He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ” - Luke 11:2-4 NIV

When it’s possible: Let the Bible explain the Bible.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. - James 1:2-3 NIV

Trials: something that breaks the pattern of peace, comfort, joy and happiness in someone’s life. The verb form of this word means ‘to put someone or something to the test,’ with the purpose of discovering that person’s nature or that thing’s quality. - From Got Questions.org

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. - James 1:13-15 NIV

H.A.L.T.

Hungry

Angry

Lonely

Tired

Temptation: comes from within but can be triggered by the Evil One.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” - Matthew 6:13 NIV

The key here is to see God as your partner in this battle.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:7-8 NIV

”If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” - Luke 11:13 NIV

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.” - Luke 11:21-22NIV

Jesus has already gone to battle with the Strongman holding you back, and He won!

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’” - Luke 11:24 NIV

“When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.” - Luke 11:25 NIV

“Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” - Luke 11:26 NIV

Ridding yourself of a habit is not enough. Your life needs filled with one greater than your best!

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” - Acts 2:38-39 NIV

Psalm 18:19b NIV

He rescued me because He delighted in me.

I Peter 4:8 NIV

Above all else love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Luke 11:4a NIV

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Colossians 3:13 NIV

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive just as the Lord forgave you.

Luke 17:3b–4 ESV

If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.

Colossians 3:19 NASB

Husbands love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 

Proverbs 20:5 ESV

The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.                       

John 5:6b NIV

“Do you want to get well?”

Matthew 18:34-35 NIV

In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how your my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

You can’t forgive from your heart until you get in touch with the pain in your heart.

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Proverbs 18:19a NIV

A brother (child) wronged (offended) is more unyielding than a fortified city.

Genesis 27:42b NLT

“… Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you.”

Psalm 123:3-4 NIV

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end … of ridicule from the arrogant of contempt from the proud. 

“When He tells us to love our enemies He gives, along with the command, the love itself.” - Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

I stood there – I whose sins had again and again been forgiven – and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place.  Could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking“?  It could have been many seconds that he stood there-hand held out-but to me.  It seemed like hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I ever had to do…I had to do it…I knew that…forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. “Jesus help me!”  I prayed silently. As she reached out her hand to the former guard, Corrie says that something incredible took place.

“The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands.  And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried.  ‘With all my heart!”  I had never known so love so intensely, as I did then, But even then, I realized it was not my love, it was the power of the Holy Spirt.”

Colossians 2:13-15 NIV

God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

1 John 3:14 NIV

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Hebrews 11:6a NIV

And without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Sheep cannot rest if they are struggling with one of these four things: fear, hunger, friction, or predators.

Luke 11:2-4 NIV

"Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."

Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your father had known, to teach you man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

He wants us to learn dependence upon him.

II Chronicles 16:12 NIV

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.

Proverbs 30:8b-9 NIV

"… give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

He wants us to be a family and to show our love for one another by being willing to sacrifice for each other.

II Corinthians 9:6 NIV

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Acts 4:32 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

"If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century." – Martin Luther King Jr. Letter From Birmingham Jail

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭1 (NIV)

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭2 (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭3-4‬a ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬b ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"And lead us not into temptation."

The early church prayed the "Our Father" three times a day (morning, noon, and night).

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭2 ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

"Our Father. Familiar words, maybe so familiar that they are no longer real. Those words were not only real, but also revolutionary to the twelve disciples. Pagan philosophers such as Aristotle arrived at the existence of God via human reason and referred to Him in vague, impersonal terms: the uncaused cause, the immovable mover. The prophets of Israel revealed the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in a warmer, more compassionate manner. But only Jesus revealed to an astonished Jewish community that God is truly Father." - Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭2 ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Hallowed = (Ἁγιασθήτω/Hagiasthētō) = Holy

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

God's holiness means God does not see the world, our sins, and our problems the way we do.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

In this prayer, we see that God is both:

1) tough and tender.

2) intimate and infinite.

3) attentive and awesome.

God desires both the intimacy of "Father" and the respect of "hallowed"

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬ (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; - 

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.'

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭7‬ (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭8‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

As a good Father, God delights in meeting all your needs.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭10‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭11-12‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 

"If you took the love of all the best mothers and fathers who have lived in the course of human history, all their goodness, kindness, patience, fidelity, wisdom, tenderness, strength, and love and united all those qualities in a single person, that person's love would only be a faint shadow of the furious love and mercy in the heart of God the Father addressed to you and me at this moment." - Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God

Let's Celebrate 2023!  

• Sunday attendance increased by 7%
• 60 total baptisms
• Starting Point increased by 96%
• Global engagement increased by 57%
• 110 people participated in Rooted

The Rooted Experience is an 11-week small-group opportunity that inspires questions, conversations, and experiences designed to connect people to God, His Church, and their purpose. Kingsway people are finding it an excellent way to meet and connect with others.

In 2024, we will:

• Continue to proclaim the name of Jesus
• Visit 3 countries on Trips: Northern Ireland, Peru, and Mexico
• Summer Experience
• • CIY for HS
  • Hanging Rock for MS
  • SpringHill Day Camps for Kids
• Launch our new DCS space to bless those going through the most traumatic life experiences
• Launch our Partnership with Pathways Learning Academy

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭41‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,

Be careful: it's easy to confuse spiritual activity for true connection.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

One thing is needed: Jesus First!

John‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 

John‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

Jesus is worthy of our sacrifice and praise!

John‬ ‭12‬:‭4 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,

John‬ ‭12‬:‭5-6 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

John‬ ‭12‬:‭7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

Heavenly Father, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Nothing more, nothing less, & nothing else. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

The "Law" = the Torah (the first 5 books).

There are 613 laws in the Torah.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭27 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Pay attention to your inner motives.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

"he took pity on him." = he felt an aching in his gut (compassion)

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

To really live means to feel an ache in your gut for others that moves you into action.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'"

If you want to honor Jesus, then plan to be generous with your life and resources.

Last year, 44 people were sent globally; 100 were sent locally!

Will God evaluate me as generous with my life and resources?

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭36 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭37‬a NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

$500,000+ collected // $2,100,000 committed

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭37‬b NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

In Genesis 10:

• 70 nations listed in the Masoretic Text (Hebrew and Aramaic Old Testament)
• 72 nations listed in the LXX (Greek Old Testament)

Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Remember the days of old;

consider the generations long past.

Ask your father and he will tell you,

your elders, and they will explain to you.

When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,

when he divided all mankind,

he (the Most High) set up boundaries for the peoples

according to the number of the sons of Israel.

For the Lord's portion is his people,

Jacob his allotted inheritance.

Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

God did this so that they (you!) would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Jesus wants you to see yourself as sent by Him into your everyday life.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road." 

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭17 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

I saw satan fall like lightning.

I saw darkness run for cover.

But the miracle that I just can't get over,

My name is registered in heaven.

This is my testimony from death to life.

Cause grace rewrote my story, I'll testify!

By Jesus Christ, the Righteous,

I'm justified.

This is my testimony!

- My Testimony, Song by Elevation Worship

Acts 17:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." 

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

They (Moses and Elijah) spoke about his departure (exodus), which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭NIV

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭51‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Jesus' reason for existing is abundantly clear to Him:

He came to bring glory to His Father by reconciling the world back to Him.  

Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"For the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save the lost."

Bottom Line: Putting Jesus first means arranging my priorities to match God's priorities.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭57‬NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭58‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Follow Jesus no matter the cost.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭59‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭60‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

The 10 Commandments:

1. No other gods.

2. Do not make idols.

3. Honor the name of the Lord.

4. Keep the Sabbath holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

Follow Jesus before your family and social commitments.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭61‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭62‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Follow Jesus and don't look back.

1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye," he said, "and then I will come with you."

"Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"

So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. - ‭‭

Jesus, Matthew 6:10

"Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Eugene Peterson calls this "A long obedience in the same direction."‬‬‬‬‬‬

Has life ever felt "dark" and made you wonder if God was real or even interested in your story? 

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you." – The Confessions of St. Augustine

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1-2a‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. - 

Grace = unmerited favor

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1-2b‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Biblical Hope = Confident expectation that God will do what He promised us he would do.

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4 NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭6 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

What seemed to be hopeless was really just God working behind the scenes on His own time!

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

"The greatest sources of our suffering are the lies we tell ourselves. After listening to a leader share his self doubts and fears, I sometimes surprise him with a rebuke. 'You're a big stinkin' liar! Stop lying to yourself! You're neither helpless nor hopeless. Christ is in you, and He is for you!'" - Alan Ahlgrim, Soul Strength: Rhythms for Thriving

 Three rules of being an elf:

1. Treat every day like Christmas. 
2. There's room for everyone on the nice list. 
3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

Love Each Other: We value and serve one another by showing love and care. We assume the best, trust each other, and work through conflict and disagreements quickly, with grace and truth.

Today, we are getting our joy back.

"Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world." – John Piper

Galatians 5:16-17 NIV

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Galatians 5:19-21 NIV

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22-26 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Joy gives you power.

God's Joy gives you strength.

Buddy suffered.

We all suffer.

Jesus suffered.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

1. Treat every day like it's Easter.

2. There's room for everyone in the Book of Life.

2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for our Lord to hear.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And he said, "The Son of Man (Jesus) must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

Prayer and breakthrough go hand-in-hand.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Moses is the great leader and prophet who brought the Law.

Elijah was the great prophet who represented all other prophets.

Those who die with faith in Jesus are very much alive right now.

John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;"

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)"

Prayer is often needed most when you are most weary.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭35‬-‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

The breakthrough you are looking for comes from a constant connection to God in prayer.

Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them."

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

Jesus believes my transformed life will produce more life.

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

Demonic possession is where an evil spirit takes over the thoughts, actions, and decision-making of a human. It happens but is rare.

Demonic oppression is where a person, even a Christian, is tormented or tempted by an evil spirit.

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

‭James 4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬a ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them." – C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!"

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Jesus relentlessly pursues those who need him most.

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,

Be bold while sharing your story.

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Luke 8:5a NIV

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed,…"

1) "some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up." – Luke 8:5b NIV

2) "Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture." – Luke 8:6 NIV

3) "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants." – Luke 8:7 NIV

4) "Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." – Luke 8:8a NIV

When (Jesus) said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." – Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭8b ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved."

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV

"Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away."‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature."

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."

"To retain or restrain" the word of God means to hold fast, keep secure, or even in the opposite sense, it can mean to "restrain" it and not let it escape from you.

James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 

"… by persevering, produce a crop."

hupomoné = a remaining under, a patient endurance (endure under…)

James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

What was the last thing the Lord told you to do?  

Have you done it?

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭22 NIV

One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out.‬

Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭36a‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Leaving the crowd behind, they took (Jesus) along, just as he was, in the boat."

Jesus is inviting the disciples into a bigger story than they had ever imagined possible.

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

A crisis of faith occurs when you realize the storm you're with is bigger than the storm you're in. 

"If you live a long time, eventually your body will give out, and you'll die. And maybe it will happen sooner – through an earthquake, a fire, or some other disaster. Nature is violent and overwhelming – it's unmanageable power, and it's going to get you sooner or later. You may say, that's true, but if I go to Jesus, he's not under my control either. He lets things happen that I don't understand. He doesn't do things according to my plan, or in a way that makes sense to me. But if Jesus is God, then he's got to be great enough to have some reasons to let you go through things you can't understand. His power is unbounded, but so are his wisdom and his love" – Timothy Keller, Jesus the King: Understanding the Life and Death of the Son of God

Sometimes, the purpose of the storm is to prune your life for more effectiveness.

Text "MARRIAGE" to 317.565.4911

Grow Always: We are always learning and growing. We don't have everything it takes, but He does. We humbly and intentionally ask for help and feedback so we can be better.

Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Every family has toxic moments. It's how we handle the toxicity that determines if we are healthy or not.

Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends, and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.

Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

"The rift isn't as important as the repair." - April Bordeau, Care to Change

Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.

James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

God gave us two ears and one mouth. Use them proportionately.

James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

James‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Step 1: Empathetically hear them to understand.  

You will know you've heard them when:

a. They are done speaking (don't interrupt).

b. You think you understand what they are saying.

c. You think you understand why they are saying it.

Step 2: Put yourself in their shoes, and affirm their thoughts, ideas, and/or feelings.

a. Use "wow" before "how".

• Ex. Wow, I had no idea I was making you feel that way.  Wow, that must be really hard for you… I'm so sorry)

b. Reflect back to them what you heard them say.

• Ex. It sounds like you are really irritated when I…", or "it sounds like you are really missing having a connection with me."

c. If you find you misunderstood, go back to step 1 and listen some more.

Step 3: Seek resolution on how to move forward.

a. How can I help you?

b. What can I do differently next time?

c. Is there anything I can do to make this right?

Sex was created by God to be a bonding experience so powerful that two separate things could become one through this moment.

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. – God

Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." – Jesus

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." – Apostle Paul

Sex is beautifully designed by God to foster oneness in marriage.  

1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."

"Kathy and I were virgins when we married. Even in our day, that may have been the minority experience, but that meant that on our wedding night we were not in any position to try to impress or entice one another. All we were trying to do was to tenderly express with our bodies the oneness we had first begun feeling as friends and which had then had grown stronger and deeper as we fell in love. Frankly, that night I was clumsy and awkward and fell asleep anxious and discouraged. Sex was frustrating at first. It was the frustration of an artist who has in his head a picture or a story but lacks the skills to express it." – Timothy and Kathy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage

In Song of Solomon: The wife speaks first, the wife speaks last, and the wife speaks most, EXCEPT when it comes to the moment when they make love.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your neck is like the tower of David, built with courses of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV

How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV

You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Song of Songs‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.

Both the groom and the bride are giving the other what they desire in this moment.

"With sex, we were trying to be vulnerable to each other, to give each other the gift of bare-faced rejoicing in one another, and to know the pleasure of giving one another pleasure. And as the weeks went by, and then the years, we did it better and better. Yes, it means making love sometimes when one or even both of you are not "in the mood." But sex in a marriage, done to give joy rather than to impress, can change your mood on the spot. The best sex makes you want to weep tears of joy, not bask in the glow of a good performance." - Timothy and Kathy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage

Song of Songs‬ ‭5‬:‭1a‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.

Song of Songs‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬b ‭NIV

Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Are you being a selfless lover to your spouse in your marriage? If not, why?

Is there any area where you need to ask God to heal your heart, soul, mind, or body related to sex?

Is there any change you sense God is telling you to make in your approach to sex? Ask Him for the courage to do that.

"A fine wedding is pricey, but a fine marriage is priceless." – Dr. David Jeremiah, What the Bible Says About Love, Marriage, and Sex

Song of Songs‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant?

Song of Songs‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Look! It is Solomon's carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel,

Carriage = "mittah" (מִטָּה) = a couch or a bed.

Song of Songs‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

All of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night.

The groom is going out of his way to make sure his soon-to-be bride feels safe.

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

Helper Suitable = ezer kə·neḡ·dōw

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV

The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬

Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

To the woman he said, "I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

"Eve is deceived...and rather easily, as my friend Jan Meyers points out. In The Allure of Hope, Jan says, "Eve was convinced that God was withholding something from her." Not even the extravagance of Eden could convince her that God's heart is good. "When Eve was [deceived], the artistry of being a woman took a fateful dive into the barren places of control and loneliness." Now every daughter of Eve wants to "control her surroundings, her relationships, her God." No longer is she vulnerable; now she will be grasping. No longer does she want simply to share in the adventure; now she wants to control it. And as for her beauty, she either hides it in fear and anger, or she uses it to secure her place in the world. "In our fear that no one will speak on our behalf or protect us or fight for us, we start to recreate both ourselves and our role in the story. We manipulate our surroundings so we don't feel so defenseless." Fallen Eve either becomes rigid or clingy. Put simply, Eve is no longer simply inviting. She is either hiding in busyness or demanding that Adam come through for her; usually, an odd combination of both." - John and Stasi Eldredge, Captivating 

1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Men, are you honoring your bride in your words and actions toward her, and also privately when she is not in the room?

Song of Songs‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon.

Carriage = “appiryon” (אַפִּרְיוֹן) a sedan, litter, palanquin

Song of Songs‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior inlaid with love. Daughters of Jerusalem,

Song of Songs‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

come out, and look, you daughters of Zion. Look on King Solomon wearing a crown, the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day his heart rejoiced.

"Every Christian has the same primary calling or vocation: We are called to Jesus, by Jesus, and for Jesus. Our first call is to love him with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Biblical writers use many analogies to describe our relationship with God (shepherd/sheep, master/slave, parent/child), but marriage is perhaps the most comprehensive and "least inadequate." - Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader

Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not."

Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV

Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast."‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus is the groom; the church is His Bride.

Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

"Throughout the history of the church, Christians have tended to elevate the importance of one over the other. For the first 1,500 years of the church, singleness was considered the preferred state and the best way to serve Christ. Singles sat at the front of the church. Marrieds were sent to the back. Things changed after the Reformation in 1517, when single people were sent to the back and marrieds moved to the front — at least among Protestants." - Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader

1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

"Scripture, however, refers to both statuses as weighty, meaningful vocations." - Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

1. Born that way

2. Made this way by others

3. Make a choice for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven

Marriage is intended to be a math equation where:

1 whole person + 1 whole person = 1 New Person

1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

"Vowed celibates. These are individuals who make lifelong vows to remain single and maintain lifelong sexual abstinence as a means of living out their commitment to Christ. They do this freely in response to a God-given gift of grace (Matthew 19:12). Today, we are perhaps most familiar with vowed celibates as nuns and priests in the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church. These celibates vow to forgo earthly marriage in order to participate more fully in the heavenly reality that is eternal union with Christ." - Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader

“Dedicated celibates. These are singles who have not necessarily made a lifelong vow to remain single, but who choose to remain sexually abstinent for as long as they are single. Their commitment to celibacy is an expression of their commitment to Christ. Many desire to marry or are open to the possibility. They may have not yet met the right person or are postponing marriage to pursue a career or additional education. They may be single because of divorce or the death of a spouse." - Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader

1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬, ‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches… Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 NIV

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Song of Songs 2:8 NIV

Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.

We are 25 verses in, with at least 18 compliments and not one harsh word.

Song of Songs 2:9 NIV

My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

Song of Songs 2:10 NIV

My beloved spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me."

Song of Songs 2:11-12 NIV

"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land."

Song of Songs 2:13 NIV

"The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."

Song of Songs 2:14 NIV

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

How are your words and actions building up the one you love?

Song of Songs 2:15 NIV

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

"It's the slow leaks, not the blow outs; the insidious pests we seldom even consider that cut away at the heart of a home until it crumbles and two people end up walking away." - Charles Swindoll, Strike the Original Match

Dating is for the purpose of discovering the kind of person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

"If you do not allow yourself to rush into falling for someone that you have not become friends with first, you will be more sure when you let yourself go to the next step. Certainly, you might find yourself having all sorts of feelings. Enjoy them. But do not believe them. Only believe your experience of getting to know a person and seeing if you can share at a deep level. See if you find that he or she is a person of the kind of character you would trust as a friend. And as important as all of that, see if that person is a person that you would like spending time with if there were no romance at all. That is the one true measure of a friend, a person with whom you like to spend time, having no regard to how you are spending it. "Hanging out" is fulfilling in and of itself. And that, long-term, requires character, and in the deepest of friendships, shared values as well. You would want your best friends to be honest, faithful, deep, spiritual, responsible, connecting, growing, loving, and the like. Make sure that those qualities are also present in the person you are falling in love with." - Dr. Henry Cloud, Boundaries in Dating

Song of Songs 2:16-17 NIV

My beloved is mine, and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills.

A relationship is ready to get to the serious stage when you have seen their worst days, and still feel totally safe with them emotionally, relationally, physically, and historically.

"A person who truly loves you should be able to handle the full truth about you. I met a man who fell in love with, courted, and married a young woman who had once been the "pass around" girl in her college. She had been through twenty or more sexual affairs during her college days. By the time she met the man she later married, she had come to her senses, committed her life to the Lord, and was deeply embarrassed about her past. Nevertheless, she confessed her past to her husband. She wanted no secrets between them. What was his response? He wept openly for the pain and grief she had suffered. He rejoiced that she had come to Christ. His love for her increased because he saw the transformation in her life as both a miracle from God and an act of courage on her part. He became her protector, loving her in a way that gave her a genuine shield against the world." – Tommy Nelson, The Book of Romance

Song of Songs 3:1-3 NIV

All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him. The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. "Have you seen the one my heart loves?"

"The image of this young lady walking the night streets by herself is one that emphasizes her solitude, her loneliness without Solomon. Marriage provides the security to deal with issues, and to do so as a team. The dream is helping her understand how much she needs that security." – Dr. David Jeremiah

Song of Songs 3:4-5 NIV

Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

When both people feel heard, safe, loved, built-up, pursued, and desired – physical intimacy is the natural outcome.

How do you know if you found "the one"?

One of the beauties of early relationships is the pursuit of the other person.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I liken you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariot horses.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

We will make you earrings of gold, studded with silver.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves.

All of this intense pursuit and conversation back and forth creates the perfect scenario for explosive passion!

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are firs.

Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.

Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

"The woman felt completely safe in Solomon's presence: "I sat down in his shade with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste" (Song 2: 3). She was entirely at ease with Solomon. She experienced no threatening or unsettling moments in his presence. The apostle Paul told us that a man should nourish and cherish his wife. (See Eph. 5: 29.) The woman experienced that in their premarital relationship. In his "shade," she was cherished. By his "fruit," she was nourished. And note: this must start before marriage. Never trust a future mate to do a turnaround after marriage." -  Tommy Nelson, The Book of Romance: What Solomon Says About Love, Sex, and Intimacy

What would happen in your relationship today if you were to use your words to make the other feel totally safe?

Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Let him lead me to the banquet hall and let his banner over me be love.

Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

The same God who created a passion for marriage also created the power for restraint until it's time.

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.

James‬ ‭4‬:‭4b-5 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?

James‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."

James‬ ‭4‬:‭ 7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Father in Heaven, I know you are here with me.  I know you love me.  I know you want what is best for me, and I believe that all your ways are good. I have not always resisted temptation when I knew I should.  I have sinned against you, and I confess this to you.  I ask you to forgive me, heal me, and take away my sin in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen

Is it better to choose your spouse or trust your family?

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Solomon's Song of Songs."

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth — for your love is more delightful than wine. – The Woman

2 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you!

"Choose to be attracted to a person who is living out faith in an active, vibrant way — a true follower and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, not just an occasional churchgoer." — Tommy Nelson, The Book of Romance: What Solomon Says About Love, Sex, and Intimacy 

Are you known as a person of Godly character?

"So often today, girls will say about a guy, "He's a real hunk." The question begs to be asked, "A hunk of what?" There is nothing wrong with being handsome and appealing, but the real issue is not whether a man is good-looking but whether a man is looking for what is good in God's eyes. Nothing is more discouraging for a woman than to be married to a man whom she discovers later she would not want as a waiter."  — Tommy Nelson, The Book of Romance: What Solomon Says About Love, Sex, and Intimacy 

Genesis‬ ‭24‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then he prayed, "Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.

May it be that when I say to a young woman, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this, I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."

When was the last time you prayed for your spouse and trusted God was working on it for you?

Genesis‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder… The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her.

She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar." "Drink, my Lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink." So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.

Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.

Look for a spouse whose words and actions line up. Be cautious when they don't.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon. Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother's sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect.

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep at midday. Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends?

Do NOT be willing to compromise on your convictions!

Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.

Look for a spouse who supports and honors you like Jesus does His children.

Psalm 78:52-53 NIV

But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness. He guided them safely, so they were unafraid…

What sets true followers of Jesus apart?  

1 Peter 3:15 NIV

But in your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Your story can help change someone's life.

Revelation 12:10-11 NIV

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

"Now have come the salvation and the power

   and the kingdom of our God,

   and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,

   who accuses them before our God day and night,

   has been hurled down.

They triumphed over him

   by the blood of the Lamb

   and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

   as to shrink from death."

Revelation 12:11 NIV

"They triumphed over him

   by the blood of the Lamb

   and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

   as to shrink from death."

Your TESTIMONY helps defeat the enemy!

A Testimony:

Part 1: Who you were before God

Part 2: Meeting Jesus and Giving your Life to Him

Part 3: How the Spirit is making you more like Jesus.

Everyone loves a good story.  

Are you a Christian with a story? Or are you just wearing a shirt that says 'Christian,' but you really haven't given your life to Jesus yet?

Be REAL:

1. Relate (by listening)

Acts 22:1-2a NIV

"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense."

When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Acts 22:2b-3 NIV

Then Paul said: "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today."

Be REAL:

1. Relate (by listening)

2. Encourage

Acts 22:3b NIV

"…..I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today."

Be REAL:

1. Relate (by listening)

2. Encourage

3. Actually Share.

4. Leave it up to God.

Acts 22:21-22 NIV

"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!"

Revelation 12:11-12 NIV

"They triumphed over him

   by the blood of the Lamb

   and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

   as to shrink from death.

Therefore rejoice, you heavens

   and you who dwell in them!

But woe to the earth and the sea,

   because the devil has gone down to you!

He is filled with fury,

   because he knows that his time is short."

"Salvation means, 'We win!'" – Carl Avery, Salvation Army Pastor

We are victorious now, even if we don't see it.

Luke 8:1 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

...and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Jesus turned the concept of leadership on its head.

Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭48‬-‭50‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Jesus' promotion of women was radical for his day!

"Praised be God that he has not created me a woman." 

(A common prayer for some Jewish men in the 1st century)

"Rather should the word of the Torah be burned than entrusted to a woman." - Rabbi Eliezer, first-century teacher

God used women to reveal key portions of the Bible:

• The songs of Miriam (Exodus 15:21) & Deborah (Judges 5:2–31)

• Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2:1–10)

• Abigail's prophecy (1 Samuel 25:24–31)

• The "inspired utterance" of King Lemuel's mother (Proverbs 31, see verse 1)

• Elizabeth's blessing (Luke 1:25, 42–45)

• Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55)

Jesus used women in key roles in the New Testament:

• Mary (sister of Martha) was the first disciple to listen to and recognize that Jesus would be crucified soon (Luke 10:38-39, then John 12:1-11).

• The first person Jesus appeared to after his resurrection was Mary Magdalene (John 20:1-18).

• The first people to see and testify to Jesus' empty tomb were Mary and Martha (Mark 16:1-2, John 20:1-10).

• Women such as Lydia (Acts 16), Phoebe (Romans 16:1), Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3), and Priscilla (2 Timothy 4:19) served as key leaders in the early church.

• Over half of the servants Paul greets at the end of his letter to Rome were women (Romans 16).

Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy."

Prophecy is to communicate a word on behalf of the Lord. It can include both foretelling and forth-telling.

Acts‬ ‭21‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

We do, however, recognize a difference in the rule when it comes to specific roles.  

For instance:

• In the Old Testament: The Priests & the 12 tribes of Israel

• In The New Testament: the 12 Apostles and Elders

1 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer (pastor, elder, overseer) desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

In today's church, we see these equivalents as the Lead Pastor and Elder roles in the church.

Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭25-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

Jesus taught us that leadership is not about power and significance. It is about serving others, love, and care.  

We want to encourage and train women to do whatever God has gifted and called them to do.

Luke 7:36-37 NIV

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.

Luke 7:38 NIV

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Luke 7:39 NIV

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.

"She is a sinner in the city — that is, a woman known in the city as a sinner. Undoubtedly, this characterization marks her as a prostitute by vocation, a whore by social status, contagious in her impurity, and probably one who fraternizes with Gentiles {non-Jews} for economic purposes." - Green, J. B. (1997). The Gospel of Luke (p. 309). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Does God care who has sex?

1 Corinthians 6:15 NIV

"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."

God designed sex to be an expression of "oneness" between one husband and one wife for life.

1 Corinthians 6:17 NIV

But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Because we are ONE with the LORD, we commit to this ONENESS with only our spouse.

1 Corinthians 6:18 NIV

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Luke 7:40 NIV

"Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

Luke 7:41-42 NIV

"Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Luke 7:43 NIV

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Luke 7:44 NIV

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 

Luke 7:45-47 NIV

"You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."

Luke 7:48 NIV

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

However you got to where you are right now, Jesus wants to radically impact what happens next.

Luke 7:49 NIV

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Luke 7:50 NIV

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

"Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!" ― Martin Luther

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭31‬-‭32‬a ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭‭Jesus went on to say, "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:"‬

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭32b‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬

"We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry."

‭‭‬‬‬‬‬Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'"‬

What does God's word say about alcohol?

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.

Alcohol can be a good gift from our good God and Father.

Psalms‬ ‭104‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Alcohol, for some people, can be a fun way to feast and celebrate momentous days.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭14‬:‭22‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.

But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose.

Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.

Alcohol may have some medicinal benefits.‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬

1 Timothy‬ ‭5‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

"The picture is becoming clearer: Even small amounts of alcohol can have health consequences.  Research published in November revealed that between 2015 and 2019, excessive alcohol use resulted in roughly 140,000 deaths per year in the United States. About 40 percent of those deaths had acute causes, like car crashes, poisonings and homicides. But the majority were caused by chronic conditions attributed to alcohol, such as liver disease, cancer and heart disease." – NY Times, Even a Little Alcohol Can Harm Your Health

"Risk starts to go up well below levels where people would think, 'Oh, that person has an alcohol problem'. Alcohol is harmful to the health starting at very low levels." - Dr. Tim Naimi, Director of the University of Victoria's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.

Whatever benefits may come from alcohol, strong warnings come also!

Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.

Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.

Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

The Bible warns us of how dangerous and consuming alcohol can be in our lives.

1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit

Therefore, no Christian should ever be drunk or have an ongoing problem of drunkenness.

Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Have you ever asked God for something and ended up with something different than what you had in mind?

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'"

John's situation has him wondering what Jesus' ultimate plan is.

Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.

In seasons where you're struggling to see the hand of God in your life – look for it in the lives of others.

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor."

Isaiah‬ ‭35‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Miracles on Earth point us to the power and faith we are to have in the Miracle Worker, Jesus.

Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."

Wonders don't erase wrestling.

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me."

Stumble = skandalizó: to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to stumble.

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces."

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'"

Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Giving your life to Jesus is a sacrifice always worth making.

"Faith is living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace make you happy, joyful, and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures." – Martin Luther

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Judge = krinó. It means to pronounce someone as good or evil (like in a court of law).

Remember: "Context is king"

Loving my enemies means:

1) Lending to them without expecting repayment (Luke 6:27)

2) Blessing them instead of cursing them (Luke 6:28)

3) Returning their curses with prayers (Luke 6:28)

4) Doing to them as you want them to do to you (Luke 6:31)

5) Being merciful to them, as God is merciful to you (Luke 6:36)

6) Not judging them (Luke 6:37)

7) Not condemning them (Luke 6:37)

8) Forgiving them (Luke 6:37)

This kind of "love" is what sets the follower of Christ apart from those who do not follow Christ.

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Jesus' assumption is that I already do these things for my loved ones. He is encouraging us to go ahead and do it for everyone.

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He also told them this parable: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."

The goal is to be more like Jesus Christ.

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭41‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"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?"

Both planks and specs are from the same thing.  

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

The alternative to judgment is assistance in love.

Before you assist: first deal with your own stuff. "…first take the plank out of your eye".

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭43‬-‭44 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers."

‭‭Before you assist: Earn the right to be close.

"…then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye".

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭45 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 

Ask yourself:

1. Is there any plank I need to deal with that I am ignoring?

2. Is there anyone I need to show mercy to rather than condemnation and judgment?

3. Is there anyone I need to seek forgiveness from for judging them in the past?

4. Is there anyone with a "spec in their eye", that I am close to, that God is calling me to help them "clean out their eye"?

To Become More Like Jesus

Luke 6:27-28 NIV

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Luke 6:27-28 NIV

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

What does it mean to love my enemies?

Agape – Unconditional Love

Who are my enemies?

Echthrous – One who opposes you / shows hostility.

To become more like Jesus … love like Jesus.

Luke 6:27-28 NIV

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Right Place / Right Time

Comfortable Jesus

To become more like Jesus … grace, not hate.

Luke 6:27-28 NIV

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

To bless is to speak well of those who want to actively hurt us.

To become more like Jesus … bless the mess.

Luke 6:27-28 NIV

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Psalm 109:8, 11-12 NIV

May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on them.

To become more like Jesus … spend time with him.

Luke 6:29-30 NIV

"If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."

Luke 6:31 NIV

"Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Luke 6:32-35 NIV

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

Luke 6:36 NIV

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Mercy = Right to punish; showing compassion and forgiveness

Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Titus 3:3-5 NIV

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus' Kingdom Is An Upside Down Kingdom

Luke 6:17-19 NIV

He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him because power was coming from him and healing them all.

Luke 6:20-26 NIV

Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you, when everyone speaks well of you, for that, is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."

Luke 6:20 NIV

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."

Luke 6:24 NIV

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort."  

Stewardship Over Self

Luke 6:21a NIV

"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied…."

Luke 6:25a NIV

Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry."  

Contentment Over Comfort

Luke 6:21b NIV

"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh."

Luke 6:25b NIV

Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep."  

Empathy Over Escape 

Luke 6:22-23, 26 NIV

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets… Woe to you, when everyone speaks well of you, for that, is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."

Live in the Upside Down Kingdom  

 "I believe Christians often perceive obedience to God as some test designed just to see if we're really committed to Him. But What if it's designed as God's way of giving us what's best for us?" - Craig Groeschel

Luke 6:46 NIV

Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Luke 6:49 NIV

But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

When was the last time you heard from God and did what He said?

Luke 5:33 NIV

(The Pharisees and their sect) said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."

Luke 5:34 NIV

Jesus answered, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?"

Luke 5:35 NIV

"But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."

Fasting is where we deprive ourselves of something we need in order to chase something we need even more.

Prayer is the ongoing conversation with God our Father where we both talk and listen for The Holy Spirit's leading in our lives.

Luke 5:36 NIV

He told them this parable: "No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old."

Luke 5:37 NIV

"And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined."

Luke 5:38-39 NIV

"No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, 'The old is better.'"

Jesus is letting them know the final and official interpretation of God's law is here, and His name is Jesus.  

Luke 6:1 NIV

One Sabbath, Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.

Luke 6:2 NIV

Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"

Luke 6:3-4 NIV

Jesus answered them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."

Luke 6:5 NIV

Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

Luke 6:6 NIV

On another Sabbath, he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.

Luke 6:7 NIV

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.

Luke 6:8 NIV

But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.

Luke 6:9 NIV

Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"

Luke 6:10 NIV

He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored.

The original purpose of the Sabbath was to heal and restore the human body and mind.

Luke 6:11 NIV

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

"There must be a quiet place where all is in order, a place from which comes the energy that overcomes turbulence and is not intimidated by it." – Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World

Which of your circles is overdeveloped, and which are underdeveloped?

What is getting squeezed because of that?

What is God calling you to do about it?

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭46‬-‭49‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.

When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Has there ever been a season in your life when you didn't have peace?

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Is there a group of people that you believe are your greatest enemy?

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

May we seek to have the heart of Jesus toward the lost and broken of this world.

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.

"For God is triune, and it is as triune that he is so good and desirable…" — Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

"For a moment, imagine yourself as the paralyzed man. You would have felt (and if you had a bold personality you might have said), 'Uh, thanks—but isn't it obvious I have a more urgent need here?' And if you had said that, Jesus would have answered, 'No, you don't.'" — Timothy Keller, Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I?

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Jesus is not just another prophet or a good man. He is claiming to be God.

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV

Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?"‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home."

Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

The title, Son of Man, shows Jesus' humanity, humility, and holiness.

Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭64‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"You have said so," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭65‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy."

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

"It's likely that the man had been feeling, "If I could just walk again—then I'd be happy. I'd never complain. I'd be content." But Jesus, as it were, is saying: "Look around you at all these people—they can all walk. Are their hearts all filled with contentment? Are they all happy? If I only heal you, you will be overjoyed for a while, but then you will become like everyone else."

No. What the man needed was forgiveness. Forgiveness gets down to the bottom of things—to the alienation we feel from God and from ourselves because of our wrongdoing. Jesus was saying: "I want to show you that the deepest need of your nature is for me. Only I can bestow perfect love, new identity, endless comfort, hope, and glory. And the doorway into all of that is to know forgiveness." It's time to open that door and walk through it."— Timothy Keller,Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I?

In Christ, your worst day can be completely forgiven.