(Ray Stedman) commenting on Malachi 3:8-10: These verses are often wrenched from the Old Testament context and used to establish a legalistic pattern of bringing all offerings into the church as the storehouse. That is a distortion
(Ray Stedman) We exist to advance Glod's cause. It is quite possible to perform all manner of religious obligations within the church, to spend every spare dollar and every waking minute on ministry activities , and yet never advance God's cause a single step. Why? Because many of us, in our various religious activities, are doing nothing but using religion to fulfill our own self-centered goals.
(Ray Stedman) No matter how bad things get in the world, a faithful remnant always remains, and God's searchlight always finds them
(Ray Stedman) The fact is, you can take away all the props of the church- its buildings and staff, its committees and commissions,its programs and budgets, it philosophy of ministry and church growth strategy, its experts and consultants- and if you have nothing left but some committed people who have learned to focus on God, you have not lost a thing
(Ray Stedman) It is significant, I think, that the last word of the Old Testament is the word curse. The word is not a prediction. It is a warning. Now compare the last word of the Old Testament with the last word of the New Trestament, leaving out the final salutation. It is the name Jesus, " Come Lord Jesus". That is God's answer to the curse, isn' it?
(Charles Stanley) The closest mission field is your own family
(A. Rogers) Some golden daybreak, Jesus will come. His coming will be like the sunrise for your soul and for this world. The entire world waits for the sunrise, whether they know it or not
(A. Rogers) There is no fun and games in a Christless grave. The demon choir of the damned will sing in the caverns of hell as they moan forever and ever and ever
( A . Rogers) The coming of the Lord will be a day of retribution, a day of restoration. a day of release, and a day of reward
(A. Rogers) God is not interested in making you happy so much as He is making you holy
(A Rogers) You will be wise to let God keep the books
(Wiersbe) Every discouraged servant of God need to read and ponder 1 Cor 4:1-5.
(Wiersbe) Nobody can afford to argue with God the way the Israelites did when they heard Malachi, because God will always have the last word
(John Zuhldorf) Commenting on a Catholic bishop's letter to his diocese reminding them that cohabitation is a sin: " In this age of " I'm OK, you're OK", a bishop risk being called mean and uncompassionate if he does anything other than remain silent or wring his hands. So how do you defend doctrines that many think of as offensive without committing what many believe is the ultimate sin-offending people?"
(Joseph Stowell) God is not a God of half-finished projects. He completes our sorrows with the intended outcomes of His glory, the gain of His kingdom, and our ultimate good. When He knows that the only way to accomplish strategic eternal purposes is through the suffering of His church and His followers, He empowers them through the pain and then rewards and refreshes them afterward in His own way and time. A friend of mine is fond of saying, " God never wastes our sorrows." The light at the end of our cross-bearing tunnel is the assured reality of His character, resolve, and power to work it all to His good and glorious pruposes. We don't need to know the outcome;we only need to know the reliability of the One we are following into the storm. Those who follow Christ never pay a price-not really. They invest the weight of their cross in the glory of the King and the gain of His everlasting Kingdom
Saturday, May 7, 2011
050711
(David Livingston) Lord, lead me anywhere, only go with me;Lord, lay any burden on me,only sustain me;sever any tie from my heart or life that keeps me from doing the total will of God
( Bonhoeffer) Every Christian has his own cross waiting from him; a cross destined and appointed by God. Each must endure his allotted share of suffering and rejection, but each has a different share. To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it isthe sufffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When it comes, it is not an accident, but a necessity
(A. Rogers on Mt 6:33) Desire Him preeminently, seek Him passionately, enjoy Him perpetually
(Ray Stedman) Satan has no old,happy men
(Ray Stedman) God created human beings to be creatures of splendor and authority; how heartbreaking to think of how much of God's image was lost in the Fall! Jesus fulfilled our original destiny, lived out our unfallen potential and sits at the right hand of God. He is the true man-humanity as God intended us to be.
(Stanley) Jesus Christ knows experientially exactly what its like to be one of us; that's what makes HIm a great advocate. Jesus knows what it feels like to be tempted. We can never say to Him, " You don't know what its like " because He does. In fact, we know less of the pain of temptation than He does, since He never gave into it
(Wiersbe) More spiritual problems are caused by neglect than perhaps any other failure on our part
(Wiersbe) Satan is not destroyed, but he is disarmed
(Julie Link) Sin put Jesus to the ultimate test. But His love endured it, His strength bore it, and His power overcame it
(Mart De Haan) The wisdom that comes from Glod is discerning, but not judgmental. Attitudes that add to the troubles of hurting people reflect the wisdom from below. The wisdom from above seeks to relieve their misery. True wisdom sees all people as those for whom Christ died
(Albert Einstein) defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results
(Stowell) If we do not live as counterculture followers the world would not know that there is an alternative. Any thought of a Christianity without a cross is a deeply flawed view of faith. In fact, there are more people dying as a martyr in this season of church history than in all the other seasons combined
(Ray Stedman) The act of divorce is seen as a kind of a "nonviolent domestic violence " when it is perpetrated by one spouse against an unwilling, innocent partner. Whatever the problems in a marriage ( short of abuse or domestic violence), I always encourage couples to find ways to heal the relationship and avoid divorce
(Ray Stedman) writing in 1997, " Most of the moral horrors that surround us today were unthinkable just twenty years ago. What unthinkable horrors await us in the next few years? Anything that is unthinkable now could easily be common place tomorrow.
( Bonhoeffer) Every Christian has his own cross waiting from him; a cross destined and appointed by God. Each must endure his allotted share of suffering and rejection, but each has a different share. To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it isthe sufffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When it comes, it is not an accident, but a necessity
(A. Rogers on Mt 6:33) Desire Him preeminently, seek Him passionately, enjoy Him perpetually
(Ray Stedman) Satan has no old,happy men
(Ray Stedman) God created human beings to be creatures of splendor and authority; how heartbreaking to think of how much of God's image was lost in the Fall! Jesus fulfilled our original destiny, lived out our unfallen potential and sits at the right hand of God. He is the true man-humanity as God intended us to be.
(Stanley) Jesus Christ knows experientially exactly what its like to be one of us; that's what makes HIm a great advocate. Jesus knows what it feels like to be tempted. We can never say to Him, " You don't know what its like " because He does. In fact, we know less of the pain of temptation than He does, since He never gave into it
(Wiersbe) More spiritual problems are caused by neglect than perhaps any other failure on our part
(Wiersbe) Satan is not destroyed, but he is disarmed
(Julie Link) Sin put Jesus to the ultimate test. But His love endured it, His strength bore it, and His power overcame it
(Mart De Haan) The wisdom that comes from Glod is discerning, but not judgmental. Attitudes that add to the troubles of hurting people reflect the wisdom from below. The wisdom from above seeks to relieve their misery. True wisdom sees all people as those for whom Christ died
(Albert Einstein) defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results
(Stowell) If we do not live as counterculture followers the world would not know that there is an alternative. Any thought of a Christianity without a cross is a deeply flawed view of faith. In fact, there are more people dying as a martyr in this season of church history than in all the other seasons combined
(Ray Stedman) The act of divorce is seen as a kind of a "nonviolent domestic violence " when it is perpetrated by one spouse against an unwilling, innocent partner. Whatever the problems in a marriage ( short of abuse or domestic violence), I always encourage couples to find ways to heal the relationship and avoid divorce
(Ray Stedman) writing in 1997, " Most of the moral horrors that surround us today were unthinkable just twenty years ago. What unthinkable horrors await us in the next few years? Anything that is unthinkable now could easily be common place tomorrow.
050711
(Spurgeon) When home is ruled by God's Word,angels might be asked to stay with us, and they would not find themselves out of their element
(Wiersbe) Nobody knows how many husbands and wives are emotionally divorced even though they share the same address
(Wiersbe) The baptism of the Holy Spirit has never been repeated any more than Calvary has been repeated. The baptism of the Spirit means that I belong to Christ's body. The filling of the Spirit means that my body belongs to Christ
(Wiersbe) Christian joy is not a shallow emotion that, like a thermometer, rises and falls with the changing of the atmosphere. Christian joy is a deep experience of adequacy and confidence inspite of the circumstances around us. This kind of joy is not a thermometer, but a thermostat. . Instead of rising and falling with the circumstances, it determines the spiritual temperature of the circumstances
(Wiersbe) If we would think more, we would thank more
(Wiersbe) The greatest is the person who uses his authority to build up people and not to build up his authority and make himself important
(Wiersbe) It is wrong for a believer to marry an unbeliever, but it is also wrong for two Christians to marry out of the will of God
(Wiersbe) Husband and wives are to love one another in a sacrificial, sanctifying, and satisfying way- the way Christ loves the church
(Stowell) Nothing is quite as defeating as living under the smothering oppression of judgmental, intolderant attitudes
(Stowell) The compassion Christ felt was always followed by actions to address the need. Compassion without action is merely sympathy
(Charles Stanley) No Christian has ever been called " to go it alone" in their walk of faith
(Charles Stanley) God takes intense interest in how we behave as children of God, since His reputation is bound up in our conduct
(Stanley) God does not owe us His grace. The reason for God's grace and love is His own character, not ours
(A. Rogers) There are four unbreakable principles of the law of the harvest: implementation, identification,incubation, intensification. When God forgives , the law of harvest goes right on. Friend, you can't sow your wild oats and then pray for a crop failure
(Rogers) If you are living in immorality, you are either headed for the woodshed or headed for hell
(Wiersbe) His summary of 2nd Samuel 11-12: Daivd's disobedience, deception, and discipline
(Wiersbe) If we open the door, sin comes in as a guest but soon becomes the master
(Wiersbe) Of all blindness, the worst kind is that which makes us blind to ourselves. Joseph Butler said," many men see perfect strangers in their own character"
(Wiersbe) His outline of 2 Sam 12:1-14: the trial(1-6); the verdict(7-9);the sentence(10-12); the pardon(13-14)
(Wiersbe) Chastening is difficulty permitted by a loving Father who wants His children to submit to His will and develop godly character. Chastening is an expression of God's love. In the Christian life, chastening isn't always God's response to our disobedience; sometimes He is preparing us for challenges yet to come
(Wiersbe) There are no easy answers to settle our minds, but there are plenty of dependable promises to heal our hearts, and faith is nurtured on promises, not on explanations
(Wiersbe) David was the prodigal son of the Old Testament who repented and "came back home" to find forgiveness
(Wiersbe) God's character and purposes don't change, but He does change His timing and His methods to accomplish His purposes
(Wiersbe) Overview of 2 Sam 11-12: Chpt 11: the conceiving(1-3);the committing(4); the covering(5-27) Chpt 12: the confessing(1-14);the chastening(15-23); the comforting(24-25); the conquering(26-31)
(Randy Kilgore) Satan not only delights in the moment of our failure but also in the spiritual inactivity that sometimes snares us in our remorse. When we've blown our witness, we are and should be humbled. But we should not multiply the damage by retreating into silence and obscurity. We can move past failure. God forgives our sins completely to restore us to His presence and service
(Stowell) Somehow a system of belief and behavior that culminated on a Roman instrument of torture has been reconfigured tinto a well-marked program of " let us help you feel better about yourself and teach you how to enjoy life to the full". This kind of hedonistic spin on Christianity is a direct contradiction of what it means to be a follower of Christ
(Stowell) If I refuse crosses, then I cannot be a follower; if I follow, then crosses are inevitable. Our willingness to pay the price of a cross is the pivotal issue of being a fully devoted follower. The cost is measured in some of the more prized currency in our lives-comfort,convenience,health,wealth,fulfillment, and self-protection. Dietrich Bonhoeffer observed, " Only when we become completely oblivious of self are we ready to bear the cross for His sake. " Is Christ worth everything and anything? Or do we value the fulfillment of ourselves with pleasure and ease and live first and foremost to protect our special interests? Like smorgasboard Christians, we pick and choose all that pleases our tastebuds and leave what is less palatable behind. Some crosses are fleeting things and are quickly gone; some crosses last a lifetime. But no cross lasts forever
(Wiersbe) Nobody knows how many husbands and wives are emotionally divorced even though they share the same address
(Wiersbe) The baptism of the Holy Spirit has never been repeated any more than Calvary has been repeated. The baptism of the Spirit means that I belong to Christ's body. The filling of the Spirit means that my body belongs to Christ
(Wiersbe) Christian joy is not a shallow emotion that, like a thermometer, rises and falls with the changing of the atmosphere. Christian joy is a deep experience of adequacy and confidence inspite of the circumstances around us. This kind of joy is not a thermometer, but a thermostat. . Instead of rising and falling with the circumstances, it determines the spiritual temperature of the circumstances
(Wiersbe) If we would think more, we would thank more
(Wiersbe) The greatest is the person who uses his authority to build up people and not to build up his authority and make himself important
(Wiersbe) It is wrong for a believer to marry an unbeliever, but it is also wrong for two Christians to marry out of the will of God
(Wiersbe) Husband and wives are to love one another in a sacrificial, sanctifying, and satisfying way- the way Christ loves the church
(Stowell) Nothing is quite as defeating as living under the smothering oppression of judgmental, intolderant attitudes
(Stowell) The compassion Christ felt was always followed by actions to address the need. Compassion without action is merely sympathy
(Charles Stanley) No Christian has ever been called " to go it alone" in their walk of faith
(Charles Stanley) God takes intense interest in how we behave as children of God, since His reputation is bound up in our conduct
(Stanley) God does not owe us His grace. The reason for God's grace and love is His own character, not ours
(A. Rogers) There are four unbreakable principles of the law of the harvest: implementation, identification,incubation, intensification. When God forgives , the law of harvest goes right on. Friend, you can't sow your wild oats and then pray for a crop failure
(Rogers) If you are living in immorality, you are either headed for the woodshed or headed for hell
(Wiersbe) His summary of 2nd Samuel 11-12: Daivd's disobedience, deception, and discipline
(Wiersbe) If we open the door, sin comes in as a guest but soon becomes the master
(Wiersbe) Of all blindness, the worst kind is that which makes us blind to ourselves. Joseph Butler said," many men see perfect strangers in their own character"
(Wiersbe) His outline of 2 Sam 12:1-14: the trial(1-6); the verdict(7-9);the sentence(10-12); the pardon(13-14)
(Wiersbe) Chastening is difficulty permitted by a loving Father who wants His children to submit to His will and develop godly character. Chastening is an expression of God's love. In the Christian life, chastening isn't always God's response to our disobedience; sometimes He is preparing us for challenges yet to come
(Wiersbe) There are no easy answers to settle our minds, but there are plenty of dependable promises to heal our hearts, and faith is nurtured on promises, not on explanations
(Wiersbe) David was the prodigal son of the Old Testament who repented and "came back home" to find forgiveness
(Wiersbe) God's character and purposes don't change, but He does change His timing and His methods to accomplish His purposes
(Wiersbe) Overview of 2 Sam 11-12: Chpt 11: the conceiving(1-3);the committing(4); the covering(5-27) Chpt 12: the confessing(1-14);the chastening(15-23); the comforting(24-25); the conquering(26-31)
(Randy Kilgore) Satan not only delights in the moment of our failure but also in the spiritual inactivity that sometimes snares us in our remorse. When we've blown our witness, we are and should be humbled. But we should not multiply the damage by retreating into silence and obscurity. We can move past failure. God forgives our sins completely to restore us to His presence and service
(Stowell) Somehow a system of belief and behavior that culminated on a Roman instrument of torture has been reconfigured tinto a well-marked program of " let us help you feel better about yourself and teach you how to enjoy life to the full". This kind of hedonistic spin on Christianity is a direct contradiction of what it means to be a follower of Christ
(Stowell) If I refuse crosses, then I cannot be a follower; if I follow, then crosses are inevitable. Our willingness to pay the price of a cross is the pivotal issue of being a fully devoted follower. The cost is measured in some of the more prized currency in our lives-comfort,convenience,health,wealth,fulfillment, and self-protection. Dietrich Bonhoeffer observed, " Only when we become completely oblivious of self are we ready to bear the cross for His sake. " Is Christ worth everything and anything? Or do we value the fulfillment of ourselves with pleasure and ease and live first and foremost to protect our special interests? Like smorgasboard Christians, we pick and choose all that pleases our tastebuds and leave what is less palatable behind. Some crosses are fleeting things and are quickly gone; some crosses last a lifetime. But no cross lasts forever
Friday, May 6, 2011
050611
( A. Rogers) Eph 5:31 shows the priority of, the permanence of, and the purpose of marriage
(Wiersbe) Children probably learn more by watching and imitating than any other way
(Wiersbe) The old nature is basically selfish and for that reason builds walls and declares war. But the new nature is loving , and therefore builds bridges and proclaims peace
(Wiersbe) Our love for God is our response to His love for us
(Wiersbe) Sins of the tongue are really sins of the heart. Grace in the heart means grace on the lips
(Wiersbe) Two indications of peoples's character are what makes them laugh and what makes them weep
(Wiersbe) Sin in the life of a believer is different than sin in the heart of an unbeliever! It's worse!
(Wiersbe) Goodness is love in action
(Wiersbe) Righteousness means rightness of character before God and rightness of actions before men
(Wiersbe) Some preachers enjoy reveling in the sensational so much so that their sermons excite appetites and give to the innocent more information than they need. It is not necessary for the believer to perform an autopsy on a rotting corpse to explain its rottenness
(Wiersbe) If the days were evil when Paul wrote his epistles, what must be their condition today?
(Wiersbe) Too many Christians have the idea that discovering God's will is a mystified experience that rules out clear thinking. But this idea is wrong and dangerous. God gave you a mind-He expects you to use it. Learning His will involves gathering facts, examining them,weighing them, and then praying for His wisdom. God does not want us simply to know His will; He wants us to understnd His will. God reveals His will through the Word, His Spirit in our hearts, and the working of circumstances
(Wiersbe) Children probably learn more by watching and imitating than any other way
(Wiersbe) The old nature is basically selfish and for that reason builds walls and declares war. But the new nature is loving , and therefore builds bridges and proclaims peace
(Wiersbe) Our love for God is our response to His love for us
(Wiersbe) Sins of the tongue are really sins of the heart. Grace in the heart means grace on the lips
(Wiersbe) Two indications of peoples's character are what makes them laugh and what makes them weep
(Wiersbe) Sin in the life of a believer is different than sin in the heart of an unbeliever! It's worse!
(Wiersbe) Goodness is love in action
(Wiersbe) Righteousness means rightness of character before God and rightness of actions before men
(Wiersbe) Some preachers enjoy reveling in the sensational so much so that their sermons excite appetites and give to the innocent more information than they need. It is not necessary for the believer to perform an autopsy on a rotting corpse to explain its rottenness
(Wiersbe) If the days were evil when Paul wrote his epistles, what must be their condition today?
(Wiersbe) Too many Christians have the idea that discovering God's will is a mystified experience that rules out clear thinking. But this idea is wrong and dangerous. God gave you a mind-He expects you to use it. Learning His will involves gathering facts, examining them,weighing them, and then praying for His wisdom. God does not want us simply to know His will; He wants us to understnd His will. God reveals His will through the Word, His Spirit in our hearts, and the working of circumstances
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
050311
(Stowell) Truth by its very nature divides right from wrong. People often say they don't like doctrine because it divides.Core doctrine that reflect clear teaching of Scriptures about the fundamentals our our faith are supposed to divide. It divides truth from error, Christianity from seductive substitutes. To deny the primacy of truth is to deny God Himself
(Stowell) To permit unrepentant sin to exist among believers without censure is to permit an influence that erodes the purity of the pilgrimmage. But even biblical discipline is to be characterized by a love marked by true compassion and steadied by the resolve to restore the wayward and to protect the integrity of the faith and the purity of the faith
(Stowell) When the cause is compelling enough, we don't have the luxury not to cooperate. Nothing erodes the message of Christ more than when followers splinter and divide. Needless to say, styles,methods, and personal preference are not of greater value than the cause of Christ. At the end of the day, nothing of lesser value should divide us. It is critical to remember that we aren't competitors in the work of Christ. Followers of Christ are colleagues
( A. Rogers) At death, you leave behind all that you have and take with you all that you are
(The Message paraphrase of Eph 5:4) Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, Christians have better use of language than that
(The Message paraphrase of Ehh 5:6) Don't let yourself be taken in by religious smooth talk
(The Message paraphrase of Eph 5:15) Watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times
(J B Phillips) You know the truth-let your life show it
(Rogers) Someone has said that the difference between courtship and marriage is the difference between what you see in the seed catalogue and what comes up in the garden. The cuase of the inconsistency is usually the failure to cultivate the garden
(Rogers) Now, if you don't like what these verses say, you'll just have to take it up with God,ok?
(Rogers) The home needs a head. Anything with no head is dead, and anything with two heads is abnormal, a freak. If the home is wrong, it is primarily because the man is wrong. The husband is to love his wife passionately, to purify her, and to protect her
(Stowell) To permit unrepentant sin to exist among believers without censure is to permit an influence that erodes the purity of the pilgrimmage. But even biblical discipline is to be characterized by a love marked by true compassion and steadied by the resolve to restore the wayward and to protect the integrity of the faith and the purity of the faith
(Stowell) When the cause is compelling enough, we don't have the luxury not to cooperate. Nothing erodes the message of Christ more than when followers splinter and divide. Needless to say, styles,methods, and personal preference are not of greater value than the cause of Christ. At the end of the day, nothing of lesser value should divide us. It is critical to remember that we aren't competitors in the work of Christ. Followers of Christ are colleagues
( A. Rogers) At death, you leave behind all that you have and take with you all that you are
(The Message paraphrase of Eph 5:4) Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, Christians have better use of language than that
(The Message paraphrase of Ehh 5:6) Don't let yourself be taken in by religious smooth talk
(The Message paraphrase of Eph 5:15) Watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times
(J B Phillips) You know the truth-let your life show it
(Rogers) Someone has said that the difference between courtship and marriage is the difference between what you see in the seed catalogue and what comes up in the garden. The cuase of the inconsistency is usually the failure to cultivate the garden
(Rogers) Now, if you don't like what these verses say, you'll just have to take it up with God,ok?
(Rogers) The home needs a head. Anything with no head is dead, and anything with two heads is abnormal, a freak. If the home is wrong, it is primarily because the man is wrong. The husband is to love his wife passionately, to purify her, and to protect her
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
050311
( A.Rogers) God does not change in order to love us. He loves us in order to change us
(Wiersbe) What a miracle of God's grace. We are taken out of the great graveyard of sin and placed in the throne room of glory
(Wiersbe) The unbeliever is not sick;he is dead.He does not need resuscitation;he needs resurrection
(Wiersbe) God has two kinds of attributes: those that He possesses of Himself(intrinsic), and those by which He relates to His creation, especially to man(relative)
(Wiersbe) If our righteousnesses are filthy, what must our sins look like?
(Wiersbe) The will of God comes from the heart of God
(Wiersbe) Religious history is a story of devolution, not evolution
(Wiersbe) When the church is least like the world, it does the most for the world
(Wiersbe) Jesus Christ died to make reconciliation possible. You and I must live to make the message of reconciliation personal
(Wiersbe) Unity is not uniformity. Unity comes from within and is a spiritual grace, while uniformity is the result of pressure from without
(Wiersbe) Someone has said, " humility is that grace that , when you know you have it, you have lost it." Humility means putting Christ first, others second , and self last. It means knowing ourselves, accepting ourselves, and being ourselves to the glory of God. He does not want us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to or less highly than we ought to
(Stowell) Spriritual gifts are intended to expand our ability to multiply the work of Christ
(Stowell) We must hold one another lovingly accountable for those things that are clearly out of bounds. But we are not called to be resentful, judgmental, self-righteous, or distant toward those with whom we disagree. We are His body, called to follow Him undivided
(Wiersbe) What a miracle of God's grace. We are taken out of the great graveyard of sin and placed in the throne room of glory
(Wiersbe) The unbeliever is not sick;he is dead.He does not need resuscitation;he needs resurrection
(Wiersbe) God has two kinds of attributes: those that He possesses of Himself(intrinsic), and those by which He relates to His creation, especially to man(relative)
(Wiersbe) If our righteousnesses are filthy, what must our sins look like?
(Wiersbe) The will of God comes from the heart of God
(Wiersbe) Religious history is a story of devolution, not evolution
(Wiersbe) When the church is least like the world, it does the most for the world
(Wiersbe) Jesus Christ died to make reconciliation possible. You and I must live to make the message of reconciliation personal
(Wiersbe) Unity is not uniformity. Unity comes from within and is a spiritual grace, while uniformity is the result of pressure from without
(Wiersbe) Someone has said, " humility is that grace that , when you know you have it, you have lost it." Humility means putting Christ first, others second , and self last. It means knowing ourselves, accepting ourselves, and being ourselves to the glory of God. He does not want us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to or less highly than we ought to
(Stowell) Spriritual gifts are intended to expand our ability to multiply the work of Christ
(Stowell) We must hold one another lovingly accountable for those things that are clearly out of bounds. But we are not called to be resentful, judgmental, self-righteous, or distant toward those with whom we disagree. We are His body, called to follow Him undivided
Sunday, May 1, 2011
050111
(Stowell) As endless as Gods blessings are, so should our praise be
(J Allen Blair) God has planted the Cross of Christ at the crossroads of of history. There is no way that anyone can detour around it. This is a fact from which there is no escape. It is the reaction to that encounter which determines the disposition and destiny of each person
(Blair) When Jesus was born, the darkness of midnight was turned into the full blaze of midday. But when He died, the brilliance of midday was plunged into the blackness of midnight. How could it be otherwise when sinful men sought to extinguish the Light of the world. Light rejected brings darkness
(Blair) Calvary- the place where the most solemn transaction in time nd eternity took place. Calvary is God's infinite heartache manifest in time
(Blair) When Christ died on the Cross, it was not human nature offering its very best to God;it was God offering His very heart to men
(Blair) It is Christ's resurrection that proves the value of the Cross
(Blair) tells the story of a clergyman saying to a Christian woman, " Do you think that a death-bed repentance does away with a whole life of sin?" "No, she said, but Calvary does"
(Blair) John 12:32 does not mean that everyone will be saved, but it does mean that He provided a way so that everyone can be saved. The Cross provides universal salvation for all who believe on Christ
(Blair) With the gift of life, you gain the right to heaven. If you reject it, you have only the right to hell
(Mart De Haan) Christ shows us that any power we have is not an entitlement to be served but rather a responsibility to serve. In His kingdom, the elder must be the younger, the greater as the least, and those who rule as those who serve
(J Allen Blair) God has planted the Cross of Christ at the crossroads of of history. There is no way that anyone can detour around it. This is a fact from which there is no escape. It is the reaction to that encounter which determines the disposition and destiny of each person
(Blair) When Jesus was born, the darkness of midnight was turned into the full blaze of midday. But when He died, the brilliance of midday was plunged into the blackness of midnight. How could it be otherwise when sinful men sought to extinguish the Light of the world. Light rejected brings darkness
(Blair) Calvary- the place where the most solemn transaction in time nd eternity took place. Calvary is God's infinite heartache manifest in time
(Blair) When Christ died on the Cross, it was not human nature offering its very best to God;it was God offering His very heart to men
(Blair) It is Christ's resurrection that proves the value of the Cross
(Blair) tells the story of a clergyman saying to a Christian woman, " Do you think that a death-bed repentance does away with a whole life of sin?" "No, she said, but Calvary does"
(Blair) John 12:32 does not mean that everyone will be saved, but it does mean that He provided a way so that everyone can be saved. The Cross provides universal salvation for all who believe on Christ
(Blair) With the gift of life, you gain the right to heaven. If you reject it, you have only the right to hell
(Mart De Haan) Christ shows us that any power we have is not an entitlement to be served but rather a responsibility to serve. In His kingdom, the elder must be the younger, the greater as the least, and those who rule as those who serve
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