2008-03-06 - Power of Gratitude - Here I Raise My Ebenezer Miraculous storm, allowing the Israelites to rout the Philistines (erecting the monument - Ebenezer) - 1 Samuel 4:1 Crossing the Jordan and God had them setup a memorial of twelve stones - Joshua 4:21-22 We all need those landmarks etched in our memories to remind us of what God has done in our lives Disciples need reminders:
Job's understood life was short:
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2008-03-13 - Be Still My Soul - Times of Fasting What is fasting? - voluntary abstinence from food in order to draw near to God Fasting - frequently practiced by those who have walked closely with God:
Jesus warned about the mere appearance of fasting - Matthew 6:16-18 Advice
A "world fast" is an idea to remove yourself from movies, sports, television, newpaper, other outside info Reason to fast:
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2008-03-28 - Be Still My Soul - Postures Prayer is not only for our minds and hearts, but our bodies Types of prayer postures: Kneeling
Prostrate
Out loud and silently - Esther 4:1, Hebrews 5:7, James 4:7-9 / 1 Samuel 1:13 If prayers are not offered from a variety of postures then we are not praying as we ought We can not separate our bodies from our hearts Author has developed the ability to pray with great concentration and intimacy while running |
2008-04-02 - Falling in Love with God - Bitterness An emotional response (along with fear) that succeed at undermining our love for God A result of an uncard-for emotional wound Matthew 18:15-17 - can resolve most issues Examples
Bitterness will actively oppose any attempt to restore our love for God Bitter or better - a channel of curses or blessings Disciples need Jesus' example to overcome the pain of the cross Jesus wants us to have his attitude toward suffering
Bible command us to get rid of all bitterness
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2008-04-07 - Falling in Love with God - Dashed Hopes We had hoped to become leaders We had hoped not to move again We had hoped that people would understand our needs We had hoped overcome sins We had hoped husband or wife would make changes On the road to Emmaus - they did not see Jesus in their walk until Jesus' lit a fire under them It is not until lost it all - that we will listen to God David (1 Samuel 18-22)
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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 |
2008-12-28 - 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
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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 |
2009-01-13 - Raising Awesome Kids - Openness Instead, speak the truth in love - Ephesians 4:15 An open family is a close family Children should believe that we care enough to give them our full attention; will not fly off the handle Openness is not limited to parents and children - includes the children with one another King Saul - filled with jealousy and envy and held in his feelings Parent should be concerned for a child that holds everything in |
2009-11-19 - Repentance - Its Time To Go Home (part 1) Psalms 51 – has become an anthem of repentance for generations David worldly sorrow: 2 Samuel 12: V9 – why have you despised the word of the lord? How to repent? – Consider what God does Establishes foundation of grace and kindness – 2 Samuel 12:7-8 Provides role models – 2 Samuel 11:11 Sends prophets – 2 Samuel 12:1 Creativity opens our eyes – 2 Samuel 12:5-6 Exposes and Convicts – 2 Samuel 12:7 |
2010-02-23 - One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 3) Examples of Conflict in the Bible Euodia and Syntyche - Philippians 4:2-3 1. Conflict happens - normal part of a relationship 2. The goal is to agree 3. We may need help from a third party David and the jealous king Saul - 1 Samuel 24:8-22 David's conduct with Saul was above reproach; He did everything he could to work things out If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people - Romans 12:18 There are things that depend on us and others that are out of our conotrl |
2010-05-02 - Renewing Your Spiritual Passion for God (part 1) Preached by Richard Dixson (1997-05-18) 1 Samuel 16:7
Psalms 51:4-9
Psalms 63:2-4 - Remember God's Power Psalms 63:6-7 - The night bed and protection from God Psalms 91:4 - We are being attacked all the time Psalms 63:8 - Confidence - God holds us up |
2010-05-06 - Top Ten of Giving Preached by unknown - 2004-03-21 1. Gave his one and only - John 3:16 2. He became poor for us - 2 Corinthians 8:9 3. Many thanks to God - 2 Corinthians 9:11 4. God loves a cheerful giver- 2 Corinthians 9:7 5. More than enough - Exodus 35:1-36:7 6. Burnt offering worth nothing - 2 Samuel 24:18 7. Rich generosity - 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 8. All she had to live on - Mark 12:41-44 9. It is more blessed to give than receive - Acts 20:35 10. Test me in this - Malachi 3:6-12 |
2010-06-18 - All or Nothing (part 1) Preached by Curt Simmons on 2002-08-28 Old Testament1 Samuel 15:1-35
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2010-08-14 - Waking Dead - Heart is Central The heart is central The heart is addressed in the Bible more than any other topic Love the Lord your God with all your heart - Deuteronomy 6:5 Trust in the Lord with all of your heart - Proverbs 3:5 The heart can be:
The heart can be unpredictable but it is central to our being The heart answers a lot of questions:
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2010-09-01 - Waking Dead - Our Story (part 2) The enemy is after us from the beginning Joseph stands out from his brothers Instead of celebrating his glory, his brothers want to destroy it The worst blows typically come from family David full of faith and courage when he sees that on one will take on Goliath His older cowardly brother is exposed by David's bravery Older brother - "I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is" - 1 Samuel 17:28 The worst blows come from those who know us well Even Jesus' brothers did not believe in him - John 7:5 His family came to bring him home because they think he has lost it - Luke 8:20 Sometimes the very thing that someone loves to do is the thing God has given them as a source of celebration We should check to see this is true before we turn it into shame How long will you turn my glory into shame - Psalms 4:2 What have you believed about your heart over the years? |
2010-10-15 - Giving (Part I)
QUESTIONS
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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:
James 4:7-8 - God calls us to submit to him fully Trust in God and not your situation
Protect your blacksmiths or you will be found defenseless 1 Samuel 13:19-21 What are the blacksmiths of our lives?
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2011-05-16 - Names of Satan (part III) Studying Satan's names:
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2011-08-25 - Fearing God - His Unseen Hand God's wisdom is not apparent to us None had the intention of caring out God's plan:
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2012-02-19 - Fear of Failure - God Is Still With Us When We Fail by Julie Clark, San Francisco Church of Christ 2 Samuel 14:14 So many times in my life I feel like I am all alone, facing failure after failure by myself. What has given me hope and shown me that "failure is not fatal" is the fact that God is always working, putting people in my life, devising ways to help me stay strong. We are not alone! God is always working on our behalf.
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2012-10-29 - The Lost Life of the Heart Our years can be consumed with service and business But somewhere out there someone is saying, "There is something more" We just assume it is our imagination Then it speaks again, "Aren't you thirsty? There is something missing" This feeling might feel disloyal to our routine and against the program we are following We try to silence the voice with outward activity and redoubling our Christian service You long to be in a love affair, an adventure with God. You were made for something more. Samuel heard the voice of God calling to him in the night - 1 Samuel 3:4 It took him three time before he realized it was God Rather than ignoring the voice, Samuel finally listed In our lives, we can become frustrated by our heart's continuing sabotage of a dutiful Christian life But sometime at night, when our defenses are down, we still hear him calling us In the morning, activities scream for our attention and think we have won the battle of the "flesh" Satan loves to turn the truth upside down We try to lose ourselves in:
We create distance between ourselves and others; even distance between ourselves and our own heart... |
2013-01-25 - Prayer of the Righeous - God is a Consuming Fire (part III) When we pray, let us give God the respect he deserves A holy God requires us to be righteous
All the prayer in the world will not get through to God if it is not uttered from a pure heart
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2013-06-27 - Why we need men of resolution (part IV) Our generation desperately needs courageous men to step up.
When strong men work together, they can accomplish amazing things. David armies came together to face enemies amid seemingly impossible odds. Remember one immovable, unconditional truth: we have a Father in heaven who is for us. We must lock shields with other men around us and refuse to allow one another to fail |
2015-02-04 - No Contest I come to you in the name of the Lord - 1 Samuel 17:45 David spoke words of confidence He knew that God had sent him and He never sends a man to fight without equipping and guilding him Goliath had size, armor, weapons and a hard heart on his side It was a hopeless situation - for the Giant The moment David accepted God's call to fight, Goliath was as good as dead. This is the Lords battle! - 1 Samuel 17:47 What "giants" in your life make you feel like the underdog? In Christ, can not only win over the giants but have an abolute rout. |