements of boys. God has a special place in His heart for two specific groups of people: fatherless children and widows. Dad have good intention but there many things working against them:
Devil will never stop attacking what God prioritizes. |
| 2013-07-01 - Becoming a Chain Breaker (part I) Men need to realize how much is at stake We need to ask God to break the chains in our lives and from our past Children are not punished for the sins of their parents, they are definitely affected and negatively influenced by them. You matter the circumstances of your birth, you were not an accident - Acts 17:24-27 Chains present in all of our lives:
God is the ultimate Chain Breaker
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| 2013-08-27 - Hurtful Examples and Lies For some, hurtful things your father did and said to you over the years The question is whether or not you will allow it to hinder you or help you. We are to forgive like God forgives, completely - Ephesians 4:32 If you believe the same lies your father believed, you will also be bound by them. Truth doesn’t set you free if you only hear it and mentally understand it. Consider memorizing verses that stand against any lies you have believed. |
| 2013-09-12 - A Man Embraces Responsibility Men are happiest and at their best when they are responsible We must resolve to fully embrace all of our responsibilities before God Responsibility = you are being entrusted and empowered by a higher authority to care for something or someone The first thing God did after creating Adam, was to give him responsibilities. He placed him in the garden “to cultivate it and keep it” - Genesis 2:15 Sin makes men tend to resist responsibility, but embracing it is part of our manhood It is a relatively modern invention that establishes teen years as a moratorium on responsibility and prolongs childhood indefinitely. When a young man is passive and irresponsible, he greatly limits his freedoms, opportunities, and successes. Responsibility calls us to action and tests us. It reveals our character. The more maturity a man has, the more responsibility God can trust him with. Embrace responsibility! Love it. Live it. Teach it to your children. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward” - Luke 12:42-43 |
| 2013-12-01 - Love Your Wives Love our wives is actually more demanding than the task placed upon wives to “submit” to their husbands. The example God gives husbands to follow is simply the most courageous and sacrificial act ever done in all human history.
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| 2014-03-04 - Heart to Heart time with our kids Fathers, start spending more “heart to heart” time ATTENTION Get their attention, ask important questions like:
Make a little one-on-one time with Dad AFFIRMATION Kids, as well as adults, want the approval and praise from their dads They want their father’s "blessing” in their lives. God: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” - Mark 1:11 It is important that you communicate to them, “You are my son (daughter) and I dearly love you. I am very pleased with you.” Anytime you greet them or talk to them, your countenance, the look in your eyes, and your tone of voice either says, “You are a delight to me” or “You are an irritation to me.” You should praise them privately, one-on-one, and publicly in front of others. “That is awesome! You are really good at that,” needs to come from your lips as their biggest cheerleader. Regardless of your past, step up to do this now! AFFECTION Father pours out His unconditional love on us (Romans 5:5), and so should we to our sons and daughters. Interact with them in ways that make them fully see, hear, and feel your love. not only the discipline of a father but also his warm affection and tender love. Boys who feel loved by their dads are bolder, stronger, kinder to others, and more secure Girls who feel valued by their dads are more radiant, less desperate for a boyfriend, and more careful whom they marry. So invest in them, take them places, flood them with tender affection, leaving no question in their minds about your genuine love for them. |
| 2014-03-22 - Train Them to Honor Authority (part II) You should actually want your leaders to succeed. You should be eager to help them fulfill their roles. This is how we should treat those over us - with a clear conscience, in respectful ways - not only from a fear of God but as a witness and an example to our children. Our kids will most likely adopt our views on authority in their own lives as well. We are accountable to Him - both to love Him and to fear Him. When you teach your children to honor authority, you are teaching them to better honor God.
Helping them not “forget his deeds” but to “keep his commands” - Psalms 78:7 Honoring authority will help them obey you. Honoring authority is a hallmark of godly men and their children.
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2014-05-15 - Genesis 23 - The Death of SarahSummarySarah died in Kiriath-arba and Abraham asked the Hittites for a burial site. He bought a cave at full price from Ephron and buried Sarah there. ObservationsGenesis 23:6 - Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince ApplicationWhat kind of reputation do I have at work, at home, and at church? What do others say about me? How has that helped or hindered me? Do I become impatient in waiting for God's promises? Do I try to fulfill God's promises for him? Do we avoid giving when it really costs us something? PrayerLord, help me to have the faith to wait on your promises and to always be ambassador of yours no matter where I am. |
