MEMORY VERSE: Ephesians 6:7 With good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men.
We have various spheres of influence in our lives. Our personal influence, our homes, our workplace, our friendships, and in America and other free countries, we have influence in our governmental circles, too. Our study today shows us how we can have a powerful influence for Christ in the workplace.
Ephesians 6:5-9 provides our text.
While the Bible uses terms such as servants and masters, we realize that the application can be made to employees and employers in our time. The truths that made the servant and master relationship work, will also help the employee - employer relationship. Here are some truths that stand out in this passage.
OBEDIENCE. . .at various levels. Elementary obedience has to be told to do everything. It is obedience, but very basic. The next step would be to do things without have to be told twice. Then, the bar is raised again. We are to do things without having to be told. Take some initiative and do what is the right thing to do. "It is always right to do right. . ."
LOYALTY. . .Staying true to the one for whom you work. Keeping your fishing line out of the water while you are working for someone. Being up-front and honest is vital in our working relationships. When people know they can count on us to stand behind them, we become a team that is hard to beat.
More to come. . ..
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A FAMILY LIFE THAT WITNESSES
Memory Verse for the week: Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
I believe that one thing that makes many of the modern cults so appealing is their focus on helping homes be put right. NOT THAT THEY WILL or even can help with their teaching of error, but that is the way they advertise. People are so hurting in the family that they cannot ignore these enticements. We love our family, whether we get along with them or not. Our family can be one of the biggest attractions to Christ that there is. Let's find out what the book of Ephesians says about a Christ-centered home. Let us also ask God to work in our own marriages and families in such a way that we become much more attractive than the cults! AMEN and AMEN!
IN EPHESIANS:
1. The KEYNOTES for our homes are SUBMISSION and REVERENCE FOR GOD; Ephesians 5:21
2. Cooperating with God's order is never demeaning; Eph. 5:22-24
3. Love as Christ loved the church; Eph.5:25-31
4. Children must learn obedience; Eph. 6:1-3
5. Dad's take a major role in your children's training; Eph. 6:4
TRUTHS THAT STAND OUT:
* A home that witnesses for Christ is a home that starts with God, and is built around that basic relationship.
* The Biblical view of a wife and a husband, two for each other for life, must be followed in the Christian ranks.
* Loving our wives goes beyond the bedroom. . .way beyond into the level of self-sacrifice and service.
* Submission, ladies, means a willingness to allow God to control your life and to lead your husband in the way you should go as a family. It does not mean disobeying God for anyone. The best word on this is found in 1 Peter 3.
* Teaching our children obedience is teaching them to live in the fear of God which is the basis for their success in life. It forms the foundation for their happy homes.
* Living a Spirit-filled life shows up in the home.
GOING A STEP FURTHER
Often in our Christian lives we learn the truths and even their applications, but fail to do anything about it. This third part of our lesson will provide steps of action for us to implement the doctrines we have learned this morning.
- ACTION STEP ONE: Examine your own life, and then inquire of your spouse or children as to what their relationship is with God. Not only saved, but walking in the fear of God and submitted to His plan and will for their lives.
- ACTIONS STEP TWO: Begin a regular FAMILY BIBLE TIME.
- ACTION STEP THREE: Fellowship with other families who also love the Lord Jesus Christ so much it shows, it is obvious in the way they live.
Prayer Request:
Terry, heart condition
Brandi, spiritual needs, in the hospital too
Tammy's parents traveling and singing. . .PTL!
Mothers on this Mother's Day weekend and in the days ahead
Tammy will be singing for a wedding, May 23 in Atlanta
School year coming to an end.
Australian men as they travel here for the Singing School in July.
Church outreach and Saturday Class Outreach
OUTREACH PLAN for SATURDAY
Distributing fliers in our neighborhoods this Saturday. Meet at the church at 10. Come and join us! Prayer and a challenge at 10:00 AM. If you are unable to go out, we can also use some help in calling people on the phone or simply in praying for those who do go. There is something for everyone.
I believe that one thing that makes many of the modern cults so appealing is their focus on helping homes be put right. NOT THAT THEY WILL or even can help with their teaching of error, but that is the way they advertise. People are so hurting in the family that they cannot ignore these enticements. We love our family, whether we get along with them or not. Our family can be one of the biggest attractions to Christ that there is. Let's find out what the book of Ephesians says about a Christ-centered home. Let us also ask God to work in our own marriages and families in such a way that we become much more attractive than the cults! AMEN and AMEN!
IN EPHESIANS:
1. The KEYNOTES for our homes are SUBMISSION and REVERENCE FOR GOD; Ephesians 5:21
2. Cooperating with God's order is never demeaning; Eph. 5:22-24
3. Love as Christ loved the church; Eph.5:25-31
4. Children must learn obedience; Eph. 6:1-3
5. Dad's take a major role in your children's training; Eph. 6:4
TRUTHS THAT STAND OUT:
* A home that witnesses for Christ is a home that starts with God, and is built around that basic relationship.
* The Biblical view of a wife and a husband, two for each other for life, must be followed in the Christian ranks.
* Loving our wives goes beyond the bedroom. . .way beyond into the level of self-sacrifice and service.
* Submission, ladies, means a willingness to allow God to control your life and to lead your husband in the way you should go as a family. It does not mean disobeying God for anyone. The best word on this is found in 1 Peter 3.
* Teaching our children obedience is teaching them to live in the fear of God which is the basis for their success in life. It forms the foundation for their happy homes.
* Living a Spirit-filled life shows up in the home.
GOING A STEP FURTHER
Often in our Christian lives we learn the truths and even their applications, but fail to do anything about it. This third part of our lesson will provide steps of action for us to implement the doctrines we have learned this morning.
- ACTION STEP ONE: Examine your own life, and then inquire of your spouse or children as to what their relationship is with God. Not only saved, but walking in the fear of God and submitted to His plan and will for their lives.
- ACTIONS STEP TWO: Begin a regular FAMILY BIBLE TIME.
- ACTION STEP THREE: Fellowship with other families who also love the Lord Jesus Christ so much it shows, it is obvious in the way they live.
Prayer Request:
Terry, heart condition
Brandi, spiritual needs, in the hospital too
Tammy's parents traveling and singing. . .PTL!
Mothers on this Mother's Day weekend and in the days ahead
Tammy will be singing for a wedding, May 23 in Atlanta
School year coming to an end.
Australian men as they travel here for the Singing School in July.
Church outreach and Saturday Class Outreach
OUTREACH PLAN for SATURDAY
Distributing fliers in our neighborhoods this Saturday. Meet at the church at 10. Come and join us! Prayer and a challenge at 10:00 AM. If you are unable to go out, we can also use some help in calling people on the phone or simply in praying for those who do go. There is something for everyone.
Monday, May 3, 2010
TIME GETS AWAY!
I apologize for the tardiness in posting. No excuse to give that will hold water when examined for more than 20 seconds, so I will just move on the the blogging. :-)
Yesterday I was blessed with the time we shared in Bible study. Had a new face in our group - John, glad you came. Also it was very nice to see Brandi "home" again. We are praying for you young lady.
Here is a brief outline of our study from the book of Ephesians:
Title: "We Have to Learn to Walk"
Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.
Five times in Ephesians, we find the word WALK which speaks of the living of our lives. Another word which is closely related to this idea is the word "conversation" which means manner of life.
1. We are to WALK WORTHY of the vocation wherewith we are called. In other words we are to live in such a way that brings honor to the One Who has called us out of darkness to salvation. Honor Him in our speech, our habits, our dress, or attitudes, etc. We will never be perfect in this earthly life, but this is our goal.
2. We are to WALK NOT AS OTHER GENTILES WALK IN THE VANITY OF THEIR MIND, as we find in Eph. 4:17. "Lean not unto thine own understanding" would be another Biblical way of saying this. Human reasoning is a poor substitute for the Word of God and the powerful, indwelling Holy Spirit.
3. WALK IN LOVE. Eph. 5:2 Three words from the Greek are translated love in English. EROS is a word which stands for sexual love, but it is not found in the Scriptures, and it is the least of the three. PHILEO is the word which means brotherly love, kindnesses shown to others, a proper spirit to display between us and other people. "Let brotherly love continue." The third word, found almost exclusively in the New Testament, is the word AGAPE or AGAPAO and this word refers to the UNSELFISH LOVE demonstrated to us by God at Calvary. This is the love that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and should be then expressed to those who are around us. It is self-sacrificing and self-denying as we see in the last few verses of Ephesians 5 where husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.
4. WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT - Eph. 5:8 A very good commentary on this passage is found in 1 John chapter one which speaks of walking in the light as God is in the light. When we walk in the light we have fellowship with God and real joy as a Christian. Of course this is only for believers. We must first come to the Lord, Who is light, before we can walk in the light with Him. God's Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, so to walk int he light I must be walking in obedience to the Word of God as well.
5. WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY - Eph. 5:15 Generally speaking this refers to being aware of our surroundings, aware of what is going on in our world. We should be aware of our inner world, the real us, and how our relationship is going with God and others. We should be aware of our family world. It is so important to have these relationships right as well. We should be aware of our church world. Give effort to making a contribution in the work of the Lord through your local church in time, effort, and money. We ought to also be wisely aware of what is going on in the world around us. The time is drawing near for the second coming of Christ. Look at the signs of the times. Prepare your own heart and life and join in the great harvest God has going on right now. He is at work calling people to salvation and desires for y ou to join Him in this great calling. Become a laborer together with Him.
BASED UPON THESE TRUTHS, let us take some action steps.
* Determine a way TODAY that you can live your life closer to God than you did yesterday. (reading your Bible, prayer, obeying God as He speaks to you, witnessing to someone of the way God has changed your life. . .)
* Actuate a plan to learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Make a definite step to show someone the love of Jesus today in some practical way.
* Read your Bible daily and read the news or watch the news with the Bible and Bible prophecy in mind. See if there is something that stand out to you concerning the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Wow that is a pretty beefy blog! LOL
Do not forget that we are having a Sunday School cookout this weekend. All adult classes are invited. We are planning to have some games, too. Pray for decent weather. Bring your own meat and a side dish. ALSO, bring a friend or two (friends do not need to bring anything but themselves unless they want to). We are starting at 6 PM on Saturday, May 8.
PRAYER LIST - Kit Stafford, has cancer; Jennie, cancer; Terry, heart valve problem; David's parents health and well being as they are facing lingering health concerns; all those involved in the Gum Tree 10 k race (Brother Mike and Brenda); Brandi, for God's leadership in her life and she is facing some challenges this week as she seeks to make some things right with others;
God bless you! Have an awesome week.
Yesterday I was blessed with the time we shared in Bible study. Had a new face in our group - John, glad you came. Also it was very nice to see Brandi "home" again. We are praying for you young lady.
Here is a brief outline of our study from the book of Ephesians:
Title: "We Have to Learn to Walk"
Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.
Five times in Ephesians, we find the word WALK which speaks of the living of our lives. Another word which is closely related to this idea is the word "conversation" which means manner of life.
1. We are to WALK WORTHY of the vocation wherewith we are called. In other words we are to live in such a way that brings honor to the One Who has called us out of darkness to salvation. Honor Him in our speech, our habits, our dress, or attitudes, etc. We will never be perfect in this earthly life, but this is our goal.
2. We are to WALK NOT AS OTHER GENTILES WALK IN THE VANITY OF THEIR MIND, as we find in Eph. 4:17. "Lean not unto thine own understanding" would be another Biblical way of saying this. Human reasoning is a poor substitute for the Word of God and the powerful, indwelling Holy Spirit.
3. WALK IN LOVE. Eph. 5:2 Three words from the Greek are translated love in English. EROS is a word which stands for sexual love, but it is not found in the Scriptures, and it is the least of the three. PHILEO is the word which means brotherly love, kindnesses shown to others, a proper spirit to display between us and other people. "Let brotherly love continue." The third word, found almost exclusively in the New Testament, is the word AGAPE or AGAPAO and this word refers to the UNSELFISH LOVE demonstrated to us by God at Calvary. This is the love that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and should be then expressed to those who are around us. It is self-sacrificing and self-denying as we see in the last few verses of Ephesians 5 where husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.
4. WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT - Eph. 5:8 A very good commentary on this passage is found in 1 John chapter one which speaks of walking in the light as God is in the light. When we walk in the light we have fellowship with God and real joy as a Christian. Of course this is only for believers. We must first come to the Lord, Who is light, before we can walk in the light with Him. God's Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, so to walk int he light I must be walking in obedience to the Word of God as well.
5. WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY - Eph. 5:15 Generally speaking this refers to being aware of our surroundings, aware of what is going on in our world. We should be aware of our inner world, the real us, and how our relationship is going with God and others. We should be aware of our family world. It is so important to have these relationships right as well. We should be aware of our church world. Give effort to making a contribution in the work of the Lord through your local church in time, effort, and money. We ought to also be wisely aware of what is going on in the world around us. The time is drawing near for the second coming of Christ. Look at the signs of the times. Prepare your own heart and life and join in the great harvest God has going on right now. He is at work calling people to salvation and desires for y ou to join Him in this great calling. Become a laborer together with Him.
BASED UPON THESE TRUTHS, let us take some action steps.
* Determine a way TODAY that you can live your life closer to God than you did yesterday. (reading your Bible, prayer, obeying God as He speaks to you, witnessing to someone of the way God has changed your life. . .)
* Actuate a plan to learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Make a definite step to show someone the love of Jesus today in some practical way.
* Read your Bible daily and read the news or watch the news with the Bible and Bible prophecy in mind. See if there is something that stand out to you concerning the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Wow that is a pretty beefy blog! LOL
Do not forget that we are having a Sunday School cookout this weekend. All adult classes are invited. We are planning to have some games, too. Pray for decent weather. Bring your own meat and a side dish. ALSO, bring a friend or two (friends do not need to bring anything but themselves unless they want to). We are starting at 6 PM on Saturday, May 8.
PRAYER LIST - Kit Stafford, has cancer; Jennie, cancer; Terry, heart valve problem; David's parents health and well being as they are facing lingering health concerns; all those involved in the Gum Tree 10 k race (Brother Mike and Brenda); Brandi, for God's leadership in her life and she is facing some challenges this week as she seeks to make some things right with others;
God bless you! Have an awesome week.
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