Malachi 2:17-3:6 Faith – Authentic Christianity Part 5 When a trapeze artist learns to swing from the trapeze, they start with a practice bar. This bar is set to the ground. Then the next time, the trapeze is 10 meters above the ground. Safety harnesses are attached to safety lines. They practice flying through the air in the new learned position. Each time, they learn to trust the person on the other side who will catch them. They discover... Read more
Luke 14:25-33 How Much Will It Cost? Salvation is free. Discipleship costs. We say in English: There is no such thing as a free lunch. The same is true with our salvation. So I want to take a few minutes for us to evaluate how much it would have to eternal life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke about this. He even wrote a book entitled The Cost of Discipleship. So I want us to look at three pictures that Jesus shares with... Read more
Ephesians 3:14-21 Powerful Prayer Having said the following facts about Christians to the church in Ephesus (and to us): we have spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1), we experience a common salvation (Ephesians 2), and we have all received a shared grace (Ephesians 3). As a result, Paul prays for the church. Pastors should pray for the church. Fathers should pray for their families. Friends should pray for their friends, for their fellow workers. You should pray for those who don’t know... Read more
Malachi 2:10-16 Relationships – Authentic Christianity Part 4 Adam and Eve When Adam stayed out very late for a few nights, Eve became upset. “You’re running around with other women,” she charged. “Don’t be ridiculous,” Adam responded. “You’re the only woman on earth.” The quarrel continued until Adam fell asleep, only to be awakened by someone poking him in the chest. It was Eve. “What are you doing?” Adam demanded. “Counting your ribs.” All marriages are happy. It’s the living... Read more
Malachi 2:1-9 Leadership – Authentic Christianity Part 3 Rob Iverson defines leadership: “Leadership is the skill of influencing people to enthusiastically work towards a goal.” John Maxwell defines leadership as influence – nothing more, nothing less. T. Boone Pickens said this about leadership: “Leadership is hard to define. You know when you are around it. You know when you see it. We love a leader! I’ve learned that it is what you do to yourself, not what you do to... Read more
Malachi 1:6-14 Worship – Authentic Christianity Part 2 Worship is not the idea of singing. Worship is in giving your best attention. Why? Because you can give your best attention when you listen to worship and its related music. Here is an article about Matt Redman: The song dates back to the late 1990s, born from a period of apathy within Matt’s home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England. Despite the country’s overall contribution to the current worship revival, Redman’s... Read more
Malachi 1:1-5 Love – Authentic Christianity Part 1 Malachi 1:1-5 Love – Authentic Christianity Part 1 As we begin a new series, we will look at the values that God desires from us as Christians. The point of this study, which is the point of the book of Malachi is this: God wants me to reset or restore my heart back to Him. Malachi is the last book written by an Old Testament prophet. The next prophet that would come... Read more
Proverbs 31:10-31 Thank God for Mom I looked at a photo of my parents Thursday evening. It is sitting in my office. They made the photo last year. My parents will celebrate forty years of marriage next marriage. My mother will turn 57 in August. We talk on the phone every Sunday evening. However, in the last ten years, I think I have met with my mother a total of seven times in person. Of course, I have sent her... Read more
Christian Sexual Behavior and the Voices of Society Christian sexual behavior and the voices of society seem to always be in conflict with one another. God has a plan for Christians, and it is very different than what society teaches. In matters of sex, God has a specific plan (“there can be only one”) and this involved having sex with only your spouse – after you are married. Yet, society will shout many other ideas. The voices of society shout... Read more
Zeitgeist Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, “It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A... Read more
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