| | OK everyone, get ready for another big one. Don't think that because I'm moved back to school that I've forgotten about Nixa. There's only one more to go in this long series of posts. I hope you've been finding some interesting tidbits amongst them.
Second Week Review
John Lee had the class in the mornings on “How Do We Show We Have the Spirit?”
The Holy Spirit has been active in God’s people from the beginning, but it has not always been manifested in the same way.
II Cor. 5:7 We walk by faith, not sight. How many people have we lost to the mainstream because they thought worship should be showy and feel-good?
II Cor. 11:14 Follow the Holy Spirit, not the seducing spirits from Satan. Make sure what you’re thinking and feeling corresponds with God’s word.
--“The Spirit works IN a Christian and ON a non-believer.” J.L.
--“We know we have the Spirit because the Bible tells us so, not because we tingle all over.” J.L.
--“Sometimes we mask our emotions. However, we don’t have to clap, shout, and roll on the floor. Those are outward manifestations that you can fake without really having the Spirit.”
--Workings of the Holy Spirit in the O.T. vs. N.T.
In the O.T., the HS came and went.
In the N.T. and today, it stays with us. We can grieve and quench him when we sin, but he never leaves us.
--“The HS doesn’t come to us in slivers or installments. The more we submit to God, the more the Spirit can work fully.” J.L.
--The Spirit leads and guides our lives, but not every single event of them.
--The Spirit never overrides our free-will.
--He doesn’t bring to our minds anything we haven’t put there already through study of the Word.
*What is the purpose of worship? To glorify God and to praise Him.
--There is no virtue in worshiping. The virtue comes out of the object of our worship.
--Lk. 11:1 We learn how to worship.
--“Our worship isn’t acceptable because it’s emotional. You get emotional when your worship is acceptable.” J.L.
--Worship is getting your spirit in synch with God’s. Inwardly or outwardly, it should be emotional.
**Culture’s effect on worship: peer pressure and feeling left out.
--Worship is not feel-good, warm and fuzzy. It IS bowing down to God.
**Entertainment Vs. Edification:
--“You win a person to what you win them with.” J.L.
--Apply this to yourself. Why are you coming to church? It’s not about entertainment.
**What causes boredom in worship? True worship is never boring. If you’re bored in the worship service, it isn’t your best worship.
You’re not at the worship service to get, but to give. But, as you give, you do get.
**Does it matter how we worship? Yes.
Cain and Abel
Nadab and Abihu
King Saul
Uzzah
Jeroboam
The Seven Churches
--Worship is to give to God, not for us to get from men.
--Do NOT be passive in worship.
--Do you sing with your whole heart? Do you pray and thank God for the blessings He’s given you?
The second morning class was by Barry Poyner on “Should We be Politically Correct.”
Barry’s basic point was that, no, we should not be P.C. as Christians because being P.C. means being silent. He emphasized that we do have to speak the truth in love.
Matt. 10:16, Jude v. 8-11, Acts 18:24-28, II Tim. 2:23-26
”Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
--Look at yourself as a Christian PR person. You give others information about Christ.
Eph. 4:15, Matt. 5:16, Acts 10:38, Gal. 6:10
--Sins of the tongue: Angry talk, blasphemy, course joking, deception, insincere complements, and Godless banter.
We must ALWAYS beware of our speech to others in the world.
--Confidence and arrogance are two different things in your speech.
--Don’t listen to these excuses against speaking the truth--
”It’s just your opinion.”
”It would hurt their feelings.”
On Wednesday and Thursday, I switched to the upstairs class to hear Rick Sparks speak on the topic of “Will There be a Rapture, Etc.?”
--We talked about Rev. 13:16-18 and the number 666. Greek letters also had numerical values to correspond with them. The Greek letters that totaled to 666 spelled out the name Lateinos who was the reputed founder of the Latin race.
--We also talked about Daniel 9 and the 70 weeks prophecy. I have to say that I didn’t catch all of this one. But here are some cross references and main points: Ezra 1:2-5, 7:11-26 and Neh. 2:1-8.
7X 70. 70 weeks (490 years) from the rebuilding of Jerusalem, then it will be destroyed.
*The 70 weeks prophecy was fulfilled in the 1st century.
Some say that there is a gap between week 69 and 70 and the 70th week is yet to come. This is false because the prophecy was fulfilled in the 1st century.
Mic. 5, Matt. 2:1-10. The magi knw the Daniel prophecy was fulfilled, and so did Herod.
--Predestination: Rom. 8:28-30 God predestined a group to be called, justified, sanctified, and glorified. YOU choose whether or not you want to be part of this group.
--The Second Coming of Christ: II Pet. 3 There will be a second coming.
The skeptics argue and try to intimidate with sarcasm…”Where is He? Wasn’t He supposed to be back by now?”
They also argue about the second coming because they want to indulge the flesh. Their belief must fit their immorality. Evolution is a prime example—There is no purpose to life, they say. That means that they can do whatever they want.
The skeptics also say, “Jesus will never come back because He never has.” The longer the Lord delays the judgment, the more secure they feel.
*To counter these arguments we have four answers:
1. II Pet. 3:1-2 Remember the O.T. and the words of the Apostles.
2. II Pet. 3:5-6 The scoffers are willingly shutting their eyes to history. For example, the flood. God builds into creation the very tool for it’s destruction.
Catastrophe, not uniformity, has made the world what it is.
3. II Pet. 3:8 To us, it’s a long time, but to God it’s a very short time. God is above time.
4. II Pet. 3:9 God is not late or distracted or preoccupied. He’s patient for people to repent.
Heb. 10:23, Ez. 18, Lk. 3:13
Friday, Barry Poyner had the class for everyone. His last session was on “Confronting with Care.”
--People will not change unless they see the need.
--They are most likely to change in times of dissonance in their lives—loss of loved one, serious illness.
--Is it wrong to motivate people through fear? No. Sometimes it is needed. I Jn. 4:17-19, Acts 2
--Being a torchbearer:
Be a servant to all. I Cor. 9:19-23
Matt. 5:14-16, Rom. 1:1-17 Begin on a common plain.
It takes practice!!
Don’t be silent.
Tell others how you obeyed the gospel. II Tim. 2:8
* Make a goal to share the gospel with one person in the world per week.
* Make a goal to encourage one person at church per week.
* Pray that God will give you the opportunities.
In the afternoons, Tom Dennis was still doing his class on the book of John.
I’m going to keep this review shorter, because the main part of the second week of the book of John was the day (Thursday) Tom did the chapters on Christ’s crucifiction. That is the part I will highlight.
First, some quotes…
”What was the guy’s name who wanted to kill the Jews?” Tom
(Answer from the audience) “Saul.”
”No. Haman.” Tom
Tom began Thursday’s class with I Cor. 15:3, then we read the accounts of Jesus praying in the garden (Matt. 26:36-46, Mk.14:32-42, Lk. 22:39-46).
Then, we sang #286 from the Red Book. I believe the song is called “On Olive’s Brow.” It was very moving and emotional. Tom told us about how, on the Israel trip, they sing that song in Gethsemane.
Chapter 18.
V. 12-27 Christ before Annas and Caiaphas. John goes with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. Peter also is nearby.
V. 17-27 Peter stands by the fireside with the enemy and denies Christ 3X.
V. 28-38 In Pilate’ court.
Lk. 22:66-71 Before the Sanhedrin council, then to Pilate, then to Herod, then back to Pilate. All of this happened in one night.
V. 28 Notice, the Jews don’t’ want to defile themselves by entering the Gentile building of Pilate’s court.
V. 39-40 The mob chooses Barabbas over Jesus to be released.
Chapter 19.
V.1 Jesus was scourged.
V.2 He was crowned with thorns.
V. 3 He was mocked.
Matt. 27:19 Pilate’s wife warns him not to have anything to do with this “just man”, Jesus. Pilate doesn’t listen and gives in to the mob.
V. 17-18 Jesus had to carry His cross upon His bloody, scourged back.
Then they nailed railroad sized spikes through his hands and feet.
Jesus’ Seven Statements
1. Matt. 27:46 “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”
2. Lk. 23:44 “Father, forgive them…”
3. Lk. 23:43 “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
4. Lk 23: 46 “Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit.”
5. John 19:26-27 “Behold, you mother.”
6. John 19: 28 “I thirst!”
7. John 19:30 “It is finished.”
Jesus’ Appearances After His Resurrection
Mk. 16:9, Matt, 28: 9-10, Lk. 24:34, Lk. 24:13-31, John 20:26-29, John 21:1-14, Matt. 28:16-17, I Cor. 15:6, I Cor. 15:7, Lk. 24, Acts 1
After His Ascension
Acts 7:56—To Stephen
Acts 9:3, 17:12-18—To Saul
Rev. 1:13—To John
During the last session every day of the second week, I went to Barry Brownsberger’s class on “Life Lessons from David and Solomon.”
Barry talked about learning about the consequences of good and bad actions from David and Solomon in Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.
--Remember to learn from failures AND successes.
--Qualities of a good counselor:
1. Honesty. Prov. 24:23-25
2. Understanding. Prov. 27: 19
3. Speak the truth in love. Prov. 27:9
--Prov. 10:17 Don’t refuse instruction.
--Be a good employee: Prov. 10:14, Prov. 12:24, Heb. 11:6, Matt. 12:30, Prov. 27:18, Prov. 22:29, Matt. 5:16
--Our relationships with others:
Prov. 25:8-10.
With neighbors—Lk. 14:31 Make sense of the argument before you jump into anything. Think of the outcome.
With enemies—Prov. 25:21-22 Be kind and considerate and make them feel ashamed about their behavior.
With yourself—Prov. 25:27-28 Don’t search your own glory. Have self-control.
With fools—Ps. 14:1, I Sam. 25:25, Prov. 26:4-5, 11
With gossips—Stay away. Prov. 20:19, II Tim. 2:16
With the angry—Prov. 22:24-25 Don’t make friends of him. |
