Archive for the ‘ Jesus ’ Category
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12, ESV
The world will see the love we have for the Church and want it.
Are we loving each other in Christ’s love?
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16, ESV
We regularly study Scripture and rely on the Spirit to guide us in all truth, so that we can help each other grow in Christ, thankful for His help in changing us ever more like the Son.
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.
James 5:16, ESV
We don’t confess sins to gossip or hold something over others. Instead, we confess to begin healing and show we believe God can heal and forgive.
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4, ESV
The Old Testament revealed God and described Christ.
The New Testament revealed Christ and described life and hope.
Believe.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Ecclesiastes 4:9, ESV
Man was not meant to be alone. We need a spouse and a friend.
Once saved, Jesus calls us “friend” as we join His Bride – The Church.
I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group. [Reminder that these are only notes!] (And I just realized I forgot to publish this earlier in the week!)
Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.
What does “blessed” mean?
Based on the first twelve verses, blessed means realizing our own wretchedness and need for a Savior. In other words, it is becoming/being a Christian.
Can God see into our hearts and minds?
• 1 Samuel 16:7 – “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but
the Lord looks on the heart.”
• Psalm 44:21 – Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
• Proverbs 21:2 – Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
• Jeremih 17:9-10 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can
understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his
ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Mormons believe God can’t see into human hearts.
What is that old, archaic word for wanting something badly (found in the 10 Commandments)?
Covet – What does this mean? [To want more than God, to desire to the harm of others]
Is it the same as lust? What is lust?
[e.g. disordered desire for someone or something, usually sexual in nature]
What is Jesus saying?
[Is it okay to look? “It’s not hurting anyone!”]
What is Jesus saying?
[“STOP IT!” It is severely serious how bad sin is.]
• Matthew 18:7-9 – Our own temptations can lead others into temptation
o Will we actually enter eternity mutilated and deformed? (Remember, Jesus has His scars!)
• Jesus refers to Deuteronomy 24:1-4
o Sometimes a woman was given a second dowry if she remarried.
▪ What is the abomination in God’s sight?
• Remember that brothers were to give their widowed sisters-in-law a child, so is it purely sexual?
• If there is a second dowry, the first husband may be taking her back just for the money.
• We see the seriousness of divorce.
o Matthew 19:1-9 (Genesis 2:24)
• Does this mean a divorcee can never remarry?
o Consider 1 Timothy 3:2
o What if it was before they became a Christian?
o Consider Israel through Hosea: Israel was His unfaithful wife. The Church is not a new wife, rather a
renewed wife, for Israel is still included. In fact, we have been grafted into Israel (Romans 11)
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ESV
We know this is a life or death situation. Let us remember that we are soldiers fighting a spiritual battle for the souls of humanity. The war is won, yet we fight until Christ’s return.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23, ESV
We deserve death for our rebellion against God, but Jesus took our penalty on the cross. Now we hope in eternity with our risen Lord.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
James 3:13, ESV
God has given us good works to do to share with the world the light and wisdom of God: Jesus.
a simple man of God 