As I have been answering the questions that are coming in I found myself figuring out and trying to communicate different levels confidence or belief in the subjects at hand. Some ideas are speculation while others are essential doctrines.

Speculation can be fun and interesting, but those ideas do not hold the weight of other truths. So I put together a Sound Doctrine Scale to easily communicate this when I am answering questions.

You can sign up to receive the questions and answers by e-mail at this link…
The Bible In 3 Years List

The Bible In 3 Years: www.cclivingwater.com/3

Today there is a lot of compromising going on. Even in this room.

You are either in, or you are out. You have to make up your mind.

Sin separates us from God. God does not compromise when it comes to His holiness and His Word.

Recent talk show – nobody could name the four gospels, but they could name the four Beatles.

Only 16% of Christians say they read the Bible daily.

The knowledge of God is decreasing!

"If you have been in the Lord for five years and you do not know the books of the Bible, something is wrong. If you teach and do not know the books, their author, their background, something is wrong!"

"I go thru Pastor Chuck’s teachings thru the Bible over and over again."

1 Corinthians 8 – Freedoms in Christ

Corinthians worshipped every major god.

They would offer meat to idols continually.

People always ask, can I drink alcohol? If you are in ministry, you should never drink alcohol. One little drink keeps you in bondage.

There is a lot of compromise going on in the church, and there is no fear of God or holiness unto the Lord. Among the leaders.

God sees it, and you will never get away with anything.

v1 – offerings to idols

Not talking to unbelievers, but the church.

If you don’t have love, you will stumble people.

v3 – if you love God, you are known by God.

"I don’t go to movies so that people cannot be stumbled by me. I cannot go anywhere where people do not know me."

You can’t preach powerfully if you are compromising.

The greatest thing is not the congregation that is watching, but God that is watching!

God is always watching and listening.

Your usefulness in the kingdom of God is according to your separateness to God.

v4

If you want your house to be at peace, get rid of all the leaven. Because you are opening the door to oppression, depression and harassment.

v6

One God and One Lord

v7

So many people stumble others because they don’t have true love.

v8 – food does not commend us to God

Your life has to blameless. If it is not blameless you have no business being involved in ministering to people.

People have to see your life, not by preaching but by living.

We have to be men and women of integrity!

This is a chapter of integrity.

Grace – love – mercy – but we do it for love’s sake.

v9 – beware! You can stumble people!

You cannot allow sin in the camp. Especially among elders and leaders.

We cannot have sin here!

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

v9 – there are people who are not as strong as you are.

v10-11

How many people have left the church because they have been stumbled? How many of your neighbors have been stumbled by you?

Because of love, I don’t want to stumble you.

v12

Sin against the brethren is sin against Christ!

v13

Very clear. 

What I take away from all of this is that God is not done with this season of my life. He still wants to do some more work in my heart. He has been working during this down time and slowed down time. And He has much more to do in me.

So my prayer request is not for my foot or knee, it really does not matter either way. My prayer request is for my heart, that I would grow and learn the lessons and hear from the Lord to be the man, husband and pastor that God wants me to be.

1Cor 7

If you are a pastor you know that the church is in trouble regarding marriage.

“when I was a kid there were no divorces. They stayed together even though they were heathens.”

Divorce destroys the children.

These concerts in Corinth wanted to learn the Word of God and how to live by it.

Immorality today is much like it was in Corinth. But people don’t believe it.

No wonder there is no revival, with so much sin being practiced in the church.

v1-9 – Dealing with single people

Either your wife and you are one in the ministry or you are going to have big problems. Big problems!

v1 – responding to that lost letter that they wrote to Paul

If you touch a woman sexually (besides your wife) you will be disqualified from ministry.

When you get caught, it is not repentance.

Honestly, Biblically, you should not look for a husband or wife. God brought Eve to Adam.

If you are not one with your spouse then how can God use you? He can’t. You’re limiting God.

Touch – Physical relationship

If you are always checking out women you have a problem!!

Stat shared recently: 75% of people in church are looking at pornography.

How can God pour out His Spirit on the church?

v2

The problem is sexual immorality. He is talking to Christians in the church!

Marriage is not easy, there are struggles and stress.

Everyone has to live within their means. Credit cards are hurting a lot of people in the church.

Money problems could be settled if the spending would stop.

v3

Both have to maintain their relationship.

v4

When you got married you became one. It is a union. Dependence of the wife on her husband, and husband on his wife.

v5

Don’t deprive each other. To do so makes you very vulnerable.

Fasting and Prayer – deny yourself so your marriage can work.

If this does not happen you will not have a marriage. Satan will have a field day with you.

Girls – Don’t be the boss. Or you will have problems.

v6-7

Paul says I wish everyone had the gift of singleness.

Married an celibate, each is a gift of God.

v8

It is good not to get married, you can serve the Lord in a greater capacity.

v9

If you can’t be alone, get married.

The idea is having continual sexual desires and then finally give into them.

Expository Preaching is so important, and desperately needed today. You may be asking, “What is Expository Preaching?” If you do not know, you need to find out. Immediately! You need to know so that you can do it when you have opportunity to teach. You also need to know so that you can distinguish between bad, good and better Bible teaching.

Here are my notes from yesterday’s conference to get you started…

Session 1, Skip Heitzig – What Is Expository Preaching?

Session 2, John Miller – Why We Do It

Session 3, Skip Heitzig – How To Do It

Session 4, John Miller – How To Do It

I am sure that the audio and video will be available online at some point, you can also order CDs, MP3s, and DVDs from Calvary Chapel San Bernardino (www.calvarysbd.com).

Jesus was claiming to be God. Told them to honor Him even as they honor the Father.
v31 Jesus appeals to Jewish law: to confirm the statement by two or more witnesses. Deut 19:15
1. John The Baptist (v33)

John made it clear that he was sent to prepare the way for Messiah. John 1:22-27

v34
The purpose of Jesus’ is that we might be saved. (v34)
Saved: 53 times in the NT. Rescued, made whole or complete.
Without Him we are doomed.
Isaiah 45:22, look to Me and be saved
Jesus – Jehovah is salvation
Acts 16:31, Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved
Believe: put your full weight of adherence to Him, cling to Him as He is the only Way

The Spirit performs surgery on us…the wisest thing to do in surgery is remain still. Let Him do what He needs to do. Don’t run or fight His work.
Learn your lessons the first time so that you don’t have to go thru it again to learn it.

2. The Works Jesus Did (v36)

Jesus’ works were undeniable.
Gospels record at least 34 miraculous works of Jesus.

3. The Father Himself (v37-)

Thru John. John 1:33
Thru the word spoken at Jesus’ baptism.
Thru the miracles of Jesus.
Thru the conviction of the Spirit

4. The Scriptures (v39)

Search: ransacking, thoroughly investigation
If you don’t love God you will not love His Son (v42)
The Bible will not make sense or point you to Jesus if you do not love God.
People can study the Word, not to know God and be transformed, but to get information about God, so that they can quote the Word and talk about God in a way that gains respect and honor from man.
Study the Bible to see Jesus, not to get honor from man.

The doctor confirmed that it is a Jones fracture. This means that I broke the 5th metatarsal in a specific area that has poor circulation and the healing process takes more time. So the main thing is to put no weight or pressure on my foot. I see the doctor again in 6 weeks to see how the bone is healing, and then he will decide if I can start to put weight on it or not.

I was very excited though because the doctor gave me the choice of a cast, or a walking boot for the next 6 weeks. Of course I chose the boot! Even though I cannot walk on it, I will be able to take it off at night. I will finally get some real sleep! Woohoo! Also it will be easier to bathe, and I can move my foot around a little.

So no walking for the next 6 weeks, no driving still for the next couple months, but I’m happy to get the boot!

Today started out as any other Wednesday. I woke up, showered, spent time with Jesus, ate breakfast, kissed Kim, and headed out the front door to go to church. At that point there was a tragic collision that left my routine and foot broken.

The collision occurred on our walkway next to the palm tree. As I walked past I failed to notice the big, thick and strong spider web. So now I have spider web all over my face and hair. Quickly, and maybe a little franticly I begin to shake my head and brush off the sticky tangled mess.

In the midst of this I noticed a black spider cursing around on my shoulder. Now I really go into action. My gaterade goes flying. I start jumping around, whooping and hollering, as I engage in this epic battle against the devilish beast.

Finally, after several long seconds, the beast releases its grip and vanishes. By this time I am back up near our front door, where the sidewalk is higher than the grass and dirt. Remember that, because it is important later in the story. Now I am relieved, but still cautious, so I remove my backpack to make sure it is not hiding somewhere under a strip or in it.

There is no sign of it, but then as I look down I find a brown fiendish spider hanging out on my ankle. Once again I am jumping around, whooping and hollering, swatting at the spider on my ankle. This one came off much easier, but as I was jumping up and down I landed on the side of my right foot. Not just that, but I landed on the side of my foot where the sidewalk is higher than the ground. So the corner of the sidewalk smacked against the side of my foot…and I heard and felt a POP!

About four or five years ago I broke the 5th metatarsal of my left foot. I remember how that felt, and the pain. So when I felt the same familiar pain this morning, I knew it was not good.

I went inside the house, removed my shoe and inspected the injury…no big visible issues, so I just prayed, put on my shoe and decided to drive to church instead of walk. After an hour of sitting with my foot elevated I still could not put any pressure on it, so I gave in and Kim took me to urgent care.

The final results – 5th metatarsal of my right foot is broken. It is broken more severely than my last one. No walking at all. No driving. No weight or pressure on the foot. Next week I will go in to orthopedics and get more details, but it looks like at least 6-8 weeks of recovery.

The whole thing is pretty funny and unbelievable. I keep laughing in disbelief. I just went through this a couple of years ago. We will see what God has in store for this round of recovery.

What happens here happens all the time.
When someone is led by the lord to do something and follow his calling…

If you don’t have a time to hear from the lord his calling for you, you are walking aimlessly.

Being mature means you have communication with God.
The work is just starting when we get saved and repent of sin.

The Corinthian church lacked vision, so they remained carnal and did not grow.

Paul was unwavering, immovable and unshakable.

Here Paul is set on going to Jerusalem.
God instructed him to go.

When you hear God, there will be opposition to get you to not to do what God wants you to do.
Paul is steadfast…he is going.

When you hear God’s voice, be immovable. It is the right thing to do.

Paul had been told that trials await him.
Suffering, chains, persecution

v4
They told Paul – don’t go to Jerusalem

v5-12
Everyone pleaded – don’t go.
They heard the voice of God, and they loved Paul.

God was working with Paul now.

When we stand before God, we will not be able to say, “people told me not to go, so that is why I did not go as you called me to.”

God did not tell those people to tell Paul not to go. God told them to tell him what difficulty he would have there.

The people were being loving and kind, but not truly obedient.

I cannot move on my emotions.
They were trying to remove Paul from the problem.

Paul’s Compassion
Why would he go to Jerusalem knowing what would happen there to him? Romans 9:1-3
His heart broke day and night for the lives of those who are lost.

People told Paul not to go because they loved Paul. Paul heard the same thing, but he went because he loved God. They loved Paul, he loved God.
What is the greater motivating force?

We move out of emotion, or what we think, or based on the results we think will happen.
Paul did not care about the results.

God doesn’t promise you success according to your standards.

We must begin in prayer, because many will seek to influence us, and we must do what God instructs.

God’s plan for Paul – I will let him suffer for my name’s sake.

If Paul listened to these people, he would have got to heaven, but without reward.

Acts 20:22-24
Paul did not count his life dear to himself

The moment I count my life dear to myself – It does matter that I have comfort and happiness. I want what I want.

Die to self – is truly hard!!

Many times God speaks to us. But then there are obstacles. It will be evident if you count your life dear to yourself, by how you handle the obstacles.

The people’s love was for Paul, and they were limited.

v13
What do you mean by weeping an breaking my heart?
Paul – I already told you, I don’t are about myself.

Livingston: if you need a good road, don’t come.

Dale: I can get more accomplished with one who wants to be there than with 100 who complain or worry or wonder why it is hard.

Paul did not forget his commitment and calling. I am ready to die for the name of Jesus. Acts 9 – called to suffer for My name.

Whatever God has called you to do, there will be opposition.

Obey – no matter what – obey

Determine where you are going.

Know the voice of God. Then with determination and passion get it done.

1 Corinthians 4:1-6

Paul knew the law well because he was taught by Gamaliel.
God transformed him and changed him.

Paul exposes the sin in the church.
Corinth was a party city. Every day was a party.

God wants us to be united around the gospel…not divided over men.

Here in 4, he directs his message more to pastors and leaders.
Many pastors consider themselves better than the sheep. The leaders are to serve the sheep, not the other way around!

It is very hard working with old wineskins. Because they don’t want to change.

It is not about numbers or beautifying…it is about souls.

stewards of God have to be faithful!!

v1 – consider us…individually
Servants – under rowers (slaves)

People always want to climb the ladder. Yet God created you an formed you, made us with gifts and talents and set a work before us.
Who keeps God from giving those gifts? Self!

Many times people are wanting to work for God without having been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Steward – in charge of the household.
Joseph was a steward over potiphar’s household.

Think of how many people mismanage what God gives to them.
If we mismanage the things of God, how can He move us on?

Stewards of the mysteries of God…better than money! Most valuable thing in the world!

If you are faithful in small things, God will entrust you with great things.

As stewards we have responsibility in the church, in the home.

v2
Requirement: faithful – trustworthy
Can you be trusted with whatever God gives you?
One day you will give an account!!
Account for your home, for your gifts, for your calling, for the mysteries of God.

We must have the fear of God!
People don’t fear God, but then expect the blessings of God.

There should be no regrets, we should be living for Jesus to the fullest.

v3
Very small thing to be judged by you!
I don’t even judge myself

v4
Can you say, “I know of nothing against myself.”?
Wow!
Even so it doesn’t matter. It is the Lord who judges us.

We should be investing eternally more than ever before. Sweeping, mopping, evangelizing.

One day we will be judged for our coffee breaks and everything else we do.

Old wineskins burst.

v5
Judge nothing before the Lord comes.
Dont worry about other people, start worrying about yourself. How is your faithfulness to God? Because you will be judged.

v6
Be attached to the Lord, not to men.