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Coffee Break – 10.21.2013

Coffee Break

How To Spot A Father Of Young Children – I’m not sure the coffee cup is big enough…

11 Things You Might Not Know About Missouri – If you’re from the state of Missouri, as I am, there might not be anything new here. But if not, then read away!

Dark Satire Art – Some of these images are somewhat disturbing. But that’s only because the point comes across so clearly. There are issues here that are mostly taboo in art. Fascinating, but be warned.

Preaching On Sunday? Read This – This is short and sweet, but drives home a big point. The message isn’t mine. The changed lives aren’t because of me. I’m just a tool to be used in God’s hands every week. But he loves me just as much as he loves the ones listening to me.

Make The Bible Your Native Tongue – Sometimes the difficulty in understanding the Bible isn’t because of our modern context. Often it’s because we don’t understand the subtleties and nuances of the original language that has been translated into our own, sometimes translated into another language before making is to our own. Making the Bible our native language will require some effort, but will be well worth it.

On Sermon Outlines – I found this helpful as I strive to create a method and routine of preaching every week. Whiles these points don’t get into the nitty gritty of sermon preparation, they are excellent reminders to keep the big picture in place.

A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for. – Howard Hendricks

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Memorize Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:19-20

Paul has already addresses elders in 1 Timothy. However, he returns to the topic to give some further instruction in the fifth chapter. This isn’t as much a job description, as in chapter three, but seems to be more corrective in nature.

Take a look for yourself in 1 Timothy 5:19-20:

1 Timothy 5:19-20

In the previous couple of verses, Paul’s concern is for the care and compensation of elders who give their lives wholly to the ministry, forsaking other means of generating an income. Paul expects the church that Timothy is directing to take charge and help these men provide for their families.

But in these verses, his tone changes. Here he is addressing the steps to be taken when an elder is found to be in sin.

He gives Timothy two guidelines to follow:

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The Life That Honors God: The Conclusion Of The Matter

This is part of the series The Life That Honors God, from 1 Timothy. Check out more from the series!

Right now, we are finishing up a series, where I am sharing five different aspects of The Life That Honors God. This series, based out of 1 Timothy chapter 4 and chapter 5, is all about how to live a life that makes a difference to others, but most importantly, to God. Click on the link in the box above to see the introductory post, with links to all five aspects.

The Life That Honors God

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve looked closely at five different areas that Paul encouraged Timothy to excel in. My encouragement to you is to do the same thing. Take these five areas and invest them into your life. Practice these until they come naturally to you. And then practice them some more.

But as you do these five things, keep the proper attitude.

Philippians 2:3-11 says this:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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The Life That Honors God: Treat Others With Respect

This is part of the series The Life That Honors God, from 1 Timothy. Check out more from the series!

Right now, we are in the middle of a series, where I am sharing five different aspects of The Life That Honors God. This series, based out of 1 Timothy chapter 4 and chapter 5, is all about how to live a life that makes a difference to others, but most importantly, to God. Click on the link in the box above to see the introductory post, with links to all five aspects.

The Life That Honors God: Treat Others With Respect

1 Timothy 5:1-2 says this:

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Paul is exhorting this young man to show respect to his elders; and to be gentle and to show purity in his relationships with others. He seems to be stressing to Timothy here to emphasize purity in his relationships with young women.

Guys let me speak to you for a moment. Ladies listen up, because this is something you need to hear as well. Guys, you are visually oriented. More so than women are. You are emotionally and physically attracted by what you see. Ladies, this isn’t as important to you, but it still can be a problem. Watch yourself in this area, guys. It appears that Satan has identified a weakness in many men – lust or sexual impropriety. Guys, your service and ministry will be destroyed with a wandering eye or an impure heart.

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The Life That Honors God: Take On The Example

This is part of the series The Life That Honors God, from 1 Timothy. Check out more from the series!

Right now, we are in the middle of a series, where I am sharing five different aspects of The Life That Honors God. This series, based out of 1 Timothy chapter 4 and chapter 5, is all about how to live a life that makes a difference to others, but most importantly, to God. Click on the link in the box above to see the introductory post, with links to all five aspects.

The Life That Honors God: Take On The Example

1 Timothy 4:12 tells us:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

To not let anyone look down on you does not mean to care less about what others think. On the contrary, it means to not give others a reason to look down on you.

Taking up the example means that you give credibility to what you teach; to how you live.

The authority of what you say comes from God but the credibility of what you say comes from your life.

This is why verse 16 says to watch your life and doctrine closely.

Your integrity as a believer, as a Christian, as a servant, is grounded in your speech, in your life, in your love, in your faith and in your purity.

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Coffee Break – 10.14.2013

Coffee Break

Cool Coffee Painted Portraits – Few people ever think of using coffee as a medium for art. But it’s possible; and it is beautiful. Here are several incredible paintings created with coffee.

7 Civil War Stories You Didn’t Learn In High School – American History from the 1800s is one of my favorite eras to read about. This article offered some facts and tidbits of information that most people don’t know.

What’s In A Drop Of Pond Water? – Ever wonder just how much life there is in a single drop of pond water? Wonder no more, because this brief video gives you a glimpse into that microscopic world.

Dear Pastor, Bring Your Bible To Church – I preach from an iPad. But I always carry a physical copy of the Bible onto the stage with me, every week. The Bible is my authority, and having one in my hand helps to emphasize that fact. This article gives a few more compelling reasons to have a physical copy of the Bible in hand when you preach.

3 Ways To Fuel Momentum – One of the hardest things to do as a leader is to start momentum. Getting the ball rolling is much harder than keeping it going. This post shares three brief ways to fuel that momentum and get things moving in your church.

10 Enemy Attacks On Leaders – Spiritual warfare is real, and the leaders are on the front lines. Unfortunately, the enemy has several effective attacks that can cripple a leader if he’s not careful. It’s best to know about them so you can recognize them when they come. Here is a list of ten of them.

The measure of you as a leader is not what you do, but what others do because of what you do. – Howard Hendricks