Mon, 19 June 2017
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Sun, 18 June 2017
Fight “God’s Playbook on Parenting”
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
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Sun, 4 June 2017
A young man, newly married, went to see his pastor. He said, “I think I love my wife too much.” The pastor was surprised and a bit curious. “What makes you say that?” “Well,” replied the young man, “I can’t get my mind off her. I think of her first thing in the morning. I think of her throughout the day and can barely get my work done. I can’t wait to get home to see her in the evening. I even dream about her.”
The pastor thought for a moment and then asked, “Do you love her as much as Christ loved the Church?” “Well, I guess I don’t love her that much.” “Well, then,” said the pastor, “Get busy!”
Men, a lot of us need to get busy loving our wives! God is going to teach us this morning how to love her well. Please turn in your Bibles to Ephesians 5:25-33 . .
Fight “Husbands, Get Busy!” Ephesians 5:25-33
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (v. 25).
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (v. 25b).
That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by . . . the word (v. 26)
In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church (v. 28-29).
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother . . .” (v. 31a).
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (v. 31).
This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church (v. 32). |
Sun, 28 May 2017
There have been some long wars in human history. For example, the U.S. has been in Afghanistan for 14 years (by comparison, WWII lasted only 4 years).
In Europe, the French and English actually fought for 116 years over the rights to the French crown. That war was called the “Hundred Years’ War.”
But the longest-standing battle in human history hasn’t lasted 10 years or 100 years or even 1000 years. It has raged since Adam and Eve. I’m talking about the “battle between the sexes.”
Today God’s word offers us hope for history’s longest battle. You can end this battle and have a home of peace and harmony!
Let’s open our Bible to Ephesians 5:21-25 for God’s battle plan as we fight for our families! Fight “Hope for History’s Longest Battle” Ephesians 5:21-25
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:21).
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord (Eph. 5:22).
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior (Eph. 5:23).
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Sun, 21 May 2017
For the adventurous among us, there are some exciting and dangerous treks that you can take. I’ll mention three (see attached photos) that I’ve taken from a list of the world’s top ten most dangerous hikes.
One is Mount Huashan in China. It is a very steep mountain, with sheer drops of hundreds of feet. The trail leaves you breathless. In Spain there is a similar trail called the “Caminito del Rey.” Many have died hiking that trail. In fact, for some years the government closed the trail because of a spate of deaths there.
My family and I have actually hiked the third trail I’ll mention. It is called the Bright Angel Trail. It is in the Grand Canyon. Strangely enough, it may be the most dangerous of all. Part of the reason it is so dangerous is because it is so close to civilization. The beauty is alluring but the dangers are real. 110 degree temps in the summer. Lack of water. Dehydration. Steep cliffs. Overconfident hikers. Strenuous climb—basically one mile up over 9.5 mile hike. Each year there are about 200 rescues attempted. About 12 people per year die at the Canyon.
Life itself is a hike. It’s a trek. There is alluring beauty all around us but also hidden dangers. This is true for your family. You’re on a journey together and God wants you to make it to the destination safely. To do so we must “watch our walk.”
In Ephesians 5:15-21 we will learn how to fight for our family by walking a secure, sensible, and spiritual path.
Fight “Watch Your Walk!” Ephesians 5:15-21
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Sun, 14 May 2017
I suppose we all know what it is to fight with our family. Even the best of families fight each other.
One of the most famous figures of the 20th century was Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a preacher and a dreamer. He dreamed that the day would come when, as he put it, “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” For his dream and labors, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
After his death, his three surviving children were the heirs of his estate. When money ran low, the two sons proposed that they sell their dad’s peace prize and Bible to generate some cash. Estimates put the value of those items at some $20 million. Their sister protested and eventually it went to court.
That’s ironic. Fighting over the peace prize.
But it’s not just the King family that fights. We all fight with each other.
But in this new series we are calling you to put your sights on a different enemy. Let’s stop fighting with our family and start fighting for our family!
The call to fight for our family comes straight from the Bible. Nehemiah 4:14b says, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Let’s fight!
Go225 “Fight for Your Family” Nehemiah 4:14
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