Sunday Reflections
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Apr 20 | Your Integrity and Your Influence |
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Written by Lynn Holmes
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"Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God..." - 1 Peter 2:12 (NLT)
Your Integrity and Your Influence
I Peter 2:11-25
HOW TO LIVE WITH INTEGRITY
1. Stay away from sinful desires.
"I urge you...to live in this world as `strangers' and `temporary residents' to keep clear of the desires of your lower nature, for they are always at war with your soul." - 1 Peter 2:11 (Ph)
"Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul." - 1 Peter 2:11 (MSG)
"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." - 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)
"It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who foolishly condemn the Gospel without knowing what it can do for them, having never experienced its power." - 1 Peter 2:15 (LB)
2. Show respect for authority
"For the Lord's sake, yield to the people who have authority in this world: the king, who is the highest authority, and the leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right." - 1 Peter 2:13-14 (NCV)
"Make the master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order." - 1 Peter 2:14
"Show respect for everyone. Love Christians everywhere. Fear God and honor the government." - 1 Peter 2:17 (LB)
"...be good servants to your masters -- not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason." - 1 Peter 2:18-19 (MSG)
3. Seek God in suffering.
"This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also how to do it, step by step." - 1 Peter 2:21 (MSG)
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." - 1 Peter 2:22-23 (NIV)
"... He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right." - 1 Peter 2:23 (MSG)
"A man does a fine thing when he endures pain, with a clear conscience towards God, though he knows he is suffering unjustly." - 1 Peter 2:19 (Ph)
JESUS: "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:13,14,16 (NIV)
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Apr 13 | Who Do You Think You Are? |
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Written by Lynn Holmes
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Who Do You Think You Are?
I Peter 2:4-10
WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU
1. "You are a chosen people..."
2. "You are a people belonging to God..."
3. "You are living stones..."
4. "You are a royal priesthood and holy nation..."
5. "Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy"
In v. 9 he says, "All the old titles of God's people now belong to you" - 1Peter 2:9 (Ph)
AS A PART OF GOD'S FAMILY...
I. I AM ___________________ "
You are...chosen by God"
"Christ has accepted you." - Romans 15:7 (NLT)
"Even if my father and mother leave me, The Lord will take me in!" - Psalm 27:10 (NCV)
II. I AM _____________________ "
You...belong to God"
WHAT DETERMINES VALUE?
1. ___________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________
"You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him... - I Corinthians 7:23 (LB)
"Come to the Lord, the Living Stone rejected as worthless by men, but chosen as valuable by God. YOU ALSO, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house..."
- I Peter 2:4 (GN/NIV)
III. I AM _____________________
"You are ... a royal priest"
"...God's instruments to do his work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you..." - 1 Peter 2:10 (MSG)
"He saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began..." - 2 Timothy 1:9 (LB)
"There are different kinds of service to God. The Holy Spirit displays God's power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church. All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part." - I Corinthians 12:5, 7, 27 (LB)
IV. I AM _____________________ "
You...have received mercy"
"I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you." - Isaiah 43:25 (GN)
"...Through what Christ would do for us, God decided to make us holy in his eyes without a single fault--we stand before Him covered with His love." - Ephesians 1:4 (LB)
"The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end; so says the Lord who loves you." - Isaiah 54:10 (GN)
HOW THEN SHOULD I LIVE?
"It is for you now to demonstrate the goodness of God who called you out of darkness into his amazing light...now you are the people of God." - 1 Peter 2:9d -10a (Ph)
"Once you were less than nothing; now you are God's own!" - 1 Peter 2:10 (LB)
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April 6 | Choosing to be Different |
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Written by Lynn Holmes
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Choosing to Be Different
I Peter 1:13-2:2
A CHALLENGE TO BE DIFFERENT
I. YOU HAVE BEEN MADE NEW!
"Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourself be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness." - I Peter 1:14-15a (TM)
"If anyone is in Christ he or she is a NEW creation. The old has passed away, behold the NEW has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
CHOOSING TO BE DIFFERENT IS A DISCIPLINE.
II. PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A DIFFERENT LIFE.
"So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives." - 1 Peter 1:13 (TM)
WHY?
"God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver, as you very well know. But He paid for you with the precious life-blood of Jesus, the sinless, spotless lamb of God." - 1 Peter 1:18-19 (TM)
III. BECAUSE GOD PAID A PRICE FOR YOU !
Choose To Be Different By Having...
1) Discipline With Your Love.
"Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts." - I Peter 1:22 LB)
2) Discipline With Your Mouth.
"So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing." - 1 Peter 2:1 (NLT)
"Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language." - 1 Peter 2:1 (GN)
3) Discipline With Your Desire For God's Word.
"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." - 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)
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March 23 | Easter Celebration 2008 |
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Written by Lynn Holmes
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 What Does The Resurrection Mean?
It Means...
1. Jesus is who he claimed to be.
"I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." - John 11:25(NIV)
"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can get to God the Father, except by means of me!" - John 14:6 (LB)
2. Jesus has the power he claimed to have.
"All power in heaven and earth is given to me." - Matthew 28:18 (Ph)
"No one takes my life from me. I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it up again!" - John 10:18 (Ph)
3. Jesus does what he promises to do.
"They will mock...and flog...and kill me; but after three days I will come back to life again." - Mark 10:34 (LB)
"The angel said, ‘Don't be frightened! I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified, but he isn't here! He has come back to life again just as he said he would.'" - Matthew 28:5-6 (LB)
Why Does The Resurrection Matter?
Because Now...
1. My past can be forgiven.
"He has forgiven all our sins...and cancelled every record of the debt we owed; Christ has done away with it by nailing it to the cross." - Colossians 3:14 (JB)
"There is no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ." - Romans 8:1 (LB)
2. My present problems can be managed.
"How incredibly great is His power to help those who believe in Him...the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead!" - Ephesians 1:20 (LB)
"I am ready for anything through the strength of Christ who lives in me." - Philippians 4:13 (Ph)
3. My future can be secured.
"This is the way to have eternal life - by knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one he sent to earth!" - John 17:3 (LB)
"We have been born again into a life full of hope through Christ's rising from the dead." - 1 Peter 1:3
"Bring us back to you, God - we're ready to come back. Give us a fresh start!" - Lamentations 5:21 (MSG)
Dear God, I want a fresh start today. I'd like more clarity and confidence, but most of all, I want a new connection to You. I'm tired of the emptiness and hollow existence. I want to experience real peace and fulfillment. I am so thankful that You loved me enough to send Your Son, Jesus, to die so that I could be forgiven. Help me to understand it more. Jesus, as best as I know how, I want to get to know You and I want to learn to love and trust You. I ask for your forgiveness and I invite You to be the manager of my life from this moment forward.
Thank You. Amen
"When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB)
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Feb 24 | In the ZONE - Part 4 |
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Written by Lynn Holmes
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 "THE CREATURE FROM THE CASH LAGOON"
In the ZONE - Part 4
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"It strikes the unsuspecting and unaware while
leaving a disaster area of debt in its wake. The
money monster takes no risoners and shows no
mercy. In this 4th installment of the series, we
learn how God's Word provides positive principles
of money management to help us stay out of
debt and keep the creature from the cash lagoon
at bay."
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ALLIES OF THE CREATURE FROM THE CASH LAGOON:
1. THE PLASTIC PEOPLE EATERS
The average American household carries $11,000.00 in credit card debt. At minimum payment with an 18% card, it would take 21 years to retire this debt.
Americans average 50 unsolicited credit card offers each year.
Basically we are on an American Express to spending; yet, we need to read the Master's Card where we can Discover a VISA for financial freedom!
Romans 13:8 (NLT): "Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love and one another..."
Proverbs 22:7: "The borrower is servant to the lender."
2. THE MEDIA MONSTER
95% of married couples in America fight over finances, which is the #1 cause for divorce.
3. THE BUDGET BOOGEYMAN
Impulse spending will take you down the slippery slope of the cash lagoon.
This monster messes us up with a "save-it-all, spend-it-all" mentality.
Proverbs 27:23-24: "Be sure you know the conditions of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever."
THE B--G--L PRINCIPLE (10 - 10 - 80):
Recommended reading:
FINANCIAL PEACE and TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER.
by Dave Ramsey
B RING God's tithe into the storehouse.
Malachi 3:8: "Will a man rob God? Yest you rob Me. But you ask,'How do we rob You?' ... In tithes and offerings."
G IVE ourselves 10% for savings.
Proverbs 13:11: "Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow."
Proverbs 6:6-8: "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest."
L IVE on the other 80%.
Luke 11:13: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father inheaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!?"
James 1:17: "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to usfrom God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.He never changes ..."
Proverbs 13:4: "Lazy people want much but get little, while thediligent are prospering."
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