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Episodes
Monday Feb 10, 2020
Monday Feb 10, 2020
Collapse: Finding God at the End of Me
Unexpected Grief
2 Kings 4:18-37 & Lamentations 2:10-13
Life is more about how we approach it than what happens to us. As believers, there is a Godly way to walk through the hard parts of life. When we experience unexpected grief, God gives us a way through.
Foundational Biblical Truth: God is the creator and giver of life. Death came as the result of sin. (2 Kings 4:18-37)
A Biblical Perspective on Grief: (Lamentations 2:10-13)
- Grief is a Godly response to loss. (John 11:35)
- God enters into our grief. (Psalm 23:4, 56:8)
- Grief is a season that changes. (Psalm 30:5-12)
- Grief points us toward the hope of Christ. (John 11:33-44)
Final Thought: “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Monday Feb 03, 2020
GO!
Deuteronomy 15:11
Ecclesiastes 8:15,“…there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.”
Ezekiel 16:49,“Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.”
Deuteronomy 15:11,“There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.”
Proverbs 19:17,“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!”
BALANCE FOR DAYS LIKE TODAY REQUIRE:
—CELEBRATION and COMPASSION.
Three steps to authentic compassion:
- See the Need.
- Take the Time.
- Use what you Have.
2 Corinthians 9:11; “You will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”
FINAL THOUGHT: Today is a day for CELEBRATION and COMPASSION—to the GLORY OF GOD.
Sunday Jan 26, 2020
Sunday Jan 26, 2020
That’s a Great Question!
Is Christianity Arrogant?
John 14:6 & Matthew 7:13-14
There is a deeper question we are dealing with, “Is Jesus arrogant?” No.
Individual believers can act arrogantly when, in their zeal, they take matters into their own hands. “I got this.”
Two pictures of zeal in scripture:
Picture One:
- Phinehas takes up a spear. (Numbers 25:5-10)
- Elijah mocks and slaughters the Baal prophets. (1 Kings 18 – 19)
Picture Two:
- Jesus on the cross. (Mark 15:24-39)
- He was the lamb led to the slaughter.
- He was mocked.
- His hands were nailed to the cross.
- His side was pierced by a spear.
Key thought: As a believer, the picture of zeal in your life should be that of Christ.
Questions to ask yourself before moving forward in zeal:
- Am I being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger? (James 1:19-20)
- Am I being obedient to Matthew 18? (Matthew 18:15-20)
- How will this help me grow in the grace of Christ?
- How will this help others grow in the grace of Christ?
- How will this bring glory to God?
- How will this be seen by an unbelieving world?
Final thought: Allow your zeal for the Lord reveal the simple message of the Gospel. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
That’s a Great Question
Is Christianity Racist?
1 Peter 2:18 & Acts 17:26
Imagine a church so rich in Kingdom diversity that all who come find themselves surrounded by many who look just like them—crossing and destroying any and all gender, ethnic, age, economic, and racial barriers.
Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Genesis 1:27-28, So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
Acts 17:26, KJV, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men”.
This is our Biblical Hope: God’s Grace is for all people; therefore all of God’s people must deliberately and with intentionality be for ALL people.
What are we to do?
- Know God’s Heart
- Search Your Heart
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
“When I saw you from afar, I thought you were a monster. When you got closer, I thought you were just an animal. When you got even closer, I saw that you were a human, but when we were face to face I realized that you were my brother.”
African Proverb
- Extend your Hand
Ephesians 2:11-14 “Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders…But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ…in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”
2 Corinthians 5:18, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation”.
Final Thought: Because I already know what it’s going to be like in heaven—ONE PEOPLE—we are to work toward that here and now.
Monday Jan 13, 2020
Monday Jan 13, 2020
That’s a Great Question!
“Is Christianity Sexist?”
In essentials we have unity.
In non-essentials we have liberty.
In all things show love.
Four Foundational Affirmations
1) Men and Women are Image Bearers
(See Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15,18, 21-25)
Psalm 146:5, “But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”
2) Men and Women are Different
(See Genesis 3:14, 16, 17, page)
Genesis 1 God’s perfect world
Genesis 3 Man’s broken world
3) Men and Women are Gifted to Complement
(See Ephesians 5:21-32, page)
Kingdom Reversal:
Matthew 20:25-26 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.”
Acts 2:17-18, “…the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.”
Final affirmation:
4) Men and Women are to Unify and Edify
1 Corinthians 11:11, “But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women.”
Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus … The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
Imagine a Church in which every man woman and child is fully honored and celebrated as created in the very image of God and is uniquely gifted for eternal kingdom redemption by fulfilling God’s unique calling in their lives.
Monday Jan 06, 2020
Monday Jan 06, 2020
That’s a Great Question!
“Is Christianity Irrational?”
Acts 17:16-34
New Year. New Series: That’s a Great Question!
- Is Christianity Irrational?
- Is Christianity Sexist?
- Is Christianity Racist?
- Is Christianity Arrogant?
Is Christianity Irrational?
There are three ways to look at human life:
theological
biological
philosophical
Key truth: All people believe something.
Three Simple Truths:
#1 We came from Somewhere
#2 We are going Somewhere
#3 We have a Choice to Make
Hebrews 11:1,3; “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see…. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command…”
Romans 1:20, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”
Final Thought: Is Christianity Irrational? No, it is the most rational thing you can do, to look at the world and know there is a God.
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Monday Dec 30, 2019
With
CLOSE THE GAP
Mark 14:53-54, 66-72
“Weren’t you with him?”- Mark 14:67
What is a Gap?
A gap is when we let our sin separate us from Jesus.
Sin is anything that we THINK, SAY, or DO that disobeys God.
So where did Peter sin? Mark 14:27-31, 53-54, 66-72
Peter was 100% with Jesus. Mark 14:27-31
Peter denied Jesus. Mark 14:53-54 & 66-72
- Verse 54 & 68- Peter experienced loneliness
- Verse 70- Peter struggled with fear and anxiety
- Verse 71- Peter was challenged by anger
- Verse 72- Peter realized that he created a gap and was NOT WITH Jesus
When we are not following Jesus as we should others notice.
Are you WITH Jesus? John 21
When we are not with Jesus we fall back into our sinful ways. John 21:1-3
Jesus shows grace even when we fail him. John 21:4-14
Jesus restores those who follows him. John 21:15-19
Final Thought: Jesus is the one who closes the gap but do you love Jesus enough to follow Him?
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Monday Dec 23, 2019
WITH
“The Truth Is”
Mark 2:1-12
ASKING the right QUESTIONS can lead us to the TRUTH
The Truth Is . . .
- Objective
- Universal
- Consequential
- Not Everyone’s Goal
The Truth Is . . .
- Every man DIES; not every man really LIVES
- If you are born ONCE, you will die TWICE, but if you are born TWICE, you will only die ONCE
- JESUS
Final Thought: JESUS is not only the REASON for the season; He is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life, and no man comes to the FATHER but by HIM.
Monday Dec 16, 2019
Monday Dec 16, 2019
With
Why So Angry
Matthew 2:13-23
“Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry…" - Ephesians 4:26
Three Questions:
What is Anger?
God’s Anger:
“The Lord’s anger burned…[Israel] wandered for 40 years” Numbers 32:13
“At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.” Job 4:9
Anger Warnings:
“…anger resides in the lap of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9
“In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” Ephesians 4:26
Why are we so Angry?
v16, “Herod was furious…”
- We live Relationally Isolated
Romans 12:18 “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” - We carry Excess Baggage
- We believe the stories we tell ourselves
- We fail to Trust God
Romans 12:19, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”
What to do with Anger?
The key: When angry we must deliberately move from thoughtless reaction to thoughtful response.
Matthew 18:15, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”
- Move Toward People Not Away
- Choose Forgiveness
Final thought: The cross is where anger and love met.
Monday Dec 02, 2019
Monday Dec 02, 2019
With
Something is Missing
Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:5-17
“The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is WITH us’).” - Isaiah 7:14
With—see Genesis 1-4, Exodus 33, Joshua 3, John 1, Matthew 28, Revelation 21
Is Something Missing?
#1—CREATED FOR Relationship
v13, “But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”
“Loneliness may mean glory. Loneliness is a wilderness but through receiving it as a gift, accepting it from the hand of God and offering it back to Him with thanksgiving, it may become the pathway to God Himself.” - Elisabeth Elliot
#2—FLOURISH IN Relationship
v14, “You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth”
Luke 5:16, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
“Whenever you feel lonely, you must try to find the source of this feeling. You are inclined to either run away from your loneliness or to dwell in it. When you run away from it, your loneliness does not really diminish; you simply force it out of your mind temporarily. The spiritual task is not to escape your loneliness, nor to let your drown in it, but to find its source.” - Henri Nouwen
#3—JESUS OFFERS Relationship
v16-17, “…he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord…”
John 14:1-3, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
Final Thought: You can’t live for Jesus unless you live with Jesus.
Psalm 16:11, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”