. (78 found)
2008-04-22 - Falling in Love with God - Listening Whose voice should I listen to?
There are many voices:
- Voice of guilt that reminds me of the past
- Voice of doubt tries to tell me about the future
- Voice that says we are weak and can not do it
- Voice that judges me of wrong doing and bad motivation
Reason for the voices is our own sinful nature
To deal with these other voice we need to memorize scriptures - to not be swayed and know the correct voice to listen to
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2008-04-27 - Falling in Love with God - Practical Inspiration
Get Out of Here
Sometimes the first step in restoring our hearts is simply to get out of the house
Why go outside?
- Quiet - able to meditate
- Parents - able to get up before the kids do
- Nature is full of inpsiration
- Much more freedom outside
Turning back the clock
Rewrite the sins and people I sin against; what I was forgiven of (not an exercise in guilt but gratefulness
Secret Scriptural Weapon
You have to work at understanding the cross
Insights of yesterday about the cross need to be consistently refreshed
God never spoke louder than he did on Calvary
Memorizing scriptures and writing them on index cards
Ephesians 3:20 - When each word is accented, the scripture can have new meanings
Best for Last
Create a treasure chest:
- Baptism photos
- Special note from friends
- Wedding Vows
- Memorabilia from children being born
Scrapbook of the heart of God - testament to God
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2008-06-20 - Purpose Driven Life - Defeating Temptation
There is always a way out
He will not permit any temptation that you could not overcome - 1 Corinthians 10:13
Refocus attention on something else
By resisting, you actually reinforce it
Don't fight the though, change the channel
Power of suggestion - the more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you
Temptation begins by capturing your attention - Satan can't get your attention when you are focused on something else
Reveal your struggle to a gold friend or support group
If you fall, a friend can help you up - Eccelesiastes 4:9-10
Hiding your hurt intensifies it
Satan wants you to think that your temptation is unique - We all fight the same temptations - 1 Corinthians 10:13
The reason we hide our faults is pride - everything is under control
Resist the Devil
He will flee when you resist - James 4:7
Without Christ we are defenseless against the Devil
Satan can not make you do anything, he can only suggest
Use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan - Jesus simply answered Satan with scriptures
Don't ever try to argue with Satan - he better at it
Realize your vulnerabilities
The heart is deceitful above all things- Jeremiah 17:9
Don't carelessly place yourself in tempting situations, avoid them - Proverbs 14:16
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2008-07-26 - 30 Days at the Cross - Wisdom and Power of God
Will the cross ever make sense to the world?
Will all the wisdom of the world, no one has found God
Man destined to frustration by God himself to show themselves helpless without God
Jews sought a miracle worker general ignoring scriptures like Isaiah 53
Greeks described god as apatheia - total inability to feel; looked don on uncultered Christians
God's plan was never to impress prideful scholars or to find acceptance among the rulers of the ages
Some things never change:
- Graduate student in the laborary for 100 hours - OK
- Athlete who trains 6-8 hours a day - OK
- Executive working 60 hours a week - OK
- Someone passionate about Christ - Bad
Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
Man without the Spirit does not accpet spiritual things - 1 Corinthians 2:14
God has blinded the minds of unbelievers - 2 Corinthians 4:4
God didn't come to impress the world. Are you?
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2008-12-24 - Raising Awesome Kids - Gods Training Plan (part 2)
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
These Commandment (v. 6)
Bible is the underlaying basis for all training
It is the very word of God:
- To be revered
- To be loved
- To be believed
Paul said of Timothy - from infancy you have know the holy scriptures - 2 Timothy 3:!5
Love the Lord your God (v. 5)
Training flows from a relationshop of love with the personal God
Not "do-it-ot-else" mentality - missed the point
Bible should be used continually, not just for some "extra" authority is needed
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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
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2009-02-22 - Jesus with People - Daily Unconditional Love
Jesus was tempted in every way we are but was without sin - Hebrews 4:15
How could he put up with this day after day?
Jesus was in complete submission of God's will:
- Jesus God no matter what the cost
- He chose Judas so the scriptures would be fulfilled - John 13:18
- Suffered emotionally each time he looked at Judas
How Jesus' heart must have ached when teaching:
- Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over - Judas. - Matthew 10:17
- Brother will betry brother to death - Judas. - Matthew 10:21
- Love your enemies - Judas. - Matthew 5:44
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2009-03-15 - Promises of God - Convictions from scriptures Satan furiously went after Jesus - Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus countered the enemy's temptations with Scripture
The Word must deep into our hearts so we recall the scriptures when needed
We rarely have the opportunity to open the Word when being tempted
Not just "stop that" or "start doing this"
Bring to mind specific scriptures
Hearing ourselves quoting the appropriate scriptures, it brings conviction during the battle of sin
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2009-03-24 - Promises of God - Remember Gods Heros Scriptures have many examples of those who were tested, humbled, exiled or disciplined by God:
- Abraham's desert wanderings
- Moses' shameful flight to Midian
- Jacob's marital woes
- Hannah's years of barrenness
- Ruth's widowness and loneliness
- David's years as a fugitive
May have felt that life pasted them by and God's blessing were seemingly withheld
There was far greater blessing in store for them in God's own time
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2009-04-24 - Why We Need The Bible - Help Keep One Saved Paul emphasized this value of the Scriptures
- To the Corinthians - 1 Corinthians 10:11-12
- To Timothy - 2 Timothy 3:14-17
The saving value of the Word of God is for both young and old
- The young can keep their ways pure by it - Psalms 119:9
- Elders were commended to the Word for their salvation - Acts 20:32
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2009-04-30 - No one like him - Differences from Jesus and the prophets (part 1) 1. His words were from the Father
Prophets – “This is what the Lord says…”
Jesus – “I tell you the truth…”
2. Where to get help
Prophets - “Come to the Lord.”
Jesus – “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28-30)
3. Fulfillment of scripture
Prophets – Prophetic messages
Jesus –
- “I have come to fulfill the scripture (Luke 4:18-19,21)
- “I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17)
- “everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled” (Luke 18:31)
- “These are the Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39)
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2009-05-13 - No one like him - Jesus and the Scriptures How did Jesus view the scriptures?
- Human writings/stories?
- Significant?
- Authoritative?
Some think Jesus’ view came from his culture:
Didn’t accept views about: Samaritans, Gentiles, women, leapers, tax collectors
Jesus hung around the wrong people, wrong parties, and wrong trainees
Jesus had great confidence found in the scriptures
11x in gospels (20x mores by gospel writers) in where Jesus said he was the fulfilling what had been written
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2009-05-15 - No one like him - Jesus believed scripture settled issues Parable of the Tenants - Mark 12:10
Haven't you read the scriptures? - quoting Psalms 118:22-23
In error because they did know the scriptures; badly mistaken - to religious leaders - Mark 12:24;27
Thinking:
- Jesus - error for not knowing
- Some modern religious leaders - scriptures are in error
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2009-05-16 - No one like him - Jesus believed promises would become reality Luke 24:44 - Everything must be fulfilled
Predictions by man may or may not come true; God's promises will and must come true
Jesus saturated his preaching and teaching with references to scriptures
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2009-05-17 - No one like him - Jesus responds with scriptures Satan attempted Jesus in the dessert - Matthew 4:3,7,10
Scriptures were he turned for strength, guidance, and direction
Scriptures were on Jesus' in the end
- Thought of bringing legions of angel - Matthew 26:54
- Why have you forsaken me? - Mark 15:34
- Into your hands I commit my spirit - Luke 23:46
If Jesus had this view of the OT, what should be our response to the NT?
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2009-05-26 - No one like him - Kingdom Lifestyle (part 2) Different Righteousness – Matthew 5:17-6:18
Righteousness for the Pharisee had became having the correct facts and outward performance
Not about memorizing more scriptures or fasting three times a day
Righteousness was all about attitude
When scriptures is not exact, we should on these attitudes in situations in our lives – to please God
Different priority – Matthew 6:19-34
The pursuit of God’s will should be the overriding passion of our lives
No can serve two masters – Matthew 6:24
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2009-06-06 - One Another - Center of the Target Many people look at everything in God's will is the same weight - this leads to endless controveries over smaller details
Jesus looked at God's will as a target
Ex. Pharisees gave 1/10 of their spices but neglected the more important maters of the law - Matthew 23:23-24
Scriptures does not spell out what the second and third rings are
Made it very clear what was at the center of the target
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2009-06-08 - One Another - They Will Know You John 13:24-25
- Jesus served humbly as their servant - his life was all about love
- All men will know you as a disciple by your love of one another
- Distinctive mark by which Christians are recognized
- Does not say "they will know by your doctrine"
Isaiah predicted this love:
- People would beat tools of division into tools of peace - Isaiah 2:4
- Impossible unity - Isaiah 11:6-9
- Men would protect each other - Isaiah 32:2
Men can do spiritual things for selfish reasons:
- Praying for show - Matthew 22:29
- Studying the scriptures - Matthew 22:29
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2009-08-05 - A Life of Impact - Cockiness
Cockiness
Mark 12:18-27
- Every one of these phrases cut like a knife:
- Are you not in error?
- You do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
- Have you not read?
- He comfort the disturbed, he also made it his goal to disturbed the comfortable.
- He was not afraid to rock the boat.
- In order to have lasting impact it is necessary to be willing to challenge our opponents to their face.
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2009-10-30 - Repentance - The Prophets (part 1) Scriptures had become mere words to be studied and debated, rather than the practice of life
Prophets are positive and negative reinforcement
One needs not predict future events in order to serve as a prophet
Don’t evade the prophet that God, in his grace, sends you – seek their counsel
If God cannot help you repent through His word, then you will never repent – Luke 16:27-31
Moses
- Return to God – Deuteronomy 30:2
- Worship other Gods and you will perish - Deuteronomy 30:17-18
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2009-11-02 - Repentance - The Prophets (part 4) Prophets Transcend Public Opinion
- The great love for surveys and polls
- We can not repent if we do not know that we have drifted – It takes a prophet of God
- See how different the prophets in your life live.
Prophets Target Leaders
Prophets Get to the Root to Produce Real Fruit
- Metanoia happens internally, fruit happens externally
- Sometimes we say, “You need to repent” – which may have meant “get it together” (a heart bypass)
- Becomes “need to” instead of “want to”
- It is easier to disciple the behavior than it is to address the mind and heart
- Consider things above – instead of considering behavior, consider the kingdom of God
- Metanoia is no technique; it’s an inside-out transformation
Questions
- How have you broken your covenant with God?
- Are scriptures sufficient for your repentance?
- Do you agree with the author’s assertions that repentance isn’t something we do in order to return to God, it is our return to Him? Why or Why not?
- How does fear play a positive role in our repentance?
- Do your standards for morality reflect a biblical standard or simply a modern one?
- Why do prophets go after the leaders of a society?
- How does metanoia differ from the fruit of metanoia? How does this distinction help you repent?
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2009-12-07 - Master Plan - Demonstration (part 1) He showed them how to live
- Prayer
- Jesus often let His disciples see Him conversing with the Father (They ask, not forced)
- Unless they grasped the meaning of prayer and practiced consistently – not much would come from their lives.
- Using Scripture
- He never ceased to use the Scripture in His conversation with them.
- 66 references to the Old Testament
- 90+ Old Testament references speaking to others
- Jesus could freely recall scriptures by heart
- Everything that he did and said had some relevance to evangelism
- Revealing the truth
- How to deal with men
- Disciples may (at the time) have not known that they were being taught
- Jesus was the Master of His own teachings
- Presentation was not flashy; the truth was the main attraction.
- Disciples observed how to:
- Jesus drew people to Himself
- Won their confidence and inspired their faith
- He called them to the way of salvation and He called them to make a decision
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2010-01-13 - Kingdom First - True Companions Scriptures repeatedly draw a parallel between marriage and our relationship with God - Matthew 5:31-32
Jesus recalled God plan for marriage from the beginning and used word 'united' - Matthew 19:5
Romans 6:5 - we are united with Christ through his death and resurrection
We are all one in Christ - Galatians 3:28
Unfaithfulness in marriage is also unfaithfulness to God
Anyone who does not love his brother, cannot love God - 1 John 4:20
Our faithfulness to him is mirrored in our faithfulness to our husband or wife
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2010-04-08 - Life to the Full - Two Wisdoms (part 2) Teaching is one of the few gifts mentioned in both in the lists of Ephesian 4 and 1 Corinthians 12
What exactly is a teacher?
- Primary job is to teach the scriptures
- They need to teach the truth
- False teachers are always out there
- OT = Jeremiah 8:7-8
- NT = 2 Peter 2:1
- Are need to arrange biblical themes - Ecclesiastes 12:9-10
- Teacher are primary instructional while preachers are more inspirational
- Teachers must have deep convictions - allow those without is dangerous
- Teachers must be on the cutting edge - teacher not at their best -> teaching becomes effected
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2010-07-03 - Desire's Journey - Great Restoration (part 4)
Too many of us have placed eternity somewhere out there
We seem to forget that we will get the earth back as well
I will create new heavens and a new earth - Revelation 21:1
When he says he is making all things new, he includes the earth
Won't the whole earth be destroyed?
That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat - 2 Peter 3:12
Noah's day of the Lord
By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed - 2 Peter 3:6
World was destroyed in the sense that all wickedness and corruption of mankind - Genesis 6-7
Fire is also used for cleansing throughout the Scriptures
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