September 29th, 2014
Kevin
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
and give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26 – 27 ESV
Fighting in Anger
Our church is studying what it means to be members of the church. Recent lessons are on unity within the church and building one another up. As I read the passage above I was struck by Paul’s command five verses later:
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Ephesians 4:31 ESV Read more... (1081 words, 3 images, estimated 4:19 mins reading time)
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Categories: Attitude, Bible Study, Christian Community, Following God's Prescriptions, God's Directives Tags: anger, bitterness, blessings, David, focus, God, hatred, Jesus, Paul, peace, Psalms, song, speculation, thoughts, vindication, wrath
September 26th, 2014
Kevin
Often those of us that follow Jesus can find it emotionally challenging to let go of the shame of our sins.
Shame and Separation
It is valid to experience shame that accompanies our guilt before the only holy God when we are in our sinfulness for He is perfect and we aren’t. The sense of shame that accompanies our recognition of how we’re sinful, however, isn’t God’s ultimate goal. Our recognizing Him, coming into a right relationship with Him on His terms then worshiping, glorifying and enjoying Him is. Once we’re forgiven based on the blood sacrifice of Jesus, He sees us through His grace as perfectly sinless; the shame should lead to repentance and then freedom and a deep sense of value as we realize the living God loves us but often we get hung up on what demons, our messed up human brains and our fellow humans tell us. Read more... (804 words, 2 images, estimated 3:13 mins reading time)
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Categories: Theology Tags: David, enemy, Forgiveness, God, guilt, Jehovah, Jesus, Messiah, Paul, shame, warfare
September 10th, 2014
Kevin
Written to Jewish Christians, the book of Hebrews contains some deep theology and passages that are personally challenging. One passage that is a beautiful highlighting of history from the Jewish testament that leads into Christian responsibility is chapter 3, verses 7-13. Read more... (611 words, 1 image, estimated 2:27 mins reading time)
This is a preview of
Take Care Against Hardened Hearts – Hebrews 3:7-13
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Categories: Bible Study Tags: burden, care, contrition, God, hardened, hardness, heart, Holy Spirit, Jesus, rebellion, rebellious, repentance, salvation, support
September 5th, 2014
Kevin
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,
and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with steadfastness,
and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8 ESV
If you wonder “For what very reason?” join the club.
In verse 3 Peter tells us
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness ….
2 Peter 1:3 ESV Read more... (242 words, estimated 58 secs reading time)
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Categories: Bible Study, Christian Life Tags: brother affection, faith, God, godliness, growth, Jesus, knowledge, love, maturing, maturity, Peter, self-control, steadfastness, virtue
September 3rd, 2014
Kevin
I’ve made the mistake of thinking my salvation is primarily about me. To be sure, God’s love is for me but a deeper reason He saves is for His purposes and to bring glory to Himself.
In my myopic existence I don’t focus my attention on Jesus. I often consider my benefits and blessings, which are truly benefits and blessings and I should recognize them as such and thank God for them but His purpose goes beyond just saving me; He saves me as a testimony to His faithfulness, His grace, His love, His patience and His sovereignty. His desire is to see all people choose Him and enter into an eternal relationship with Him but in Paul’s case, specifically: Read more... (475 words, 1 image, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)
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Categories: Bible Study, Know God, Theology Tags: Christ, God, Heaven, hell, holy, Jesus, love, Paul, salvation, theology