Important Old Testament Events

taken from: Willmington's Guide to the Bible Edition : First by H. L. Willmington.

1. Creation of Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:26, 27; 2:7, 21, 22)
2. Institution of marriage (Gen. 2:23-25)
3. Fall of man (Genesis 3:6)
4. Promise of the Redeemer (Gen. 3:15)
5. Universal flood (Gen. 6–8)
6. Institution of human government (Gen. 9:1-19)
7. Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9)
8. Conversion and call of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)
9. Giving of Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21)
10. Abraham’s marriage to Hagar (Gen. 16:1-16)
11. The birth of Isaac (Gen. 21:1-8)
12. The flight of Jacob (Gen. 28)
13. The selling of Joseph into Egyptian slavery (Gen. 37)
14. The enslavement of Israel in Egypt (Ex. 1)
15. The call of Moses (Ex. 3:1-10)
16. The ten plagues (Ex. 7-12)
17. The institution of the Passover (Ex. 12)
18. The appearance of the glory cloud (Ex. 13:21, 22)
19. The Red Sea crossing (Ex. 14)
20. The giving of the manna (Ex. 16:4)
21. The institution of the Sabbath (Ex. 16:29)
22. The giving of the Law (Ex. 20:1-17)
23. The completion of the tabernacle (Ex. 40:33, 34)
24. The anointing of Aaron (Lev. 8:1-12)
25. The unbelief at Kadesh-barnea (Num. 14)
26. The death of Moses (Deut. 34:5-8)
27. The Jordan River crossing into Palestine (Josh. 3)
28. The victory over Jericho (Josh. 6)
29. The death of Joshua (Josh. 24:29)
30. The marriage of Ruth to Boaz (Ruth 4)
31. The capture of the ark by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4)
32. The rejection of Samuel by Israel (1 Sam. 8:1-9)
33. The anointing of Saul (1 Sam. 9, 10)
34. The rejection of Saul (1 Sam. 15:23)
35. The anointing of David (1 Sam. 16:13)
36. The capture of Jerusalem by David (2 Sam. 5:9)
37. The recovery of the ark by David (2 Sam. 6:15, 16)
38. The giving of the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:8-17)
39. The anointing of Solomon (1 Ki. 1:39)
40. The completion of Solomon’s Temple (1 Ki. 6:38)
41. The Israeli civil war (1 Ki. 12)
42. The deliverance of Joash from murderous Queen Athaliah (2 Chron. 22:10-12)
43. The Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom (2 Ki. 17:6)
44. The deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrians (2 Ki. 19:32-35)
45. The death of Josiah (2 Ki. 23:29, 30)
46. The departure of the glory cloud (Ezek. 10:18)
47. The destruction of the Temple of Solomon (2 Ki. 25:8, 9)
48. The Babylonian captivity of the southern kingdom (2 Ki. 25:11)
49. The return under Cyrus’ decree (Ezra 1)
50. The completion of the new Temple under Zerubbabel (Ezra 3)
51. The salvation of the Jews by Esther (Est. 4-7)

Important New Testament Events

taken from: Willmington's Guide to the Bible Edition : First by H. L. Willmington.

A. Gospel Events (Matthew—John)
The Main Highlights of Christ’s Life:
1. His birth (Luke. 2:1–7)
2. The adoration by the shepherds (Luke. 2:8–20)
3. The dedication in Jerusalem (Luke. 2:21–38)
4. The worship by the wise men (Mt. 2:1–12)
5. Flight into Egypt (Mt. 2:13–23)
6. Temple visit at age twelve (Luke. 2:41–50)
7. His baptism (Mt. 3:13–17)
8. His temptation (Mt. 4:1–11)
9. Introduction by John the Baptist (Jn. 1:29)
10. First Temple cleansing (Jn. 2:13–25)
11. Conversion of Nicodemus (Jn. 3:1–21)
12. The choice of the twelve (Mt. 10:1–4)
13. Imprisonment and execution of John (Mt. 14:1–12)
14. Peter’s great confession (Mt. 16:13–20)
15. The transfiguration (Mt. 17:1–13)
16. His triumphal entry (Mt. 21:1–11)
17. Weeping over Jerusalem (Mt. 23:37–39; Luke. 19:41)
18. In the upper room (Jn. 13–14)
19. In Gethsemane (Jn. 18:1–11)
20. His arrest and trials (Jn. 18:12–19:15)
21. The crucifixion (Jn. 19:16–18)
22. The resurrection (Mt. 28:1–7)
23. The ten appearances
24. The ascension (Luke. 24:51)

Early Church and Epistle Events (Acts—Revelation)

1. Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4)
2. Sermon of Peter (2:14–40)
3. Healing of a lame man (3:1–11)
4. Death of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1–11)
5. Election of the first deacons (6:1–8)
6. Martyrdom of Stephen (7:1–60)
7. Conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26–39)
8. Conversion of Saul (9:1–19)
9. Conversion of Cornelius (10:1–48)
10. Establishment of the Antioch church (11:19–26)
11. Deliverance of Peter (12:1–19)
12. Paul’s first missionary trip (13:2—14:28)
13. The Jerusalem Council (15:1–35)
14. Paul’s second missionary trip (15:36—18:22)
15. Paul’s third missionary trip (18:23—21:16)
16. Paul’s imprisonment in Rome (28:30)
17. The exile of John to Patmos (Rev. 1:9)

It’s Time”

by: Bro. Michael Bishop Jr.

Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 7:12-18

In the time of heartache, uncertain times, and as the world seem that what can’t happen dose happen, we wonder what to do, what’s next? Many people today look to people like Dr. Phil, or Larry King and many others to find out what is next. Most of the time the Lord Jesus Christ is NOT is not the first source of help but the last source of hope in a world that is looking for some [hope].

2 Chronicles 7:12-18

It is time to Humble Ourselves.

Holman Dictionary: Free from ignorance and pride. Encarta ® World English Dictionary : 1. modest and unassuming in attitude and behavior 2. feeling or showing respect and deference toward other people.

Our pride and ignorance get in the way of our worship. (1st church of the friezador)

To be humble is to be set apart from everyone else and truly be broken for the Lord. Being humble requires us to be obeying to God.

It is Time to Pray: According to the Sprit of God.

As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray. Martin Luther (1483–1546)

Prayer has everything to do with molding the soul into the image of God, and has everything to do with enhancing and enlarging the measure of Divine grace. -form the Necessity of Prayer by Edward M. Bounds. 1st edition. Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright 1997, Parsons Technology, Inc.

Too many of our prayer life are just too simple, just plan suck and all about us.

According to the NIV Study Bible/Concordance is a conversation with God. The Encarta World English Dictionary states that prayer is a spoken or unspoken address to God. It may express praise, thanksgiving, confession, or a request for something such as help or somebody's well-being. If prayer is a conversation with God, why do we do we do most of the talking? The Bible says to be slow to speak and quick to hear. Many of our prayers goes like this:

“Hey Lord” or “Dear Lord Baby Jesus”, tell Him how much He screw up your life, tell him what you want to do or need to do, curse Him than turn around in your deepest trail and call out to Him for help us. 90% of us do that.

It is best to read the weather forecasts before we pray for rain. -Mark Twain (1835–1910)

Matthew 6:5-13

Matthew 7:7-8

It is Time to SEEK the Face of God.

Matthew 6:33

Craig Bloomberg, a professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary, states:

“Seeking first the righteous of God implies obedience to all of Jesus commands…” “… ‘Will be given’ dose not specify when God will provide … Without a doubt, most individuals Budgets need drastic realignment in turns of what Christians spend on themselves vs. what they spend on others.”

It is time to Turn away from our Evil ways.

Psalm 139:23-24 ( HCSB ) 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. 24 See if there is any offensive ways in me; lead me in the everlasting way.

A TWELVE POINT CURE FOR COMPLAINING: How to not let circumstances and attitudes rob you of your joy, contentment, and hope by

by Bill Izard

• Complaining is unbecoming of the true Christian and yet we are proficient at it. The cure is found in these verses. In Christ we are never hopeless or forsaken. Every trial has meaning. Meditate on this cure in order to change both your language and your heart.

1. GOD COMMANDS ME NEVER TO COMPLAIN. (Philippians 2:14)

2. GOD COMMANDS ME TO GIVE THANKS IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

3. GOD COMMANDS ME TO REJOICE ALWAYS, AND ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF TRIAL. Rejoice in the Lord always.(Phil. 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; James 1:2)

4. I ALWAYS DESERVE MUCH WORSE THAN WHAT I AM SUFFERING NOW¾IN FACT, I DESERVE HELL. (Lamentations 3:39, Luke 13:2-3.)

5. IN LIGHT OF THE ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND GLORY THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE IN HEAVEN, THIS PRESENT TRIAL IS EXTREMELY BRIEF AND INSIGNIFICANT, EVEN IF IT WERE TO LAST A LIFETIME. (Rom. 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:19)

6. MY SUFFERING IS FAR LESS THAN THAT WHICH CHRIST SUFFERED, AND HE DID NOT COMPLAIN. (1 Peter 2:23)

7. TO COMPLAIN IS TO SAY GOD IS NOT JUST. (Genesis 18:25)

8. FAITH AND PRAYER EXCLUDE COMPLAINING. (Psalm 34)

9. THIS DIFFICULTY IS BEING USED BY GOD FOR MY GOOD AND IT IS FOOLISH FOR ME TO COMPLAIN AGAINST IT. (Romans 8:28)

10. THOSE MORE FAITHFUL THAN I HAVE SUFFERED FAR WORSE THAN I, AND DID SO WITHOUT COMPLAINT. (Hebrews 11:35-39)

11. COMPLAINING DENIES THAT GOD'S GRACE IS ENTIRELY SUFFICIENT. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

12. THE GREATEST SUFFERING, THE WORST TRIAL OR DIFFICULTY, CAN NEVER ROB ME OF THAT WHICH IS OF GREATEST VALUE TO ME AND MY GREATEST JOY, NAMELY THE LOVE OF CHRIST. (Romans 8:35-39)

30 Sins of the Tongue

by: Richard Baxter

• Blasphemy.

• Teaching false doctrine.

• False application of true doctrine.

• Deriding of serious godliness.

• Forbidding Christian ministers to preach the Gospel.

• Profane swearing

• Perjury.

• Lying.

• Hypocritical representation of self.

• Proud boasting.

• Unseasonable speaking of common things when holy things should be preferred.

• Tempting others to sin.

• Idle talk and a multitude of useless words.

• Handling the word of God in a carnal, playful manner: and not with a style that is grave and serious, agreeable to the weight and majesty of the truth.

• Imprudent, rash and slovenly handling of holy things.

• Reviling and dishonoring of superiors.

• Imperious contempt of inferiors.

• Foolish talk and jesting.

• Filthy speaking.

• Cursing of others.

• Slandering.

• Backbiting.

• Speaking evil of another.

• Stirring up discord.

• Cheating others by defrauding neighbors in bargaining for their own gain.

• Falsely accusing the innocent.

• Passing an unrighteous sentence.

• Flattering and deluding men about the state of their souls.

• Jeering, mocking,deriding or scorning others.

• Idolatry or false worship.

The Muslim Brotherhood: The real cost of freedom and democracy in the Middle East.

Over the past months the stories of freedom and nations over nations has become apparent in the Middle East. One of the uprising governments that promise freedom for people in the region is The Muslim Brotherhood. (MB) Listed is information on the Muslim Brotherhood and what they believe.

1. Creed: Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Quran is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying is the way of Allah is our highest hope.

2. Highly Terrorist Group

3. 1991 document Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goals of the Group: MB mission in America is “a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within, sabotaging its miserable houses with their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is mad victorious over all other religions”

4. 5 Phrases of the World Underground Movement plan (taking of the world by MB):

• Phrase 1: Discreet and secret establishment of leadership.

• Phrase 2 : Gradual appearance on the public scene and exercising and utilizing various public activities.

• Phrase 3 : Escalation phase using mass media.

• Phrase 4 : Open public confrontation with the Government using political pressure.

• Phrase 5 : Seizing power to establish their Islamic Nation.

Sadly, the Muslim Brotherhood is already pass Phrase 3. Even in churches in the Bible Bleat are allowing the Christians and Muslims to worship in the same church (different times, of course) are coming together. The MB is after to make everyone a Muslim and to follow their law.

The Authorship of the Pentateuch

Notes taken from Dr. Ron Meeks Old Testament I class.

1. The various views of authorship

• One author alone-The Traditional View: Hebrew, Samaritan, and early Christian tradition all regard Moses as the author or compiler of the Pentateuch. The one-author view acknowledges that Moses wrote the entire Pentateuch, apart from the account of his own death in Deut. 34.

• Documentary Hypothesis of Source Theory: A theory developed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that divided the material in the Pentateuch into four major blocks and sought to relate these to one another and to the course of Israelite History. The theory assumes that Moses did not composed the Pentateuch but that it was the product of various periods in Israelite history. This theory is built upon the 5 pillars of documentary analysis.

1. Use of different names (of God)

2. differences in language and style

3. contradictions and divergences among various texts

4. duplication and repetition of material

5. The evidence of literary seams suggesting the combination of various sources. (Gentz, The Dictionary of Bible and Religion, 276-277)

• One author with later editors: This view acknowledges Moses as (1) the compiler of existing written sources into what is now know as Genesis and (2) the author of the bulk of the other four books of the Pentateuch. This approach is a viable conservative to the multiple authorship theories characteristic of most modern critical scholarship without rejecting the divine inspiration of the Old Testament.

• Oral Tradition, Multiple authors, and later editors: This hypothesis assumes that the oral transmission of Israelite historical foundations and folklore was foundational to the composition form. These small literary units were then collected and finally compiled into the five books of the Pentateuch.

1. Arguments for Mosaic Authorship

• Claims from within the Pentateuch (Ex. 17:14, 24:4, 34:27, Num. 33:1-2, Deut. 31:24)

• Claims from other O.T. Books (Josh. 1:7, Judges 3:4, 2 Chronicles 25:4, Ezra 6:18, Mal. 4:4)

• Claims from Jesus and the New Testament Writers (Matt. 8:4, Mark 7:10, 10:5, Luke 20:37, John 5:45-47, 7:19)

• Internal Evidences consistent with Mosaic Authorship

1. Eyewitness details appear in the account of the Exodus which suggest and actual participant in the events, but which would be altogether beyond the ken of an author who lived centuries after the event.

2. The author of Genesis and Exodus shows a thorough acquaintance with Egypt.

3. The author of the Torah shows a consistently foreign or extra-Palestinian viewpoint so far as Canaan is concerned.

4. The atmosphere of the Exodus through Numbers is unmistakably that of the desert, not of an agricultural people settled in their ancestral possessions of a thousand years.

5. There is a most remarkable unity of arrangement which underlies the entire Pentateuch and links it together into a progressive hole.

• The Qualifications of Moses

1. He had the education and background for authorship.

2. He would have personal knowledge of the climate, agricultural, and geography of Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula such the author of the Pentateuch patently displays.

3. He would have the incentive as the founder of the nation.

4. He had the time to compose the documents.

Is your home a Gospel Center Home? Painful Parenting Questions to ask.

by Rick Thomas

• How dose the Gospel affect you?

• Are your children seeing and experiencing your humility because of the Gospel?

• Are your children becoming more aware of the amazing truth of the Gospel?

• Ask your children how they see you. Do they see you more as a critical person or a grateful person?

• Do you live as though you deserve better?

• Do you live your life as though your worst problem in life has been resolve and the rest of your life is a gift.

• Are you more tempted to force your child to be kind?

• Ask your spouse or a close friend how they have observed you with your children, especially in the area of kindness.

• Do your children instinctively serve others?

• Without thinking, do they instantly respond with a servant's heart?

• Do your children willingly and with joy give up their rights and opportunities in order to bless and serve others?

• Do your children seek to make others great while also rejoicing when good things come to others?

• Are you modeling these things before your children? Do they see these characteristics in you?

• How often do you confess your sins to your children and ask for their forgiveness?

• Do your children readily and humbly confess their sins and seek forgiveness from those they have offended?

• Is your home characterized as a confessing and repenting home?

Multiple “Choice” Questions

 Mike Adams

• Morally speaking, is having an abortion really just like picking a scab?

• If abortion is not murder because the fetus is not a person than why make it “safe, legal, and rare”?

• Do you have a similar desire to make scab-picking safe, legal, and rare”?

• If a woman were raped and got pregnant, which one would you kill a) the baby, b) the rapist, or c) both?

• Are you comfortable with the fave that “a” is the only answer you may choose according to (the present interpretation of) the Constitution?

• Abortion advocated frequently focus on the size of the fetus. Why is that relevant?

• Do tall people have more rights than short people?

• Do men have superior rights relative to women given that men are, on average, larger that women?

• Is fetal lack of self-awareness a justification for abortion?

• Is murder permissible when the victim is sleeping unaware of the surrounding environment?

• Dose the high infant mortality rate in Third World nations justify infanticide in Third World nations?

• Does the spontaneous termination of life by nature justify the intentional termination of life by man?

• Are humans beings inherently more valuable than other animals such as dogs?

• Should a woman abort a baby because it may be expensive and time consuming to raise a child adulthood?

• What give human beings more value that dogs?

• Should a woman be able to kill a puppy because it may be expensive an time consuming to feed and care for a dog?

• Is it morally permissible for a woman to have an abortion if she has pets? In other words, is it wrong to decline care for her baby while providing care for animals?

• Does secular humanism assume that humans are inherently different from other life form? If not, why is it called humanism?

• Should religious leaders interject their religiously-based opposition to the death penalty in debates over public policy?

• Should religious leaders interject their religiously-based opposition to abortion in debates over public policy? If you answered “no” to this question and“yes” to the previous question please explain your inconsistency

• Dose the “right to choose” comes from man or God?

• If man grants rights can he also take them away?

• It have been said (by three Supreme Court Justices) that “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” Dose that mean a woman can define a baby's rights out of existence because a woman is more powerful than a baby?

• Or dose that mean a man, can define a woman's rights out of existence because, in a patriarchal society, a man is more powerful than a woman?

25 Questions to ask before Wasting Another Sunday Morning

• What is man's biggest problem?

• What must a man must do to inherit eternal life?

• How do you deliver the salvation message?

• How hard is it to become a Christian?

• How often do you talk about sin, righteousness and judgment?

• How seeker sensitive is your church?

• Do you dump down your sermons?

• What is your mixture of topical vs. expository preaching?

• Do your sermons emphasize theology or are the relevant?

• Describe your youth programs?

• Describe your evangelism programs.

• What church growth model do you follow?

• How much do you give to missions and the hungry?

• Do you believe the Bible contains no errors or contradictions?

• Do you believe in a literal 6 day creation?

• Do you believe in a literal hell and eternal punishment?

• Please define repentance.

• When you distribute the Lord's Supper, do you emphasize the need to examine yourself?

• Can a person who is living in persistent lifestyle of sin inherit eternal life?

• Do your church exercise church discipline?

• Do Sunday school teachers, nursery, and youth volunteers fill out an application to answer questions about their core beliefs, or are all volunteers accepted?

• What are the essentials of the faith?

• Do you have a cross in your sanctuary?

• How often do you preach the Gospel?

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/Bromichaelb

The Most Superficial and Me-Centered Church Evaluation Questions Ever!

• When I enter do I hear laughter?
  

• Are people greeting me as a job or joy?

• Does the place look like they were expecting me?

• Are people buzzing as they greet each other?

• Is there spirited music playing as people gather?

• Dose the music move me?

• Do the people on stage look real and engaged?

• Are the announcements short, strategic and to the point?

• Is there a printed outline with scripture already printed on it?

• Does the pastor smile?

• Does the message title promise a relevant topic I am interested in?

• Does the pastor speak with humility and authority?

• Do I feel the presence of God?

• Are people listening and engaged?

• Is the service no more than 71 minutes?

• Does it (time) pass by fast?

http://twitter.com/Bromichaelb

5 Types of “Bones” in the Church

from: http://thebiblechristian.com/

1. Wishbones: Folks always wishing for better things, but never willing to work and pray for them. ( If you always looking to plug in to the church, it may be your “calling” that thing you wish was taking place)

2. Jawbones: The gossiping kind that keep the church in turmoil.

3. Funny bones: like the bone in the elbow that throws a person into a tizzy when it hurt. They are touchy, wear their feelings on their sleeves, and are always talking about leaving the church. (We need to be preaching the Gospel to ourselves daily)

4. Dry bones: Orthodox but dead as fossils.

5. Backbones: The spiritual support of the church that keeps the body standing. (about 10% of all folks in the church)

5 More Types of “Bones” in the Church

from Todd Friel

1. Crabby Bones: Conservatives who haven't applied their theology to their hearts.

2. Cheeky bones: Conservatives who complain about everything theology.

3. Humor bones: Pastors who put on shenanigans instead of services.

4. Them bones: Everyone is a problem, except themselves

5. Sissy Bones: Conservatives who refuse to name the names of false teachers.

10 Thief's stealing time in your life.

• Thief 1. consists of idleness or sloth.

• Thief 2. Excess of Sleep.

• Thief 3. Inordinate adorning of the body.

• Thief 4. Unnecessary pomp and extravagance in household furniture and domestic entertainments.

• Thief 5. Needless fasting, gluttony and drinking.

• Thief 6. Idle talk.

• Thief 7. Vain and sinful company.

• Thief 8. Excess of Worldly cares and business.

• Thief 9. Vain, ungoverned and sinful thoughts.

• Thief 10. Unsanctified, ungodly heart; for this loses time, whatever men are doing-- because they never intend to do anything for the glory of God.

How to Train your Child to Worship

from: The Rev. Dr. Brian M. Abshire

• Train them to worship at home.
  

• Teach them that worship is about praising God, not entertaining man. (It not about us put about Him)
  

• If your kids can't sit still, it is not a fidgeting problem,” but a “parenting problem.”
  

• Make the sanctuary a quiet place for worship preparation, not Christian high fives.
  

• Don't allow kids to escape worship with trickery: potty runs fidgeting, naughtiness.
  

• Don't take young children to a nursery, use the cry room... with the sermon pump in.
  

• Don't let your children distract themselves with the hymnal, guest cards, or crawling.
  

• No toys (or coffee) in the sanctuary.
  

• Don't let your kids entertain others during worship.
  

• Doodle? No. Draw pictures of the sermon? Yes.

Five reasons why God leaves sin in His people.

Source: Wretched TV

• God leads sin in His people- to promote their humility. Pride springs from inordinate self-love – which is odious to God, for it robs Him of His glory. Since God will be glorious unto His saints, He subdues their pride – by leaving that in them which humbles their hearts.

• As God left some of the Canaanites in land – to prove Israel, so He leaves sin in us – to humble us. Sin has a continual abasing influence, bringing us to realize more and more our utter insufficiency and complete dependence upon God.

• Sin has an evangelical influence, for it serves to make us more conscious of the perfect suitability of the great Physician for such lepers as we feel ourselves to be.

• Sin's presence has a God-honoring influence, for it brings the renewed soul to marvel increasingly at His “long-suffering to us” (2 Peter 3:9)

• Sin's presence should promote a spirit of forbearance to our fellows: we ought not to expect less failure in them – than we find in ourselves.

Sings you are not awakened in the Gospel

Jared Wilson

• The gospel doesn't interest you – or it does, but not as much other religious subjects.
  

• You take everything personally.
  

• You frequently worry about what other people think.
  

• You treat inconveniences like minor (or Major) tragedies.
  

• You are impatient with people.
  

• In general, you have trouble seeing the fruit of the Spirit in your life.
  

• The Word of God holds little interest.
  

• You have great difficulty forgiving.
  

• You are told frequently by a family member of friend that you are too controlling.
  

• You think someone beside yourself is the worst sinner you know.

Are you a Snarly Christian?

• Are you easily offended by other believer's behavior?
  

• Are you apt to be suspicious of them?
  

• Are you more apt to judge them?
  

• Are you more apt to gossip about them?
  

• Are you more apt to NOT think the best about them?
  

• Are you willing to humble yourself and serve them?
  

• Do you ever say, “Yes, he is a believer, but...”
  

• Do you ever say “Wow, and I thought he was saved.”
  

• Do you ever break fellowship with this person?

Distinguishing Marks of a Quarrelsome Person

by Kevin DeYoung

• A quarrelsome person is habitually disagreeable and decisive.

1. You defend every conviction with the same degree of intensity.

2. You are quick to speak and slow to listen.

3. You are not looking to learn in a conversation, you are looking to defend, dominate and destroy.

4. Your only model for ministry is the showdown on Mount Carmel.

5. You never give the benefit of a doubt.

6. You put the worst construction on everything.

7. You have no unarticulated opinions.

8. You are unable to sympathize with your opponents.

9. Your first instinct is to criticize. Your last instinct is to encourage.

10. Your “thing” is the only grid you see through.

11. You derive a sense of satisfaction from being rejected an marginalized.

12. You are always in the trenches with grenades strapped to your chest, never in the mess hall with ice-cream and ping-pong. (Not having fun in ministry)

13. You have never change your mind on an important matter.

“The Once of year Lifestyle”

Michael Bishop Jr.

Place: Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church, Ackerman MS

Date: 5-1-2011

• Romans 8:3-17

1. Unforgiving sin build up in our lives and we life in darkness

• Romans 8:5-8

• Romans 6:20-23
  

• 1 John 3:8-10
  

• Roughly 13% of Jesus teachings and half of his parables are in reference to hell, judgment, or punishment. “The existence of hell, the instruction by Jesus of hell should reveal to us how sinful sin truly is and how rebellious we really are,” - Mark Driscoll

• Isaiah 66:24 ( NKJV ) ²⁴“And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
  

• It matters not how spiritual a church may profess to be, if souls are not saved, something is radically wrong, and the professed spirituality is simply a false experience, a delusion of the devil. People who are satisfied to meet together simply to have a good time among themselves are far away from God. Real spirituality always has an outcome. Oswald J. Smith (b. 1889)

• When was the last time you truly felt the Sprite of God move?

1. With the Sin in our life, true Worship takes a Back seat.

• John 4:10-26

  Worship is not:

  A. Geography … it can be done anywhere.

  B. Race … the woman was a Samaritan.

  C. Anything and everything … Jesus said, “You worship what you do not know.” There is such a thing as wrong worship.

  D. Terminology … the main word here means to “bow down,” but we dare not get lost in mere lexical studies.

  E. Enthusiasm … ”inspirit” means something different than “clap your hands.”
  

• If you are singing a song in church and thinking about your neighbor, you are not worshiping Christ. If you are sitting during a prayer and thinking about your fantasy team, you are not worshiping Christ. If you are listing to me preach today, but you wondering when I'm going to finish this sermon, you are not worshiping Christ. You worship the One True God when you focus on Him.

• How often Christians assume they have worshiped God simply because they have been in church! We are told that the church building is “God’s house” (an inaccurate designation borrowed from the Old Testament temple) and conclude that worship must take place there! Not necessarily. God was not pleased with the worship at Jerusalem (the Holy City). Nor is he impressed with beautiful cathedrals. Erwin W. Lutzer (1941– )
  

• Worship leads to a further disclosure of God. The point of John 4 is not to give us a manual of personal evangelism. As the woman talks about worship with Jesus, He is revealed. First she sees Him to be just a man, then a prophet, then the Messiah, and finally the Savior of the world.
  

• If worship and preaching the gospel is not the focus of what we do for Christ, we are wasting our time. Many people think that we need more talking and lest singing. The point of singing is not to fill time in the worship gathering. The point is to worship the One and Holy God, to give thanks and honor to Him for what we did not acquire.
  

• Knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior is a relationship not a theological virtue. Like any other relationship, we cannot experience the fullness of Christ if we don't take the time to Praise Him, to SING to Him, to study about Him, and talk about Him. If we are not doing these things, we are better off entering the Pits of Hell.

1. There is only one way for forgiveness .

• Romans 8:14-17
  

• 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
  

• Romans 5:8-10
  

• 1 John 1:9

• It is the Savior, Jesus Christ, though Grace alone, by faith alone, and by serving Him in a way that glorify Him and Him alone that we are save for the Pitts of Hell! We cannot “do this” and “do that” to get save.
  

• If we are not continuing killing the sin in our lives, than the sin will kill you.

LiveJournal Tags: sin,sermon,Worship,What we need to do

7 Tough Questions to ask your Friends when it come to Accountability

from Steven Altroggw

Have you consistently pursuing the Lord through scripture reading an prayer?

Have you diligently pursued your wife/husband this week?

Have you seen any persistent patterns of sin in your life recently?

Last week you confessed struggling with [insert sin] . Have you taken steps to fight it this week?

When you gave into [insert sin], what were you believing about God in that moment? What were you believing about yourself?

What is the truth that you need to believe in this situation?

When you had the conflict with [insert person], what were you craving at that moment?

What dose Christ dose when He Regenerates you

• Moves you from spiritual death to life. (John 3:1-8)
  

• Buys you our of slavery to Sin (1 Peter 1:18-19)
  

• Justifies you, declaring up you innocent in His sight. (Romans 5:1-9)
  

• Sanctifies you, setting you apart as holy (1 Corinthians 1:2,30)
  

• Forgives you of all of you sins. (Ephesians 1:7, Lev. 17)
  

• Cleanses you, removing from you the stain of sin. (Hebrews 9:14)
  

• Reconciles you to Himself. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)
  

• Seals you with His Spirit as a guarantee of your future hope. (Ephesians 1:13)
  

• Indwells you, sending the Holy Spirit to live in you. (Romans8:9)

• Adopts you, making you His child. (Romans 8:14-17)

• Baptizes you into Christ's body, the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

• Illuminates your mind so you can understand the Scriptures. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
  

• Makes you a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  

• Reveals you one of His elect. (Ephesians 1:4, Romans 8:29-30)
  

• Grants you eternal life. (John 11:25-27, 1 John 5:11-13)
  

• Name you an heir with Christ. (Romans 8:17)
  

• Grants you an inheritance. (1 Peter 1:3-4)
  

• Declares you a saint. (Romans 1:7, Colossians 1:2)
  

• Grants you new citizenship, making your home Heaver rather than this world. (Philippians 3:20)
  

• Makes you a slave of Christ, a slave with the greatest, most glorious Master that any could ask for. (1 Corinthians 7:22-23)

14 Questions to Ask Your Bible in your Bible study time

by Stephen Altrogge

1. Who is the author of the passage?

2. Who were the recipients?

3. What is the historical background of the passage?

4. What is the outline/structure of the passage?

5. Are any words repeated? Any significance to the repetition?

6. Are there any unusual words in the passage that call for more exploration?

7. How does the passage fit into the surrounding paragraph? Chapter? Book?

8. Why did the author place the passage here and not somewhere else?

9. In one sentence, what is the main point of the passage? (Essence of the Text in a Sentence)

10. How would the original audience have been affected by the passage?

11. How does this passage connect to the overall storyline of the Bible?

12. How does this passage reveal Jesus as Savior?

13. How does God want this passage to function in my life?

14. What kind of response dose this passage call for?

Ten Reasons To Not Ask Jesus Into Your Heart

by:Todd Friel
The music weeps, the preacher pleads, “Give your heart to Jesus. You have a God shaped hole in your heart and only Jesus can fill it.” Dozens, hundreds or thousands of people who want to get their spiritual life on track make their way to the altar. They ask Jesus into their heart.

Cut to three months later. Nobody has seen our new convert in church. The follow up committee calls him and encourages him to attend a Bible study, but to no avail. We label him a backslider and get ready for the next outreach event.

Our beloved child lies in her snuggly warm bed and says, “Yes, Daddy. I want to ask Jesus into my heart.” You lead her in “the prayer” and hope that it sticks. You spend the next ten years questioning if she really, really meant it. Puberty hits and the answer reveals itself. She backslides. We spend the next ten years praying that she will come to her senses.

Telling someone to ask Jesus into their hearts has a very typical result, backsliding. the Bible says that a person who is soundly saved puts his hand to the plow and does not look back because he is fit for service. In other words, a true convert cannot backslide. If a person backslides, he never slid forward in the first place. “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (II Cor.5) No backsliding there.

Brace yourself for this one: with very few if any exceptions, anyone who asked Jesus into their hearts to be saved…is not. If you asked Jesus into your heart because you were told that is what you have to do to become a Christian, you were mis-informed.

If you have ever told someone to ask Jesus into their heart (like I have), you produced a false convert. Here is why.

1. It is not in the Bible. There is not a single verse that even hints we should say a prayer inviting Jesus into our hearts. Some use Rev. 3:20. To tell us that Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts begging to come in.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” There are two reasons that interpretation is wrong.
The context tells us that the door Jesus is knocking on is the door of the church, not the human heart. Jesus is not knocking to enter someone’s heart but to have fellowship with His church. Even if the context didn’t tell us this, we would be forcing a meaning into the text (eisegesis). How do we know it is our heart he is knocking at? Why not our car door? How do we know he isn’t knocking on our foot? To suggest that he is knocking on the door of our heart is superimposing a meaning on the text that simply does not exist.
The Bible does not instruct us to ask Jesus into our heart. This alone should resolve the issue, nevertheless, here are nine more reasons.

2. Asking Jesus into your heart is a saying that makes no sense. What does it mean to ask Jesus into your heart? If I say the right incantation will He somehow enter my heart? Is it literal? Does He reside in the upper or lower ventricle? Is this a metaphysical experience? Is it figurative? If it is, what exactly does it mean? While I am certain that most adults cannot articulate its meaning, I am certain that no child can explain it. Pastor Dennis Rokser reminds
us that little children think literally and can easily be confused (or frightened) at the prospect of asking Jesus into their heart.

3. In order to be saved, a man must repent (Acts 2:38). Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of repentance.

4. In order to be saved, a man must trust in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).
Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of faith.

5. The person who wrongly believes they are saved will have a false sense of security. Millions of people who sincerely, but wrongly, asked Jesus into their hearts think they are saved but struggle to feel secure. They live in doubt and fear because they do not have the Holy Spirit giving them assurance of salvation.

6. The person who asks Jesus into his heart will likely end up inoculated, bitter and backslidden. Because he did not get saved by reciting a formulaic prayer, he will grow disillusioned with Jesus, the Bible, church and fellow believers. His latter end will be worse than the first.

7. It presents God as a beggar just hoping you will let Him into your busy life. This presentation of God robs Him of His sovereignty.

8. The cause of Christ is ridiculed. Visit an atheist web-site and read the pagans who scoff, “How dare those Christians tell us how to live when they get divorced more than we do? Who are they to say homosexuals shouldn’t adopt kids when tens of thousands of orphans don’t get adopted by Christians?” Born again believers adopt kids and don’t get divorced. People who ask Jesus into their hearts do. Jesus gets mocked when false converts give Him a bad name.

9. The cause of evangelism is hindered. While it is certainly easier to get church members by telling them to ask Jesus into their hearts, try pleading with someone to make today the day of their salvation. Get ready for a painful response. “Why should I become a Christian when I have seen so called Christians act worse than a pagan?” People who ask Jesus into their hearts give pagans an excuse for not repenting.

10. Here is the scary one. People who ask Jesus into their hearts are not saved and they will perish on the Day of Judgment. How tragic that millions of people think they are right with God when they are not. How many people who will cry out, “Lord, Lord” on judgment day will be “Christians” who asked Jesus into their hearts?

So, what must one do to be saved? Repent and trust. (Heb.6:1) The Bible makes it clear that all men must repent and place their trust in Jesus Christ. Every man does have a “God shaped hole in their hearts,” but that hole is not contentment, fulfillment and peace. Every man’s heart problem is righteousness. Instead of preaching that Jesus fulfills, we must preach that God judges and Jesus satisfies God’s judgment…if a man will repent and place his trust in Him.
If you are reading this and you asked Jesus into your heart, chances are good you had a spiritual buzz for a while, but now you struggle to read your Bible, tithe, attend church and pray. Perhaps you were told you would have contentment, purpose and a better life if you just ask Jesus into your heart. I am sorry, that was a lie.

How to teach Kids about Salvation

 

Many people wonder how should we teach kids about salvation. The following is a list ,after careful research and studying, of ways that we can lead our and other children to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

1. God own you- God Himself created you, so you owe him all of your praise

2. God law shows us that He is good and prefect and we have broken God's law. Thus we have sin!

3. Sin is no laughing matter, cause God is not laughing at our sin.

4. But Jesus came, he didn't have to come but God love people that He sent His son Jesus to die the death that we should.

5. Since Jesus was perfect, the nails and the crown of thorns was not His greatest pain. It was that your sin was place on Him and he was treated by God in the way you should be treated.

6. You will NOT be able to get to heaven on your goodness. Your Goodness is not good enough for God.

7. Christianity is this: we have no hope without one person, Jesus Christ.

8. Repent (turn away) and trust in Jesus.

9. Saying a prayer dose not mean you know Jesus. The fact that you know Jesus is that you are walking the walk of Christ

• When talking to a child about salvation:

1. * Ask follow-up questions. When a child asks a question, often he does not know exactly what to ask. Get clarification before deciding how to answer a question. For example, you might say, “Tell me more about what you are thinking,” or “What made you ask that question? Where did you hear about this?” Remember, many times the question a child asks may not be the actual question for which he is needing an answer. Avoid asking questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no.”

2. * Avoid giving more information than a child needs. Adults can be tempted to tell all they know on a subject. When a child asks a question, only answer what the child is asking. If a child asks for more information, be more specific with your answers.

3. * Don’t jump to conclusions. A child may ask, “Why did Andy get baptized?” This question may be only a request for information, not a request for the gospel presentation.

4. * Speak in clear terms. Avoid symbolic analogies that may distract from discussion and understanding.

5. * Use simple wording. Rather than using the phrase “accepting Jesus into your heart,” say the words “becoming a Christian.”

Steps in talking with a child about God’s plan for salvation:

1. God loves you and has a great plan for you (Psalm 139:13-16). Talk about these truths: God made the world, God made people, God made you, God wants to have a relationship with people, and God wants to have a relationship with you. Say, “Tell me one way you know God loves you.”

2. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23). Everyone must understand that he is separated from God. Sin is best understood as choosing to do things our way instead of God’s way. (Give some examples of sin such as disobedience, ungratefulness, untruthfulness, etc.) Then ask the child: “Have you sinned? What does God think about sin?” Point out that everyone has sinned.

3. Even though we choose to sin, God still loves us and offers to forgive us (Romans 5:8). Ask, “How do you think it makes God feel when you sin?” Focus on the fact that God loves the child even when he sins. Say: “God promised that one day a Savior would come and not sin and would die for all people. Do you know who that Savior is? Did you know that He died for you?”

4. Jesus died for us (John 3:16). Talk about John 3:16 and explain that because sin separates people from God, everyone needs a Savior. Ask, “Do you know why Jesus died?” Say, “Jesus loved you so much. He willingly died for you, so you could be with God forever.” If the child is old enough to understand the resurrection, say, “Jesus rose from the dead, so we could have eternal life.”

5. You can become a Christian by confessing that Jesus is your Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9). Ask, “Would you like to be a Christian?” State that the word confess means to say that Jesus is your Savior and that you must: Admit you have sinned. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son. Confess that Jesus is Savior and Lord.

6. Review and follow up. Encourage a child to tell you in his own words what he understands and believes. Either ask the child to repeat a prayer after you or help the child know what to say in his prayer. After the prayer, read Romans 10:13 and remind him that this verse is a promise. Jesus will be his Savior forever.

   About Baptism:

   * Always make distinctions between baptism and becoming a Christian. Point out that becoming a Christian comes first, and then baptism follows because it is a way of showing he has become a Christian.

   * Avoid emphasizing the emotional side of the baptism experience. Keep in mind that public recognition should not become a motivating factor for making a decision.

Some information taken from Lifeway Christian Recourses

Is Jesus Really the Only Way?

From: John Hendrix

If you want to enter life, obey the commandments” (Matt. 19:147).

• Jesus is saying that in God's economy both moral and immoral people are equally alienated from God. God is equally offended by both.

• Many people avoid Jesus by avoiding sin because they are trying to become their own saviors … attempting to justify themselves. But the gospel is neither moralism nor relativism and so it is equally offensive to the moral and the irreligious.

• If you look to your moral performance as the basis of your relationship with God, then you commit idolatry because inwardly you are setting up self as a false savior which never be good enough to please God.

• If we are trusting in the being politically active, generous, compassionate, a good parent, a good spouse, of trusting in our moral uprightness or our service to others then we trust in these as our “Saviors”.

• In the gospel “I am accepted through Christ, therefore I obey” while every other religion operates on the principle of “I obey, therefore I am accepted.”

What is Repentance

By: Rick Tower

• A repentant person is teachable

• A repentant person is open to correction.

• A repentant person actually grows in holiness.

• A repentant person ask more questions rather than makes defensive statements.

• A repentant person understands Biblical teaching.

• A repentant person is not resistant to correction.

Things that should be concerning the Church today.

• The Christian Church is becoming less theologically literate.

• Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life

• Among Christians, interest in participating in community action is escalating.

• The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian Church.

• The influence of Christianity on culture and individual lives is largely invisible.

“Getting back to the Basics of the House That Christ Built :Coming Back Where it all Begin”

 Ephesians 4:29-5:2

 We don’t have to turn on CNN or read the newspaper to know that our world is wicked. Americans are turning away from the Christian valves that they knew from birth. The “fell good preachers” or the “if you want a blessing from God than send us a gift to us” preaching on how they could get rich instead on the real life issues and salvation. The church building are going down faster than the stock market and our nation is. All the signs and studies show one thing in common, the church need to get back to the heart of worship.
3 Things that the Church needs to get Back too.
I. Love each other.
 The world today has many definitions of what love means. The Oxford University Press Dictionary define love as: “an intense feeling of deep affection. 2 a deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone” The Holman CSB Dictionary and Concordance define love as followed “unselfish or loyal, intention and commitment toward someone.” Those are some great ways do define love, but that is not what love is. If we really want to find what love means, we must start at the Cross and spend TIME to see the real definition of love.

 1 John 3:15
 1 John 4:20-21

 Love is the key to everything. The Lord wants us to love each other no matter what race, gender, height, our grades or whatever. There are NO exceptions.

II. Stop Judging Others for what they have done.
 Matthew 7:1-5
 James 4:11
 Kurt A. Richardson, of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, said in his interpretation of this verse in The New American Commentary, that : “They should

“speak and act as those who are gong to be judge by the law that gives freedom” (2:12)
through mercy and not place themselves above the law by placing themselves above others
through their sins of slander.” Richardson also stated that : “Slander was consider a vice
in the ancient world, and by interjecting it here, James pronounce a judgment on their
beaver that they had not expected.” (p.194,96)

 What James is saying is that if you judge or criticize each other for what they do, you are judging the law and become the judge over everyone. Jesus is the ONLY JUDGE.
 When we hear or find out about what someone has done we have to tell the wrong and the good Lord know that we’re going to hear about it for years. Jesus said “whom here among us who is without sin go and cast the first stone” They all took their stone and
threw them on the ground. We forgive others without having to be asked for forgiveness. Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount: “you should forgive others before your father in Heaven can forgive you.
 Ephesians 4:32
 Galatians 6:10 (The Amplified Translation of the Bible) 10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers].

III. The Church Needs to Start to do what they are Commanded to do.
 The church and the church building are not the same as it was back in the day. There are more arguments, more judgmental, and more denomination or branches of Christianity more than ever in the Christian church. It also has forgotten the call of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave us.
 The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) reports that over 80%, 80% of teenagers between the 7th and the 12th grade will stop going to church. This is one statistic that we must change.
 Matthew 28:18-20
 The Lord's Gospel has not reached its final destination if someone in your family, your workplace, your school, or your community hasn't heard the Good News about Jesus Christ and haven't accepted Him as their Lord and Savior.
 There are many of us in churches today, across the nation, that have harden hearts. The Lord cannot use anyone with a hardened heart. We often worry if our beliefs will be affected in some way. IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU! IT'S ABOUT GLORYFIDING THE LORD AND DOING WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO! Every denomination needs to learn that it is not about if you a Baptist or Church of God or whatever and relax
that being a Baptist will not get your into Heaven only if you a child of living God will get you there. We must work together for the kingdom of God.
 Ephesians 4:11-13 ( God's Word Testament ) 11He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts {to his church} 12Their purpose is to prepare God’s people, to serve, and to build up the body of Christ. 13This is to continue
until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard.
 We need to wake up and realized that the Lord has something to say and He wants to use us to say it. The church has the potential to do something great for the kingdom of God. It's up to you if if your want to turn that potential into production.
Closing:
A. How do you treat some of your “weaker” or less desirable brothers and sisters in
Christ? How can you make them feel more loved?
B. What is keeping your church or team from modeling the church as it was meant to be?
What can you do to help bring unity?

Knowing you have genuine saving faith!

By John MacArthur

Taken from The MacArthur Study Bible

1. Evidences that neither prove nor disprove one's Faith:

• Visible Morality (Matthew 19:16-21; 23:27

• Intellectual Knowledge )Romans 1:21; 2:17ff.)

• Religious Involvement (Matt. 25:1-10)

• Active Ministry (Matt.7:21-24)

• Conviction of Sin (Acts 24:25)

• Assurance (Matt. 23)

• Time of Decision (Luke 8:13-14)

      2. The Proofs of Authentic True Christianity:

• Love for God (Romans 8:7)

• Repentance of Sin (1 John 1:8-10)

• Genuine Humility (Matt. 5:1-12)

• Devotion to God's Glory (1 Cor. 10:312)

• Continual Prayer (James 5:13-26)

• Selfless Love (1 John 2:9; 3:14, 4:7)

• Separation from the World (1 John 2:15-17; 5:5)

• Spiritual Growth (Eph. 4:12-16)

• Obedient Living (1 Pet. 1:2,22)

• Hunger for God's Word (1 Peter 2:13)

• Transformation of Life (2 Cor. 5:17)

If list one is true of a person and List two is false, there is cause to question the validity of one's profession of faith. Yet if list two is true, then the first list will be also.

Michael Bishop Ministries is on  the  web:

Twitter: @Bromichaelb  or http:// twitter.com/Bromichaelb

Facebook :  http://alturl.com/sr6v3

How to get the most out of reading your Bible.

By Thomas Watson

1. Remove hindrances; the love of sin and the distracting concerns of the world.

2. Prepare your heart: collect your thoughts, purge unclean affections and do not read it rashly or carelessly.

3. Persevere in remembering what you read.

4. Meditate on what you read.

5. Read with a humble heart; acknowledge that you are unworthy that God would reveal Himself to you

6. Believe it all to be the Word of God.

7. Prize the Bible as it is your lifeline

8. Read it in order to be changed.

9. Apply what you read.

10. Don't get carried away with minor details, focus on the majors.

11. Compare yourself to the World.

12. Pay attention to the lives of people in the Bible as they are living sermons.

13. Don't stop reading the Bible until you find your heart is warmed.

14. Put into practice what you read.

15. Put yourself under a true ministry of the Word.

Michael Bishop Ministries is on  the  web:

Twitter: @Bromichaelb  or http:// twitter.com/Bromichaelb

Facebook :  http://alturl.com/sr6v3

SIN: The Cross, The Savior & The Victory

Bro. Michael Bishop Jr.

Intro:

• We have hope in the miss of our sin. We have the cross to hang on to. We have a Savior who die for us. At the end of the day we have The Victory of sin which is through knowing the Savior, Jesus Christ.

• Philippians 2:5-13 (NASB): 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

• He who has not felt what sin is in the Old Testament knows little what grace is in the New. He who has not trembled in Moses, and wept in David, and wondered in Isaiah, will rejoice little in Matthew, rest little in John. He who has not suffered under the law will scarcely hear the glad sound of the gospel. He who has not been awakened under the mountain will be little delighted with the cross. – R. W. Barbour (b. 1900)

1. The Cross

• John 19:23-37 (NASB): 23 The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 They said therefore to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be"; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty." 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit. 31 The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; 34 but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. 35 And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of Him shall be broken." 37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

• It was their on that Old Rugged Cross that your death sentence was paid for.

• Without the Cross we would be burning in the torment of Hell evermore.

• When the death of Christ was announce, a extraordinary earthquake shook across the land, that cause the temple cloth to reap into half.

      2. The Savior

• Hebrews 9:11-15 (NASB): 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance

• We no longer need the blood of an animal, but the Blood of Christ.

• Christ died to save us, not from suffering, but from ourselves; not from injustice, far less than justice, but from being unjust. He died that we might live—but live as he lives, by dying as he died who died to himself. – George MacDonald (1824–1905)

• In his life, Christ is an example, showing us how to live. In his death, he is a sacrifice, satisfying for our sins. In his resurrection, he is a conqueror. In his ascension, he is a king. In his intercession, he is a high priest. – Martin Luther (1483–1546)

• It is the Savior, Jesus Christ, though Grace alone, by faith alone, and by serving Him in a way that glorify Him and Him alone that we are save for the Pitts of Hell! We cannot “do this” and “do that” to get save.

• He is the rock, the cornerstone of our salvation. Without Him we are nothing.

      3. The Victory

• 1 Corinthians 6:11-20 (NASB): 12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body. 14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

• God does not cause us to sin, but he uses our sins to remind us of our weakness. We are less tempted to judge others, and more understanding when we become well acquainted with the wickedness of our own heart. We then learn how to view others with humility. . . . When we are caught by sin, God uses the experience to teach us about his righteousness and his hatred of sin. -Erwin W. Lutzer (1941– )

• Eugene Bartlett wrote an old classic talking about the great Victory we have in in Jesus in 1939 in title Victory in Jesus

• I heard an old, old story, How a Savior came from glory, How He gave His life on Calvary To save a wretch like me; I heard about His groaning, Of His precious blood's atoning, Then I repented of my sins And won the victory. O victory in Jesus,My Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood. ¹

• Say “goodbye” to defeat and “hello” to victory!

Conclusion

Although will will always sin and fall short of the glory of God, through THE CROSS, THE SAVIOR, and THE VICTORY, we can bare witness to what the Lord has done for us. With help of others and the Savior, we can live like Him. Here is a few quick ways we can do that.

• Have Accountability: Meet with someone who is the same gender once a week or every two weeks to address what has happen since the last meeting. This information should be privet between the group or person and with God. If someone is struggling with something between the meeting time, fell free to call that accountability partner.

• Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 (NASB):8 There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task. 9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

• Read your Bible and pray daily – Never give the devil one inch. It only take one day of not praying for forgiveness of sin or Daily Bible Reading until you fall into sin.

• NO ONE is Perfect – Remember, no one is prefect NO NOT ONE!!!!!

___________________________________________________

• Christ is full and sufficient for all his people. He is bread, wine, milk, living waters, to feed them; he is a garment of righteousness to cover and adorn them; a Physician to heal them; a Counselor to advise them; a Captain to defend them; a Prince to rule; a Prophet to teach; a Priest to make atonement for them; a Husband to protect; a Father to provide; a Brother to relieve; a Foundation to support; a Root to quicken; a Head to guide; a Treasure to enrich; a Sun to enlighten; and a Fountain to cleanse. – John Spencer (1630–1693)

1 Victory In Jesus by: Eugene Bartlett. 1939 Copyright: BMI Work#1803360

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WANTED: TRUE WORSHIPERS'”

This message was given to me. I have change some of the context.
Place: Who:
Subject/Title: “ Key Verses: John 4:16-26
➢ John 4:10-26 ( NKJV ) 10Jesus answered and said to her,“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The
woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our
fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the
Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
➢ Mission statements are everywhere. Schools have them, hospitals have them, restaurants
have them, and even the license bureau has one. It might not be wide of the mark to suggest
that the chief mission of the Christian is to worship God. We see this stressed throughout the
Bible:
A. In the garden we saw the test of worship.
B. Moses received 10 famous words from God which functioned as commandments of
worship.
C. The Israelites were to set up the tabernacle in the middle of their encampment, no
doubt showing the centrality of worship.
D. The temple was filled with smells and smoke indicating the sacrifices of worship.
E. The psalms and other works functioned as books of worship.
F. The post-exilic prophets had to try to re-institute proper worship.
G. When Christ came He showed us how important worship was by attending it regularly.
H. The early church found reason to change the day of worship.
I. The epistles functioned partly as a liturgy of worship.
J. And, Revelation ends with the rejoinder, “Worship God!”
➢ In the encounter that Jesus had with the woman at the well we see more “worship talk”
per square inch than anywhere else in the Bible.
I. Notice Who Is Talking About Worship.
➢ It is not a theologian, not a Bible College professor, not a preacher, not an elder, not a Bible school teacher.
➢ It is a morally wounded woman. That doesn’t sound right. But maybe that is the point. The only people who will worship will be the people who sense their need to worship. At least this woman does that.
➢ This morally wounded woman is undone as she talks about worship. She is the one who brings up the topic. But she is stopped in her tracks when Jesus says, “Go call your husband.” Worship will never be popular, because we have to face God, and when we do
that we have to face ourselves in light of God. That will undo the best of us.
II. Notice What Worship Is Not.
➢ While we may want to know what worship is Jesus only defines it by the power of negation. Maybe He is more interested in us doing worship than merely defining it. In fact, one way to kill some things is to say, “Webster says that worship is ”
➢ Worship is not:
A. Geography … it can be done anywhere.
B. Race … the woman was a Samaritan.
C. Anything and everything … Jesus said, “You worship what you do not know.” There is such a thing as wrong worship.
D. Terminology … the main word here means to “bow down,” but we dare not get lost in mere lexical studies.
E. Enthusiasm … ”inspirit” means something different than “clap your hands.”
III.Notice How Worship Is Done.
➢ In spirit, i.e. In sincerity of heart and attitude. While true worshipers worship God in Spirit (Philippians 3), here it is referring to a state of the heart.
➢ In truth, i.e. In genuineness. Of course we want to worship God according to the Bible, but Jesus is talking about a state of the heart.
IV. Notice What Worship Leads to.
➢ John 20:30-31 ( NKJV ) 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
➢ It leads to a further disclosure of God. The point of John 4 is not to give us a manual of personal evangelism. As the woman talks about worship with Jesus, He is revealed. This fits the Gospel’s purpose (20:30-31). First she sees Him to be just a man, then a prophet, then the Messiah, and finally the Savior of the world.
➢ It leads to world evangelism. Worship should always drive us into the fields of harvest.
If we know Him, then we must seek to make Him known.
➢ Conclusion
➢ Someone once said, “A Christian should be hallelujah from head to toe.” As our perception of Christ grows the only appropriate response is worship.

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Michael Bishop

Ackerman MS

Twitter: @Bromichaelb         Facebook: Michael Bishop Ministries