Blog

Top Seven Things Every Christian Should Do

7. Be Active in a Local Church – Worship, Fellowship, Giving, Ministries, Bible Studies, Life Groups, etc.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

6. Seek Spiritual Growth Opportunities – Discipling, Mentors, Christian Books, Service.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

5. Read your Bible Daily – Quiet Time, Bible Reading Plan.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

4. Pray to God Daily – Mealtimes, Morning, Throughout the Day, Bedtime.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

3. Be Active in Good Works – Seek to do Good.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

2. Share Your Faith with Others – Make Disciples.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

1. Reflect Daily on Your Walk with Christ – Reflect, Repent, Renew.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I’ll say more in the lesson!

Blessings, Joey

Top Seven Reasons to Join a Life Group

7. Fellowship – Life groups offer a place to worship, pray, and study the Bible in an intimate setting.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

6. Encouragement – Life groups help facilitate Biblical applications to your personal situation.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

5. Companionship – Life groups offer you the experience of the Christian lifestyle through shared journeys, joys, and growth.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

4. Accountability– Life groups teach you how to overcome struggles with sin.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

3. Service – Life groups offer you the opportunity to serve God by helping others.
Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise– the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is
pleased.

2. Support – Life groups offer you an intimate place where love and service are given and received.
Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

1. Experiencing God – Life groups give you opportunity to experience God through the lives of each other.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

I’ll say more in the lesson!

Blessings, Joey

What Must I Do to be Saved?

How does a girl with an evil spirit, a group of angry business men, an illegal imprisonment, and a divinely sent earthquake lead to the conversion of an entire household?  My lesson Sunday is from Acts 16 and we will study the conversion of the Philippian jailor.

Paul and Silas encounter a girl with a “pythonian” spirit (most of the versions simply translate “a spirit of divination” because most readers would not understand what pythonian meant). This was a specific spirit associated with the shrine of Delphi; the girl was considered to be “inspired” to foretell the future by Apollos, the Pythian god of that shrine.

I mention this for two reason.  First, the Bible affirms the existence of the supernatural in the form of evil spirits, fortune telling, etc. Second, to underscore the danger of dabbling in things like fortune telling, Ouija boards, horoscopes, etc.  These are associated with REAL supernatural forces with which we should not trifle.  I’m working on a series of lessons on these evil spiritual beings that I will share soon.  My working title is “Spiritual Warfare.”

This girl followed Paul and Silas around announcing who they were and their message. This was more of a distraction that it was a benefit to their mission, so Paul cast out the spirit. This angered the men who were profiting from her prophecies.  They caused a stir and had Paul and Silas arrested, beaten and imprisoned — apparently without giving them a  chance to defend themselves.  It was illegal to treat Roman citizens this way about which Paul will later accuse the city officials.

The central message of the story is found in vv. 25-34.  Paul and Silas were fastened in stocks and chains deliberately designed to cause discomfort.  However, they were singing and praising God in the middle of their suffering. All the other prisoners (and possibly the jailer) heard this and were amazed.  About midnight, God sent an earthquake that broke their bonds and freed them.

Seeing this, the jailer prepared to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had escaped (Romans did not treat gently those who let prisoners escape).

When Paul assured him that all the prisoner’s were present and accounted for, he fell to his knees and asked the question with which this article is entitled, “What must I do to be saved?”

How would you have answered him?  Could you tell him what you did to come to know the Lord?  Could you open you Bible and show him chapter and verse?  Do you know these verses by heart? Have you ever had the opportunity to share the gospel with someone?

I’ll say more in the lesson!

Blessings, Joey

Breaking Free from Lust

Sunday, my lesson is entitled, “Breaking Free from Lust.”

The first thing that may come to mind is such a discussion, of course, is pornography.  However, our society is so sex-saturated, we don’t have to be involved with actual pornography to be exposed to explicit materials.  Television, movies, magazines, billboards—even catalogs are filled with materials that can lure us down the wrong path.  What can we do in such a sex obsessed society?

The first thing to remember is that sex is good!  God created the sexual relationship and he has blessed marriage as the ideal and only proper setting for its expression.  The Bible is full of verses urging married couples to give full expression to their sexual desires (I’ll be mentioning a few of these in my lesson).

The scripture also teaches that married couples are not to withhold sex from one another.  The King James Version uses the word “defraud” in 1 Cor. 7 to describe such withholding.  In my opinion, the spouse who is not attentive to the sexual desires of his/her mate is being as unfaithful to them as the spouse who steps outside the marriage and “cheats.”  Both have “broken faith” in regard to their marital covenant—this is the very definition of adultery!

If you are having trouble with lust, it is time to talk with your spouse about how you can spend more time together.  This is God’s solution.  Communication is key.

What if you are not married or your spouse is not responsive?  Paul addressed that as well; he had help from God to control his desires (1 Corinthians 7:7).  “God’s solution is get married.  If that isn’t possible, self-control with God’s help is the fall back plan.”

How does that work? God can handle the desire part, but you need to remove yourself from any situation that can inflame your desire.  That may mean avoiding certain people and circumstances or restricting what you read or watch.  This especially means avoiding pornography in all forms.  Pornography is exploitive and addictive.  Using pornography as an expression of your sexual desire leads to an addictive downward spiral of lust as well as an objectification and denigration of what God created to be beautiful.  In short, you will lose the ability to respond naturally and normally to one of God’s greatest gifts.

Blessings, Joey

Message Notes

“Desire” is s Morally Neutral Concept in Greek

• It is Used to Describe Beautiful, Healthy Sexual Desire
  (Song of Solomon 7:10; Proverbs 5:18-19)
• It is also Used to Describe Sordid, Demeaning Evil Desire or Lust
  (Ephesians 4:19; Colossians 3:5)

“Lust” is NOT Merely Feeling Sexual Desire
(Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:22-24; Genesis 1:31)

When does Legitimate Sexual “Desire” Become “Lust”?

• When Desire Turns to Inappropriate Fantasy (Matthew 5:28; James 1:14-15).
• When Desire Cannot be Legitimately Pursued
• The Desire is for Something Sinful (Romans 1:27).
• The Desire is for Someone who Belongs to Another (Exodus 20:17).
• The Desire is for Someone you have no Right to (1 Corinthians 6:18).
• When Desire Controls you (Romans 6:12-13).
• When Desire Twists into Selfishness (Ephesians 2:3).

What Does God’s Word Say About “Lust”? (Matthew 5:28; Colossians 3:5; Romans 13:14; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 Peter 2:11)

Breaking Free of Lust:

• No More Excuses
• Repent / Confess Your Sins to God
• Be Accountable to God and Others
• Run Away from Temptation
• Look for God’s Help
• Trust God to Forgive You When You Fail

Breaking Free from Bitterness

 The Book of Ruth is the story of Ruth, a Moabite princess, who marries the son a wealthy Jew who has taken his family to Moab to avoid a devastating famine in Israel.  Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, experience terrible tragedy when Ruth’s husband, her husband’s only brother, and her father-in-law die suddenly. Naomi is left alone with two childless daughters-in-law neither of whom is Jewish.

Naomi urges Ruth and Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law, to remain in Moab so she can return to Israel and put the pieces of her broken life back together.  Orpah decides to remain in Moab, but Ruth, in a stunning gesture of devotion, decides she will return with Naomi, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me” (Ruth 1:16-17).

 When Naomi returns to Bethlehem, she is greeted by the other women to which she replies, “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.  I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me” (Ruth 1:20-21).

 Naomi is bitter with the circumstances of her life and with God who allowed these things to occur.  However, in the midst of her bitterness she extends kindness to Ruth who reciprocates in the same way.  Rabbi Levi Meier, Ph.D, Jewish Chaplain of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has written a book entitled, Second Chances: Transforming Bitterness to Hope and the Story of Ruth.  Meier writes, “Kindness as a response to pain, suffering and tragedy is one of the overriding themes of the Book of Ruth.”

Meir reveals that individual acts of kindness have repercussions well beyond themselves, as when Ruth accepts the generous offer of Boaz (whom she will later marry) to follow his harvesters and glean the grain that they leave behind.  “She leaves some food uneaten, intending to take it home to share with Naomi,” Meier writes.  “In this way, Ruth takes advantage of a way to repair the past—she demonstrates how different she is from her selfish Moabite forebears, who wanted to sell bread and water to the Israelites wandering through the desert.”

Ruth is ultimately rewarded for her great kindness by becoming a progenitor of King David, from whom the Bible states, the Messiah will come.  Meier concludes that the way to transform bitterness into hope is through personal acts of generosity and kindness—a lesson on bitterness gleaned from a Moabite princess, told by a Jewish Rabbi, and now shared with a Christian audience.  God is good!

*Much of this synopsis was borrowed from
David Brandes and the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.

Blessings, Joey

Breaking Free from Bitterness:
Message Notes

Bitterness Begins When Someone Hurts You:

• Sometimes It’s a Large Wound
• Sometimes It’s Smaller Wounds Over Time
• Many of these You Dismiss or Deal With.
• Others You Make an Effort to Forgive.
• Others Take Root and Grow into Bitterness.

What Does Bitterness Look Like?
Thoughts of Revenge, Hatred, Avoidance, Outbursts of Anger, Gossip

Bitterness Will Destroy You:
Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, Socially

How Can I Overcome Bitterness:

• Admit Your Bitter Attitude
• Repent of this and Related Sins
• Give God Your Burden
• Forgive the Offender
• Turn Outward in Your Focus

Breaking Free from Self-Righteousness

Most Hollywood depictions of Christianity usually picture a selfrighteous, holier-than-thou, yet hypocritically flawed individual. The problem with such depictions is that… ugh… well, there is no problem because there is more truth there than there is error.

Christians come over as self-righteous because often we are selfrighteous. Think about the last time you lost a few pounds on a diet.   Tell me you didn’t become just a little judgmental about what your friends or family ate, “Do you know how many calories are in that donut?”

Obviously, there is the natural (or fleshly) human nature with which we have to contend, but our faith also teaches us that we are to help others who are struggling with sin. This can lead to our thinking of ourselves as better than others or, at the very least, we can leave that impression.

Jesus addressed this issue in Matthew 7:1-6, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

Jesus tells us, first, that we are imperfect in our judgment; often we judge people harshly. Second, Jesus explains that we are imperfect in our own behavior and are hypocritical to think that we have a divine mandate to find flaws in others. Finally, Jesus says we are imperfect in our assessment of others. I believe verse six does not contain instructions from Jesus but rather is a quote from a self-righteous individual used to illustrate Jesus’ point. Who are we to call others “dogs” or “pigs?” Who are we to judge if someone is “worthy” of the Gospel? In his sermon Jesus affirms that only God has earned the right to judge others in this fashion.

How then do we approach friends and loved ones in sin without being or seeming self-righteous? I have come to believe that only a healthy understanding of God’s grace and the basis of our standing before him can we even begin to approach others.

Dear Christian, you are saved not because you are smart or good, but because God chose to save you anyway because of your faith in Jesus. Yes, your past sins are forgiven and God is helping your grow and work through your present sins, but you are still a sinner—undeserving of his goodness.

We can approach others only with this understanding and attitude. We are fellow-strugglers. We must introduce others to the only hope for all humanity – Jesus Christ.

Blessings, Joey

Breaking Free from Greed

I’m afraid Sunday’s lesson has crossed the line of preaching and gone right on into meddling.  Greed.  It plagues us all.  The Bible word we are most familiar with is covetousness, but the newer versions have it right when they translate it as plain ole “greed.”

Greed is defined as “desire for more.”  It afflicts both the rich and the poor.  Whenever we feel dissatisfaction with what we have (not because it is broken or non-functional) and desire something else—newer, brighter, better—we cross the line from need to greed.  Most of us, myself included, continue to struggle in the present over the consequences of our past greediness.  We are deep in debt because we have allowed our desire for more to charge yet another treasure, buy a house we cannot afford, or drive a flashy new automobile.

Our nation’s economic woes can be often be traced back to the greed of rich men and women who filled their own pockets to the detriment of their companies and employees.  However, we are part of the problem as well, because so many of us have overextended ourselves to the point of economic ruin.

Jesus told the story about a rich man who had a surplus. “He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’  ¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry”‘ (Luke 12:17-19). 

Notice the rich man’s use of personal pronouns – I, me, mine.  Not a thought was given to others.  What about the laborers that planted and harvested his crops?  What about the many around him who did not have enough?  No wonder God’s judgment was upon him. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’  ²¹ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20-21). 

Jesus prefaced his parable with this warning, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Notice Jesus warns of “all kinds of greed.”  Greed takes many forms.  For this rich man, it was in his selfish, hoarding behavior.  His judgment could have been averted, if he were rich toward God.

How can we break free from greed?  By being rich toward God!  When God, His work, His people, and those in need around us become more important than our desire for things, we will have broken the chains of greed!

Blessings, Joey

Breaking Free from Greed: Message Notes

Greed Fallacies:

1. Greed is “Good” (Luke 11:39; Luke 12:15; Ephesians 5:3).
2. Greed is a Problem Only of the Wealthy.
3. Greed is When you Want Something that Belongs to Someone Else.

What is the Definition of Greed?

1. Desire for More
2. Desire to Obtain More than One Needs
3. Excessive Desire to Acquire or Possess More.
4. Its Positive Pole is Egotism; its Negative Pole is Voracity.

 Greed Quiz:

1. Do you live beyond your means?
2. Does buying things make you feel better?
3. Are you more in debt this year than you were last year?
4. Are you content with what you have until you see the better things of others?
5. Do you sacrifice time with your family to provide extra things for your family?
6. Have you every thought, “If I only made $1,000 or $5,000 or $10,000 or (fill in the blank) more a year, I would be happy”?
7. Have you ever thought, “If I only had… (fill in the blank), then I would be happy”?
8. Are you resentful of those who have more than you?
9. Do you possess more than what you need?
10. Do you give less than 10% of what you earn to the work of God?

What Does God’s Word Say about Greed?

1. Greed DECEIVES us (Matthew 13:22).
2. Greed LEADS to Other Sinful Behaviors  (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
3. Greed BLINDS us to What’s Really Important (Luke 12:15).
4. Greed can PUSH God Out of our Lives (Colossians 3:5; Matthew 6:24).

How Can I Break Free from Greed?

1. Own up to your Greed (1 John 1:8-9).
2. Expose Greed’s Lies (Matthew 6:19-20).
3. Trust God for your Needs (Matthew 6:31-33).

Breaking Free from Selfishness

We come into this world screaming for our own way and most of us never grow out of it.  Selfishness, simply put, is putting yourself and your needs ahead of others—including God!

Obviously, this does not include all self-interest.  Even the most self-LESS among us will not offer themselves as heart donors – while still living!  God has built within us a need for self-interest.  Without it we would starve, fail to get medical care, and subject ourselves to the abuse of others.  It is not selfish to stand up for yourself.

When does self-interest become selfishness?  Let’s stay with the donor imagery.  Let’s suppose you are healthy and have two perfectly good kidneys.  You can live with only one, but you never know what the future will bring; you may need both kidneys some day.  Yet, the transplant lists are full of people you would match, one of whom could be saved, if YOU donated your kidney.  Is it selfish for you NOT to offer your “extra” kidney to one of these strangers?  You answer, “No.”  I would agree.

Let’s change the scenario.  Let’s suppose it is your child or spouse who could be saved with your kidney?  Would it be selfish to deny them? “Yes.”  I think we would all probably agree.  At what point, however, between a close relative and a nameless stranger would failing to offer your kidney become selfishness?  Your best friend?  Someone in your church family? Your neighbor?  Your great nephew?  Things can get complicated quickly, can’t they?

Alright, we have determined that “relationship” is a factor; it’s not the only factor, but it must be considered.  There could be any number of circumstances that could affect your decision; we certainly, can’t consider every one. My point is since we are predisposed toward self-interest, we need to carefully weigh each of our decisions to be sure that SELF is not in the way of what is RIGHT.

Jesus made this very point, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”  (Luke 9:23-25).

 You see, the denying of self and embracing the cross is a daily decision.  Jesus gave his life in one, single sacrifice.  He is asking us to give our lives little by little each day.  Someday he may require our lives in one lump sum, but for most of us he requires that we daily examine every decision to be sure SELF is not in the way of what is RIGHT.

These daily sacrifices may not seem as heroic as becoming a martyr, but I assure you, giving up a night in front of the TV to make a visit has a heroism all its own.

Blessings, Joey

Message Notes

What Does Selfishness Do?

• Devalues the needs/desires of Others
• Creates perpetual unhappiness
• It leads to unhealthy conflict
• It destroys relationships
• It reduces your world and shrinks your soul

What Does God’s Word Say about Selfishness?

• It is a work of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-21).
• It is subject to the wrath of God (Romans 2:6-9).
• It is contrary to the work of God in our lives (Ephesians 4:22-24, Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:1-2).
• It is not compatible with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:1-5).
• It violates the law of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-8; Matthew 22:37-40).

How Can I Break Free from Selfishness

• Take up the Cross & Follow Jesus: Die to Yourself (Luke 9:23-25).
• Embrace the Mind of Christ: Put Others Ahead of Yourself (Philippians 2:1-9).
• Look Outward and not Inward.
• Cooperate with God’s work within you (Psalm 119:36).

The Power of Words

Continuing our “Breaking Free” series, this morning we will be discussing how we can break free from gossip! We all have been guilty of talking about others behind their backs. While there may be a few good and legitimate reasons for some of these conversations, most of the time they accomplish nothing and can be quite harmful. The Bible warns us to watch our words because of their power!

What Our Words Can Do…

Our words can determine death and life. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

Death and life of the spirit (self worth)

Death: Reckless words pierce like a sword… (Proverbs 12:18a). A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear (Proverbs 18:14)

Life: …But the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18b). An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up (Proverbs 12:25).

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Proverbs 16:24).

Death and life of the Eternal spirit (soul)

Be kind and compassionate to one another… (Ephesians 4:32).

Death: With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge, the righteous escape (Proverbs 11:9).

Life: The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment (Proverbs 10:21).

Our words can determine our own death and life. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37).

Blessings, Joey