dW 11.04.09

dW

 

 

Luke 15:3-7

Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

 

En Espanol, Lucas 15:3-7

 

 

I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.

John Keith Falconer

 

 

Part 1: Today in chapel, we had a man from MBMS come and speak to us about missions and what it means to live missionally.  Jesus tells us to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.  (Acts 1:8)  It is important to notice that from where Jesus ministered, these places begin where He was standing and then expanded further and further outward.  Jerusalem then can be thought of as your neighborhood or city, Judea as your state, Samaria as your nation, and the rest of the world as the rest of the world.  No location is exempt and none are to be neglected.

dW 11.03.09

dW

 

 

Genesis 1:26-28

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

 

En Espanol, Génesis 1:26-28

 

 

When God is ignored, so are those that He created in His image.

Q. Kinnison

dW 10.30.09

dW

 

 

John 3:28-30

(John the Baptizer is speaking) “You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

 

En Espanol

 

 

I don't want people to see me - I want them to see Jesus.
James Caviezel, actor that portrayed Jesus in the film The Passion of the Christ

 

 

John knew that he was the messenger, not the message.  It is important to avoid raising ourselves up or putting ourselves in a position to be raised up by others.  We are not the focus.  God is the Good News.  We are His servants and we are to operate in such a way that He receives all the glory. 

dW 10.29.09

dW

 

scripture

 

Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

 

En Espanol

 

thought

 

The moon has no light of its own.  It mirrors the light that the sun puts forth.  Christians are to be in the same way reflections of the Light of our Father.

 

 

dW 10.26.09

dW

 

scripture

 

Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

 

En Espanol, Efesios 6:11-12

 

quote

 

We stumble and fall constantly even when we are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not even know that we have fallen.
Thomas Merton

 

real life

 

Four or five weeks ago, our church began doing outreach in our apartment complex.  We have so far held an ice cream social and a pumpkin decorating contest.  Two weeks ago, I went out to the car and found a business card promoting “adult entertainment” services.  It upset me that this type of business has a place in our society, that it decided to promote itself our complex, and that the cards were completely accessible to children.  What is interesting about this situation is that this is the first time this has happened in all the time that my wife and I have lived there.  Certainly the good that we desire to do there is being resisted by the powers that be.

dW 10.23.09

dW

 

scripture

 

Acts 17:24-28

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'”

 

En Espanol, Hechos 17:24-28

 

quote

 

An idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.
Aiden Wilson Tozer

dW 10.22.09

dW

 

scripture

 

Mark 8:27-29

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

 

En Espanol, Marcos 8:27-29

 

quote

 

What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.

A.W. Tozer

dW 10.21.09

dW

 

scripture

 

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

En Espanol, 1 Pedro 5:7

 

story

 

The story is told of a poor man who plodded along toward home in an Irish town carrying a huge bag of potatoes.  A horse and wagon carrying a stranger came along, and the stranger stopped the wagon and invited the man on foot to climb inside.  This the poor man did, but when he sat down in the wagon he held the bag of potatoes in his arms.  And when it was suggested that he should set it down, he said very warmly:  “Sure, I don’t like to trouble you too much.  You’re giving me a ride.  I’ll carry the potatoes!”  Sometimes we think we are doing the Lord a favor when we carry the burden.  But the work is His, and the burden is His, and He asks us only to be faithful.

Isaac Page

dW 10.20.09

dW

 

scripture

 

I John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

 

En Espanol, 1 Juan 1:9

 

quote

 

Forgiveness is a funny thing, it warms the hearts and cools the sting.
Peter Allen

dW 10.19.09

dW

 

scripture

 

Romans 3:21-26

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

 

En Espanol, Romanos 3:21-26

 

thought

 

The Law and the Prophets testify of a different righteousness.  This righteousness does not require perfection.  It requires admittance of weakness and frailty.  This righteousness comes by faith in Jesus whose perfection meets and exceeds the Law, whereby making Him able to be the final sin sacrifice for the sins of humanity.