You won’t find terms like Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and Alpha Generation in the Bible. Instead, you just find people made in God’s image.
Each generation has its own unique characteristics & challenges, and yet, they all have the same great need:
The Gospel and discipleship.
THE GREATEST THING ABOUT THE PAST IS THAT IT SHOWS YOU WHAT/WHO NOT TO BRING INTO THE FUTURE.
I DON'T WALK AWAY TO TEACH PEOPLE A LESSON, I WALK AWAY BECAUSE I FINALLY LEARNED MY LESSON.
CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED! Mathew 6:25-27 Colossians 3:15 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Matthew 11:28-30 Luke 12:25 John 14:27 Psalm 55:22 Proverbs 12:25 1 Peter 5:7 Philippians 4:6-7 Hebrews 12:1-2
"Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God will come to know God because they know you."
Self-help doesn’t solve spiritual problems. If ‘self’ is the problem, then ‘self’ can’t be the solution. You need Someone outside of ‘self’ to save and change you. His name is Jesus.
"Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them."— Elisabeth Elliot
The very character of God, the character He formed in David, and the character He is building in each of His children is the story of His amazing grace.
Let go of the past, God says. Move ahead. Confess, repent, then take God’s forgiveness and go forward.
Jesus’ mission was not to stop everybody from sinning.
Sometimes, we can’t walk away from toxic people. Jesus’ relationship with Judas teaches us much about the godly way to deal with backstabbers, thieves, liars, gaslighters, and extremely challenging people.
Matthew Henry wrote, “True wisdom is God’s gift. It is not gained by conversing with men nor by the knowledge of the world… but it comes from above.”
We all have a tendency to judge a person by what we see -- what is your first reaction to long hair, lots of tattoos, a leather vest, and boots? Peter now realizes that Jesus is for everyone and he immediately begins to apply this new information. If you were to do the same thing, what thoughts or attitudes about certain groups of people would you need to change? What could you do today to reach out to those that are different than you? How could you start to see people as God sees them?
We need to see them with His eye and love them with His heart.
God never uses anyone greatly until He tests them deeply.
~A.W. Tozer~
Too often we assume our neighbor or a friend already knows about Jesus -- but maybe, in reality, they only know bits and pieces. Perhaps the one piece they're missing is the one they really need.
Your past failures make you more sensitive to those who need mercy in the same areas in which you received forgiveness.
Let us have every passion and habit under due restraint: If we are not masters of ourselves we are not fit to be leaders in the church. ~C. H. Spurgeon~
C.S. Lewis said, “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased
God didn’t tell the Israelites to conquer, invade, or secure the land. He told them he was giving it to them. It's all about choice! Joshua says choose you this day whom you will serve. God will never force you to serve, surrender, or submit to him.
Prove your own selves, and may the Lord prepare you for the crucible and the furnace which assuredly await you.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
Christians must be mature and take heed of what has been said in the Scriptures. When we are exhorted, we should remain strong in the Lord, not weak. We must continue to walk by faith and show ourselves to be faithful, forgiving and strong.
“Today’s Christians are too often like deep-sea divers encased in suits designed for many fathoms deep, marching bravely forth to pull plugs out of bathtubs.” —Peter Marshall
The character wherewith we sink into the grave is the very character wherewith we shall reappear at the resurrection.
~Thomas Chalmers~
You do not want to lead people astray. Also, be sure the leaders you are following are godly men and women. Do not follow ungodly leaders. They will lead you to destruction.
"Some wish to live within the sound
of Church or Chapel bell;
I want to run a Rescue Shop
within a yard of hell." – C.T. Studd
When obstacles arise you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there."- Zig Ziglar
Some of us have bought into Hollywood’s idea that God wants us happy. The fact is, Scripture says God wants us holy.
There are three realities of life that every person needs to accept:
1. Life is difficult. Somehow people seem to believe that life is supposed to be easy. We expect a smooth, easy road to success. We expect our lives to be hassle free. We expect to get the prize without having to pay the price. That is not reality! Life is hard.
2. Life is difficult for everyone. Even if we are willing to concede that life is difficult for most people, deep down inside many of us secretly hope somehow that this truth won’t apply to us. I’m sorry to say it isn’t so. No one escapes life’s problems, failures, and losses. If we are to make progress, we must do so through life’s difficulties.
3. Life is more difficult for some than for others. Let’s face it: life is more difficult for some people than it is for others. The playing field is not level. You may have faced more and greater difficulties in life than I have. You may have faced fewer. And comparing our lives to others ultimately isn’t productive. Life isn’t fair, and we shouldn’t expect it to be.
Fear showed up and Faith answered!
God has provided for redemption through His Son Jesus. Our focus comes off the perception of what we've lost in this life to what we've gained in the next. If you are having a problem with depression, take your eyes off yourself and your circumstances to focus on the cross. If that doesn't lift your spirit, nothing will.
The byproducts of prayer are happiness and joy.
Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God and a
scourge for Satan.
~John Bunyan~
When you expect God to make His presence known, you begin to see His hand and hear His voice in moments of sudden glory
Signs of His presence brighten even the dullest days when you have eyes open to see and ears to hear.
Parents, Be encouraged. Your children don’t need you to be perfect. They just need you to follow the One who is. His name is Jesus.
You won’t find terms like Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, & Gen Alpha in the Bible. Instead, you just find people made in God’s image. Each generation has their own unique characteristics & challenges, and yet, they all have the same great need: The Gospel & discipleship.
When someone “leaves Christianity”, because the church won’t affirm or celebrate their lifestyle choices… They don’t stop being a religious person, they’re just leaving to join a new religion, where the object of worship is themself.
“I don’t need to go to church. I read and interpret the Bible for myself.” That’s proof you need to go to church, because you’re not good at reading and interpreting the Bible for yourself.
Jealousy is an insidious sin that cries out, “I want what you have, and furthermore I don’t want you to have it.” It replaces contentment with resentment and spawns a myriad of other sins. John MacArthur
Jealousy thrives in a climate of selfish ambition. John MacArthur I’m positive that if we knew that someone was going to die in a week, we’d share the gospel with them without being worried if it would offend them or if our relationship would get awkward. God’s sovereignty is a sweeping doctrine that touches every aspect of life across every moment of creation and every corner of the universe. There is no moment, no spot, no deed, no death, that falls outside of it. Tim Challies
All my weak days have a common cause - I have neglected communion with God through my neglect of the Scriptures & prayer. When will I learn? Paul Washer
Love transforms selfish people into self-sacrificing people. John MacArthur
His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners, after great lengths of time, and then gives great favours and great privileges, and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“An important principle of hermeneutics is that we should study Scriptures in the context of the church. From the apostolic era until the present, there have been believers who have revered, loved, and studied the Scriptures.” — Paul Washer, The Preeminent Christ, 27-28.
“There is nothing little in God; his mercy is like himself—it is infinite. You cannot measure it.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon Good works are but faith incarnate. —Puritan Richard Sibbes, Works 1:367
Christian: Be an example in Speech, Conduct, Love, Faith, Purity,
Give attention to Reading of Scripture, Exhortation, Teaching,
Rather than pursuing riches, pursue: Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Perseverance, Gentleness (1 Tim. 4:12-13, 6:11)
“The ground of our salvation is outside of us.” -Jim Savastio
“When God prunes by crosses and afflictions, and sows good seed in us, it is a sign he means to dwell with us, and delight in us.” — Richard Sibbes “The truth of Scripture redirects our attention away from our circumstances and fixes our gaze on the Lord.” — Nathan Busenitz “Christ's perfect obedience was necessary not only so that He might die for the sins of the unrighteous but also that His perfect life might be imputed to the disobedient.” — Paul Washer, The Preeminent Christ, 19.
“Meditate a little on this mercy of the Lord. It is tender mercy. With gentle, loving touch, he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of his mercy as in the matter of it. It is great mercy.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon “Use freely all aids, but never rest till the truth rises clear before you as a vision seen by your own eyes.” — John Milton Gregory “Many theologians have regarded Christ's perfect obedience as His greatest miracle, yet it is often overlooked as an essential doctrine of the gospel.” — Paul Washer, The Preeminent Christ, 19
“When by faith we have attained a view of the glory of Christ… it will be effectual unto the transformation of our souls into His image.” - John Owen. The Glory of Christ, Works 1:321.
“Let us labour for hearts that know the mercies of God in Christ, and labour to be transformed and mounded into this gospel every day more and more.” — Richard Sibbes
Our God is a God hearing prayer. - George Whitefield “But let me tell you, the whole world is not a theatre large enough to shew the glory of Christ upon, or unfold the one half of the unsearchable riches that lie hid in Him.” — John Flavel
We must remember our sins are the sins of 𝘮𝘦𝘯, but [His] mercy the mercy of 𝘎𝘰𝘥. —Puritan Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), Works 1:319
“How can the teachers manner fail to be earnest and inspiring when his matter is so rich with radiant reality.” — John Milton Gregory
“Now the doctrine of the gospel excels the most noble sciences, as well contemplative as practical.... It affects the soul with the highest admiration. The strongest spirits cannot comprehend its just greatness: the understanding sinks under the weight of glory.” — William Bates He must ever be a cold and lifeless teacher who only half knows the lessons he would teach; but he whose soul has caught fire from the truths which he carries, glows with a contagious enthusiasm and unconsciously inspires his pupils with his own deep interest. — John M. Gregory
Let go of the past, God says. Move ahead. Confess, repent, then take God’s forgiveness and go forward. We need to recognize the grace of God in our lives. How often we unfaithfully compromise our lives, only to experience God’s graciousness toward us. He never forsakes us. According to Scripture, it is not in His character to do so. Ray Bentley
Countless times, when I have needed Him most, I have run to the name of Jesus and found safety. In times of distress, times of fear, times of uncertainty, times of feeling hopeless and helpless and weak, I have run to that place where I know I will find comfort and safety. I have run to Jesus. Chuck Smith
Just live your life committed to Him; trust Him, and acknowledge Him when you have an impulse to move in one direction or another. When you do this, then "He shall direct your path." Chuck Smith
"God’s Word does not merely impart information; it actually creates life. It’s not only descriptive; it’s effective too, God speaking is God acting." -Michael Horton "The preacher who exhibits energy in and out of the pulpit but does not provide a godly example is as beneficial to the church as a dull razor to a man’s beard. In time, the preacher’s character will be widely known and impact his work for the Lord accordingly." - Hernando Motta
"I’d rather be able to pray than to be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught his disciples how to preach, but only how to pray." - D.L. Moody
“To every believer, the debt-book is crossed out; the black lines of sin are crossed out in the red lines of Christ's blood.” — Thomas Watson
God has given the Sabbath to us for our good. When we catch sight of what this day is, how special it is, what a privilege it is, that’s going to help everything else fall into its proper place. Dr. Guy Waters
Our simple duty is to keep clean and filled and ready, standing on the shelf, meet for the Master's use, sure that we serve if we only stand and wait and knowing that He will accept and reward the willingness for the deed. FB Meyer
"The gospel is all about Christ from beginning to end." – Charles Spurgeon "A sermon without Christ as its beginning, middle, and end is a mistake in conception and a crime in execution." — Charles Spurgeon
"I cannot comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called." — Charles Spurgeon
"I have nothing to fear; I cannot be condemned." — Charles Spurgeon "Because God is infinitely happy, he delights in the happiness of his creatures." — Charles Spurgeon
"We ought to work as if all depended upon us, and then we are to trust God knowing that all depends on him." — Charles Spurgeon
"He that cannot be safely imitated ought not to be tolerated in a pulpit." — Charles Spurgeon
"Never call the Holy Spirit 'it.' Worship him, love him, and trust him with confidence." — Charles Spurgeon "We would not care for a God who did not hate sin." — Charles Spurgeon
"He who died on the cross was none other than he that made the world." — Charles Spurgeon "Believe me, if a church does not pray, it is dead." — Charles Spurgeon "Is there anything like the Word of God when the open book finds open hearts?" — Charles Spurgeon
You aren’t ‘being the church’, if you never ‘gather with the church’.
“There are only two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.’” - C.S. Lewis
The flattering of sinners, and praising them in their sin, is a soul-murdering encouragement to them in ill-doing. —Richard Baxter, Practical Works, 1:812
"If you are experiencing the burden of a guilty conscience, do not mistake momentary sorrow for real repentance. Turn to God in repentance, turning from your sin and in His strength resolving to change." —Alistair Begg
“All men have offended God’s justice and deserve His judgment.” —
That cross is life, health, holiness, consolation, strength, joy, let nothing come between it and you. -Horatius Bonar - My brethren, if you were left to yourselves, you would be overcome by every temptation with which you are beset. -George Whitefield -
"The success of the Lord's gospel does not depend at all upon the greatest attainments in human learning, but on administration of the Spirit and power from Himself which He can give to whom He pleases." -John Newton.
Parents’ neglect of instructing children, and other parts of holy education, is one of the greatest causes of the perdition of mankind, in all the world. —Richard Baxter, The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, 1:811
Many will say under momentary excitement, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest, and yet return to the world -J.C. Ryle - The Bible is not only a book which was once spoken, but a book which is now speaking. -A.W. Tozer -
It is a double and common wrong to both the means of grace and to Christ when Christ is not eyed, sought, admired, or trusted in the means. —Puritan Nicolas Claget, The Abuse of God’s Grace, Pg. 28
Men are guilty of soul murder by preaching false soul-murdering doctrine.
—Richard Baxter, The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, 1:810
Think not too highly of your first degrees of grace or gifts. Time and diligence are necessary to growth. —Richard Baxter
“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” - C.S. Lewis
A hard heart is the anvil on which the hammer of God's justice will be striking to all eternity -Thomas Watson -
There are two things you can do with a Bible, Believe it and behave it -Leonard Ravenhill -
A pastor cannot realistically comment on every injustice, false teaching, and false teacher. His failure to do so does not negate what he has said about some other injustice, false teaching, and false teacher.
God, who has taught men to pray, has bid no man to lie and say that He is their Father in Christ when they are unchristian in heart and life. —Nicolas Claget, The Abuse of God’s Grace, 46 People are not too busy for us to share the Gospel with them. They are too damned for us not to. – Austin Hetsler
"There are two ways of representing and recommending true religion and virtue to the world; the one, by doctrine and precept; the other, by instance and example; both are abundantly used in the Holy Scriptures." -Jonathan Edwards.
Abortion is spiritual warfare. – Voddie Baucham
Why are we so willing to justify or make excuses for a woman who hired a hitman (abortionist) to kill her child?
Worldly lusts cause the things of Heaven to be crowded out by the interests and concerns of earth. -A.W. Pink -
I will not believe that you have tasted of the honey of the Gospel if you can eat it all by yourself. -C.H. Spurgeon -
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