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Showing posts from September, 2021

The Biblical Church - Ephesians 2:19-22

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 In light of the pandemic of 2020 and 2021,  somebody had said that the church is "made for times like these."  Recent polls however indicate that the church has suffered much due to what COVID-19 brought, isolation, separation and distance proximity.   Let's remember the promise of the Lord about what the church is: Here are the six characteristics of a biblical church as indicated by Paul in Ephesians 2:19-22 1.  The Biblical Church is a about family (relationships, communion and fellowship, v.19b, you are fellow citizens with God's  people) Have you been born again? (John 1:12, John 3:16) Have you been baptized?  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:19-20) 2.  The Biblical Church is about membership (commitment, respect, and obligation, 19c, and members  of his household ) Are you willing to grow intimately? Acts 2:42 Are you willing to give faithfully? 2 Cor. 9:1-8; Malachi 3:10 Are you willing to serve selflessly? 2 Cor. 9:12-13; Eph. 4:12 Are yo...

Saul and David: When You Need Someone To Love On You

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Saul and Samuel          Saul and Jonathan          Saul and David  Love is a powerful element because it transforms people from within.   Our story has been covering King Saul and his relationships with people that have made significant impact in his life.  First, God used Samuel to speak the truth to him.  Secondly, God used his son Jonathan to show him how to live a good life.   Today, we will look at how God used David to love on King Saul.  Here are some things that we discover how to extend love to anybody that does not deserve loving  (1 Samuel 24):  1.   Loving your enemy is the right thing to do (v.5) 2.   Consult others about your response to people (v.7) 3.   Approach people with respect (v.8, 11) 4.  Dispel gossip and confirm facts (v. 9-11) 5.  Pray for justice and leave it to God (v. 12,15) First, relate any of this point to the story ...

The Church Make Over

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Now more than ever, the caged church is ready to rediscover itself.   COVID 19 has kept the Christian church far too long and many of its members are crying out for purpose, deliverance and courage.   If you are like me, you have felt the urge to move the church forward.  But how do you this?  Lately, I've been looking at church systems that just might be able to jump start the plateau church into a vibrant growing organism.   Being in person or online is irrelevant if you have a strategy that the church can use to map out its spiritual growth.   Where do we begin?   I feel that an assessment of sort is needed most especially who had been in the church for awhile.   This first step creates a beginning point which hopefully creates the need to look forward to  a next step.  Simply creating the class without the person feeling the need for it is just another way to waste someone's time.   But who kno...

Saul and Jonathan: When You Need Someone To Show You

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Saul and Samuel          Saul and Jonathan          Saul and David  The story of King Saul and his son Jonathan is an ironic drama.   Typically, it's the father who lives righteously to teach his son good ways.  In this case, it is Jonathan who shows to his father the right way.   We all need help especially on areas that are difficult to change in our lives.  Humility, sacrifice, forgiveness, hard work, treating others fairly among others.   But God wants us to live victoriously and abundantly.   That is why we he chose people to come alongside us.   Here are four areas that Jonathan lived better than his father.  Notice how the writer of the book 1 Samuel literary placed them side by side for readers to see the comparison.   These are also areas we may need help with a mentor, confidant or a friend.   1.  Humility is a hard lesson to learn (1...