For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. Preach the Word with endurance – to the end of the race. Preach the Word, even when it is unpopular. We need to tell people the truth, even when they don’t like it. We need to be like Jeremiah, who prophesied that the Babylonians were coming to conquer Judah. The Jews called him a liar and threw him in the dungeon. He stood firm for the…
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Overseer And Deacons
This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband to one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,. . . 1 Timothy 3:1-2 Today we will read 1 Timothy 3. When done reading this chapter, go back and read it slowly. Pay attention to the words overseer and deacon. Now go back and focus on verses 1-7. Make a list of everything you learn about an overseer. If you don’t understand any words, look them up in a dictionary. How is the ministry of a deacon related to…
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Lord Stood By Me
But the Lord stood by my side and gave me strength so that through me, the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 2 Timothy 4:17-18 Paul was in prison. The church is in turmoil. Timothy probably didn’t have the courage to deal with the church. Paul is encouraging Timothy to speak to the church as God has called him to do. God always gives us the strength to do what he has asked us to do. When we step out in faith and are obedient, that is when the evidence of God’s strength will be revealed.…
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Conducting Ourselves for Jesus
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together, for the faith of the gospel, Philippians 1:27 When we accept Christ as our savior, we become citizens of the Kingdom of God. We need to be good patriotic citizens of the Kingdom of God. As Paul stated that they, the Philippians, were accountable to him, we, too, need to be accountable to one another. This means that when we see each other living in sin, we need…
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Purity Of The Bride
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason, the world doesn’t know us, because it did not know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. WE know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 Weddings!! Aren’t they just exciting? I love weddings. I had mine planned since I was little,…
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Lives Unburdened
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 28: 28-30 What do these two passages say? What do we learn about God and Jesus from these passages? Living a life for Christ is all about relationships. When we look…
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Gathering In Small Groups
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 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. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord…
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Together In Worship
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, Acts 2:46 Let’s start by also reading Hebrews 10:24-25 and Psalm 95: 1-3. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful…
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Facing Opposition
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. Acts 5:41 Read the following passages. Matthew 5:10-12, 44; John 15:18-25; Acts 5:41 What are these passages saying? What do we learn about God and Jesus? According to these verses, what should our attitude be if we suffer or face difficulty as Christians? How are we to respond to God and those who oppose us? Matthew 5:10-12 says this ” “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds…
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Investing In God’s Work
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:3-5 And you Philippians yourselves know that at the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into a partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received…