Tag Archives: Bible

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Memorize The Sermon On The Mount – Week 17

Last week, we started the passage on swearing and oaths.  This week’s passage is the second half of it.

Jesus makes things simple.  Let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no”.  It really is that easy.

But it’s not always that easy to do, is it?  I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find that a simple “yes” or “no” isn’t sufficient.  It should be, but I crave more.  And it never rally adds anything.  You’d think I’d learn…

I’m working on it.

Matthew 5:36-37

Here’s a link to the passage at Bible Gateway.

Do you ever add anything to your “yes” and “no”? Let me know in the comments.

 

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Memorize The Sermon On The Mount – Week 16

The Sermon on the Mount is extremely timely. I often hear people say that the Bible is completely outdated.

Not true. Look at today’s passage, for example. You can find it in Matthew 5:33-35.

This passage speaks to swearing and keeping oaths. When was the last time you heard someone do this? When was the last time you did?

Face it. It’s hard not to swear by something greater than ourselves.

Matthew 5:33-35

Here’s a link to the passage at Bible Gateway.

What do you do to prevent this in your life? Let me know in the comments.

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The Difference Between Purpose, Vision, and Mission

This post is part of the Foundations Of Youth Ministry series.  Check out the rest of the series!

I believe that it is crucial to define exactly what youth ministry is all about.  When we establish some parameters, it can move us on dramatically toward realizing success for the Kingdom and the Church.  It can give us direction.

Compass and Binoculars

As I struggled to define my ministry early in my career, I had a rough time.  I was taught what to do in my youth ministry classes, but there was very little discussion on the why or the how to do it.

It took me several years to figure out some of those things.  After many ministry experiences, some good and some not so good, I developed a concise philosophy of ministry.  I sat down and wrote out the reasons why I do youth ministry the way I do it.  I detailed what I thought were key ingredients in my ministry, and dug in deep to discover why they were so important. Finally, I had a definitive statement that described why I did things they way I did, but I was still missing a very important piece of the puzzle.  Why was I doing ministry at all?

So I decided I needed to figure that out.  And that was tougher than I thought it would be.  Do I need a Purpose Statement?  Or a Mission Statement?  Or a Vision Statement?

I found out that the answer is yes.

On the one hand, I need to be more broad.  A philosophy of ministry helps me see the details and specifics of my ministry, while I need to develop the big picture.  But on the other hand, I need to get very specific, and determine what ministry, my ministry, looks like.

Many people talk about mission, and vision, and purpose.  But not many people understand what these things are.  These three words get thrown around a lot and are used interchangeably by a lot of people.  But there are some key differences.

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Memorize The Sermon On The Mount – Week 15

With the rate of divorce in America, even among Christians, this week’s passage is especially timely.

I understand that this can be a touch topic, but Christ was very up front with the fact that divorce is hated by God.  In this passage, you can almost hear his pain as he talks about it.

The passage for this week is, of course, the divorce passage found in Matthew 5:31-32.

Matthew 5:31-32

Here’s a link to the passage at Bible Gateway.

How has the divorce rate in America affected your family?    Let me know in the comments.


 

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Memorize The Sermon On The Mount – Week 14

Today’s passage is one of the harder teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, in my opinion.  I would like to know if anyone has ever actually cut off a hand, or gouged out an eye. I think that would be extremely difficult to do, given our propensity for self-preservation.

I know, there are differences of opinion on whether this is literal or metaphorical.

But either way, the fact remains, following Christ may require some extreme sacrifices.

The passage for this week is Matthew 5:29-30.

Matthew 5:29-30

Here’s a link to the passage at Bible Gateway.

What sacrifices have you had to make in order to follow Christ?  Which one is your favorite?  Let me know in the comments.

 

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Memorize The Sermon On The Mount – Week 13

I love this section of the Sermon on the Mount. Not just today’s passage, but all of the “You’ve heard that it was said…” parts. Murder and hatred. Adultery and lust. Divorce. Oaths. Revenge. And love.

These statements from Jesus are so simple, and yet so profound. They hit me anew almost every time I read them.

The passage for this week the beginning of the paragraph about adultery, Matthew 5:27-28.

Matthew 5:27-28

Here’s a link to the passage at Bible Gateway.

What are your thoughts on the “You’ve heard that it was said…” passages? Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

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Memorize The Sermon On The Mount – Week 12

Moving right along in our memorization of the Sermon on the Mount.

This passage is a bit less poignant in my life.  I’ve never had to take anyone to court, or been taken to court.  It might happen someday, and so this passage will be good to have in my mind to draw on.

The passage for this week is Matthew 5:25-26.

Matthew 5:25-26

Here’s a link to the passage at Bible Gateway.

Have you ever been taken to court?  Let me know in the comments.