Thursday, May 30, 2013
Stewards in God’s Service
1 Cor.4:1-21
1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollo for your benefit, brothers that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!
9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,
12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.
20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
The Cross and Christian Leadership
We should view our leaders as faithful stewards in the service of the gospel.
Church leaders are loyal to Christ alone! (1-2)
Church leaders are looking for God’s approval alone! (3-5)
The Lord alone judges you!
Foolish spectacles for the sake of the gospel
Acts 14:22
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Romans 8:16-17
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Col.1:24
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
2 Tim.3:12
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted
Phil.2:5-11
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Church leaders trust in the power of the cross! (9-10)
Church leaders live out the death of the cross! (11-13)
Is.53:2-3
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Mark 8:34-38
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Phil.3:10
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
They teach intentionally!
Let us reflect humility!
Spiritual fathers to the children of the gospel
Church leaders admonish their people in love! (14-15)
Church leaders give their people examples! (16-17)
Church leaders discipline their people for righteousness! (18-21)
Hebrews 12:5-11
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Like Master, like servant!
Imitators of Christ!
Stewards of the mysteries of God!
Thanks pastor Jim!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Warn Your Children About Satan and Teach Them To Pray Without Ceasing
Satan is the ruler of this world, but God Almighty is ruler of eternity!
1 Peter 5:6-8
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Teach them what the bible says sin is and that forgiveness is through Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Colossians 2:8-14
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Galatians 5:19-24
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Teach them God alone will judge.
James 4:12
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Teach your children that God alone holds the power of eternity.
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Teach your children that there is coming a time of judgement.
Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Teach them to give thanks, pray, study the word, and to repent.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Teach them what Christ has done for whosoever will believe and obey.
Phil. 2:5-11
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Peter 5:6-8
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Teach them what the bible says sin is and that forgiveness is through Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Colossians 2:8-14
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Galatians 5:19-24
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Teach them God alone will judge.
James 4:12
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Teach your children that God alone holds the power of eternity.
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Teach your children that there is coming a time of judgement.
Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Teach them to give thanks, pray, study the word, and to repent.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Teach them what Christ has done for whosoever will believe and obey.
Phil. 2:5-11
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The Cross and Christian Unity
1 Cor.3:1-23
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos,"are you not being merely human?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--
13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"
20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,
23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
The big deal with disunity over church leaders....
The reason: carnal Christianity.
Christian maturity is stunted by carnality.(1-3)
Christian carnality is rooted in vanity.(3-4)
Christian vanity always causes disunity.(3-4)
The reminder: God is the star of the gospel.
The church is God's field.(5-9)
Leaders are the servants but God gives the jobs.
Leaders work the ground but God gives the growth.
Leaders work together because God gives the wages.
The church is God's building.(9-15)
God gives the grace, so leaders build cooperatively.
God gives the gospel, so leaders build accordingly.
God gives the rewards, so the leaders build for eternity.
The church is God's temple.(16-17; cf. Eph. 2:21-22)
God gives His Spirit and each local church gets to host it.
God gives His holiness and each believer must preserve it.
Eph.2:21-22
21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The response: Boast only in God!
The wisdom of the world is so deceptive.(18)
The wisdom of God is so dominant.(19-20)
The glory of God is so desired.(21-23;cf. Eph. 1:20-23)
Eph.1:20-23
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Thanks pastor Jim!
Our salvation is eternal!
We are the embodiment of Christ!
There are two kinds of human beings, natural and spiritual.
Natural meaning non-believers in Christ who will stand before Him to be judged of their sin.
Spiritual meaning believers in Christ who have been pardoned of their sin by the blood of Christ.
There are two types of believers, ones who are progressing in their belief and others who stay a babe and do not grow.
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos,"are you not being merely human?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--
13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"
20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,
23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
The big deal with disunity over church leaders....
The reason: carnal Christianity.
Christian maturity is stunted by carnality.(1-3)
Christian carnality is rooted in vanity.(3-4)
Christian vanity always causes disunity.(3-4)
The reminder: God is the star of the gospel.
The church is God's field.(5-9)
Leaders are the servants but God gives the jobs.
Leaders work the ground but God gives the growth.
Leaders work together because God gives the wages.
The church is God's building.(9-15)
God gives the grace, so leaders build cooperatively.
God gives the gospel, so leaders build accordingly.
God gives the rewards, so the leaders build for eternity.
The church is God's temple.(16-17; cf. Eph. 2:21-22)
God gives His Spirit and each local church gets to host it.
God gives His holiness and each believer must preserve it.
Eph.2:21-22
21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The response: Boast only in God!
The wisdom of the world is so deceptive.(18)
The wisdom of God is so dominant.(19-20)
The glory of God is so desired.(21-23;cf. Eph. 1:20-23)
Eph.1:20-23
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Thanks pastor Jim!
Our salvation is eternal!
We are the embodiment of Christ!
There are two kinds of human beings, natural and spiritual.
Natural meaning non-believers in Christ who will stand before Him to be judged of their sin.
Spiritual meaning believers in Christ who have been pardoned of their sin by the blood of Christ.
There are two types of believers, ones who are progressing in their belief and others who stay a babe and do not grow.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The Cross and Christian Womanhood
Thanks pastor David!
Proverbs 31:10-31
10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Amidst a confused culture (and church)….
Women: Be and become Christ-like women.
The mercy of God covers your past.
The presence of God empowers your present.
The hope of God guarantees your future.
Married men: Love and nurture a Christ-like wife.
Single men: Pray for and seek out a Christ-like wife.
Church: Praise Christ-like women as we promote Christ-likeness in women.
Characteristics of the Christ-like Woman….
She is wise.
Because she fears God, her value cannot be fathomed.
Because she fears God, she boldly faces the future.
Because she fears God, her beauty will never fade.
She is overseer of her home.
As a wife she is helper to her husband.
He trusts her….
With his heart.
With his household.
With his good.
She is devoted to his success.
She delights in his satisfaction
With his reputation.
He honors her.
As a mother, she prioritizes care for her children.
She loves them.
She lays down her life for them.
She lives to make them her legacy.
She is mighty in her work.
She has willing and skillful hands.
She has an innovative and industrious spirit.
She has an intelligent mind.
She has a strong body.
She is attractive in all her ways.
Her words are kind.
Her words are admirable.
Her dress is tasteful.
Her demeanor is delightful.
Her husband is both pleased and proud.
She is a neighbor to the needy.
She gives generously.
She doesn't ignore the poor; she initiates compassion.
She serves sacrificially.
In losing her life, she finds it.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Cross and Christian Wisdom
The cross of Christ is the pinnacle of wisdom:
God purposed to glorify Himself by saving undeserving sinners through the sacrifice of His one and only Son!
The cross of Christ represents God's predetermined affection for sinners.
The cross of Christ represents God's past substitution for sinners.
The cross of Christ represents God's present execution of sinners.
Wisdom is not found in devotion to power, prestige, position, possessions, pleasures and prosperity.
Wisdom is found in death to pride!
The cross of Christ represents God's future glorification of sinners.
Such wisdom is not invented or discovered by man; such wisdom is graciously revealed by God.
Only by the mercy of God...
Behold the choice of God the Father.
Behold the crucifixion of God the Son.
Behold the call of God the Spirit.
Unquestionably, man is morally accountable.
Ultimately, God is sovereignly gracious.
We have the mind of Christ.
Revealed by the Spirit...
Through the Word...
To our hearts...
Let's be desperate for the Spirit in order that we might know God's glory.
Only the Spirit of God knows the fullness of the glory of God.
If we want to know God, then we need the Spirit to reveal Him to us!
Therefore, people who are desperate to know God will be desperate for His Spirit.
If we are not desperate for His Spirit, it is a sure indicator that we have grown content with knowing little about God.
When we are desperate for His Spirit, we will grow to know God with the very perspective of Christ.
Let's seek discernment from the Spirit as we trust God's generosity.
The limited wisdom of man...
We lack knowledge, perspective, and experience.
The limitless wisdom of God...
He has perfect knowledge, eternal perspective and infinite experience.
Let's live different by the Spirit as we reflect God's goodness.
Worldly wisdom results in selfish living.
Godly wisdom results in selfless love.
Let's go with dependence on the Spirit as we proclaim God's gospel.
The wasted life keeps the message of Christ crucified hidden...
For fear of rejection.
In neglect of the lost.
The wise life makes the message of Christ crucified known...
With confidence in reception.
No matter what it costs!
Thank you pastor David!!!
God purposed to glorify Himself by saving undeserving sinners through the sacrifice of His one and only Son!
The cross of Christ represents God's predetermined affection for sinners.
The cross of Christ represents God's past substitution for sinners.
The cross of Christ represents God's present execution of sinners.
Wisdom is not found in devotion to power, prestige, position, possessions, pleasures and prosperity.
Wisdom is found in death to pride!
The cross of Christ represents God's future glorification of sinners.
Such wisdom is not invented or discovered by man; such wisdom is graciously revealed by God.
Only by the mercy of God...
Behold the choice of God the Father.
Behold the crucifixion of God the Son.
Behold the call of God the Spirit.
Unquestionably, man is morally accountable.
Ultimately, God is sovereignly gracious.
We have the mind of Christ.
Revealed by the Spirit...
Through the Word...
To our hearts...
Let's be desperate for the Spirit in order that we might know God's glory.
Only the Spirit of God knows the fullness of the glory of God.
If we want to know God, then we need the Spirit to reveal Him to us!
Therefore, people who are desperate to know God will be desperate for His Spirit.
If we are not desperate for His Spirit, it is a sure indicator that we have grown content with knowing little about God.
When we are desperate for His Spirit, we will grow to know God with the very perspective of Christ.
Let's seek discernment from the Spirit as we trust God's generosity.
The limited wisdom of man...
We lack knowledge, perspective, and experience.
The limitless wisdom of God...
He has perfect knowledge, eternal perspective and infinite experience.
Let's live different by the Spirit as we reflect God's goodness.
Worldly wisdom results in selfish living.
Godly wisdom results in selfless love.
Let's go with dependence on the Spirit as we proclaim God's gospel.
The wasted life keeps the message of Christ crucified hidden...
For fear of rejection.
In neglect of the lost.
The wise life makes the message of Christ crucified known...
With confidence in reception.
No matter what it costs!
Thank you pastor David!!!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
The Captivating Cross part two
Let's anticipate the Spirit's power in our weakness.
1 Corinthians 2:3-4
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Zechariah 4:6
Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
1 Cor. 1:26-28
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
2 Cor. 4:7-12
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
2 Cor. 12:6-10
6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Consider God's twisted economy when you feel week.
Celebrate the weakness of those who preach to you.
Come to the message of the Cross with your weakness.
Let's respond to the gospel message with obedient lives.
Respond to God's word with your obedience.
Rely on God's power for your obedience.
Let's magnify the gospel's power, not the gifted preachers.
1 Cor. 2:5
so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Acts 20:36-37
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,
1 Cor.1:10-17
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.
12 What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ."
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.
16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Cor. 2:1
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8 Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
9 (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
1 Thess.5:12-13
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
Hebrews 13:7-8, 17
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Resist the Christian 'rock star' culture.
Celebrate the broader kingdom impact.
Affirm faithful pastors of local churches.
Credit the message, not the messengers.
Value the biblical model of teaching teams.
Come for the teaching, not the teacher.
Honor, love and obey faithful teachers.
Thank you pastor Jim for speaking the truth of Gods's word!!
Thank You Lord that You are all powerful! Bless our pastors as they help lead us to follow You and be obedient to Your command. Amen
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Godly Discipline
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of The Lord.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Col.3:20-21
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Prov.13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
All my life I have believed in spanking! I spanked my daughters and I have spanked my grand kids. We must be careful in discipline not to over use spanking or it will become ineffective. There comes a point in time, as a child matures, when a child can be reasoned with. When a child looses control, spanking may not be the answer. Time out from their favorite pass time is a good alternative. Do not be a party to a tantrum! Both you and your child will loose control. Time alone for them in their room, to calm down is key.
Then punishment can be given with an explanation as to why they are being punished. Love your kids, they are an amazing gift for which you are responsible for before God! I have made many mistakes in my parenting, as my daughters gladly will tell you!
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