Every week, across our brotherhood, sermons are presented, and Bible classes are taught. During those few hours each week, some people gain more insights than others. While it may be said that we should not come “looking for something”, we should come ready do worship the Almighty. If we have the proper mindset there is still something to be gained from the lessons.
Consider these few questions to see if they can help you “get something” from the lessons:
Why did you come to worship or Bible class?
The way we approach worship will determine our experience and our learning capacity. Ask yourself, “Am I coming to join with the saints and worship God the Father?” Are you coming together with others to praise God or just to “get something” out of the day? If someone comes to worship to find a self-pleasing ritual, then worship will not be God-centered.
What are you putting into the sermon or Bible class?
When you come to the assembled worship or Bible Class time, have you prepared your mind to learn? Our mindset will say much about our ability to learn. Are you opening your Bible and following along, or even taking notes to examine later? The old saying is, “you get out what you put in.” Are you putting effort into learning?
Where was your mind during the sermon or Bible class?
When you are listening are you thinking of how to apply the points of the message in your daily life? Once again, listening goes back to mindset. Are you focusing on the worship of God or things outside of worship?
“You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19.14; ESV)
Most will read over this verse and never pay it much thought, but upon considering the ramifications of this verse, the eternal nature of the Lord is clearly seen in the actions of the obedient.
Consider this, if you curse a deaf person, will he even hear it?
The answer is, “No.”
Leviticus 19.14 is a relationship verse; both our relationship to God as well as our relationship to each other.
Clearly a deaf person will not hear a cursing from your lips, but the Lord will. The Lord will see when you do not respect your fellow man and when you are not doing what is right before Him. Our words regarding others when they are not around is nothing more than a reflection of our hearts.
Our words are a reflection of our relationship with the Lord!
God is clear in His word about how we are to treat others. Gossiping and speaking behind others backs does nothing but fuel the fires of negativity and destroys everything. Yes, I said everything.
Each of us know relationship which have been utterly destroyed because of gossip and backbiting. I am sure some can name families that have split, marriages divided and congregations destroyed over gossip and backstabbing. Even King Solomon knew this when he said, “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases” (Proverbs 26.20; ESV)
Questions for a lifetime:
1. Each day, do you spend more time talking about people or to people?
2. When you pray, do you spend more time praying about others or more time praying for others?
3. Do you spend time tearing people down with gossip or building them up with exhortation?
Remember, a “true friends says nice things behind your back.”
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
When you think about those words, they are untrue.
We think we fool ourselves by saying them; but the truth is, words hurt.
There are words of encouragement, but when do we use them? God’s revealed word informs us to continually encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13).
Not only do words cut our heart, they influence others.
Think of all the religious names in your community. Chances are they number more than the fingers on your hand and the toes on your feet. There are too many!
All those names hurt everyone. It is a shame each group cannot throw down their name, their creed, their doctrine and abide in the doctrine of Christ.
Think about this quote from John Wesley:
“Would God that all party names and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world were forgotten and that we, as humble loving disciples, might sit down at the Master’s feet, read His Holy Word, imbibe His Spirit and transcribe His life into our own…With regard to the name Christian, I would say, there is none like it; give it to me, and in life and in death I would glorify God in this name.”
A broken promise hurts. A broken promise can cut very deep, wounding our soul, spirit and outlook.
However, a kept promise gets us motivated to continue forward. Even knowing that a promise made by a caring, honest and promise-keeping person pushes us in the direction we need to go. It is motivation. It is a fuel to continue.
Below are Nine Bible Promises to give you some motivation to keep going forward.
Enjoy.
Nine Promises to Keep You Motivated
The Promise of a Gift— “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4.7; ESV)
The Promise of the Son — “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2.29-32; ESV)
The Promise of the Spirit — “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8.26; ESV)
The Promise of God — “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5; ESV)
The Promise of a Rainbow — “When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9.16; ESV)
The Promise of a Crown — “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4.8; ESV)
The Promise of Cleansing — “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1.7; ESV)
The Promise of Forgiveness — “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…” (Matthew 6.14; ESV)
The Promise of Heaven — “And this is the promise that he made to us–eternal life.” (1 John 2.25; ESV)
What other promises from the Bible can you remember?
What other promises from the Bible keep you motivated to press toward the prize each day?
From grocery lists, shopping lists and “Honey Do” lists our lives might be full of various lists scattered on sheets of paper in our houses, cars, books, etc. This week, let’s add another one to the list, but let’s call it a “Congregational Family To-Do List.”
Many people use lists to help us stay on track and even remember what we are to do. Let’s use this list as a starting point to reach out to others and strengthen ourselves this week.
Here is your “Congregational Family To-Do List”
Read two chapters of the Bible each day. (grab a Daily Bible Reading Schedule to help)
Apply two things I learned from reading the Bible.
