This was our last class before the Christmas break. We will meet again starting January 12, 2010. While this semester we looked at the Kingdom of God as communicated to us in the Gospels, for the next semester we will spend some time looking at the significance of the cross. It is the finished work of the cross that allows us to enter the Kingdom of God and I sensed that the Lord wanted us to camp there for awhile.
Today we looked at 2 Timothy 2:15, specifically, today's (12/15) devotional reading in My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. In the study of the Word of God, there is that time of wrestling it out until it becomes a truth in our own lives. Only then does it become milk and meat for others. As 2 Timothy 2:10 tell us, we are the target for the lost. Through the window of our lives, they see the way home.
May we continue to be transparent so that others may know there is hope and hope has a name. His name is Jesus and that is what we celebrate; Immanuel - God with us.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Supreme Manifestation of Love is found in Forgiveness
This week we looked at Matthew 5:38-48 - the law of love demanded in the Kingdom of God. Each of us discovered this was both a hard and a good lesson. A hard lesson because the test of the love that God demands is found in forgiveness and real forgiveness is costly suffering. A good lesson because what God demands He gives freely by grace and that the ultimate show of love was demonstrated for us on the cross of Christ.
The standard of righteousness required of the Kingdom of God is high and perfection will only be accomplished in the Age to Come, yet He has allowed us to experience a real and evident measure of the righteousness of His Kingdom in this evil age through His Son and the Holy Spirit.
The standard of righteousness required of the Kingdom of God is high and perfection will only be accomplished in the Age to Come, yet He has allowed us to experience a real and evident measure of the righteousness of His Kingdom in this evil age through His Son and the Holy Spirit.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
A Matter of the Heart
For the next several weeks we are looking at the Righteousness (ethics) of the Kingdom as communicated to us in the Sermon on the Mount. Specifically, in Matthew 5:20, Jesus tells us that our entrance into the kingdom of heaven is such that our righteousness (our uprightness and our right standing with God) must be greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees.
The scribes and Pharisees were the keepers and doers of the law such that in order to make sure they did all that the law commanded they added layer upon layer of additional laws. Jesus struck at the very core of their emphasis on legislating the outward act to setting it all aside and presenting a higher standard. This higher standard focused on the inner attitude and character.
Not committing murder was no longer the standard but not being angry with another. No longer was committing adultery the standard but Jesus says if in your heart is lust, you stand guilty before God. No longer is your truthfulness to be buttressed by an oath but Jesus says the man who knows the righteousness of the kingdom needs no oath. His naked word is valid. Your neighbor can trust your word, both in the spirit and the letter of your promise.
As we saw in our last lesson, our relationship with God is no longer mediated by the Law but by one who has submitted to the reign (rule) of God that has been manifested in Jesus. When a person is restored to fellowship with God, that person becomes a child of God and a recipient of a new power.
The righteousness that God demands, He gives us through His Son.
The scribes and Pharisees were the keepers and doers of the law such that in order to make sure they did all that the law commanded they added layer upon layer of additional laws. Jesus struck at the very core of their emphasis on legislating the outward act to setting it all aside and presenting a higher standard. This higher standard focused on the inner attitude and character.
Not committing murder was no longer the standard but not being angry with another. No longer was committing adultery the standard but Jesus says if in your heart is lust, you stand guilty before God. No longer is your truthfulness to be buttressed by an oath but Jesus says the man who knows the righteousness of the kingdom needs no oath. His naked word is valid. Your neighbor can trust your word, both in the spirit and the letter of your promise.
As we saw in our last lesson, our relationship with God is no longer mediated by the Law but by one who has submitted to the reign (rule) of God that has been manifested in Jesus. When a person is restored to fellowship with God, that person becomes a child of God and a recipient of a new power.
The righteousness that God demands, He gives us through His Son.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A Relationship Mediated not through the Law but by the Person of Jesus
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out "Abba Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God made you also an heir (Galatians 4:4-7).
The blessings of the Kingdom of God, now present in Jesus, cannot be contained in rituals, traditions, festivals or even a specific day. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins. (Mark 2:22b).
The blessings of the Kingdom of God, now present in Jesus, cannot be contained in rituals, traditions, festivals or even a specific day. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins. (Mark 2:22b).
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The God of the Kingdom
This week was part two of our look at the God of the Kingdom. In Luke 15, we discovered that He is the Seeking God. He was the shepherd searching for the sheep, the woman searching for the coin and the father longing for the prodigal's return. The "good news" about the Kingdom is that God has taken the initiative to seek and save that which was lost.
We also saw that He is the Inviting God. So often the Bible pictures our salvation in terms of a banquet or feast. Table fellowship to the Jewish people represented a most intimate fellowship and as we surveyed scripture we understood more why the Pharisees were so indignant with Jesus when he ate with "tax collectors" and "sinners" (Luke 15:1-2). And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). The word "call" in Greek is kaleo which means "to invite." This invitation also included an expectation of a favorable response. This was a call to respond to the divine invitation - an invitation which was nothing less than the Kingdom of God (Luke 12:32).
In seeking out sinners and inviting them to submit themselves to His reign, God reveals himself as the Fatherly God. Jesus used the Aramaic word "abba" to address God and also taught His followers to do the same. The word "abba" was taken from children's speech and is something like our "daddy." Abba represents the new relationship of confidence and intimacy that is ours now and forever. Those who know God as Abba Father are those for who the highest good in life is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:30).
Finally, we looked at the Judging God. God's concern for the lost does not dissipate His divine holiness. For those that reject His offer of the Kingdom must stand under His judgment. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).
We also saw that He is the Inviting God. So often the Bible pictures our salvation in terms of a banquet or feast. Table fellowship to the Jewish people represented a most intimate fellowship and as we surveyed scripture we understood more why the Pharisees were so indignant with Jesus when he ate with "tax collectors" and "sinners" (Luke 15:1-2). And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). The word "call" in Greek is kaleo which means "to invite." This invitation also included an expectation of a favorable response. This was a call to respond to the divine invitation - an invitation which was nothing less than the Kingdom of God (Luke 12:32).
In seeking out sinners and inviting them to submit themselves to His reign, God reveals himself as the Fatherly God. Jesus used the Aramaic word "abba" to address God and also taught His followers to do the same. The word "abba" was taken from children's speech and is something like our "daddy." Abba represents the new relationship of confidence and intimacy that is ours now and forever. Those who know God as Abba Father are those for who the highest good in life is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:30).
Finally, we looked at the Judging God. God's concern for the lost does not dissipate His divine holiness. For those that reject His offer of the Kingdom must stand under His judgment. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The God of the Kingdom
This week we began a two part lesson on the God of the Kingdom. We discovered that unless we think rightly about God, the foundation of our religion is "out of plumb" and will collapse at the first sight of tribulation. Even more challenging is the fact that if we assume that God is other than what he has revealed himself to be in the Bible, it is idolatry. We imagine things about God and we act on them as if they are true. We have created a god after our own imaginations. God calls that idolatry. No wooden or stone statutes, but an image none the less.
So we began to look at scriptures and discovered that God is:
So we began to look at scriptures and discovered that God is:
- intimate and involved - Psalm 139:1-18
- accepting and filled with joy and love for us - Zephaniah 3:17
- trustworthy and wants to give us a full life - Lamentations 3:22-23
- committed to our growth Romans - 8:26-29
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
His Precious and Very Great Promises
This week the Lord required us to "camp" on our lesson from last week. The gifts of the kingdom of God that we have here and now require an adjustment in how we see God, ourselves and the world around us. We are transformed by these truths and at the same time each of us wondered why it has taken us so long to take hold of them. Whatever the reason we all agreed that our palate has been aroused by something that causes us to hunger and thirst for more.
As we were reading 2 Peter 1-11, before we moved too far into the passage, we discovered that the Apostle Peter in verse one shares with us that "we have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Often we find ourselves elevating fellow Christians for their gifting, yet the truth is that the gifts of the kingdom of God for each of us are equally precious and complete. We truly are a people who do not lack for anything. Let us begin to live this truth out for the glory of God.
As we were reading 2 Peter 1-11, before we moved too far into the passage, we discovered that the Apostle Peter in verse one shares with us that "we have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Often we find ourselves elevating fellow Christians for their gifting, yet the truth is that the gifts of the kingdom of God for each of us are equally precious and complete. We truly are a people who do not lack for anything. Let us begin to live this truth out for the glory of God.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Gifts Now to Enjoy
Our lesson this week was incredibly exciting, deep and challenging. Sometimes we don't have the right words to describe the impact of the study of God's Word on our hearts. That's the power of feasting on his Word. We were invited to a feast and we enjoyed fellowship with the Lord and with one another - and what a feast it was!
The Word tells us that the Kingdom of God is something to be inherited by the righteous in the Age to Come (Matthew 25:34), yet it is a gift to be received and enjoyed now. This present realm of blessings includes our salvation - of the whole person, body and soul. We also enjoy the gift of the forgiveness of all our sins; none of which will be remembered by our Heavenly Father. The gift of righteousness tells me I am in right standing with the Father because of the finished work of Jesus alone. And the guarantee and sealing of these blessings is found in the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:22, 5:5; Eph 1:13-14).
A gift is something voluntarily transferred from one person (in our case from our Heavenly Father) to another without compensation. The Lord looks to children often as our standard for receiving these gifts, not because their humility is a virtue that merits it, but because they receive it as a gift. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it (Mark 10:15). Let us receive all that the Father has for us now - our lives will never be the same.
The Word tells us that the Kingdom of God is something to be inherited by the righteous in the Age to Come (Matthew 25:34), yet it is a gift to be received and enjoyed now. This present realm of blessings includes our salvation - of the whole person, body and soul. We also enjoy the gift of the forgiveness of all our sins; none of which will be remembered by our Heavenly Father. The gift of righteousness tells me I am in right standing with the Father because of the finished work of Jesus alone. And the guarantee and sealing of these blessings is found in the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:22, 5:5; Eph 1:13-14).
A gift is something voluntarily transferred from one person (in our case from our Heavenly Father) to another without compensation. The Lord looks to children often as our standard for receiving these gifts, not because their humility is a virtue that merits it, but because they receive it as a gift. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it (Mark 10:15). Let us receive all that the Father has for us now - our lives will never be the same.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Radically Taking Hold of the Kingdom of God
Today we looked at several parables that helped us to understand the mystery of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God has come into history but in such a way that society is not disrupted; yet, it is forcefully advancing. God has called us to respond with a radical reaction. As Dona shared with us, there is no comfortable pew. Are you willing to radically take hold of the kingdom of God? It is a treasure worth more than all other possessions.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
In Search of the Pearl of Great Value
This week we sat together in order that we might get a glimpse of the larger purposes of God. Our survey of scriptures that speak of the "kingdom of God" appeared at first glance to be very complex, yet as we wrestled through them, we discovered that God was opening the door into treasures of understanding and blessing. I saw us as women in search of fine pearls (Matthew 13:45-46).
What we discovered from our survey of scriptures and looking at the Greek and Hebrew meaning of "kingdom" was that the root meaning of kingdom is the reign or rule of God. We also saw that some passages refer to the kingdom as a future realm of salvation (heaven, Age to Come) in which we enter and experience the fullness of his reign. Lastly, what we discovered was that by receiving Christ as Lord and Savior, we have entered into a new and present realm of the kingdom of God in which we experience redemptive blessings.
Our digging has just begun. We want to be women walking in the fullness of the blessings of the Kingdom of God.
What we discovered from our survey of scriptures and looking at the Greek and Hebrew meaning of "kingdom" was that the root meaning of kingdom is the reign or rule of God. We also saw that some passages refer to the kingdom as a future realm of salvation (heaven, Age to Come) in which we enter and experience the fullness of his reign. Lastly, what we discovered was that by receiving Christ as Lord and Savior, we have entered into a new and present realm of the kingdom of God in which we experience redemptive blessings.
Our digging has just begun. We want to be women walking in the fullness of the blessings of the Kingdom of God.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Opposition to the Redemptive Purpose of God
In looking at the temptations Jesus faced in Matthew 4, we saw that this is what we face today: the temptation to be relevant; to be spectacular and to be powerful. The activity of Satan has not changed; his single purpose is to frustrate the will of God in our life. We are empowered when we hold on to the very promises of God.
First Corinthians 10:13 promises "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." We stand on the faithfulness of God.
In Psalm 84:11 (For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless) and Luke 12:32 (Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom) we discover what God desires to give us is more than the world could ever offer. Yet again and again we give in to temptation.
Here's our encouragement, when we miss "the way out" provided by the Lord, as Jesus said to Peter in Luke 12:32 "But I have prayed for you, [Sister], that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your [sisters]. This is the power and reach of the Redemptive Purpose of God - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.
First Corinthians 10:13 promises "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." We stand on the faithfulness of God.
In Psalm 84:11 (For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless) and Luke 12:32 (Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom) we discover what God desires to give us is more than the world could ever offer. Yet again and again we give in to temptation.
Here's our encouragement, when we miss "the way out" provided by the Lord, as Jesus said to Peter in Luke 12:32 "But I have prayed for you, [Sister], that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your [sisters]. This is the power and reach of the Redemptive Purpose of God - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Impending Kingdom Activity
As we looked at the life of John the Baptist in each of the gospel accounts, we discovered the children of Israel were filled with a great expectancy. After 400 years of prophetic silence, God was now speaking through a prophet. God was about to act in His kingly power to bring about the salvation of the righteous and the judgment of the wicked. Yet, it was done in a manner that many had not expected - even John the Baptist.
This impending kingdom activity was going for the heart - our motives, our thoughts, our desires, our attitudes. . . .
And many turned away because they had a vision of an earthy or worldly greatness. Jesus said "whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (Mt 20:26b).
Where do you find yourself today? Are you walking away because this Christian life is so very different than what you had envisioned? Or have you embraced the impending kingdom activity in your heart? "And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Rev 21:5a).
This impending kingdom activity was going for the heart - our motives, our thoughts, our desires, our attitudes. . . .
And many turned away because they had a vision of an earthy or worldly greatness. Jesus said "whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (Mt 20:26b).
Where do you find yourself today? Are you walking away because this Christian life is so very different than what you had envisioned? Or have you embraced the impending kingdom activity in your heart? "And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Rev 21:5a).
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Our Sure Foundation
In today's study we looked at Matthew 1:18-2:23. Specifically, 5 scriptural references that Matthew highlighted to the Jewish Christians that were foundational to understanding and believing that this Jesus was the promised Messiah they longed for. "And so was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets . . ." The sealing of this foundation came in Matthew 12:6, 41 and 42, where Jesus declares He is superior to those whom God led his people in the past - priest, prophet, King and sage.
Today, we examine ourselves and ask, "Do I have this foundational basis that Jesus is the promised Messiah? Do you see God continually building upon this foundation?
When we looked at Matthew 2:23, we saw that being called a Nazarene had a negative connotation. What was spoken by the prophets is that Jesus would be despised and rejected, "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Jesus was rejected by his own people because he was so very different than what they had imagined.
Likewise, are we rejecting Jesus because this Christian life has become something different than what we had imagined?
Today, we examine ourselves and ask, "Do I have this foundational basis that Jesus is the promised Messiah? Do you see God continually building upon this foundation?
When we looked at Matthew 2:23, we saw that being called a Nazarene had a negative connotation. What was spoken by the prophets is that Jesus would be despised and rejected, "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Jesus was rejected by his own people because he was so very different than what they had imagined.
Likewise, are we rejecting Jesus because this Christian life has become something different than what we had imagined?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Threads of Hope
Our first lesson was on the genealogy of Jesus. As we looked at many in the lineage of Jesus we saw liars, murderers, prostitutes, adulterers, incest and just plain evil men. Yet, this is where the God of the Kingdom chose to come as King to rescue a people held captive to sin.
Now that you've had time to think about the lesson, what has God been saying to you? As you examine your own genealogy, what have you seen? Have you allowed the cleansing blood of Jesus to wash away all the vestiges of slavery or do you walk in the brokenness that plagued your genealogy?
I shared with a part of my own genealogy and a thread of hope found even in the midst of slavery. How a slave owner who impregnated a 12 year old slave girl and fathered 3 children by her, set them all free. More than that, he gave them his name and gave them a part of his land so that might build their own lives. What's your thread of hope that God placed into your genealogy?
Now that you've had time to think about the lesson, what has God been saying to you? As you examine your own genealogy, what have you seen? Have you allowed the cleansing blood of Jesus to wash away all the vestiges of slavery or do you walk in the brokenness that plagued your genealogy?
I shared with a part of my own genealogy and a thread of hope found even in the midst of slavery. How a slave owner who impregnated a 12 year old slave girl and fathered 3 children by her, set them all free. More than that, he gave them his name and gave them a part of his land so that might build their own lives. What's your thread of hope that God placed into your genealogy?
Prison Clothes - How do I take them off?!
As happens so often, several of us were talking after class about today's lesson. Amy asked the question that came to her while we were talking about dining at the King's table with prison clothes on (2 Kings 25:27-30). How do I put off these prison garments?
The word of God tells us in Isaiah 61:10a "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness." So as a child of God those prison clothes have been exchanged for salvation and righteousness. Yet our mindset (which controls our behavior) is that we have these prison garments on.
It is a issue of the mind - we have to walk in the truth of God's word, which tells us we have a new set of clothes. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." Additionally, Ephesians 4:22-24 22 tells us, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." In other words, we must exchange this constant accusation from Satan (see Revelation 12:10) for the truth of God - we have a set of new clothes - the very righteousness of Christ.
Zechariah 3:1-5 gives us a great picture of how this looks in the spiritual realm.
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. "
The word of God tells us in Isaiah 61:10a "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness." So as a child of God those prison clothes have been exchanged for salvation and righteousness. Yet our mindset (which controls our behavior) is that we have these prison garments on.
It is a issue of the mind - we have to walk in the truth of God's word, which tells us we have a new set of clothes. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." Additionally, Ephesians 4:22-24 22 tells us, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." In other words, we must exchange this constant accusation from Satan (see Revelation 12:10) for the truth of God - we have a set of new clothes - the very righteousness of Christ.
Zechariah 3:1-5 gives us a great picture of how this looks in the spiritual realm.
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. "
Sunday, July 12, 2009
All things!
When reading Saturday's devotion from Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest, Philippians 3:10-12 (from the Amplified Version) kept resonating with me. Several sentences in the devotion had such an impact and kept me going back to these verses.
"A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances happen at random, nor does he think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him."
Philippians 3:10-12 (Amplified Bible)
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
My hope is that we might know him through our study.
"A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances happen at random, nor does he think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him."
Philippians 3:10-12 (Amplified Bible)
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
My hope is that we might know him through our study.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Beth Moore Simulcast
On August 28-29, Beth Moore is bringing Living Proof Live to her hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Thanks to simulcast satellite technology, she'll spend that weekend here in Columbia, too! The same soul-stirring worship, the same life-changing teaching - right here, in real time. Living Proof Live is a weekend you'll never forget. And you won't even have to leave town!
Event Details:
Friday, August 28 - Event begins at 7:00pm and ends at 9:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Saturday, August 29 - Event begins at 8:30am and ends at noon. Doors open at 8:00am.
Coffee will be served.
The event is held at the Christian Fellowship sanctuary, 4600 Christian Fellowship Road.
Tickets are $20.00 each. Tickets are also available at Lemstone Bookstore and Christian Fellowship Bookstore, both in Columbia.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Our Calendar is Set!
Our Bible Study for the Fall will begin on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 and will continue until Tuesday, November 17, 2009. There will be no class on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, as it is a school holiday for most children.
For the Spring term, we will begin again on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 and continue until Tuesday, April 27, 2010. There will be no class on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, as it is during Spring Break for most school aged children.
For the Spring term, we will begin again on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 and continue until Tuesday, April 27, 2010. There will be no class on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, as it is during Spring Break for most school aged children.
- We will meet from 12-1:30 p.m.
- Donna Snyder has graciously agreed to allow us to meet at her home. She lives at 703 Idlewood Court (near Forum and Southampton).
- This will be a brown bag lunch and we'll provide the water.
For our study we will be looking at the life of Jesus through the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As part of this study we will examine several attributes of Jesus; including Jesus Christ as Bridegroom, as King and as Judge.
Our text will be the Bible and handouts that will be provided on the first day of our study.