Bible Study Snacks - 1 John 3:1-24

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! Thank you for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we are continuing our study on The First Epistle of John, or 1 John. The Gospel of John is sometimes confused with The First Epistle of John, but there is a distinguishable difference. The former was designed to produce faith in order that we might have life (John 20:30-31).

The latter describes the nature of that life in greater detail, for example 1 John 3:14. I strongly believe that by studying The First Epistle of John we might better understand the importance of living the kind of life that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ.

The studies presented here are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

THINK ABOUT:

*  God’s love for us, and our love for each other
*  The definition of sin, and the meaning of "does not sin!" (1 John 3:6,9)
*  The outworking of love, and the assurance it gives of our salvation

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 John 3:1-24:

John describes God’s wonderful love for us, how hope as His children should motivate us to pure lives. Righteous living should be expected when we know what sin is, that Christ came to destroy it, and that one truly born of God will not persist in sin (1 John 3:1-9). True righteousness includes loving one another, even as Christ loved us, which in turn gives us confidence and assurance that we are abiding in Him and are of the truth (1 John 3:10-24).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) What should motivate us to live pure lives? (1 John 3:2-3)
2) How is sin defined by John? (1 John 3:4)
3) What is true of one who abides in Jesus?  Who has been born of God? (1 John 3:6,9)
4) What distinguishes children of God from children of the devil? (1 John 3:10)
5) What serves as evidence that we have passed from death to life? (1 John 3:14)
6) How do we know what true love is? How then should we love? (1 John 3:16-18)
7) What gives us assurance and confidence that we are of the truth? (1 John 3:19-23)
8) How can we know that He abides in us and we in Him? (1 John 3:24)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Genuinely Faithful In God

"The life of faith is continually renewed victory over doubt, a continually renewed grasp of meaning in the midst of meaninglessness."  - L. Newbigin

Tests. It seems like we have been facing them all of our lives. They are a given during our school years. Who doesn't remember staying up late into the night studying for a test the next morning? Our first attempts at establishing relationships with others can test our emotions, and mettle.

As parents our patience is tested, right along with our nerves! Other tests we might encounter involve our motor skills, eyesight, hearing, even our aptitude when applying for employment. Obviously, we could go on almost indefinitely with various examples.

There is one particular test, however, that I didn't mention on purpose. It appears most frequently during times of stress or upheaval. A sudden, life-threatening illness or medical emergency. The loss of a spouse, parent, or child. Loss of a job with no immediate prospects of securing another. The end of a marriage or personal relationship with a significant other.

What these situations have in common is that they test our faith, among other things. One need only open their Bible to find example after example of the faithfulness of some of its most notable characters being tested. For instance, David petitioned God to examine his heart and mind in regards to his faithfulness to Him (Psalm 26:2; 139:23).

Abraham (Abram) was tested by God when he was asked to sacrifice his own son Isaac, He obeyed (Hebrews 11:17–19); thus demonstrating to all that he truly is the father of faith (Romans 4:16). As you can see, true believers in God are no strangers to being tested in their faith.

Persons who are genuinely faithful, such as those mentioned above, exhibit certain characteristics which allow them to weather the storms of strife in life. I'll list a few of these for you. Feel free to compare them against your own faith.

A faithful person:

1. truly believes that God is supremely in control of his or her life. In other words, though we may think we are masters of our own destiny, it is God who holds the reins in His hands. We go where He leads us.
2. has only one loyalty or one object of faith, and that is Jesus Christ. It is key to stay focused on God even though the view may be murky, and the situation shaky.
3. will learn to worship God even during difficult circumstances. There are times when it would be very easy to blame God or distance yourself from Him. Don't! (See #2)

When the bottom drops out of our lives we realize just how faithful we either are, or aren't. God presents these opportunities to strengthen. not harm us. Faith in God will not grow if it isn't tested in the battlefield of life.

A lukewarm faith will fold like a house of cards. Only a strong, tempered faith, forged in the fires of life's most difficult events is what God desires for us. Nothing else will do.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14; Proverbs 17:3; Acts 14:22; Philippians 4:6-7; Philippians 4:6-7 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for being with me always and loving me. You are in control of all things and I thank You for that.  May I never lose heart on seeing the circumstances. Strengthen my faith through which alone I can receive miracles from You. Amen

May God bless you!

Joyce

Video - Beth Moore: Made For Passion

Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore asks, "Is Christ the most exciting aspect of your life? Or are you missing out on something greater?" Let this inspiring message kickstart your day!  ~Eve

A Necessary Combination: Repentance and Faith

"We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin. But mere time does nothing either to the fact or to the guilt of a sin."  - C.S. Lewis

Imagine for a moment, a small village located in a rugged, isolated area. Being situated where it was made it rather difficult for anyone but the few local residents to leave or enter. One day an unpaved road is scratched out through the trees leading to the village.

And though the rough road makes access a little easier, it still takes several hours of driving after leaving the main highway to reach the village. Nevertheless, as it is the only road leading in, one must turn around in order to leave by the same road. Thus, one road leads in, the same road leads out.

I use this to illustrate our own situation with sin. We are all innate sinners. But, there too is a path leading away from sin. This path was paved for us by Jesus Christ. We may take this route away from sin, but in order to do so, we must first make a complete turnaround. There's no other way to do it.

This changeabout is what the Bible calls "repentance." But it is so much more than simply turning away from sin. Repentance involves a "change of mind and heart." What does this look like? Take a person who once was dead set on rejecting Jesus. After having a transforming "change of mind and heart," this same person now recognizes and has faith in Him.

Does repentance tie into salvation? You bet it does! Whether deliberately or out of sheer ignorance, we've all rejected Christ at one point in our lives. Then, something wonderful happens! Belief starts to grow in our hearts. Our minds begin to change (repent) from rejecting Christ to accepting Him as our Lord and Savior (Acts 2:38; 11:18). We all need repentance in regards to salvation. But you can't have repentance without belief.

Faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without believing it in your heart is a falsehood. It won't save you. On the other hand, if you change your mind toward believing that Jesus truly is God and the only way to salvation... that's repentance! One cannot earn salvation by repenting. Salvation is a free gift that is offered to us from God and can't be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Throughout our lives we will struggle with sin, going back and forth with our sinful desires. But, a repentant heart will always want to get back on track with God and distance itself from sin. You will discover that true repentance will guide/inspire your desire to bring glory to God, instead of a lifestyle that is focused only on worldly pleasures.

In closing, repentance is necessary for our salvation. Remember though, biblical repentance requires a complete change of mindset. We must believe that Jesus is God and our only way in faith to salvation (Romans 10:9).

During the course of our lives we will be offered and accept many gifts. Similarly, by the act repentance we accept the gift of salvation which is offered from Jesus Christ. Now tell me, who wouldn't want to receive that kind of gift?

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:5; Romans 4:5; John 5:14; Proverbs 1:23; Luke 3:3

Prayer: Dear God, I admit, as I stand here in front of You, that I have been less than upright with You. But, I'd like to change that today. I ask You for the forgiveness of my sins. The Bible says if I confess with my mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I will be saved (Romans 10:9). I believe with my all my heart and I confess with here and now that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank You for saving me! Amen. 

Have a blessed day!

Brandi

Still Searching For God..?

“God is here, right now, at our side. We can see him in this mist, in the ground we're walking on, even in my shoes. His angels keep watch while we sleep and help us in our work. In order to find God, you have only to look around.”   - Paulo Coelho, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

We live in some pretty amazing times. The information of the world is at our fingertips. Whatsmore, it's available to us literally anytime of the day or night. We can access this information at our desks, in our cars, even as we walk down the street. Does this information simply fall into our laps? Not so much.

If we want to find what we are looking for, we search for it. or seek it out. This process involves trying to "find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly" according to a dictionary definition. It might take a little work on our part as anything of worth or value usually does.

Of all the searches that we conduct none should be as important to our lives as our search for God. I feel that too many times we tend to think that our search ends by simply attending church, or reading a daily devotional.

We probably invest more time searching for the latest celebrity news, music releases, or friends on social media than we do seeking God. Does this mean that we should stop doing these things? Of course not. But, if one truly wants to seek, search for, and desire God, they need to invest the time.

Fortunately, we don't necessarily have to have a computer, cell phone, or an internet connection to search or seek out God. I know this may sound strange in this day and age, but there is a way to find God whenever we want without any modern technological assistance at all.

You may have already guessed at what I am talking about. It's the Bible! People around the world who are searching (or seeking) God have been able to find Him through His Word. It has been translated into hundreds of languages and distributed to practically every corner of the globe.

There is no secret to finding God. He is certainly not hiding from us, nor is He attainable only to a select few. Anyone who wants to discover or locate Him can through the pages of the Bible. The words are His; composed as He wanted them to be. It is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). The result being the perfect and Holy Word of God Himself (Psalm 12:6; 2 Peter 1:21).

Over the years, some have complained that God has abandoned or turned His back on us. Many have tried to destroy or discredit it (His Word). Others have even declared God dead, or non-existent. Yet His Word always manages to come through intact and unchanged.

I would bet that the majority of these naysayers have probably never opened a Bible and actually read it, or seriously listened to what God is saying through its pages. Jesus once remarked that, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31). Like the latest fad, generations come and go yet God's message to us remains.

Originally, only a certain select few were privileged to have actual contact with Him. Today, you, I, or anyone can connect with God everyday through the pages of the Bible. Stop searching around, set some time aside today and hear what God has to say to you!

Scripture: Romans 15:4; Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:105; John 5:39; John 17:17

Prayer: Dear God, I look forward to our time together as You speak to me through Your Holy Word. I pray for open eyes that I may understand it, and an open heart that I may be nourished by it. In Your Name. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Amber

Bible Study Snacks -1 John 2:1-29

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! Thank you for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we are continuing our study on The First Epistle of John, or 1 John. The Gospel of John is sometimes confused with The First Epistle of John, but there is a distinguishable difference. The former was designed to produce faith in order that we might have life (John 20:30-31).

The latter describes the nature of that life in greater detail, for example 1 John 3:14. I strongly believe that by studying The First Epistle of John we might better understand the importance of living the kind of life that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ.

The studies presented here are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

THINK ABOUT:

*  The true test of knowing Jesus as our Advocate and our propitiation
*  Things in the world we cannot not love
*  The identity of antichrists in the writings of John

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 John 2:1-29:

We have an Advocate who is also the propitiation for our sins and to truly know Him we must keep His commandments (1 John 2:1-6), especially to love one another (1 John 2:7-11). Describing his original readers’ spiritual state (1 John 2: 12-14), John cautions against loving the world and being deceived by antichrists (1 John 2:15-23), by letting truth abide in them and they in Christ (1 John 2:24-29).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) How can Jesus be of aid to us when we have sinned? (1 John 2:1-2)
2) What are two proofs that we know Jesus and that we abide in Him? (1 John 2:3-6)
3) What commandment is both "old" and "new"? (1 John 2:7-11)
4) List three groups of people and how John describes their spiritual state. (1 John 2:12-14)
5) What three things in the world should we not love? (1 John 2:15-17)
6) How can we be sure that we will abide in the Son and in the Father? (1 John 2:24-29)
7) What are the main points of this chapter? (1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 2:7-11; 1 John 2:12-14; 1 John 2:15-23; 1 John 2:24-29)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Doubts?... You Can Trust Christ!

"Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand." - Augustine

Believing in something seems to be more difficult than ever these days. Maybe it's because we have been mislead, or disappointed too many times. I realize that everything we may wish or hope for will not come true. It's just not possible, nor is it realistic.

Yet, we still manage to place our faith or believe in things despite all of this. The comic Steve Martin once said, " It's so hard to believe in anything anymore... I guess I wouldn't believe in anything if it weren't for my lucky Astrology Mood Watch."

All kidding aside, no one believes in nothing. Everyone has faith. The only differences are in the object of our faith and its intensity. For example, have you ever encountered a crisis situation in which you knowingly, and without any doubt whatsoever, carelessly tossed everything aside? What this amounts to is a crisis of will, or personal choice.

We approach this point many times from a visible, or external perspective. But nothing more ever comes of it. That's because the true, deep turning point of total surrender is attained internally, not externally. Our surrendering of only those things that are external, or visible might indicate a problem with us being controlled, or bound by them.

A moment ago I mentioned a crisis of will or the power of control the mind has over its own actions (i.e., personal choice). Allow me to talk about this for just a moment. Have you ever carefully and consciously committed yourself to Jesus Christ? Doing so is an execution (action) of the mind, rather than emotion. Any positive emotion resulting from this may be considered an added bonus (blessing) (Ephesians 2:8)!

This is why you must proceed carefully. By focusing only on the emotional part of it (the action), you'll never take that final step. It might be very tempting to ask God to give you a little hint as to what choice to make at this point. But, don't do it! Step up and make your decision based on your own gut instinct (John 6:47).

Entrust yourself to His voice. Let your belief (faith) guide you, and stay true to the course. Place all your heart, soul, and efforts into supporting and preserving your personal and faithful relationship with Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1; Romans 10:17; John 5:24; Revelation 14:12; 1 Timothy 1:14

Prayer: Holy Father, there are many decisions that we make in our lives. And although some are more difficult than others, my decison to come to You was by far the best decision I ever made. I have never felt more loved or blessed. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Ashleigh

Video - Beth Moore: Something's Not Working Like It Used To

Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore explains how dissatisfaction may be a sign that God wants something new in your life. Worth a listen!  ~Eve

What If Tomorrow Never Comes?

"Days are not like links of a chain; one does not ensure the other. We have one, but we may never see its fellow; each may be the last of its kind."  - Charles H. Spurgeon

Can we talk about surprises for just a moment? There are surprises that are celebratory in nature such as a surprise party, for example. Conversely, there are surprises that cause stress, or anxiety such as when one checks their bank account; only to find the funds you assumed were there are not.

Tomorrow can be considered a surprise, too. Primarily because even though we might have plans for tomorrow, there is no guarantee they will turn out. We don't even know if we will be around tomorrow for that matter!

When it comes to "tomorrow" many tend to boast about as if it were a given. Do you honestly give tomorrow much of a thought unless there is something of importance occurring on that day? Most of us don't. We go on with our daily routines expecting that tomorrow will always come.

In one short stroke, Proverbs 27:1 lays out the unwiseness of this. "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." Depending on the translation used, "boast" can also be "brag." How can we boast or brag about something that we can't be certain of; namely "tomorrow?"

Life is a very frail thing. We can be here one moment, and gone the next. James 4:14 tells us that we are like a mist that appears for a bit, then is gone. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't plan anything because it doesn't matter. No. It means that tomorrow is not a "given." Not for you, nor I.

We like to feel that we are in control of our lives. We like the feeling of reliability and certainty in our lives, too. But, when it comes to "tomorrow" there are no such assurances. Age, race, gender, marital or financial status, religious belief, etc., have no bearing on tomorrow either.

Tomorrow also makes it easy to procrastinate, or put things off. One of the most common reflections by people at the end of their earthly life is how quickly it passes. If God wills it, I hope to live long enough to be able to look back on my life, as well. But again, there is no guarantee. It's out of my hands.

It's true that we can't change what has already passed. And, as we have been discussing, the future is an unknown. So all that we have is today. Someone once said that we will be dead a lot longer than we were alive. Think about this for a moment. It's true!

I'm not trying to be morbid or depressing here. But, how have you prepared yourself for the inevitable? If you were taken tonight, would you be okay with Jesus Christ? A lot of people put more thought into buying a home, car, or big-screen television than into their own salvation.

Maybe it's because Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world, that many put it off. After all, Christ's heavenly home cannot be toured on YouTube, or seen on Pintrest. Like they say, "Out of sight, out of mind."

Perhaps repentance and salvation remind of us too much of our parents' or grandparents' era, These concepts are too old-school, irrelevant, even passé for today's world. Nothing could be further from the truth! Repentance and salvation are timeless, classic, and as current as today's news.

Without a doubt, this day is all we really have. Therefore, we should use it wisely. Stop boasting about what might happen tomorrow. Set yourself up for what will definitely happen. Don't put off making yourself ready for that glorious day when you will meet Jesus Christ up front and in person.

I urge you to repent and ask forgiveness of your sins. Let Christ know that you believe He is the Son of God who came to earth, died to save us, and rose from the dead (Romans 10:9). Make room for Him in your heart today. Do it today. Don't procrastinate any longer. If you wait until tomorrow, it may be too late (Luke 12:20).

Scripture: 1 John 1:9; Acts 3:19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 6:44

Prayer: Dear Lord, I have no idea what tomorrow holds; I know it is guaranteed to no one. Since all I have for sure is today, let me offer You my praise and repentance in anticipation of that glorious day when I hope to be received by You. In Your Holy Name. Amen

God loves You!

Lauren

Contentment Through Knowing Christ

"I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."  - Martin Luther

Over the years, I have taught a number of classes and spoken at various seminars. Interestingly, one of the most frequent topics of interest is contentment. After all, the search for contentment is universal. What brings us contentment varies individually, and is quite diverse. This should come as no surprise, after all, contentment primarily means a state of happiness and satisfaction.

However, when we hitch our wagon of contentment to things such as houses, jobs, automobiles, clothes, personal relationships, money, etc., there's a pretty good chance that we're going to be disappointed at some point. As you've probably noticed, this list is composed of material, or earthly things.

It's more than fair to say that we live in a very materialistic society where money is the name of the game. We are constantly bombarded with the message that one is unfulfilled or inadequate without it. Therefore, we fall for the hype and the false sense of contentment it brings; which at best may be only temporary.

Matthew 6:19-24 speaks about the risks, or folly of trusting in such wordly treasures. In these verses of scripture we can learn a couple of lessons about "true" contentment. First, contentment grows out of devotion to Christ. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24 that we can only have one master. Think about how much of our lives is devoted to trying to keep or hold on to things that, in reality, are only temporal.

The materialistic trap is an easy one to fall into (1 Timothy 6:10). Ask yourself this question, " Can I honestly say that God, and not money is my master?" Which (God or money) involves most of your thoughts, time, and efforts. We all should honestly reflect on this, it wouldn't hurt.

Let's look at another source of "true" contentment. Eternal values can produce contentment. Jesus compared heavenly and earthly values. He made his point by explaining that we should adhere to only those things that do not fade, cannot be stolen or consumed, and never decay (Matthew 6:19). In any case, we shouldn't be so mesmerized by our possessions that they possess us!

Ultimately, this might require cutting back on some of your possessions if they are ruling your life, which for some is not easy to do (Matthew 19:21-22). Jesus is asking us to decide between a life of temporary, materialistic bliss, or one that allows us to live contentedly with what we have because we have preferred what is eternal and lasting.

The bottom line is this. There is only one true source of contentment. Which one will you choose to devote your life to?

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:11; Luke 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:6; Proverbs 3:5  

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Help me focus my heart on that which has lasting value, and brings eternal rewards. Today, as I lift my voice to You and turn my heart toward Your unfailing love, may I find true joy and satisfaction which can only be obtained by knowing You. Amen

May God bless you!

Joyce

Bible Study Snacks - 1 John 1:1-10

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! Thank you for joining me again as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we will begin a new study on The First Epistle of John, or 1 John. The Gospel of John is sometimes confused with The First Epistle of John, but there is a distinguishable difference. The former was designed to produce faith in order that we might have life (John 20:30-31).

The latter describes the nature of that life in greater detail, for example 1 John 3:14. I strongly believe that by studying The First Epistle of John we might better understand the importance of living the kind of life that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ.

The studies presented here are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

THINK ABOUT:

*  The witness of John concerning the Word of Life
*  The nature of the evidence for faith in Jesus
*  The basis of our fellowship with God

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 John 1:1-10:

John begins his first epistle like he does his gospel: with a prologue regarding the Word of Life (Jesus Christ) who dwelt in the flesh among men and made fellowship with the Father possible (1 John 1:1-4). Fellowship with God is maintained as we walk in the light and confess our sins that we might enjoy continual cleansing through the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:5-10).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) How is John’s beginning in this epistle similar to his gospel? (1 John 1:1-4, cf. Jn 1:1-14)
2) How does John describe the pre-incarnation of Jesus? (1 John 1:1)
3) What empirical evidence does John provide concerning the Word? (1 John 1:1)
4) What does John declare?  What does he want to share?  Why does he write? (1 John 1:2-4)
5) What message has John heard that he now declares to us? (1 John 1:5)
6) If we say we have fellowship with God but walk in darkness, what are we? (1 John 1:6)
7) What do we enjoy as we walk in the light together with God? (1 John 1:7)
8) What if we say that we have no sin? (1 John 1:8,10)
9) What’s required to be forgiven of sin and cleansed of all unrighteousness? (1 John 1:9)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

God Provides Endurance

"To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings."  - George Mueller

We endure or persevere  many situations during the course of our lives. I think we can safely that when we reflect back on such circumstances they probably weren't very pleasant. More than likely they are uncertain and exhausting.

For us, these are defining times. And because we can expect to experience difficult occurences at different points in life, we have learned a thing or two from them. They can either make us or break us; strengthen us or destroy us.

The person who has learned to persevere or endure troubling times has learned one powerful secret. This is the hard-earned ability to patiently withstand whatever trouble(s) are tossed our way. Though we may not especially like them, we patiently accept them and any other of life's unavoidable dips in the road.

An unfavorable side-effect of giving in, or surrendering when confronted with negative events, is we become bitter and indignant. By doing so we allow ourselves to be beaten. Thus, instead of endurance we learn to capitulate and joylessly tolerate our predicament; a forced submission.

Is this what Christ desires for you and I? Hardly! As Christians we are called to endure in the face of trial or antagonism. Endurance is praised as a virtue for God's people. Joshua was commissioned by God to pick up where Moses left off. This was not a task for the faint of heart.

God gave Joshua a pep talk in Joshua 1:7. He knew he'd need it for what lie ahead. Similarly, the apostle Paul urged the Galatian believers to hold fast (Galatians 6:9). Additionally, endurance is a distinguishing feature of the true, declared Christian (Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13; Acts 20:24).

Of course, the kind of endurance, which we have been discussing here is "Christian endurance." As pointed out earlier, it involves staying the course and being resolute, or unwavering (1 Corinthians 15:58; Philippians 1:27). But the most important fact to remember is that our Christian endurance is derived from one main source: God (Romans 15:5; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9; Colossians 1:10-11).

The highly influential 19th century preacher, Charles H. Spurgeon, once remarked, "By perseverance the snail reached the Ark." We too, through our faith in God, have the means to meet head-on and endure even the most difficult dilemmas.

An athlete works hard to develop aerobic endurance, anaerobic endurance, speed endurance and strength endurance. In the business world businesses work hard to endure the ups and downs they may encounter in order to succeed.

However, Christian endurance is not dependent on physical strength or business acumen. Our endurance comes from the greatest source source of all. Through Him we find all that we need to persevere. And our patient endurance will, in the end, lead to spiritual rewards (Matthew 4:13).

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:20; Deuteronomy 5:32; Joshua 23:8; Job 17:9; Acts 11:23)

Prayer: Dear Lord, I know life can be tough at times, and that we will travel through many hills and valleys during our stay here. But it is comforting to know that You won't leave us without any way to overcome them. You always give us just what we need when we need it. Amen

May God bless you!

Brandi

Video - Beth Moore: Life Is a Fight

Bible teacher Beth Moore broods for a moment over the fact that life can often be very difficult. Another entertaining and blessed clip!  ~Eve

Be Humble In Your Prayers

"The sooner I learn to forget myself in the desire that He may be glorified, the richer will be the blessing that prayer will bring to myself. No one ever loses by what he sacrifices to the Father.” - Andrew Murray

We go to church for a variety of reasons. Some of us enjoy the inspirational music, and might even join in. Many go to listen to the homily, or be with friends. Still others attend church just to "be seen" there. But, it's heartening to know that some actually still go to church to pray.

This, in fact, is one of the main reasons people attend church: to pray. Jesus himself said in Matthew 21:13, "...My house will be called a house of prayer..." Although prayer is undoubtedly good, without humility there really is no prayer at all.

On the other hand, the most simplistic and badly-phrased petition submitted in humility to God is by far a truly, powerful one. To gain some insight into this let's examine "The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector," Luke 18:9-14 (KJV).

As Luke 18:9 (KJV) opens, we are met with the thesis of this parable: the need for humility. Indeed, how many are similar to the Pharisees in their manners and actions? Outwardly we may appear as if we have it all together, regarding our religion. That is, we put on a big show for others, When in actuality our spirit is is all wrong.

Where's the humility? We trust in ourselves more than God, taking on a "holier than thou" attitude. If our religion were true, it would be humble. Those of us who fully trust in Christ for our righteousness feel that “we,” ourselves, are poor, miserable, and guilty. We don't hesitate to admit that others may be much better than we are.

What we see in Luke 18:11-12 (KJV) is a severe lack of humility. Jesus uses the Pharisee mentioned in the parable to point this out to us. Note that he "prayed thus with himself" and not to God. How about you? Are you really praying to God? Or, merely to brag? The Pharisee made sure that everyone heard him loud and clear!

In Luke 18:13 (KJV) we are treated to an honest, open display of humility. Interestingly, in the previous verses, the Pharisee placed a definite emphasis on himself when praying; even using five personal pronouns! Here, the publican (tax collector) barely squeezes in one; and that was to call himself a sinner!

The tax collector's prayer incorporated  a reverence to God, and honesty about himself. Keep in mind that when praying for forgiveness, it is only given to those humble enough to approach God in humility (honesty), The Pharisee's prayer was purely self-serving. He compared himself to others using their faults and shortcomings to bolster himself.

The publican (tax collector) humbled himself before God, refusing to even look up. He was aware that God knows our hearts, and made no attempt at patronizing God in his petition for forgiveness (Joshua 17:10; Psalm 44:21).

As the parable closes in Luke 18:14 (KJV) we are left with the thought, "What difference did humility or the lack thereof in prayer make in these men's lives?" We can see that one man was the recepient of answered prayer, which was forgiveness. As for the other...he received nothing. Thus two important outcomes of humility are brought to light here.

First, if we are humble and honest in prayer, we will receive justification. Heavy burdens will be lifted, our sins forgiven, guilt is taken away, and we are filled with new joy and freedom! What a difference humility makes not only in prayer, but in our lives as well.

Lastly, the person who refuses to place themselves ahead of others, who humbles himself, who has no need to "toot their own horn" before God; that person will be exalted, or praised. And this will result because of their humility, and not by boastful, self-righteous, words and deeds.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6; James 4:10; Micah 6:8; Romans 3:23; Luke 14:11

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I desire to be like You, gentle and humble in heart, I want to live in harmony with others, I want to be compassionate and sympathetic, and always loving all. May You guide me and teach me Your way. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Susan

Why Are You So Angry?

"There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot."  - Plato

Who hasn't been angry? After all, it's perfectly normal for humans to experience anger. It's one of our many human emotions. And it's the emotion that expresses our dislike or opposition toward something or someone we perceive with dissatisfaction or hatred.

The causes of anger are many and can vary from person to person. People or things might set us off. Sometimes certain thoughts and/or feelings flip the switch. Being mistreated or abused can cause us to get angry. Loss of control over situations can trigger anger, as can mood swings caused by physical changes.

However, anger becomes unhealthy when it's demonstrated in a way that is hurtful. or injurious to others or yourself. Proverbs 14:17 points out two common examples of this type of anger. One is the short-tempered, explosive anger. The other is the quiet, scheming, more calculated anger.

Unfortunately, one of the bad side-effects of these types of anger is that it can, and, in many cases does, lead to revenge. "A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated." As the Proverb expresses, the first person (man or woman) does "foolish" things because of their anger. Foolish in this case implies a lack of morals or corruptedness, rather than sense.

The second person is more cunning and deliberate in their anger. They quietly plot retaliation against another, "...the one who devises evil schemes." Either person is dispicable and despised (hated) by other people. Needless to say, it would be very difficult for them to find any lasting relationships, or friendships.

The quick-tempered person is often viewed as being foolish (Proverbs 14:29), troublesome (Proverbs 15:18), self-destructive (Proverbs 19:19; 25:28), and vicious. Similarly, the calculating person who quietly plans their method of vengance is likewise disliked by others, God (Proverbs 6:18), and will be reprimanded (Proverbs 12:2; 14:22).

Conversely, we have the person who, instead of a short-fuse, has an unruffled, controlled temper (Proverbs 19:11). A calm temper is seen as a wise and beneficial virtue (Proverbs 14:29; 19:11; 15:1; 25:15). Also, in contrast to scheming, retaliatory anger, self-restraint shows prudence (Proverbs 12:16;19:11), which in turn manifests greatness (Proverbs 16:32).

As I mentioned at the outset, anger is a natural human emotion. Anger in itself is not a bad thing. In fact, if released in a positive manner it can even be beneficial to our health. It's only when we use it to lash out and be hurtful that it becomes detrimental both emotionally and spiritually.

Negative anger is senseless, morally wrong, and just plain hateful. As Proverbs 14:17 teaches us, it's far better to keep our anger in check and live peaceably. And although we can't control what others say or do, we can change how we respond whenever anger-provoking situations arise in our own lives (Romans 12:18).

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26-27; James 1:19-20; Proverbs 29:11; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Colossians 3:8

Prayer: Dear Lord,  I am feeling anger in my heart and just can't control my emotions. Help me to calm down, offering the hurt and disappointment to You. Help me overcome this weakness and give me peace of heart and mind. Amen.

May your day be blessed!

Marilyn

Friday Faith Check-up: Stop Playing the Blame Game!

"If you don't do your part then don't blame God."  - Billy Sunday

From politicians to heads of major corporations the "blame game" is the rule of the day. It's one thing when I see this behavior in my own grandchildren, at least I can try to correct it. But it's another thing when a middle-aged adult does it, and sees nothing wrong with it!

Blaming each other is something that we as humans have perfected as an art. Please don't get me wrong. I'd be the first to admit that I'm far from being the "poster-girl" of perfection. Believe me, I've certainly had my share of bad days, too.

However, it's one thing to blame another person for whatever, but it's entirely different when you place blame on God. Many blame Him during times of personal loss or tragedy, fear, loneliness, frustration, depression, and sickness, to name but a few.

"If God is real then why did He allow this to happen?" Though there are other variations of this question, the implication is similar in all. Blame God for the negative outcome. But is God really to blame? Remember, it's much easier to blame someone else for something than take responsibility or ownership of it.

Does this mean you can't defend yourself? Of course, not. If you are being falsely accused in a matter then you have every right to challenge the accuser. But, for the most part, we usually lash out at God as a reaction to an emotional crisis.

Imagine a goldfish in his little glass bowl trying to figure out what is going on outside of his bowl. He can see distorted, unclear images of things through the glass, but not enough for his tiny goldfish brain to comprehend what lies beyond the confines of his bowl.

That's where we are when it comes to understanding why God "does" or "doesn't" do. Like the goldfish, our limited human minds are just not able to comprehend God's reasons (Romans 11:33). We are not eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent, but God is (Revelation 21:6).

There will never be a time when we have acquired all the answers we seek. Nevertheless, we must learn to trust, obey, and love God and not blame Him for our troubles. He would never harm us, It's just not in Him to do so.

God allows both good and bad things to happen. He has his reasons whether you or I understand them, or not. That we live in a corrupt, wicked, immoral, vicious and sinful world is nothing new. Do we wish it were different? Who doesn't? Even so, God still loves us.

Therefore, instead of pointing the finger of blame at Him when something troublesome happens we instead should trust that He knows exactly what He is doing (Proverbs 3:4-5). And that He is ultimately in control of all.

Scripture: Proverbs 19:3; Romans 9:20; Galatians 6:5; Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 10:13

Prayer: Dear Lord, I may not understand your reasons for doing what You do, but I know without a doubt that I need You in my life always. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye

Are You a "Dedicated" Christian?

"I am God's wheat, and I shall be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may become the pure bread of Christ."  - Ignatius of Antioch 

Weekly, I come into contact with many people who have questions about Christ and/or the church. Interestingly, most of them have either tried "the church thing" and left, and now are thinking of returning. Or they are feeling that they are losing motivation, desire, or interest in their faith and don't know what to do.

I have found that this isn't an uncommon phenomenon. When one commits themself to Christ it is a big, life-changing decision. Initially the spiritual high is enough to carry most new followers along for a while. But what happens when it begins to taper off?

We attend church regularly, participate in Bible study groups, help out in community service, and even volunteer in the church nursery, yet we're feeling like it's all slipping away. We start to wonder, "This isn't the way it's supposed to be...is it?"

Sometime ago I ran across this quotation by Francis Bacon; Renaissance philosopher, and statesman, "It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians."

After reading it, I began to think how this paragraph applies to our Christian walk. Let's begin with the first sentence, "It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong." It all commences with the spiritual food we ingest.

Daily Bible reading provides sustenance which in turn strengthens our faith. If we're not feeding our hearts a daily helping of Jesus we are essentially depriving ourselves of a main source of "spiritual nourishment."

Next, "not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich." When we place too much emphasis on earthly wealth we lose focus on Christ. Jesus died for our sins on the cross. By doing so, He saved us from eternal damnation. Through His sacrifice we gained so much more than all the riches of this life.

Then, "not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned." Are you really learning and applying what you've read in the Bible, and heard in sermons? Simply flipping through the pages of scripture and taking up seat-space in church serves no real purpose.

And finally, "not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians." We, Christians, must "walk the walk and talk the talk." How can we exemplify what Jesus taught if we don't set a good example through our own words and actions?

Jesus told his disciples that following Him wouldn't be easy (Matthew 10:22; 24:9; 2 Timothy 3:12). But, He would be there every step of the way (Matthew 28:20). This same assurance applies to all who follow Him today and always.

I feel that far too many give up much too soon. You made an important decision when you came to Christ. Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is a life-long commitment (Philippians 3:14). Stay strong, stay faithful!

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3; Matthew 22:37; James 4:8; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 1:21

Prayer: Dear Lord, whenever I find myself starting to drift away, I call out to You and You gently guide me safely back to Your loving arms; no questions asked. Thank you for your mercy and patience with me. Amen

God bless you!

Gwendolyn

Video - Beth Moore: No Longer

Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore urges us to say "no longer' to the things that damage our lives. Good listening here!  ~Eve

He Supplies Our Needed Strength

"A faithful God does not expect you to do what you cannot; He supplies the needed strength"
- Erwin W. Lutzer

May I ask you a question? "Where do you find strength for living?" Many find strength and security in obtaining a good education. But even an advanced degree won't assure us the strength we'll require when life's storms close in around us.

Others might seek strength in the accumulation of financial security. And though it may be true that money can straighten out some of life's problems, it can't resolve all of them.

Meaningful friendships might yet be another source of strength some turn to. Naturally, we can't overestimate the value of strong relationships. They can add much value to our lives especially if they are God-blessed. However, they cannot be expected to meet all of our needs, either.

In Ephesians 6:10, the apostle Paul declares that the Lord is the only true source of strength that is sufficient enough to cope with life's obstacles. At the time, he was living in an environment ruled by the strength of the Roman empire, and immorality was widespread.

From his many years of experience this veteran follower of Jesus Christ inspires us to, "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." He found the strength he needed for all circumstances in Christ (Philippians 4:13). Paul learned how, in the Lord, to live in the lowest valleys of misery and hopelessness as well as on the highest pinnacles of victory and success (Philippians 4:11-12).

We can learn much from Paul. When he tells us, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength," he speaks to us from his own personal experience. This isn't coming from some wild fanatic or delusional thinker.

He is making known the capability of Jesus Christ to give him the strength to do whatever is necessary in any cirucumstance. What does this mean for us? It signifies that by drawing our strength from the Lord, we can: oppose our most threatening fears, move closer to God while resisting Satan, and face our responsibilities and opportunities.

In conclusion, as I refer back to the opening question I hope that you too will draw your strength for living from Jesus Christ. He is the only "real" strength there is. Physical, financial, and relational strength tend to ebb and flow during our lives.

Even so, the strength we are able to acquire through Jesus Christ is eternal. Jesus wants us to tap into it. Therefore, put your trust in Jesus and follow Him. Let Christ strengthen your life starting today.

Scripture: Philippians 4:13; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 11:28; Psalm 31:24  

Prayer: Dear Lord, may You provide me the strength I need to face whatever this day has in store for me. Knowing that You are guiding me, I am fearless, rejuvenated, and feeling incredibly blessed. Amen

May your day be blessed,

Charlene

Is God Listening?

"Just because I didn’t do what you told me, doesn’t mean I wasn’t listening to you." - Hank Ketchum (creator of Dennis the Menace)

With so many distractions around us it's getting harder to get someone to listen to us all the time. You've probably experienced this while at the store, or at work, and, as difficult as it is to admit, even at home with your own family!

Maybe you're feeling that the problem might lie with you. "Am I not making myself understandable?...clear?...coherent?" "Maybe it's my voice?...delivery?...tone?" Whatever you do don't get stressed about it!

There are a couple of underlying factors involved in any basic conversation. Those two things are: listening and hearing. And no matter if it's your best friend or youngest child, they are either listening to you or hearing you. Sometimes it may seem like neither!

The truth of the matter is that there is a difference between "listening" and "hearing." Listening is a conscious choice that you or I make. It requires concentration, consideration, and thoughtful attention.

Hearing on the other hand, is the act of perceiving sound by ear. We hear lots of things but don't necessarily pay attention (listen) to them all. Both of these come into play in our communication with God, as well.

It's not that uncommon to wonder if God listens to and/or hears us. When I talk and pray to God I like to think that He's giving me His undivided attention. Ok, I'm pretty sure He is, but there's always that little lingering thought in the back of my mind, "What if...?"

Humans, being who they are, like to push the boundaries from time to time. I mean, after all, that's what we do. However, as cool and blood-rushing to the head as this might seem to us, when it comes to interacting with God...well...let's just say it's not a good thing!

This line of thinking didn't work too well with Israel repeatedly in the Old Testament. They got a little too big for their pants and thought they could do just fine without God or His help. That is until they got in trouble for something or other. Then they would call on God, and He would bail them out.

This cycle repeated itself many times. But, as in Isaiah 58, something interesting happened. God didn't pick up the phone. Israel called and called but God wasn't answering. It wasn't that He couldn't "hear" their prayers and pleas for help, He could. God just wasn't "listening" to them.

The people were living a lie and wanted God to go along with it. They wanted their cake and be able to eat it too! On the surface everything looked great, but their old behaviors hadn't changed one bit. Oh, they could try sacrificing all the animals they wanted and follow all of the other rituals, but God wasn't having any more of it.

Because of their hypocrisy God tuned them out. He could "hear" but wasn't "listening." We take for granted that God listens to our prayers, but as we can read in Isaiah 58:3-5 this isn't always the case. None of us should expect God to "listen" to prayers if they are served up by insincere hearts.

John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress, said, "In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." God doesn't expect, nor does He want us to be perfect. He just wants us to be honest and sincere in our communciation with Him (Psalm 65:2).

Don't play games with God. Be straight with Him. Approach Him with a true heart. Look for Him with eagerness. And have a passionate desire to find Him as you would any valuable treasure (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

Scripture: Mark 11:24; John 15:7; Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 6:18; Psalm 37:4

Prayer: Holy Father, I pray that I may never know a day when I cannot feel your presence with me. I need Your grace, mercy, and love; but most importantly, I need You. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Ashleigh

Friday Faith Check-up: But First...Let's Clean Up Our Act!

"God would not rub so hard if it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our natures. God loves purity so well He had rather see a hole than a spot in His child's garments."  - William Gurnall

The other day I was poring over some mail when I noticed that the lenses of my reading glasses were in desperate need of cleaning. It's not that I'm lazy or forgetful, I just hadn't realized how grimy they had become until I literally couldn't see out of them any longer.

Then it occurred to me. If something as simple as reading glasses can become grungy enough to obscure our vision, isn't it possible that our hearts can become contaminated enough to keep us from seeing God progressively? And, how does this affect us?

We wouldn't let houseguests use soiled linens or eat off of dirty dishes. What would they think? In the same respect, we would not want anything to taint, or corrupt our relationship with God, who is perfect. Therefore it is necessary to make ourselves presentable to Him. We need to "clean" ourselves up a bit.

It's likely that you've run across this concept before labeled under terms such as: sanctification, holiness, purity, or consecration. Let us set deeper, theological debate aside for the moment  and focus on our "cleanliness" with respect to our relationship with God.

Recall the temple sacrifices in the Old Testament. There were strict guidelines regarding the purity of the sacrificial animals (Deuteronomy 17:1). Jesus himself, was a "perfect, clean, and stainless" sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Obviously, this cleansing process isn't something that can be accomplished by a good scrubbing with soap and water. Sin is the real culprit within us, just as dirt is on our skin and clothing. Since all are contaminated with sin, we must be cleansed before becoming true followers of God (Romans 3:23).

After David confessed the sin of his adultery, he then bathed and changed his clothing prior to worshiping the Lord in 2 Samuel 12:20. In this way, he could present himself to God in a clean and unsoiled state. Jesus died for "our" sins on the cross. Even so, that didn't leave us totally off the hook.

A true believer in Christ must understand that our cleansing, or purification requires us to become a living sacrifice to Him. This includes repentance of our sins, devotion to Him, and separating ourselves from the corruption of the world.

Comparable to the holy temple sacrifices in the Old Testament, we have been made "acceptable" to God because of Christ's death. But that is only part of it. The Bible tells us that, we as believers are to be a "holy" people who are separate, or apart from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17). However, this cannot happen without being holy and pleasing to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2).

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:20; Psalm 51:17; 2 Timothy 2:20-21; John 4:24; Isaiah 1:16-20

Prayer: Dear Lord, may You be merciful to me and wipe away my sins. Create in me a pure heart, and a new, loyal spirit. May I also always feel Your presence in my life. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye