Are you really in love with Jesus or just the stuff he offers?
To paraphrase Jon Piper from his book, God is the Gospel. If you could have heaven with no sickness, no pain, all of your friends and family. Being able to do the best activities you ever did, but Jesus was not there could you be satisfied?
Are we in love with Jesus?
This is a hard question to answer, but an important question to ask none the less. If we come to the conclusion that we may not be, what is next? How do we fall in love with God?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Crazy Love Chapter 5
Serving Leftovers to a Holy God.
What is it that you believe? Why do you believe it?
You see all to often we do not investigate enough what it is that we truly belive. We do not know the Bible enough so instead we listen to people who do. We hear what they tell us and take that as what the Bible says.
Have you ever really read the Bible? I don't just mean a chapter here or there, but really gone through the pages and asked God to reveal to you what a relationship with him is all about. There comes a time when you will have to decide what you believe. Not what your pastor or youth pastor has taught you. So please read the Bible and ask God to show you the truth for yourself,
We will be talking about our own doubts. What about God do we really doubt, and why?
Then taking a look at the Bible and seeing what it says about those very doubts.
What is it that you believe? Why do you believe it?
You see all to often we do not investigate enough what it is that we truly belive. We do not know the Bible enough so instead we listen to people who do. We hear what they tell us and take that as what the Bible says.
Have you ever really read the Bible? I don't just mean a chapter here or there, but really gone through the pages and asked God to reveal to you what a relationship with him is all about. There comes a time when you will have to decide what you believe. Not what your pastor or youth pastor has taught you. So please read the Bible and ask God to show you the truth for yourself,
We will be talking about our own doubts. What about God do we really doubt, and why?
Then taking a look at the Bible and seeing what it says about those very doubts.
Crazy Love Chapters 4
The Profile of a Lukewarm person.
This week we will take a long hard look at our own lives to see if we are really in love with God. Do we have a crazy and passionate love for him, or do we go through the motions. This is a very hard process, but one that is very important. We do not want to be lukewarm, instead we want to be piping hot, on fire for God. With a passion for his word.
Here are some examples of what Francis Chan describes as a lukewarm person:
Lukewarm People attend Church regularly. They believe it is what "good Christians" are expected to do.
Lukewarm People give money to charity and the church, as long as it does not impinge on their standard of living.
Lukewarm People rarely share their faith with their neighbor, they are afraid they will be rejected.
What is it that holds you back, that causes you to be lukewarm?
This week we will take a long hard look at our own lives to see if we are really in love with God. Do we have a crazy and passionate love for him, or do we go through the motions. This is a very hard process, but one that is very important. We do not want to be lukewarm, instead we want to be piping hot, on fire for God. With a passion for his word.
Here are some examples of what Francis Chan describes as a lukewarm person:
Lukewarm People attend Church regularly. They believe it is what "good Christians" are expected to do.
Lukewarm People give money to charity and the church, as long as it does not impinge on their standard of living.
Lukewarm People rarely share their faith with their neighbor, they are afraid they will be rejected.
What is it that holds you back, that causes you to be lukewarm?
Saturday, October 17, 2009
God's Global Mission
Family Devotional 10/18/09
Student Life Publishing
You are wealthy Did you know that? Okay maybe not in comparison to the celebrities in People magazine but if you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back and a roof over your head, you are richer than 75 percent of the world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish somewhere....you are among the 8 percent that comprise the world’s wealthiest.
But we possess an even greater wealth. Knowledge of salvation.
Read Psalm 67 together as a family. It’s almost as if the unknown writer of the hymn had a glimpse into the future. Although he didn’t know exactly how salvation would come he was sure that it would come because he believed in God’s promise to Abraham.
No amount of riches can give us the salvation that we so desperately need. Without God’s mercy, we are hopeless and bound for destruction. But we have a giving, loving and gracious Saviour who has had a plan for salvation since the beginning of time. We have a Father whose heart aches and who has gone to a great extent to be reconciled to His children.
As we grasp this, praise and thankfulness should flow from our lives. It is a love story so amazing that we won’t want to keep it to ourselves. We have the privilege of telling other people this news, and He desires all who have ears to hear it.
With our abundance of knowledge, material wealth, possessions, and technology also comes a great responsibility. Not only are we more privileged than most people on the earth, but we also know a truth that millions have never heard or experienced. God has blessed us and now it’s our turn to be a blessing.
Connection Questions:
1. As a family, write down specific ways that God has blessed your family. Then take time to thank Him for those things.
2.Take turns naming specific gifts, talents, and passions that each family member has that God can use for His glory.
3. Statistics are beginning to show that less and less people in America are claaiming any religious affiliation. Does this motivate you and help you to see the urgency of sharing the message of CHrist? What do you need to do to be prepared to share the message of Christ more effectively?
4. What are the biggest obstacle to sharing your faith? What can you do to overcome those obstacles?
Copyright Student Life Publishing
Student Life Publishing
You are wealthy Did you know that? Okay maybe not in comparison to the celebrities in People magazine but if you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back and a roof over your head, you are richer than 75 percent of the world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish somewhere....you are among the 8 percent that comprise the world’s wealthiest.
But we possess an even greater wealth. Knowledge of salvation.
Read Psalm 67 together as a family. It’s almost as if the unknown writer of the hymn had a glimpse into the future. Although he didn’t know exactly how salvation would come he was sure that it would come because he believed in God’s promise to Abraham.
No amount of riches can give us the salvation that we so desperately need. Without God’s mercy, we are hopeless and bound for destruction. But we have a giving, loving and gracious Saviour who has had a plan for salvation since the beginning of time. We have a Father whose heart aches and who has gone to a great extent to be reconciled to His children.
As we grasp this, praise and thankfulness should flow from our lives. It is a love story so amazing that we won’t want to keep it to ourselves. We have the privilege of telling other people this news, and He desires all who have ears to hear it.
With our abundance of knowledge, material wealth, possessions, and technology also comes a great responsibility. Not only are we more privileged than most people on the earth, but we also know a truth that millions have never heard or experienced. God has blessed us and now it’s our turn to be a blessing.
Connection Questions:
1. As a family, write down specific ways that God has blessed your family. Then take time to thank Him for those things.
2.Take turns naming specific gifts, talents, and passions that each family member has that God can use for His glory.
3. Statistics are beginning to show that less and less people in America are claaiming any religious affiliation. Does this motivate you and help you to see the urgency of sharing the message of CHrist? What do you need to do to be prepared to share the message of Christ more effectively?
4. What are the biggest obstacle to sharing your faith? What can you do to overcome those obstacles?
Copyright Student Life Publishing
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Family Devotion 10/4/09
Do you ever think about why you do the things you do? Do you
do your homework because you’re looking to your future, and
you want to learn? Or is your motivation for doing your homework
because you have to or you will fail, or because mom or
dad tell you to? Do you go to work because you love what you
do or is your motivation to bring home a paycheck? Do you
clean the house because it makes you or another family member
happy or are you required to?
Our motivation for the things we do or the way we behave can
influence our quality of life. Life is much more enjoyable when
we do things because we want to or out of love for someone. If
we are required or expected to do most things then it becomes
very difficult to continue in this behavior pattern. Children respond
better to parents and authority better when they respect
and love them. They want to please these authority figures.
The best response would be a natural response rather than a
command.
Read John 14:15-24 through the lens of “I have to,” then read
it through the lens of “I want to.” What happens when you read
it from the perspective of obeying Jesus’ commandments are
a direct result of loving Him because of what He has done for
you? There is a huge difference in motivation when we know
that Jesus died to forgive us of all our sins. It is even greater
when we understand that He sent the Spirit (a helper) to live in
us so that we’ll know that He’s always there with us. It becomes
our nature to obey God—because we want to.
This week think about what Jesus has done. When we understand
the reality of what Jesus did for us, we begin to trust
Him and become less dependent on our own power. When we
begin to live in reality, the love of God actually transforms us
and we have a desire to be obedient because we realize His
ways are best. When we embrace Jesus and the gift He has
given we want to be obedient to Him and serve Him each day.
Connection Questions:
1. What are some things you do because you are required to? What are some things you do because you want to?
2. Based upon the passage we read how are believers different
than those who don’t believe?
3. What is the result of obedience versus the result of disobedience?
4. How does being obedient speak to the rest of the world?
5. What can you do this week to alter your motivation for
obedience?
do your homework because you’re looking to your future, and
you want to learn? Or is your motivation for doing your homework
because you have to or you will fail, or because mom or
dad tell you to? Do you go to work because you love what you
do or is your motivation to bring home a paycheck? Do you
clean the house because it makes you or another family member
happy or are you required to?
Our motivation for the things we do or the way we behave can
influence our quality of life. Life is much more enjoyable when
we do things because we want to or out of love for someone. If
we are required or expected to do most things then it becomes
very difficult to continue in this behavior pattern. Children respond
better to parents and authority better when they respect
and love them. They want to please these authority figures.
The best response would be a natural response rather than a
command.
Read John 14:15-24 through the lens of “I have to,” then read
it through the lens of “I want to.” What happens when you read
it from the perspective of obeying Jesus’ commandments are
a direct result of loving Him because of what He has done for
you? There is a huge difference in motivation when we know
that Jesus died to forgive us of all our sins. It is even greater
when we understand that He sent the Spirit (a helper) to live in
us so that we’ll know that He’s always there with us. It becomes
our nature to obey God—because we want to.
This week think about what Jesus has done. When we understand
the reality of what Jesus did for us, we begin to trust
Him and become less dependent on our own power. When we
begin to live in reality, the love of God actually transforms us
and we have a desire to be obedient because we realize His
ways are best. When we embrace Jesus and the gift He has
given we want to be obedient to Him and serve Him each day.
Connection Questions:
1. What are some things you do because you are required to? What are some things you do because you want to?
2. Based upon the passage we read how are believers different
than those who don’t believe?
3. What is the result of obedience versus the result of disobedience?
4. How does being obedient speak to the rest of the world?
5. What can you do this week to alter your motivation for
obedience?
Crazy Love Chapter 2
You Might Not Finish Reading this Chapter!
We all are busy and have different routines throughout the day. Why is it that too often those routines do not include time with God?
We say we don't have time or we just forget about Him as the day goes on. It happens to everyone, however I think that if we thought about our time with God differently that our habits would change.
Is today the day that we might stand before the throne, the day we might meet God face to face? Could it be our time already? No one knows the answer to this question except God. However if today is that day would you live it differently or would it be like any other day?
Is there something that you need to change in order to make your life right with God?
We cant afford to not spend time with God each day!
We all are busy and have different routines throughout the day. Why is it that too often those routines do not include time with God?
We say we don't have time or we just forget about Him as the day goes on. It happens to everyone, however I think that if we thought about our time with God differently that our habits would change.
Is today the day that we might stand before the throne, the day we might meet God face to face? Could it be our time already? No one knows the answer to this question except God. However if today is that day would you live it differently or would it be like any other day?
Is there something that you need to change in order to make your life right with God?
We cant afford to not spend time with God each day!
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