InGodsImage.com

Around the Web (5/23)

Jason Hardin — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:17 +0000

FREE eBook Deal of the Day - Reading Your Male: An Invitation to Understand and Influence Your Man’s Sexuality (Mary Farrar) – (regularly $16.99); CHEAP eBook Deal of the Day - Families Where Grace Is in Place (Jeff VanVonderen) – $1.99 (86% off).
Using images from Google and Bing Maps for “before” pics and various news photos from the last couple days for “after” pics, NBC News compiled a series of before-and-after images showing some of the damage brought about by Monday’s storm in and around Moore, Oklahoma.
Andy Sochor spends some time with the rich young ruler of 19:1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
', sticky: false, header: 'Matthew 19', headerText: 'Matthew 19', tippyclass: 'esv', event: event });" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Matthew 19 and encourages us to ask: “What am I still lacking?”
What’s the most offensive verse in the Bible? Mark Roberts recently argued for 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
', sticky: false, header: 'Genesis 1:1', headerText: 'Genesis 1:1', tippyclass: 'esv', event: event });" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Genesis 1:1.
Gary Henry warns, “What we really believe about God is often something other than what we profess to believe.”

Philippians 2:21

Jason Hardin — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:20:55 +0000

“For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” Don’t follow in the footsteps of that crowd today.

The Most Important Thing You Could Possibly Say Today

Jason Hardin — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:29:39 +0000

The most important thing you could possibly say today isn’t:

“I am an employee.”
“I am a student.”
“I am retired.”

It’s not:

“I am a VIP.”
“I am the Valedictorian.”
“I am a Gold Card member.”

It’s not even:

“I am a spouse.”
“I am a mother.”
“I am a grandfather.”

The most important thing you could possibly say today is in

16 O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.

', sticky: false, header: 'Psalm 116:16', headerText: 'Psalm 116:16', tippyclass: 'esv', event: event });" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Psalm 116:16.

“O LORD, I am your servant.”

Say that, mean it, and the other aspects of life will fall into place. You will find joy. God will get glory. And there’s nothing more important than that.

Around the Web (5/22)

Jason Hardin — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:07 +0000

CHEAP eBook Deals of the Day - Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (Kyle Idleman) – $3.79 (75% off); 48 Days to the Work You Love (Dan Miller) – $4.99 (67% off); Courageous Living: Dare to Take a Stand (Michael Catt) - $2.99 (77% off); 69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors (Gwyn Morgan) – $1.99 (88% off).
Ken Weliever reflects on some basic life lessons from the Oklahoma tornado.
Roger Shouse asks, “What does it mean for a husband and wife to ‘become one flesh’?”
Dene Ward provides an interesting perspective on fig leaves: “Dressing every morning should remind us of what we have lost and the price tag attached to those clothes.”
Ron Edmonson gives 7 tips for building strong relationships with children.

Proverbs 31:30

Jason Hardin — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:07:37 +0000

Perspective for the day: “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

Rising Above Lukewarm Christianity

Jason Hardin — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:43:56 +0000

In 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

', sticky: false, header: 'Revelation 3:14-22', headerText: 'Revelation 3:14-22', tippyclass: 'esv', event: event });" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus diagnosed Christians in Laodicea as “lukewarm.”

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

In light of the call of Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

', sticky: false, header: '2 Corinthians 13:5', headerText: '2 Corinthians 13:5', tippyclass: 'esv', event: event });" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">2 Corinthians 13:5, our question is a practical one: what does lukewarm Christianity look like? Why is it dangerous? And if I’m struggling with a lukewarm mindset, how can I rise above it?

This sermon was delivered on May 5, 2013.

For more sermons, visit the sermons archive or subscribe to the podcast.

For further study on zeal, check out Phillip Shumake’s Lifelong Zeal: How to Build Lasting Passion for God, which proved to be a valuable resource for this series of sermons.

Around the Web (5/20)

Jason Hardin — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:56:52 +0000

CHEAP eBook Deals of the Day - The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Lee Strobel) – $2.99 (80% off); The Reluctant Entertainer: Every Woman’s Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality (Sandy Coughlin) – $1.99 (89% off); How to Debt-Proof Your Marriage (Mary Hunt) - $2.55 (64% off).
All Pro Dad features 10 habits to break as a family.
Roger Shouse focuses in on the Biblical expression, “Leave his father and mother,” giving some important advice to young married couples and their parents.
Gary Henry’s Daily Family Bible Study reinforces that choices are the stuff out of which life is made.
Dene Ward loves her garden and sometimes thinks that God must love gardens too.

Proverbs 30:33

Jason Hardin — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:24 +0000

Press carefully today. “Pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.”

Proverbs 30:5

Jason Hardin — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:04:36 +0000

A God-breathed reminder for the day: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Around the Web (5/16)

Jason Hardin — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:15 +0000

FREE eBook Deals of the Day: Trophy Child: Saving Parents from Performance, Preparing Children for Something Greater Than Themselves (Ted Cunningham) – regularly $14.99; Gravity: True For You But Not For Me (Michael Edwards) – regularly $0.99.
CHEAP eBook Deals of the Day - Holman Bible Atlas - $4.99 (83% off); Help for Women Under Stress (Randy & Nancy Alcorn) – $3.99.
Roger Shouse provides some good advice on dealing with drama.
Ferrell Jenkins gives us a good visual idea of what the “three-pronged forks” used by Old Testament priests might have looked like.
“I can see what you are saying, and I can see what the Bible says. But what you are talking about is just too simple. There has to be more to it than that.” Doy Moyer asks, “If God left it uncomplicated, isn’t that reason enough for us to stick with the simple, too?”