Center
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Contact Us
    • Who are we?
    • Times and Location
    • Missions
    • Church History
    • What We Believe
    • Plan of Salvation
    • Plan of Transformation
  • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
  • Documents/Policies
    • Our Governance
    • Building Use Policy
    • Benevolence Forms
  • Resources
    • Asking for a Friend
    • Blogs
    • Sermons
    • RightNow Media

10/31/2022

How can I know the Bible is true?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Jesus tells us in John 17:17 "sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth." But there are so many different versions of the Bible out there, with so many times of it being translated, ​how can we know the Bible is true? 

Ultimately it comes down to faith, that we believe in God and believe that He has given us His perfect Word and preserved it throughout the generations, and that it is His Word for us. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 -- 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 → 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.


God has preserved His Word though, and given us evidences throughout His Word that help reassure us that we can trust what it says. 

THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY
There are over 57 direct prophecies about Jesus specifically from the Old Testament that He fulfilled in His life on the earth. There are countless references to Jesus coming and time on the earth throughout the Old Testament as well, all of which were written 400+ years before Jesus came to the earth. 

*** The Birth of Jesus Prophesied***
His lineage 
  • Seed of a Woman (Virgin Birth) -- Genesis 3:15, Luke 1:26-36, Matthew 1:18
  • Promised Descendent of Abraham -- Genesis 12:3, Matthew 1:2
    • Isaac (Genesis 21:12), Jacob (Genesis 28:14), Judah (49:10), David (2 Samuel 7:12) --  Matthew 1:1-17
His Birthplace
  • Born in Bethlehem -- Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6
  • Escape to Egypt -- Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:15


***The Crucifixion of Jesus Prophesied*** 
  • Jesus is the Passover Lamb -- Exodus 12:21-27, 1 Corinthians 5:7 
  • No Bones would be broken -- Exodus 12:26, John 19:31-36
  • Jesus would be lifted up -- Numbers 21:9, John 3:14-18
  • The process of His crucifixion -- Psalm 22, John 19:16-37

Click here for a complete list of the prophecies of Jesus that were fulfilled. 

THE EFFECT JESUS HAS HAD ON THE WORLD 
Think about it this way, Jesus was a carpenter from a town of less than 1,000 people, and He never went more than 200 miles from His home, yet people all over the world know about Him. 

We know about Bethlehem, a town of less than 1,000 people in another country. We know about a carpenter from another country. We know have holidays that celebrate His birth and death and resurrection. Not only do we celebrate aspects of His life throughout the year, but His life has effected how count time. 2000+ years ago, there was something that happened that changed our counting of time from BC (commonly Before Christ) to AD (​anno domini, in the year of our Lord). Even attempts to remove Jesus from time and go BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) still fail to explain what happened 2,000 years ago that would make the shift from BCE to CE. 

THE ACCURACY OF THE TEXT THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES 
In recent history, there have been discoveries that prove the accuracy of the Scriptures from the original writings. God promised this in His Word even, John 10:35, "Scripture cannot be broken", Matthew 5:18, "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." 

In 1947, a set of scrolls was found called The Dead Sea Scrolls. They were hidden in caves by some Jews, and contain manuscripts of every Old Testament book except Esther, and they were 1,000 years older than any existing Old Testament manuscript. So here we have discovered a source of the Bible that was 1,000 years older than any current source we had currently seen, and it proved the accuracy of the current translations that we had. Throughout the centuries of copying the Bible, the text had stayed the same. The only "differences" were minor spelling variations or the transposing of certain words in a few places. 

THE OVERARCHING THEME OF THE BIBLE 
The Bible was written by 35 different authors, spanning thousands of years, but yet their consistency and accuracy throughout that time stayed true. There is a harmony of the Bible, with everything pointing to Jesus. Jesus said this about the Old Testament even, John 5:46, "46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me." Everything in the Bible points to Jesus in some way or another, and the Bible never contradicts itself. It gives different views of what happened, but the overarching theme remains the same. 

There are many other proofs of the accuracy of the Bible, that God has preserved through time. Some other resources that you can look into are GotQuestions and CARM.  
​

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

Why do bad things happen to good people?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
  • Genesis 1:1 -- “1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

At this moment, everything is perfect, and through the course of Creation, the Bible continues to tell us that it was good. God continues to create, and He finally hits the high point, creating man in His own image. 
‌
  • Genesis 1:27 -- “27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” ,
  • Genesis 2:18 -- “18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”” ,
  • Genesis 2:25 -- “25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
‌
Through this creation, and everything being good, Adam and Eve were able to stand before God and before each other naked and unashamed. But just like that, one decision sets the world on a chaotic path, heading towards destruction. 
‌
  • Genesis 3:1-7 -- “1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”
‌
From this point, pain, sweat, toil, ache, and death enter into the world. But there is something interesting in this passage:
‌
  • Genesis 3:1 -- “1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?””
‌
So the question arises here, 
why did God do this? Why do bad thing happen to good people? Why did God allow evil to enter into the world? 
‌
Before answering the question, I want to make sure we understand the heart behind the question, in case you are ever asked this question. ‌People usually ask this predominately in association with a devastating event. It comes in connection with the recipient being someone that we feel didn’t deserve what happened to them. We see that in the very fabric of the question, why do “bad” things happen to “good” people?
‌
We see "ba
d" as being whatever happened to them that we didn't feel that they deserved (abuse, neglect, death, disease, trauma, etc). We call them "good" because we see them as someone who is nice, kind, caring, compassionate, and maybe even innocent.

The reality is, whenever faced with this question,
there is probably not an answer at the moment that would bring relief. 
Even if God gave you the why behind what is happening, would it really make any difference?
‌
If God said that the reason you lost a loved one, you went through that trauma, you were abused, you were neglected, whatever happened to you, was because some time down the road it would work out for good, would that make it any better? Maybe, but I’m doubting it actually would. So we have to realize that there is a time to just be present if asked this question, and that there is no answer that will help, but rather we give them someone to hear them out, to just be there for them. 
‌‌
But, there is still the question that is asked and people wonder why bad things happen. The simple answer, that is yet complex, is because sin is present in this world. 

  • Genesis 3:16-19 -- “16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.””

The result of sin is that bad things happen. From that moment in time, the earth has been trending toward destruction, awaiting that time to come.
  • Romans 8:22 -- “22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”

Paul tells us that there is suffering in this life, but he also tells us that it isn't worth comparing to the eternal glory that is to be revealed, and that is what the earth groans for.
  • Romans 8:18-22 -- “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”

Not only does creation long for this time, but we ourselves long for it to happen to. 
  • Rom 8:23-24 -- “23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?”

As a result of sin in the world, we live in a broken world, in which nature itself heads towards destruction. This is why there are tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, and earthquakes. 
‌
Not only do we live in a broken world, we live among broken people, who make bad decisions that sometimes harm other people. Not only are other people broken, we ourselves are broken as well. This is something we need to realize, there are no “good” people in the world, we’re ALL sinners.

  • Mark 10:17-18 -- “17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
  • Romans 3:10-18 -- “10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.””

The question may pop in your head, why doesn't God just wipe out all the evil in the world? That day is coming, but think about it a bit deeper. 
‌If God wiped out all the evil in the world, that would include US as well. To wipe out evil would be to send people to hell, so if He wiped us out, we go hell, But God in His mercy and grace hasn’t done so, that more may come to repentance and find salvation in Jesus. Because in that, God is glorified, and that’s His goal.

  • Isaiah 43:7 -- “7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.””
‌‌
Here's my view on this, in order for God to be glorified, He has to be chosen. ​A robot cannot bring glory because there is not choice, it is forced to do what it is told. In the same way, love creates a choice, and God gave us the choice to choose Him. In order for there to be a choice though, there have to be two things to choose between. Therefore, we are allowed to choose between God and the world, which is sin. And that's the answer to the question, we choose sin, and our choices have consequences. 

But we can find hope beyond the bad things that happen, because God has given us hope.
‌
Hope that God can use bad things for good results
  • ‌Genesis 50:20 -- “20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
  • Romans 8:28 -- “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
‌
Hope that God’s always good, faithful, praiseworthy
  • ‌Job 13:15 -- “15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.”
  • 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 -- “8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
‌When we have an eternal perspective, it draws our focus to the God who is above, in which we find peace that no matter what we go through, He’s with us
  • Hebrews 13:5 -- “5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” ​

Hope that through struggles, it strengthens our ministry
‌
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 -- “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
​
The events of our lives build our testimony, in which we are then able to help those who go through what we have.

Hope
 in knowing that Jesus knows what we go through
‌
  • Hebrews 4:15 -- “15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
  • 1 Peter 2:20-23 -- “20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
​
We don’t have a God who is far off, but one who in Jesus knows what we are going through, and sends help

Hope that we are not alone
  • Romans 8:26-27 -- “26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
‌‌‌
Hope that this earth is not our home, we have an eternal dwelling
  • 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 -- “16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”  
  • John 14:1-3 -- “1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
  • Revelation 22:20 -- “20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
‌
Jesus has gone to prepare our eternal dwelling,
  • Revelation 21:1-4 -- “1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””

Jesus
will return to take us home, and there is ONE way to get there
  • John 14:4-6 -- “4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The reality of the answer to the question is this: 
There was only one good person, Jesus Christ, and the worst suffering ever happened to Him, so that through that bad thing, we might experience the greatest thing, eternal life
  • John 3:16 -- “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ,
  • 1 Peter 2:24 -- “24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” ,
  • Romans 8:31-39 -- “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
‌

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

What is hell? And why does it exist?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

How can I know a false prophet from a man of God?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
This is an important question, because there are many people who distort the Gospel of Jesus. This has been the tactic of Satan since the beginning of time, where he was able to take something God said and twist it, thereby deceiving mankind. 
‌
Jesus promises that the gates of Hades will not be able to overcome the church, so 
if Satan can’t defeat the church, he will try to become a part of the church, to divide and weaken the church. 
‌
  • Matthew 7:15 -- “15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
‌
So the question is, how can we tell the difference between a false prophet and a man of God?
‌
Jesus gives us a warning as to how we can identify a false prophet in the Sermon on the Mount:

  • Matthew 7:16-20 -- “16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
‌
Peter even warns us that they weren’t just during that time, but that they are still going to come: 
‌
  • 2 Peter 2:1-2 -- “1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.”
  • 1 Peter 2:12-13 -- “12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,”
  • ​‌1 Peter 2:18 -- “18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.”
‌
During the Tribulation, there is going to be the second beast that will be a deceiver, causing people to make an image to it. 
‌
  • Revelation 13:13-4 -- “13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.”
‌
So we know they are coming, and we know that we will know them by their fruit, but what kind of fruit is it that we will be able to recognize them by?
‌
  • 2 Timothy 3:13-16 -- “13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
‌
Paul tells Timothy that they are going to come, and the way to know them by their fruit is to hold firm to what he was taught. What is it that he was taught?
‌
  • 2 Timothy 3:16 -- “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
‌
God’s Word is the litmus test as to whether a teaching is true or false. Therefore, we hold firm to God's Word.
‌
There is a time where people will give up on the Bible, seeking higher enlightenment. But what John and the writer of Hebrews tells us, is that it is all about Jesus. He will never change, and He will always be the source of truth. 
‌
  • 1 John 1:1-4 -- “1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” ‌
  • Hebrews 13:8-9 -- “8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.”
‌
We are to follow the Word of God over anything that man says, and Paul warns that we are to not follow manmade traditions. 

  • ‌Ephesians 5:6 -- “6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
  • Colossians 2:8 -- “8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
‌
So how do we do this? We test what we hear, and make sure it lines up with God’s Word
‌
  • 1 John 4:1-2 -- “1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,”
  • 1 Timothy 6:3 -- “3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,”
‌
Paul & John both tell us that even if an angel preaches something different, it is to be accursed
‌
  • Galatians 1:8 -- “8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
  • 2 John 1:7-11 -- “7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”
‌
If you want to be able to tell a false prophet, study your Bible and know what it says. 

In the FBI, they are trained to be able to recognize a counterfeit bill. The problem is, there are hundreds of different counterfeits out there. Instead of studying each different counterfeit bill, they simply study the real bill so well that they know everything about it, so that when they see something that isn't right, they are able to know that it is a fake. ‌

‌
Are you studying your Bible well enough to be able to tell truth from a lie?
‌
When Jesus was tempted, He quoted Scripture, and knew Scripture even when the devil tried to manipulate it. This is why it is important to find a Bible believing and preaching church, in which you will be guided in the Word of God. This is why it is important to be a part of Biblical Community, so that you are able to receive Biblical guidance. And this is why it is important to daily be in God's Word, meditating on it daily so that you know what it has to say. 
‌
God's Word is what will direct you in the path that you are supposed to go, and anything that goes against God's Word should be thrown out as an imposter. ‌
‌
  • Titus 1:9 -- “9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
  • ‌2 Peter 1:19 -- “19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,”
  • 1 Timothy 1:3-7 -- “3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” ‌
  • 2 John 1:9 -- “9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

If we believe in heaven, why do we hold to this earth so tight?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Too often we make America heaven, and we don’t live with an eternal perspective, but an earthly one
‌
We see throughout the Scriptures that we are to lift our eyes to heaven, taking on an eternal perspective, not an earthly one
‌
  • Hebrews 12:1-2 -- “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
‌
List 10 things in your life that you love
‌
We will come back to those later
‌
One thing that keeps us from wanting to leave, we hold on too tightly to this world
‌
Especially in America, where life is actually not too bad
‌
Jesus tells us multiple times that we are to let go of everything in this life
‌
  • Hebrews 12:1 -- “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
‌
— throw off the sin that entangles
‌
  • Matthew 10:37-39 -- “37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
‌
— love wife > Jesus ≠ worthy
‌
  • Mark 10:29-30 -- “29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”
‌
— leave all for Jesus, Jesus blesses
‌
  • Luke 9:25 -- “25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
‌
— gain whole world = forfeit soul
‌
So much of our lives are spent seeking after perishable things, where Jesus tells us to work for the eternal
‌
  • John 6:27 -- “27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.””
‌
— work for eternal life Break down your week of the amount of time that is spent on things that don’t matter
‌
Some of it is important (hygiene, eating, sleeping, working)
‌
How much is taken so far to the extreme, that it is not important?
‌
Trophies ‌
Promotions
Social Status
Social Networking
Television/Internet
‌
How much is spent on eternal things?
Prayer
Bible reading
Discipling others
Gathering of God’s People
‌
Have we fallen in love with this world?
‌
  • 1 John 2:15-17 -- “15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
‌
— do not love the world
‌
We are called to throw it off, and then Hebrews goes on
‌
  • Hebrews 12:2 -- “2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
‌
— fix our eyes on Jesus
‌
Too often, we aren’t looking to Jesus, but to our own desires/life
‌
Jesus tells us that we are to hate our lives compared to Him, and that in doing so, we will find it
‌
  • John 12:24-25 -- “24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
‌
Crazy thing: in order to find true freedom, we must become a slave to Christ
‌
Too many people claim that they believe in Jesus, but they don’t see the abundant life that He promises
‌
People will say what they think, but they will do what they believe
‌
Abundant life is found in Jesus, eternal life is found in Jesus, LIFE is found in Jesus
‌
  • John 17:3 -- “3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
‌
— this is eternal life
‌
  • John 6:68-69 -- “68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.””
‌
— You have the words of eternal life
‌
Is there anything on that list of 10 things that you would not give up for Jesus?
‌
  • Matthew 16:19-22 -- “19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.””
‌
— Rich young ruler
‌
He had the key to eternal life right in front of him, but yet he missed it completely
‌
He allowed for his things to become a god to him
‌
There is a part of us that desires to be home, with Jesus
‌
Even creation is groaning for that time to come
‌
  • Romans 8:23 -- “23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
‌
— creation groans
‌
  • 2 Corinthians 5:4-11 -- “4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.”
‌
— we desire to be home
‌
  • Philippians 1:20-28 -- “20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anyth…”
‌
— for me to live is Christ
‌
This is all easier said than done though
‌
Observations as to why we don’t want to go
‌
We are holding too tightly to this life
‌
We don’t truly trust Jesus that there is a better life waiting for us in the next
‌
We don’t truly trust Jesus that there is even a life after the next
‌
We don’t truly trust Jesus that living for Him is best
‌
We make ourselves our gods, instead of making Jesus our LORD
‌
  • Matthew 6:19-21 -- “19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
‌
— treasures in heaven
‌
  • Hebrews 11:36-40 -- “36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
‌
— those who died in faith
‌
  • Romans 5:3-5 -- “3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
‌
— rejoice in our sufferings
‌
  • Hebrews 12:1-2 -- “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
‌
— throw off, fix eyes on Jesus
‌
  • Revelation 22:20 -- “20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
‌
— come Lord Jesus

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

How does being unequally yoked apply to outside of marriage?

0 Comments

Read Now
 

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

What is my responsibility in dealing with a believer in sin?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Have you ever heard someone say, or even been told yourself, don't judge me? the Bible says not to judge others. As much as they are correct that the Bible does say not to judge others, it is not the correct context. The world is beginning to yell louder and louder that we are not to judge, but what is it that the Bible actually says?  What is the Christian's responsibility to seek out a believer living in sin?
‌
First off, Paul tells us that we are not to cast judgement on those outside the church, but that ​it is actually the responsibility of the believers to judge those inside the church. 

  • 1 Corinthians 5:12 -- 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?

Why are we to judge those inside the church? Because the end goal of believers is sanctification, becoming more and more like Christ. ‌This is difficult on our own, and so we need fellow believers to help us out and push us towards living like Christ. 
‌
  • Proverbs 14:12 -- “12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Humans are able to justify our actions, and we can make a lot of things that are wrong seem right. But in the end, those actions lead to death, and so we need fellow believers to step in and point out our folly, pointing us back to Jesus. 
‌
So, what is my responsibility to seek out a believer living in sin?
‌
The first thing that we have to do is check our own hearts. That was the point of Jesus in Matthew 7. 

  • Matthew 7:3-5 -- 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Before we go and we point out what the other person is doing wrong, we need to inspect our own lives and hearts and make sure that we are living according to God's Word.

​We also check our hearts to make sure that we are seeking the person's best. The goal is restoration and sanctification, not us proving ourselves wrong or molding them into living according to our standard. ​
‌
During Jesus walk on earth, disagreements with Pharisees, who were the religious elite that put laws on other people that they themselves were not willing to live up to. In Matthew 23, Jesus gives the Pharisees 7 woes, and one of them was that they don't do the very thing they tell others to do. 
‌
  • Matthew 23:3-4 -- “3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”
‌‌
Jesus calls them hypocrites, following manmade traditions (and holding others to that standard) rather than following God. 
‌
So the first step to always start with is to pray that God reveal your heart and work in your own heart first. 
‌
We are told to make sure that everything we do be guided by love. 
‌
‌
  • Ephesians 4:15 -- “15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” — must speak truth in love
‌
After you have prayed about your heart and the situation, it might be worth looking to see if you are able to overlook the situation. This is more in the sense of an offense, not in sin. We are called to point out sin, but often we are offended and it may not actually be sin, we took offense to something. 

  • Proverbs 19:11 -- and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

If you are not able to overlook the situation, or if it is sin that needs to be addressed, you are commanded to go to that person. Too often, we want to go to someone else and talk with them about it. Often we can do this under the disguise of seeking guidance or venting, but God's Word doesn't give us room to do this. Instead, God gives warnings against taking part in this type of discussion. 

‌‌
  • Proverbs 18:8 -- “8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.”
  • Proverbs 26:17 -- 17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. 
    ‌
Jesus gives us instructions on how we are to handle these situations in Matthew 18. 
‌
  • Matthew 18:15 -- “15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”
  • Galatians 6:1-5 -- “1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.”
  • James 5:19-20 -- “19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” 
  • Luke 17:3 -- “3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,” 
    ‌


‌
Paul modeled this for us when Peter [Cephas] was behaving differently around the Greeks as he was around the Jews. 
‌
  • Galatians 2:11-14 -- “11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?””
‌
We are called as believers to help hold each other accountable and walk according to God's Word. This is why it is important to be involved in Biblical community. We all desire to be fully known, and the best way to do that is to live in Biblical Community, doing life together. 
‌
  • James 5:16 -- “16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
‌
Through all of this, we need to see the common goal, which is not having other people become more like we are, but having other people becoming more like Christ (sanctification). Too often we want people to measure up to our standards, but it is God who sets the standard for us. 
‌
Jesus went on in Matthew 18 to tell us that after we have gone to them, if they refuse to listen to us, then we are to go and bring someone else with us to them. 

  • Matthew 18:16 -- 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

If they still refuse to listen, then you are to bring it before the church, and then if they refuse to listen to the entire church, then it is time to cut off ties with them and treat them as if they were unbelievers. 

  • Matthew 18:17 -- 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.‌
  • 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 -- “9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.””
  • Titus 3:10 -- “10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,” 
  • 1 Timothy 5:20 -- “20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.” 
‌
A lot of times, the initial instincts are to go to someone else or to write the person off completely. This is the easy thing to do, not the right thing. God's Word tells us that we are to go directly to the person, and the final step ​after everything else is that we cut the person off, for their benefit. ‌The goal of all of this is sanctification
‌
  • Hebrews 12:11 -- “11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
‌
The last thing that we must do through all of this is we must walk in grace, just as God gives us grace. 
‌
  • 2 Corinthians 5:19 -- “19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
‌
We do not cast stones, we seek the persons best relationship with God. We do everything possible to help them in this. But, in order for this to happen, we must REPENT, turn from our sin and turn to Jesus.
‌
  • Hebrews 10:26 -- “26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,”
  • 1 John 1:9 -- “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ​

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

What is heaven like?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
This is a question that many different religions hold views on. 
  • ‌Buddhists & Hindus = reincarnation (that you will come back as a different person or being based on how you lived your life)
  • Spiritualists = spirits that come to earth
  • Atheists & some Christians = nothing

Thankfully, for the believer, God's Word gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Regardless of what our language is able to describe it as, it doesn't come close to the reality of what heaven will truly be like. 
‌
  • John 14:2-3 -- “2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
  • Matthew 22:31-32 -- “31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.””
Jesus tells us that as much as heaven is going to be a real place, the focus of heaven is not a destination, but a person. ​
  • John 17:3 -- “3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
If we are thinking that just being in the presence of God alone, adoring Him, is not going to be worth it, then my fear is that we don’t understand and truly know God!‌

  • Philippians 1:21 -- “21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” — for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Regardless of what I say heaven is going to be like, it is going to be far better than anything we can imagine 
  • Psalm 27:4 -- “4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” , 
  • Psalm 84:10 -- “10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” 
‌
Here is how God's Word describes heaven though. 
  • What will be in heaven?
    • ​ Seraphim — these are the six winged creatures who fly around the throne of God crying “Holy! Holy! Holy!”
      • Isaiah 6:2 -- “2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.”
      • Revelation 4:8 -- “8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!””
    • Cherubim — These creatures look like winged lions with human faces. God is “enthroned between the cherubim”, symbolically in the tabernacle and eternally in heaven 
      • Psalm 99:1 -- “1 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!”
    • Angels
      • Michael - led forces of God in the great war against Satan — and won!
        • Revelation 12:7 -- “7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,”
      • Gabriel - God’s special messenger 
        • Daniel 8:16 -- “16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”” , 
        • Daniel 9:21 -- “21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.” 
    • In Revelation, it tells us that in what we consider heaven, which is often associated with our dwelling place after this life, there will be a New City. 
      • Revelation 21:2 -- “2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” 
      • Revelation 21:9-22:5 -- “9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the c…” 
        • This city is immense — 1400 miles wide and long and high
        • The New Jerusalem is described as a place with a clear river, with a tree that bears a new crop of fruit every month, with plenty of space for all God’s children. It has walls 200 feet thick, but the gates never close. We will be free from danger and will have free access from the central city into the rest of heaven
    • Satan will be kicked out
      • Revelation 20:10 -- “10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” 
      • Revelation 21:27 -- “27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” , 
      • Revelation 22:3 -- “3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.” , 
      • Revelation 21:22 -- “22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” , 
      • Romans 8:22 -- “22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” 
  • What will our bodies be like?
    • We will have physical bodies, but they will be far better than our bodies of decay that we have now. 
      • Genesis 1:26 -- “26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”” , 
      • Genesis 1:31 -- “31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” 
      • Philippians 3:21 -- “21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” 
      • Luke 24:39 -- “39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.””
      • John 20:19 -- “19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”” ,
      • John 20:26 -- “26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.””
  • What will we do?
    • Glorify & Worship God
      • Revelation 7:9-12 -- “9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.””
    • Fellowship with one another & God
      • 1 John 1:7 -- “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
      • Genesis 2:18 -- “18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.””
    • Work
      • Genesis 2:15 -- “15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” ,
      • Genesis 2:19-20 -- “19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.”
  • Why does heaven exist?
    • ​ Heaven exists for the eternal glory and praise of God
      • Revelation 1:13-18 -- “13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
      • Revelation 4:8-12 -- “8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” 1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the sc…”
      • Revelation 5:12 -- “12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”” Heaven exists so that we can truly live in the presence of God, unhindered by sin
    • How do we get there?
      • John 14: 6 -- “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
      • John 3:5 -- “5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
    • Who gets to go to heaven?
      • Romans 10:13 -- “13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””
      • John 3:16 -- “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
      • Hebrews 4:16 -- “16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
      • 1 John 4:17 -- “17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.”
      • Matthew 25:21 -- “21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

There is often another question associated with heaven, where do animals go when they die? Will there be animals in heaven? 
‌
The Bible never talks about animals having souls, that is what is unique about man from all the other animals. We are set apart, made in the image of God. Animals do not have a soul, they are not on the same level of humans. But just as in the Garden of Eden there were animals, my personal belief is that there will be animals in heaven as well. I believe that the Garden was supposed to be a glimpse of heaven. There will be a New Heaven and a New Earth, and I believe that on this New Earth there will be animals as well. ‌​

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

Predestination vs Free-Will & Evangelism vs Discipleship

0 Comments

Read Now
 
The original question posed here is since we are predestined to be Christians, why is so much emphasis put on evangelism instead of discipleship?  In order to answer this question, we need to first look at the first part of the question, and view what the Biblical concept is of predestination vs free-will. This is a question that has been debated and discussed at length throughout the generations, so we are going to look at the different views that are held, as well as Scripture that those views use to support that view as well as Scripture that is used to oppose that view. 

View #1: God is the Master Puppeteer
This is the view that God is in heaven and He is pulling every single string. This is the complete view of predestination. That every thought we have, every action we make, has already been decided for us and we have no choice or free-will in life. 

Supporting Scripture
  • There is no Scripture that supports this view. 

Opposing Scripture   
  • James 1:13 ESV -- 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
  • Job 1:22 ESV -- 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.


View #2: God chooses to save certain people (elect)
This is one of the five points of Calvinism, Unconditional Election, which means that God will save whoever He wants to save, regardless of who they are or what they do. 

Supporting Scripture 
  • Psalm 139:16 ESV -- 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
  • Jeremiah 1:5 ESV -- 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
  • Mark 13:20 ESV -- 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
  • John 6:44 ESV -- 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
  • John 15:16 ESV -- 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
  • Romans 9 ESV
  • Ephesians 1:4–5 ESV -- 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
  • Ephesians 1:11 ESV -- 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
  • John 1:13 ESV -- 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Opposing Scripture  
  • Joshua 24:15 -- And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve....But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 
  • Mark 8:34 -- And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, "If anyone would come after Me, let Him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."  
  • Mark 16:16 -- "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."  
  • John 1:12 -- But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God 
  • John 7:17 -- If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on My own authority. 
  •  Romans 10:13 -- For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 
  •  2 Corinthians 5:15 -- and He has died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.  
  • Galatians 5:13 -- For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 
  •  1 Timothy 2:4 -- who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 
  •  2 Timothy 2:26 -- and they may come to their sense and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 
  •  Titus 2:11 -- For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people 
  • 2 Peter 3:9 -- The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any would perish, but that all would reach repentance 
  •  1 John 2:2 -- He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 
  •  Revelation 3:20 -- Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.


View #3: God chooses everyone, but we must also choose Him
This is the view that God has a desire that everyone be saved, but that in order to be saved we must also “choose” Him by receiving His gift of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

Supporting Scripture 
  • Matthew 22:14 -- "For many are called, but few are chosen.” 
  • This view also takes the same verses that support View #2, but they interpret them differently to mean that the elect are those who have responded to God’s call on them. 

Opposing Scripture 
  • Mark 13:20 -- And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 
  • John 6:44 -- No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws Him. 
  • Ephesians 1:4-5 — even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will 
  • Ephesians 1:11 — In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.


 View #4: God takes a hands off approach, living in heaven just watching us on television

Supporting Scripture
  • There is no Scripture that supports this view. 

Opposing Scripture
  • Daniel 4:35 — All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”  
  • John 6:44 -- No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws Him.  
  • John 15:16 -- You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. 
  • There are many other passages that talk about God being involved in our lives. 

So the question might remain, which view is correct? The answer is that God knows, and we can trust in Him. The personal belief of myself is that there is Biblical evidence that supports free will, us having a choice, but at the same time we see that God is at work and has specific calls for specific people. There is a mystery in it, and Scripture supports that we may not always know the answers to these questions. 
  • Deuteronomy 29:29 -- "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the Words of His Law.” 
  • 1 Timothy 3:16 -- Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: "He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, , seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” 
  • Proverbs 25:2 -- It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.  
  • Matthew 11:25-26 -- At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will."

It is possible that after reading those passages, you land in one of those views specifically. That’s ok, because what we also see in God’s Word is the answer to the second part of the question, why do we focus on evangelism instead of only discipleship? The answer is because God has commanded us to “go” out into the world (evangelism) and “make disciples” (discipleship). 
  • Matthew 28:19–20 ESV -- 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
  • Mark 16:15 ESV -- 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Jesus even shares a parable about sending out the harvesters into the harvest. 
  • Matthew 9:37–38 ESV -- 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Paul tells us that he was sent to preach the Gospel
  • 1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV -- 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV -- 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
  • 2 Timothy 2:24–25 ESV -- 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
  • 2 Timothy 4:5 ESV -- 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
  • Romans 10:14–15 ESV -- 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
  • 1 Peter 3:15 ESV -- 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

The church is called to be the light of the world, and to go out and actively play a role in bringing souls to salvation in Jesus Christ. Being the church is not about just coming and sitting on a pew, but about actively obeying the commands of Christ.

So we are commanded to go and preach the Gospel, but it isn’t just about filling empty chairs or converting people to a belief in God, it’s about filling empty hearts with God, making disciples of Christ. 

Disciple: a follower of someone.
The  disciples of Jesus gave up everything to follow their teacher
  • Luke 14:26–27 ESV -- 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

The emphasis should never be on one of these aspects over the other, the church is called to do both. 

We are called to live life with others, pointing them towards Jesus.
  • 2 Timothy 2:2 ESV -- 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
  • Ephesians 4:16 ESV -- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

So back to the question, are we predestined or do we have free-will? Both, because the Bible discusses both, and it is wrapped up in the mystery of God.  Should we focus on evangelism or discipleship? Both, because the Bible commands us to do both. To evangelize is to disciple someone, and to disciple someone is to evangelize. They are one and the same thing, we cannot do one without involving the other. 

Here are 5 steps to evangelize and disciple someone.
  • Step #1: Preach the Word
    • 2 Timothy 4:2 ESV -- 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
  • Step #2: Continue to preach the word
    • 2 Timothy 4:2 ESV -- 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
  • Step #3: Once they receive salvation, walk alongside them
    • Ephesians 4:16 ESV -- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
  • Step #4: Always make it about the Gospel
    • Romans 1:16 ESV -- 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
  • Step #5: Don’t rely on your abilities, rely on God
    • 1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV -- 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
    • 1 Corinthians 2:4–5 ESV -- 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Share

0 Comments

10/25/2022

What are the doctrines of Christianity?

0 Comments

Read Now
 

Share

0 Comments
<<Previous
Details

    RSS Feed

Address

3150 SW Center Rd
​Columbus, Ks 66725

Telephone

620.674.3429

Service Times

 SUNDAYS:
9:30am (Sunday School)​ 10:30am (Morning Services)
6:30pm (Evening Services: Youth, Adult Services)
WEDNESDAYS:
​7:00 (Midweek Services & Small Groups)
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Contact Us
    • Who are we?
    • Times and Location
    • Missions
    • Church History
    • What We Believe
    • Plan of Salvation
    • Plan of Transformation
  • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
  • Documents/Policies
    • Our Governance
    • Building Use Policy
    • Benevolence Forms
  • Resources
    • Asking for a Friend
    • Blogs
    • Sermons
    • RightNow Media