102818- “The Kingdom Of God” Luke 4-15. The Substance Of God’s Kingdom Is The People Of God Living In God’s Place Under The Authority Of God. Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news”. Entrance To The Kingdom Of God: Requires A Spiritual Birth - Requires Radical Trust In Jesus - Requires A New Value System - Requires A Sacrificial Life - Requires A Rejection Of The Kingdoms Of This World.
102118-“The Incarnation Of Jesus” Mark 7-Luke 3. In All Of Humanities Stories, Jesus Christ Is The Most Unique Story Of All. Philippians 2:8 “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross”. The Bible Affirms:The Humility Of Jesus - The Humanity Of Jesus (His “Incarnation”) - The Divinity Of Jesus (The “Hypostatic Union”). Hebrews 4:15 “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin”.
101418-“The Gospel Of Jesus Christ” Matthew 22-Mark 6. Whatever The Question, Jesus Is The Answer; Whatever The Problem, Jesus Is The Solution. The Gospel Of Jesus Christ Is Activated As You: Prepare The Way For Him To Enter Your Life; Confess & Repent Of Your Sin; Receive The Forgiveness Of Sin; and, Testify Publicly Your Belief In Him.
100718 - “God With Us” Matthew 5-21. The One & Only Difference Between Christianity & All Other Religions Is Jesus Christ. “Messianic” Examinations: Began With Observation - Continued With Interrogation - Concluded With A Decision. 3 Specific Messianic Miracles: (The Messiah Would Perform) He Would Heal A Leper - Cast Out A Dumb Demon - Heal A Man Born Blind. ". …... Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was & is God”. C.S.Lewis,--from his book, Mere Christianity.
093018-“Our Blindness To Spiritual Drift” Nahum 1-Matthew 4. About Sin, Someone Said: “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay”. Our Sinful Brokenness Will Always Keep Us In Desperate Need For God’s Word To Confront Our Spiritual Drift. God’s Word Confronts Us When We’re: Skeptical Of God’s Love 1:1-5; Careless About Our Worship 1:6-14;Indifferent Toward Truth 2:1-9; Disloyal To Our Marriage Vows 2:10-16; and, Acting Like Owners vs. Managers 3:7-12.
092318 - “God, Jonah & A Big Fish Too” Daniel 10-Micah 7. Jonah’s Story Reveals How God Includes Us In His Disciple-Making Work & Then Prepares Us For It. To Make Us Useful, God First, Makes Us Uncomfortable; Then, Exposes Our Idols; Unmasks Our Prejudice; and Awakens Us To Souls Nearby.
091618-“Living A ‘Well Done’ Life” Ezekiel 38-Daniel 9. Through Daniel’s Story God Shows Us How To Live A ‘Well Done, Good & Faithful Servant’ Kind Of Life. God Shows Us How To Respond When Life Isn’t Happy ch. 1, In Impossible Situations ch 2:1-23, When The Future’s Scary ch 2:24-49, When Ungodly Men Make Ungodly Laws ch 3, and When God Interrupts Our Lives ch 4.
090918-“Called To Be A Watchman” Ezekiel 17-37. In The Making Of A Disciple There Is The Disciple’s Part & God’s Part & Our Part! We Are Only Responsible For Our Part! God Has Given Us, As Watchmen A Specific Responsibility v.1-6, A Precise Message v.7-11, 14-16, and A Notice Of Accountability v.20.
090218-“Put Your Hope In God” Lamentations 3:21-24. “Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed” Lamentations 3:19-20. Lamenting Is Appropriate In Times Of Pain & Struggle; But, Should Eventually Give Way To Repentance & Hope. There Is Hope In Suffering Because Of God’s Faithful Love, Because God’s Mercy Never Ends, Because God Is Faithful To His Word, and Because The Lord Is Our Portion.
082618- “Is Anything Too Difficult For Me?” Jeremiah 27-50. God Intends To Train Us, Through Life’s Painful Events, To Trust His Faithfulness & To Look Forward To Redemption. Jeremiah 32:27;“Look, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?” God Uses Life’s Painful Events: To Bring Us To Spiritual Brokenness (Jer. 30); To Change Our Heart Toward Him (Jer. 31); To Enable Us To Walk By Faith (Jer. 32).
081918-“Clay In God’s Hands” Jeremiah 4-26. Jeremiah Was The:Reluctant Prophet (1:6); Weeping Prophet (9:1; 13:17); Lonely Prophet (16:2); Persecuted Prophet (11:18-23; 12:6; 15:10; 18:18; 20:1-3; etc). We Are Like Clay—Which Has Little Value– Until We Are Molded, By The Master Potter, Into Jesus’ Likeness. God Has The Sovereign Right To:Deal With Us However He Wills (v.5-6);Withhold Judgment If We Repent (v.7-8);Remold Us So As To Make Us Usable Again (v.4); Act Toward Us Based On Our Actions (v.9-10);Cast Us Aside When We Are Hardened Against Him (ch.19). Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them”.
081218-“Knowing God Better” Isaiah 39-Jeremiah 3. Relationship With God Does Not Depend On Our Faithful Ministry To Him; But, On Jesus’ Faithful Ministry To Us On The Cross. A Relationship With God Requires: Our Humility; His Help; We Accept His Sovereign Plans; We Abandon All Idols; We Submit To His Grace; We Accept Jesus’ Substitutionary Atonement For Sin. Isaiah 40:28-31;Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint”.
080519-"Finding Peace in a Chaotic World", Isaiah 8-38. Solomon wrote "He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm." Proverbs 13:20. What God has willed is always fulfilled. Who is YOUR leader? Do you really believe that what you believe is real? You'll never find lasting peace until you follow the One who is the provider of lasting peace.
072918-“Your Life Is Meaningless” Proverbs 29-Isaiah 7.Your Joy & Fulfillment In This Life Is Directly Linked To Your Investment In God’s Economy & Not To The World’s. When You Invest In God’s Economy Your Eyes Will Be Opened To The Facts that You’re Able To Stop Taking Inventory Of Your Stuff & Count Your Eternal Inheritance;You’ll Realize That Time Is Your Most Precious Commodity! Don’t Waste It!;You’ll Delight In The Simple Pleasures In Life As Gifts From God!
072218-“Living Life Wisely” Proverbs 9-28. What Is A “Proverb”?“A Proverb Is A Timeless Truth, In The Form Of A Simple Illustration, That Exposes A Fundamental Reality Of Life”. Experience Is A Great Teacher & A Fool Learns No Other Way! The Wise Assimilate God’s Word & Corrects Their Course Of Life! Wisdom Teaches Us To Be Cautious Choosing Friends;To Be Open To Loving Rebuke; To Be A Blessing To Parents; To Be A Peacemaker; To Be Slow To Speak; To Be Humble & God-Directed; To Be Generous; To Be An Encourager.
062418-“You Can Be Honest With God”-Psalm 30-65. God Created Us With Emotions, And, He Invites Us To Pour Out Our Hearts To Him Knowing He Will Respond. Psalm 30:v.11-12 “You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever”. Be Honest With God, But, Praise Him: When He Heals You (Psalm 30), When He Forgives (Psalm 32), When Our Strength Fails (Psalm 33), When He Delivers Us From Our Fears (Psalm 34), When You’re Struggling With Depression (Psalm 42 & 43), Because He Alone Satisfies (Psalm 63).
061718-“How To Live Happily Ever After”-Job 37-Psalm 29. Your Level Of Happiness Is Directly Related To The Depth Of Relationship You Have With God. Romans 12:1-2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. Your Happiness Depends On Where You Get Your Advice, What You Delight In, What You Meditate On, and The Fruit Your Life Bears.
061018-"God’s Blessings to Job" Job 1-13. We must trust God, when we do not
understand, and because we cannot understand. Job 13:15 "Even if He (God)
kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him." What do
we learn from the Book of Job? 1)Suffering is part of the human condition, and
Christians are human. 2)If Jesus was willing to suffer for us on earth, how
then should we live? 3)God is just, but not in the way humans consider just.
050618-“Signs Of Revival” 2 Kings 22-1 Chronicles 12. We Need God To Revive Us By Removing Our Spiritual Indifference & Renewing Our Commitment To Live For Him. Signs Of Genuine Revival:You No Longer Neglect Meeting Together-You No Longer Neglect The Word of God-You Repent Over Sin & Eliminate It-You Re-form Your Life In Covenant With God-You Remember God’s Deliverance From Sin.
040818-"The Spirit Overcomes the Flesh" 1 & 2 Samuel/Galatians 5:16-26. We walk by the Spirit, when we want what He wants, produce what He plants and hate what He hates. Now I say walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh because: 1. The Spirit desires what is opposed to the flesh and the flesh desires what is opposed to the Spirit. 2. The works of the flesh are obvious. 3. The Fruit of the Spirit! 4. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
040118-“Easter Lessons In Ruth” Ruth 1-1 and Samuel 20. The Opening Line Of Ruth: “During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land” -Ruth 1:1. God Has To Empty Us Of All Competing Gods To Break Us & Make Us Willing To Bow To Him Alone. Once Emptied, God Fills Us Through His Providential Blessings In Our Life, Through The Providential People In Our Life, and Through The Providential Redeemer In Our Life.
032518-“The Crisis Of Compromise” Judges 4-21. Sin’s Most Effective Strategy Against Us Is To Gradually Introduce Small Compromises, Sinking Us Into Moral Collapse. Spiritual Principles In Judges:God Can Transform Flawed People Into Leaders; God Allows Our Idols To Enslave Us To Drive Us To Himself; God’s Absence From Our Lives Can Lead To Shocking Moral Depravity; God’s Always To Be Taken Seriously Lest Our Enemy Overtake Us. “In those days there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in their own eyes”. Judges 21:25.
031818-“Learning God’s Lessons Well” Joshua 8-Judges 3. Experience Is A Great Teacher and a Fool Will Learn No Other Way. A Devotion To Obeying God’s Word Will Keep You From Sin But, Sin Will Keep You From Obeying God’s Word. Learn God’s Lessons: About Unconfessed Sin (Josh. 7-8); About Prayerless Decision Making (Josh. 9); About Trusting God To Do Battle For Us (Josh. 10-14).
031118-“Leadership Development” Deuteronomy 20-Joshua 7. The Long Term Success Of Any Institution Is Dependent On An Effective Transfer Of Leadership. The Principles Learned: God Will Not Tolerate The Rebellion Of Men; God Is The Power Behind The Leader & The Sword; God’s Glory Must Always Be Sought Over Personal Accomplishments; God Blesses Leaders Who Love What He Loves & Hate What He Hates; God Alone Is Indispensable! Human Leaders Come & Go.
030418-“Don’t Forget To Remember” Numbers 34-Deuteronomy 19. We Always Face Unpleasant Consequences In Life When We Fail To Remember What God Says In His Word. John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands”. For Your Own Good, Remember To Walk In God’s Ways, To Love The Lord Your God, To Worship The Lord Your God, To Keep The Lord’s Commands.
022518- “Beware Of Yourself” Numbers 16-33. The Person You Are Most Easily Deceived By Is Yourself! Beware Of Yourself! “A Faithful Door Keeper In The House Of The Lord Will Be Honored More By God Than An Unfaithful Pastor Or Priest!” Beware Of Yourself:If You Desire A Higher Position Of Leadership (Ch. 16), If You Take Credit For God’s Work In Your Life (Ch. 20), If You Fail To Trust God To Fight Your Battles (Ch. 21), If You Fight Against God’s Sovereign Plans (Ch. 22-25).
021818-“When We Doubt God” Numbers 1-15. Our Greatest Struggle In Life Is To Trust God Instead Of Our Own Reasoning. When We Doubt God We Begin To Complain, We Rebel Against Leadership, We Act Out In Disobedience, and then we Face God’s
Discipline.
021118-“God’s Dwelling Is With Humanity” Leviticus 11-27. For All Eternity, God Has Determined To Assemble A People With Whom To Dwell. Leviticus Calls Attention To God’s Condemnation Of Sin & Uncleanness; God’s Provision For Fellowship With Him; God’s Determination To Make A Holy People and God’s Desire To Dwell Among Us. “You are to be holy to Me because I, Yahweh, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be Mine” -Leviticus 20:26
020418-“His Name Is Yahweh” Exodus 30-Leviticus 10. The Way To God
Is By Sacrifice;The Walk With God Is By Separation. In The Name Yahweh He Is Compassion & Grace; He Is Slow To Anger; He Is Rich In Faithful Love and He Forgives Wrongdoing, Rebellion & Sin. Romans 12:1-2 “…by the mercies of God, I urge you to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy & pleasing to God, this is your spiritual worship…”
010718- “In The Beginning” Genesis 1-23. Genesis Reveals God’s Relentless
Plan To Restore Fellowship With Humanity & Fulfill His Purpose For Creation. In The Beginning There Was God, There Was Creation, There Was Law, There Was Sin, There Was Judgment, There Was A Nation, There Was Salvation.
123117-“God’s Work In Us” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28. God uses everything that happens to you, good and bad, to make you more like Jesus.
122417-“Glory To God In The Highest” Luke 2:1-14. God’s Glory Is The Essence Of His Character; And, We Give Him Glory When We Honor His Character. God Is Glorified In The Christmas Story: By The Birth Of The Christ, By The Peace Christ Offers, and By The Believers He Favors.
121717- "Let God's Spirit Be Your Guide" 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22. God Gave You His Spirit To Guard You From Error; But, You Have To Maintain
Your Connection With Him. The Holy Spirit Helps Inflame A Passion For God’s Word In Us (v.20), Helps Us Investigate & Confirm The Truth (v.21), Helps Us Condemn & Avoid All Counterfeits (v.22).
121017-"Don't Stifle the Spirit" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19. We Suffocate The Spirit’s Work When We Take Lightly The Authority That Scripture Has Over Our Lives. When We’re Submitted To The Spirit’s GPS: We Will Always Rejoice (v.16) We Will Constantly Pray (v.17) We Will Give Thanks In Everything (v.18).
112617- "Nurturing Relationships" 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15. A Key Mark Of
Genuine Christian Faith Is That It Changes The Way We Relate To Others. Who Makes Up A Congregation? The Laborers—Recognize Them! The Leaders—Recognize Them! The Irresponsible—Warn Them! The Discouraged—Comfort Them! The Weak—Help Them! Toward Everyone In The Congregation: Be Patient, Don’t Seek Revenge, Pursue Good For Each Other.
111917-"Give Thanks" 1 Thessalonians 5:18.“Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. When We Give Thanks Despite The Circumstances We Proclaim To The World That God Can Be Trusted,That God Is Most Valuable, and Our Submission To God’s Will.
111217-"Like a Thief in the Night" 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11- God Intends To Use Our Awareness Of Prophetic Truth To Change Us. The “Day Of The Lord”
Comes Like A Thief In The Night, Will Not Overtake Us Like A Thief, Demands That We Wake Up, Demands We Put On The Armor Of Faith & Love, Demands We Put On The Helmet Of The Hope Of Salvation.
110517- "Don't Be Uninformed" 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. God Wants You To Know That Your Deceased Loved Ones In Christ Are Waiting To See You Again In The Same Way You’re Waiting To See Them. Our Reunion With Loved Ones Begins With Jesus’ Return, Is Announced By The Archangel, Advances With Their Resurrection, Continues With Our Resurrection, Climaxes At A Meeting In The Clouds.
102917-"In the Presence of Outsiders" 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12.If Your Christian Life Was A Movie, The World Would View Your Everyday Life Like The Trailer. Walk Properly In The Presence Of Outsiders: Love One Another Even More (v.9-10)
Seek To Lead A Quiet Life (v.11a) Mind Your Own Business (v.11b) Work With Your Own Hands (v.11c)
102217-"This Is God's Will" 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. You Can’t Add God’s Will To Your Life; It’s A Course You Choose To Follow. Our Salvation Consists Of: “JUSTIFICATION”-FREE from Penalty of Sin; “SANCTIFICATION”-FREE from Power of Sin; "GLORIFICATION” -FREE from Presence of Sin.
101517-"You Are Here For Us" 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. “We’re Not Just
Here For You;You’re Here For Us”. Your Life: Impacts Our Faith, Impacts Our Love, Impacts Our Joy, Impacts Our Prayer Life, Impacts Our Hearts.
100817-“Destined For Trials” 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5. When Hard Times Come, Be A Disciple; Not, A Victim. Focus On Caring For Others Instead Of Yourself (v.1-2), Focus On Your Response Instead Of The Storm (v.3), Focus On Eternity Instead Of The Temporary Persecution (v.4), Focus On Persevering Instead Of the Satanic Opposition (v.5).
100117-“Welcoming God’s Word” 1st Thessalonians 2:13-20. Only When We Welcome Scripture As The Very Words Of God Will It Work In A Dynamic Way To Change Us. When You Welcome God’s Word You Will: Accept It’s Authority In Your Life v.13, Face Hostility From People v.14-15, Be Vindicated By God Some Day v.16, Face Satanic Opposition v.17-18, Receive A Crown For Souls Discipled v.19-20.
9/24/17-“Captured By The Gospel” 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12. When You’re Truly Captured By The Gospel, You Can’t Help But Share With Others Your Very Soul. If You’re Captured By The Gospel… You’ll Share Your Soul With Others Like A Nursing Mother (v.7-10) and You’ll Share Your Soul With Others Like A Father (v.11-12).
9/17/17-“Made Bold By God” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6. If Your Boldness—To Please
The Lord—Is In Him, It Won’t Matter What The Critics Say About You. Boldness, In The Lord, Sets You Free From Fear Of Opposition v.2;Free From Intent To Deceive v.3;Free From The Praise Of Men v.4;Free From Greedy Motives v.5;Free From Self-Glory v.6.