Finding Truth In Divided Christendom By: Denny Smith | - How can one find and know the truth of Christianity that comes from God in a world that is divided over that truth to the extent that today we have thousands and thousands of denominations because they cannot agree with one another over what that truth is. Many no longer think it is possible to know the truth in any absolute sense. It is just a matter of individual opinion is a common thought. Consequently, it is not unusual to hear sentiments like just as long as you believe in Jesus and are ... Tags:truth, Christianity, words of Jesus, word of God, scripture
Christian Relationship Help: Jesus' Model For How To Deal With Difficult People By: Karla Downing | - If you are looking for Christian relationship help, you are probably dealing with difficult people and wondering how God would want you to respond to them. Jesus dealt with many difficult people. Here are three principles he put into practice:
Know the person. Jesus always knew who he was dealing with. He was able to discern the thoughts and intent of the Pharisees and other people who were trying to trick him, kill him, and undermine him. John 2:24 says, "Jesus would not entrust hi ... Tags:Christian relationship help, dealing with difficult people,
Best Interest In Mind By: The Sexperiment | - You think no one will know it. Its just you buying a Hummer. So you buy the Hummer. But guess what? It might be private for a while, but after a while people are going to notice, Hey, John, new ride! Hummer? Wow! Pretty awesome. Ive never seen one of these things. Look at the size of those tires! Wow! What happened there? The private decision all of a sudden went public.
Online Bible Study For Women By: Hayden Arguellez | - What did Jesus Genuinely write within the sand any time he faced the adulterous woman in John 8? Preachers have provided us an array of postulations. I believe I own a pretty definitive response to in which question. Here are a few lame types. Was Jesus doodling to booth for time until He collected His ideas? Develop a rest. He was the Boy of God. His ideas were certainly collected.Was He writing inside sandskrit? (Forgive the pun). Do Christ scrawl what they are called of some prostitute ... Tags:online bible study for women, bible study for women online, womens bible study, christianity today bible study
Non-offensive Christianity By: Denny Smith | - If someone was to ask you or me what constitutes Christian character what would we say? Off the top of our head we would most likely say love for God and our fellowman and faith in the Lord Jesus. As we thought about it more intently we would add things like the fruit of the spirit, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Gal. 5:22-23 NKJV) We might recall Peter's admonition to add to our faith virtue and g ... Tags:Christianity, Christian character, narrow gate, word of God
Bible, A Complete Book Of Jesus By: K.P. Yohannan | - But then we see what pulled Career out of his despair. It says in Job 42:56 (NIV), My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have viewed you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dirt and ashes. Is not that interesting? Prior to Job had heard a lot about God, but now he noticed Him. And when he saw Him, every little thing built perception. The issues stopped. The arguments with his friends stopped. The struggles stopped mainly because Task observed Jesus.
Becoming A Christian By: Joyce Meyer | - Now tonight Im in the telling mode but you know what? If I don't also show people with my lifestyle, then Im no better than the Pharisees that Jesus had trouble with; Im just a phony religious person who tells everybody else what to do and doesn't show anybody anything.
Joyce Meyer believe we need to do a lot more showing and perhaps a little less telling. That may sound funny because I know we're always telling people "witness, witness, witness, witness" and obvious ... Tags:joyce meyer, joyce meyer ministries
A Good Shepherd By: Ed Young | - Maybe a good shepherd would say under his breath, I still havent found what I am looking for until I find the sheep. He probably looked under rock and shrubs. Jesus said, One day, when the shepherd found the sheep, he would take the sheep and place it over his shoulders and walk back home. Check out what Jesus said happened. Luke 15:7, I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need ... Tags:Ed Young, Fellowship Church Grapevine, Ed Young Jr
Christian Youth Illustrations: You Can Trust Him By: KenSapp | - He is unparalleled and unprecedented.
He is the centerpiece of civilization.
He is the superlative of all excellence.
He is the sum of human greatness.
He is the source of divine grace.
His name is the only one able to save,
and his blood is the only power able to cleanse.
His ear is open to the sinner's call.
His hand is quick to lift the fallen soul.
He's the eternal lover of us all - every one,
And you can trust Him.
Youth Ministry Illustrations: Youth Ministry Must Be Relational By: KenSapp | - If you want to make a difference in the lives of youth, it all starts with relationships. Youth don't care what you know until they know that you care. And as you spend time with youth you will discover that more is caught than taught. Christ always focused on the needs of the people rather than programs. Too often today I think we have flipped Christ's priorities upside down focusing more on programs than people.
The New Testament gospel is actually The Impossible Dream. It allows us to believe in the impossible, because God says it. God cannot lie, so what he says must be true -- the gospel truth. In the Garden, Adam and Eve ate from The Tree of Life. This is a single-mindedness of total trust in God. It was not mixed with anything else.
Youth Sermons: Crushed By: Josh Goh | -
Materials Modeling Clay.
Activity Make several objects from modeling clay. You might choose to mold objects that were used in the trials and crucifixion of Christ: - a basin (used by Pilate to wash his hands) - a crown of thorns - a robe - a whip - a pair of dice (used by the soldiers to cast lots) - a sword (used by Peter to defend Christ) - A tassel from a robe (worn by Pharisees), etc.
Explain the significance of each ... Tags:Childrens Sermons, sermon 4 kids, sermons for youth, youth sermons, sermon for kids
Jesus Casts Out Demons By The Holy Spirit"€™s Power By: Homero | -
Jesus caused great admiration when He cast out demons from a man possessed by the devil; the power of Jesus was given by the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus was always criticized when he began his ministry; Jesus' case was when he cast out demons causing great respect among the people; the witnesses watched as a dumb man reaped health recovery.
In the biblical passage that we will see, we realize the power of Jesus against Satan, and we also note how Christ was criticized for hi ... Tags:spirit of god, jesus love, God, bible study
The Islamic Jesus? By: DavidBSmith. | - Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands ... Tags:addiction, addiction treatment, addictive personalities, addiction recovery, stop addiction, definition of addiction, types of addictions, addiction research
Can Christian Meditation Transform The Church? By: Rhonda Jones | - As I sat in church this past week listening to the pastor talk about clarity and contemplation, I wondered if the congregation really grasped the significances of what he was sharing. He spoke of prayer and spending time with God, but did it register or was it just another Christian ideal that sounded good but had no real practicality. Knowing what I have learned about contemplation, meditation, and prayer, it takes discipline to carve out time everyday to spend time with God in stillness and re ... Tags:christian meditation, church, meditating, contemplation, silence, church service, jesus meditation, meditate on God, meditating in church, transform
"I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." - Matthew 5:18
Much Ado About Talents By: benj4yafgr | - As we all know, the Messiah had many talents. In Matthew 25:14-30, he told a parable describing the future inhabitants of the Kingdom of Heaven. However, there is a popular misconception he was exclusively referring to Christians. As we will soon discover; he was not! Long story short; before going on a long journey, a (wealthy) man entrusted three of his servants with various amounts of money. Unto the first servant he gave five talnts; unto the second servant, two; and unto the third, a sing ... Tags:talents, christians, christianity, jesus, kingdom of heaven, Messiah, scribes and pharisees
Truth Be Told: A Blog Series on Jesus and the Truth
I remember when I was in 6th grade I lied to my mom. I told her that the purple teddy bear that I had taken to school was NOT to give to my girlfriend Sara. That was not true. It was for Sara...and she loved it...and I did like 5 more pull-ups in gym class I was so pumped up.
The Rise Of Rabbinic Judaism By: Jacob Lumbroso | - The transformation of the religion of biblical Israel into classical Judaism was a lengthy process that occurred over several centuries. The Bible itself reveals a process of change evident throughout Israel's history, especially with regards to the centralization of the Temple cult and the Israel's notion of self-definition, the rise of kingship, and the role of the priesthood and prophets.
The extent of Pharisaic influence in the late Second Temple era is of tremendous importance ... Tags:Judaism, Israel, Rabbinic Judaism, Rabbis
2nd Part : Pre-modern Pagan Fascisms. Islam Is One Amongst Many. By: C. Read | - There is something to these criticisms, though the Christian church has literally 1000s of sects including many which join faith to reason. But the criticism is clear. It is not just 'Orientalism's which prey on people and promise to turn 'chaos into order' and reward the great and good who follow the program with benefits in this life, and perhaps in a next incarnation. Early forms of Judaism which birthed Christianity, were akin in some ways to Islamic pagan ritualization. The Jewish church in ... Tags:Islam is not a religion, Islam is a moon cult
We have a lot of modern day Pharisees in the church. LOTS of them! They try to tune us into God through a BC mindset. Jesus never got angry at sinners, but he did at the Pharisees and religious leaders. He called them hypocrites, 'white washed tombs,' etc. But he got angry at the Pharisees — the most religious people of his day! Let's look more closely at WHY this was true of Jesus.
The Leadership Style Of Jesus Christ (part 3) By: Dr Gerrit van Vuuren | - In the previous part of this series on the leadership style of Jesus Christ we looked at the instructions that Jesus gave Peter to feed the lambs, shepherd the sheep and feed the sheep. We also saw that Jesus described Peter (rock) as the foundation of the church.
Let us now look at the reason for the three specific commands, as referred to in the previous paragraph. In his book Being A True Shepherd Leader, the author describes the functions of a shepherd in full. ... Tags:leadership style of Jesus Christ, christian leadership,
Deeper Spiritual Understanding "€" How Do I Acquire It? By: Denny Smith | - A person who is a sincere Christian, a true believer from the depths of his/her heart, is a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness (Matt. 5:6) desiring deeper spiritual understanding. There is always a desire to know more and understand better. There is an inner longing to draw nearer to God and feel closer to him and so the way is sought to do so.
Paul's Conversion "€" Justified By Faith By: Denny Smith | - The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who was soon to be known as Paul the apostle, is one of the most interesting accounts of conversion to Christianity found in the Bible. One can read about Paul's conversion in 3 different accounts given in the book of Acts Acts 9:1-19, 22:1-16, 26:9-20. Saul of Tarsus was one of the really bad men we read about in the New Testament which makes his conversion even more dramatic. How bad a man was Saul?
Christianity "€" Who Rules, Reason Or Emotions? By: Denny Smith | - A man is either led in life by his emotions or his reason and which makes all the difference in the world. A life ruled by emotions is a life destined for disaster, a life where reason is always found in the back seat where it cannot be heard over the roar of the engine of emotion as it propels an individual down the road of life.
When emotions rule your life everything is done on the basis of feelings with minimal thought being given to truth or reality. We do not see because we ... Tags:Christianity, reason, emotion, God, emotions, religion
Did Christ Rise From The Dead Or Is Faith Folly? By: Denny Smith | - Paul, in answer to the question proposed, would say faith is but folly if Christ did not rise from the dead. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! (1 Cor. 15:16-17 NKJV) If Christ did not rise from the dead what hope do we have as we grow old and face the inevitable? Are we but animals?
Without Natural Affection And Covenant Breakers "€" Rom. 1:31 By: Denny Smith | - Most of us prefer a version of the Bible today that is a little more up to date in its language than is the old original American Standard Version of 1901 or the King James Version thus making the Bible a little easier to read and understand. However, in a few passages scattered about the Bible even the new literal translations like the ESV, NASB, and the NKJV, all excellent translations when taken as a whole, have led us slightly astray with inferior translations in an attempt to make reading ... Tags:natural affection, covenant breakers, Rom. 1:31, faithless
Does The Messiah Have To Obey The Rabbis? By: William Nugent | - The word "Messiah" is the anglicized form of the Hebrew word "Mashiyach." The word "Christ" is synonymous with "Messiah" and means "anointed." Messiah is a title that was commonly used in the Old Testament when referring to royalty. King David even referred to king Saul as the Lord's messiah in First Samuel 24:10.
The rabbis acknowledge that there is quite a difference between a messiah and the Messiah. The rabbis also acknowledge that there are hundreds of prophetic passages in t ... Tags:Messiah, Jewish, objections, Mashiyach, Jesus, Sabbath, rabbinic, rabbis
How Do I Worship God? By: Rhonda Jones | - Each week people of faith enter churches and houses of God to worship and learn more about Him through the scriptures and messages presented by their pastors or spiritual teachers. During most services, believers will sing songs, clap their hands, and praise God as a form of worshipping and exalting Him. These services allows believers to come together in fellowship and worship God corporately. But is this all there is to worshipping God? Is worshipping God limited to a church service or singing ... Tags:how to worship god, corporately, worship god, worshipping god, truth means, god, spirit and truth
Behold, The Judge Is Standing At The Door (james 5:9) By: Denny Smith | - It is sometimes hard for Christians to grasp emotionally that they will be judged by Christ on the Day of Judgment. So much has been made of the grace of God and God's love that it is hard to come to grips with the idea of judgment but James in writing to Christians says, "Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:9 NKJV) That ought to be a sobering thought to all who seriously contemplate it.
When Did Obedience Become Legalism? By: Denny Smith | - We seem to be living in a time in the present Christian era where people seem to feel that all that matters in Christianity is love and Gods grace, that obedience is simply legalism, and that people do not have to obey Bible commands for salvation (except, of course, for the command to believe in Jesus as the Savior).
Grace is made cheap. Live as you like, call yourself a Christian, and Gods grace will cover you. It is said it is what is in the heart (generally defined as th ... Tags:obedience, legalism, God, grace, love, iniquity, commandment
The Prodigal Son "€" When He Came To Himself By: Denny Smith | - The story of the prodigal son as told by Jesus in Luke 15:11-32 is too long to quote here but also so well known that almost everyone acquainted with the Bible at all knows the story and the main thrust of the lesson taught there. However, there is one phrase in the account we do not talk enough about - the phrase when he came to himself found in verse 17.
Healing, Helping, Administrations By: Phillip Ross | - The gift of healing included everything that would contribute toward increased human health and well-being as a result of the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the application of the Trinitarian perspective that produced modern science and technology. Indeed, increased health and healing of people under the influence of Christianity have resulted from faith in Jesus Christ. Modern medicine and the health industry must be included in the fruits of this gift.
Will You See Jesus? By: Benjamin R. Burks | - Mark 3:1-6, And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. (2) And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. (3) And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. (4) And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. (5) And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being griev ... Tags:will you know about Jesus or will you know Jesus
The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist By: Denny Smith | - There are a lot of mysterious characters mentioned in the Bible we would like to know a lot more about than we do. Apollos, the eloquent evangelist, ranks right up there near the top among such New Testament characters. However, the fact that we know but little about him could be said equally of most of the apostles. The thing that makes Apollos mysterious is what we do know about him.
Jesus Is Crazy By: David B. Smith | - Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together hi ... Tags:Christian preaching, father dave
Sex, Sin And Salvation By: David B. Smith | - The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among ... Tags:Christian preaching, father dave
This is another of the Beatitudes that has been grossly perverted by the enemies of the Lord, enemies who have, like their predecessors the Pharisees, posed as the champions of the truth and boasted of a sanctity superior to that which the true people of God would dare to claim. All through this Christian era, also, there have been poor, deluded souls who have claimed an entire purification of the old man. Others ... Tags:beatitudes, kingdom of heaven, aw pink, blessed are the poor
The Triumphal Entry By: MMM | - A few days ago, we commemorated Palm Sunday.
Join me as we join the rest of Jerusalem witness that day NOW.
All four Gospels mention this event, which, at first glance, seems to me the one departure from Jesus aversion to acclaim.
Crowds spread out their clothes and tree branches, palm fronds, across the road to show their adoration: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! they exclaim at the top of their voices. Imagine this event ... Tags:triumphal entry, palm sunday, Jesus, Virgin Mary, love, hope, faith
Speak Evil Of No Man...really?? By: Aaron Taylor | - I love the New Testament. I think it's fair to say that I live, eat, breathe, and drink the New Testament. I honestly think that there's no piece of literature more inspiring and uplifting than the New Testament. Having said that, I have to admit that more often than not, I find myself frustrated—and a bit annoyed—at its content. Because the more I read the New Testament, the more I realize that God has set the bar sky-high for those that would call themselves Christ -followers. C ... Tags:Barack Obama, Chairman Mao, Christians, Glen Beck, Hillary Clinton, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, Sarah Palin, Stalin
Beatitudes Remixed (encountering The Beauty Of Christ) By: Pablo Perez | - Our meditations upon the Beatitudes would not be complete unless they turned our thoughts to the Person of our blessed Lord. As we have endeavored to show, they describe the character and conduct of a Christian. Since Christian character is formed in us by the experiential process of our being conformed to the image of Gods Son, then we must turn our gaze upon Him who is the perfect pattern.
Palestine At The Time Of Jesus' Birth By: Andrew Cort | - During their years of exile in Babylonia and Persia, the Jewish people had absorbed the idea that life is a battlefield between Good and Evil. Later on, back in Roman-occupied Judea, the line between Good and Evil seemed to have been clearly drawn between the Jews and the Romans. This divisiveness was further fueled by several conflicts that had been brewing for a very long time:
How To Make Yourself Uncommon ... Biblically. By: Robin Calamaio | - One time, some scribes and Pharisees were offended because Jesus' disciples did not wash their hands before eating. Jesus responded with this. "There is nothing outside the man which, going into him, can defile him; But the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man" (Mk 7:15). When in private, the disciples asked Jesus about this statement. He added, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of man, proceed the evi ... Tags:koine greek, bible and sin, common man, pharisees, heavenly father, sin in the bible, bible sin verse, fornication, biblical fornication, coveting
American Sleeping Giant Awakes - But Is Too Heavy To Walk On Islamic Jihadist Eggshells By: Rev Michael Bresciani | - One of America's largest Christian broadcasters, Trinity Broadcasting Network has decided to drop one of its shows because it does not want to agitate Muslim Jihadist. Of course they say it is because they don't want to offend Muslims in general and that because they are beginning to broadcast into Arab countries. Nevertheless the dye is cast and with a brand of political correctness of their own making they plan to bounce the long running show created by the late Zola Levitt. The last show is s ... Tags:Islamic, Jihadist, jihad, American, sleeping giant, Hal Lindsey, Zola Levitt, Mark Levitt, George Bush, 9/11, Pharisees, TBN, Trinity Broadcasting, Jim Jones, Guyan
