It is well and good, Lord,
if all things change,
provided we are rooted in You.
~ St. John of the Cross (1542–1591)
Help me sense Your nearness, guidance, and love throughout this season of change.
Lord, we don’t always handle change well. It shakes us up and rattles our bones to have everything around us change. Help us to rely upon You, hand our worries over to You, and follow You every step of the way.
God can use you, just as He used believers in the first-century church. Maybe you’re not a preacher, but you can proclaim the gospel message through your life and through your words. You can make a dramatic impact on your world.
We’re allowing secular attitudes to find their way into the church and into our lives as Christians. People say they are Christians, yet they live in immorality, have sex before marriage and outside of marriage, play with drugs, get drunk, steal, sue one another, and divorce each other.
We need Christians today who will take a stand for what is right because it seems as though our culture is affecting us more than we are affecting our culture. Today with so many people naming the name of Christ, our impact on the world appears to be null and void. We wonder what difference we’re really making.
The foundation of leadership has to be character, not charisma. God is looking for a man of character to put in leadership.
Today our world still misconstrues what Christians say. People draw erroneous conclusions because they never take the time to listen carefully to the gospel message.
The first-century Christians outthought, outprayed, and outlived nonbelievers. They preached and proclaimed the message of the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. They were ready to see lives changed.
Throughout history, there have been many attempts to destroy Christianity. But such attempts always will fail for one simple reason: Christianity is Christ. And in the end, Jesus Christ will prevail and establish His kingdom. It also means that because we’re with Him, we, too, will win in the end.
Seek to live a godly life and share the gospel with those around you.
"Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen."— Oswald Chambers
"Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends."— George Müller
All who die in the guilt of sin will definitely be judged some day. It is an absolute certainty. A day of accountability is coming.
Christians aren’t perfect, but they are forgiven.
The "good news" is the gospel:
“Of the kingdom of God” (Luke 16:16).
“Of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12).
“Of peace” (Acts 10:36).
“Of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
“Of his Son” (Rom. 1:19).
“Of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13).
“Of the glory of the blessed God” (1 Tim. 1:11).
Dustin Benge
How different would the Sunday morning sermon be for you if you began with this thought in mind --
"I am in the church today in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded Pastor __________________ to tell me."
Too often we listen passively --
we even have difficulty remembering on Monday what was preached about on Sunday --
so what chance do we have to apply any of the teachings?
We have a tendency to look at God's Word spoken through our pastor as simply "feel good" advice for the moment -- rather than God speaking directly to us.
The Christian life isn’t a matter simply of waiting around for the Second Coming or preparing for heaven. Rather, it is joining God in the exciting, compelling, transforming work of his kingdom. When we see what God is doing, we won’t want to be left out.
“The Christian has a deep, silent, hidden peace, which the world sees not, like some well in a retired and shady place…What he is when left to himself and to his God, that is his true life.”
—John Henry Newman~
…our heavenly Father knows us completely. No talebearer can inform on us, no enemy can make an accusation stick.
~A.W. Tozer~
The making of a disciple means the creating of a duplicate of Jesus.
~Juan Carlos Ortiz~
People of influence live their lives as examples of how to live. They aren’t trying to convince people to come follow them. They live it and breathe it. They just do what they do, and others want to be a part of it.
God's grace turns out men and women with a strong family
likeness to Jesus Christ…
~Oswald Chambers~
I believe the church will be vary surprised at the rapture of the church. We are called brother and sisters but we don't even have the love of a good acquaintance. It is vary sad when the only war you fight you fight alone. And for the record I know Jesus is with me. I know he is Aaba Father and the head. I know His Holy Spirit is indwelling and His Word, His Logas is alive and everlasting. The church needs to be the church every day and everywhere. Not just when it is convenient.
Life, if properly viewed in any aspect, is great, but mainly great when viewed in its relation to the world to come.
~Albert Barnes~
At the profoundest depths of life, men talk not
about God, but with Him.
~D. Elton Trueblood~
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Repetitive learning leads to wisdom while repetitive complaining leads to sorrow......!
Are you a missionary or a mission field???
Get somebody who wants to help and you have a temporary servant. Get somebody who is called and you get a servant who will die for you.....
Are you called by God or by man.....?
A gracious soul may look through the darkest cloud and see
God smiling on him.
~Thomas Brooks~
“One customer, well taken care of, could be more valuable than $10,000 worth of advertising.”
“Good service leads to multiple sales. If you take good care of your customers, they will open doors you could never open by yourself.”
“You have to do more than you get paid for because that's where the fortune is.”
“Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness— great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation and great joy.”
“Learn to help people with more than just their jobs; help them with their lives.”– Jim Rohn
“Education must precede motivation.” – Jim Rohn
If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself.
People who understand calling do not give up, threw in the towel, or retreat. There are times when we may want to but when it comes down to it we are always there for the cause.
IF YOU WANT TO WIN, YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOME THINGS: • Excuses • Comfort • People that hold you back • Bad habits • Fearing change • Blaming others • Inflated Egos • Self doubt • Procrastination • Negativity
YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THE PERSON YOU MISTREATED MIGHT END UP. DAVID ENDED UP BECOMING KING AND JOSEPH ENDED UP IN A PALACE.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THE PERSON YOU MISTREATED MIGHT END UP. DAVID ENDED UP BECOMING KING AND JOSEPH ENDED UP IN A PALACE.
"Too MANY Desire to stand before Congress while their city is dying.
The goal of the Gospel is not to affirm you, celebrate you, or empower you to do whatever you want to do. The goal of the Gospel is to rescue you, transform you, and empower you to do whatever God wants you to do.
There is no task in life that cannot be done for God’s glory. Tim Challies There is in Jesus Christ more merit and righteousness than the whole world has need of.
John Bunyan
The Bible’s truth does not depend in any way on whether a person believes the truth. R.C. Sproul Jesus calls us to honest integrity, where our ‘yes’ means ‘yes’ and our ‘no’ means ‘no’. One thing this requires is humble self-awareness. When we aren’t aware of our own limitations, we overcommit and break promises leading to sin. Sometimes the godly thing to say is ‘no’.
"Exposition alone is not preaching. A minister who only presents the grammatical and historical meaning of God’s Word may be lecturing or discoursing, but he isn’t preaching. The Word must also be applied." - Joel Beeke
"Expositional preaching is about the treatment of the text, not the style of the sermon." -H.B. Charles, Jr.
“We shall never perform a more important task than preaching. If we are not willing to give time to sermon preparation, we are not fit to preach, and have no business in the ministry at all.” - J.I. Packer
“To walk out of his will is to walk into nowhere.” - C.S. Lewis
“The winter prepares the earth for the spring—so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory.” — Richard Sibbes
Ministers regularly offer public prayers, whether from the pulpit or at other church functions and occasions. "Believe it or not," unlike private prayer, you should prepare, train, and even practice praying in public."
"Illustrations transform the abstract into the concrete, the ancient into the modern, the unfamiliar into the familiar, the general into the particular, the vague into the precise, the unreal into the real, and the invisible into the visible." - John Stott
Men may do evil things against us for which they will be condemned, and yet those very things, being permitted by the wisdom and love of God, are His messages to us. Before they can reach us, they must pass through His environing, encompassing presence. If they do, then they are God's will for us, and we must meekly accept our Father's plan, saying, "Not my will, but Thine be done." FB Meyer
Let God prune you with the golden pruning knife of His holy Word. Look into the mirror of revealed truth, to see if there is any trace of blemish stealing over the face of the soul. Offer your spirit constantly to the Holy Spirit, that He may detect and reveal to you the beginnings of the sin of idolatry. Be very jealous of anything that divides your heart with your Lord. FB Meyer
When God saved you, he put the treasure of eternal life within your body. You have the very life of God within you! God did not give you this great treasure simply to protect it—an earthen vessel is not the safest place for a treasure! He gave you this treasure that he might invest it through you in the lives of others. Wiersbe
Feast upon Christ and fast from sinful indulgences. Your hunger for Christ will increase.
Feast upon Christ and fast from sinful indulgences. Your hunger for Christ will increase.
“Focusing on all of our nation’s problems won’t sanctify you. Focusing on God’s word will.”
“Oh! that all men, would presently fall upon the practice of this gospel art of ‘looking into Jesus!’” — Isaac Ambrose
Christians, we would all do well to calm down on social media and immerse ourselves in the lives of our local churches.
“… the gospel is a treasure worth more than all the riches of this world combined.” — John MacArthur
I love the church. It is the body of Christ. It nurtures my soul and aids in my sanctification. But the church cannot redeem me. Christ and Christ alone can save me. The sacraments are precious to me. They edify and strengthen me, but they cannot justify me. R.C. Sproul
A robust doctrine of union with Christ provides the best antidote for antinomianism. —Mark Jones
'The *world* hates me,' may such a soul as has the Spirit say; 'but my *Father* loves me.' - John Owen
'The key to understanding the Bible is Jesus Christ." -J.C.Ryle.
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. —Nicolas Claget, The Abuse of God’s Grace, Pg. Something every pastor heartily agrees with. We would just add our families. “No man can do me a truer kindness in this world than pray for me” (and my family). Spurgeon
Our great and only refuge from the guilt of sin is the Lord Jesus Christ - John Owen "The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes because God is interested in good craftsmanship." -Martin Luther. Sin in the Christian is no longer our master, it is just a nuisance. What a glorious difference. It is at the cross that we...find not only the blood that washes but the righteousness which clothes and beautifies -Horatius Bonar - It is better to wear out than to rust out. -George Whitefield -
Sin is a viper that must be killed. Thomas Brooks Away with those who dare to make God the author of their sin, whenever they are told that men are naturally evil! To their twisted way of thinking, God’s work is to be seen in their perversion, rather than in the nature which Adam was given before he was corrupted. John Calvin The gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. John Calvin
Those that are predestined to be in the state of grace are also predestined to persevere in that same state to the end. —William Perkins
In them (antinomians) peace with God and sin kiss each other, as if a league with heaven and hell could stand together. —Nicolas Claget (1610-1663), The Abuse of God’s Grace, 43
The principal fight of the Christian is with the world, the flesh and the devil. These are his never-dying foes... -J.C. Ryle - Though every believer has the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit does not have every believer. -A.W. Tozer -
“God may bless one by affliction, and curse another by prosperity. Nothing is truly good but promotes eternal happiness.” Ezekiel Hopkins
It is one thing to be reconciled when enemies; it is another thing to be reconciled & abide as enemies. No enemies to the laws of Christ & gospel holiness were ever actually reconciled; they are yet under wrath who are under the reign of sin. —N. Claget, Abuse of God’s Grace,44
“A company of believers is not a "church" if they don't gather. The word for "church" in the original New Testament manuscripts is elklesia. Even before the founding of the New Testament church that word signified an assembly, a gathering of people.” — John MacArthur
DELETE THE OLD VERSION OF ME INSIDE YOUR HEAD… IT EXPIRED, THE ONLY QUESTION IS CAN YOU HANDEL THE UPGRADE, 2.0...
"The power of Jesus over men lies in the fact that he has taught them to trust him." - Charles Spurgeon
"When we trust Christ, self-sacrifice becomes a joy, and holy daring is but a natural impulse." - Charles Spurgeon
What is the purpose of biblical preaching? To reveal the Lord To humble the sinner To exalt the Savior To proclaim the gospel To edify the church To sanctify the believer To glorify God
An unforgiving and quarrelsome spirit is the surest mark of an unregenerate heart. — J.C. Ryle, Stumbling Blocks
The Church is waiting for Jesus Christ! Romans 8:23 1 Corinthians 1:7; 15:51-52 Philippians 3:20 Colossians 3:1-4 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:6-10 2 Thessalonians 3:5 Titus 2:13
“It is impossible that either men or angels can fully sound the depth of this one sentence.” — John Newton on 1 Tim. 1:16
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