Priorities. Leland Maples of LOOPS Ministries delivered a lesson on priorities. Leland shared his recent fight with lung cancer and the insights this gave him into setting proper priorities. Everybody has responsibilities in their lives that change over time. From being a student to becoming a parent, responsibilities change. Yet we need to keep in mind that responsibilities are not priorities. Our priorities need to dictate which responsibilities come first.
Resurrection - Part 8. It’s our responsibility as Christians to approach scripture and determine how it should apply in our lives. The resurrection is one of the key topics that we should study. For example, Martha in John 11:23-24 (KJV) demonstrated her understanding of a resurrection when talking about her brother Lazarus “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” As Martha demonstrates, it was widely known among the believers that there is a resurrection of the dead.
Resurrection - Part 7 . Only on half of one verse in scripture does God give to the atheist. In Psalm 14:1 (KJV) “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God...” The fool doesn’t believe there will be a resurrection yet we know that the blessed hope of the resurrection will happen to everyone. Why? Judgment for everyone will be judged of God.
Resurrection - Part 6. There are two types of people in this world: “Saints, and Aints”. In Philippians 3:7-14, the apostle Paul is addressing the Saints when discussing the status of “perfect”. We know that no one is perfect for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Yet “Saints” are perfected by Christ in salvation and are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). The pursuit of “being perfect” is the race of Saints in the pursuit of the calling of God. Life in the Christian realm is a race for inheritance. The reward for the winning the race are crowns.
Preach The Word. It is increasingly rare to hear Scripture quoted in public, partly because of legal constraints, but largely because the Bible has become unfamiliar territory. Pollster George Gallup Jr. refers to us as a "nation of biblical illiterates." Although 95 percent of Americans profess a belief in God, only 4 in 10 know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Only 3 in 10 teenagers know why Easter is celebrated. Only 3 in 10 Americans admit they look to Scripture for truth. The lack of Bible knowledge is a christian epidemic of tremendous consequences.
The Eternal Purpose of God. According to Ephesians 3:7-11, Gods intent is to demonstrate His wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. Further, this demonstration is according to His eternal purpose, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. God calls this demonstration “the mystery” and He puts Christ on center stage in the leading role. Co-starring with Christ is The Church (which is His body). If God were in the movie business, His current release would be called “The Eternal Purpose of God” brought to you by the “Manifold Wisdom Studios”.
Language and The Meaning of Words. In Bible study as well as every day conversation, language and words portray specific meanings. We know from Matt 12:36-37 that “...every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
The Resurrection - Part 2. The resurrection is so critical to the believer. By one man sin entered the world, and death by sin. Yet the second Adam, Christ, is alive and resides in heaven as the one mediator between God and man. In the Old Testament, Job had hope of a resurrection. Abraham is another individual who trusted in the power of God to raise the dead.
Resurrection - Part 1. Paul said it best, if we have hope only in this world, we are all most miserable (1 Cor 15:19). When the Sadducees approached Jesus in Mark 12:18-27, they put forth a question about “resurrection”. It was clearly stated that the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection so their question was attempting to make Christ stumble. His response to them not only validated a resurrection, but emphasized an important point... they were in error from not knowing the scriptures.
Do You Believe in Christmas? What is Christmas and what does it mean to you? For those of us who are Christians, it means more than the lights, the shopping, or wrapped presents under the tree. If it were, then the spirit of man really yearns for something more than that and is so empty. All the answers the world has to give will never satisfy the yearning heart. There is only one answer that will, and that is Christ. Christians know that every day is Christmas because God has given us the gift of His dear Son.
