20090531

deny yourself

Matthew 16

v24

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

We should be willing to give up our own pleasure, and to suffer, to do what's right and follow Jesus.

20090530

beware of your speech

Matthew 15

v18

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

We should pay attention to making sure the things we say are right. Right speech is very important.

20090529

be ready to suffer for doing right

Matthew 14

v3a

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put [him] in prison...

We should be willing to do what's right, despite what the consequences may be... be we should also be aware that we may have to suffer for it, and be ready.

20090528

treasure hidden in a field

Matthew 13

v44

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

We should realize the value of the kingdom and give up all we have for it.

20090527

if in doubt, be quiet

Matthew 12

v36

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

If I'm thinking about saying something, and I'm not sure whether I should or not, I won't.

20090526

Genesis 13 - Key

v18

Then Abram removed [his] tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which [is] in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Abram committed his ways to the Lord by serving Him, sacrificing to Him, and calling on Him. He did that everywhere he went, every time he went anywhere. We should do the same.

Application

Proverbs 3:5,6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I'll pray to the Lord and I'll seek Him, every step of my way: all the time, wherever I go.

20090525

Genesis 13 - Outline

v1-4
Abram's travels after Egypt
v5-7
strife was inevitable if Abram and Lot stayed together just because of the way they both were
v8-11
Abram proposed the solution for them to separate, and he deferred the first choice to Lot
v12 & 13
the choice that looked good on the outside turned out to have big problems
v14-17
God once again renewed and expanded His promise to Abram
v18
Abram kept committing his ways to the Lord, every step of the way

20090524

rest unto your souls

Matthew 11

v28-30

Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

If we come to Jesus, take his yoke upon us, and learn of Him, He has promised, I will give you rest. Also, we should be meek and lowly in heart.

20090523

take up your cross

Matthew 10

v38

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

I shouldn't think I can just sit back and pursue my own pleasures. We need to work hard on following Jesus every day. I'll work on examining my life for sin, for real, and repenting from it, and not just for Sunday morning. Also, let's work on being willing to do hard things to go the Lord's way.

20090522

Proverbs 2 - Key

v2

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;

Wisdom is ubiquitously available, but we still should put a lot of effort behind getting it.

Application

v3
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding;

I'll keep praying for wisdom.

20090521

Proverbs 2 - Outline

v1-4
how to get wisdom: Put a lot of effort behind it
v5-8
wisdom is from the Lord
v9-12
the benefit of wisdom: It keeps you on the right path
v10-15
the evil man and the way he is
v16-17
the way the strange woman is
v18-19
warning about the strange woman's ways
v20-22
in the end of the story, you'll be glad you went the way of good men

20090520

About Baptism

Who?

Whoever believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

When?

When the person is old enough to know what they're doing.

Where?

Wherever there's water deep enough.

Why?

Romans 6

v4

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Baptism is a testimony, an outward symbol of an inward state. Also, the Lord instructs us to be baptized.

How?

The Greek word for baptism literally means immersion.

20090519

Genesis 12 - Key

v4

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram [was] seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

The first part says, So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him... I wonder how the Lord spoke to Abram. I might not have heard a physical voice telling me which way to go, but the Lord has "spoken to me." In the Bible, I've seen what He wants for everyone, for people in situations like mine, and maybe even some "personal promises." I should do those things just like the Lord has told me. That's what Abram did, and the Lord blessed him.

Application

What I saw in Genesis 12, was to do what the Lord says, like Abram did and was blessed. I was just thinking about something that I the Lord has let me know He wants me to do.

I was a real clown when I was a kid, but I've become kind of more like a grouch in the last several years.

Psalm 149:2
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

I'll work on being more cheerful.

20090518

Genesis 12 - Outline

v1-9
God gave Abram something to do, and he obeyed
v10-13
the bright idea to lie
v14-20
it might not have been such a bright idea after all, but God kept His servants

20090517

there's plenty to harvest

Matthew 9

v38

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

We should gladly go to preach the gospel and serve the Lord, realizing we're just a few laborers sent into a plentiful harvest.

20090516

hold others up

Matthew 8

v17

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses.

Jesus didn't just heal people, He took our sicknesses; He holds us up.

Galatians 6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

We should be willing to suffer because of other people's sin and still forgive them and try to help them do what's right.

Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

20090515

Proverbs 1 - Key

v5

A wise [man] will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

This has been one of my favorite verses for a long time. It means to me that the way to be wise is to listen and learn. We should be willing to hear wise counsel, and to actively consider and apply it.

Application

Sometimes, when people are acting the wrong way, it's hard to receive the things they say, because the things that I can learn from, are mixed in with the things that are wrong. My application is that I'll pick out the good things and listen to them anyway.

20090514

Proverbs 1 - Outline

  1. Introduction
    v1-4
    Proverbs is to give people wisdom
    v5-9
    wise people listen, and learn from what they hear
  2. A good passage about gangs
    v10-14
    don't be enticed to follow evil influences
    v15-19
    their ways end in death
  3. Wisdom personified
    v20-23
    wisdom is ubiquitously available
    v24-32
    if you don't accept wisdom when you have a chance, it will become too late
    v33
    a great promise for those who listen

20090513

Forgiveness, Nice Clothes, & Chewing Gum

I'm addressing a few Bible Study discussion questions.

Forgiveness

Matthew 6

v15

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I happen to be working on a Bible Study Lesson with Release Ministries on this very subject.

Nice Clothes

I have different clothes, some more formal and expensive that people would consider to be nicer-looking, and some more casual and sturdy for things like physical work. I wear my nicer clothes to more important events to show respect and that I care about the meetings. What's more important or worthy of respect than the meetings?

Chewing Gum

  • It would be a problem for the remembrance time
  • Blowing and popping bubbles can be a distraction
:)

20090512

Genesis 10 & 11 - Key

11:4

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top [may reach] unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

I've usually thought of this story as applying to a lesson about pride, but I couldn't think of an application about pride this time. I thought about presumption.

Proverbs 19:21
[There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

They were building up this big thing, and they thought they were going to do something, but the Lord had other plans.

I usually think everything is going OK for me, and can't think of anything that will mess it up. I think things are going a certain way today, they have before, and they will gain tomorrow.

James 4:13-15
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
We shouldn't be complacent about our jobs or are money, or, especially our time.

Application

I seemed to be doing better with my time management, so I started taking things for granted. Instead, I'll keep working on redeeming the time.

20090511

Genesis 10 & 11 - Outline

v1-5
the sons of Japheth, that the islands of the gentiles were divided by
v6-20
the sons of Ham
v8-12
Nimrod, the mighty hunter
v15-19
the Canaanite tribes and their land
v21-32
the sons of Shem; (v25) Peleg
Genesis 11
v1-4
the idea behind the tower of Babel
v5-9
how different languages came about and how people got spread all over the earth
v10-25
the family tree of Shem and the years they lived, down to Terah
v26-32
Terah's family and Abram

20090510

Ask & it shall be given you

Matthew 7

v11

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Doesn't knowing this promise make you want to ask the Lord for what you want?

20090509

God before things of the world

Matthew 6

v33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Work and school are important, but we should work on the things of the Lord first.

20090508

Jude - Key

v16

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Ungodly people walk after their own lusts. That word, lusts, means desires for things that are wrong, the same desires that cause all sin (James 1:14.) That's what we need to watch out for.

Application

One of the sinful enticements I've had for a long time, is wasting time when I'm supposed to be doing my work. I'll set my schedule to get my work done before I have fun.

20090507

Jude - Outline

v1 & 2
greetings
v3
earnestly contend for the faith
v4
warning about ungodly people
v5-7
examples show that there's judgment for the ungodly
v8-10
ungodly people say evil things about powerful spiritual beings they don't understand
v11
a few more short examples
v12 & 13
metaphors demonstrating how bad these guys are
v14
the previously undiscovered prophesy of Enoch
v15
ungodly, ungodly, ungodly
v16-19
what ungodly people do
v20 & 21
what we should do
v22 & 23
different kinds of outreach for different kinds of people
v24 & 25
glory to God because He is able

20090506

return good for evil

Matthew 5

v44

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

This verse is a good reminder to forgive people and treat them well even if they cause me inconvenience.

20090504

Genesis 9 - Outline

v1-4
people are allowed to eat meat, but not with the blood
v5-7
people who kill people will be killed by people
v8-17
rainbows are reminders of the contract God made with Noah, that He won't make a flood to destroy every living thing any more
v18 & 19
people spread out on the whole earth from only Noah's three sons
v20-22
Ham, the father of Canaan, treated his father Noah shamefully
v23-27
Noah cursed Canaan, but blessed Shem and Japheth for honoring him
v28 & 29
the number of years Noah lived

20090503

overcome temptation

Matthew 4

v11

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

When I'm tempted, like with how to use my time, I should be willing to forfeit my own pleasure to make the right choice. Then actually, things might get easier.

20090502

fruit fit for repenting

Matthew 3

v8

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

There are things that I need to repent from, and it's important that I need to be taking action to repent from them.

20090501

3rd John - Key

v10

Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth [them] out of the church.

We should receive the Lord's people and not divide them. We shouldn't prate against the Lord's servants, which means to idly utter false accusations and nonsense.

Application

I'll work on making sure I speak the right kind of words to other people.

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