Tag Archives: Bible study

Mid Afternoon Meditation 5-4-16

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Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.”

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
    and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Is this Psalm about the past, the present or the future?

What does it say about that time?

The Road Through Romans Idolatry

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We are walking through the Book Of Romans verse by verse in this portion of Lillie-Put. We have had many discussions on the first twenty verses of the book. If you would like to do some catching up, those discussions can be found on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.

Today we continue with the passage where Paul lays out his doctrine of original sin. The idea that man comes into the world with a natural bent towards evil is not a popular one in today’s world. That said it is a biblical idea which means it is truth. We learned from verse 20 that creation points us to God so that men are with out excuse for their sinful behavior. Verse 21 through 23 continues on from there saying,

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Rom 1:21-23 NIV

With these verses Paul looks back from his time to describe what history had demonstrated up to the first century. That is: the truth of God was laid out before men in the creation; Men recognized the truth but chose to explain it away; They used human wisdom to  “prove” that what was true about God was not true; Then they made up their own traditions and gods and mythological stories.

We think we have advanced beyond the ways of ancient man. Really, we are only repeating the same mistakes dressed up in new clothes. Creation still shows us God’s invisible qualities; Men can recognize those qualities but have chosen to explain them away using the enlightened ideas of humanism. We are not propagating idolatry after the old fashion. Instead of making gods out of wood and gold we are elevating our own race to godhood. We declare that we are gods in process become ever more enlightened.

And so just like the ancients we profess ourselves to be wise and become fools. 

 

Morning Direction From Scripture 4-22-16

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 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

THIS PASSAGE WAS ACTUALLY PART OF A DEVOTIONAL GIVEN BY MY FRIEND JODY AT OUR WORSHIP REHEARSAL LAST NIGHT. IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING MY THOUGHTS EVER SINCE.

What part of the Word of God Are you having trouble putting into practice? What is the price you are paying for not obeying God?

 

The Road Through Romans: Without Excuse

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The Road Through Romans is a discussion that is taking a look at every verse in the Book Of Romans. To be honest I am not sure this epoch of time has enough left in it for us to finish the discussion, but we will plod along until the age changes or the end of the book comes… whichever comes first.

If you have missed any of our previous discussions (and they are legion) you can find them on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE

We have been discussing verse 20 of Romans chapter 1 which says,

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

We have spent the better part of the last twenty posts on TRTR discussing those invisible attributes. I think I was actually taking so long getting through those qualities of God because I didn’t want to face the last four words of the verse.

People are without excuse!

We finished with the final invisible quality of God over a week ago and I have been unable to face writing what has to come next because this part of the good news is hard to take in.

People are without excuse!

There is a power in the world working overtime to convince us that there is no God or that if there is a God, He is some distant far away being who set the world to spinning and then walked away. Yet the creation itself tells us, if we will look at it, that not only is there a God but He knows us and desires relationship with us.

At the end of time no one will be able to excuse themselves for not knowing God by saying “There was no way I could have known about God.”

To them God will say,

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

In other words the problem is not that nothing in life points people to God. It is that in spite of the fact that creation screams out about God, people would rather believe anything else.

 

Mid Afternoon Meditation 4-15-16

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 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. I Cor. 3: 10-15

This verse speaks about a judgment believers will go through in Heaven.

What does it say to you about the importance of our work here on Earth?

Morning Direction From Scripture 4-15-16

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

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Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? 1 Cor. 3: 1-4

What mindset do you think Paul is encouraging the church towards in this passage?

How close are you to that mindset on a scale of 1-10, 1 being not at all close and 10 being perfect in that mindset?

What changes have to take place to help you move up to the next number on the scale?

Mid Afternoon Meditation 4-8-16

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From this morning’s meditation you may have learned you are tempted by other gospels circulating in our society. Paul wrote,

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 2 Cor. 11:2-4

Such a temptation may indicate a stronghold in your mind. What weapons must you use to tear down the stronghold?