Think Hard, Stay Humble: The Life of the Mind and the Peril of Pride Desiring God 2010 National Conference Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God. The following are notes taken during the session. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. This passage convicted me about how often I will speak without loving the person that is right in front of me. This passage is addressing people that technically have the right theology but were still wrong before God because of their lack of love. The mature Christians were pressuring the weaker Christians to eat the meat, and Paul responds to the mature Christians by saying, “You weren’t thinking about your brother. I admire Paul so much for the way he feels toward people.
Some of you in this room think really hard through the Scriptures. It’s so easy to seclude ourselves from the world of lost people. Some of you could be brilliant and worthless. . © Desiring God. Different Takes: Should we abandon idea of hell? Editor’s note: The new documentary "Hellbound? " explores Americans' ideas about hell. We asked two prominent Christians who featured in the film to give us their very different takes on hell. My Faith: The dangerous effects of believing in hell Editor’s note: Frank Schaeffer is a New York Times bestselling author. His latest book is "Crazy For God. " By Frank Schaeffer, Special to CNN Is it any coincidence that the latest war of religion that started on September 11, 2001, is being fought primarily between the United States and the Islamic world?
And nowhere on earth have conservative Christians been closer to controlling foreign policy than here in the United States. What a pair George W. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter And so my view of "hell" encompasses two things: First, the theological question about whether a land of eternal suffering exists as God's "great plan" for most of humanity.
CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories Why does our view of hell matter? The Shelf Life on Preaching the Gospel to Yourself. The clock is ticking. If you're faithfully "preaching the gospel" to your own soul, day in and day out, but distancing yourself from regular Bible intake, your freshness is fading. There's an expiration date on this fruit once it's off the vine. Don't think I'm down on preaching the gospel to ourselves. I love it. I commend it. It's one of my main conscious sources for sanctification, an indispensable weapon for fighting the fight of faith. I'm eating this fruit daily. Gospel and Scripture — Together The concern is that those of us convinced of our ongoing need for the gospel should take care that our so-called gospel centeredness not lead to laxity with the Scriptures. Without relentless reorienting on the gospel, our study of the Scriptures quickly veers off course.
Gospel Perspective in Scripture Reading John 5 shows the folly of fixing on the Scriptures while ignoring the God of grace. Bible Intake and Preaching to Yourself Keeping Your Gospel Fresh Recent posts from David Mathis: Psalm 42. More Thoughts on Friends Who Fail You. Last Sunday’s message struck a chord with many when I spoke of Christian friends letting you down. I argued that sometimes they forsake you never to return — like Demas. He loved “the present world,” and so abandoned the great apostle who craved the Lord’s appearing more than he craved the world (2 Timothy 4:8). And, even more relevant, we saw that many friends let you down but can and should remain your friends and your partners in ministry. Paul said that nobody from his team or from the church in Rome showed up to stand by him at his trial (2 Timothy 4:16).
Nobody. Not Luke or Eubulus or Pudens or Linus or Claudia or any of “the brothers” (2 Timothy 4:21). Nevertheless Paul graciously includes them with himself in greeting Timothy, and writes, “May it not be charged against them!” After the sermon one of my own partners in ministry, Amanda Knoke, Director of Communications at Bethlehem, pointed me to C. Yes. Recent posts from John Piper: Stop Trying Harder. The gospel should affect everything we do, and we will never move beyond its direction and power.
Yesterday I asked a simple question: Do you really think there is some strategy, medication, or counselor that could be more effective in dealing with your sin than the grace of God as told in the gospel? This is an important question. I think that most of us would quickly answer, “No, of course not!” We know (in theory) that nothing could be more effective than God’s power in the gospel. But we don’t really believe it. Instead, we try all sorts of strategies to try to whip ourselves into shape. We can’t make ourselves into the type of people God wants us to be.
How do you deal with the sin in your life? We all need to be reminded all of the time that we cannot please God on our own. You believed this when you first turned to Jesus and accepted the grace offered in the gospel. If we truly believe in the power of God’s grace as expressed in the gospel, we will stop trying harder. Teaching Your Band Simplicity - Simple Worship - Sunday| Magazine.
Every weekend people gather in churches and ministry centers to participate in singing songs of worship to God. For those of us who are worship leaders, we have the immense joy in choosing those songs. Now there are many different cultural backgrounds as well as schools of thought in the choices of music we play. All of it has value. However, I would like to offer some thoughts in encouraging us to playing simpler music.
Music of great complexity can be stunningly beautiful, drawing us near to the heart of God. It can be a symphony to our ears and deeply inspiring. Is what I’m playing, helpful or hurtful to people trying to sing along? Is my part distracting or encouraging within worship? As worship leaders and musicians, it is good to continually ask these questions of ourselves. I offer up these following thoughts for us to consider how simpler music can help foster corporate worship with the people and God. Remember the Focus This was my first time leading worship. Foster Community. 15 Ways to Be Irresistibly Attractive.
Be true to your values. Be honest. Do your best. Do things that bring you closer to your dreams. Take care of yourself, your family, and your friends. In other words, invest love into your life. Do the right thing. – Never be afraid to do what you know in your heart is right, especially if the well being of another person’s feelings is at stake. Photo by: Lina Hayes Related 18 Ways You’re Making Your Life Harder Than It Has To Be Life is not complex. July 27, 2014 In "Happiness" 15 Ways to Live, and Not Merely Exist As Jack London once said, “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”
March 19, 2012 In "Aspirations" 10 Signs it’s Time to Let Go Holding on is being brave, but letting go and moving on is often what makes us stronger and happier. April 2, 2012. Depth of Mercy. Download the album at Marshill.bandcamp.com With massive soundscapes and crushing ambience, Kenosis leads corporate worship at Mars Hill Ballard. Formed by Pastor Joel Brown after a hiatus from the popular Ballard band Red Letter, Kenosis blends sharp riffs, tight rhythms, and soaring melodies that present a worship environment of paradoxical emotions: complete reverence before a holy, righteous God, and rejoicing at the tenderness of his love. released 13 December 2011 Joel Brown: Guitar & Vocals Jordan Butcher: Drums, Percussion & Programming Jesse Herlitz: Guitar & Vocals Hannah Moreno: Keys & Vocals Bass Guitar by: Brian Eichelberger, Jordan Peifer & Zack Walkingstick Additional Vocals by: Katie Costello, Jessica Dobson, Chelsey Duff, Chad Gardner, Toby Morrell & Ashlea Tegman Additional Vocals, Guitars, Percussion & Keys by Alan Matley Recorded by Alan Matley Mixed by Aaron Smith Mastered by Troy Glessner Art & Direction by Jordan Butcher © 2011 Mars Hill Church.
Philippians 2:1-18 NIV - Imitating Christ’s Humility. Imitating Christ’s Humility 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Do Everything Without Grumbling. So you STILL think God is a merciful God?! « A Miniature Clay Pot. July 22 – a note of explanation I’ve tried to leave this post just as it was originally written because it was a heartfelt response after a very traumatic experience. But I’m sometimes clumsy with words and even when I think I am writing clearly, there is always the reader who doesn’t know my heart or doesn’t hear the words the way they were intended. I feel as though a few people have taken what I said and twisted it. When I wrote my post on Friday, I had a grand total of eleven blog followers. Yes, eleven. I generally post on facebook and have had a loyal little group of readers that numbered thirty or so.
That is who I generally write for. I realize that the vast majority of readers are complete strangers; they know nothing about my heart or my faith. Original Post (with parenthetical thought reworded) (I don’t know why I am still alive while others tragically lost their lives. “So, you still believe in a merciful God?” Yes. Yes, I do indeed. Absolutely, positively, unequivocally. Marie. John 12: 44-50 NIV - Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever. Women pastors / preachers? What does the Bible say about women in ministry? Question: "Women pastors / preachers? Can a woman be a pastor or preacher? " Answer: There is perhaps no more hotly debated issue in the church today than the issue of women serving as pastors/preachers. As a result, it is very important to not see this issue as men versus women. There are women who believe women should not serve as pastors and that the Bible places restrictions on the ministry of women, and there are men who believe women can serve as preachers and that there are no restrictions on women in ministry.
This is not an issue of chauvinism or discrimination. It is an issue of biblical interpretation. The Word of God proclaims, “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. There are many “objections” to this view of women in ministry. A third common objection is that Paul is only referring to husbands and wives, not men and women in general. Similar arguments are made using Priscilla and Phoebe in the New Testament. Related Topics: What is complementarianism? Don’t Give Up. “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints” (Revelation 14:12). We all long for rest and refreshment.
That’s a God-given longing that he promises to fulfill: “I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish” (Jeremiah 31:25). And in a very real way Jesus gives rest to “all who labor and are heavy laden” and come to him (Matthew 11:28). But in this age, it is not the complete rest. In this age, Jesus grants us the gospel rest of ceasing the impossible labor of self-atonement for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). And wars are exhausting — especially long ones. But don’t give up. Don’t give up when that familiar sin, still crouching at your door after all these years, pounces again with temptation. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.
Don’t give up when you feel that deep soul weariness from long battles with persistent weaknesses. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Don’t give up. Teen Missions International | Memory Verses. TMI's Official Packet of 40 Memory Verse cards . Summer missionaries learn new Bible memory verses each day for 40 days and review what they’ve learned during team quizzing each weekend and at debrief. Participants on Teen Missions trips can get a head start learning their Bible memory verses before they arrive. Others, going on their own missions trip with their family, youth group or church may also like to download and print these powerful verses as a part of their short term outreach as well!
Download and Print one of the following packets of memory verse cards in the PDF format: (40 verses) (19 verses) Each verse packet is already formatted and pocket-sized so you can bring your memory verses anywhere! The Bible memory verses listed below can begin your amazing journey into scripture memorization. Day 1 Day 2 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12. The Fear of God. The "Fear of the Lord"? By Rosemarie Scott If God is so loving, kind and compassionate, why does Scripture say we should "fear" Him? What exactly is fear of the Lord, which is considered a gift of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-3 Douay), and how does it relate to our walk with God? Two Kinds of Fear The fear of the Lord is a much misunderstood concept, perhaps in part because there are actually two types of "fear" of the Lord mentioned in Scripture.
The first, mentioned in Isaiah 2:10, 19 and 21, is not a gift of the Holy Spirit; it is the abject terror of an unrepentant sinner before the justice of God. Some translations render this as "the terror of the Lord" (Revised Standard Version) or "dread of the Lord" (Revised English Bible). Ultimately, God will have to judge those who do evil and refuse to repent at His loving call. So Christians in a state of grace need not fear God's wrath.
So for those who are in Christ, the "fear of the Lord" does not involve abject terror or dread of divine justice. 1. 2. 3. When Life Doesn't Go as Planned. A lament of David: “I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.
My strength is dried up like [broken pottery] and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death” (Psalm 22:14-18, NIV). Most of us like to plan out our lives. We strategize about colleges, majors, relationships, careers, jobs, houses, spouses, kids and so forth. We have these dreams and goals that lead to success, happiness and what we imagine as an ideal existence. But what happens when life doesn’t go according to all our carefully laid plans?
Our hearts break. Do you ever notice that churches tend to have people share their testimonies when all the crap they’ve been through has concluded? It’s truly awesome. I want to hear from people like me. What "the middle" reveals My husband and I lost a pregnancy a little over a year ago after three years of infertility and no successful treatments since.
In Charlotte's Web by E.B. God's Greatest Achievement. Christ's Power Is Made Perfect in Weakness. What Is The Gospel - dangers to be avoided in presenting the Gospel. What is The Gospel - Gospel Basics.