Are You An Enigma To The World?
'Once more, then, we are reminded at the very beginning that the Christian is altogether different from the world. It is a difference in quality, an essential difference. He is a new man, a new creation; he belongs to an entirely different kingdom. And not only is the world unlike him; it cannot possibly understand him. He is an enigma to the world. And if you and I are not, in this primary sense, problems and enigmas to the non-Christians around us, then this tells us a great deal about our profession of the Christian faith.' - D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones from “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount”
Prayer Requests: December 1st
Rainy: Answers from her sleep study
Kellie: Answers for Dr appointment on Wednesday, direction on Jeff's knee
Liz: Learn what she needs for the accounting role she is taking on
Bryan: Procedure goes well next week & provides answers
Please pray for these requests during the week and let us know of any progress
Kellie: Answers for Dr appointment on Wednesday, direction on Jeff's knee
Liz: Learn what she needs for the accounting role she is taking on
Bryan: Procedure goes well next week & provides answers
Please pray for these requests during the week and let us know of any progress
How Do We Live By The Bible – Salt
The beginning of the Sermon on the Mount recounts Jesus using salt & light as a metaphor for how we should be. Since Jesus is teaching His followers directly, I think it’s highly important we understand. This week we will be focusing on salt. Salt has been used through history for a variety of things…it is believed that salt has over 14,000 uses. So with that in mind, what does it mean to be salt?
You are the salt
of the earth
·
Matthew 5:13
You
are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its
saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown
out and trampled under people’s feet
·
Salt is primary known as a seasoning
o
It enhances both flavor & aroma
o
The first thing you hear on cooking
shows about bad food…too little salt
o
Salt works in concert with other
flavors
§ It
will decrease your bitter taste perception (grapefruit)
§ It
balances out sweet or sour tastes (salted caramel)
·
With this in mind, how can Christians be
‘salt of the earth’?
o
By living out the Great Commission - Matthew
28:19-20
§ Make
disciples, baptizing, teaching them to obey
§ By
multiplying ourselves, we can change the world
*** Find your place to grow others ***
·
What happens when salt is not seasoning
or preserving?
o
It can’t do the things we discussed
o
So how salty are you?
Salt of the
covenant
·
Leviticus 2:13
You
shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of
the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your
offerings you shall offer salt
·
Salt represents a covenant
o
The expression “a covenant of salt”
occurs in Numbers 18:19 & 2 Chronicles 13:5
o
It denotes an indissoluble alliance or
an everlasting covenant
·
Salt was the great symbol across nations
and ages
o
Salt was routinely a part of treaties
& alliances
o
Salt was a symbol of hospitality,
friendship, durability, & fidelity
·
Christians are Christ’s ambassadors
o
2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for
Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God
§ We
implore people to be reconciled to God
§ We
are symbols of His grace
o
It’s why testimonies need to be told
§ We
HAVE to be real
*** Serving on mission with others ***
Seasoned
with salt
·
Colossians 4:6
Let
your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you
ought to answer each person
·
There is an optimal amount of salt
o
Too much or too little salt can ruin a good meal
o
Too much or too little salt in the diet can lead
to muscle cramps, dizziness, or electrolyte disturbance, which can cause
neurological problems, or even death
·
A wise chef uses just enough salt
o
A little salt goes a long way
·
Being all things to all people
o
1 Corinthians 9:22
To
the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to
all people, that by all means I might save some
o
Paul was wise in his saltiness
§
From simple presentations of Christ to
reasoning in Athens in the Areopagus
o
If you’re polarizing, how can your
speech be seasoned with salt?
·
You are always being watched by
unbelievers
o
Do you think about your actions ever
PREVENTING someone coming to Christ
§
Non-believers routinely site
ungracious Christians as their biggest stumbling block
o
How can you be gracious in all you do?
Mistakes People Make When Reading the Bible
By Mike Query
As someone who grew up going to going to church, I’ve often viewed the Bible as both fascinating and daunting, but somewhat inaccessible. Hearing about all the stories in Sunday School was definitely entertaining, but they were harder to make much sense of once I got older and read them for myself.
When I began reading the Bible on my own initiative, I found it difficult at first to get much out of it. I knew there was a lot to unpack, but it was hard for me to believe I’d be able to make much sense of what I was studying unless I decided to attend seminary.
Over time, I was able to learn how to read the Bible and become familiar with it, but it took numerous changes in how I approached it before I was at a point where I could read it daily and make some sense of what it was trying to tell me.
I work primarily with teenagers, and I find them repeating the same mistakes I did when reading my Bible when I was younger, and after talking with some peers when doing this Bible study for myself, I realized these mistakes are also common among most adults as well. I’m pretty convinced that, without some guidance, most people fall victim to the same traps when reading the Bible, and unfortunately lose their enthusiasm for God.
There are a lot of things you can do to learn how to understand the Bible better, but first, here are a few common mistakes to avoid:
1. Looking for Insight Rather Than Personal Application
The Bible is a fascinating book, there’s no question about it. Even if you’re coming at it from a completely atheistic perspective, there’s enough historical and cultural significance, as well as action-packed sequences, to keep you occupied for days.
However, for believers, simply reading the Bible for information is not enough if we want it to have an impact on our lives.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:22-24).
Just about every verse you read contains some kind of direction from God on how we can change our lives for the better and open up to His transformation in our lives. The Bible is applicable to situations we go through on a day to day basis (Hebrews 4:12), from dealing with stress to loving those around us.
It’s a huge temptation to only read the Bible with the purpose of gaining more knowledge. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, you’re missing the whole point of the Scriptures if you never once sit down and read it with the intent to let it guide you to change something in your life.
2. Failing to Research Context
The Bible is one continual story, from cover to cover, about God creating us and doing whatever He could to build a relationship with us. While many verses work fine when read in a vacuum (most notably Proverbs and Psalms), most Scripture is meant to be understood in context. You can learn a lot more about the verse you’re reading by examining the details surrounding it, including:
Author - who wrote the book, and why were they writing it? What else do we know about this person?
Date - when the book was written can tell you a lot about the verses in the book you’re reading. For example, knowing that the book of Ruth took place in 1300 BC tells us that they lived during the time of judges, when Israel was at one of its most darkest points in history. This makes the story of Ruth and Boaz that much more inspiring and powerful.
Recipient - who the book was intended for can give you more insight on how the Scriptures were meant to be processed. This is especially true of the letters in the New Testament, most of which were written to different churches who were in various spiritual states.
3. Sticking to the Same Translation
If the only version of the Bible you’ve ever read is the one sitting on your shelf that you’ve had since you were a kid, there’s a chance you’re reading a translation that may not be right for you.
A lot of people make the mistake of sticking to the same Bible translation, either refusing to change because of tradition or because they’re unaware of the other reading options available. Since each translation is slightly different, reading a different version can give you more insight into the Scriptures, and can make an otherwise confusing Scripture more accessible.
Order another version (such as the New Living Translation or The Message) and see if it helps you understand a new perspective on the Scriptures, or clear up any confusion you may have previously had.
4. Reading in a Distracting Environment
This one seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by how many people I talk to who read their Bibles with the TV on, while playing iPhone games, or while friends or family are nearby asking for help. While those scenarios may work for homework or paying the bills, they make it close to impossible to really read the Scriptures and hear what God is trying to tell you.
As I mentioned in the first point, reading your Bible can (and should!) be a very personal affair. Eliminating distractions could mean the difference between reading a cool verse and finding the passage that changes how you view your life.
5. Thinking the Only Way to Read the Bible is By Looking at Words on a Page
In today’s modern age, there are countless ways to digest information. This is no less true for the Bible. Many people get stuck in a box and feel intimidated by the sheer volume of Scriptures, and end up never giving the Bible a shot. And while the fear is understandable, it’s completely avoidable.
If you’re feeling bored of reading, or perhaps have a disability or learning challenge, try listening to the Bible (via a full audio Bible, or a read along feature like the one found in the Tecarta Bible app) or watching the Bible (The Story is a great example of a visual presentation of the Bible).
Reprinted from: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/5-mistakes-people-make-when-reading-bible
As someone who grew up going to going to church, I’ve often viewed the Bible as both fascinating and daunting, but somewhat inaccessible. Hearing about all the stories in Sunday School was definitely entertaining, but they were harder to make much sense of once I got older and read them for myself.
When I began reading the Bible on my own initiative, I found it difficult at first to get much out of it. I knew there was a lot to unpack, but it was hard for me to believe I’d be able to make much sense of what I was studying unless I decided to attend seminary.
Over time, I was able to learn how to read the Bible and become familiar with it, but it took numerous changes in how I approached it before I was at a point where I could read it daily and make some sense of what it was trying to tell me.
I work primarily with teenagers, and I find them repeating the same mistakes I did when reading my Bible when I was younger, and after talking with some peers when doing this Bible study for myself, I realized these mistakes are also common among most adults as well. I’m pretty convinced that, without some guidance, most people fall victim to the same traps when reading the Bible, and unfortunately lose their enthusiasm for God.
There are a lot of things you can do to learn how to understand the Bible better, but first, here are a few common mistakes to avoid:
1. Looking for Insight Rather Than Personal Application
The Bible is a fascinating book, there’s no question about it. Even if you’re coming at it from a completely atheistic perspective, there’s enough historical and cultural significance, as well as action-packed sequences, to keep you occupied for days.
However, for believers, simply reading the Bible for information is not enough if we want it to have an impact on our lives.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:22-24).
Just about every verse you read contains some kind of direction from God on how we can change our lives for the better and open up to His transformation in our lives. The Bible is applicable to situations we go through on a day to day basis (Hebrews 4:12), from dealing with stress to loving those around us.
It’s a huge temptation to only read the Bible with the purpose of gaining more knowledge. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, you’re missing the whole point of the Scriptures if you never once sit down and read it with the intent to let it guide you to change something in your life.
2. Failing to Research Context
The Bible is one continual story, from cover to cover, about God creating us and doing whatever He could to build a relationship with us. While many verses work fine when read in a vacuum (most notably Proverbs and Psalms), most Scripture is meant to be understood in context. You can learn a lot more about the verse you’re reading by examining the details surrounding it, including:
Author - who wrote the book, and why were they writing it? What else do we know about this person?
Date - when the book was written can tell you a lot about the verses in the book you’re reading. For example, knowing that the book of Ruth took place in 1300 BC tells us that they lived during the time of judges, when Israel was at one of its most darkest points in history. This makes the story of Ruth and Boaz that much more inspiring and powerful.
Recipient - who the book was intended for can give you more insight on how the Scriptures were meant to be processed. This is especially true of the letters in the New Testament, most of which were written to different churches who were in various spiritual states.
3. Sticking to the Same Translation
If the only version of the Bible you’ve ever read is the one sitting on your shelf that you’ve had since you were a kid, there’s a chance you’re reading a translation that may not be right for you.
A lot of people make the mistake of sticking to the same Bible translation, either refusing to change because of tradition or because they’re unaware of the other reading options available. Since each translation is slightly different, reading a different version can give you more insight into the Scriptures, and can make an otherwise confusing Scripture more accessible.
Order another version (such as the New Living Translation or The Message) and see if it helps you understand a new perspective on the Scriptures, or clear up any confusion you may have previously had.
4. Reading in a Distracting Environment
This one seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by how many people I talk to who read their Bibles with the TV on, while playing iPhone games, or while friends or family are nearby asking for help. While those scenarios may work for homework or paying the bills, they make it close to impossible to really read the Scriptures and hear what God is trying to tell you.
As I mentioned in the first point, reading your Bible can (and should!) be a very personal affair. Eliminating distractions could mean the difference between reading a cool verse and finding the passage that changes how you view your life.
5. Thinking the Only Way to Read the Bible is By Looking at Words on a Page
In today’s modern age, there are countless ways to digest information. This is no less true for the Bible. Many people get stuck in a box and feel intimidated by the sheer volume of Scriptures, and end up never giving the Bible a shot. And while the fear is understandable, it’s completely avoidable.
If you’re feeling bored of reading, or perhaps have a disability or learning challenge, try listening to the Bible (via a full audio Bible, or a read along feature like the one found in the Tecarta Bible app) or watching the Bible (The Story is a great example of a visual presentation of the Bible).
Reprinted from: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/5-mistakes-people-make-when-reading-bible
Five Characteristics of Biblical Discipline
By Chip Ingram
"Discipline" can be a really vague concept, and if you're lost in the landscape of opinions surrounding it out there, you're not alone. If you were to ask a hundred parents to describe their motives and methods of discipline, you might get a hundred different answers. But here's the good news: God's Word is pretty specific about this subject. Since the Bible is always more reliable than opinion surveys — a good principle for any issue in life, by the way — let's take a look at what God says through the writer of Hebrews.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Endure hardship as discipline: God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:4-11)
In this passage, we can discern five distinct characteristics of God's kind of discipline.
1. The necessity of discipline: to deter destruction (v. 4). The writer of Hebrews ends chapter 10 with a strong warning coupled with strong encouragement: Those who shrink back from faith and God's will are destroyed, but those who persevere receive all that He has promised. Chapter 11 is full of examples from the men and women in Scripture, and then chapter 12 continues with the encouragement to live a courageous, faithful life. The context of verse 4 is this idea that haphazard living leads to destruction. The message is clear: Disciplined lives reap rewards.
Discipline is about watching your child to see the direction in which he's going. Remember the illustration of giving your child the keys and letting him drive on his own? Action needs to be taken when you see your child take the wrong route and you know he's headed straight for a cliff. You yank the wheel or slam on the brakes, or even put up a barrier so your child won't plunge a thousand feet. He'll get mad for a moment, but ten years down the road he'll thank you.
Many parents are afraid of making their children mad. I remember the first time one of mine stuck out his lip and said, "I don't love you anymore." My first thought was, "Boy, I don't ever want to be that hard on him again." That's a lot of power to give a five-year-old, isn't it? A better response is to grit your teeth and bear the anger of your child, because it's better to make him frown than let him rush toward destruction. That frown won't last forever. Destruction, however, just might.
Do you see how, from this perspective, discipline — even painful discipline — is actually an expression of love? It always seeks the child's best interest. A mature parent can withstand the anger of their child and say, "That's okay, you don't need to love me right now. You'll love me for it in a few years." It hurts temporarily, but to compromise your child's welfare from fear of losing his love will hurt a lot worse later on.
2.The means of discipline: actions and words (v. 5). In the Proverbs 3:11 passage that is quoted in Hebrews, two different Hebrew words are used: yasar (discipline), which involves God's actions; and yakach (rebuke), which refers to God's words. Hebrews 12:5 tells us not to make light of God's actions and not to lose heart at His words of rebuke. Yasar refers to disciplinary actions; yakach refers to corrective words.
As parents, that's exactly how we are to discipline. We bring both words and actions, warnings and consequences, into our children's situations in order to keep them on track.
3.The motive in discipline: to express love (vv. 6-9). When juvenile delinquents, as part of a research study, were asked how they knew their parents' feelings toward them, almost all of them said that lack of discipline in their home was a sign that their parents didn't love them. We often think that we're expressing love when we repeatedly say, "I'll give you another chance." What we're really doing, though, is neglecting to set boundaries that let our children know they're in a safety zone where they can feel secure. One of the most powerful ways to love your child is to be consistent in your discipline. And that's really hard. We're inclined to do whatever we can to maintain a friendship with our kids, when discipline is actually much more important.
I tend to do discipline well for a few weeks, and then find it more convenient to make compromises. Kids pick up on that in an instant. Try listening to them sometime when they aren't aware that a parent can hear them. Their conversation often sounds something like this:
"I got grounded last night."
"Oh no. How long?"
"They said two weeks, but it'll probably just be three or four days."
Where did they get that idea? Children are diligent students of parental behavior. They usually know when they can get away with things. Over time, they learn your breaking points and where you are prone to compromise. They aren't consciously taking notes, of course. They've been taught very well by experience.
4. The goal of discipline: to teach obedience (v. 9). When you teach your children godly submission, you're teaching them to do the right thing for the right reason. You want them to get beyond the point where they say "I've got to" and get them to the point of obeying out of love and trust. Their discipline will be primarily external in the beginning, but eventually it should become internal — so integrated into their personality that it's self-discipline rather than imposed discipline. The way you regulate how they speak and act toward other people needs to become a part of who they are so that when you remove the regulations, the behavior remains.
5. The result of discipline: short-term pain and long-term gain (vv. 10-11). The reason we don't like to discipline our kids is because it involves short-term pain. We're sympathetic to their feelings, and we never enjoy hurting them. Verse 11 acknowledges the pain, saying all discipline — not some or even most, but all — seems not to be pleasant, but painful. But there's a process involved; those who have been trained by it yield the fruit of righteousness.
Someone advised me long ago not to ask myself whether my child liked the discipline I was imposing but to ask whether he would love me when he looked back on the situation years later. That helped me tremendously, especially when one of them would say, "What do you mean I'm grounded? I really can't go? I hate you. You're the worst parent in the world." I even overheard one of my kids, only mildly joking, telling his friends, "It's like my dad chains me to the bedpost. I never get to go anywhere." I would have to remind myself that he was reaping the consequences we had decided on and spelled out up front, and his disobedience produced the expected results. I didn't give in, and my kids came back to me later and said, "Thanks, Dad."
Reprinted from: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/effective-biblical-discipline/effective-child-discipline/five-characteristics-of-biblical-discipline
"Discipline" can be a really vague concept, and if you're lost in the landscape of opinions surrounding it out there, you're not alone. If you were to ask a hundred parents to describe their motives and methods of discipline, you might get a hundred different answers. But here's the good news: God's Word is pretty specific about this subject. Since the Bible is always more reliable than opinion surveys — a good principle for any issue in life, by the way — let's take a look at what God says through the writer of Hebrews.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Endure hardship as discipline: God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:4-11)
In this passage, we can discern five distinct characteristics of God's kind of discipline.
1. The necessity of discipline: to deter destruction (v. 4). The writer of Hebrews ends chapter 10 with a strong warning coupled with strong encouragement: Those who shrink back from faith and God's will are destroyed, but those who persevere receive all that He has promised. Chapter 11 is full of examples from the men and women in Scripture, and then chapter 12 continues with the encouragement to live a courageous, faithful life. The context of verse 4 is this idea that haphazard living leads to destruction. The message is clear: Disciplined lives reap rewards.
Discipline is about watching your child to see the direction in which he's going. Remember the illustration of giving your child the keys and letting him drive on his own? Action needs to be taken when you see your child take the wrong route and you know he's headed straight for a cliff. You yank the wheel or slam on the brakes, or even put up a barrier so your child won't plunge a thousand feet. He'll get mad for a moment, but ten years down the road he'll thank you.
Many parents are afraid of making their children mad. I remember the first time one of mine stuck out his lip and said, "I don't love you anymore." My first thought was, "Boy, I don't ever want to be that hard on him again." That's a lot of power to give a five-year-old, isn't it? A better response is to grit your teeth and bear the anger of your child, because it's better to make him frown than let him rush toward destruction. That frown won't last forever. Destruction, however, just might.
Do you see how, from this perspective, discipline — even painful discipline — is actually an expression of love? It always seeks the child's best interest. A mature parent can withstand the anger of their child and say, "That's okay, you don't need to love me right now. You'll love me for it in a few years." It hurts temporarily, but to compromise your child's welfare from fear of losing his love will hurt a lot worse later on.
2.The means of discipline: actions and words (v. 5). In the Proverbs 3:11 passage that is quoted in Hebrews, two different Hebrew words are used: yasar (discipline), which involves God's actions; and yakach (rebuke), which refers to God's words. Hebrews 12:5 tells us not to make light of God's actions and not to lose heart at His words of rebuke. Yasar refers to disciplinary actions; yakach refers to corrective words.
As parents, that's exactly how we are to discipline. We bring both words and actions, warnings and consequences, into our children's situations in order to keep them on track.
3.The motive in discipline: to express love (vv. 6-9). When juvenile delinquents, as part of a research study, were asked how they knew their parents' feelings toward them, almost all of them said that lack of discipline in their home was a sign that their parents didn't love them. We often think that we're expressing love when we repeatedly say, "I'll give you another chance." What we're really doing, though, is neglecting to set boundaries that let our children know they're in a safety zone where they can feel secure. One of the most powerful ways to love your child is to be consistent in your discipline. And that's really hard. We're inclined to do whatever we can to maintain a friendship with our kids, when discipline is actually much more important.
I tend to do discipline well for a few weeks, and then find it more convenient to make compromises. Kids pick up on that in an instant. Try listening to them sometime when they aren't aware that a parent can hear them. Their conversation often sounds something like this:
"I got grounded last night."
"Oh no. How long?"
"They said two weeks, but it'll probably just be three or four days."
Where did they get that idea? Children are diligent students of parental behavior. They usually know when they can get away with things. Over time, they learn your breaking points and where you are prone to compromise. They aren't consciously taking notes, of course. They've been taught very well by experience.
4. The goal of discipline: to teach obedience (v. 9). When you teach your children godly submission, you're teaching them to do the right thing for the right reason. You want them to get beyond the point where they say "I've got to" and get them to the point of obeying out of love and trust. Their discipline will be primarily external in the beginning, but eventually it should become internal — so integrated into their personality that it's self-discipline rather than imposed discipline. The way you regulate how they speak and act toward other people needs to become a part of who they are so that when you remove the regulations, the behavior remains.
5. The result of discipline: short-term pain and long-term gain (vv. 10-11). The reason we don't like to discipline our kids is because it involves short-term pain. We're sympathetic to their feelings, and we never enjoy hurting them. Verse 11 acknowledges the pain, saying all discipline — not some or even most, but all — seems not to be pleasant, but painful. But there's a process involved; those who have been trained by it yield the fruit of righteousness.
Someone advised me long ago not to ask myself whether my child liked the discipline I was imposing but to ask whether he would love me when he looked back on the situation years later. That helped me tremendously, especially when one of them would say, "What do you mean I'm grounded? I really can't go? I hate you. You're the worst parent in the world." I even overheard one of my kids, only mildly joking, telling his friends, "It's like my dad chains me to the bedpost. I never get to go anywhere." I would have to remind myself that he was reaping the consequences we had decided on and spelled out up front, and his disobedience produced the expected results. I didn't give in, and my kids came back to me later and said, "Thanks, Dad."
Reprinted from: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/effective-biblical-discipline/effective-child-discipline/five-characteristics-of-biblical-discipline
Prayer Requests: November 17th
Mitchell's: Direction & wisdom on discipline with Conner & a soft heart for him
Tucker's: Peace & energy for hosting Thanksgiving
Praises
Kellie: Everyone back from camp safely
Please pray for these requests during the week and let us know of any progress
Tucker's: Peace & energy for hosting Thanksgiving
Praises
Kellie: Everyone back from camp safely
Please pray for these requests during the week and let us know of any progress
How Do We Live By The Bible – Parenting
We all hope to be good parents &
to set our children up for success.
There are a lot of ways that we can approach parenting. And certainly in our world there is no
shortage parenting advice. The Bible has
some incredible instruction on parenting.
So based on the Bible, what is God’s viewpoint on parenting?
Children Are An
Inheritance
·
Psalms 127:3 (GODS WORD)
Children are an inheritance from the LORD.
They are a reward from him
·
The Hebrew for inheritance/gift/heritage
is nachalah (nakh·al·ä')
o
Used 223 times in the OT
o
It almost always refers to monetary
gain
·
They are God's possession, not ours
o
He has temporarily placed them under
our care
o
In effect, our children are ‘on loan’
from God
·
We are always called to be good
stewards of what God has given us
o
Matthew 25:20-21
And he who had received the five
talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you
delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master
said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over
a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
o
How can you be a good steward of this inheritance?
§ A
good steward makes the best investment
§ A
poor steward gives back what he has been given
We Discipline Who We Love
·
Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV)
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do
not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father
the son he delights in
·
Discipline = Love
o
We discipline our children because we love them
o
We want to protect them & give them wisdom
§
We’ve learned from our successes & failures
o
We want them to make good decisions when they
grow up
·
Discipline saves them from death
o
Proverbs 23:13-14 (NIV)
o
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you
punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save
them from death
§
They will not die LOL
o
You save them by building invisible guardrails
·
You don’t have to do it alone
o
We help each other raise our kids
o
We learn from & lean on each other
o
That’s what a strong biblical community does
***Jess Strait example ***
Train In The Way They Should Go
·
Proverbs 22:6
Train
up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from
it
·
Modeling behavior
·
Kids see & all we do & know what’s
genuine
·
We model for them & can’t fake it
***
Jacob & the Israelites example***
·
It starts with scripture
o
2 Timothy 3:16-17
o
All Scripture is breathed out by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good
work
o
Otherwise they will learn from the world
o
If the Word is truth, they will potentially
learn lies
·
How can you train in something you don’t know or
live by yourself?
o
This is a great reason to be in your Word
o
You don’t have to be a scholar, you can learn
alongside them
Does Obedience Come From A Sense Of Duty Or From A Desire For God?
By Nathan Betts
Christianity is nothing more than a set of rules! Have you ever heard or argued this before? The question or objection, depending on how it is phrased, comes from both Christians and skeptics. So what does Christianity have to say to this?
It is helpful first to acknowledge that the Bible is indeed full of commands and instructions. But the role that the rules play is often misunderstood. Rules, even going back to the Ten Commandments, were not meant simply to tell us what to do and what not to do. They were intended to be a means by which humanity could come close to God and relate to God. If we think of how rules are applied in other areas of life, it is quite easy to understand how this works. Discipline, guidelines or putting deadlines in place are not an end in themselves; they are the means by which we achieve what we want to accomplish.
While I was doing undergraduate studies in Toronto I worked for the Toronto Blue Jays ground crew. While working there I noticed that the elite players would always be the ones to arrive at the ballpark early and leave late. They would come in early for strength and conditioning purposes, then perhaps look over strategies or game plans. Then they would join the rest of the team once the normal daily routines began. This was hard work and made for long days. Here is the point: the discipline of getting to the stadium early, doing an extra work out, working over game plans were not the goal. These were the means by which this player would attain the ultimate goal: victory.
The rules set out in Scripture were never meant to inhibit pleasure or desire, but to do the exact opposite. Desire gave birth to commands, but somehow we have understood it the other way around, as if the commands were meant to create desire.
There is actually a moment documented in the Old Testament in which the people of Israel say that they would like to follow God’s commandments. However, Joshua, their leader at the time, turns them down. Effectively, he says, ‘You don’t have what it takes. You will turn away from God. So, please, don’t commit to it.’ They push back and insist that they truly want to follow God. Joshua reluctantly gives in and grants them their desire to form a covenant binding them to follow God’s rules.
The rules and statutes implemented into the life of Israel stemmed from a desire to serve the Lord. Rules were not put in place to prevent desire from finding its fulfillment. Rather, the rules were put in place to fulfill desire and avoid destruction.
A question that we need to ask ourselves is, ‘Where do rules find their starting point?’ In the Christian sense, does obedience come from a sense of duty or from a desire for God? If the drive to live for God comes from a sense of duty, our faith will become one long arduous journey. But duty is not where the gospel asks us to begin. We begin with a love and desire for God.
Imagine that I have just been away from home on a long business trip. When I return home I decide to stop off at the florist’s near my home because I want to get flowers for my wife. I purchase the flowers, then walk up to the door with flowers behind my back and knock on the door. My wife opens the door and I reveal the flowers to her. She says, ‘Nathan, you shouldn’t have done this! Why did you get me these flowers?’ I reply, ‘Because it is my duty!’
What do you think her response will be after she hears this? What if I respond to her question by saying that I got her those flowers because I love her—that there is nothing more I love than the sweet fellowship I have with her.
This gets at the heart of Christian discipleship. Christianity does not start with rules, but the rules do make sense. They are put in place to fulfill our desire for God; not to coerce us into loving God.
Reprinted from: http://www.rzim.org/a-slice-of-infinity/love-and-rules/
Christianity is nothing more than a set of rules! Have you ever heard or argued this before? The question or objection, depending on how it is phrased, comes from both Christians and skeptics. So what does Christianity have to say to this?
It is helpful first to acknowledge that the Bible is indeed full of commands and instructions. But the role that the rules play is often misunderstood. Rules, even going back to the Ten Commandments, were not meant simply to tell us what to do and what not to do. They were intended to be a means by which humanity could come close to God and relate to God. If we think of how rules are applied in other areas of life, it is quite easy to understand how this works. Discipline, guidelines or putting deadlines in place are not an end in themselves; they are the means by which we achieve what we want to accomplish.
While I was doing undergraduate studies in Toronto I worked for the Toronto Blue Jays ground crew. While working there I noticed that the elite players would always be the ones to arrive at the ballpark early and leave late. They would come in early for strength and conditioning purposes, then perhaps look over strategies or game plans. Then they would join the rest of the team once the normal daily routines began. This was hard work and made for long days. Here is the point: the discipline of getting to the stadium early, doing an extra work out, working over game plans were not the goal. These were the means by which this player would attain the ultimate goal: victory.
The rules set out in Scripture were never meant to inhibit pleasure or desire, but to do the exact opposite. Desire gave birth to commands, but somehow we have understood it the other way around, as if the commands were meant to create desire.
There is actually a moment documented in the Old Testament in which the people of Israel say that they would like to follow God’s commandments. However, Joshua, their leader at the time, turns them down. Effectively, he says, ‘You don’t have what it takes. You will turn away from God. So, please, don’t commit to it.’ They push back and insist that they truly want to follow God. Joshua reluctantly gives in and grants them their desire to form a covenant binding them to follow God’s rules.
The rules and statutes implemented into the life of Israel stemmed from a desire to serve the Lord. Rules were not put in place to prevent desire from finding its fulfillment. Rather, the rules were put in place to fulfill desire and avoid destruction.
A question that we need to ask ourselves is, ‘Where do rules find their starting point?’ In the Christian sense, does obedience come from a sense of duty or from a desire for God? If the drive to live for God comes from a sense of duty, our faith will become one long arduous journey. But duty is not where the gospel asks us to begin. We begin with a love and desire for God.
Imagine that I have just been away from home on a long business trip. When I return home I decide to stop off at the florist’s near my home because I want to get flowers for my wife. I purchase the flowers, then walk up to the door with flowers behind my back and knock on the door. My wife opens the door and I reveal the flowers to her. She says, ‘Nathan, you shouldn’t have done this! Why did you get me these flowers?’ I reply, ‘Because it is my duty!’
What do you think her response will be after she hears this? What if I respond to her question by saying that I got her those flowers because I love her—that there is nothing more I love than the sweet fellowship I have with her.
This gets at the heart of Christian discipleship. Christianity does not start with rules, but the rules do make sense. They are put in place to fulfill our desire for God; not to coerce us into loving God.
Reprinted from: http://www.rzim.org/a-slice-of-infinity/love-and-rules/
Prayer Requests: November 10th
Mike: Passes his 1st actuarial exam, test is on Wednesday
Kellie: Answers from Dr appt, covering during 5th grade camp
Please pray for these requests during the week and let us know of any progress
Kellie: Answers from Dr appt, covering during 5th grade camp
Please pray for these requests during the week and let us know of any progress
How Do We Live By The Bible – Obedience
Living
out your faith is often as difficult as it is confusing. Determining how God
wants us to live our life seems as out of reach as actually living it out. So
how does the Bible instruct us here? How
does God want us to live our life?
Keep
His Commandments
·
John 14:15
If
you love me, you will keep my commandments
·
What is Obedience?
o
Dutifully complying with the commands,
orders, or instructions of one in authority
o
For the Christian, obedience means
complying with everything God has commanded because it is our duty to do so
o
It’s how we show we love God
·
Loving God is the greatest commandment
o
Matt 22:36-38
o
Teacher, which is the great
commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the
great and first commandment.
·
Obeying your Father is loving
o
**Think about disobedient children**
o
How does it feel to you when you’re
child disobeys?
To Obey Is Better
Than Sacrifice
·
1 Samuel 15:22
And
Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
·
We have our time, energy, & money
to sacrifice
o
That’s not a substitute for obedience
o
God doesn’t need anything from you
·
God desires obedience from love
o
Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is
unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags we all shrivel up like
a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away
o
Empty following is not love
o
**Look at the Pharisees**
·
Don’t
deceive yourself
o
James
1:22-25 (NIV)
o
Do
not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone
who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks
at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they
have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
And All These Things Will Be Added To You
·
Matthew 6:30-33
·
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more
clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What
shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the
Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you
need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you
·
Trust and obedience are bound together
o
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for
good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
o
The more we realize in our thinking and
experience that God always seeks our good, the more we will be willing to trust
and obey him in what he asks us to do and to avoid
·
Our place in his design is predicated on our
obedience & trust
o
It’s a choice
o
** My story on trust **
Why Live By The Bible: Follow your heart?
There are many calls to “follow your heart” in movies, novels, slogans, blogs, and memes. Related pieces of advice are “trust yourself” and “follow your instincts.” A corollary dictum is “your heart will never lead you astray.” The problem is that none of these quips are biblically supportable.
Rather than trust our hearts, we are to commit our hearts to God: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). This passage gives an explicit command not to trust ourselves. And it gives the promise of guidance to those who choose to follow the Lord.
For anything to provide proper direction it must be based on objective truth. That is to say that whatever is consulted for guidance must reach a conclusion based on objective truth and not subjective, emotional inference. The Bible teaches that man is to follow God. God declares, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:7). God has perfect knowledge of everything (1 John 3:20), a trait often called omniscience. God’s knowledge is not limited in any way. God is aware of all events that have ever transpired, are currently occurring, and will ever happen (Isaiah 46:9–10). God’s knowledge goes beyond mere events and extends to thoughts and intentions (John 2:25; Acts 1:24). It is not all this knowledge, however, that makes God a perfectly reliable source of guidance. God is also aware of every possibility, every eventuality, every imaginable outcome of any series of events (Matthew 11:21). That ability, combined with God’s goodness, enables God to give the best possible direction for people to follow.
God says this about the unregenerate heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This passage makes clear two reasons why no one should bind himself to following his heart when making decisions. First, there is nothing more deceitful in all of creation than the heart of man because of his inherited sin nature. If we follow our heart, we follow an untrustworthy guide.
We are, in fact, blinded to our own heart’s deceitful nature. As the prophet asks, “Who can understand it?” When we rely on ourselves for wisdom, we end up unable to tell right from wrong. The hit song of 1977, “You Light Up My Life,” contains these unfortunate words: “It can’t be wrong / When it feels so right.” Determining right from wrong based on “feelings” is a dangerous (and unbiblical) way to live.
Second, Jeremiah 17:9 teaches that the heart is desperately sick. There is no way to fix the heart. Rather, man needs a new heart. That is why, when a person comes to faith in Christ, he is made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus does not fix the heart; instead, He replaces it with a new one.
But that does not mean that we can rely on our hearts after we come to faith in Christ. Even as believers, we are encouraged to follow God’s will over our own desires. The Bible teaches that “the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Galatians 5:17).
We have an omniscient, benevolent Lord who promises to give us wisdom (James 1:5); we have His inspired, inerrant Word written down for us (2 Timothy 3:16). Why would we turn our backs on God and His eternal promises in order to pursue the whimsical impulses of the heart?
Reprinted from: http://www.gotquestions.org/follow-your-heart.html
Rather than trust our hearts, we are to commit our hearts to God: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). This passage gives an explicit command not to trust ourselves. And it gives the promise of guidance to those who choose to follow the Lord.
For anything to provide proper direction it must be based on objective truth. That is to say that whatever is consulted for guidance must reach a conclusion based on objective truth and not subjective, emotional inference. The Bible teaches that man is to follow God. God declares, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:7). God has perfect knowledge of everything (1 John 3:20), a trait often called omniscience. God’s knowledge is not limited in any way. God is aware of all events that have ever transpired, are currently occurring, and will ever happen (Isaiah 46:9–10). God’s knowledge goes beyond mere events and extends to thoughts and intentions (John 2:25; Acts 1:24). It is not all this knowledge, however, that makes God a perfectly reliable source of guidance. God is also aware of every possibility, every eventuality, every imaginable outcome of any series of events (Matthew 11:21). That ability, combined with God’s goodness, enables God to give the best possible direction for people to follow.
God says this about the unregenerate heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This passage makes clear two reasons why no one should bind himself to following his heart when making decisions. First, there is nothing more deceitful in all of creation than the heart of man because of his inherited sin nature. If we follow our heart, we follow an untrustworthy guide.
We are, in fact, blinded to our own heart’s deceitful nature. As the prophet asks, “Who can understand it?” When we rely on ourselves for wisdom, we end up unable to tell right from wrong. The hit song of 1977, “You Light Up My Life,” contains these unfortunate words: “It can’t be wrong / When it feels so right.” Determining right from wrong based on “feelings” is a dangerous (and unbiblical) way to live.
Second, Jeremiah 17:9 teaches that the heart is desperately sick. There is no way to fix the heart. Rather, man needs a new heart. That is why, when a person comes to faith in Christ, he is made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus does not fix the heart; instead, He replaces it with a new one.
But that does not mean that we can rely on our hearts after we come to faith in Christ. Even as believers, we are encouraged to follow God’s will over our own desires. The Bible teaches that “the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Galatians 5:17).
We have an omniscient, benevolent Lord who promises to give us wisdom (James 1:5); we have His inspired, inerrant Word written down for us (2 Timothy 3:16). Why would we turn our backs on God and His eternal promises in order to pursue the whimsical impulses of the heart?
Reprinted from: http://www.gotquestions.org/follow-your-heart.html
Prayer Requests: November 3rd
Shelli: Answers from Bryan's Wednesday appointment
Brandy: Things go well with Matt in Atlanta
Kellie: Healing/answers from her panic attack
Mike: Passes his 1st actuarial exam
Praises
Shelli: All went well with Bryan taking care of his father in law, For Bryan's nurse practitioner
Kellie: Shayley's soccer team when up & back saftely
Please pray for these requests during the week and let us know of any progress
Brandy: Things go well with Matt in Atlanta
Kellie: Healing/answers from her panic attack
Mike: Passes his 1st actuarial exam
Praises
Shelli: All went well with Bryan taking care of his father in law, For Bryan's nurse practitioner
Kellie: Shayley's soccer team when up & back saftely
Please pray for these requests during the week and let us know of any progress
Why Live By The Bible?
In
our first week we spent some time understanding the benefits of living by the
Bible. In our last few weeks, we’ve
spent time understanding how to live by the Bible. But what does the Bible say about the
alternatives to living by God’s word? In
other words, should we choose to ignore living by the Bible, what are our
options?
The
Word is truth
·
John 17:17
Sanctify
them in the truth; your word is truth.
·
Psalm 119:160
The
sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures
forever
·
What is truth?
o
John 18:38, Pilate asked Jesus the
same question
o
Truth is what corresponds to reality
·
There HAS to be a truth
o
All religions claim that their’s is
true
o
Atheism & all roads lead to God are
actually a truth claims
·
The opposite of truth is…
o
John 8:44 says Satan is the ‘Father of
lies”
o
** The extreme example is cults **
To whom shall we
go?
·
John 6:66-69
·
After this many of his disciples
turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do
you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we
go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to
know, that you are the Holy One of God.
·
What if we’re wrong?
o
1 Corinthians 15:13-14,19
o
But if there is no resurrection of the
dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised,
then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. For if only in this life
we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone
o
We should be pitied more than anyone
·
Where else would you go?
o
Have you seen God work in your life?
o
If you have that evidence, would it
even make sense to not follow God?
Follow your heart?
·
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick; who can understand it?
·
Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death
·
Without the Word, we are left to our own devices
o
Our hearts will lead us in the wrong direction
o
**Didn’t you think you would be with your 1st
girlfriend/boyfriend forever**
o
How destructive would this thinking be in a
marriage?
·
‘The human brain is a morally corrupt computer
capable of infinite rationalization’
o
Right or wrong, people tend to try & justify
their actions
o
We need to objective nature of the Word to ‘judge
the thoughts and attitudes of the heart’ Hebrews 4:12
·
If you reject Him long enough, God will let you
be
o
Romans 1:24-25
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to
the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth
about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the
Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen
o
Like the prodigal son who never came home
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