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Searching for "children" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "25" to "50". (146 found)

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

2008-11-24 - Raising Awesome Kids - Training and Teaching
Fathers, bring up your children up in the training and instruction of the Lord - Ephesians 6:4
We, as fathers, teach and train non-stop

Do not underestimate the importance of teaching
The worst mistake you can make is to do nothing

Children love to learn
Why else would God let us keep them for almost 20 years, but to train them

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

2008-11-27 - Raising Awesome Kids - Compassion and Caring
God cares! Nothing too great or too small can escape his notice
We also some be available to meet the needs of our family

Otherwise, because they have given up trying to reach us, they will have no desire to talk to us anymore
"Why can't I reach my kids?" - we weren't there when they reached for us

God hurts for us and with us
He looks for and has compassion for us - Luke 15:20

We need forgiveness and we need to grant it

Our children are.... children
Expect a lot, let them be kids - God is patient with us

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 -
  • Lacked confidence - 2 Timothy 1:8
  • Could lose motivation - 2 Timothy 1:6-7
  • Got ill frequently - 1 Timothy 5:23
  • Tended to be lazy - 1 Timothy 4:13-15
  • Need someone to believe in him
Paul became his "father in the faith" - 1 Corinthians 4:17
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

2008-11-30 - Raising Awesome Kids - Have Fun, Be Hip
What is wrong with having fun? Nothing!

Jesus was a fun person:
  • He went to parties
  • He told jokes
  • He nicknamed his guys
  • He loved children and they loved him
  • Pharisees even rebuked Jesus for letting his disciples get too happy
Children love fun people
If we are fun people, our kids will have fun
If we let them have fun they will love our leadership

You need to be hip to what is happening
We show love when we are interested in someone else's world
Be coming all things to all men - 1 Corinthians 9:22
Take a look at the current youth scene and not ridicule it
Confront the sin but accept the style

2008-12-01 - Raising Awesome Kids - Love
Love is of first importance. All else is secondary.
Above all we should have love - 1 Peter 4:8

Lack of love, we are nothing - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
We may lavish upon our children the finest things but if we do not make them feel loved, it is all to no avail

If there is closeness and love between us and our kids, we have a place to stand and start for the battle of their hearts
Build our families on love and our kids will be strong

Kids are born with the capacity to love, but not all learn how

2008-12-02 - Raising Awesome Kids - Teach Them About God's Love
They should be taught from infancy that:
  • God cares for them
  • God knows all about them
  • God takes delight in them
  • He longs to be close to them
Your children's view of God is the most important lesson you will ever teach them
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

2008-12-05 - Raising Awesome Kids - Love with your touch

Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them - Mark 10:15-16

Jesus could have blessed the children from afar
His way was closeness and affection

Unaffectionate families are cool, aloof and distant
Children raised in such an atmosphere develop into hard, nasty edge of anger and meanness

Examples:

Prodigal son - Luke 15:20
Greeted with a holy kiss - Romans 16:16
Paul and church leaders in Ephesus embraced and kissed - Acts 20:37

 



2008-12-06 - Raising Awesome Kids - Teach them to love others

Kids who are showered with love must be taught to give it away
Otherwise they will become selfish, aloof, and arrogant
God commands us to love hime in return

Love and concern for others should be talked about often
Children learn to love by helping - capable of so much more than we think

We can do far too much for them - creates self-centeredness
They way we treat others is the way we treat Jesus - Matthew 25:34-40

The whole family is an instrument of God - God will use in us is a dark and lost world



2008-12-07 - Raising Awesome Kids - Respect (part 1)

Honor you father and mother so it may go well with you - Ephesians 6:2-3

The issue of respecting authority is critical - opposite is arrogant, haughty, cocky attitudes
If not addressed - will lose our children to the world

How can we tell if our chidlren are disrepectful?

  • Sassy talk
  • Defiant looks
  • Temper tantrums
  • Stomping feet
  • Them hitting you


2008-12-08 - Raising Awesome Kids - Respect (part 2)

How can we tell if our oldrer chidlren are disrepectful?

  • Slamming doors
  • Rolling eyes
  • Muttering
  • List is endless

Our children honoring us is to show honor to God and his plan
As our children come to respect our authority, they learn to respect God himself

Claim your authority! Expect to respected!
If you not expect it, you will not get it

Children really want deep down inside - the confidence from knowing their limits
They want to know how far they can go



2008-12-09 - Raising Awesome Kids - Obedience

Must be taught and expected earily
Lays the foundation for obedience to all other authorities in life and ultimately to God

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



2008-12-10 - Raising Awesome Kids - Honesty (part 1)

We must love the truth, accept the truth, live by the truth, and tell the truth
Truth will set you free - John 8:32

Will perish if we refuse to love the truth and be saved - 2 Thessalonians 2:10

If children learn to accept the truth as children - they will be able to face their sins, repent of them, and be saved when they are older

Satan is a liar and the father of lies - John 8:44

 

 



2008-12-12 - Raising Awesome Kids - Winning Obedience from Children (part 1)

Discipline your son and he will give you give - Proverbs 29:17

From the very beginning children should learn to obey
Should be a habit and a pattern = happy family

Our will and word will be supreme
We should not expect to have to tell them again

Repeating ourselves and louder each time is not true obedience - find ourselves frustrated, weary, and resentful

 



2008-12-17 - Raising Awesome Kids - Dreary Disobedience (part 1)

Tearful, self-pity can drive parents to guilt, rage, and frustration - this is a form of disobedience
This is an attempt by the child to break down the parent - we must not give in
It is a character flaw that one day will produce an unhappy, victim mentality adult

Do everything without complaining of arging - Philippians 2:14-16
This is what God expects from us and we should expect it from our children

 



2008-12-19 - Raising Awesome Kids - Power of Discipline (part 1)

vWhat are we to do when our children disobey us?

  1. Verbal correction or reprimand
  2. One-warning rule - if your instructions are not followed, give one verbal warning
  3. Immediate Correction - the closer to the time of the offense, the more effective the action; delays also creates a tense, fearful atomsphere
  4. Temporary Isolation

Great with kids who love to be in the middle of the action
Don't let them ruining everyone else's fun

One way they learn to gain control over us - let them have their way
We are going to have a great time - they will realize that no one is mourning their loss



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
The rod of discipline will drive folly far away - Proverbs 22:15
If you punish with the rod, they will not die - Proverbs 23:13-14

Message is clear - Spanking is vaild, employed with wisdom and love

  1. Spanking should be an event
  2. Explain beforehand the reason for the spanking
  3. Cool off before spanking a child - must be complete self-control and not retaliatory
  4. Use a designate paddle - do not hand spank - too personal
  5. Spanking must result in change, contrite heart
  6. Bring things to resolution
  7. Do not spank for every offence - children in elementary years, spanking is less appropriate
  8. Spank on the safe backside or thigh
  9. Start as soon as the child begins to understand the word no; about 14 months


2008-12-25 - Raising Awesome Kids - Gods Training Plan (part 3)

These commandments... are to be upon your hearts (v. 6)

Should train from the heart level
in their minds and on their minds - Hebrews 10:16

Impress them on your children (v. 7)

Training with the Scriptures must be done with great conviction, sincerity and earnestness
If you want it to stick, you will need to give all you have

Talk about them always (v. 7)

Train consistantly - everywhere, anytime, anyplace

About teaching our children how to live life - not nagging about their misdeeds

Make it fun, doable, effective

Most training should be spontaneous

Never underestimate how many times we will have to say the same things over and over again



2008-12-28 - Raising Awesome Kids - Nurturing Confidence (part 1)
Early life is a long struggle for self-esteem
Kids can be viciously cruel to one another

If not watchful, we will be completely oblivious to difficulties our children are facing

Wrong Foundations of Confidence

Physical Appearance

If we make it a big deal, we are setting u our children for problems
They will gauge their self-worth on appearance and judge others that same way
  • What happens when there is someone else better lookig?
  • What if their suffer a disfiguring injury?
  • What happens when they get older?
To build confidence on a solid foundation:
  • Give God credit for every gift God has given your child including appearance
  • Teach them continually about this - gives them a humble appreciation
  • Teach them the value of what is inside
Lord does not look at the things that man looks at - 1 Samuel 16:7

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





2008-12-30 - Raising Awesome Kids - Mistakes Parents Make
1. Being basically critical
If you mostly see the negative things about your kids - what they will see about themselves

2. Failing to teach
Teach the basics - throw a ball

3. Failing to express praise and admiration
Say what we love, like, respect, and appreciation

4. Spending little or no exclusive time
Always too busy - then you are too busy
They will conclude that they are unimportant and worthless

5. Showing favoritism
Comparing to each other - will breed frustration, jealousy, and bitterness

6. Pushing too hard, too soon
Let them be kids

7. Parental self-degradation
Downgrade yourself in front of your children
Will hurt their view of life and of themselves

8. Living our lives through our children
End up pushing your kids into things they don't really care about

2008-12-31 - Raising Awesome Kids - How to Nuture Confidence (part 1)
Only proper foundation is their relationship with God
Develops confidence without cockiness

Stress a relationship with God
Focus on character - Tell your children over and over again that heart and attitude matter to God

Applaud effort than ability
Two of three men were successful because of their efforts not their ability - Matthew 25

Enough openness
  • Because of failure, they can hide things from you or even themselves
  • Ask them if they anything on their mind
  • Work through things until they are confident
  • Share some of our worse blunders - draws them closer and assures them that they are not alone
Encourage achievement
Search out your kids strengths - everyone has at least some
It is your job to help children discover and succeed in those things



2009-01-01 - Raising Awesome Kids - How to Nuture Confidence (part 2)
Help them improve in areas of weakness
Encourage your children to be well-rounded
Academics are too important to neglect just because it does not come easy

Examples:
  • Women of Proverbs 31 - skills ranged from homemaking to business and management
  • David - shepherd, soldier, political leader, songwriter, and musician

Help them form upbuilding friendships
All young people need to belong to a group
If they are generally outsiders:
  • Teach your children to act differently - to not turn people off
  • Or steer them to toward another group
Don't be afraid to monitor your children's friendships
If you can't help someone be better or if either one of you makes the other a worse person, then you can not be friends


2009-01-02 - Raising Awesome Kids - How to Nuture Confidence (part 3)
Teach them to appreciate and applaud the efforts and achievements of others

  • Children who learn to admire and encourage other will be confident
  • They will be strong enough to give credit where credit is due
  • Teach your kids to give their best and never blame anyone when they lose
  • Teach them to be like Jonathan - could have been jealous of David but became his best friend - 1 Samuel 18
  • John the Baptist became lesser so Jesus could become greater - John 3:30

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:
  • God is honored
  • God's presence is sought and experienced in daily life
  • Prayer is an ongoing reality
  • The Bible faithfully read and obeyed
  • There is love for God's church and is fully involved in its fellowship and ministry
  • There is times of worship, praise, and study
  • The children have their own times of personal Bible study
  • The parents spend regular times with each child to disciple them to Christ
  • A group that is dedicated to helping other become disciples of Jesus
Much more than being good, nice, or church-going family - be those things and not be spiritual

We can not take our families where we have not gone
Children can spot a fake

We must be:
  • Genuine in our love for God
  • Consistent in our walk with him
  • Wholehearted in our dedication
Six areas to be discussed:
  1. Prayer
  2. Discipling times
  3. Family devotionals
  4. Devotion to Church
  5. Evangelistic lifestyle
  6. Children's Quiet Times


2009-01-04 - Raising Awesome Kids - Prayer
We should pray for our children continually
To protect them, guide them, save them, and one day take them to heaven

Paul - Prayed day and night to Timothy - 2 Timothy 1:3
Most powerful weapon available in their spiritual defense and offense

We must pray with our children as well
Regular times such as bedtime and mealtime to start
Praying while going to place like church are also helpful
In times of difficulty and great challenge - we can do nothing without his blessing

What if they do not want to pray?
Talk about how God wants to be close to them
Do not do other activities are bedtime either, too tired for prayer than to tired for _______





2009-01-05 - Raising Awesome Kids - Discipling Times
These are times set to spend alone time with your child to talk with them, teach them the Bible, and pray with them
Can begin as soon as your child can communicate fairly well

Never let discipling times become boring and burdensome duty
Try to go somewhere out of the house if possible
Try to have set hours

Select a topic and verse to share
Realize that there may be a different topic that need to be discuss depending on the situation
Compare notes with your spouse

Read verses together > Talk about them > Take action > Share with the rest of the family

These are incredible times to draw your children closer to God and you

2009-01-07 - Raising Awesome Kids - Devotion to Church

Love the brotherhood - 1 Peter 2:17

If you have a positive, loving attitudes about the church, your kids will too
If we love God's people, more likely to love to be at the church activiities

If you notice that things were not done excellently - pitch in and help make it better

Teach your kids to respect their Bible class teachers
If a conflict with a leader or classmate, solve it quickly

If you have problem with someone - don't speak inappropriately in front of your kids
You will undermine your children's love for God's kingdom

 



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
Build up one another sessions - each person encouragees every other person specifically
Thank you nights - give thanks for different things other family members have said and done

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
Children's weaknesses tend to come out more with each other than with us

 



2009-01-13 - Raising Awesome Kids - Openness

Instead, speak the truth in love - Ephesians 4:15

An open family is a close family
No simmering backlog of unresolved problems - children should free to speak their minds at any time

Children should believe that we care enough to give them our full attention; will not fly off the handle
This establishes an open door policy with them

Openness is not limited to parents and children - includes the children with one another
Never allow conflict between kids to go unsettled
Send them off to talk about it - Mediate if needed

King Saul - filled with jealousy and envy and held in his feelings
His patteren was to think one thing and say something else - 1 Samuel 18
Resulting in complete emotional and spiritual breakdown

Parent should be concerned for a child that holds everything in
Have open talks during your family devotional times
Establish an atmosphere of freedom and openness



2009-01-18 - Jesus with People - Grateful Son
Mary and Jesus - no greater pain than for parent to bury a child and live with that memory

Jesus stops the process of redeeming humanity to focus on one final moment with him mom
All excuses for neglecting our families die with Jesus - spends final moment and thinking how to provide for her

Jesus submitted himself to being human - learned the lesson to honor your mother - Exodus 20:12

4x in  the gospels - Jesus relates to Mary:
  1. He obeyed her - Luke 2:51
  2. He allowed her to influence him when he performed his first miracle - John 2:1-11
  3. He did not allow his devotion to Mary make him sentimental - Mark 3:20-35
  4. Protected and provided for her needs as he died on the cross
He was not too "spiritual" that he neglected the needs of others

Busy disciples - often neglect the needs our immediate family?
Husbands - too busy to listen to our wives?
Parents - too busy to invest in our relationship with our children?

When we neglect to provide for our relative - we deny the faith - 1 Timothy 5:7-8
Jesus won Mary's soul with a relationship


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?

2009-01-31 - Jesus with People - No Dogs in Heaven
Matthew 15 - The Canaanite Women
Jesus was silent and by his silent he tested and revealed both the hearts of his disciples and the heart of this woman

Perhaps the instructions given earlier by Jesus send then to find the lost sheep of Israel was still in their mind
Maybe thought: "he sent us to find the lost Israelite. too bad, she is a Gentile. Send her away."

Jesus did not send her away but said - I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel - Matthew 15:24
Jesus - it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their gods - Matthew 15:26
Savior was willing to be misunderstood in order to flush out faith or faithlessness in the heart of this woman

In the end, Jesus affirmed her faith and admired her grit
He did not see the woman as unsubmissive or rebellious or undeserving; he saw her as full of faith

Jesus was more concerned about helping someone grow in their faith than he was keep up the nice-guy image

2009-03-07 - Promises of God - Lord of the Unexpected

One of our greatest test of faith comes when we face the unexpected

We forget Psalms 91 - His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart

We often rely on our own understanding of situations and then ask God what we think we need

It is important to let God give us the answer since he knows what is best for us
Like children, we do not always know what we need

This trouble you're in is not punishment, it's training, the normal experience of children - Hebrews 12:17

 



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

2009-03-21 - Promises of God - Formidable Foe
We have a common enemy that must be overcome

Described as:
  • the accuser
  • the adversary
  • the enemy
  • an evil spirit
  • the father of lies
  • a murderer
  • the power of darkness
  • the prince of this world
  • the ruler of darkness
  • the spirit that in the children of disobedience
  • the temper
  • the god of this work
  • the wicked one
He snatches away the planted Word from people's hearts - Matthew 13:19
He blinds the minds of individuals - 2 Corinthians 4:4
Satan takes people captive - 2 Timothy 2:26

But there is one greater...

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

2009-05-11 - No one like him - His Compassion and Love
Jesus shifted focus from forceful advancement to giving to the poor

Kept him up late – Mark 1:29-34
Willing to touch the untouchable – Mark 1:40-41
No time for the “healthy” – Luke 5:31
Parents trusted Jesus with their children – Matthew 19:13-15

2009-07-24 - A Life of Impact - Warmth

Warmth

Mark 9:36-37

  • Often children are terrified of bold, assertive adults.
  • He was tough, yet not lacking tenderness.
  • He was forceful and fun at the same time.
  • The reaction of children to any particular adult can be a very good barometer how you appear to people in general.


2009-08-20 - Wild at Heart - Intro (part 2)
Deep within man there are some fundamental questions
    Who am I?
    What am I made of?
    What am I destined for?

Today’s man
    Endless hours at the computer
    Requires man to be efficient and punctual
    Is this what boys dream of?
    Where are the real men?
    Did you ever dream of being a nice guy?

We are told we don’t know how to:
    Keep our promises
    Talk to our wives
    Raise our children

Some women want passive men
    Wonder why they have no access to their heart

God made the masculine heart – Come live out what I meant you to be
    He does not make generic people – man/women



2009-10-15 - Wild at Heart - Offering our Strength (part 1)
Man come to offer his strength, woman invites the man into herself
Requires courage and vulnerability and selflessness for both of them
Man must rise to the occasion, must move, women opens herself in stunning vulnerability
Man spills himself - sweet is the death
Life is created
When a man withholds himself from his woman, he leaves her without the life only he can bring
She is made for and craves words from him - Proverbs 18:21

If a man refuses to offer himself, then his wife will remain empty and barren
Silent man starves his wife
A man who leaves - he sacrifices them (wife and children) rather than for them
Examples:
  • Maximus
  • William Wallace
  • Life of Joseph, husband of Mary – was heroism
Cost him his reputation

2009-10-19 - Wild at Heart - An adventure to live (part 2)
Most spend the energy of their lives trying to eliminate risk
Their children hear “no” far more than they hear “yes”
If a man succeeds in securing his life against all risk, he will wind up in a cocoon of self-protection and wonder why he is suffocating
Seizing upon some sort of competence and rejecting anything that cannot be controlled

This a refusal to trust God and reach out for control – runs deep in every man
False self’s desire is to have power over experience – to control events and consequences - Mark 8:36

Too may men forsake their dreams because they aren’t willing to risk or fear they aren’t up to the challenge or are never told that those desire of the heart are good

Soul of a man isn’t made for controlling things
His job is charter to explore, build, conquer, and care for all creation
If you had permission to do what you really wanted to do, what would you do?

"How" is a faithless question – How is God’s department… Ask "what"
What is written on your heart?
What make you come alive?
Don’t ask yourself what does the world need. Ask yourself what make you come alive and go do that because what the world needs is people who have come alive

I’ve met men who’ve used advice like it was permission
They are deceived about what they really want
Goal of Christian discipleship is the transformed heart
We move from boy who needs the Law to the man who is able to live by the Spirit of the Law
Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit then you won’t feed on compulsion or selfishness

2009-11-23 - Master Plan - Selection (part 2)
  • Not the kind of group you would expect to win the world for the Christ.
  • Represented an average cross section of the society of their day
  • Some already had joined the revival movement of John the Baptist
  • Jesus can use anyone who wants to be used.
  • Kept the group small enough to be able to work effectively with them.
    • More special than the twelve was the three – Peter, James, John
      • Jairus’ daughter (mark 5:37, Luke 8:51)
      • Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2, Matthew 17:1)
      • Waited Near the Lord when He prayed. (Mark 14:33, Matthew 26:37)
    • Choose twelve – Luke 6:13-17, Mark 3:13-19
    • Others – the 70 (Luke 10:1), Mark and Luke (gospel writers), James, His own brother (1 Cor 15:7)
  • Rapidly diminishing priority given to those outside the twelve.
  • Staked His whole ministry on them. Everything depended upon their faithfulness.
  • Some believe that focusing on a few is favoritism
  • Jesus however did not neglect the crowds.
    • Taught them
    • Healed the sick
    • Blessed the children
    • Wept for them
    • He died for them.
  • Crowd aroused
    • Wanted to make him King by force - John 6:15
    • All men were clamoring for His attention - John 3:26
    • Pharisees admitted that the world has gone after Him - John 12:19
    • Frequently asked those that recipients of His healing to say nothing to prevent mass demonstrations
    • Own brothers and sisters did not understand him - John 7:2-9


2009-11-26 - Master Plan - Association (part 2)
  • Reasons for departures:
    • Oppositions from Pharisees
    • Hostility of Herod
    • Jesus wanted to be with disciples without distractions
  • In Gethsemane, disciples were only a stone’s throw away - Luke 22:41
    • Family: near each other in a time of departure
  • Every minute cherished because the growing realization of He would be with them no more
  • He spent more time with His disciples than with everyone else put together.
    • Ate with them
    • Slept with them
    • Talked with them
    • Walked with them
    • Prayed with them
    • Worshiped with them
  • Ministering to the mass – disciples learned the lessons and then got an explanation afterwards
  • Jesus had little time to call His own
  • Only exceptions was when He kept to His own personal devotions with interruptions - Mark 46-48
  • He wanted to be with them
  • They were His spiritual children


2009-11-28 - Master Plan - Church is the continuing fellowship (part 1)
  • Church is the practice of Jesus in a larger dimension.
  • The group of believers ministry to each other individually and collectively
  • Jesus must be the leader, with leaders that follow Him
  • Preaching to the masses will not suffice in preparing leaders for evangelism
    • Not occasional prayer meetings
    • Not Christian training classes
    • Not confirmation classes
  • Building men is not easy (baby learns all the time)
    • Requires constant personal attention
    • Children are not raised by proxy
    • Requires sacrifice of personal indulgence and time
    • Requires frequent contact not just weekly church services and Sunday School


2010-01-03 - Kingdom First - Making Peace with God
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will called sons of God - Matthew 5:9

World knows little peace - God wages peace
The heart of God is to be at peace with man

In order to have peace with God, we must resolve war(s) in our heart
Peace is not conflict avoidance, it is resolution after a spiritual war

Only those who know God can make peace that endures
Once alienated from God and enemies - Colossians 1:21
After humbling our hearts and mourning over our sin - we become his children, part of the family

Keep peace is an on-going process
Our lives must be continually cleansed from sin

What is your level of peace?
Have worries rob you of your trust in God?

2010-01-24 - Kingdom First - Wise Investing

Jesus is not interested in our obedience outwardly without having our hearts set on heaven
All the ancient were longing for a better country

Living a Christian life is more than living up to a standard of behavior
Meant to ask deeper questions of motivation and heart with an understanding a heart properly movtivated - actions will follow

We should develop a heart that does not store treasures in heaven
Jesus makes a case that does not make sense to store up treasures here because they will not even last here - Matthew 6:19-21

No moth, no rust, no thief, not even Satan himself can diminish our treasure in heaven
It is an incredible freeing feeling to let go of the "treasure" here on earth

Will you miss services to get overtime in?
Do your children see a joyful parent excited about the kingdom of God?

Invest all you have and all you are - Romans 12:1

 



2010-01-27 - Kingdom First - Personal Responsibility (part 1)
Things have not changed much since the begging of time
The woman you put here gave me some fruit - Genesis 3:12

We crave a scape goat:
  • Children blame parents
  • Spouses blame each other
  • Employees blame employers
  • Society blame political administration
  • Present political administration blame previous one
Jesus calls us to personal responsibility - Matthew 7:1-5
Must confront the planks in our own lives

Instead should admonish one another - Colossians 1:28-29
Build each other up through contructive challenges - Ephesians 4:29


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