All, for the lesson this week:
The new year is full of change and possibility.
Here are some thoughts to ponder...
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Lets be diligent
2 Peter 1:10-11
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Co Ed Class Notes_09.04.11_A Global Connection_Take 1
How do you first respond to a mission statement like Coca-Cola's:
At ______ we strive to refresh the world, inspire moments of optimism and happiness, create value, and make a difference.
Compare to quote:
Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell. - C.T. Studd (More: http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/biorpstudd.html)
Light:
Matthew 5:13-15
- salt and light
- no flavor, no value
- little effort, little value (Christian)
- seasoning brings out flavor (marinate)
- HIDE LIGHT = quiet when should speak / go along with the crowd / deny the light / sin…dim the light / not explaining light to others / ignoring needs of others
Always excitement when you know there is a big promise is on the way…disciples and waiting for God's promise:
- Christmas Eve
- New birth
- Awareness of the approaching storm (Tropical Storm…Hurricane Irene and reflection)
The Gospel contains its own power:
- Romans 1:16-17
- Salvation for everyone who believes / righteousness by faith from first to last
- God did not send his son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
- And behold I cam coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of the book.
Jesus is the center of the Gospel's Power the Holy Spirit is at the center of you sharing the good news.
- Careful to not tie faith too close to salvation by works
- Galatians 2:16 (human deeds)
- Ephesians 2:8 (gift that God gives because he is saving us)
- John 5:24 (in His mercy he gives us faith)
As Christ followers:
- Geopolitical
- Ethnolinguistic
- "panta ta ethne" / all nations / not countries or regions but people of those nations…see hat gospel crosses cultural barriers in addition to national borders
- RESOURCES:
- Navigators = http://www.navigators.org/us/ministries/ethnic/newsletter/2010/Spring%202010/items/89CB0C1064582769E0440003BAACD47F
- YouTube / Among The Lost In Mexico =
Jump Off Point…
- Romans 10:14-15 (call…believe…hear…preach…sent…feet)
- Jonah 3:1-3 (second time…get up…Lord's command…large city)
- Revelation 7:9-10 (John's view…nation, drive, people, language…standing before the throne before the Lamb…Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!)
OPORD…what's next?
Saturday, August 13, 2011
James Dobson / My Family Talk
I wanted to pass this resource along...since school has begun, I am intensely reminded of the responsibility to uphold "my end of the deal" and am very fortunate that there is no "deal breaker" in my attempts to "make a deal" because "the real Deal" has made an offer I can't turn down. In parenting, the waves of unrest can be unbearable at times but James Dobson offers some tips. Here are a couple of questions he addresses in his free resource "Parenting With Confidence":
Q: You have said that the children of godly parents sometime go into severe rebellion and never return to the faith they were taught. I have seen that happen to some wonderful families that loved the Lord and were committed to the church. Still, it appears contradictory to Scripture. How do you interpret Proverbs 22:6, which says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it”? Doesn’t that verse mean, as it implies, that the children of wise and dedicated Christian parents will never be lost? Doesn’t it promise that all wayward offspring will return, sooner or later to the fold?
Q: My 3-year-old son can be counted on to behave like a brat whenever we are in the mall or in a restaurant.
He seems to know I will not punish him there in front of other people. How should I handle this tactic?
Q: The greatest power struggle in our home is schoolwork, which you mentioned, and especially homework. Our fifth-grader simply will not do it! When we force him to study, he sits and stares, doodles, gets up for
water and just kills time. Furthermore, we never know for sure what his assignments are. What would you recommend?
Q: How do you feel about homework being given by schools? Do you think it is a good idea? If so, how much and how often?
Q: You’ve made a big deal over the issue of newborns and whether or not they come into the world with complex temperaments or as “blank slates.” When all is said and done, what difference does it make? Children are children, and we take them as we find them. Why does it matter whether they began with “something” or with “nothing”?
Q: Generally speaking, what kind of discipline do you use with a teenager who is habitually miserable to live with?
Q: My wife and I are new Christians, and we now realize that we raised our kids by the wrong principles. They’re grown now, but we continue to worry about the past and we feel great regret for our failures as parents. Is there anything we can do at this late date?
For the answers, follow the link to this resource:
Parenting With Confidence
Also, Dr. Dobson offers further insights on his site "Family Talk":
Family Talk
Additional downloads, podcasts, and media resources:
One Place
Q: You have said that the children of godly parents sometime go into severe rebellion and never return to the faith they were taught. I have seen that happen to some wonderful families that loved the Lord and were committed to the church. Still, it appears contradictory to Scripture. How do you interpret Proverbs 22:6, which says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it”? Doesn’t that verse mean, as it implies, that the children of wise and dedicated Christian parents will never be lost? Doesn’t it promise that all wayward offspring will return, sooner or later to the fold?
Q: My 3-year-old son can be counted on to behave like a brat whenever we are in the mall or in a restaurant.
He seems to know I will not punish him there in front of other people. How should I handle this tactic?
Q: The greatest power struggle in our home is schoolwork, which you mentioned, and especially homework. Our fifth-grader simply will not do it! When we force him to study, he sits and stares, doodles, gets up for
water and just kills time. Furthermore, we never know for sure what his assignments are. What would you recommend?
Q: How do you feel about homework being given by schools? Do you think it is a good idea? If so, how much and how often?
Q: You’ve made a big deal over the issue of newborns and whether or not they come into the world with complex temperaments or as “blank slates.” When all is said and done, what difference does it make? Children are children, and we take them as we find them. Why does it matter whether they began with “something” or with “nothing”?
Q: Generally speaking, what kind of discipline do you use with a teenager who is habitually miserable to live with?
Q: My wife and I are new Christians, and we now realize that we raised our kids by the wrong principles. They’re grown now, but we continue to worry about the past and we feel great regret for our failures as parents. Is there anything we can do at this late date?
For the answers, follow the link to this resource:
Parenting With Confidence
Also, Dr. Dobson offers further insights on his site "Family Talk":
Family Talk
Additional downloads, podcasts, and media resources:
One Place
Monday, March 23, 2009
God's Will...What is that?
You know, when we make bad choices and then bad situations or circumstances come our way? Why then do we attribute that to being God's will. That hits home with all Christians. I guess it was God's will that the person decided to drink and eventually die from cirhosis of the live, right? NO. God gives us choices and guess what...we have to live with our choices. Isaiah 29:15-16 tells us about the people of Judah trying to "hide" their plans and goals from God. They tried to twist God into being the clay instead of the potter. Theres a big problem with that. It's impossible to do. God is going to accomplish His will regardless if we are a part of it or not. Now have you and I ever tried to make God the clay? Sure we have probably on daily basis! Just like the people of Judah, God is looking for our true worship and obedience (Isaiah 29:13-14). The people were just going through the motions and using empty words while so-called "worshiping" God. How many times hav you and I were trying to focus on worship to God and we were concerned about something else. Look at the bright side. Scoot on down to Isaiah 30:15, then vs 18. God wants true repentance and obedience from us and then He will bless and protect us. What a great God we have! He loves and why would we not want to follow His will and obey Him?
David Stapp
David Stapp
Friday, March 13, 2009
What do we do stuff for?
Have you ever thought why you do certain things? Like read books. We read for different reasons. Maybe we read for more knowledge, or to pass time, or even for fun. What about eating? We eat to get energy. So with that said we do things for various reasons. Is there an ultimate reason why we do the everyday activities? Well I was reading 1 Corinthians 10:31 and it says "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Do we always do this? No, I don't always do this. Sometimes I think I am bringing glory to God when in reality I am being disopbedient. So my focus is to stay in His word and ask for the wisdom to discern the "everyday activities" that bring Him glory. Last but not least...Let us have an ATTITUDE that shows God we love Him with all of our hearts!!!!
I love our Lord Jesus!
David Stapp
I love our Lord Jesus!
David Stapp
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Meeting God's Expectations
What are God's expectations for us? How do we meet them? In Isaiah 5:1-2, it tells us that God (vineyard owner) had done everything possible to reap a harvest. He chose very fertile ground that would surely bring results. Then He cultivated it removing all rocks and debris. Last He made a watchtower there so He could overlook and care for the vineyard (His people). God also prepared a winepress in "expectations" that the vines would bear good fruit. GUESS WHAT? They did the opposite. The produced bad or worthless fruit. This was an analogy of disobedience. Seems to be the same in our lives as well. Vs 4 God asks "What more could I have done than I already have." The same questions can be directed to us also. God has prepared us to do His will, and that is to bear good fruit for His glory. He has given us everything we needed to succeed in bearing fruit. So what is our excuse? Read 8-14 for the consequences of disobedience. Now what can we do to fully put meeting God's expectations on the top of our list?
In Christ
David Stapp
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)