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Searching for "matter" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "25" to "50". (93 found)

2010-02-11 - First the Kingdom - Trees (part 4)
All disciples should produce fruit of all kinds of fruit

There are some who debate over and over again what fruit (harpos in Greek) is:
  • Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23
  • Fruit of making other disciples - John 15:16
Does not matter - fruit of disciples are to God's glory

A good heart refuses to get entangled in a semantic debate and simply produce for God

What kind of fruit does God see in your life?

2010-02-20 - One Another - Spurring One Another (part 2)
Because of our great blessings with Christ, we can not take this fellowship lightly

Must pursue it with greater vigor - Hebrews 10:24-31
There is great seriousness in this matter

paroxusmos - Greek word, translates word:
  • NIV = spur on
  • KJV = provoke
  • CSB - promote
  • NASB - stimulate
Greek lexicon:
  1. Stirring up, provoking - only used here in the NT
  2. irritation, sharp disagreement - only Acts 15:39
  3. Attack of high fever - not in NT
Not a "nice" word but aggressive word in Webster's transliteration:
  1. Sudden violent outburst
  2. Fit of violent action or emotion
  3. A severe medically attack
How do we accomplish the "spurring on"?
Must be done with thought and with their needs in mind - not one size fits all
Must be done with end result to result being love and good deeds

  • Pray for their needs and let them know that you are
  • Share scripture that you believe will be relevant
  • When they share struggles - ask them about it consistently
  • Do not be afraid to give someone a bold challenge


2010-02-25 - One Another - Forgiving One Another (part 1)
Matters related to forgiveness:

Forgiveness often is not easy

Pain creates lasting memories
The more deliberate the sin or the more we have invested in a relationship, the greater the pain
Greater the pain = harder it is to forgive

Forgiveness may be hardest in the church

When we see sin in our brothers and sisters, there seems to be a much greater temptation of bitterness

Satan's top-ranked scheme may be to lead us not to forgive

Paul: I have forgiven in order that Satan might not outwit us - 2 Corinthians 2:9-11
If he can get us to forget the cross and create a different standard for our brothers and sister = victory for satan
Sin can blemish the church but there is no uglier blemish than one cause by the lack of forgiveness

2010-02-26 - One Another - Forgiving One Another (part 2)
Other matters related to forgiveness:

Forgiveness is the ultimate 'one another' trump card

Love, which always forgives, can cover a multitude of sins - 1 Peter 4:8

Forgiveness must come from a grateful heart

If forgiveness comes from anything other than a grateful heart, we lack the purity of heart
Rid yourself of all bitterness, rage, and anger - forgiving each other as Christ forgave you - Ephesians 4:31-32

We must help one another forgive

When a person is not forgiving, they grow bitter
The sin of lack of forgiveness of someone may be greater than the actual offense
See that no one misses the grace of God and no bitter root grows - Hebrews 12:14-15

Pain and anger are not resolved in a moment, but let us never doubt where we must end up

2010-03-05 - To Live is Christ - From Trials to Triumph

A successful life is not life from difficulty, trial, or tragedy - Philippians 1:12-14
While Paul was imprisoned, he learned how to live

He saw God the same - no matter what happened in his life

In an earlier letter he saw illness as an opportunity bring the gospel to the them - Galatians 4:13

He saw imprisonment for a chance to convert Romans
There became disciples is Caesar's household - Philippians 4:22
Something "not good" can be turned into the complete opposite when in God's larger pattern

Paul not giving up deepen their convictions - he emboldened them to share the message

Whatever happens in life can serve to advance the gospel when we are living by faith



2010-03-13 - To Live is Christ - No One Else Like Him
Those with with the greatest impact are not the ones you expect
Romans centurion - Matthew 8:5-10
Canaanite woman - Matthew 15:21-28

Timothy struggled with illness and fear made quite an impression on Paul
  • He looked out for the interest of others
  • He lived out the message
  • He knew what it meant to go to the cross
  • He was convinced that he was more alive when he was dead
  • He discipleship was a matter of practice
  • He had no trouble seeing the mission of Jesus
  • He did not run aimlessly but purposeful, selfless, and dedicated servant of Jesus
How do Timothys come about?
  • They study to become like this
  • They are discipled to become like this
  • They do whatever it takes
God uses them to bless the world

2010-04-01 - Life to the Full - Dead or Alive? (part 1)
When we show favoritism, we are unlike God - James 2:1-4

You probably has heard that we should not judge
Judging is a merely drawing a conclusion on evidence

There are certain kinds of judging that are prohibited or discouraged:
  • Hypocritical judging - Romans 2:1
  • Superficial judging - John 7:24
  • Judgment in disputable matters - Romans 14:1
  • Analyzing another's motives - 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
  • Judging someone to be inferior to you - James 2:3-4
  • Grumbling against a brother - James 5:9


2010-05-16 - Desire's Journey - Battle Between Us
What causes fights? Isn't it the evil desires within you? - James 4:1-2

The life we want is so far from the life we truly want.
For longing to be filled - we need the cooperation of others
We need others, it is part of our design
Very few of our desire are self-fulfilling

The world is indifferent to our desire
We weren't made to be ignored
We pretend it does not matter - it is doing damage to our souls

Resentment - simmering anger at our blocked desires
We pretend we have rise above it

2010-05-20 - Desire's Journey - Life to the Fullest
I have come so you may have life to the full - John 10:10

Not: "I have come to exhaust you with long list of demands"
Not only is eternal life duration but quality

In him was life and that life was the light of men - John 1:4
People who aren't very good with keeping with a program are very aware of their soul's deep thirst for Jesus' message

They tear off roofs
The trample each other to get closer to him

Have you seen anyone acting like this in order to join a church committee or to hear a sermon about a set of rules to follow?

People act like this when it is a matter of life and death
When life is at stake, human desire goes into desperation mode

Pharisees missed the boat on this one
Hearts were hardened by the very law they claimed would bring them life
They killed their souls' thirst with duty and knowledge

2010-05-22 - Desire's Journey - Goodness

Does Christianity condemn desire? Like the Puritans

It is not a matter of desire is good or not - it is what we do with it
Christianity recognizes that desire has gone mad within us but not seeking to fix the problem by killing our desire

Something has gone wrong
God gives us commands for our own good
The point is not the law but joy

Faith on its way to maturity moves from duty to delight
If the goal is to move from delight to duty, we are going backwards and regressing

Prodigal son
Younger son desire get him into trouble
Father's desire for the lost boy is deep
He is grateful just to have his son home again
Older brother lived his entire life under duty and obligation - dealt with his sinful nature by killing desire
THose who kill desire are not the ones who experience God's embrace



2010-06-01 - Desire's Journey - Futility and Failure

Men's punishment and curse hits man where it hurts most - in the field - Genesis 3:17-19

We drawn our sense of worth from work
Men generally don't talk about relationship as they do achievements

Man's deepest desire always relates to his strength
No matter how much a man achieves, it is never enough

Man's worst fear is not meaursing up
In some cases failure can be debilitating for life



2010-06-02 - Desire's Journey - Loneliness and Heartache

Even received a different curse from God - Genesis 3:16
It hits where it matters most - in her relationships
The curse every woman knows the reality of loneliness and heartache

More talk amoug women revolves more about relationships than work
Imposters pretend they do not need love

The worst fear of a women is abandonment

Some men refuse to play the man for fear of failing
Some women shun imtimacy in fear of rejection



2010-06-03 - Desire's Journey - Hardest Lesson to Learn

God promises evern man futility and failure
God guarantees every woman relational heartache and loneliness

We spend much of our time attempting to end these curses
We say, "I can make it work" and "I won't do what they did, I will overcome"

It can not be done
No matter how hard we try or have a clever plan - we can not arrange the life we desire

Will life ever be what I so deeply want it to be?

We must have life - we can not arrange for it

People avoid the lesson:

  • Changing jobs
  • Changing mates
  • Changing direction in life

...rather than facing the truth - Isaiah 57:10

Some have seen that this will not work, yet they have faded into resignation, bitterness or dispair
They take their revenge on God by killing their desire

How do we accept that it can't be done with an open heart?
How do we sustain desire in the face of failure and loneilness.... Hope



2010-07-19 - Desire's Journey - Deeper Desire (part 6)
From the section about Jesus' trial in the dessert

2. Trail comes after we determine not to take matters into our own hands

By refusing to turn stones into bread, Jesus choose to trust God
Satan tries to attack our sense of God's heart toward us
If our thoughts are: "Do I really have to wait that long? Do you care me, God?" - Satan will jump all over this

Jesus came to answer once and for all our question: "Do you love me?"
We can stand firm on the ground of the cross against the doubt
We don't need for God to prove his love for us - he has at the cross

2010-07-23 - Desire's Journey - The Heart's Healer
Worship is the act of the abandoned heart adoring its God
It is the union we crave and what we need

Worship occurs when we say to God from our hearts, "You are my One whom I desire"

In Psalms - no matter where the poet begins, he always ends in worship
It is no coincidence, where our journey must lead

Our only hope for rest from our craving of our desire is in God and us united with him

2010-08-09 - Waking Dead - The Heart's Eyes

Do not lose heart, fix our eyes on what is unseen - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

We are losing heart, all of us, daily

Someone was trying to shutdown Paul during his ministry - 2 Corinthians 11:23-27
He was looking at what he could not see

Life is an illustion - there is a way of looking at life and be able to live from the heart no matter what
How? By seeing with the eyes of the heart - Ephesians 1:18

Jesus spoke in parables to our hearts:

  • A sower went out to sow some seed
  • A man fell into the hands of robbers
  • Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one
  • There were ten virgins with ten lamps

Jesus spoke in a way that will get past all intellectual defenses
Civil War: Fought between 1861 to 1865 vs stories of the lives lost during that time

When you tell a story, you speak to the heart



2010-09-02 - Waking Dead - Ask God
  • Peter was one of Jesus' best friends
  • Went to see the Transfiguration (with James and John)
  • He came along to see Christ raise Jarorus' daughter from the dead
  • Jesus went to Peter in the garden of Gethsemane for strength (but failed)
Peter had a special place in Jesus' heart
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"
  • Guilt would have made it had to pray
  • Made it more difficult to tell others about Jesus
He want truth in our inter most being - so he has to take us to our inter most being

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

2010-09-08 - 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.
  • "Don't ever trust anyone"
  • "Your heart is bad, never show it to anyone"
  • "You are dirty and will never get free"
We command our enemy to flee - James 4:7

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

2010-09-11 - Waking Dead - Spiritual Warfare (part 3)
Satan is the Father of Lies - John 8:44
His first attack on the human race was to lie to Adam and Eve
He lied about God and where life was found

He hoping we buy into whatever he is saying
The evil one is still lying to us and is seeking our agreement every day

Try to hold on to this and see much accusation you live under
Your heart is good
Your heart matters to God

We must make no agreement with him
Most of the time we don't recognize the attack because we do not live as though we are at war
We assume these impressions are our own

Any movement toward freedom, life, God, or others will be opposed
Marriage, friendship, beauty, rest - the thief wants it all

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

2010-09-29 - Contagious Christian - People Matter (part 1)
We might like the idea of having a spiritual impact on others, we won't take decisive action unless we raise our motivation level
The best way to do this is to have God's perspective on the matter

1. The way things are - Science
Anthropic principle - when we look at the world around us, the universe was somehow designed to support and nourish human life
  • Raise or lower the universe's rate of expansion by one part in a million, - it rules out the possibility of life
  • If the average distance between star was any greater, the planets would not have formed; any smaller, the planets orbits for life would not have occurred
  • The ratio of carbon and oxygen was different, we could not breath the air
  • Change the tilt of the earth's axis slightly, we would freeze and burn up
  • Any change in the distance from the sun or speed of rotation of the earth would result in unlivable temperature changes
Someone must have gone to a lot of effort to make things just right
We matter to God

2. The way things ought to be - Business
Business is turning to the "upside-down" approached
They refocus on they are there - to server their customers

Focus must be outside the church as well
It is easy to get entangled and ensnared in internal issues in our church that it is hard to remember the primary reason we remain on this planet - to reach out to other people

If we matter to God, then they'd better matter to us too

2010-09-30 - Contagious Christian - People Matter (part 2)

Jesus focused on a search for the Lost and so they could be Found

The Lost Coin - vital to the woman's survival
The Lost Sheep - represented a significant part of his livelihood
The Lost Son - wayward son who mattered greatly to his father

Each one - Something of great value was missing, something that really mattered

It also make Jesus so upset the religious leaders were discussing who matters to God who does not

When we realize how much God cares about people, we helps us to care for them too

It is worth the effort - what is missing was important enough to warrant an all-out search

Retrievals results in rejoicing

The woman found the coin and threw a party
The shepherd retrieved the sheep and threw a party
The son came home and the father threw the biggest party of all

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents - Luke 15:10

 

 



2010-10-29 - Contagious Christian - Opportunities in Relationships
Developing friendships takes time and effort
We try to short-circuit the process sometimes by using the reason of there are too many people to reach

We are wise to start relationships on a natural, nonthreatening grounds
Then later, in the context of the relationship open up conversations to spiritual issues

Most of His interactions with the religious establishment involved challenging their attitudes

Jesus spent the majority of His time with those outside the religious establishment
He rubbed shoulders with tax collectors (thieves in that day), prostitutes, those with low spiritual reprobates
Because they mattered to Him and He wanted to lead them to the family of God
We love Him because He loved us first
Paul - "I have become all things to all men so I might same some" - 1 Corinthians 9:22



2010-11-02 - Contagious Christian - Throwing a Matthew Party

Throwing your own Matthew party fulfills a modest purposes

  • To provide a neutral setting where Christians can make a low-key contact with irreligious people
  • To strengthening existing relationships as well as cultivating new ones
  • To plant some spiritual seeds and strike up conversations about matters of faith

Good examples of Matthew parties:

  • Holiday parties
  • Events for kids on the block
  • Summer BBQs

Another misconception is that we have add a lot of new activities to our schedules

Examples of everyday activities to get people involved in:

  • Sharing a meal
  • Watching a game
  • Sporting activities
  • Babysitting and work exchanges

 



2010-11-03 - Contagious Christian - Finding the Approach
Besides talking to people you are ready know try contacting people you used to know
The curiosity factor comes into play
  • Because you contacted them out of blue
  • Both of you want to see all the changes that have happened since you last saw them
Call them out of curiosity and call them into fun
In the process, prayerfully watch for opportunities to share the way God has changed your life

There are also many opportunities where there people you would like to know
We all go to gas stations, stores, restaurants
With a little forethought, these errands can be turned into evangelistic opportunities
Change your thinking about the way you look at the employee who are serving you
These are people who matter to God and put in your path for you to meet
When we approach people with this attitude, with concern and respect - it is easy to get on a first name basis with them

2010-11-04 - Contagious Christian - The Peter Approach
Peter was ready-aim-fire kind of guy
He was unhesitant and full force
When Jesus ask who he way, he gave an an immediate answer - Matthew 16:15-16
And he later even challenged Jesus' stated mission head on - can you imagine try to correct the Son of God?

He wanted to be close to Jesus no matter what
Tried to walk on water
When enemies came Peter was ready to cut off their heads

He was direct, bold and right to the point
He was a perfect fit for Pentecost in Acts 2 - some one unafraid to take a stand about the crucifixion of Jesus

Some people in the world need a Peter in their lives
They won't come to Christ otherwise - they need someone who won't beat around the bush and helps them clarify/challenge about the truth of Christ

2010-11-12 - Contagious Christian - Direct Method
The method does not wait for opportunities to come about but creates them
Basic it is you raising a spiritual topic and then see if the person is interested in talking about it
Not forcing a person but opening wide a door for a person to walk through

Example - If you would ever like to know the difference believe religion and Christianity and religion. Just let me know. I would be happy to talk about it with you
It is a modern day way Jesus approached a woman in John 4.
Not pressuring or forcing it on them but merely checking to see if they are interested

Other way to approach people using the direct method of creating spiritual conversations:
  • "How is it going?" then ask how is it going
  • "I'm curious, do you ever think about spiritual matters?"
  • "Who, in your opinion, is Jesus Christ?"
  • "What is your spiritual background?"
  • "Do you ever wonder what happens to us when we die?"
  • "What do you think a real Christian is?"
  • "Where are you heading in your spiritual journey?"


2010-11-18 - Contagious Christian - Making the Message Clear (part III)
The Bridge Illustration



  • He made us
  • We matter to God
  • He wants to have a relationship with us
  • We rebelled against God
  • Our sins separate us from Him
  • Attempts to reach Him fall short - Romans 3:23
  • Our sins desire death - Romans 6:23
  • There is much trouble apart from God - people need to understand their lostness
  • Christ died so we have relationship restored - 1 Peter 3:18
A common response is to go back and think about it for a while
Other times God has prepared their hearts through someone else
We need to give them this freedom

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
  • He created us in his own image - Genesis 1:27
  • Satan with sin, drove a wedge between us and God
  • Sin destroyed our relationship with God and one another - Isaiah 59:1-2
  • He grieved that he had made man - Genesis 6:6

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

2010-11-29 - Trusting God - Samuel
Preached by Rob Milner

Read 1 Samuel 13

Following God's instruction is the key to our success

1 Samuel 10:8 - Go to Gilgal and wait for 7 days and then we will sacrifice
Samuel was the judge before their were kings

Saul waited for 7 days but did not wait to do the burnt offerings
He did not follow God's instructions exactly
How long before we stop waiting?

Ever wanted to take matters into our own hands?
There is nothing as good as trusting and then God fulfilling his promise

There are two battles:
  • Battle between good and evil
  • Battle between faith and action
James 2:18-24
  • v22 - Faith and works - work together
  • Faith without deeds is dead
  • Where am I not following exactly?
  • What am I not submitting to God's will?

James 4:7-8 - God calls us to submit to him fully

Trust in God and not your situation

1 Samuel 13:11-12 - Saul doubted that Samuel was coming

James 1:5-8 - we should believe and not doubt

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in God and not on one's own understanding
Depending on one's own understanding creates:

  • Pride
  • Controlling person
  • Self-reliant
  • Unreliable - allows our situations to change us
  • Lose of conviction
Psalms 118:8 - Better to rely on God than man

Protect your blacksmiths or you will be found defenseless

1 Samuel 13:19-21
What are the blacksmiths of our lives?
  • Knowledge of the Bible
  • Daily prayer/walk with God
  • Brotherly fellowship


2010-12-28 - Repentance (part II)

Ephesians 4:20-24.

  • Repentance is turning from an old life to a new one.
    • Negatively, what must be “taken off”?
    • Positively, what is the new attitude to be embraced?
  • What is “put on” in place of the “old self”?
  • Repentance orients us toward God and the true life and purpose we were created for: to become like him in righteousness and holiness.
  • What do you need to “take off” and “put on”?

2 Corinthians 7:8-11.

  • What is the difference between “worldly sorrow” and “godly sorrow?”
  • What kinds of attitudes characterize godly sorrow?
  • Have you previously confused worldly sorrow with true repentance?
  • We must consider the destructive consequences of our sin and what our sin cost God, because only godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation.
  • Repentance is above all a matter of heart.

Luke 15:11-32 or Luke 19:1-10

  • Examples of heartfelt repentance.
  • What kind of fruit did their repentance produce?
  • How did they feel after repenting? How did God feel?
  • What will repentance look like for you?


2011-01-30 - Followup - Servant (part I)
Great Servant - Mark 10:41-45

1. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be great
Jesus didn’t confront their desire to be great, only their method
2. Greatness comes through being a servant
Your greatness in the Kingdom is only limited by your willingness to be a slave to all!

Selfless Servant - Philippians 2:5-7


1. Jesus set the pace for us by becoming a servant. He made himself nothing and had a lot further to go to become nothing than we do!

Questions
  • What are you making of yourself?
  • How much does “self” matter to you?
  • How much does “self” influence your daily decision?
2. Self-denial is the essence of service
Luke 9:23 - Must deny self daily - deny self = denying feelings


2011-08-04 - Daughter Needs - Mr. Success (part II)
We often set high achievements goals that takes away from our family
Excuses often made:
  • It is just a temporary job that is away from home
  • It does not matter if I spend a lot of time at my job
  • I will make this much, then I will have more time to spend
  • Organizing this church event won't take that much time
We need to think through the implications of our vows - think how it will impact our daughters
You may be sacrificing your daughter by saying yes to too many "good" projects even if they are "spiritual"

Consider your plans' impact to your family before you move forward with them - Luke 14:28-30

2011-08-06 - Daughter Needs - Sugar Daddy
It is the Father's duty to provide for the material needs - 1 Timothy 5:8
But if all we do as fathers i provide, we will miss other important parental responsibilities

A Sugar daddy is the one who spares no expense to but her toys and gifts
Her affection is his reward - likes the rush of her admiration and appreciation
Many times it comes from guilt after having spent too many hours on the job
Also comes from our emotional inability to give ourselves to our daughter

Daughters can begin to believe that the most important things in life are financial
They say "It is important to daddy, I like material things too"

Matter if adjusting our priorities
If she sees that he really values his relationship with her - she will value relationships
Give yourself to your daughter and you will teach her the value of real love

2011-08-26 - Fearing God - Mystery Too High
God work contrary to how we would
God wisdom is infinite; ours in finite
We tend to assume we would understand if God would just explain
We don't believe that "his understanding no one can fathom - Isiah 40:28

On the road to Emmaus, they said "they hoped Jesus was the one going to redeem Israel - Luke 24:21
They did not understand what God was doing even doing even as it was unfolding

Unexplained setback may never be understood
Paul planned to sail to Rome and Spain but ended up in jail for 2 years - Acts 24:27

Humility should be a hallmark those who fear God
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me - Psalms 131:1


2011-10-01 - Genesis 1 - Creation & Recreation

Summary

God created the heavens, the earth and everything that lives. He made humankind in his image and gave them charge over the earth.

Observations

Genesis 1:1 - the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep,
Without God we formless, unfocused, and empty. We try to create our own heaven-on-earth but never succeed without him. We try to "eat" junk food to fill us up but all they contain is empty calories. Without God there is no light and only darkness. Without light, we do not know what is going on around us nor what direction to go.

Genesis 1:4 - separated the light from the darkness.
It is important to understand that light and darkness were separated from the beginning. They can not both exist in the same location. It is even more important find out with side you are on.

Genesis 1:16 - He made the stars also.
Oh, by the way, God created all the countless numbers of stars, planets, galaxies, and other objects of the universe. So much matter that we can not even begin to see with a telescope. But God does not focus on matter, he focuses on what matters. The Bible is focused on God and his relationship with mankind. Like Jesus' miracles described in [John 20:30], the amount of God's acts are too great to be counted. Can you image the amount of books that could be written about what God created?

Genesis 1:26 - so they may rule
God entrust us to rule over all all other living things. But many we times we are ruled by our sinful natures. If we can not even control ourselves, how can we "rule" over other things?

Genesis 1:27 - God created humankind in his own image
Sometimes we mistake us being an exact copy of God verses a reflection of God. We should be a photo copy and not try to replace God in our lives. We must be become more reflective of God like a mirror. Constantly cleaning off the smudges of sin with the blood of Jesus.

Personal Application

God 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.



2011-10-04 - Genesis 4 - Cain Murders Abel

Summary

Eve's sons made offerings to God. Only Abel's was acceptable, so Cain killed him. Abel's blood cried out and God sent Cain away.

Observations

Genesis 4:7 - if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door
The sins of omission are very related to the sins of commission. If you are sitting on the sidelines, you have time (maybe considered laziness) and you will give Satan time to put all sorts of temptations in your head. A lazy person bring is a good friend to the evil one and is considered a brother [Proverbs 18:9].

Genesis 4:9 - Am I my brother's keeper?
The Christian walk is more than God and us. It is also the people around us. We learn about relationships from others. We learn about ourselves and get feedback on how we are doing - and give it as well.  Without others we would have been pointed the way to God and we could not reach  others with the gospel.

Genesis 4:12 - You will be a restless wanderer on the earth
Without God in our lives, we are a restless wander. Our thoughts, emotions, and desires become our direction and we walk aimlessly - not knowing where we are, where we came from, or where we are going.

Genesis 4:26 - At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD
Since the beginning of time men began call for for God. It is built into the nature of our being. Time after time he has answered no matter how far away we go. But when he calls for us, will be answer? Will we let it go to voicemail? Are we screening our calls from Him and only answer the calls that are easy to take?

Personal Application

I wonder sometimes if I have my "ringer" loud enough for me to hear when God calls. A lot of times I look back on important events in my life and realize that I missed another lesson God was trying to teach me but I was not listening. I feel embarrassed  that I was so selfish during that times. I want to listen voice from God more intensely.



2011-10-08 - Genesis 8 - The Flood (part III)

Summary

The flood abated. Noah sent out a raven and two doves. When the earth was dry God called them all out of the ark. Noah built an altar.

Observations

Genesis 8:1 - But God remembered Noah
God does not forget us. No matter how much He has going on, we are in the forefront of his mind. Noah may have been felt like he was all alone in an endless sea of water but this was not the case. We may also feel this way sometimes but God is always right there with us [Joshua 1:5].

Genesis 8:20 - Then Noah built an altar to the LORD
What is the first thing Noah does when Noah gets off an ark he has been on for about a year? Build an alter for the Lord. Would we do the same thing? DO we do the same thing. When we have face a prolonged trial and it finally ends, we go out and celebrate and forget the Lord? Or do take time to truly thank him for helping us through? Like God remembered Noah, Noah also remembered the Lord.

Genesis 8:21 - never again will I destroy all living creatures
God's promised that He will never destroy all living creatures again. Many worry about this through scientific studies or other ideas come up with ways the earth will be destroyed because of what man does. Whether that is true or not is not the point but we do know that God will not be the one doing it. When God promises something it happens.

Personal Application

I seem to forget the lessons of difficult times as soon as the pain has lifted. We go through tough times so our character can mature and grow but will I have to go through the same lessons again to learn the same lessons. I want to be grateful for God's discipline (does not come naturally) and change my character accordingly. God discipline the ones he loves, I need to remember why He is doing it [Hebrews 12:6].



2011-10-22 - Mind Change - God will provide
God will provide

No matter what the need. He cares.
He allows us to have needs.

He sees our needs.
He meets them all.

Isaiah 58:11 - He will give you renewed strength
Matthew 6:31-32 - Father knows that you need them
Philippians 4:19 - God will supply your every need


2011-11-18 - Thankfulness
Thankfulness

Colossians 1:3,10-12, 2:6-7, 3:15, 17, 4:2
 - In one letter we are instructed SEVEN times to be thankful people. Pretty important

CHART

Philippians 4:10-13 ~ Paul did not start out this way
  • Paul learned thankfulness no matter what your circumstances
  • Without doubt the most valuable secret in life.
  • How can we learn to be thankful?
3 Keys:

1. Remember the past.

    Ephesians 2:1-10 ~ Remember how you used to live. 
  • Remember that you were an object of wrath and on the path to hell.
  • Think how fortunate you are to be in God's grace and on the road to heaven.
  • Were would you be today without God's grace?
2. New thinking in the present

    Serve with a grateful heart
    Matthew 6:1-4 ~ Remember it is more blessed to give than receive.
  • Learn to enjoy serving God and His people.
  • Don't look for recognition.
  • Old life hide sin, new life hide good
    Trust God in everything
    Romans 8:28  ~ God works out EVERYTHING for the good of those who love him.
    Do you believe this ?

3. Think toward the future.


    Philippians 4:2-8 ~ You name is written in the book of life.
  • What do you see?
    • Do not be anxious about anything - the Lord is near.
    • Constantly think about GOOD, NOBLE, HONOURABLE and PURE things. (Don't allow the devil to pollute your mind).
    • Rejoice in the Lord always.


2011-12-09 - Day 6 - Too Good to Keep
2 Kings 7:3-11
  1. How were you starving and without hope like the 4 lepers before being baptized?
  2. How is the kingdom of God like an unlimited feast?
  3. How does verse 9 apply to being a disciple? Do you have the same attitude?
Romans 10:1-4;14-21
  1. Do you feel like Paul does about the lost?
  2. Who does God send to preach?
  3. Will everyone accept the good news? Why?
  4. Why is it important to preach no matter what response you receive?
~Psalms 116:1-14 - How can you repay the Lord for all his goodness to you?

Application: Set a "goal of faith" for yourself in evangelism today. Refuse to be discouraged!

2011-12-31 - Day 28 - Disputable Matters
Romans 14:1-8
  1. What are some disputable matters among Christians today? (dress, taste in music, food and drink)
  2. What should your attitude be toward those who see these things differently?
Romans 14:16-23
  1. What does God care about the most?
  2. Are you doing anything that could cause others to stumble?
  3. What does verse 23 mean?
  4. Do you feel good about the way you are living now?
Matthew 11:18-19
  1. Why did the people criticize Jesus and John the Baptist?
  2. Why do you think they were so different yet both were pleasing God?
Application: Do you have questions about what is right and wrong for a Christian? Find out from a mature disciple whether these are disputable matters and come to your decisions.

2012-01-15 - Ministry - The Generator of Power
John 15:1-7; Mt 7:7-12; Luke 18:1-8

Prayer generates the power in a disciple's life. Without prayer, there is no power, no relationship with God, and no expectation of miracles. Prayer connects us to God's heart and reveals to us God's will. We can be afraid to pray because we think God will test us by not answering our prayers. James chapter 1 tells us that trials test our faith not unanswered prayer. We begin to pray with unbelief in our hearts and no expectation of answered prayer in our minds. God does not always answer when WE want Him to but He will answer. It is up to us to persevere and mature long enough to receive the answer. God desires to give us whatever we wish as long as we remain in relationship with Him. God is a merciful and loving God. He wants to bless us and encourage us. Generations of powerful men and women have walked before us in real relationship with God. They witnessed incredible answers to prayer. God has not changed since then. He is willing to answer; are you willing to pray?

Pray with Passion
Pray with Expectation
Pray with Specificity
Pray with Boldness
Pray with Perseverance

What three things will you pray about until they are answered, no matter how long it takes?

2012-01-25 - Ministry - Jesus' Rescue Mission
Matthew 18:10-14 (Luke 15:3-10)

It is comforting to know we serve a God who is not only all-powerful and all-knowing, but also all-loving. Sometimes the spiritual battle gets so intense that we wonder if God really cares. This passage proves how deeply God cares about each individual "sheep". How we do spiritually does matter to God. He does not want any of his disciples to wander off and fall away.

Jesus is the perfect shepherd who will do whatever it takes to go after the one lost sheep. Each soul matters to God. Jesus' heart is to keep on searching, keep on hoping, and keep on loving until the sheep is found and returns home. We need to take on Jesus' heart and persevere in rescuing those who have given up on their relationship with God. Satan wants us to get hurt, get bitter and angry instead of being compassionate and determined to help those who have lost faith. Let's be inspired by Jesus' unfailing love and decide to be part of Jesus' rescue team!

Questions:
  • What is your attitude towards those who have fallen away from God?
  • When was the last time you reached out to someone who has stopped being a part of the fellowship?
Practical: Choose one person who you can rescue and encourage today. Make a card ; call them and invite them over for dinner; give them a gift of their "favorite."

2012-01-28 - Ministry - Compromise or Conviction?
John 6: 60-69; Luke 9: 57-62; Luke 14:25-33;Matt. 18:5-9

How many times do we face the decision to compromise our faith just to win the approval of people around us or to be so desperately accepted? We know we should be strong, we know we should have deep convictions and take a stand for God, but we give into the peer pressure at school, work, and the people-pleasing non-conflict avoiding sinful nature inside all of us! We want to be liked! We want to avoid confrontation, conflict, and courageously calling others out of sin! Jesus loved God and others so much he was willing to tell the truth no matter how it made someone feel! He preached what people needed to hear and not what they wanted to hear! He laid out the hard teachings with convictions not with apologies! Even when disciples decided to leave and no longer follow him, he did not compromise the truth! He let them leave and challenged others,"do you want to leave to?"

Are you ready to die to compromise?
What are the areas where you compromise your faith?

Identify two areas that you consistently compromise in either at work, home or on campus? How often do you compromise?

Share with your spouse, friends or d-group what you give-in to and your desire to want to change.

2012-02-13 - Ministry - Are You Willing to Keep Praying?
Luke 18:1-8

Jesus tells this parable to show us something. The scriptures even go so far as to tell us exactly what that something is that we should always pray and not give up. Have you ever decided to pray about a specific situation and not stopped until it has changed? What if it took a year to change? Five years? Ten years? Twenty years? Jesus says to never give up! Too often we get discouraged and want to quit-even on God-because something doesn't change. Maybe we haven't been fruitful for a while or we don't have a dating relationship yet. Maybe things have not changed in our marriage fast enough or our job situation is still not working out. Maybe we are just not changing our hearts the way we should. The answer is not to give up but to keep on praying. Jesus ends the parable questioning whether there would still be faith on earth when he returns. Our lack of prayer is a sign of a lack of faith! To keep praying and not give up is a sign of great faith.

Write down three things you have quit praying about and recommit yourself to be faithful in prayer. Decide to trust.

God and be in the kingdom for the long haul-no matter how many decades of prayer it takes!!

2012-02-14 - Fear of Failure - If You Love, You Cannot Fail
Nic Thompson, San Francisco Church of Christ

1 Corinthians 13

Love never fails. So if we love, we won't either, no matter what our circumstances may be. Love is the reason Jesus lived and died on earth for you and me. Love is the gift that God gave us through his Son. We know that we are becoming like Jesus when we have love for one another. Love is not just a warm feeling, it is the qualities that Paul lists in 1 Corinthians 13. How does your heart measure up? Do you love the truth, do you put others first? Read through the list and see how you have demonstrated these qualities in the last 48 hours. Ask someone who knows you if they agree with your assessment!

Decisions:
  • Choose one characteristic of love and practice it each day.
  • Ask someone how to become more loving.
  • Demonstrate my love by serving someone today.


2012-02-24 - Fear of Failure - When We Don't Meet Expectations
by Maritza Kim - Ministry Intern: San Francisco Church of Christ

Jeremiah 1:4-10

To me, "failure" has meant not living up to expectations--either what I expect of myself or what others expect of me. In my pride, I get angry when my weakness is exposed, and I see how ill equipped I am to face a certain task or spiritual battle. Instead of trusting in God and turning to him to strengthen me, give me wisdom, and make me able, I get a quitter's mentality. I decide that because I am not already able, I will take myself out so I no longer have to face my failure. I decide to take the easy road, where I can be "successful" and no longer feel the pressure to change the
core sin in my character.

In this scripture, I learn that God has had a destiny for our lives. God has known me since 'before I was in the womb.' He knows the stuff I'm made of. He knows what I am weak in and what I can and can't do. Yet he has still called me to serve him in awesome ways, and to do it with all my heart. He has appointed me to serve him, and that needs to be my focus. If I am focused on my daily relationship with him, get humble and open about my failures, and if I serve him with all my heart, he will fulfill the destiny he has for my life!

Three Decisions I've Made
  • Admit my sin and weaknesses
  • Ask for help from God and others
  • Commit myself to serving God, no matter my shortcomings


2012-03-18 - Renewing of your Mind (part I)

Romans 12:1-2 - renewing of your mind

Satan is the Father of lies - John 8

Love the checklist - but it is a matter of belief

Don't follow because we don't believe

We learn from the past how we did not follow, but it is much better to learn in the present with His Word

A lie may contain some truth or can by applied in some - Satan can use scripture too

Looking back my actions make no sense / or why i struggled? 3 failures and a struggle

1. Hiding the cookies - Matthew 6:25-27

Lie: If I give, I will run out for myself
Truth: God/Parents gives good gifts to us; we need to trust



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?

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