June 5 2016 Living What You Believe

The Apostle's Creed: "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."

  • Wasn't written by the apostles
  • Is not Scripture
  • Was used to distinguish orthodoxy from heresy

FOUR QUESTIONS OF BELIEF

1. ASK: WHAT DO I BELIEVE?

"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups." — 2 Corinthians 13:5

2. ASK: ON WHAT ARE MY BELIEFS BASED ?

"An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies." - Proverbs 15:14

"Truth stands the test of time; lies are here today, gone tomorrow." - Proverbs 12:19

3. ASK: DOES MY BEHAVIOR MATCH MY BELIEFS?

Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. - James 2:17

4. ASK: HOW WILL I LIVE OUT WHAT I BELIEVE ?

"Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong." - 1 Corinthians 16:13

"Fool! When will you ever learn that 'believing' is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith." - James 2:20

My Beliefs Determine:

  • MY BEHAVIOR

(James 4:17; Psalm 119:59)_

  • MY SIGNIFICANCE

(Genesis 1:27; John 10:10; John 8:31-32; Mark 6:34)

  • MY ETERNITY

(John 5:24; John 3:16-17)

"For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

December 29 2013 Mistakes To Avoid In 2014

Mistakes To Avoid In 2014

"Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow." Joshua 7:13 (NIV)

FOOLISH MISTAKES TO AVOID

1. USELESS WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE

Matthew 6:27 (NIV)"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Matthew 6:30b-33 (NCV)"... Don't have so little faith! Don't worry and say, `What will we eat... or drink...or wear?' The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you."

Matthew 6:3 (LB)"So don't be anxious about tomorrow -- God will take care of your tomorrow, too. Live one day at a time."

THE WISE WAY: TRUST GOD

2. ARROGANT ASSUMING.

Proverbs 27:1 (NIV)"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Isaiah 56:12"’Come,’ each one cries, ‘... Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even better!’"

James 4:14 & 16 (NIV)"Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil."

Proverbs 22:3 (LB) "A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."

THE WISE WAY: PREPARE

3. FAULTY PLANNING.

James 4:13 (NIV)"Now listen, you who say, `Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.’"

Ecclesiastes 8:7 (NIV) "Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?"

James 4:15 (NIV) "Instead, you ought to say, IF it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

THE WISE WAY: PRAY AS YOU PLAN

Proverbs 16:1 (GN) "We may make our plans, but God has the last word."

Proverbs 16:9 (LB) "We should make plans – counting on God to direct us."

4. LAZY PROCRASTINATING.

James 4:17 (NIV) "Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins."

Proverbs 3:27-28 (NIV)"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, `Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow' -- when you now have it with you."

THE WISE WAY: DO IT NOW

1 John 2:3-4 (NIV)"We can be sure we know Christ if we obey His commands. The one who says `I know Him' but doesn't do what He commands is a liar."

2 Corinthians 6:2 (LB)"RIGHT NOW God is ready to welcome you. TODAY He is ready to save you!

June 23 2013 How To Face Your Future

HOW TO FACE YOUR FUTURE

THREE COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

MISTAKE #1:_______________________________

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.  " (James 4:13)

THE SOLUTION:____________________________

"Instead, you ought to say, 'IF it is the Lords will, we will live and do this or that.  " (James 4:15)

"We may make our plans, but God has the last word.  " Prov. 16: 1 (GN)

"We should make plans - counting on God to direct us.  " Prov. 16:9 (LB)

MISTAKE #2:________________________________

Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  As it is, you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil." (James 4:14,16)

Ps. 39:4-6; Ps. 102:3, 1 1; Job 4:7,9; Ps. 103:15

"Come, " each one cries, "... Let us drink our fill of beer!  And tomorrow will be like today, or even better!" Isaiah 56:12

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.      Prov. 27:1
 
THE SOLUTION:_____________________________

Memory Verse: "So don't be anxious about tomorrow - God will take care of your tomorrow, too.  Live one day at a time.  "     Matt. 6:34 (LB)

MISTAKE #3:_______________________________

"Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.” (James 4:17)

THE SOLUTION:_____________________________

"Do not with hold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.  Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow'- when you now have it with you.  " Prov. 3:27-29

Luke 12:16-20 -- A foolish man

"RIGHT NOW God is ready to welcome you.  TODAY He is ready to save you!" 2 Cor. 6:2 (LB)

September 2 2012 How To Face Your Future

HOW TO FACE YOUR FUTURE
James 4:13 -17

Everyone is interested in the future. James warns us about common mistakes we make regarding the future.

Three Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mistake #1 planning without God.
Vs. 13 - Now listen, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city; spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.

The Solution: Include God in your planning.
Vs. 15 - Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that.

Proverbs 16:1 - We may make our plans, but God has the last Word.

Proverbs 16:9 - We should make plans, counting on God to direct us.

2. Mistake #2 presuming about tomorrow
Vs. 14 & 16 - Why you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

Isaiah 56:12 - Come, each one cries, let us drink our fill of beers and tomorrow will be like today, or even better.

Proverbs 27:1 - Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

The Solution: Live one day at a time.
Matthew 6:34 - So don’t be anxious about tomorrow, God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

3. Mistake #3 putting off doing good.
Vs 17 - Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

The Solution: You need to do it now.
Proverbs 3:27-28 - Do not with hold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “come back later, I’ll give it tomorrow” when you now have it with you.

2 Corinthians 6:2 - Right now God is ready to welcome your today. He is ready to save you!

Luke 12:16-20 - Parable of a Foolish Man.