Thomas didn't believe that Jesus was alive. He wanted to see Jesus for himself before he would believe.
Instruct the children to find the missing letters in John 20:28 ... Thomas said to Him, "My _ _ _ _ and My _ _ _ !"
Instruct the children to place bandages on Jesus' sides and red markers to show where the wounds by the nails were in His wrists.
Thomas had to see Jesus before he could believe Jesus was alive. We can believe Jesus is alive even though we've never seen Him because the Bible tells us so.
We can believe Jesus came back to life even though we don't get to see Him like Thomas did.
Again Jesus said, "May peace be with you! The Father has sent me. So now I am sending you." He then breathed on them. He said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven.
Thomas was one of the 12 Disciples. He was also called Didymus. ?He was not with the other Disciples when Jesus came. So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "First I must see the nail marks in His hands. I must put my finger into His side. Only then will I believe."
A week later, Jesus' Disciples were in the house again. Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, "May peace be with you!"
Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here. Reach out your hand and put it in to my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and My God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed.
NIrV May the Faith Be With You Holy Bible @ Zondervan 2017
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Brave Beauty - Book Review
Brave Beauty will take you on a journey for girls. It would be a good teaching book for girls and a book to give to girls. It has 100 mini chapters in the book about God.
Lynn Cowell discovered that writing helped her figure out herself. That's why she wrote this book; she wanted to take her readers on a journey to becoming a brave and fearless you!
This book has 100 mini chapters and it would be a good teaching book for girls.
We will see:
who God says you are
Look at people in the Bible and see how they handled hard things
Get to know more about God and how He can help us
Learn how God words can help us become fearless and brave
There are quizzes and questions throughout the book.
When Lynn was in the third grade, someone gave her a little gold book that read "Five Year Diary" on the outside. If she could remember who gave her, her first diary she would thank them.
At the end of each mini Chapter is a courageous call, is a prayer, "In Jesus' name, Amen."
Have you already asked God to make you a part of his family? If you haven't yet, you can simply ask God to make you His child and you, too, will belong.
There was a man in the Bible named Nicodemus, who felt a little confused. He heard about Jesus and saw miracles Jesus was doing, but he didn't really understand who Jesus was. He decided to go directly to Jesus and ask Him to explain.
Nicodemus was a leader in the church, but that didn't mean he had all the answers. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night, with questions and that was a brave approach.
The first thing Nicodemus wanted to know was who Jesus was.
Now Nicodemus was even more confused than when he came. He asked Jesus, "How can a man be born again when he is already old? He cannot get inside his mother's body again!"
Jesus explained to Nicodemus he could choose to become a part of God's family.
Jesus shared that when God's son, Jesus, came to earth, He made it possible for all of Nicodemus's sins to be forgiven. Then he could become a part of God's family and join God in heaven one day.
The price of our sins has already been paid (John 3:16). Jesus did that for you and me! It's a gift He gave us because He loves us so much.
When a family decides to adopt a child, they make that choice because they have a lot of love in their hearts and they want to share that love.
The Bible explains it this way: "God decided in advance, before we were born, to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
One of the promises that God made to us is that He will never leave us or forsake us.
As our father, God promises to take care of our needs. (Matthew 6:32) God already knows the things we need and He will take care of those needs.
God gives every person, including you, the ability to make a choice. You can decide whether or not you obey Him and experience His blessings. This decision is completely yours whether you are going to be a part of God's family or not.
I'm a part of God's family and I want you to be a part of it too.
Lynn shared when she would read her diary, it was fun reading about when she was younger.
Maybe when she talked about her struggles you would think, "Me too!" Your personality, body, even your family isn't the same as others so sometimes you have a hard time liking yourself just the way you are.
When God created you, He made you great from the very beginning.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV), says "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
If you read through the Bible, you'll find lots of people who at one point or another felt unloved or rejected. Even Jesus was "looked down on and passed over." Isaiah 53:3 (MSG)
Remembering who we are in God's eyes help to heal the hurt that comes from meanness.
When Lynn was younger, she would often forget to do the chores her mom asked her to do. (Or was that really Lynn putting it off until she forgot on purpose?)
Lynn shares their has been times, that she felt like God has forgotten her.
You, too, know what it is like to feel like you haven't been remembered; left behind and left out.
God will never forget you!
When Lynn was younger she didn't mind being sick. When she was sick it meant she was able to stay at home from school with her Mom. All day long, her mom would bring her food and drinks to help her feel better.
In Matthew 14, we can read a story about Jesus meeting a lot of sick people. Jesus cousin, John the Baptist had just died. He wanted to be alone, but His boat landed, where there were many people, thousands of people, waiting for Him. They had heard He could heal their illnesses. Instead of wishing they would go away, verse 14 tells us, "... he had compassion on them and healed their sick."
After Jesus healed them, they didn't go away. His disciples told Jesus, "Send these people away so they can go and buy food for themselves." Jesus didn't want them to be sent away. Instead, He told the disciples to figure out a way to feed them; all 5,000 of them. All they found were five loaves and two fish. Jesus took what they had and miraculously fed everyone.
Jesus wants to protect you as you keep your eyes on Him each and every day.
When Lynn was a young woman her daddy passed away.
One day when her dad was getting ready to die, she was staying with him at the hospital. It was her birthday and her heart was sad to know that she was saying goo-bye to her dad. When she was going home from the hospital, she heard a song on the radio that talked about being completely healed and the way that healing came was by going to heaven and getting a new body.
Her daddy was dying, but her heart felt peaceful.
Just because you are young, doesn't mean you don't experience hard things in life. Parents divorce, love ones die, moves take us from our friends, and people do hurtful things. God is your refuge, strength, and help in trouble.
One day during fourth grade, Lynn's friend Liz asked her to come over after school. Lynn's mom had a rule that she couldn't go to anyone's house if there wasn't a parent there. Both of Liz's parents worked away from the home during the day. Lynn's mom had told her to never mess around with cigarettes.
Why didn't she listen to her mom's wise advice?
She didn't listen because she wanted Liz to like her.
At some point, you could find yourself in a situation similar to Liz. It might involve a TV show, a computer, a movie, a video, a friend, or a boy. There will be pressure, just like King Neb put pressure on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to bow down to his statue in Daniel 3.
The girl who is brave finds God's best; His plans for good for her life. The girl who runs with the "in" crowd all too often will miss it.
In fact, some friends might completely turn off the road of choosing what is right. You may have fewer friends or for a time, you may feel alone.
The tests of our character - the tests that we are taking and passing to become a brave beauty - can be the same way.
Passing tests isn't a school thing, it's a life thing.
At eight years old, Justine wasn't exactly sure what cancer was. But she did know her parents told her that her brother, who was only eighteen months old, had this thing called cancer.
Justine may not have understood how serious this illness was, but she did understand one thing: her family needed God to heal her brother.
God answered their prayers; God did heal her brother. Yes, God performed miracles in the Bible and He still performs miracles today!
In fact, Jesus says that if we only have faith the size of a tiny seed, nothing will be impossible for us.
Small people can see God do big things. Justine did!
There was a woman in the Bible who had an illness that was worst than Lynn's little cold. Her story is told in Mark 5:25-34 (NIV). This woman had been bleeding for twelve years. "She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse." (verse 26)
"When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If she touch his clothes, she would be healed." (verses 27-28) Immediately, Jesus' power went out of Him and into her. Her bleeding quit and her suffering stopped.
The woman had shown great bravery when she made her way through the crowd and touched Jesus' clothing. She had shown confidence in God, believing she would be healed.
The woman extended her faith when she reached out her arm. God met her; her prayers were answered.
As Lynn read her journals, she saw how God answered her prayers.
Ephesians 3:20 (MSG) Whatever big thing you can dream, God can do bigger.
Too often social media is all about making us feel good and important. We were made for one reason: to point others to the way, the truth, and the life: Jesus.
You need to be brave: brave enough to believe God has a big purpose for you.
Ella had broken one of her family's technology rules, watching a video she knew was wrong. Being ten was hard sometimes.
Ella couldn't sleep at night and her stomach had been hurting for days.
She went to her mom, sobbing, and confessed what she had done wrong.
Ella's mom hugged her and thanked her for being honest. She told Ella how brave she was to come and tell the truth. That didn't mean that honesty was a guarantee there would be no consequences or punishment for her actions.
The most important truth we need to know is that Jesus died to forgive us for our sins.
Lynn found a story in the Bible that doesn't get told much, probably because the names are so hard to pronounce.
Take a few minutes and read Exodus 1:15-17.
The women in this passage, Shiphrah and Puah, unlike Lynn, had every reason to be terrified. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt was ruthless. These two women were trained midwives - they were trained to help women through childbirth. Pharaoh was trying to get rid of the Israelite people. Pharaoh's plan was to command the women to destroy the little boys when they were born.
These women didn't care who was making the command. They feared God and did not do what the King of Egypt told them to do. They let every baby live; girl or boy.
Exodus 1:17 says the women "feared God." What the women felt toward God was respect and awe because of His power and holiness.
Shiphrah and Puah chose to obey God over fearing Pharaoh.
The author, Lynn Cowell is a part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries, speaking and writing to women of all ages. Lynn and her husband Greg have been married over 30 years and are parents of Zach, Mariah, and Madi.
Lynn Cowell discovered that writing helped her figure out herself. That's why she wrote this book; she wanted to take her readers on a journey to becoming a brave and fearless you!
This book has 100 mini chapters and it would be a good teaching book for girls.
We will see:
who God says you are
Look at people in the Bible and see how they handled hard things
Get to know more about God and how He can help us
Learn how God words can help us become fearless and brave
There are quizzes and questions throughout the book.
When Lynn was in the third grade, someone gave her a little gold book that read "Five Year Diary" on the outside. If she could remember who gave her, her first diary she would thank them.
At the end of each mini Chapter is a courageous call, is a prayer, "In Jesus' name, Amen."
Have you already asked God to make you a part of his family? If you haven't yet, you can simply ask God to make you His child and you, too, will belong.
There was a man in the Bible named Nicodemus, who felt a little confused. He heard about Jesus and saw miracles Jesus was doing, but he didn't really understand who Jesus was. He decided to go directly to Jesus and ask Him to explain.
Nicodemus was a leader in the church, but that didn't mean he had all the answers. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night, with questions and that was a brave approach.
The first thing Nicodemus wanted to know was who Jesus was.
Now Nicodemus was even more confused than when he came. He asked Jesus, "How can a man be born again when he is already old? He cannot get inside his mother's body again!"
Jesus explained to Nicodemus he could choose to become a part of God's family.
Jesus shared that when God's son, Jesus, came to earth, He made it possible for all of Nicodemus's sins to be forgiven. Then he could become a part of God's family and join God in heaven one day.
The price of our sins has already been paid (John 3:16). Jesus did that for you and me! It's a gift He gave us because He loves us so much.
When a family decides to adopt a child, they make that choice because they have a lot of love in their hearts and they want to share that love.
The Bible explains it this way: "God decided in advance, before we were born, to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
One of the promises that God made to us is that He will never leave us or forsake us.
As our father, God promises to take care of our needs. (Matthew 6:32) God already knows the things we need and He will take care of those needs.
God gives every person, including you, the ability to make a choice. You can decide whether or not you obey Him and experience His blessings. This decision is completely yours whether you are going to be a part of God's family or not.
I'm a part of God's family and I want you to be a part of it too.
Lynn shared when she would read her diary, it was fun reading about when she was younger.
Maybe when she talked about her struggles you would think, "Me too!" Your personality, body, even your family isn't the same as others so sometimes you have a hard time liking yourself just the way you are.
When God created you, He made you great from the very beginning.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV), says "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
If you read through the Bible, you'll find lots of people who at one point or another felt unloved or rejected. Even Jesus was "looked down on and passed over." Isaiah 53:3 (MSG)
Remembering who we are in God's eyes help to heal the hurt that comes from meanness.
When Lynn was younger, she would often forget to do the chores her mom asked her to do. (Or was that really Lynn putting it off until she forgot on purpose?)
Lynn shares their has been times, that she felt like God has forgotten her.
You, too, know what it is like to feel like you haven't been remembered; left behind and left out.
God will never forget you!
When Lynn was younger she didn't mind being sick. When she was sick it meant she was able to stay at home from school with her Mom. All day long, her mom would bring her food and drinks to help her feel better.
In Matthew 14, we can read a story about Jesus meeting a lot of sick people. Jesus cousin, John the Baptist had just died. He wanted to be alone, but His boat landed, where there were many people, thousands of people, waiting for Him. They had heard He could heal their illnesses. Instead of wishing they would go away, verse 14 tells us, "... he had compassion on them and healed their sick."
After Jesus healed them, they didn't go away. His disciples told Jesus, "Send these people away so they can go and buy food for themselves." Jesus didn't want them to be sent away. Instead, He told the disciples to figure out a way to feed them; all 5,000 of them. All they found were five loaves and two fish. Jesus took what they had and miraculously fed everyone.
Jesus wants to protect you as you keep your eyes on Him each and every day.
When Lynn was a young woman her daddy passed away.
One day when her dad was getting ready to die, she was staying with him at the hospital. It was her birthday and her heart was sad to know that she was saying goo-bye to her dad. When she was going home from the hospital, she heard a song on the radio that talked about being completely healed and the way that healing came was by going to heaven and getting a new body.
Her daddy was dying, but her heart felt peaceful.
Just because you are young, doesn't mean you don't experience hard things in life. Parents divorce, love ones die, moves take us from our friends, and people do hurtful things. God is your refuge, strength, and help in trouble.
One day during fourth grade, Lynn's friend Liz asked her to come over after school. Lynn's mom had a rule that she couldn't go to anyone's house if there wasn't a parent there. Both of Liz's parents worked away from the home during the day. Lynn's mom had told her to never mess around with cigarettes.
Why didn't she listen to her mom's wise advice?
She didn't listen because she wanted Liz to like her.
At some point, you could find yourself in a situation similar to Liz. It might involve a TV show, a computer, a movie, a video, a friend, or a boy. There will be pressure, just like King Neb put pressure on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to bow down to his statue in Daniel 3.
The girl who is brave finds God's best; His plans for good for her life. The girl who runs with the "in" crowd all too often will miss it.
In fact, some friends might completely turn off the road of choosing what is right. You may have fewer friends or for a time, you may feel alone.
The tests of our character - the tests that we are taking and passing to become a brave beauty - can be the same way.
Passing tests isn't a school thing, it's a life thing.
At eight years old, Justine wasn't exactly sure what cancer was. But she did know her parents told her that her brother, who was only eighteen months old, had this thing called cancer.
Justine may not have understood how serious this illness was, but she did understand one thing: her family needed God to heal her brother.
God answered their prayers; God did heal her brother. Yes, God performed miracles in the Bible and He still performs miracles today!
In fact, Jesus says that if we only have faith the size of a tiny seed, nothing will be impossible for us.
Small people can see God do big things. Justine did!
There was a woman in the Bible who had an illness that was worst than Lynn's little cold. Her story is told in Mark 5:25-34 (NIV). This woman had been bleeding for twelve years. "She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse." (verse 26)
"When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If she touch his clothes, she would be healed." (verses 27-28) Immediately, Jesus' power went out of Him and into her. Her bleeding quit and her suffering stopped.
The woman had shown great bravery when she made her way through the crowd and touched Jesus' clothing. She had shown confidence in God, believing she would be healed.
The woman extended her faith when she reached out her arm. God met her; her prayers were answered.
As Lynn read her journals, she saw how God answered her prayers.
Ephesians 3:20 (MSG) Whatever big thing you can dream, God can do bigger.
Too often social media is all about making us feel good and important. We were made for one reason: to point others to the way, the truth, and the life: Jesus.
You need to be brave: brave enough to believe God has a big purpose for you.
Ella had broken one of her family's technology rules, watching a video she knew was wrong. Being ten was hard sometimes.
Ella couldn't sleep at night and her stomach had been hurting for days.
She went to her mom, sobbing, and confessed what she had done wrong.
Ella's mom hugged her and thanked her for being honest. She told Ella how brave she was to come and tell the truth. That didn't mean that honesty was a guarantee there would be no consequences or punishment for her actions.
The most important truth we need to know is that Jesus died to forgive us for our sins.
Lynn found a story in the Bible that doesn't get told much, probably because the names are so hard to pronounce.
Take a few minutes and read Exodus 1:15-17.
The women in this passage, Shiphrah and Puah, unlike Lynn, had every reason to be terrified. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt was ruthless. These two women were trained midwives - they were trained to help women through childbirth. Pharaoh was trying to get rid of the Israelite people. Pharaoh's plan was to command the women to destroy the little boys when they were born.
These women didn't care who was making the command. They feared God and did not do what the King of Egypt told them to do. They let every baby live; girl or boy.
Exodus 1:17 says the women "feared God." What the women felt toward God was respect and awe because of His power and holiness.
Shiphrah and Puah chose to obey God over fearing Pharaoh.
The author, Lynn Cowell is a part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries, speaking and writing to women of all ages. Lynn and her husband Greg have been married over 30 years and are parents of Zach, Mariah, and Madi.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
The Lord's Words Become Actions ... Psalm 33:1-9
Because David was an accomplished harpist, he frequently spoke about musical instruments throughout his Psalms. He undoubtedly composed music for many of the Psalms, and he commissioned music for Temple Worship.
A Person's words are measured by the quality of his or her character. If you trust what God says, it is because you trust him to be the God he claims to be. If you doubt his words, you doubt the integrity of God himself. If you believe God is truly God, then believe what he says!
All God's words are true and trustworthy. The Bible is reliable because, unlike people, God does not lie, forget, change his words, or leave promises unfulfilled. We can trust the Bible because, it contains the words of a holy, trustworthy and unchangeable God.
This is a poetic summary of the first chapter of Genesis. He is the Lord of creation, the almighty God. Because he is all powerful, we should reverence him in all we do.
Reference summary used from The Message Bible and The Life Application Bible, KJV, Tyndale Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL
A Person's words are measured by the quality of his or her character. If you trust what God says, it is because you trust him to be the God he claims to be. If you doubt his words, you doubt the integrity of God himself. If you believe God is truly God, then believe what he says!
All God's words are true and trustworthy. The Bible is reliable because, unlike people, God does not lie, forget, change his words, or leave promises unfulfilled. We can trust the Bible because, it contains the words of a holy, trustworthy and unchangeable God.
This is a poetic summary of the first chapter of Genesis. He is the Lord of creation, the almighty God. Because he is all powerful, we should reverence him in all we do.
Reference summary used from The Message Bible and The Life Application Bible, KJV, Tyndale Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Sunday - Called to Preach - Acts 9:10 - 20 - 8/20/17
(Jesus Calls Saul/Shaul/Paul on Damascus Road - Saturday - 8/19/17)
Paul was an outstanding missionary, theologian, and writer of the early church.
Paul was born in a Jewish family in Tarsus. Paul's family was of the tribe of Benjamin. Paul probably came from a family of tentmakers or leatherworkers and, according to Jewish custom, was taught this trade by his father. Apparently the business thrived and Paul's family became moderately wealthy.
The true way of the Lord was one of the earliest names for Christianity. The glory of God (or Christ) is often described as the light. The street called Straight, which runs through Damascus from east to west. Saul, like the prophets, was chosen for a special purpose.
Saul's conversion marks a turning-point in the history of the early church. The encounter with Christ was followed by three sightless days: Saul was identified with Jesus in his death and three days in the grave, and identified with him too in baptism and newness of life.
The Way was the name given to the church before the people of Antioch invented the new name 'Christian.'
Damascus, a key commercial city, was located about 175 miles northeast of Jerusalem in the Roman province of Syria.
As Paul traveled to Damascus, pursuing Christians, he was confronted by the risen Christ and brought face to face with the truth of the Gospel.
Paul refers to this experience as the start of his new life of in Christ. At the center of this wonderful life was Jesus Christ - Paul did not see a vision, he saw the risen Christ himself (Acts 9:17).
Anyone who persecutes believers today is also guilty of persecuting Jesus because believers are the body of Christ on earth.
Paul opened his eyes - but could not see - he was temporarily blinded.
Ananias was sent by God to Paul. He greeted Paul as "Brother Saul." Ananias feared this meeting because Paul had come to Damascus to persecute believers and take them in chains to Jerusalem. But in obedience to the Holy Spirit, he greeted Paul lovingly.
Immediately after receiving his sight and being with the believers in Damascus, Paul went to the synagogue to tell the Jews about Jesus Christ. Paul took time alone to learn about Jesus before beginning his worldwide ministry, but he did not wait to witness. Although we should not rush into a ministry unprepared, we do need to wait before telling others what has happened to us.
Reference summary used from The New Oxford Annotated Bible with The Apocrypha RSV; The Life Application Bible, KJV, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL; and The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Paul was an outstanding missionary, theologian, and writer of the early church.
Paul was born in a Jewish family in Tarsus. Paul's family was of the tribe of Benjamin. Paul probably came from a family of tentmakers or leatherworkers and, according to Jewish custom, was taught this trade by his father. Apparently the business thrived and Paul's family became moderately wealthy.
The true way of the Lord was one of the earliest names for Christianity. The glory of God (or Christ) is often described as the light. The street called Straight, which runs through Damascus from east to west. Saul, like the prophets, was chosen for a special purpose.
Saul's conversion marks a turning-point in the history of the early church. The encounter with Christ was followed by three sightless days: Saul was identified with Jesus in his death and three days in the grave, and identified with him too in baptism and newness of life.
The Way was the name given to the church before the people of Antioch invented the new name 'Christian.'
Damascus, a key commercial city, was located about 175 miles northeast of Jerusalem in the Roman province of Syria.
As Paul traveled to Damascus, pursuing Christians, he was confronted by the risen Christ and brought face to face with the truth of the Gospel.
Paul refers to this experience as the start of his new life of in Christ. At the center of this wonderful life was Jesus Christ - Paul did not see a vision, he saw the risen Christ himself (Acts 9:17).
Anyone who persecutes believers today is also guilty of persecuting Jesus because believers are the body of Christ on earth.
Paul opened his eyes - but could not see - he was temporarily blinded.
Ananias was sent by God to Paul. He greeted Paul as "Brother Saul." Ananias feared this meeting because Paul had come to Damascus to persecute believers and take them in chains to Jerusalem. But in obedience to the Holy Spirit, he greeted Paul lovingly.
Immediately after receiving his sight and being with the believers in Damascus, Paul went to the synagogue to tell the Jews about Jesus Christ. Paul took time alone to learn about Jesus before beginning his worldwide ministry, but he did not wait to witness. Although we should not rush into a ministry unprepared, we do need to wait before telling others what has happened to us.
Reference summary used from The New Oxford Annotated Bible with The Apocrypha RSV; The Life Application Bible, KJV, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL; and The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Monday, August 7, 2017
Sunday - Called To Witness - Acts 6:1-7 - 8/6/17
When we read the descriptions of the early church - the miracles, the sharing and generosity - we may wish we could have been a part of this "perfect" church. No church has ever been or will ever be perfect until Christ and his followers are united at his Second Coming. All churches have problems. Do what you can to make your church better.
The twelve are the original disciples and Matthias, who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:26).
As the early church increased in size, so did their needs. One was to organize the distribution of food to the poor. Each person has a necessary part to play in the life of the church (1 Corinthians 12). If you are not in leadership, you have gifts that can be used by God in various areas of the church's mission. Offer these gifts in service to him.
This administrative task was not to be taken lightly. Notice the requirements for the men who were to handle the feeding program: (1) good, with reputations for being honest, (2) full of the Holy Spirit, and (3) wise. We must look for honest, spiritually mature, d wise men and women to lead our churches.
Pastors should never try, or be expected, to do everything. Instead, the work of the church should be spread out among its members.
Spiritual leadership is serious business and must not be taken lightly by the church or the leaders. In the early church, the chosen men were commissioned (set apart by prayer and laying on of hands) by the apostles.
1 Timothy 4:14 (Instructions for elders. Paul gives guidelines for teaching). Timothy was a young pastor. Timothy's commission as a church leader was confirmed by prophecy (1 Timothy 1:18) and by laying on of hands by the elders of the church.
1 Timothy 3:10-13 ... Deacons means "one who serves." This position was begun by the apostles in the Jerusalem church (Acts 6:1-6) to care for the physical needs of the congregation, especially the needs of the Greek-speaking widows. Deacons were leaders in the church and their qualifications resemble those of the elders (bishops) in some churches today. Paul says men are to be tested with lesser responsibilities before being made deacons.
Some have translated wives as "women helpers" or "deaconesses." Paul expects the behavior of prominent women in the church to be just as responsible and blameless as that of prominent men. Phebe, the deaconess was mentioned in Romans !6:1.
Jesus had told the apostles that they were to witness first in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). In a short time, their message had infiltrated the entire city and all levels of society.
Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible, KJV; Tyndale Publishers, Inc.,; Wheaton, IL
The twelve are the original disciples and Matthias, who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:26).
As the early church increased in size, so did their needs. One was to organize the distribution of food to the poor. Each person has a necessary part to play in the life of the church (1 Corinthians 12). If you are not in leadership, you have gifts that can be used by God in various areas of the church's mission. Offer these gifts in service to him.
This administrative task was not to be taken lightly. Notice the requirements for the men who were to handle the feeding program: (1) good, with reputations for being honest, (2) full of the Holy Spirit, and (3) wise. We must look for honest, spiritually mature, d wise men and women to lead our churches.
Pastors should never try, or be expected, to do everything. Instead, the work of the church should be spread out among its members.
Spiritual leadership is serious business and must not be taken lightly by the church or the leaders. In the early church, the chosen men were commissioned (set apart by prayer and laying on of hands) by the apostles.
1 Timothy 4:14 (Instructions for elders. Paul gives guidelines for teaching). Timothy was a young pastor. Timothy's commission as a church leader was confirmed by prophecy (1 Timothy 1:18) and by laying on of hands by the elders of the church.
1 Timothy 3:10-13 ... Deacons means "one who serves." This position was begun by the apostles in the Jerusalem church (Acts 6:1-6) to care for the physical needs of the congregation, especially the needs of the Greek-speaking widows. Deacons were leaders in the church and their qualifications resemble those of the elders (bishops) in some churches today. Paul says men are to be tested with lesser responsibilities before being made deacons.
Some have translated wives as "women helpers" or "deaconesses." Paul expects the behavior of prominent women in the church to be just as responsible and blameless as that of prominent men. Phebe, the deaconess was mentioned in Romans !6:1.
Jesus had told the apostles that they were to witness first in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). In a short time, their message had infiltrated the entire city and all levels of society.
Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible, KJV; Tyndale Publishers, Inc.,; Wheaton, IL
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Tuesday - The Lord is God Alone - Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - 2/14/17
Monotheism - believing only one God - was a distinctive feature of Hebrew religion. Many ancient religions believed in many gods. But the God of Abraham, Issac, & Jacob is the God of the whole earth, the only true God. This was an important insight for the nation of Israel, because they were about to enter the promise land filled with people who believed in many gods. Both then & today, there are people who prefer to place their trust in many different "gods." But the day is coming when God will be recognized as the only one. He will be King over all the earth.
We are to love God, think constantly about his commandments, teach his commandments to our children, & live our daily lives by the guidelines in his Word. God emphasized the importance of parents teaching the Bible to their children. The church & Christian schools cannot be used to escape from the responsibility. Eternal truths are most effectively learned in the loving environment of a God-fearing home.
Jesus said that loving God with all your heart, soul, & mind is the first & greatest commandment. This command, combined with the command to love your neighbor, on compass all the other Old Testament laws.
The Hebrews were extremely successful at making religion an integral part of life. The reason for their success was that religious education was life-oriented, not information-oriented. They used the context of daily life to teach about God. The key to teaching your children to love God is stated simply & clearly in these verses. If you want your children to follow God, you must make God a part of your everyday life. You must teach your children to see God in all aspects of life, not just those that are church related.
Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible KJV, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
We are to love God, think constantly about his commandments, teach his commandments to our children, & live our daily lives by the guidelines in his Word. God emphasized the importance of parents teaching the Bible to their children. The church & Christian schools cannot be used to escape from the responsibility. Eternal truths are most effectively learned in the loving environment of a God-fearing home.
Jesus said that loving God with all your heart, soul, & mind is the first & greatest commandment. This command, combined with the command to love your neighbor, on compass all the other Old Testament laws.
The Hebrews were extremely successful at making religion an integral part of life. The reason for their success was that religious education was life-oriented, not information-oriented. They used the context of daily life to teach about God. The key to teaching your children to love God is stated simply & clearly in these verses. If you want your children to follow God, you must make God a part of your everyday life. You must teach your children to see God in all aspects of life, not just those that are church related.
Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible KJV, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Proverbs/Mishle 22:3 ... Pray . Plan: Review Excerpt
Sharing from a book I reviewed in 2007.
If you or your child/children need counseling seek a professional or the angel(Leader/Christian Leader) of your local Church.
Proverbs/Mishle 22:3 ... A prudent man sees danger & takes refuge, but the simple keep going & suffer for it.
Emergencies come in all different forms, including natural disasters & terrorist attacks. We've all seen the total destruction & devastation of both in recent years. This book 'What's in the Bible for Women' says that we need to prepare for & respond to potential emergencies.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
'What's in the Bible for Women' shares about The U.S. Department of Homeland Security: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security advises that we should have some basic supplies on hand in order to survive for at least 3 days if an emergency occurs. This book encourages to make this a high priority for families before disaster before it strikes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book 'What;s in the Bible for Women' from Bethany Publishing for review.
Georgia Ling Curtis & Dr. Larry Richards are the author & general editor.
Georgia is a bestselling author & well-liked speaker who touches the heart & tickles the funny bone as she writes about faith, love & life. She graduated from Kentucky Christian University in Bible in 1979. She & her husband, Phil, have one son & live in a log cabin in Kentucky.
Dr. Richards was converted in the Navy in the 1950's. He has taught & written Sunday School curriculum for every age group. He has published more than two hundred books, & his books have been translated into some twenty-six languages. He is a native of Michigan & lives in North Carolina. His wife, Sue, is also an author.
If you or your child/children need counseling seek a professional or the angel(Leader/Christian Leader) of your local Church.
Proverbs/Mishle 22:3 ... A prudent man sees danger & takes refuge, but the simple keep going & suffer for it.
Emergencies come in all different forms, including natural disasters & terrorist attacks. We've all seen the total destruction & devastation of both in recent years. This book 'What's in the Bible for Women' says that we need to prepare for & respond to potential emergencies.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
'What's in the Bible for Women' shares about The U.S. Department of Homeland Security: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security advises that we should have some basic supplies on hand in order to survive for at least 3 days if an emergency occurs. This book encourages to make this a high priority for families before disaster before it strikes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book 'What;s in the Bible for Women' from Bethany Publishing for review.
Georgia Ling Curtis & Dr. Larry Richards are the author & general editor.
Georgia is a bestselling author & well-liked speaker who touches the heart & tickles the funny bone as she writes about faith, love & life. She graduated from Kentucky Christian University in Bible in 1979. She & her husband, Phil, have one son & live in a log cabin in Kentucky.
Dr. Richards was converted in the Navy in the 1950's. He has taught & written Sunday School curriculum for every age group. He has published more than two hundred books, & his books have been translated into some twenty-six languages. He is a native of Michigan & lives in North Carolina. His wife, Sue, is also an author.
Monday, February 3, 2014
DaVinci Code Breaker: Book Review 2007
DaVinic Code Breaker: Book Review - 2007
I reviewed this book February 14, 2007.
I personally recommend each Bible Student to have the following books in their library: Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words by W. E. Vine, The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D. and The New Compact Bible Dictionary by Zondervan Publishing House.
A.D. - Abbreviation for the Latin Anno Domini.
Adonai - The Jews used Adonai as a substitute for God's name, which they fervently believed should be reverened by not being spoken aloud.
apostle - From Greek apostolos, meaning "commissioned one" or "the one sent." The orginal twelve (Matthew 10:2 - 4; Mark 3:16 - 19; Luke 6:12 - 16).
After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, Matthias replaced him as the twelfth apostle (Acts 1: 21-26). Paul of Tarsus, once known as Saul, later became an apostle through special commission from Jesus (I Cor. 15:9 - 10; Gal. 1:1).
Aramaic - was one of the languages Jesus spoke (Mark 5:41).
B.C. - Abbreviation for "Before Christ" - a calendar designation intended to represent the years before the birth of Jesus.
Bible - There are sixty-six books, writing that provide believers with an awe-inspiring record of God's nature and character. The Bible has withstood the most overwhelming scrutiny. The Old Testament authors allude to a new "covenant" (agreement or contract) that was later revealed through Jesus Christ (Jer. 31:31- 34); the New Testament confirms the full authenticity and dependability of the Old (John 10:35; 2 Tim. 3:14-16) and asserts its own authority (I Tim 5:18 - Luke 10:7 as Scripture; see also 2 Peter 3:15 - 16).
Christ - From Greek Christos, "anointed one."
Cross - The New Testament accounts say that Jesus was crucified on a stauros (Greek: "cross" or execution stake).
disciple - English translation of the Greek mathetes, "learner" or "follower." Jesus defined a disciple's calling in this way: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).
Elohim - Hebrew title for God. Plural.
Eve - First female in creation (Gen. 1 - 3); "the mother of all living."
Jehovah - Because they viewed YHWH, God's personal name, as too holy to be spoken, the Jewish people substitued Adonai ("Lord") for it, even using the vowels from Adonai when writing YHWH.
Jesus as Son of God - Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is "the Son of God" (Matthew 4:3 - 6; 14:33; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 4:41; 22:70; John 1:34; 20:31), referring to Jesus divine origin and messianic identity (Luke 1:35).
The Last Supper - The Passover Meal that Jesus shared with his disciples prior to his arrest and crucifixion (Mark 14:12 - 25, Matthew 26:17 - 29, and Luke 22: 7 - 23).
The second description of the Passover Meal is found in John's gospel (13:21 - 30).
Mary, Mother of Jesus - The angel Gabriel refers to Mary as "highly favored" (Luke 1:29); she was present when Jesus was crucified (John 19:25), and she was with the disciples (Acts 1:14) after the ascension, following the resurrection.
Pentateuch - Refers to the Old Testament's first five books - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Likewise known as the Torah.
Sabbath - From Hebrew shabbot, "rest" seventh day of the week (Gen 2:1 - 3; Ex. 20:8 - 11). Christians worship on "the Lord's Day," referring to the week's first day, the day of the Lord's resurrection (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).
Torah - Hebrew "Instruction" or "Law," the first five books of the Old Testament. Also known as the Pentateuch.
YHWH - Hebrew; personal name of God; also known as the Tetragrammaton. Israel viewed this name as too holy, to be spoken, so when reading the Scriptures, they substituted Adonai for YHWH.
If Jesus is not divine, then he could not have paid for our sins and our faith is in vain.... D. James Kennedy, Ph D., Senior Minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
The Authors:
Dr. Jim Garlow, has Master's degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary and a PhD in historical theology from Drew University.
Timothy Paul Jones, has a doctorate in educational leadership from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
April Williams, holds a Master's in theological studies from the Divinity School of Duke University. She is currently working on her PhD in early modern European history at the University of Mississippi.
I reviewed this book February 14, 2007.
I personally recommend each Bible Student to have the following books in their library: Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words by W. E. Vine, The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D. and The New Compact Bible Dictionary by Zondervan Publishing House.
A.D. - Abbreviation for the Latin Anno Domini.
Adonai - The Jews used Adonai as a substitute for God's name, which they fervently believed should be reverened by not being spoken aloud.
apostle - From Greek apostolos, meaning "commissioned one" or "the one sent." The orginal twelve (Matthew 10:2 - 4; Mark 3:16 - 19; Luke 6:12 - 16).
After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, Matthias replaced him as the twelfth apostle (Acts 1: 21-26). Paul of Tarsus, once known as Saul, later became an apostle through special commission from Jesus (I Cor. 15:9 - 10; Gal. 1:1).
Aramaic - was one of the languages Jesus spoke (Mark 5:41).
B.C. - Abbreviation for "Before Christ" - a calendar designation intended to represent the years before the birth of Jesus.
Bible - There are sixty-six books, writing that provide believers with an awe-inspiring record of God's nature and character. The Bible has withstood the most overwhelming scrutiny. The Old Testament authors allude to a new "covenant" (agreement or contract) that was later revealed through Jesus Christ (Jer. 31:31- 34); the New Testament confirms the full authenticity and dependability of the Old (John 10:35; 2 Tim. 3:14-16) and asserts its own authority (I Tim 5:18 - Luke 10:7 as Scripture; see also 2 Peter 3:15 - 16).
Christ - From Greek Christos, "anointed one."
Cross - The New Testament accounts say that Jesus was crucified on a stauros (Greek: "cross" or execution stake).
disciple - English translation of the Greek mathetes, "learner" or "follower." Jesus defined a disciple's calling in this way: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).
Elohim - Hebrew title for God. Plural.
Eve - First female in creation (Gen. 1 - 3); "the mother of all living."
Jehovah - Because they viewed YHWH, God's personal name, as too holy to be spoken, the Jewish people substitued Adonai ("Lord") for it, even using the vowels from Adonai when writing YHWH.
Jesus as Son of God - Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is "the Son of God" (Matthew 4:3 - 6; 14:33; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 4:41; 22:70; John 1:34; 20:31), referring to Jesus divine origin and messianic identity (Luke 1:35).
The Last Supper - The Passover Meal that Jesus shared with his disciples prior to his arrest and crucifixion (Mark 14:12 - 25, Matthew 26:17 - 29, and Luke 22: 7 - 23).
The second description of the Passover Meal is found in John's gospel (13:21 - 30).
Mary, Mother of Jesus - The angel Gabriel refers to Mary as "highly favored" (Luke 1:29); she was present when Jesus was crucified (John 19:25), and she was with the disciples (Acts 1:14) after the ascension, following the resurrection.
Pentateuch - Refers to the Old Testament's first five books - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Likewise known as the Torah.
Sabbath - From Hebrew shabbot, "rest" seventh day of the week (Gen 2:1 - 3; Ex. 20:8 - 11). Christians worship on "the Lord's Day," referring to the week's first day, the day of the Lord's resurrection (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).
Torah - Hebrew "Instruction" or "Law," the first five books of the Old Testament. Also known as the Pentateuch.
YHWH - Hebrew; personal name of God; also known as the Tetragrammaton. Israel viewed this name as too holy, to be spoken, so when reading the Scriptures, they substituted Adonai for YHWH.
If Jesus is not divine, then he could not have paid for our sins and our faith is in vain.... D. James Kennedy, Ph D., Senior Minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
The Authors:
Dr. Jim Garlow, has Master's degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary and a PhD in historical theology from Drew University.
Timothy Paul Jones, has a doctorate in educational leadership from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
April Williams, holds a Master's in theological studies from the Divinity School of Duke University. She is currently working on her PhD in early modern European history at the University of Mississippi.
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