Would you be willing to admonish, rebuke, or warn a friend who is caught up in a sinful lifestyle even though speaking up when God’s standards are at stake is more costly than ever? When is it right, even necessary, for a believer in Christ to do so?
Also, when it comes to politics and civic responsibility, how should a clear understanding of God’s sovereignty and His righteous standards dictate how we vote and pray for our leaders?
Even if something is not a sin, in and of itself, if we believe it is and do it anyway, it reveals a heart that is willing to sin against God and therefore sinful. That willingness can cause us a great deal of unrest emotionally and spiritually. Could it actually lead to “apparently uncaused fear and anxiety” such as panic attacks that so many people experience today?
Also, read about:
What Job had to say about living right in light of all His suffering.
The only question that will matter when we stand before God.
Why we should sing “a new song” and why we need to be careful with the songs and prayers we love the most.
Authority. Most of us bristle at the thought of someone telling us what to do. Add to that the culture’s attitude toward our perceived rights and feminism’s influence on marriage and you have a cocktail of silent, when not outward, rebellion.
While it’s true that authority has been abused, rejected, and reversed, God is a God of order and He has ordained authority as part of that order. No matter what we think, we are not living obediently before God if we aren’t fully submitted to the authority He has placed in our lives. But human authority is not unlimited.
So, what does submission to authority look like? And what are the limits on authority?
Also, true worship is more than a time of music and singing. True worship involves how we live our lives. Whether we obey God (including our submission to authority) or harden our hearts to His commands are both a demonstration of who we worship … ourselves and our autonomy or God.
As followers of Christ, we are to become living sacrifices. One way we do that is in our relationships with other people. We are to love, prefer, and do good to others even when they don’t do the same. How is that even possible?
Also, read about:
The danger of being lulled into complacency by the comforts and favor of worldly people.
What both Job and the Apostle Paul understood about hardship and perseverance.
Most of us will have opportunities in life to offer comfort to those suffering and grieving. Perhaps, you know someone right now who has lost a loved one or suffered some other setback.
When we do, we don’t want to be “miserable comforters” like Job’s friends. But the truth is most of us feel inadequate and unsure about what to say. We fear saying the wrong thing and, all too often, fail to say anything out of fear or awkwardness. See today’s post for a helpful list of things to say and do and, just as important, things to avoid.
“Why me?” It’s a question we so often ask. Why is this happening? And why is it happening to me? Why now? Why my kids, my family, my job, my health? But … are we asking the right “why question”?
And from our New Testament reading:
We’ll talk about some very familiar verses from Romans. Most of us have likely shared these verses when talking to others about the gospel. Some of them have even been turned into what is commonly called the “sinner’s prayer.”
But is there a danger to praying the “sinner’s prayer” or “asking Jesus to come into your heart”? If so, how can we avoid it and not mislead others by giving them a false assurance of salvation?
We live in a world where the Bible and religious liberty are under siege. Many people point to the Old Testament, in particular, and say it’s outdated and irrelevant. Others want to discredit the Bible all together as something devised by men. They call those of us who hold to it everything from ignorant to mean-spirited.
Is the Bible and the Old Testament, in particular, still relevant? Does it have something to say to New Testament believers? If so, why are some Old Testament laws still valid and others are not?
Watch the introductory video to learn more about the Christian Living/Discipleship series, what it is, and how to use these videos. The videos are always available and will allow you to study the Bible at your own pace.
You can gain a deeper understanding of the Bible for yourself or use these videos as a tool to help you disciple a friend. Check out the list of lessons and upcoming lessons in the table of contents below. I’ll add a link to each new lesson as they are published.
The lessons are linked below as they’re published.
There is also an easy-to-follow workbook available.
Do you want to grow spiritually? Do you know someone else you’d like to see grow spiritually?
Matthew 28.19-20 says we are all to go and make disciples and to teach others how to live the Christian life. That often involves us growing, too.
So, how can the average person live out Matthew 28.19-20, also called the Great Commission? Watch the video to learn about an easy-to-use resource that can help you do that.
Have you wanted to read through the Bible but the idea seems too overwhelming? Do you wish you had someone to help you understand the more difficult sections and someone to cheer you on when you get behind or bogged down? Kind of a bible for dummies plan?