Faith
7635 - Much Love
July 30, 2010 Filed in: Bible Study
In the life of Jesus, there were many important and wonderful moments, but this is one of the most beautiful.
There is a beautiful picture of Love in Luke 7:36-50.
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is -- that she is a sinner."
Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven --for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
This scene of life contrasts a Pharisee and a known sinner.
Click through to listen and read more...
There is a beautiful picture of Love in Luke 7:36-50.
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is -- that she is a sinner."
Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven --for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
This scene of life contrasts a Pharisee and a known sinner.
Click through to listen and read more...
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First Time Preaching
June 06, 2010 Filed in: Blog
I had the joy and pleasure of preaching at Magnolia Bible Church on Sunday. It was a great responsibility, and I was thankful for the opportunity and greatly appreciative that the Lord enabled the message to go very well.
Pastor Scot Wall was out of town leading a retreat at Camp Peniel, and he extended me the invitation to come preach in his place. It was an intimidating opportunity, and was something that I went into with great respect for the responsibility of bringing a message to the body of Christ in that setting.
I thought it went well, and was very affirmed and incredibly encouraged by the many positive responses after the service. My contact at the church, one of the elders, was very surprised that it was only my first time preaching, as he thought that I did an excellent job.
Joe Wall, Scot’s dad and the Executive Vice President of East West Ministries, was also very surprised to learn that it was my first time, and made the very encouraging remark that he felt that the Lord might have a calling in my life to do this more.
Faith During the Drought
For this sermon I am preaching on 1 Kings 17.
Click through to listen...
Pastor Scot Wall was out of town leading a retreat at Camp Peniel, and he extended me the invitation to come preach in his place. It was an intimidating opportunity, and was something that I went into with great respect for the responsibility of bringing a message to the body of Christ in that setting.
I thought it went well, and was very affirmed and incredibly encouraged by the many positive responses after the service. My contact at the church, one of the elders, was very surprised that it was only my first time preaching, as he thought that I did an excellent job.
Joe Wall, Scot’s dad and the Executive Vice President of East West Ministries, was also very surprised to learn that it was my first time, and made the very encouraging remark that he felt that the Lord might have a calling in my life to do this more.
Faith During the Drought
For this sermon I am preaching on 1 Kings 17.
Click through to listen...
7553 - Faith in Whom
January 20, 2010 Filed in: Bible Study
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In our study of 1 John we are now in chapter 5. Let’s read verses 4 and 5 since they overlap in thought.“For everyone born of God has overcome the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
In our last study in God’s Word we discussed verse 4, which tells us that our victory over the world comes by reason of our faith. The requirement of faith was emphasized.
Today we want to expand on that thought by finding in whom we must place our faith?
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7520 - Jamie Johns - Hunger and Thirst
November 04, 2009 Filed in: Interview
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An interview with Dr. Jamie Johns, Associate Professor and Director of Biblical Languages at Houston Baptist University and Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Dr. Johns discusses what is on his heart after another three month trip to Africa with HaMoreh Ministries, the ministry that he and his wife Mimi founded in 2005 to reach out to eastern Sub-Saharan Africa. Their goal is to preach, save, and disciple future leaders and pastors in an area of the world that is hungry and thirsty for the good news of Jesus.
Jamie shares that in an area of the world that is struggling in so many physical ways, there is a body of believers that is flourishing in Christ.
“I am deeply convicted, and deeply encouraged by the kind of Christianity I see growing in East Africa. A joyous expression of deep faith in awful circumstances...”
We discuss the differences in faith present in Africa and in the United States. Jamie describes a level of faith that is deeper in Africa in the people he is working with, than with the culture he sees in the US. He traces much of the differences in faith to the Enlightenment period in western civilization.
To learn more about Dr. Jamie Johns and his ministry HaMoreh read the extensive profile of Dr. Jamie Johns and HaMoreh in our Interview section.
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7488 - Faith
August 21, 2009 Filed in: Special Program
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A common theme which runs through each of our messages is the necessity for each individual to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.What is faith? Let me give you an illustration.
You read about a giant sale of new cars. They have some good deals. You are interested so you talk to them. You choose a make and model, color and the accessories you want. They give you a price and assure you they have plenty in stock, but you must act before Saturday. You go home and make arrangements for financing. You scrape together the required down payment. You get a good nights sleep. You have no fear that they'll change the price. You have no fear that they'll change the deal.
Friend, that's faith. Faith in the dealer.
Listen to a 60 second SONspot which talks about faith and then we will discuss faith further.
7483 - Faith in the Unseen
August 10, 2009 Filed in: Special Program
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In many cultures we have little difficulty in finding people who have trouble believing things they haven’t seen, especially if it involves areas of life which they cannot authenticate by their senses. They think if they can’t touch it or taste it, then how could it be real.Listen to a 60 second SONspot which portrays a person like this.
The young man in this spot is like many who have been educated & trained in our scientific age. They have been given the impression that if something cannot be perceived by the bodily senses then it cannot be real.