Let's K.I.S.S. In our marriage.
Ephesians 5:1-2, 25-27
I am called to be an imitator of Gods love. "Agape" love. Unconditional love! I need to love my wife's weaknesses and her strengths (not sin).
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Substitute your name in this scripture for each characteristic described. Jesus is the only name that truly fits; however, we need to be like Jesus.
I need to work hard to forgive quickly and not hold any record of wrongs.
Practicals from our marriage. Take responsibility for our own spiritual walk with God. We do not rely on each other to help make us spiritual. We are both committed to our own times with God. We pray together daily.we accept each other where we are at. The goal of marriage is not to think alike but to think together.
We need to believe that our children are affected positively and negatively by our marriages! We need strong marriages to help raise our kids to know God.
It is a learning process to understand our biblical roles as husband and wife.
My goal and my role as a husband is to see both of us in the arms of Jesus.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Marriage and Parenting
Marriage and parenting and how they impact each other.
Ephesians 6:1-3
When you are training a child they must first learn that they are an individual and under authority. Just like our kids, we are under authority too. Under the authority of God and our kids need to know that. We teach then how to submit to Gods authority through submitting to our authority.
We need to live the life that we call our children to live. We are their primary example.
Obedience is to obey the first time!
Kids do need a process of appeal. 4 different parenting styles. Dictatorship, authoritative, permissive and indifference. The worst style is a dictatorship and the best style is the authoritative style which uses communication. The appeal has to be done in a respective way and in the process of being obedient.
Spanking is politically incorrect but biblically mandated! Spanking should always be done with communication.
Character development is so important in who you children will grow up to become!
Making too many rules is a mistake. It takes a lot of time to communicate and build character than it is to just set a bunch of rules.
Eye contact is important too. Unless you have eye contact you are not reaching your kids hearts and they are not focusing on what you are trying to teach them.
It's important to get input from others about what they see in your kids. Other people are not going to be sentimental and can see your children in a way that you don't. Input in what your kids strengths and weaknesses is very important.
Proverbs 20:11
Another signs of how our kids are doing is based on the friends that they are choosing.
You don't want to set a standard higher than they can attain or a standard so low that they don't need Gods help to attain it!
No area should be hands off in our kids development. Especially the sexual area!
Your marriage has to always be center stage! No matter how demanding raising your children it may be, your marriage always has to be first priority!
The "Love Sandwich" in communicating with our kids. Like a sandwich your have three parts. First the bread by encouraging your kids then the meat in addressing what every needs to be addresses and then the last piece of bread in closing with how much God loves them and how he is going to help them.
Proverbs 1:7-19
Peer pressure is simply living in the fear of man rather than in the fear of God.
Developing a shepherding relationship is important with our older kids. My vulnerability and verbal encouragement is huge in developing a shepherding relationship with your kids! Deal with broad themes and do not nitpick everything. Chose your battles.
Ephesians 6:1-3
When you are training a child they must first learn that they are an individual and under authority. Just like our kids, we are under authority too. Under the authority of God and our kids need to know that. We teach then how to submit to Gods authority through submitting to our authority.
We need to live the life that we call our children to live. We are their primary example.
Obedience is to obey the first time!
Kids do need a process of appeal. 4 different parenting styles. Dictatorship, authoritative, permissive and indifference. The worst style is a dictatorship and the best style is the authoritative style which uses communication. The appeal has to be done in a respective way and in the process of being obedient.
Spanking is politically incorrect but biblically mandated! Spanking should always be done with communication.
Character development is so important in who you children will grow up to become!
Making too many rules is a mistake. It takes a lot of time to communicate and build character than it is to just set a bunch of rules.
Eye contact is important too. Unless you have eye contact you are not reaching your kids hearts and they are not focusing on what you are trying to teach them.
It's important to get input from others about what they see in your kids. Other people are not going to be sentimental and can see your children in a way that you don't. Input in what your kids strengths and weaknesses is very important.
Proverbs 20:11
Another signs of how our kids are doing is based on the friends that they are choosing.
You don't want to set a standard higher than they can attain or a standard so low that they don't need Gods help to attain it!
No area should be hands off in our kids development. Especially the sexual area!
Your marriage has to always be center stage! No matter how demanding raising your children it may be, your marriage always has to be first priority!
The "Love Sandwich" in communicating with our kids. Like a sandwich your have three parts. First the bread by encouraging your kids then the meat in addressing what every needs to be addresses and then the last piece of bread in closing with how much God loves them and how he is going to help them.
Proverbs 1:7-19
Peer pressure is simply living in the fear of man rather than in the fear of God.
Developing a shepherding relationship is important with our older kids. My vulnerability and verbal encouragement is huge in developing a shepherding relationship with your kids! Deal with broad themes and do not nitpick everything. Chose your battles.
Friday, March 21, 2014
The Importance of Family Devotionals
The importance of Family Devotionals
(Purpose of this lesson is to communicate the importance of having consistent family devotional times as well as present tips for family devotional)
These are challenges that all people face, but especially as teens.
Dating
Marriage
Sex
Social media
Drugs/alcohol
Pornography
Self-Image
Peer pressure/bullying
Respect
Responsibility
Anger
Depression
Rebelliousness
2009 Lifeway Survey – 2900 Christians, 90% had “desire to please and honor Jesus in all I do”; only 19% read Bible daily
Stands to reason that the % of families who have consistent family devotionals is lower.
One of our main goals this year is to get consistent, dynamic, vulnerable, bonding, open communication, Bible centered family times. We want these times to become the norm, not the rarity. If you are having them consistently every week, that is great and you can help the families/parents that are having a difficult time.
Why are family devotionals important?
God Commanded Us to Teach Our Children
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
God Tells Us That It Will Have A Long Term Impact
Proverbs 22:6
6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
What are the benefits of family devotionals?
Increase closeness with your spouse
Increase closeness with children
Build your faith in God’s promises; individually and as a family
Build effective communication
Increase desire to seek God
Advance spiritual growth
Provide insight for living life
Provide comfort/encouragement
Prepare us to share our faith
Build a Christ centered home
If we know family devotionals are important and their significant benefits, we should strive to be consistent in having them.
Deuteronomy 4:9-10
9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”
Some reasons we may not have consistent family devotionals:
We forget
We let them fade from our heart and replace with something else
We are all in different spiritual conditions. No matter where we may be, we can begin training within our households.
Our goal is to establish a consistent time to have family devotionals. Talk with your family and decide on a day and time. This will be your priority. If teens have a lot of homework, work around it, work ahead of time.
If we already have established devotionals, great. If not, let’s begin.
Additional Scriptures for Study:
Ephesians 6:4
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
2 Timothy 3:14-15
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Genesis 18:18-19
18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
Joshua 24:14-15
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Psalm 78:1-7
1 My people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
3 things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
Spring Revival
Spring Revival
Every year spring allows us to start over. The clocks change, the flowers come out, and nature resets itself in many ways.
A revival is a similar event. Revivals bring change and call people back to God. A revival is for the spiritually dead. It is a call to wake up!
Barnes study in 1999 said that the divorce rate was significantly higher among conservative Christian groups than any other religion. The conclusion was that churches today really do help marriages or provide the resources to help marriages last.
The church is dead in many ways and needs a revival!
Acts 9:1-19
A revival is about 2nd chances! Paul needed redirection and a 2nd chance! God is a God of second chances!
Paul was convinced that he was right. Paul was living with convictions that his traditions were right. Paul later went into many cities and proved through scripture that Jesus was the son of God. What changed? The evidence was always there in scripture but Paul held to his own traditions and refused to see Gods word the way God intended it!
Paul was sincere, intelligent, religious and full of passion; however, fully wrong!
Do we try to deal with God on our own terms? "I want to worship God the way I want to worship God"! Many people today want to live their lives on their own terms. We cannot worship God the way we want, we must worship him the way he calls us to!
Paul new that following Jesus would separate him from all of his friends, cost him his Job, separate him from his family...etc! Paul needed a 2nd chance but understood it would cost him! Paul took advantage of the 2nd chance that God had giving him regardless of the cost he would have to pay.
Acts 9:20-22
Paul took advantage of his second chance immediately!
Acts 22:3-29
Every year spring allows us to start over. The clocks change, the flowers come out, and nature resets itself in many ways.
A revival is a similar event. Revivals bring change and call people back to God. A revival is for the spiritually dead. It is a call to wake up!
Barnes study in 1999 said that the divorce rate was significantly higher among conservative Christian groups than any other religion. The conclusion was that churches today really do help marriages or provide the resources to help marriages last.
The church is dead in many ways and needs a revival!
Acts 9:1-19
A revival is about 2nd chances! Paul needed redirection and a 2nd chance! God is a God of second chances!
Paul was convinced that he was right. Paul was living with convictions that his traditions were right. Paul later went into many cities and proved through scripture that Jesus was the son of God. What changed? The evidence was always there in scripture but Paul held to his own traditions and refused to see Gods word the way God intended it!
Paul was sincere, intelligent, religious and full of passion; however, fully wrong!
Do we try to deal with God on our own terms? "I want to worship God the way I want to worship God"! Many people today want to live their lives on their own terms. We cannot worship God the way we want, we must worship him the way he calls us to!
Paul new that following Jesus would separate him from all of his friends, cost him his Job, separate him from his family...etc! Paul needed a 2nd chance but understood it would cost him! Paul took advantage of the 2nd chance that God had giving him regardless of the cost he would have to pay.
Acts 9:20-22
Paul took advantage of his second chance immediately!
Acts 22:3-29
Guarding Your Identity!
Guarding Your Identity!
Matthew 16:13-19
This is a major turning point in Jesus ministry and development in the disciples he has been teaching for the last three years. Vs 21 explains that after this event Jesus started to prepare his disciples for the cross.
It's easy to see Jesus miracles and understand that he is from God if we are willing to believe. What is hard for many of us is to believe that he would chose a sinner like me and use me in the ways that he wants to use my life!
1 Peter 2:9-10
My identity in Christ is important. I need to remember who I'am in Christ and know that through Jesus I can be the man that God calls me to be!
God sees people in one of two ways. In the light or in the darkness. God loves both people the same. Scripture says that while we were still sinners God sent his son to die for us. It's not about where we come from, our financial status, education level...etc. God is only concerned with whether we are saved or not saved!
My identity is based on this. Either I have mercy or no mercy! Based on my identity my life should reflect one of the two people. If I am saved then my life should reflect that.
God is the only one who knows my value. He created me and he is the only one who knows what I am worth! Regardless of the mistakes that we make in our lives God sees us differently than we do.
When I forget who I am then I am forgetting God. There is no way to separate it.
My identity should produce righteous living!
1 Corinthians 4:1 entrusted with the secrets of God.
Matthew 16:13-19
This is a major turning point in Jesus ministry and development in the disciples he has been teaching for the last three years. Vs 21 explains that after this event Jesus started to prepare his disciples for the cross.
It's easy to see Jesus miracles and understand that he is from God if we are willing to believe. What is hard for many of us is to believe that he would chose a sinner like me and use me in the ways that he wants to use my life!
1 Peter 2:9-10
My identity in Christ is important. I need to remember who I'am in Christ and know that through Jesus I can be the man that God calls me to be!
God sees people in one of two ways. In the light or in the darkness. God loves both people the same. Scripture says that while we were still sinners God sent his son to die for us. It's not about where we come from, our financial status, education level...etc. God is only concerned with whether we are saved or not saved!
My identity is based on this. Either I have mercy or no mercy! Based on my identity my life should reflect one of the two people. If I am saved then my life should reflect that.
God is the only one who knows my value. He created me and he is the only one who knows what I am worth! Regardless of the mistakes that we make in our lives God sees us differently than we do.
When I forget who I am then I am forgetting God. There is no way to separate it.
My identity should produce righteous living!
1 Corinthians 4:1 entrusted with the secrets of God.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Spiritual growth
Spiritual growth
Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:14-15
Spiritual maturity is obtained by finding out what gifts I have, where I'm needed and how I can serve in using them.
What gifts has God giving me? How am I using them?
Mark 1:19-20; Mark 3:17 ;Luke 9:51-56; John 19:25-27 johns life transformed!
John wrote about love more than all the other gospels. No where in the bible does the topic love come up more than in the books of John!
1 John 3:16
John was made a passionate man, but god made him a compassionate man.
Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:14-15
Spiritual maturity is obtained by finding out what gifts I have, where I'm needed and how I can serve in using them.
What gifts has God giving me? How am I using them?
Mark 1:19-20; Mark 3:17 ;Luke 9:51-56; John 19:25-27 johns life transformed!
John wrote about love more than all the other gospels. No where in the bible does the topic love come up more than in the books of John!
1 John 3:16
John was made a passionate man, but god made him a compassionate man.
When Kings Go Off To War!
At the time that kings go to war!
I am in a battle! A war! A spiritual war and the stakes are high! My family is at stake. The ruler of the world (satan) has declared war on my family!
2 Samuel 11:1-27
David stayed home and chose not to go in to battle. When you stop fighting is when satan attacks! As a husband and father we can learn some strong things about David's life!
When David should have been leading his army in battle he was passive and let Joan do the job God had given to him!
The 3 N's
Neglect!
Neglecting my family comes in many forms but most of all is when I stop investing and put the time in for my marriage and family. Meeting my wife's needs. Being there for my kids. Neglect spiritually by not reading Gods word and not leading my family spiritually.
Nonchalance!
Not caring, no concerns, out of touch and with no desire! Lack of conviction! I need to fight for my wife and stand up to her with convictions to protect her. My kids need emotional connection and I can not allow my self to be unemotional and unconnected!
Naivety!
Being naive and not seeing the spiritual struggle that my family is in! I am called to be different from the world and to lead my family to be different from the world. I have to be in touch with where my family is at spiritually!
As a father I am accountable to God for the influence he has given me over my wife and kids!
I am in a battle! A war! A spiritual war and the stakes are high! My family is at stake. The ruler of the world (satan) has declared war on my family!
2 Samuel 11:1-27
David stayed home and chose not to go in to battle. When you stop fighting is when satan attacks! As a husband and father we can learn some strong things about David's life!
When David should have been leading his army in battle he was passive and let Joan do the job God had given to him!
The 3 N's
Neglect!
Neglecting my family comes in many forms but most of all is when I stop investing and put the time in for my marriage and family. Meeting my wife's needs. Being there for my kids. Neglect spiritually by not reading Gods word and not leading my family spiritually.
Nonchalance!
Not caring, no concerns, out of touch and with no desire! Lack of conviction! I need to fight for my wife and stand up to her with convictions to protect her. My kids need emotional connection and I can not allow my self to be unemotional and unconnected!
Naivety!
Being naive and not seeing the spiritual struggle that my family is in! I am called to be different from the world and to lead my family to be different from the world. I have to be in touch with where my family is at spiritually!
As a father I am accountable to God for the influence he has given me over my wife and kids!
The pain of avoiding conflict!
The pain of avoiding conflict!
Avoiding conflict starts with conflict.
2 Samuel 6:5, 16, 20-23
Because of avoiding conflict david and his wife had no children together.
2 Samuel 13
Not dealing with sin is avoiding conflict.
David's sons were in conflict and David does not deal with it. One of David's sons rapes his daughter and David does nothing. As a result one of David's son kills another son! Not dealing with conflict breads sin and destruction!
Initially it is easier to avoid conflict but in the long run it is harder to deal with. Conflict is seasonal and recurring! When we are in the season of conflict we need to follow it through until the end of it! God gave his people times of war and times of peace! If conflicts are not passing then we need to seek help!
Dealing with conflict is beneficial. David did not deal with conflict and just passed it on to his children. David gave instructions to his son Solomon to kill all the people that he had issues with! Instead of dealing with his problems on his own he handed his son Solomon a hit list to have him deal with the conflict.
How am I avoiding conflict in my marriage? What about with my kids?
Avoiding conflict starts with conflict.
2 Samuel 6:5, 16, 20-23
Because of avoiding conflict david and his wife had no children together.
2 Samuel 13
Not dealing with sin is avoiding conflict.
David's sons were in conflict and David does not deal with it. One of David's sons rapes his daughter and David does nothing. As a result one of David's son kills another son! Not dealing with conflict breads sin and destruction!
Initially it is easier to avoid conflict but in the long run it is harder to deal with. Conflict is seasonal and recurring! When we are in the season of conflict we need to follow it through until the end of it! God gave his people times of war and times of peace! If conflicts are not passing then we need to seek help!
Dealing with conflict is beneficial. David did not deal with conflict and just passed it on to his children. David gave instructions to his son Solomon to kill all the people that he had issues with! Instead of dealing with his problems on his own he handed his son Solomon a hit list to have him deal with the conflict.
How am I avoiding conflict in my marriage? What about with my kids?
The pain of avoiding discipline!
The pain of avoiding discipline!
Job 5:17; Psalms 94; Proverbs 3:11-13; Proverbs 5; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 13:24
Hebrews 12:4-13
Discipline is for Gods people! Inside the kingdom of God there is discipline! God is my legitimate father and has the right to discipline me! As a Christian we cannot avoid discipline. I need Gods discipline to grow. My job is to endure Gods discipline, not run away from it!
God does not discipline us out of anger but out of love! God disciplines us so that we can share in Gods holiness! Discipline is not meant to be pleasant. I need to work at this so that I can strength in my weak and feeble knees!
Job 5:17; Psalms 94; Proverbs 3:11-13; Proverbs 5; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 13:24
Hebrews 12:4-13
Discipline is for Gods people! Inside the kingdom of God there is discipline! God is my legitimate father and has the right to discipline me! As a Christian we cannot avoid discipline. I need Gods discipline to grow. My job is to endure Gods discipline, not run away from it!
God does not discipline us out of anger but out of love! God disciplines us so that we can share in Gods holiness! Discipline is not meant to be pleasant. I need to work at this so that I can strength in my weak and feeble knees!
We were born to love!
We were born to love!
We live in a culture today where the world has used biblical terms and redefined them to where they do not have the same meaning! Watered down definitions.
"Born Again" and "love" are good examples of this.
1 Peter 1:22-2:1-3
Sometimes we need to reject our culture and the status quo!
1 Peter 1:17-21
The American definition of love is strictly a feeling and you can't make a heart feel something it does not feel! This is not the definition of Love as God defines love!
There is no such thing as saving faith apart from obedient faith!
Romans 1:5; 10:16; 16:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; John 3:36; acts 6:7
This does not mean that true Christians never disobey God but it does mean that there is no such thing as a chronic disobedient Christian who does not live their life according to Gods word!
We live in a culture today where the world has used biblical terms and redefined them to where they do not have the same meaning! Watered down definitions.
"Born Again" and "love" are good examples of this.
1 Peter 1:22-2:1-3
Sometimes we need to reject our culture and the status quo!
1 Peter 1:17-21
The American definition of love is strictly a feeling and you can't make a heart feel something it does not feel! This is not the definition of Love as God defines love!
There is no such thing as saving faith apart from obedient faith!
Romans 1:5; 10:16; 16:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; John 3:36; acts 6:7
This does not mean that true Christians never disobey God but it does mean that there is no such thing as a chronic disobedient Christian who does not live their life according to Gods word!
The God of the small and big problems.
The God of the small and big problems.
2 Kings 6:1-7; 8-23; 24-7:2
Questions the Israelites had after being exciled. Am I still forgiven? Does God still Love us? Are we Gods people? Do we still have a relationship? What does God want from us now?...etc
Elisha use a miracle to solve a problem that for us seemed insignificant but to the guy who lost the axe, it was a huge problem!
God is the everyday, even in small things; all powerful God!
Regardless of how small we think a problem is we need to rely on God with it! When we do things on our own and we succeed we are training ourselves to do things on our own and when bigger problems come we try to do those things as well and before we know we are doing everything on our own strength and God is out of the picture!
When the big problems come do we believe that God is bigger?!
I need to rely on God in EVERYTHING!!!
Vs 24-31 we tend to blame God for our big problems.
Right in the hour of their greatest need when they needed God the most they turned their back on God and he was only one day a way from providing a miracle.
Complete and total deliverance was only a day away!
Trusting God in the small problems helps us trust God in the tough problems!
2 kings 7:9 today is a day of good news! God is big enough! God can solve all my problems big and small! Who am I sharing this with?
2 Kings 6:1-7; 8-23; 24-7:2
Questions the Israelites had after being exciled. Am I still forgiven? Does God still Love us? Are we Gods people? Do we still have a relationship? What does God want from us now?...etc
Elisha use a miracle to solve a problem that for us seemed insignificant but to the guy who lost the axe, it was a huge problem!
God is the everyday, even in small things; all powerful God!
Regardless of how small we think a problem is we need to rely on God with it! When we do things on our own and we succeed we are training ourselves to do things on our own and when bigger problems come we try to do those things as well and before we know we are doing everything on our own strength and God is out of the picture!
When the big problems come do we believe that God is bigger?!
I need to rely on God in EVERYTHING!!!
Vs 24-31 we tend to blame God for our big problems.
Right in the hour of their greatest need when they needed God the most they turned their back on God and he was only one day a way from providing a miracle.
Complete and total deliverance was only a day away!
Trusting God in the small problems helps us trust God in the tough problems!
2 kings 7:9 today is a day of good news! God is big enough! God can solve all my problems big and small! Who am I sharing this with?
The pain of not reconciling!
The pain of not reconciling!
2 Samuel 14:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:13-21
Reconciliation is so important to god! As a disciple I am an ambassador to Gods reconciliation! Our children learn how to reconcile conflict from us. They need to be taught by me to learn how to reconcile conflicts. With out reconciliation the heart hardens!
Ephesians 4:26 there needs to be urgency in conflict resolutions!
2 Samuel 14:33 physical touch is important in the reconciliation process!
I'm sorry, please forgive me, I forgive you and I love! This is reconciling! Reaffirmation is such an important part of reconciliation. Reconciliation is not complete unless both parties are ready to reaffirm the relationship.
David was a bad example of reconciliation but we have Jesus as our example and he is the ultimate example of reconciliation!
2 Samuel 14:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:13-21
Reconciliation is so important to god! As a disciple I am an ambassador to Gods reconciliation! Our children learn how to reconcile conflict from us. They need to be taught by me to learn how to reconcile conflicts. With out reconciliation the heart hardens!
Ephesians 4:26 there needs to be urgency in conflict resolutions!
2 Samuel 14:33 physical touch is important in the reconciliation process!
I'm sorry, please forgive me, I forgive you and I love! This is reconciling! Reaffirmation is such an important part of reconciliation. Reconciliation is not complete unless both parties are ready to reaffirm the relationship.
David was a bad example of reconciliation but we have Jesus as our example and he is the ultimate example of reconciliation!
Attitude of gratitude!
Attitude of gratitude!
Luke 17:11-19
This story is not about the healing of the ten with leprosy but about the response of the one that came back and gave thanks to Jesus.
This guy was a Samaritan! What implications does his nationality have on this story?
The other nine probably rushed to be with their family and enjoy the blessing they had just received! This Samaritan chose to go back and give praise to God before he did anything else!
Romans 1:24-30
Foolish hearts and hardening of the heart starts with not having gratitude for God. Knowing who God is and not acknowledging him! The descent into sin starts with an ungrateful heart!
So why doe we struggle with living in gratitude? Not just having gratitude but living a life of gratitude! It comes to us not think our sinful nature is really that bad. For example if you got a traffic ticket and some offered to die for you so you didn't have to pay it we would think that was crazy. We don't see all sin as deserving death. If we did we would appreciate Gods grace in every aspect of our lives!
How do I feel for what God has giving me in my life? The world wants us to be discontent and not great flu for what we have. When we lack gratitude we start to rly on our own strength to get what we want instead of trusting God and relying on him!!
Practicals:
1.) Make a list of the things you are great full.
2.) Pray and thank god for what you have and refrain from asking God for things you want all the time.
3.) thanking people in your life and taking time out to show them your gratitude.
Jesus never commanded the other 9 to return; however, in his response to the one that returned we see that it was implied that they should have gave praise to God and showed gratitude.
There is a disconnect sometimes between us feeling grateful and then actually living in gratitude. It requires action for us to be truly grateful!
Luke 17:17
Jesus said "your faith has made you well". Does this mean that the other 9 were not healed. The word used here means literally saved. This guys gratitude brought him not only physical healing but rather salvation spiritually!
Luke 17:11-19
This story is not about the healing of the ten with leprosy but about the response of the one that came back and gave thanks to Jesus.
This guy was a Samaritan! What implications does his nationality have on this story?
The other nine probably rushed to be with their family and enjoy the blessing they had just received! This Samaritan chose to go back and give praise to God before he did anything else!
Romans 1:24-30
Foolish hearts and hardening of the heart starts with not having gratitude for God. Knowing who God is and not acknowledging him! The descent into sin starts with an ungrateful heart!
So why doe we struggle with living in gratitude? Not just having gratitude but living a life of gratitude! It comes to us not think our sinful nature is really that bad. For example if you got a traffic ticket and some offered to die for you so you didn't have to pay it we would think that was crazy. We don't see all sin as deserving death. If we did we would appreciate Gods grace in every aspect of our lives!
How do I feel for what God has giving me in my life? The world wants us to be discontent and not great flu for what we have. When we lack gratitude we start to rly on our own strength to get what we want instead of trusting God and relying on him!!
Practicals:
1.) Make a list of the things you are great full.
2.) Pray and thank god for what you have and refrain from asking God for things you want all the time.
3.) thanking people in your life and taking time out to show them your gratitude.
Jesus never commanded the other 9 to return; however, in his response to the one that returned we see that it was implied that they should have gave praise to God and showed gratitude.
There is a disconnect sometimes between us feeling grateful and then actually living in gratitude. It requires action for us to be truly grateful!
Luke 17:17
Jesus said "your faith has made you well". Does this mean that the other 9 were not healed. The word used here means literally saved. This guys gratitude brought him not only physical healing but rather salvation spiritually!
Wants vs Needs
Wants vs Needs
Many people came to Jesus for physical healing and Jesus did not heal everyone. Jesus is more concerned for spiritual healing. We can't always get what we want but God will give us what we need!
Have it your way is the philosophy of the world.
Jesus does not specialize in giving us what we want but in what we need!
John 6:1-15
Jesus gave them free food which is what they wanted...free food! The crowd gores and they meet him on the other side of the lake. Jesus is about to give the crowd what they need.
John 6:25-27
Why am I following Jesus? What need am I trying to meet. Is it what I want or what I need? Jesus addresses what the crowd wants and how it is opposed to what God wants from them.
John 6:28-40
Jesus is not worried about anything but eternity. Vs. 31 the crowd tries to quote scripture to justify what they want.
What am I waiting for? Has Jesus not blessed me enough already? Has he performed enough miracles in my life already?
John 6:41-66
When god says no he is not going to give us what we want, how do we respond? Do I grumble and complain about what I don't get or do I focus on what I need that God is trying to give me?
The problem is that I don't like being told no and I am not content with what God has given me!
Is God enough in my life? The answer to this question determines how grateful I am for my relationship with God.
We need to stop focusing on finances, relationships, material things....etc Trust that God will take care of all of these things on His time.
John 6:67-69
Jesus is the only way! Is this my attitude? Do I believe this wholeheartedly?
Many people came to Jesus for physical healing and Jesus did not heal everyone. Jesus is more concerned for spiritual healing. We can't always get what we want but God will give us what we need!
Have it your way is the philosophy of the world.
Jesus does not specialize in giving us what we want but in what we need!
John 6:1-15
Jesus gave them free food which is what they wanted...free food! The crowd gores and they meet him on the other side of the lake. Jesus is about to give the crowd what they need.
John 6:25-27
Why am I following Jesus? What need am I trying to meet. Is it what I want or what I need? Jesus addresses what the crowd wants and how it is opposed to what God wants from them.
John 6:28-40
Jesus is not worried about anything but eternity. Vs. 31 the crowd tries to quote scripture to justify what they want.
What am I waiting for? Has Jesus not blessed me enough already? Has he performed enough miracles in my life already?
John 6:41-66
When god says no he is not going to give us what we want, how do we respond? Do I grumble and complain about what I don't get or do I focus on what I need that God is trying to give me?
The problem is that I don't like being told no and I am not content with what God has given me!
Is God enough in my life? The answer to this question determines how grateful I am for my relationship with God.
We need to stop focusing on finances, relationships, material things....etc Trust that God will take care of all of these things on His time.
John 6:67-69
Jesus is the only way! Is this my attitude? Do I believe this wholeheartedly?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)