Sunday, January 5, 2014

First Sunday '14

It's the first Sunday of 2014, and we're off to a pretty good start to the new year.

One of our assistant pastors preached on "How Sharp is this Sword?" from 2 Timothy 3:16,17, which reminded us that God's Word is 1) Inspired, 2) Inerrant, and 3) Authoritative.  Using the acrostic IMPACT, he gave a tool which can be used to give evidence that Scripture is Inspired:

  • Impact - transforms people's lives
  • Maturity - has been around for 3,000 years and is still relevant and going strong
  • Prophecies - numerous prophecies have come true
  • Accuracy - for all the areas the Bible addresses, it is always confirmed for all those that can be
  • Consistency - 66 books written by 40 diff authors over 1500 years in 3 languages on over 100 topics, it is still unified and consistent
  • Testimonials - the Bible calls itself the Word of God
He encouraged us to not lose the "take your breath away" wonder of God's Word and promises.  1 Peter 2:1-3 says we should crave pure spiritual milk (like a baby, it should be innate).  Is there anything getting in the way of our craving His Word?

In the message, I was also reminded that if we love God, we WANT to obey.  This was also enforced in the class lesson.   When the Word says that if we love God we obey His commandments, it's not so much that we should do it; but more so, that we desire to do it, to please HIM and to be like HIM.

After class, I had a chance to go to lunch with a couple that leads one of the other Sunday classes.   I was able to use a gift card I had to partially treat them to lunch (they insisted on paying the balance and the tip).  I'm trying to put into practice "Loving Others", but, it was a blessing to me.   If I ever get married, I would like my marriage to be like theirs.  They are such a loving caring and fun couple.

12-Jan:  In the continuation on the topic of God's Word, my Pastor preached on the Power of His Word, which are beyond our full comprehension and will never fail.  We can apply God's Word and promises to our lives by:

  • Being dissatisfied with mediocrity
  • Not trying to control our lives
  • Surrendering completely to Jesus as Lord
  • Believing His promises without reservation or retreat
  • Fulfilling any conditions included in the promise
  • Laving timing and manner of fulfillment to God

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