Read: Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Timothy 5:19-20, Titus 3:9-11
"I need to talk to you about something." Does this phrase ever make you nervous? If you are anything like me (Josh) you will find that these words (especially when said a number of days before the intended conversation) will cause a flurry of nervous self-examination. You might be thinking, "What have I done wrong?" or "What could the problem be?" for days before finding out that the person only wanted to discuss the latest episode of their favorite TV show. But sometimes these words are actually the precursor to a serious conversation about sin and can be the seeds of real change in your life. How precious are these times? Despite the pain and difficulty of such a conversation, when both parties are open, God can use it to grow you more into the man or woman He intended you to be.
Does Jesus actually condemn these types of conversations by saying, "Do not judge"? Is Jesus shooting down this type of useful ministry to one another? Today's readings show us that that is clearly not Jesus' intention. In fact, later in His ministry, Jesus not only sets out clear guidelines for how to confront another believer but he commands that we confront sin. Look in vs 15 of today's reading from Matthew 18: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you."
Jesus doesn't give us room for wimping out on confronting each other about our sin. Instead we are commanded to confront each other about sin for the sake of building one another up in Christ. We see this backed up by the words of Paul in 1 Timothy and Titus.
Do you use a passage like this from Matthew 7 to avoid confronting another believer about their sin? Do you watch sin in the lives of others whilst saying nothing for fear of judging. Of course, we are commanded to exercise wisdom in the way that we approach others and extend to them the same grace that Christ has extended us but we cannot use this as an excuse for sitting idly while our brothers or sisters drown in sin. Spend some time praying today that God would give you the courage to have the difficult conversations and to build up your fellow believers in love.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would build in the hearts of His people a desire to be kindly and lovingly confronting one another about sin. Pray that God would give you a spirit of humility to hear where there is sin in your life and to respond graciously.
¥ Pray for the preaching of God's word this Sunday in churches around Toowoomba, around Australia and around the world. Pray that wherever God's people are gathered that the Word would be preached boldly and faithfully and that many would come to know Christ as a result.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Under what circumstances would it be appropriate to confront another believer about their sin?
2. Jesus outlines the process for confronting another believer in Matthew 18. What would this process look like at your church in the 21st Century?
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Tuesday 30 April 2013
Read: Matthew 7:1-2, Matthew 18:21-35
The wounds of the Global Financial Crisis have been slow to heal and will leave lasting scars for businesses all over the world. In the USA, and to a much smaller extent here in Australia, people have been horrified by big banks which have received aid from the governments of the world while relentlessly pursuing their debtors, often to bankruptcy. The idea of receiving charity but refusing to give it seems to people to be a heinous crime yet how often do we do the same?
Granted, we do not receive billions of dollars of bailout money from government whilst pursuing our debtors in court, but our sin is perhaps more grievous. We have received unmerited, immeasurable grace from God for our sins and yet we turn around and judge others for even the slightest sin against us. Jesus clearly shows us the heinous nature of this sin in His parable in Matthew 18. So often we are like the debtor who, although forgiven a large debt, turns and shows no forgiveness to his debtor. Jesus clearly shows us the consequence for this sort of rebellion against God, the debtor is turned over to the jailers to pay the consequences for his crime. Particularly chilling is vs 35, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
This is the same principal which Jesus is talking about in vs 2 of today's reading. God has shown us mercy by judging us on the basis of Christ's righteousness instead of according to what our sins deserve. If we turn around and judge others without extending them the same grace which God has extended us, our punishment is clear: God will not show us mercy. This does not undo the work of Christ on the cross to justify us before God or mean that we can lose our salvation in Jesus. Rather, Jesus is saying that if we do not extend grace to others we need to question whether or not we are actually in Christ and have been transformed by our relationship with Him. To put it simply: If we do not show grace to others, are we really saved?
There is one more thing we can understand from these words. The antidote to our self-righteousness and judgment of others is to truly understand our Christ-rightousness and to remember the judgment we have been spared because of His sacrifice. By keeping Christ's work in our minds we can deal with our own self-righteous judgment and extend the grace of Christ to others.
This is a challenging word from Christ. Think about your own life. Think about some of the sins in your past which Christ has freely forgiven you for. Do you judge others for these same sins? Do you extend the same grace God has given to you to others or do you judge harshly? Take a moment to thank and praise God for His forgiveness to you and to pray that He would help you to be gracious with others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God for His great grace to you. Pray that everyone in the congregation at Christlife would extend the same grace to others and that as a result many would come to know Jesus.
¥ Pray for PlayPals tomorrow as the mums of our church and the community gather together to play with their children. Pray that the mothers from the community would see the love of the Christlife mothers and would be drawn to faith in Christ.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Based on today's reading from Matthew 18 is there a limit to how many times we should forgive one another?
2. What are some practical ways that you can keep the righteousness of Christ and the forgiveness God has given you in the forefront of your mind this week?
The wounds of the Global Financial Crisis have been slow to heal and will leave lasting scars for businesses all over the world. In the USA, and to a much smaller extent here in Australia, people have been horrified by big banks which have received aid from the governments of the world while relentlessly pursuing their debtors, often to bankruptcy. The idea of receiving charity but refusing to give it seems to people to be a heinous crime yet how often do we do the same?
Granted, we do not receive billions of dollars of bailout money from government whilst pursuing our debtors in court, but our sin is perhaps more grievous. We have received unmerited, immeasurable grace from God for our sins and yet we turn around and judge others for even the slightest sin against us. Jesus clearly shows us the heinous nature of this sin in His parable in Matthew 18. So often we are like the debtor who, although forgiven a large debt, turns and shows no forgiveness to his debtor. Jesus clearly shows us the consequence for this sort of rebellion against God, the debtor is turned over to the jailers to pay the consequences for his crime. Particularly chilling is vs 35, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
This is the same principal which Jesus is talking about in vs 2 of today's reading. God has shown us mercy by judging us on the basis of Christ's righteousness instead of according to what our sins deserve. If we turn around and judge others without extending them the same grace which God has extended us, our punishment is clear: God will not show us mercy. This does not undo the work of Christ on the cross to justify us before God or mean that we can lose our salvation in Jesus. Rather, Jesus is saying that if we do not extend grace to others we need to question whether or not we are actually in Christ and have been transformed by our relationship with Him. To put it simply: If we do not show grace to others, are we really saved?
There is one more thing we can understand from these words. The antidote to our self-righteousness and judgment of others is to truly understand our Christ-rightousness and to remember the judgment we have been spared because of His sacrifice. By keeping Christ's work in our minds we can deal with our own self-righteous judgment and extend the grace of Christ to others.
This is a challenging word from Christ. Think about your own life. Think about some of the sins in your past which Christ has freely forgiven you for. Do you judge others for these same sins? Do you extend the same grace God has given to you to others or do you judge harshly? Take a moment to thank and praise God for His forgiveness to you and to pray that He would help you to be gracious with others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God for His great grace to you. Pray that everyone in the congregation at Christlife would extend the same grace to others and that as a result many would come to know Jesus.
¥ Pray for PlayPals tomorrow as the mums of our church and the community gather together to play with their children. Pray that the mothers from the community would see the love of the Christlife mothers and would be drawn to faith in Christ.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Based on today's reading from Matthew 18 is there a limit to how many times we should forgive one another?
2. What are some practical ways that you can keep the righteousness of Christ and the forgiveness God has given you in the forefront of your mind this week?
Monday 29 April 2013
Weekly Challenge
Meet with another believer this week and invite them to tell you where they see sin in your life. Rather than get defensive pray together that the Holy Spirit would help you to be more like Jesus in this area.
Read: Matthew 7:1-5, 2 Samuel 12:1-9
"Do not judge" is possibly the most misquoted Bible passage of the 21st century. It almost seems to be the catchcry of the 21st century. This phrase is used out of context to defend all sorts of moral shortcomings ranging from homosexuality to unethical business practices. This phrase is even used in religious debates: how can you judge my religion to be any more or less true than yours? But is this really what Jesus had in mind? Is Jesus really prohibiting all forms of right judgment and advocating an "anything goes" attitude towards each other? Let's find out...
The key to understanding Jesus' point in this passage lies in His examples in vs 3-5. Jesus does not say, "Don't ever judge". Instead, He commands His followers to practice careful self-examination before bringing judgment to another. It is clear from this example that Jesus is not prohibiting any and all judgment, instead Jesus is prohibiting self-righteous, hypocritical judgment which is quick to see the shortcomings of others before looking at oneself.
In today's reading from 2 Samuel, David gives us a clear example of what it looks like to practice this type of judgment. The prophet Nathan confronts David about his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, using a simple parable. Notice David's reaction in vs 5 and 6. David, not realising the story is actually about him, is quick to condemn a man to death just for stealing a sheep! How much more does David deserve God's judgment for stealing a man's wife and putting her husband to death to cover up his crime. David was quick to recognize and condemn the sins of others but was blind to his own sin.
How easily do we fall into the same sin. Even when talking about judging others it is far easier for us to identify others who judge self-righteously than to identify our own judgment. Spend a moment to think about your own life. What are some areas where you are quick to judge others but slow to see your own sin? Do you have one standard for yourself and another standard for others? Spend a moment to pray this morning that God would show you sin in your own life before you judge others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would reveal to you sin in your life through His Holy Spirit. Pray that He would help you to overcome that sin in your life and to live a holy life before Him. Pray that God would work in the hearts of the whole congregation to convict of sin and to change lives.
¥ Pray for all the cell groups that are gathering throughout this week. Pray that that God would change lives through His word and that we would challenge and encourage each other to live out our faith.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What are some of the obvious ways that we judge others?
2. What are some of the ways that we judge others which are more subtle?
3. Based on this passage would it be acceptable for a Christian to become a judge in the courts? Why or why not?
Meet with another believer this week and invite them to tell you where they see sin in your life. Rather than get defensive pray together that the Holy Spirit would help you to be more like Jesus in this area.
Read: Matthew 7:1-5, 2 Samuel 12:1-9
"Do not judge" is possibly the most misquoted Bible passage of the 21st century. It almost seems to be the catchcry of the 21st century. This phrase is used out of context to defend all sorts of moral shortcomings ranging from homosexuality to unethical business practices. This phrase is even used in religious debates: how can you judge my religion to be any more or less true than yours? But is this really what Jesus had in mind? Is Jesus really prohibiting all forms of right judgment and advocating an "anything goes" attitude towards each other? Let's find out...
The key to understanding Jesus' point in this passage lies in His examples in vs 3-5. Jesus does not say, "Don't ever judge". Instead, He commands His followers to practice careful self-examination before bringing judgment to another. It is clear from this example that Jesus is not prohibiting any and all judgment, instead Jesus is prohibiting self-righteous, hypocritical judgment which is quick to see the shortcomings of others before looking at oneself.
In today's reading from 2 Samuel, David gives us a clear example of what it looks like to practice this type of judgment. The prophet Nathan confronts David about his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, using a simple parable. Notice David's reaction in vs 5 and 6. David, not realising the story is actually about him, is quick to condemn a man to death just for stealing a sheep! How much more does David deserve God's judgment for stealing a man's wife and putting her husband to death to cover up his crime. David was quick to recognize and condemn the sins of others but was blind to his own sin.
How easily do we fall into the same sin. Even when talking about judging others it is far easier for us to identify others who judge self-righteously than to identify our own judgment. Spend a moment to think about your own life. What are some areas where you are quick to judge others but slow to see your own sin? Do you have one standard for yourself and another standard for others? Spend a moment to pray this morning that God would show you sin in your own life before you judge others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would reveal to you sin in your life through His Holy Spirit. Pray that He would help you to overcome that sin in your life and to live a holy life before Him. Pray that God would work in the hearts of the whole congregation to convict of sin and to change lives.
¥ Pray for all the cell groups that are gathering throughout this week. Pray that that God would change lives through His word and that we would challenge and encourage each other to live out our faith.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What are some of the obvious ways that we judge others?
2. What are some of the ways that we judge others which are more subtle?
3. Based on this passage would it be acceptable for a Christian to become a judge in the courts? Why or why not?
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Saturday April 27, 2013
Read Matthew 6:19-34
Tomorrow is church. I wonder what heart you will take with you to church tomorrow. If I were to ask you whether or not your heart is at church, you might reply that you care nothing for the building. Great answer! By church I mean the people of God and the presence of God. Tomorrow, when you gather with God’s people in God’s presence, is that where your heart will be? Do you love God and His people so much that you yearn to be with them? Do you love God and His household so deeply that other family, other chores, other work will just have to wait? Is your heart so firmly set at church that you can think of nothing better than to be with God and His people?
Our hearts are with our treasure. If our treasure is the bank, our hearts will be there. If our treasure is in the children’s sporting match or the economy or the relatives visit then our heart will be there. Church will become something we have to endure before we can get to the really good stuff.
I’ve always struggled with Jesus’ words in verse 22-23 but what He is saying is that we can look at life from two very different angles. If we look at life in terms of our treasure and seek to fulfil ourselves in terms of that treasures then our body will be filled with eternal darkness. But if we love God and see the world through Him, then our body will be filled with light.
From another angle Jesus teaches the same thing. He tells us that we can have only 1 master for we must ultimately choose who we will serve. And whatever or whomever we serve is our master.
Think about that practically. If Jack puts sport above Church each week then sport is his master. No matter how hard he tries to argue otherwise, sport is his master. If Jill refuses to give to the work of the Lord then money is her master. If Mary Ann refuses to fellowship midweek with other believers because of work then work is her master. Jesus is clear when He says that we will worship one and despise the other. We simply cannot have two masters.
God’s heart is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. He promises that all those things that we think we need will be given to us in their proper turn. God wants us to serve Him wholeheartedly, even above and beyond the daily needs that we have. He wants us to put Himself above food, clothing, friends, family and even the grand Dollar Bill.
Tomorrow’s church service is not an isolated event in your weekly calendar. It’s the culmination of who you are and what you’ve done all this week. It is the culmination of every word, every thought and every action that you’ve engaged in this week. If you have lived this week for yourself and sought your own happiness, your own indulgence and your own pleasure, church will be something to endure and put up with. But if you’ve sought to bring glory to God and to worship God with your entire being, with every word, every thought and every action, church will become a finale, a climax where you and your Christian family stand in the presence of the Almighty God. If you have sought to worship God all week, tomorrow will be a home coming, a reunion and a foretaste of the most exquisite time in your life - that time when you and I will stand in God’s presence for all eternity.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask your Lord and Saviour to prepare you for Church tomorrow and to prepare you to meet with Himself. Pray this for your congregation and ask the Lord to make it a wonderful time of focussing on God and edifying each other.
¥ Pray that God would use your church powerfully to grow the kingdom of God.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How can you tell what or who your master really is?
2. What things show that Jesus is really a person’s master?
Tomorrow is church. I wonder what heart you will take with you to church tomorrow. If I were to ask you whether or not your heart is at church, you might reply that you care nothing for the building. Great answer! By church I mean the people of God and the presence of God. Tomorrow, when you gather with God’s people in God’s presence, is that where your heart will be? Do you love God and His people so much that you yearn to be with them? Do you love God and His household so deeply that other family, other chores, other work will just have to wait? Is your heart so firmly set at church that you can think of nothing better than to be with God and His people?
Our hearts are with our treasure. If our treasure is the bank, our hearts will be there. If our treasure is in the children’s sporting match or the economy or the relatives visit then our heart will be there. Church will become something we have to endure before we can get to the really good stuff.
I’ve always struggled with Jesus’ words in verse 22-23 but what He is saying is that we can look at life from two very different angles. If we look at life in terms of our treasure and seek to fulfil ourselves in terms of that treasures then our body will be filled with eternal darkness. But if we love God and see the world through Him, then our body will be filled with light.
From another angle Jesus teaches the same thing. He tells us that we can have only 1 master for we must ultimately choose who we will serve. And whatever or whomever we serve is our master.
Think about that practically. If Jack puts sport above Church each week then sport is his master. No matter how hard he tries to argue otherwise, sport is his master. If Jill refuses to give to the work of the Lord then money is her master. If Mary Ann refuses to fellowship midweek with other believers because of work then work is her master. Jesus is clear when He says that we will worship one and despise the other. We simply cannot have two masters.
God’s heart is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. He promises that all those things that we think we need will be given to us in their proper turn. God wants us to serve Him wholeheartedly, even above and beyond the daily needs that we have. He wants us to put Himself above food, clothing, friends, family and even the grand Dollar Bill.
Tomorrow’s church service is not an isolated event in your weekly calendar. It’s the culmination of who you are and what you’ve done all this week. It is the culmination of every word, every thought and every action that you’ve engaged in this week. If you have lived this week for yourself and sought your own happiness, your own indulgence and your own pleasure, church will be something to endure and put up with. But if you’ve sought to bring glory to God and to worship God with your entire being, with every word, every thought and every action, church will become a finale, a climax where you and your Christian family stand in the presence of the Almighty God. If you have sought to worship God all week, tomorrow will be a home coming, a reunion and a foretaste of the most exquisite time in your life - that time when you and I will stand in God’s presence for all eternity.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask your Lord and Saviour to prepare you for Church tomorrow and to prepare you to meet with Himself. Pray this for your congregation and ask the Lord to make it a wonderful time of focussing on God and edifying each other.
¥ Pray that God would use your church powerfully to grow the kingdom of God.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How can you tell what or who your master really is?
2. What things show that Jesus is really a person’s master?
Friday, 26 April 2013
Friday April 26, 2013
Read Matthew 19:16-29. 1 Tim 6:6-12
There are some things in this world that grab our heart and cling to it like a lion with its claws firmly embedded in its victim. Money or wealth is one of those things.
The rich young ruler that came to Jesus learned this difficult lesson. He asked Jesus the things that are required for eternal life. Most self respecting Jews would ask a similar question - what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus, as always, knows the true heart of this man and after some talk about general commands, comes to the very heart of the matter. Jesus tells the man to sell his possessions and to give to the poor. The man turned and with heavy shoulders walked away from Jesus. He was rich and wealth had grasped his heart. He would rather miss out on eternal life than give up his great wealth.
Those who are rich and those who yearn to be rich open themselves up to many temptations because money and wealth are a source of many great evils. Some, like this rich man, turn away from God’s kingdom and pursue wealth.
The antidote that Jesus proposes is to put wealth in its proper perspective. We are to flee from the pursuit of wealth, much like we would flee from a lion. It’s not just a mind thing but a lifestyle thing as well. We are to flee the desires of wealth and we are to actively pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. This pursuit can be through active involvement in ministry, through counselling and godly input into our lives and through a better stewardship of our finances. The key word is pursue. We are to actively engage in chasing the characteristics that God talks about here.
If we find that our heart is gripped by wealth then all is not lost. Even though it’s easier for a literal camel to be pushed and shoved through the eye of a sewing needle, there is still hope. With God nothing is impossible. God can change your heart He can give you a new heart of flesh, having removed your old heart of stone. He can change you from the inside out. If we find that we need a radical heart transplant then we can do several things.
Firstly, we need to invite God into our heart and ask Him to perform that transplant. We need to stop grasping at that thing that has grasped our heart. Secondly, we need to put that thing in its proper perspective. For the rich young ruler that meant selling everything and giving to the poor. For you it may mean increasing your giving to 2 or 3 or 4 tithes. It may mean volunteering in a refuge or soup kitchen. It may mean changing to a less affluent lifestyle. It may mean many things. Thirdly, seek input from your elders and pastor and spend time praying with them and listening to their input. Finally, conscript friends and family to pray for you consistently and constantly. Make yourself accountable to at least one other believer and meet regularly for encouragement and edification.
The reality of life is that some things grab our hearts with such strength and emotion that we need external help to be freed. Money/wealth is one such thing. We need to take radical action to protect our hearts and to be freed from such ravages again.
It’s never to late to ask God for a heart transplant.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How important should money/wealth be to believers?
2. What does the bible teach about wealth and believers?
3. How can we use our wealth to glorify God.
There are some things in this world that grab our heart and cling to it like a lion with its claws firmly embedded in its victim. Money or wealth is one of those things.
The rich young ruler that came to Jesus learned this difficult lesson. He asked Jesus the things that are required for eternal life. Most self respecting Jews would ask a similar question - what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus, as always, knows the true heart of this man and after some talk about general commands, comes to the very heart of the matter. Jesus tells the man to sell his possessions and to give to the poor. The man turned and with heavy shoulders walked away from Jesus. He was rich and wealth had grasped his heart. He would rather miss out on eternal life than give up his great wealth.
Those who are rich and those who yearn to be rich open themselves up to many temptations because money and wealth are a source of many great evils. Some, like this rich man, turn away from God’s kingdom and pursue wealth.
The antidote that Jesus proposes is to put wealth in its proper perspective. We are to flee from the pursuit of wealth, much like we would flee from a lion. It’s not just a mind thing but a lifestyle thing as well. We are to flee the desires of wealth and we are to actively pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. This pursuit can be through active involvement in ministry, through counselling and godly input into our lives and through a better stewardship of our finances. The key word is pursue. We are to actively engage in chasing the characteristics that God talks about here.
If we find that our heart is gripped by wealth then all is not lost. Even though it’s easier for a literal camel to be pushed and shoved through the eye of a sewing needle, there is still hope. With God nothing is impossible. God can change your heart He can give you a new heart of flesh, having removed your old heart of stone. He can change you from the inside out. If we find that we need a radical heart transplant then we can do several things.
Firstly, we need to invite God into our heart and ask Him to perform that transplant. We need to stop grasping at that thing that has grasped our heart. Secondly, we need to put that thing in its proper perspective. For the rich young ruler that meant selling everything and giving to the poor. For you it may mean increasing your giving to 2 or 3 or 4 tithes. It may mean volunteering in a refuge or soup kitchen. It may mean changing to a less affluent lifestyle. It may mean many things. Thirdly, seek input from your elders and pastor and spend time praying with them and listening to their input. Finally, conscript friends and family to pray for you consistently and constantly. Make yourself accountable to at least one other believer and meet regularly for encouragement and edification.
The reality of life is that some things grab our hearts with such strength and emotion that we need external help to be freed. Money/wealth is one such thing. We need to take radical action to protect our hearts and to be freed from such ravages again.
It’s never to late to ask God for a heart transplant.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How important should money/wealth be to believers?
2. What does the bible teach about wealth and believers?
3. How can we use our wealth to glorify God.
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Thursday April 25, 2013
Read Acts 4:32-5:11
You can tell where a person’s heart is by what they are (or what they are not) willing to give for the betterment or welfare of others. Just think of the ANZACS as they landed at Gallipoli during the first World War. For 8 months these men gave their lives for the welfare of others, for a nation of individuals who, for the most part, they had never personally known or met.
When a person is willing to give sacrificially for the sake of others, their heart is clearly sacrificial. When a person gives reluctantly or under compulsion you see greed, selfishness and corruption in their heart.
In the book of Acts we see that the church was filled, by and large, with people with large, joy filled hearts. They gave so generously that there no needy people among them. Can you imagine what impact Christianity would have in the world today if there were no needy people in the world? From time to time people would sell their land, their houses, their cars...errr camels and so on and give the money to the church for the support of the needy. The result was that more and more people came into the church.
Yet one married couple came forward and boasted of their generosity. It appears that their hearts were corrupt. They also sold the land and presumably with pomp and ceremony gave the funds to the church. But the husband was struck down for his sin, not of withholding some of the funds, but for lying to God and the Holy Spirit. Later his wife was questioned and she too was struck down for lying and seeking to deceive the Lord and His people. Their hearts were corrupt. They loved praise and adoration from men more than they loved God. They loved money so much that they kept a part of the funds, which was theirs to keep anyway, and lied to God and His people. The result was that God’s wrath and anger visited immediately upon them. They were struck down for their deception.
What is it that you and I are willing to give for the welfare of others? Are we willing to part with 1/100 of our weekly income so that the church can support the poor and needy? Would we joyously raise that amount to 1/4 or 1/3 or even 1/2? Would we, as many have done in the past, give God 9/10s of our income and live off 1/10? The question is not one of giving but one of the heart. We need to ask, where is our heart? Where is my treasure? What is it that I really worship?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
¥ Pray that your church would be exceedingly generous and giving as you worship your Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God love generosity?
2. How can we move, as a church, to the situation described in Acts 4:34?
3. Why should church members look after each other?
You can tell where a person’s heart is by what they are (or what they are not) willing to give for the betterment or welfare of others. Just think of the ANZACS as they landed at Gallipoli during the first World War. For 8 months these men gave their lives for the welfare of others, for a nation of individuals who, for the most part, they had never personally known or met.
When a person is willing to give sacrificially for the sake of others, their heart is clearly sacrificial. When a person gives reluctantly or under compulsion you see greed, selfishness and corruption in their heart.
In the book of Acts we see that the church was filled, by and large, with people with large, joy filled hearts. They gave so generously that there no needy people among them. Can you imagine what impact Christianity would have in the world today if there were no needy people in the world? From time to time people would sell their land, their houses, their cars...errr camels and so on and give the money to the church for the support of the needy. The result was that more and more people came into the church.
Yet one married couple came forward and boasted of their generosity. It appears that their hearts were corrupt. They also sold the land and presumably with pomp and ceremony gave the funds to the church. But the husband was struck down for his sin, not of withholding some of the funds, but for lying to God and the Holy Spirit. Later his wife was questioned and she too was struck down for lying and seeking to deceive the Lord and His people. Their hearts were corrupt. They loved praise and adoration from men more than they loved God. They loved money so much that they kept a part of the funds, which was theirs to keep anyway, and lied to God and His people. The result was that God’s wrath and anger visited immediately upon them. They were struck down for their deception.
What is it that you and I are willing to give for the welfare of others? Are we willing to part with 1/100 of our weekly income so that the church can support the poor and needy? Would we joyously raise that amount to 1/4 or 1/3 or even 1/2? Would we, as many have done in the past, give God 9/10s of our income and live off 1/10? The question is not one of giving but one of the heart. We need to ask, where is our heart? Where is my treasure? What is it that I really worship?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
¥ Pray that your church would be exceedingly generous and giving as you worship your Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God love generosity?
2. How can we move, as a church, to the situation described in Acts 4:34?
3. Why should church members look after each other?
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Wednesday April 24, 2013
Read Isaiah 29:13-16. 1 John 1:8-2:2
Someone once said, ‘The single greatest cause of atheism today is people who honour Jesus with their lips but deny Him with their lives.’ That’s a powerful statement that captures the essence of worship. God is not interested in part time worshippers, Sonday pew warmers or half hearted disciples. God is into commitment! God wants our all. God wants us to serve Him with the passion and dedication of an Olympian.
Why is it that God wants so much from us? Basically it’s because He gave so much to us. Not only did God create us in His image, but when we rejected God He went to great lengths to save us. He sent His one and Only Son into the world to die under the curse that you and I deserved. He sent Jesus to be punished in our place. God gave us everything and in return wants us to give Him everything. God spared nothing in saving us and wants us to spare nothing in serving Him.
I often laugh at myself, when like Israel, I think that I can hide my sins from God and then continue to worship Him on Sondays as though nothing has happened. Even when we sin in the darkness of night or when we remove ourselves from everybody, God is still there seeing our actions. I can’t hide my sins from God. I can’t pretend that God’s not present. I can’t believe the lie that after a few weeks God will forget my sins and I can press on as though nothing happened.
When I do sin I need to confess my sins to God and to those I’ve hurt or offended. I need to seek their forgiveness and by God’s grace and power I need to promise to live in a way that is different.
No single Christian can claim to be perfect and without sin. No single person in the church can claim to have their act completely together. When we do fall what the world needs to see is honest repentance and reconciliation. As they see this, they will realise that even though we do sin, we are worshipping God with our lives, not just our lips.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
Ask the Lord to bless the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar and the Mustard Seed Orphanage, also in Myanmar with all their needs to continuing caring for the needy and training ministers. Pray that God would be gracious and generous in meeting their daily needs.
¥ Pray that God would raise the level of generosity in your congregation so that together you may be able to share and spread the love of Christ to more and more people in your local community.
Jesus Challenge: In the early church the disciples would meet each morning to break bread and to encourage one another. They would sing together and spur one another on to love and good deeds.
See if your cell group can also be spurring one another on to greater heights of love and service.
For one whole week, Seek to meet together for prayer, for praise and for encouragement each and every single morning or afternoon.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God want us to worship Him with our lips and our lives?
2. What should we do when we have sinned?
Someone once said, ‘The single greatest cause of atheism today is people who honour Jesus with their lips but deny Him with their lives.’ That’s a powerful statement that captures the essence of worship. God is not interested in part time worshippers, Sonday pew warmers or half hearted disciples. God is into commitment! God wants our all. God wants us to serve Him with the passion and dedication of an Olympian.
Why is it that God wants so much from us? Basically it’s because He gave so much to us. Not only did God create us in His image, but when we rejected God He went to great lengths to save us. He sent His one and Only Son into the world to die under the curse that you and I deserved. He sent Jesus to be punished in our place. God gave us everything and in return wants us to give Him everything. God spared nothing in saving us and wants us to spare nothing in serving Him.
I often laugh at myself, when like Israel, I think that I can hide my sins from God and then continue to worship Him on Sondays as though nothing has happened. Even when we sin in the darkness of night or when we remove ourselves from everybody, God is still there seeing our actions. I can’t hide my sins from God. I can’t pretend that God’s not present. I can’t believe the lie that after a few weeks God will forget my sins and I can press on as though nothing happened.
When I do sin I need to confess my sins to God and to those I’ve hurt or offended. I need to seek their forgiveness and by God’s grace and power I need to promise to live in a way that is different.
No single Christian can claim to be perfect and without sin. No single person in the church can claim to have their act completely together. When we do fall what the world needs to see is honest repentance and reconciliation. As they see this, they will realise that even though we do sin, we are worshipping God with our lives, not just our lips.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
Ask the Lord to bless the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar and the Mustard Seed Orphanage, also in Myanmar with all their needs to continuing caring for the needy and training ministers. Pray that God would be gracious and generous in meeting their daily needs.
¥ Pray that God would raise the level of generosity in your congregation so that together you may be able to share and spread the love of Christ to more and more people in your local community.
Jesus Challenge: In the early church the disciples would meet each morning to break bread and to encourage one another. They would sing together and spur one another on to love and good deeds.
See if your cell group can also be spurring one another on to greater heights of love and service.
For one whole week, Seek to meet together for prayer, for praise and for encouragement each and every single morning or afternoon.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God want us to worship Him with our lips and our lives?
2. What should we do when we have sinned?
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