Posts belonging to Category Christian Living



Understanding God’s Word Series

Understanding God's Word

I’m excited to announce a new series of books that will be appearing over the next months. Understanding God’s Word is a new series of books exploring various books and topics in the Bible. Each book in the series is adapted from actual sermons preached in the local church. These books are part commentary, part exposition, but mostly offer a clear explanation of the text, showing how it relates to other Scripture and to our lives today.

This style of preaching is modeled after Nehemiah 8 where the Levites under Ezra “read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” (Neh. 8:8). These books are ideal resources for teachers preparing lessons, for pastors preparing messages and for personal Bible study.

———————

Currently available (click on the book images to view on Amazon):

Habakkuk: The Journey from Doubt to Faith   Fruit of the Spirit: Growing More Like Jesus   Name above All Name (Isaiah 9:6): An Advent Series   Lord, Make My Life Count!

 
Upcoming in 2024:
Biblical Foundations
Famous Mothers in the Bible (Vol. 1)
Lord, Make My Life Count
Life of Samuel
Real Answers about Heaven

 
Note: Click here for all books in the Understanding God’s Word series.
 

Nine Ways to Build Intimacy with Christ

Leighton Ford on nine ways to build intimacy with Christ:

1. At bedtime, be at peace with the Lord (Psalm 4:4-8, Eph 4:26)

2. During sleep, rest in the Lord (Psalm 3:5, 121:4, 127:2)

3. When sleepless, commune with the Lord (Psalm 63:6,7)

4. In the morning, ask of the Lord (Psalm 5:3)

5. During the day, talk to the Lord (Psalm 25:4,5)

6. On the Sabbath, remember the Lord (Psalm 95:6-8)

7. In times of trouble, wait for the Lord (Psalm 37:5-7)

8. At all times, praise the Lord (Psalm 34:1)

9. Always and forever, be at home with the Lord (Psalm 27:4, 23:6)

From: Leighton Ford, Nine Ways to Build Intimacy with Christ (6230 Fairview Road, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28210).

Found in: Michael Frank Sabo, The Life I Want in Christ, p. 107.

Hot Button Topics (Sermon Series)

Starting Sunday, April 15 we will be starting a new series of messages at church called “Hot Button Topics.”

hot-button-topics

Over the next eight weeks we will be looking at various hot button issues that often stir up controversy in our culture. The culture around us is constantly presenting its ideas on these topics, and it’s important that we know what God’s word has to say on each of these important issues.

The purpose of the series is to present each topic in its cultural setting, to study the appropriate Scriptures, and to equip people to better respond with God’s love and truth to each situation.

If you’re interested in following along, you can access each message as it is preached at the following link: https://www.rayfowler.org/sermons/hot-button-topics/

Here is a schedule of the topics we will be looking at together over the next eight weeks:

————————————-
4/15 Abortion:
Caring for mothers and children in crisis pregnancy situations (Psalm 139:13-16)

4/22 Assisted Suicide:
Caring for the elderly and infirm (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

4/29 Alcohol:
God’s dangerous gift (Psalm 104:14-15; Proverbs 20:1)

5/6 Racism:
A sin against God, humanity and the gospel (Revelation 5:9)

5/20 Living Together:
Dishonoring those you love the most (Hebrews 13:4)

5/27 Divorce and Remarriage:
Covenant, commitment, grace and forgiveness (Matthew 19:3-9)

6/3 Homosexuality:
Caring for those who experience same sex attraction (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

6/10 Transgender:
Caring for those who experience issues with gender identity (Genesis 1:26-27)
 

Christian Home Fixer Upper Messages

Here are the links to all the messages and outlines for the Christian Home Fixer Upper series. I pray God will use these messages to help you better understand God’s purpose and design for Christian home and family.

Christian Home Fixer Upper Series
(Click here for a PDF of all the sermon outlines for the series.)

HGTV-showchip-fixer-upper

A Mother’s Nurture and Care – 1 Thessalonians 2:6-9 (Mother’s Day)
Biblical Foundations of Marriage – Genesis 2:18-25
Biblical Roles in Marriage – Ephesians 5:22-33
Single-Minded for Christ – Matthew 6:31-34
What’s a Kid to Do? – Ephesians 6:1-3
A Father’s Motivation – 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (Father’s Day)
Spiritual Mismatch – 2 Corinthians 6:14-16; 1 Corinthians 7:12-16; 1 Peter 3:1-2
Open Hearts, Open Homes – Romans 12:9-13
 

New Leaf or New Life?

“Christianity isn’t about turning over a new leaf; rather it’s about receiving and living a new life through Jesus Christ.”

(adapted from Ed Stetzer)      

Happy New Year all!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Live, Love and Give 2012

Live, Love and Give

Our church is sponsoring a great program to help those in need this Thanksgiving season. For just a $20 donation, Live, Love and Give will provide $40 worth of food items (including rice, pasta, canned goods, etc.) to someone in need.

If you would like to participate, click here to visit the website and make an online donation: Live, Love and Give

Live, Love and Give to Feed the Hungry

Live, Love and Give

Our church is sponsoring a great program to help those in need this Thanksgiving season. For just a $20 donation, Live, Love and Give will provide $40 worth of food items (including rice, pasta, canned goods, etc.) to someone in need.

If you would like to participate, click here to visit the website and make an online donation: Live, Love and Give

Do I have a Christian responsibility to vote?

It is an election week in the United States, so I thought this was a good time to reflect on the Christian responsibility of voting in a democracy. The following is an excerpt from the message, “A Christian in the Voting Booth,” originally preached November 2, 2008, the Sunday before the 2008 Presidential elections.

_________________________________________________________________

“Do I have a Christian responsibility to vote?” Some people feel that Christians should have no part in the civil process, that we belong to another kingdom and that we should not get involved in the affairs of this world. Others believe Christians should be heavily involved in politics and culture and that we have a cultural mandate to rule this world according to God’s principles. Others come out somewhere in the middle. Let’s look at some Biblical principles that might help us answer this question.

    A. You are responsible to exert a godly influence. (Matthew 5:13-16, 6:9-10)

First of all, you are responsible to exert a godly influence in this world. If you are a parent, you are responsible to raise your children in the Lord. If you are a boss, you are responsible to run your company according to Christian standards. If you are in government, you are accountable to God for the decisions you make on behalf of other people. Whatever you’re sphere of influence, you have a responsibility to use that influence for God and for good.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13-16) Light points the way, and salt preserves. We should live in such a way that we point others to God and preserve godliness in a culture that is contaminated by sin. We should seek for God’s will to be done in our homes and in our cities and in our nation. As Jesus instructed us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10) So, first of all, you are responsible to exert a godly influence.

    B. You are responsible to pray for your leaders. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Secondly, you are responsible to pray for your leaders. We read in 1 Timothy 2: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) The Bible urges you to pray for your leaders and to be thankful for them. We are to pray for those in authority that they will make good decisions so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives, and that we may freely worship God and share the gospel with others.

    C. As a voter you share the responsibility of government. (Romans 13:1-5)

So, you are responsible to exert a godly influence, you are responsible to pray for your leaders, and then thirdly, as a voter you also share the responsibility of government. Those who share in government are accountable to God for how they lead. Romans 13 tells us that all governing authorities are established by God and under God’s authority.

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God … Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.” (Romans 13:1-5)

Of course in those days there was no such thing as voting. People lived in monarchies and empires. Your role in government as a Christian was basically to pray for and submit to the ruling authorities. But when you live in a democracy or a republic like we do, things are different. As President Lincoln described our government in the Gettysburg Address in 1863, we are a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” (The Gettysburg Address; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; November 19, 1863) And so as a voter you share in the responsibilities of government.

The word “vote” comes from the Latin “votum,” meaning “will or choice.” Instead of just praying for your leaders to make good and wise choices on your behalf, you are part of the decision-making process, and so you are responsible to make good and wise choices on behalf of your nation. And we do that through voting. As theologian Dr. John Frame writes:

“…in some cultures (like the ancient Roman, in which the New Testament was written) there is not much that Christians can do, other than pray, to influence political structures and policies. But when they can influence them, they should. In modern democracies, all citizens are ‘lesser magistrates’ by virtue of the ballot box. Christians have an obligation to vote according to God’s standards. And, as they are gifted and called, they should influence others to vote in the same way.” (John Frame; The Doctrine of the Christian Life, p. 617)

Now that does not mean you should just vote willy-nilly or fill in the blanks on a ballot like a multiple choice quiz where you don’t know the answers. You have a responsibility to vote responsibly. The uninformed voter probably should not vote, at least in those areas where he or she is uninformed. But as Christians we have a responsibility to be informed on the issues and the candidates, and then to vote accordingly. As a voter you share the responsibility of government and thus share accountability to God for what takes place in our nation.
_________________________________________________________________

Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Unemployment Prompts Large Increase in Living Together

Regular readers at this blog know that I get a steady stream of comments on my Living Together Before Marriage Series. Many of the comments come from people who agree in principle that living together before marriage is not right, but who then offer reasons why they feel it is okay for them. Now add a bad economy and unemployment to the list. From The Christian Post:

The number of unmarried couples living together rose 13 percent from the previous year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

This year, there are 7.5 million opposite-sex unmarried couples living together – up from 6.7 million in 2009, reported the bureau on Thursday. The year before had witnessed a two percent drop after a five percent rise in co-habiting couples between 2007 and 2008.

Demographers say a poor job market is likely a factor in the rise of co-habiting couples in 2010.

According to 2010 data, unmarried couples who recently began living together usually have one partner unemployed. Only 49 percent of cohabiting couples this year are ones where both partners are employed. This figure is down from 59 percent in 2008 and 52 percent in 2009.

As I try to share with people in the comments section, if you will trust God and put Christ first in your situation, I believe God will always open up another option for you. If you or your boyfriend/girlfriend are unemployed: check with family, check with friends, check with your local church, and see what living arrangements you can find. But please don’t make the mistake of moving in together before marriage. You can read more about why in the articles below.

Living Together Before Marriage Series:
    ● Statistics on Living Together Before Marriage
    ● Scriptures on Living Together Before Marriage
    ● Living Together Without Sex
    ● What If We Already Lived Together Before Marriage?

Drew Brees: Coming Back Stronger

Saturday, December 31, 2005
San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos

Eight seconds was all it took to change my life forever. Eight seconds at the end of the second quarter, in the middle of a meaningless game. (Drew Brees, Coming Back Stronger)

Drew Brees is the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and a Christian with a strong testimony. Drew’s new book, Coming Back Stronger, was just released today. Drew shares his life story — from his parents’ divorce when he was a child, to his coming to Christ in high school, to his devastating shoulder injury with the San Diego Chargers in 2005, to his amazing comeback and the Saints’ Super Bowl win over the Indianopolis Colts in 2010.

Set against the backdrop of New Orleans, the book tells two stories: the story of Drew’s comeback from his injury and the continuing comeback of New Orleans from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Drew has an amazing story to share, and through it all he points to the Lord who uses adversity in our lives to help us not only come back, but come back stronger.

339436: Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity
Coming Back Stronger
Drew Brees, Mark B…

Buy from
Christianbook

Today I Have God

Dallas Willard, commenting on the request, “Give us today our daily bread,” from the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):

The emphasis is on provision today of what we need for today … So we do not ask him to provide today what we will need for tomorrow. To have it in hand today does not guarantee that we will have it tomorrow when we need it. Today I have God, and he has the provisions. Tomorrow it will be the same. So I simply ask today for what I need for today or ask now for what I need now.

This is how children do it, of course. A mother who discovers that her child is saving up oatmeal, pieces of toast, or strips of bacon for fear of not having food tomorrow has cause to be alarmed. The world being what it is, we can all too easily imagine situations in which the child’s action would be reasonable. But in any normal situation parents will be astonished and pained that the child does not trust them to provide for it day by day …

Now, to make it clear about the teaching and the prayer, it is quite all right, as earlier noted, to have things now that we intend to use tomorrow and to work or even pray in a sensible way for them. What hinders or shuts down kingdom living is not the having of such provisions, but rather the trusting in them for future security. We have no real security for the future in them, but only in the God who is present with us each day. (Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, p. 261, Kindle location 4991)

I am in between jobs right now, and so I found this a very encouraging word. Today I have God, and that is enough.

Do What You Don’t Want to Do

“Spiritual discipline means simply this: Do what you don’t want to do, and you will become what you want to be.”

    – Patrick Morley (Seven Seasons of the Man in the Mirror, p. 234)