Monthly Archives: November 2014

Father

Father: The Disciples' Prayer Series Part 2 [ 0.72 MB ] Download (1684)

The Disciples’ Prayer Series – Part 2

Lion and Cub

The devoted have repeated this word in their prayers for centuries. Jesus modeled the use of this word when teaching us how to pray in scripture. Why? I think it is of utmost importance to understand in-depth what it means for God to be our Father–and us to be His sons–from the rest of scripture.

In the teaching attached to the top of this entry we look into what the scripture explains about God our Father.  We’ll look at why we are sons, and how we are made into sons.  We answer the question, “Are we sons like Jesus is the Son of God?”

The teaching also explains what the benefits are for us to be sons of God, and they are amazing.  Among other things, this teaching also seeks to explain how our relationship with God the Father is defined in His acceptance and discipline, as well as presents an answer to the often-asked question, “If we are sons, then are we still servants?”

As a side note, being a Son of God is a spiritual position, and has nothing to do with physical gender.  Women believers are Sons of God in the same way that men believers are the Bride of Christ.  Both of these terms indicate spiritual truths about our position in God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

For those of you who like to download or stream the audio of these lessons, unfortunately there were technical difficulties that prevented this lesson from being recorded when I taught it at my church.  I will update audio if I’m able to get it recorded at some point in the future.

Our

Our: The Disciples' Prayer Series Part 1 [ 39:28 | 36.14 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (559)
Our: The Disciples' Prayer Series Part 1 [ 0.8 MB ] Download (860)

The Disciples’ Prayer Series – Part 1

Praying in UnityOur: a simple word.

  • Three letters.
  • One syllable.
  • A world of meaning.

If there is one thing for certain about Jesus’ desire for his church, it is that we would live, work, and love in oneness.

As a matter of fact, Jesus prayed that we would be one in the same way that He and His Father are one.  Wow!

John 17:11, 21 (NIV) 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name–the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one…
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

So, what would that look like?  What would it mean for our daily life?  How would it affect our lives individually and as a community of believers?  How does it affect God?

In the attached lesson above I seek to answer these questions, and I discuss what the Bible says about how we achieve this unity.  You can read the notes and listen to the teaching.  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

The Disciples’ Prayer Series Introduction

The Disciples' Prayer SeriesJesus taught his Disciples how to pray in what is commonly referred to as The Lord’s Prayer.  I tend to refer to it as The Disciples’ Prayer–not for the sake of being different, but to emphasize the fact that Jesus was teaching US to pray in that manner.

I taught a series of 12 lessons based on the words and phrases in the Disciples’ prayer to answer the question, “Why would Jesus ask us to pray this way?”.  This series goes into depth on the following topics:

  1. Our
  2. Father
  3. In Heaven
  4. Hallowed be Your name
  5. Your kingdom come
  6. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven
  7. Give us this day our Daily Bread
  8. Forgive us our debts
  9. As we forgive our debtors
  10. Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
  11. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever
  12. Amen

Each of these lessons expands on a thought taken from the words and phrases that Jesus taught us in this prayer as shown above, and focuses on expanding the Christian’s understanding of how each of Jesus’ words is full of life and truth.

From today moving forward I will be posting these lessons here on the blog.  Watch for them, read the notes, listen to the audio (when available), and comment!  I’d love to hear what you think.

What is Love?

What Is Love? [ 0.72 MB ] Download (1426)

The Bible explains what it is in beautiful, yet easy to understand language.  whatIsLoveThis is one of the most important things that God wants us to get.  What is Love?

Is it a feeling?  A commitment?  A choice?  No.

Well, not in the context of what we are talking about here anyway.  The truth is that Love is God.  The Bible makes this very clear.

So, that begs the question, “If God is love, then how does love act?”  I believe the scripture gives us a concise picture of the nature of God in the description about love in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV) 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

The degree to which we love like the scripture says is the degree to which we are like God.

This teaching breaks down all 16 attributes of love given in the passage above, and seeks to bring better clarity to what love should look like in God’s people.  When I taught it at my church, there was such a sweet spirit of unity that arose from it that is hard for me to explain.  God is truly amazing.

I hope you enjoy this teaching.  We can discuss it in the comments section below if you’d like.