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Displaying results from "50" to "75". (735 found)
| 2008-07-27 - 30 Days at the Cross - Who Gets the Credit? How quick human nature is to accept credit for certain accomplishments I will not boast about myself, except my weaknesses (Paul) - 2 Corinthians 12:5 Why boast about our weaknesses?
Who would want the power of God? A person that truly boasts in the cross does not:
Jesus could keep a full record of your credits and debts - but do you want that? sin and all? Are you trying to earn your salvation |
| 2008-07-30 - 30 Days at the Cross - Heights of Humility World often assumes humily with being quite, soft, weak, a loner, apathetic and without convictions Does this sound like Jesus to you? With humility, you give up yourself, but in the process you find God and yourself Questions and answers about humility:
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| 2008-07-31 - Questions and Answers - Part 1 Answered the following questions in the Q & A section:
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| 2008-08-01 - Questions and Answers - Part 2 Answered the following questions in the Q & A section:
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| 2008-08-09 - 30 Days at the Cross - If the King is a Servant What Jesus rightly deserved and what he received while here on earth were quite different Jesus didn't resent or resist his role He had a desire and compassion to help others Greatest of humility and suffering for him to subject himself to the cruelest of deaths - Philippians 2:8 People who have a major impact are the ones who serve Nothing moves the human heart more than someone who puts the needs of another above his own need It is a rare and precious expression of love Jesus has called you and me to be like him and take on his attitude toward serving others Jesus' serving was not limited to his friends (but also his enemies) His people will do the simple acts of service for the "least" among us Easier to serve someone on a schedule; more difficult if unexpected or interrupting my schedule |
| 2008-08-11 - 30 Days at the Cross - Seeing It Through It is not hard to start something but it takes character to finish What did it take for Jesus to reach his goal? Nothing less than a relationship with the Father and death With dull disciples - could have become impatient Exhausted after a long journey - could have become selfish He never gave in How did he stay so determined to overcome? Offered prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears - Hebrews 5:7 Jesus shed tears for:
We are aware of our ineffectiveness, we focus on what we should be doing but neglect our relationship with God |
| 2008-08-12 - 30 Days at the Cross - Mistreatment but Not Misery No way to be righteous enough, wise enough, or loving enough to avoid persecution The world can not hate you, it hates Jesus - John 7:7 We never see a hint of retaliation, bitterness, or self-pity When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate - 1 Peter 2:22-23 On the cross: heaped insults (Matthew 27:44) and he is asked God to forgive them - Luke 23:34 How did he get through the cruel and vicious attacks with such grace?
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| 2008-08-15 - 30 Days at the Cross - Nothing but the Best Do what comes naturally. Get in touch with who you are. Do what feels right. Be true to yourself. - These are the ideas the world tells us. Do they really change our lives? Jesus' blood shed challenges us to reconsider our empty way of life What a person is willing to give reveals a lot about the person Jesus was the perfect Son and an exact representation of God - Hebrews 1:3 God's precious and costly sacrifice seeks and demands a response. Make every effort is the only appropriate response - 2 Peter 1:5-7 Motivated by God's grace and example, we can increase our faith Sin weakens our character, steals our energy, and undermines our determination |
| 2008-08-19 - 30 Days at the Cross - Prayer and Purpose Because of the cross we are able to pray Looking at Christ's humble submission to the cross that we can learn we can learn how to pray Thank God for the incredible opportunity that we have to talk to him because of his grace He shows us the attitude we must have as we follow Christ in prayer - right perspective on suffering After praying, he was able to face the mock trial, jeering, and the beatings Disciples, who failed to pray, fled and desperation - they were powerless Jesus purpose of praying was to make sure that we could be saved Our main purpose to pray is not complaining but for others |
| 2008-08-22 - 30 Days at the Cross - Not Surprise by Joy Joy set before him endured the cross - Hebrews 12:2-3 Yet joy joy was still in the heart of Jesus:
When we try to take over God's role - there is no joy Even the violent scene of the cross brought about joy and hope |
| 2008-08-24 - 30 Days at the Cross - United Hearts Unity has an immense impact on our lives What are the obstacles to unity?
Sin is the ultimate cause of all disunity. Forgiveness is the ultimate cure. It defies our nature Who do you need to totally forgive? |
| 2008-08-26 - Teach Us To Pray - Abba Father Three verse opened a whole new way of understanding Jesus:
Prior to Jesus it was never used as a reference to God; even scandalous if used |
| 2008-09-01 - Teach Us To Pray - Hungry and Thirsty (part 2) We must Desire God Alone Many people fail to have satisfying prayer lives because they are double-minded when they pray Must do our best to rid ourselves of distractions Unless you passionately fight for time alone with God, it will not happen God Blesses the Hungry Heart When we pray righteously, it allows God to work powerfully in our lives
No hungry heart will ever be turned away |
| 2008-09-08 - Teach Us To Pray - Reasoning with God Reasoning with God in prayer is an expression of great faith Persistent widow reasoned with the unjust judge - Luke 18:1-8 We cannot change the eternal purposes of God but we can change his mind on how his purposes will be accomplished Abraham was a man who reasoned with God - his Son being sacrificed - Genesis 18:23-33 Moses was too - God decided to destroy the disobedient Israelites and start a new nation True humility is the key to the prayer of reason - not telling God what to do |
| 2008-09-15 - Teach Us To Pray - Changes in Character Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place - Psalms 51:6 Character can grow if we take a sober gut-level check look at who we are Too often we pray:
When we aim at nothing, that is what we hit The word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of our heart - Hebrews 4:12-13 Like a mirror reflecting how we look spiritually - James 1:23-25 We also learn the truth about ourselves from other people in our lives - Proverbs 20:5 Ask God to help you see what you need to change Ask others what things they see in your sinful nature How badly do you want to change? It will show by the way you pray My power is made perfect in weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9 |
| 2008-09-17 - Teach Us To Pray - The Harvest Is Plentiful Jesus promises a great harvest but the worker are few (Matthew 9:35-38):
Fruitfulness limited primarily by one thing - God himself Gratitude control the harvest Luke 9 - The charge was to preach the kingdom and heal the sick They gave to everyone who had need - Acts 2:43-47 Salvation wasn't just a doctrine rather a reality in their lives Jesus spent much of his time meeting physical needs, feeding, comforting, healing, serving As a result, people spread the word even more Reflects the power of meeting needs and our heart as a worker To acquire this heart, we need to pray:
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| 2008-09-21 - Teach Us To Pray - Friends and Loved Ones To intercede or pray on someone else's behalf is a privilege Our prayers are sacrifices which are pleasing to him - Hebrews 13:15 Paul: I want you to know how much I am struggling for you - Colossians 2:1 Who do you struggle for? How about people you have never meet? Far be it that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray to you - Samuel to King Saul - 1 Samuel 12:23 Jesus intercedes for us - Romans 8:34 Like a good friend, he adds or subtracts from what you are missing or need Jesus makes us complete in God's sight |
| 2008-09-22 - Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition Whoever the enemies may be, the words of Jesus are still the same: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you - Matthew 5:44 It our enemies who afford us the opportunity to glory God by shining like stars - Philippians 2:15 Must forgive and love our enemies to be permitted to be sons of God - Matthew 5:44 When praying for our enemies, we should focus on:
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| 2008-09-26 - Teach Us To Pray - Our Eyes Are on You 2 Chronicles 20:5-7 When all goes wrong, it is time to pray Not just prayer, but a Jehoshaphat prayer (a prayer of desperation) - a deep-felt need for God He who fails on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed - Matthew 21:42, 44 Get Broken or get crushed - this difference is a matter of prayer |
| 2008-09-27 - Man of Prayer - Introduction 10% of those who don't believe in God still pray - just in case 55% of those who do pray, pray less than 5 minutes That is not much time for fellowship and communion We end up doing the thing that we are highly motivated to do Quality of prayer is low when the only motivation is obedience Matthew 26:36-46 - Jesus asked them to keep watch while he prayed Could we keep for even one hour? How is your prayer life Is it satisfying, effective, fulfilling, productive? |
| 2008-09-29 - Man of Prayer - Pattern Lord's prayer in Matthew 6 and Luke 11
Each will be addressed in detail in later chapters
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| 2008-10-05 - Man of Prayer - Name In Jesus' day, a person's name reflected one's character God had powerful encounters with an individual, he would change the person's name with the change in them Halllow mean to treat with great reverence Focusing our thoughts helps lead to a response of worship Many focus on telling God their needs, need to focus on God Seek first his kingdom - Matthew 6:33 In interpersonal communication, remember a person's name is very important Moses asked God, "Who shall I say sent me?" God answered, "Tell them I AM has sent you" YHWH (Yahweh) is the proper name of the living God God is the God who is, who causes to be, and who will be who He will be Thinking about God in this way gets my focus on Him |
| 2008-10-07 - Man of Prayer - YHWH-mkaddesh YHWH-mkaddesh means the Lord who sanctifies, he works to change and mold us Reflection on his name - should remind us how desperately we need the Holy Spirit to work in our life
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| 2008-10-08 - Man of Prayer - YHWH-shamma God is "the Lord who is present" He has a great desire to dwell in the lives of believers:
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| 2008-10-10 - Man of Prayer - YHWH-jireh YHWH-jireh means "the Lord will provide" Our God is a provider God saw Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, God provided a ram "My God will meet all your needs - Philippians 4:19 He is a good provider Every good and perfect gift comes from His hand - James 1:17 No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly - Psalms 84:11 |
| 2008-10-11 - Man of Prayer - YHWH-rophe Means "I am the Lord who heals" God also provides through healing As Israel was coming out of their bondage - if they obied, he would have keep them from affliction of the Egypt deseases |
| 2008-10-13 - Man of Prayer - YHWH-shalom Means "the Lord is peace" Gideon had a powerful encounter with the angel of the Lord - Gave the name at the alter - Judges 6:24 Hebrew word shalom = welling being, contentment, harmony, fulfillment, and wholeness. It communicates a total state of well-being which comes from a proper relationship with God The blessing of God brings the peace of God He is the source of your peace - Ephesians 2:14 Peace is the result of God's Spirit working in your life - Galatians 5:22 |
| 2008-10-22 - Man of Prayer - Praying for your nation US is facing a moral and ethical decline It is a result of the influence of a small minority who work harder to promote their value system than we do Our land desperately needs mercy, forgiveness, and healing - 2 Chronicles 7:14 Pray for these three areas:
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| 2008-11-02 - Man of Prayer - Sinning against each other Part of prayer needs to be focused on remembering who has offended us and then making a conscious decision to forgive them When our sin has caused emotional, spiritual, or physical damage to another - we need restitution - asking forgiveness Forgiveness:
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| 2008-11-08 - Man of Prayer - Spiritual Protection (part 1) When we move out from God's umbrella, through sin or negligence, the evil one can gain easy access to you We pray the "umbrella" into place When we pray , "deliver us" = "preserve from" = "protect from" He is our refuge and fortress for those who come to him - Psalmx 27:1-6, 46:1, 91:1-2 As mother bird protects her children - Psalms 91:4 |
| 2008-11-18 - Raising Awesome Kids - Second Thing Second Assuming God is first, who is next on our list? Our spouse Devotion to our lifetime companion must be the greatest earthly love of all Kids are our flesh and blood, but we are one flesh with our spouse Some make up for the affection by pouring all their love into their children Makes them arrogant and/or insecure Bag the excuses, example: too busy, take an honest look at your marriage Little eyes and ears are fine-tuned to our frequency and they know They love it when we love each other - it gives them a sense of peace, happiness, and security Much of the anger and rebellion issues in kids can be traced back to marriage problem |
| 2008-11-20 - Raising Awesome Kids - Father as Leader Husband is the head - Ephesians 5:23 You, as the father, are in charge - it is wrong not to lead Men and women are equal but have different roles Christ is head of the husband who is head of his wife - 1 Corinthians 11:3 We hurt ourselves and those close to us when we ignore or distort God's plan |
| 2008-11-22 - Raising Awesome Kids - Strength and Conviction (part 2) Jesus is strong - we should be too Challenges should not break us down into depression or despair If we fall, who will stand? God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline - 2 Timothy 1:7 Need to strong physically as well Get out and get some exercise - take some fat off Jesus was a carpenter, he walked every went Your child will be proud to bring their friends home to meet you Youthful energy from a older person is very impressive |
| 2008-11-23 - Raising Awesome Kids - Provision and Protection If anyone does not provide for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever - 1 Timothy 5:8 Our families should never have to worry about where the next meal is coming from Our Heavenly Father provides for all our physical needs - Matthew 6:25-34 We should not imitate him in caring for my children? He works his land , will have abundant food - Proverbs 28:19 Get adequate medical insurance - so you do not burden your family will major costs Takes care of things around the house Do the repair jobs and maintenance work Husbands who are lazy - kids will see this and either disrespect us or gladly imitate us in it Fathers are protectors If any family member is in a situation where they are being beaten down, overwhelmed - this is the time to act Should not shield them from the realities of life, but from the forces from which they become helpless |
| 2008-11-26 - Raising Awesome Kids - Liberty and Justice His brothers saw that their father loves him more and hated him - Genesis 37:4 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent - the Lord detests both - Proverbs 17:15 We fathers must see that there is respect given to all Must rule justly in any areas of dispute Playing favorites is deadly Who must be respected? Mother - besides watch the children's respect, we must watch how we communicate with our spouse Younger and weaker children - Your role as dispenser of justice starts from day one and it is one of your most vital roles |
| 2008-11-28 - Raising Awesome Kids - Encouragement and Inspiration Fathers deals with his children with encouragement, comforting, and urgency of lives worthy of God - 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 Life is hard, especially for kids - easy to lose heart There is a immense power in a father's encouragement Young Timothy -
By his encouragement, Timothy became the dynamic leader of the huge and powerful Ephesus church It is our jobs as fathers to assess our children's talents and gift and help them to excel in them Be a great inspirer and encourager of your children Let it be you who thinks they are great and who picks them up when they fall |
| 2008-12-02 - Raising Awesome Kids - Teach Them About God's Love They should be taught from infancy that:
It shapes their whole view of life and reality Continue teaching, do not foist your past (if bad) on your child: They have been assigned a personal angel to look after them - Matthew 18:10 |
| 2008-12-03 - Raising Awesome Kids - Love Your Children For some, children are a burden Some, kill the unborn Withholding your love is killing them from the inside Many children their parents problems simply because they do not feel loved To those who are failing to love their children - now is the time to repent Otherwise you will ruin your children, wreck your life, and lose your chance of going to heaven Whoever welcomes a little child welcome me (Jesus) Whoever causes one of them to them to sin - better to a large millstone around your neck and drown in the sea - Matthew 18:5-6 |
| 2008-12-06 - Raising Awesome Kids - Teach them to love others Kids who are showered with love must be taught to give it away Love and concern for others should be talked about often We can do far too much for them - creates self-centeredness The whole family is an instrument of God - God will use in us is a dark and lost world |
| 2008-12-09 - Raising Awesome Kids - Obedience Must be taught and expected earily Children who are rebellious, defiant, and disobedient to parent later will demonstrate those same attitudes towards all authorities It is easiler to teach children to obey while they are yound than to begin later when the habit of disobedience is deeply established |
| 2008-12-13 - Raising Awesome Kids - Winning Obedience from Children (part 2) First principle = first time obedience Sometimes the whole issues comes down to the "mother of all battles" If you have failed in this area:
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| 2008-12-15 - Raising Awesome Kids - Disarming Disobedience They crack you up laughing while he or she is disobeying you Never let them do whatever just because they are cute or charming |
| 2008-12-19 - Raising Awesome Kids - Power of Discipline (part 1) vWhat are we to do when our children disobey us?
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| 2008-12-21 - Raising Awesome Kids - Power of Discipline (part 3) What does the Bible say about spanking? He who spares the rod hates his son - Proverbs 13:24 Message is clear - Spanking is vaild, employed with wisdom and love
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| 2008-12-29 - Raising Awesome Kids - Nurturing Confidence (part 2) Athletic prowess Very quickly, kids notice who is faster, stronger and more coorinated It is important for children to develop physically but they must not judge the worth of themselves Intelligence - good grades are of valuable but we must appreciate great effort even more Material possessions - man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions - Luke 12:15 |
| 2009-01-02 - Raising Awesome Kids - How to Nuture Confidence (part 3) Teach them to appreciate and applaud the efforts and achievements of others
Be basically encouraging Be your children's biggest fan If you are fundamentally positive - when you give correction it will be received with thankfulness rather than discouragement Some say - 5 compliments to overcome one criticism Human nature flourishes on a diet of praise |
| 2009-01-03 - Raising Awesome Kids - Foundations of a Spiritual Family Spiritual = to be on the inside what we trying to do one the outside: to be genuine, not to live a pretense of religious performance but to function out of a sincere relationship with God A spiritual family is where:
We can not take our families where we have not gone Children can spot a fake We must be:
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| 2009-01-08 - Raising Awesome Kids - Evangelistic Lifestyle Something the whole family should think about constantly Each child has a role in reaching another family Too many of us separate our families from our outreach to others Our families are the brightest light that God can use to illuminate a dark world
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| 2009-01-11 - Raising Awesome Kids - Repect: Eliminate Critical, Harsh Talk Reckless words pierce like a sword - Proverbs 12:18 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor - Proverbs 11:12 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your months - Ephesians 4:29-32 So thing we just plain need to get rid of: Harsh words Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken - Matthew 12:36-37 Name calling Would you use the same words if Jesus was in the room? Let that be the test. Rudeness Love is not rude - 1 Corinthians 13:5 Get rid of all actions, looks, and expression related God hate haughty eyes - Proverbs 6:16-17 These are signs of disrespect Recognize > Confront > Eliminate from their behavior |
| 2009-01-12 - Raising Awesome Kids - Genuine Appreciation Appreciation for one another does not come about by accident Must teach it, talk about it, show it and confront the ways the kids are not expressing it - only way Cultivate appreciation by creating as many situations as possible where it expressed in words Encourage your family to begin expressing respect, appreciation, and encouragement - whole atmosphere will change Pleasant words are sweet to the soul - Proverbs 16:24 Teach your older children how to lead and teach your younger ones how to follow
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| 2009-01-14 - Raising Awesome Kids - Fabric Refers to the building a structure and rhythm into our famiy schedule Mealtimes Stop letting people read the paper, watch TV or do homework during dinner Create family traditions - do things that uniquel to our family |
| 2009-01-17 - Jesus with People - Humility in Action Jesus and John the Baptizer were very different - ie one preached in the desert and one in the cities and villages John called the people not to focus on him but the one who was coming Jesus came to be baptized by John - Matthew 3:11 John responds - I need to be baptized by you John submits to Jesus' submission and baptizes Jesus Satan hated it - they kept humbling themselves before one another - the bond of unity grew tighter and tighter This humility continued through out their lives - John: He must become greater; I must become less - John 3:27-30 Jesus did not grasp his equality with God - Philippians 2:6 Humility kept them bonded together, even when Satan was working to divide Pride: Keeps people from being united Humility: Bring people together When unity does not exist among believers: People are not willing to pay the price Pride means too much to them What relationship do you have that would be greatly changed if you show humility and not pride? |
| 2009-01-19 - Jesus with People - Through the Roof When the paralyzed man came down through the roof - damaged the house of Peter and Andrew - how would you respond? If we follow Jesus, the smallest seed of faith that we see in others should encourage and excite us. Who big is your crowd? |
| 2009-01-20 - Jesus with People - Harassed and Helpless Jesus was always able to look beyond people's outward behavior to the need within How does a person who is harassed and helpless behave?
He saw beyond the paralytic's phyiscal condition to his need for forgiveness - Mark 2:5 When we see a crowd who is harassed and helpless we see - problems, problems, problems Wiser to evangelize the "suburbs" because there are less "problem" people - NNNNOOOO!!!! Jesus saw the potential in people, not the problems - why see inspired such change People need a shephard and Jesus responded and raised up other shephards - Matthew 9:38-10:4 Are you meeting needs or do you alwaysfind yourself reacting to the way people treat you? |
| 2009-01-21 - Jesus with People - Going Deeper We want to be know but we keep a safe distance John 4:39 - Samaritan women:
We too can be afraid of seeing who we really are To set people free, we must be like Jesus:
Jesus' love and acceptance allowed the woman/us to be real and to change |
| 2009-01-23 - Jesus with People - Touching the Untouchable Jesus had compassion and healed the man with leprosy - Luke 5:12-18 Jesus was different:
What Jesus did we can also do (beside healing):
Society shrinks back - hospitals are not our favorite place Somehow, we think that the person is responsible for his or her condition Job "friends" did not understand what God was doing How can I imitate Jesus by "reaching out" in compassion to the sick? |
| 2009-01-24 - Jesus with People - Feeling the Pain Luke 7:11-17 - He said, "Don't cry", Jesus chose to be vulnerable to everyone's pain:
Jesus compassion knows no bounds Are you praying to stretch the capacity of your heart to feel deeply with many others? Is your lack of openness (rooted in fear of the sin of pride) blocking your passion and compassion? |
| 2009-01-26 - Jesus with People - Nic at Night Some people's needs could be quickly dealt with: "Heal my blindness" or "Let me just touch your garment" But not Nicodemus, Jesus knew it would be a long night - John 3:1-3 Nicodemus, was a man looking for something:
Could this be right? Could Jesus be the Messiah? Jesus was straight to the point: I tell you the truth, you must be born again - John 3:3 Nicodemus knew he could get time with Jesus and he did Who was intrumental in answering your questions and healping you see the truth? |
| 2009-01-27 - Jesus with People - Rich Young Ruler Luke 18:22-24 Sell everything and follow him = It's not what you do but who you are Jesus did challenge him but he also loved him Jesus does not get into a lengthy theological debate Each of us lacks that "one thing" deep down that we must give up and following Jesus |
| 2009-01-28 - Jesus with People - Full of Grace and Truth John 8:10-11 - When they were going to throw stones - Jesus just didn't say no
Was she being used by the Pharisees? Yes Sin enslaved us - John 8:31-34 Sometimes we think repentance is more difficult than it is - Jesus called for immediately Is it hard for me to confront others in their sin? |
| 2009-01-30 - Jesus with People - Greatest in th Kingdom I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven - Matthew 18:1-4 Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost - Matthew 18:12-14 We need to become like children in a very specific way Our human nature wants to be first and to have control Matthew 18 were driven by the same desire - they asked Jesus "Who is the greatest?" When become like little children, we become like Jesus Paraphrase - Because of your power-hungry pride you guys are not even in the kingdom of God, and nothing will change this fact unless you start imitating this child After Jesus' sacrifice, all his teachings made sense Having a child's humility is impossible until we understand the cross Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends - John 15:13 Must see other brothers and sisters in Christ as God's little spiritual children who must be cared for God's heart is that not a single person be lost Do we feel the personal responsibility for others? Who do you know who is struggling spiritually? What can you do to help them? |
| 2009-02-02 - Jesus with People - Seeing and Not Seeing Luke 7:36-50 - Simon, I have something to tell you Jesus is able to cut through the muck - right to the heart He had outspoken clarity - Luke 7:40 In truth Simon saw neither the woman or himself for how they really were Jesus did see the woman - Her sin was obvious as her brokenness He actions came from her new sense of reality Once she saw Jesus, she responded the only way she could have - compelled by love - 2 Corinthians 5:14 Jesus' words should have cut Simon deeply - But he who has been forgiven little lives little He wants to have a relationship with us Think of trying to have a relationship with ant - talking with it, caring for it and especially dying for it - it is unfathomable! How many times did Jesus change people's view if God? Who am I most like: Simon or the sinful woman? |
| 2009-02-06 - Jesus with People - Closeness Jesus, knowing he would have to face the cross alone - would be have been easay to maintain his distace Closeness reuires spending time together At the last supper, John was seated to Jesus' left - John 13:23-26 |
| 2009-02-13 - Jesus with People - Jesus Wept Upon hearing about the death of his close friend Lazarus, Jesus wept... Jesus really felt the emotions that we feel Why did he cry? Scripture does not say. Could be because:
Who are your deepest relationships in the church? |
| 2009-03-02 - Promises of God - Give and it will be given to you God is faithful. He will meet all our needs He desires to meet our every need - to the point of sacrificing his own son - Romans 8:32 In Philippi, church sacrificed financially to support Paul (only church to do so) - Philippians 4:14-18 The more we are focused on his will, the more our needs will be richly met What must be true in our lives in order for us to claim the promise that God will meet all our needs? |
| 2009-03-03 - Promises of God - Remember Your Sins No More Remember Your Sins No More - Hebrews 8:12 God wants to forgive God's nature is to forgive Psalms 103:
God doesn't need forgiveness
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| 2009-03-08 - Promises of God - Lord of Physical Challenges Psalms 91:9-11 - God will protect us and guard you in all your ways We do not see the refuge that God is or the trouble from which he has saved us - we can become bitter He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us In what areas of your life are you most thankful for this promise? |
| 2009-03-11 - Promises of God - I Will Sustain You Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he who will sustain you - Isaiah 46:3-4 God has promised that whatever life brings, he will be faithful with us to the very end He was telling the Jewish nation that he was there at the beginning and he will be with them all the way through He remains faithful to them whatever the circumstances |
| 2009-03-14 - Promises of God - Not tempted Beyond What You Can Bear He will not let be tempted beyond what yo can bear - 1 Corinthians 10:13 God has not promised that we will not be tempted - James 1:13-15 No situation will ever be too difficult. God simply will not allow it. There is never an excuse for sin. Jesus is our ultimate example He himself suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted - Hebrews 2:18 |
| 2009-03-18 - Promises of God - Produces a Harvest Hebrews 12:11 - Discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it Key ways to respond to God's discipline: Get Grateful Probably the most difficult thing to do during hardships It is the very thing that will help us to learn the important lessons God is trying to teach us Hunger for Holiness Media bombards us with devices, books, etc to make our lives easier God disciplines us for our good, we may share in his holiness - Hebrews 12:10 He is willing to watch his precious children to go through temporary pain for them have eternal peace Trust the Trainer We must trust him as the perfect trainer Training = something rigorous that stretches the trainee emotionally or physically God's discipline is exact what we need and he promises it is always for our own good |
| 2009-03-19 - Promises of God - For your Good In all things God works for the good of those who love him - Romans 8:28 Regardless of what happened, we must be convicted - God is intimately aware and involved in all of it We have two choices: To trust - brings peace To doubt - brings anxious, temptation to take matters in our hands, sin God is conforming us to the image of his Son - Romans 8:29-30 Examples of those in "bad" circumstances:
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| 2009-03-22 - Promises of God - One Greater The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world - 1 John 4:4 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness - 1 Peter 5:8 Satan is seen leading "the whole world astray" - Revelation 12:9 He is the Ling of Kings and the Lord of Lords - Revelation 12:9-11 The devil will eventually be thrown into the lake of fire - Revelation 20:1-10 |
| 2009-03-24 - Promises of God - Remember Gods Heros Scriptures have many examples of those who were tested, humbled, exiled or disciplined by God:
There was far greater blessing in store for them in God's own time |
| 2009-03-26 - Promises of God - Hearts at Peace God makes clear his offer of peace Does God promise pleasing circumstances to those who trust him? No Paul, from a prison cell, said the Philippians could "peace of God which transcends understanding" - Philippians 4:7 Peace came from trusting in God - Isaiah 26:3 Trust is essential Must imitate childlike humility - Matthew 18:3-4 Children are generally are at peace They do not worry about the mortgage, stock market, bills They are content to let mom and dad tackle those issues We have to believe that God is in charge and he knows what he is doing |
| 2009-03-29 - Promises of God - God Can Relate Hosea 11 - God who knows what is lie to grieve We see his compassion and sorrow over the loss of his relationship with his people Jesus displays a similar broken heart over the people of Jerusalem - Luke 13:34 He can relate, he has felt the same feeling too |
