Miracles of Jesus -9- Nature

Miracles of Nature — The Miraculous Catching of Fish (Second)

John 21:1-14

1. What has been your best fishing, hunting, or camping event?
2. What is your favorite food on a cookout?

-------------

Epilogue: Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

 ¹ Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. ² Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. ³ Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
   “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
 ⁴ At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. ⁵ He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”
   “No,” they replied.
 ⁶ Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
 ⁷ Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. ⁸ The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. ⁹ When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
 ¹⁰ “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
 ¹² “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. ¹⁴ This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

--------------

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

-------------

Questions of Discovery

Seeking God’s Message Then and Now

1. The seven disciples have returned to the Galilee district, about 90 miles from the place Jesus was killed and rose again. What might they have discussed on the way?
2. Jesus showed himself at what place? Which disciples were there? (John 21:1-2)
3. What were the disciples doing? Where they successful? (John 21:3)
4. In fishing all night, using nets, do you think Peter just wanted something to do, or did he return to his old business?
5. Who stood on the shore in the morning? Did the disciples know who it was? (John 21:4) Why did they have difficulty recognizing Him?
6. What question did Jesus ask? (John 21:5)
7. When the disciples answered no, what did Jesus tell the men to do? What was the result? (John 21:6)
8. When the disciple whom Jesus loved told Peter it was the Lord, what did Peter do? (John 21:7)
9. Describe what the other disciples were doing. (John 21:8)
10. What did they see when they got to the land? (John 21:9)
11. When Jesus told the disciples to bring the fish to the land, how many fish were in the net? What was unusual about the net? (John 21:10-11)
12. What did Jesus tell the disciples to do? Did they recognize him yet? (John 21:12)
13. What did Jesus then do? (John 21:13)
14. How does Jesus' preparation of breakfast relate to what he did for them in (John 13:1-17)?
15. This was the third time Jesus made an appearance to a group of his disciples. (John 21:14)

----------------

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. Where do you go to get away from it all? How does God meet you there?
2. When was the last time you received a bountiful blessing? Did Jesus get your attention through the blessing?
3. Earlier Jesus had told his disciples they would become what? (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; Luke 5:10)
4. Where would the disciples receive their strength for this mission? (Philippians 4:13)

Miracles of Jesus -8- Nature

Miracles of Nature — The Withered Fig Tree

Matthew 21-18-22; Mark 11:12-26

If you could change one thing about modern Christianity, what would it be?

-------------
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
Mark 11 ¹² The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. ¹⁴ Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

Jesus Clears the Temple

 ¹⁵ When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. ¹⁷ He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” ¹⁸ When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.
 ¹⁹ That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city.
 ²⁰ The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. ²¹ Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”
 ²² Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. ²⁴ I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. ²⁵ But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”


--------------


I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

-------------

Questions of Discovery

Seeking God’s Message Then and Now

1. Describe the fig tree that Jesus saw. (Mark 11:13)
2. How does the story of the fig tree relate to the clearing of the temple (vv. 13-14, 20-21)? In what ways did the Pharisees cover their fruitlessness with flashy foliage?
3. This profiteering on the sale of sacrificial animals took place in the only area where Gentiles could worship. 4. Why would that especially anger Jesus (see Isaiah 56:6-8)?
5. What did Jesus say to the fig tree? Did his disciples hear what He said? (Mark 11:14)
6. How did the fig tree appear on the following morning (the third day of the final week)? (Mark 11:20)
7. When Peter called attention to the withered tree, what did Jesus say? (Mark 11:21-22)
8. The disciples would need great faith to preach the gospel after Jesus left them and returned to heaven. They could not doubt in their heart, but must really believe. (Mark 11:23)
9. Why was Peter amazed (v 20-21)? Should he have been? What conditions for effective prayer are upheld here?
10. In order for the disciples to have the kind of faith they would need, it was necessary for them to do what? (Mark 11:24)
11. What else must they do when they prayed? (Mark 11:25-26)

----------------

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. If you were a tree, what would help you produce more fruit: Pruning? Fertilizing? Why?
2. Like the temple, no church is perfect. What have you done to make your church a better place?
3. How do you feel about expressing anger? Have you ever expressed righteous anger? What happened?
4. What amazing answer to prayer can you remember receiving? How much faith did it take?

Miracles of Jesus -7- Nature

Miracles of Nature — The Tribute Money, Temple Tax

Matthew 17:24-27

What wild “fish story” is retold in your family?

-------------

Payment of the Temple Tax

Matthew 24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

 25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.

   But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”

 26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.

   “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin.[d] Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

--------------

"What do you think..."

-------------

Questions of Discovery

Seeking God’s Message Then and Now

1. What was the temple tax (see Exodus 30:11-16)? Who was required to pay it?
2. Why is Jesus exempt from the tax?
3. When Peter was asked if Jesus had paid the half-shekel tax, what was his response? (Matthew 17:24-25)
4. When Peter came into the house and before he could speak, Jesus asked him three questions. The first asked for Peter's opinion. What were the other two questions? (Matthew 17:25)
a. From whom do the kings of earth take ____________?
b. From their ___________________?
5. What was Peter's answer? (Matthew 17:26)
6. What was Jesus' response? (Matthew 17:26)
7. What did Jesus tell Peter to do? (Matthew 17:27)
8. What lesson was Jesus teaching Peter by paying the tax anyway?

----------------

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. Which freedoms do you enjoy most as a Christian?
2. What is at stake when we offend someone?
3. How are we to contribute to the Lord's work? 2 Corinthians 9:7)
4. What is our responsibility to our government? Romans 13:1, 7

9-25-11 Really Falling From Grace = Galatians 5:1-12

Really Falling From Grace

Galatians 5:1-12

* The Beauty of Grace.


* The Blessings of Grace. (Galatians 5:1-12)

Grace Gives You:

* As A Slave -- Spiritual Liberty (1)
* Transitional passage

* As A Debtor -- Spiritual Riches (2-6)
* Christ is of no benefit. v 2
* Obligated to keep whole law. v 3
* Fallen from grace. v 4
* Excluded from righteousness. v 5-6

* As A Runner -- Spiritual Direction (7-12)
* Hinder the truth v 7
* Not of God v 8
* Contaminate other Christians v 9
* Will be judged v 10
* Hassell & agitate true teachers v 11
* They should self destruct and be ignored v 12


* The Benefits of Grace.

Questions Worth Asking Today:

* How highly do I value my grace in Christ?
* How strongly do I resist having my freedom stolen?
* How tolerant am I of other Christians and their exercise of freedom?
* How fully do I enjoy the benefits of Christ's grace?

Miracles of Jesus -6- Nature

Miracles of Nature — The Four Thousand Fed

Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:1-10

1. What do you often tend to forget: names, birthdays, keys, umbrellas, etc. Why?

2. How did your parents complete this sentence when you were a child? "How many times do I have to tell you..."?

-----------------

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

Matthew 15 ³² Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.”

 ³³ The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?”

 ³⁴ Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

   They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.”

 ³⁵ So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.

 ³⁷ They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. ³⁸ There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. ³⁹ Then Jesus sent the people home, and he got into a boat and crossed over to the region of Magadan.

 -----------------

Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people…”

 ----------------

Questions of Discovery

Seeking God’s Message Then and Now

1. Having already seen a miraculous feeding, how do you account for the disciples' lack of faith?

2. How long had the people been with Jesus? Why did He not want to send them away? (Matthew 15:32)

3. What did the disciples say to Jesus? (Matthew 15:33)

4. How much food was available? (Matthew 15:34)

5. After He commanded the people to sit on the ground, what did Jesus do? (Matthew 15:35-36)

6. What was gathered after the people were filled? (Matthew 15:37)

7. How many people ate? (Matthew 15:38)

8. Compare the feeding of the 5000 with the feeding of the 4000.

a. place

b. number of days with Jesus

c. number of loaves

d. number of fish

e. baskets remaining

9. Why does Jesus heal and feed the crowds?

---------------------

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. When you face overwhelming situations now, how well do you remember God's provision for you in the past?

2. Do you sometimes doubt Jesus' ability to meet your needs? How so?

3. What would stimulate your memory of God's mercy?

4. How helpful is it for you to hear the stories of the way God has worked in the lives of other Christians? Why?

Miracles of Jesus -5- Nature

Miracles of Nature — Five Thousand Fed

Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14

1. Do you prefer to socialize at large parties, have a dinner for four, or spend a quiet evening with a friend? Why?

2. If you fed 5,000 people at a picnic, what would you serve?

3. What miracle is recorded in all 4 gospels?

4. Remember how the disciples were sort of on “vacation” at this point.

----------------------

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

Mark 6 ³⁰ The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.

 ³² So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. ³³ But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

 ³⁵ Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. ³⁶ Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”

 ³⁷ But Jesus said, “You feed them.”

   “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money^[g] to buy food for all these people!”

 ³⁸ “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”

   They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”

 ³⁹ Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.

 ⁴¹ Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. ⁴² They all ate as much as they wanted, ⁴³ and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. ⁴⁴ A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves!

 ---------------------

After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

-----------------------

Question of Discovery, Seeking God’s Message Then and Now

1. Why did Jesus withdraw and take the disciples away?

2. Where did Jesus take his disciples? (Mark 6:32)

3. This was near what city? (Luke 9:10)

4. Describe how the disciples might have felt?

5. What did the people do? (Mark 6:33)

6. Why did the multitudes follow? (John 6:2)

7. Jesus compared the people who followed him to what? (Mark 6:34)

8. When evening came, the disciples wanted Jesus to do what? (Mark 6:35-36)

9. How did the disciples and Jesus differ in the way they viewed the problem?

10. What did Jesus say to Philip and why? (John 6:5-6)

11. What was Philip's answer? (John 6:7)

12. What did Andrew tell Jesus? (John 6:8-9)

13. What did Jesus command the disciples? (Mark 6:39-40)

14. What did Jesus do before He gave the food to the disciples to distribute to the people? (Mark 6:41)

15. How man baskets of fragments did the disciples gather when the people were filled? (Mark 6:42-43)

16. What would you feel as a disciple when you gathered the leftovers? What was the lesson to be learned?

17. What new power do the disciples discover in Jesus?

18. How man people were there? (Matthew 14:21)

19. What did those who saw the miracle say? (John 6:14)

20. What is the lesson here?

------------------

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. If you went to a solitary place with Jesus, what would you talk about?

2. From what do you need a rest: Work hassles? Family? Church activities? Community activities? School deadlines?

3. How has Jesus fed you when you've been spiritually hungry lately?

4. How would you cope if God gave you a new challenge instead?

5. When has God stretched your limited resources (physically or emotionally) far beyond what you could have imagined?

6. In what way do you need to trust him to do so now?

7. When you sense that hunger, do you come searching for him, or do you usually try to fill up on something else first?

8. How are you like Philip and Andrew -- failing to remember something about Jesus when you face a difficult situation?

9. What insights about Jesus will you remember from the story?

10. How have you seen Jesus stretch your resources beyond what you could imagine?

9-18-11 Meet Your Mother = Galatians 4:19-31

Meet Your Mother

Galatians 4:19-31

* Mothers Are Important -- The Shape Our Lives.



* Spiritual Mothers Determine our Freedom: Galatians 4:19-31
The Historical Facts. (19-23)

The Spiritual Truths. (24-29)
Isaac illustrates the believer in some areas:
1. He was born by God's power. (4:29)
2. He brought joy -- His name means "laughter."
3. He was persecuted (Genesis 21:9)

Hagar represents
1. She was Abraham's second wife. (Genesis 16:15)
2. She was a slave. (4:22-23, 30-31)
3. She was not meant to bear children.
4. She gave birth to a slave. (Genesis 16:12)
5. She was cast out. (Genesis 21:9-10)
6. She was not married again.

The Practical Applications. (30-31)
Conflict in relationships between promise and bondage:
1. We can try to change things that oppose freedom in Christ.
2. We can try to compromise with the things that oppose freedom in Christ.
3. We can reject those who oppose freedom in Christ.

Self Examination

Self Examination

Miracles of Jesus -4- Nature

Miracles of Nature — Walking On Water

Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21

1. Of all your adventures in life, which was the most daring?

2. Describe you first experience waterskiing, surfing, or ice-skating.

3. What was one of your greatest childhood fears? Bugs, Darkness, Water?

-----------------

Jesus Walks on Water

Matthew 14 ²² Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. ²³ After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

 ²⁴ Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. ²⁵ About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

 ²⁷ But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

 ²⁸ Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

 ²⁹ “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

   So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

 ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

 ³² When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

 ----------------------

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 ---------------------

Question of Discovery, Seeking God’s Message Then and Now

1. Why did the multitudes want to take Jesus by force? John 6:15

2. What did Jesus constrain (compel) his disciples to do? Matthew 14:22

3. Why do you think Jesus wanted to pray alone? Matthew 22-23

4. When did the disciples enter their boat? They headed toward what city? John 6:16-17

5. Describe the wind and sea? Matthew 14:24

6. How far had the disciples rowed? John 6:19

7. When did Jesus come to the disciples? Matthew 14:25 (4 watches at night)

8. What was the disciple’s reaction when they saw Jesus walking on the sea? Matthew 14:26

9. What did Jesus tell them? Matthew 14:27

10. What do Peter’s actions reveal about his personality? What was Jesus’ response? Matthew 14:28-29

11. When did Peter begin to sink? Why then and not earlier? Matthew 14:30

12. What did Jesus do and say? Matthew 14:31

13. After Jesus and Peter got into the boat, what occurred? (Matthew 14:32) What does John add? John 6:21

14. What should they have perceived in the lesson of the loaves that would have prepared them for this? Who is Jesus revealing himself to be?

15. What did the disciples conclude and acknowledge about Jesus? Matthew 14:33

-----------------

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. Has Jesus ever frightened you? How?

2. Would you be ore likely to stay in the boat or step out of it?

3. What do you see in your own life that parallels Peter’s attempt to walk on water?

4. The disciples did not understand about the loaves and fish because “their hearts were hardened.” What in your life needs to be softened.

5. What promise does James give us? James 4:8

6. What cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ? Romans 8:38-39

7. What does separate us from God? Isaiah 59:2

8. Where in your life do you need Jesus to say, “It is I, don’t be afraid”?

Miracles of Jesus -3- Nature

Miracles of Nature — Calming The Storm

Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

1. When you were a kid, where did you go to hide in the house when there was a storm?

2. Have you ever been in a natural disaster? What happened?

3. Is that the worst storm you remember?

 ----------------------------

The Wind Ran Out of Breath

Mark 4 ^35-38Late that day he said to them, "Let's go across to the other side." They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?"

 ^39-40Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?"

 ⁴¹They were in absolute awe, staggered. "Who is this, anyway?" they asked. "Wind and sea at his beck and call!"

----------------

“What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

 ---------------

Question of Discovery, Seeking God’s Message Then and Now

1. What are the disciples feeling as this storm begins? As it whips up? When Jesus silences it?

2. What did Jesus say to his disciples one evening? Mark 4:35

3. Whom did they send away or leave behind? Mark 4:36

4. What experience did they face and how intense was it? Mark 4:37

5. What was Jesus teaching the by sleeping through the storm? By rebuking it?

6. How do you picture the disciple’s faces when he rebuked the storm?

7. What did the disciples ask Jesus about His feelings about them? Mark 4:38

8. How did Jesus deliver the ship from danger? What did He say? Mark 4:39

9. After Jesus solved the storm, what question went to the heart of the situation? Mark 4:40

10. What tone of voice did Jesus use in Mark 4:40?

11. What was Jesus showing them about himself in all this?

12. What did they say to each other? Mark 4:41

-------------------------

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. Comparing your life to a storm, what would it be like right now: Partly cloudy? Lightening? Raging? Clearing up? What do you wish Jesus would do for you?

2.When circumstantial clouds darken your life, do you sense the Son still shinning? Or does he seem asleep?

3. What do you learn about Jesus from these stories? How does that relate to the times you face evil?

4. When storms come our way in trial and temptations, to whom should we turn and why? Psalm 46:1

5. What “storms” seem too much for you to handle now?

6. Those who are in Christ (believers and followers) are promised the peace of God. Describe the peace of God. Philippians 4:7

9-11-11 Hijacked

Hijacked

10 years ago today several airplanes were hijacked.

Hijacked
Aircraft hijacking
Carjacking
Maritime hijacking or piracy
Truck hijacking
Hijack attack, in communication, a form of active wiretapping in which the attacker seizes control of a previously established communication association
Hijack (band), a 1990s British hiphop group
Hijack (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi film starring Shiney Ahuja and Esha Deol
Hijack (1973 film), a 1973 made-for-television movie

Attitudes and situations can "Hijack" our lives, marriages, careers, churches.

Anger
Some studies show the 50% of emotional, relational, and psychosomatic problems are related to dealing with anger in an unhealthy way.

    21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Matthew 5:21-22

Recognize unhealthy anger in our lives.
* Football players don’t play well with out of control anger.
* It affects your health.
* Jesus got angry, but didn’t sin.
http://www.roadrage.com/
70% of people tailgate to encourage the car in front of them to go faster.
71% use their horns to show irritation with the other drivers.
77% of males use obscene gestures, while 80% of the women do.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

When you get hurt…
1) Matthew 18:15-17 Go to that person

Lust
Pornography 12,000 movies
Other 500 movies
1 out of 3 are women

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
Answer
If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:29-30

Lies
Sporting events must have people who compete on a level playing field.
Marion Jones who admitted cheating.
Steroids etc. in baseball.
People exaggerate the truth in their own favor.
Study – World net daily.
Average person tells 4 lies a day.
10460 / year.
88,000 by 60 years old.
#1 Lie, “I’m fine”
Others:
This tastes delicious
Nice to see you.
Sorry I missed your call.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; Matthew 5:33-34

Simply tell the truth everywhere.
Avoid empty promises.

or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:35-37

Bitterness
Bitterness can take you places you don’t want to go.
It will take away joy.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42

Let go of the desire to retaliate.
Sometimes people are imprisoned by their own bitterness.

Greed
Excessive desire for wealth or possessions.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
   2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4

It is about trusting God and not drawing attention to yourself.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
   28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Matthew 6:25-32

9-11-11 God's Timing -- God's Way = Galatians 4:1-18

“God’s Timing – God’s Way”

Galatians 4: 1-18

The Impatience of Human Beings Does Not Change God’s Plan.


Trust in God’s Timing & Way. (Galatians 4:1-18)

Focus On Christ Helps Your Spiritual Growth:

Remember Who You Are. (vs. 1-7)
1. What we were:  children in bondage (vs. 1-3)
2. What God did:  redeemed us (vs. 4-5)
3. What we are:  sons and heirs (vs. 6-7)

Remember How You Ran Ahead of God.  (vs. 8-11)
1. In idolatry (vs. 8-9)
2. In making own spiritual calendar (vs. 10-11)

Remember Your Purpose Through Pain.  (vs. 12-18)
1. Paul’s appeal to them (v. 12a)
2. Paul’s remembrance of them (vs. 12-16)
3. Paul’s warning to them (vs. 17-18)

The Results of a Christ-focused Faith.

• You have confidence that God will see you through.
• You have assurance in God’s word.
• You have conviction about God’s plan for you.

Remember Your Baptism

Audio sermon on "Remember Your Baptism"

Miracles of Jesus

The Miracles of Jesus

Mark's gospel is one filled with miracles, 19 in fact, which shows the power of this man called Jesus. Mark wants us to see and come to believe that Jesus has power over the spiritual struggles we may face. So when we ask, "what is the purpose of miracles?" let's see what the Holy Spirit teaches in His word.
I. Jesus did many miracles. John 20:30
A. Miracles demonstrating power over disease, nature, death, and demons.

1. Healing a leper, Matt. 8:2-3; Mark 1:40-42; Luke 5:12-13
2. Healing the centurion's servant, Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10
3. Healing Peter's mother-in-law Matt. 8:14-15; Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-39
4. Calming the storm, Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:37-41; Luke 8:22-25
5. Healing the one/two Gadarenes, Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-13; Luke 8:27-33
6. Healing a paralyzed man, Matt. 9:2-7; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-25
7. Raising Jairus' daughter from the dead, Matt. 9:18-25; Mark 5:22-42; Luke 8:41-56
8. Healing a woman with a hemorrhage, Matt. 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-29; Luke 8:43-48
9. Healing two blind men, Matt. 9:27-31
10. Healing a dumb man, Matt. 9:32-33
11. Healing a man with a withered hand, Matt. 12:10-13; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-10
12. Healing a blind and dumb man, Matt. 12:22; Luke 11:14
13. Feeding the 5,000, Matt. 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-13
14. Walking on the water, Matt. 14:25; Mark 6:48-51; John 6:19-21
15. Healing the Canaanite woman's daughter, Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
16. Feeding the 4,000, Matt. 15:32-38; Mark 8:1-9
17. Healing a boy with epilepsy, Matt. 17:14-18; Mark 9:17-29; Luke 9:38-43
18. Finding of the coin in the fish's mouth, Matt. 17:24-27
19. Healing of Bartimaeus and another blind man, Matt. 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43
20. The withered fig tree, Matt. 21:18-22; Mark 11:20-26
21. Healing a possessed man, Mark 1:23-26
22. Raising the widow of Nain's son from the dead, Luke 7:11-15
23. Healing a deaf and dumb man, Mark 7:31-37
24. Healing the blind man at Bethsaida, Mark 8:22-26
25. The catch of fish, Luke 5:1-11
26 Healing the woman bent double, Luke 13:11-13
27. Healing a man with dropsy, Luke 14:1·4
28. Healing the ten lepers, Luke 17:11·19
29. Healing Malchus' ear, Luke 22:50-51
30. Turning water to wine, John 2:1-11
31. Healing the official's son at Capernaum, John 4:46-54
32. Healing the man at the pool of Bethesda, John 5:1-9
33. The boat immediately reaching shore, John 6:21
34. Healing the man born blind, John 9
35. Raising Lazarus from the dead, John 11:1-44
36. A catch of fish, John 21:1-11

II. Purpose of Jesus miracles. 

A. Show credentials of Christ as Divine. (Acts 2:22, 31-32) (Mark 2: 10) 

B. Produce faith in Jesus claim to give eternal life. (John 20:31) 

C. He had compassion on people. (Matthew 14:14) 

D. Confirm the truthfulness of the word. (Mark 16:17-20) (Heb. 2:4 

E. Make us know Jesus has power to forgive sins. (Mark 2:10-12) 

F. Cause amazement, worship, and awe in those who viewed them. (Mark 5:33) 

III. Miscellaneous information. 

A. Others could work miracles. (Mark 16:17-20) 

B. They were for a limited people. (Acts 8:18) (I Cor. 12:29) 

C. They were for a limited time. (I Corinthians 13:8-10) 

D. Others could do apparent miracles. (2 Thessalonians 2:9) (Mark 13:21-23) 

9-4-11 The Promise and Purpose of the Law - Galatians 3:15-29

The Promise and Purpose of the Law

Galatians 3:15-29

There Is Great Hope In Anticipating The Fulfillment of A Promise.


The Promise And Purpose of the Old Testament Law. (Galatians 3:15-29)
The Superiority of the Promise (15-18)
* Its Confirmation (15)
* Its Christ-centeredness (16)
* Its Chronology (17)
* Its Completeness (18)

The Inferiority of the Law (19-22)
* Its purpose was temporary (19a)
* Its mediators (19b-20)
* Its accomplishments and Limitations (21-22)

The Purpose of the Law (22-29)
* Under Law: Bondage (23-24)
1. The Law as a prison (24)
2. The Law as Guardian and Guide (24)
* In Christ: Freedom (25-29)
1. Sons of God (26-27)
2. One with other Christians (28)
3. Heirs of the promise (29)

The Christians Response To God's Covenants
* Understand the Law's desire is to lead you to Christ.
* Accept the superiority of Christ to the Old Testament Law.
* Realize Christ wants unity in Christ.
* Experience Christ in immersion by faith not by works.