POT OF CLAY

THE 'ME FIRST' MENTALITY

noreply@blogger.com (<<< L. Agustin >>>) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:49:00 +0000

Luke 9:57-62

INTRODUCTION

1. As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, people either wanted to
follow Him, or were invited by Him; yet some desired to do so on
their own terms - Lk 9:57-62
a. "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
b. "Lord, I will follow you, but let me first go and bid them
farewell who are at my house."

2. This "me first" mentality was fundamentally opposed to Jesus' concept
of following Him...
a. He demanded that one "deny himself" to follow Him - Lk 9:23
b. He required that one "hate...his own life also" - Lk 14:26

[Living in a culture that praises putting self first and then "Looking
Out For #1", it easy for Christians to adopt this "me first" mentality.
Consider some ways we can be guilty of...]

I. THE "ME FIRST" MENTALITY

A. IN OUR ATTENDANCE...
1. The Scriptures reveal the example and value of assembling
together with other Christians - Ac 2:42; 20:7; He 10:25
2. Yet many will often put personal interests before opportunities
to attend services:
a. Recreational outings
b. Family gatherings
c. Elective work or school related activities
d. Staying home to read or watch TV
-- Haphazard attendance is a sign of the "me first" mentality

B. IN OUR CONTRIBUTION...
1. Christians are instructed to give of their prosperity to meet
certain needs - 1 Co 16:1-2; 2 Co 9:7-9
2. Yet many will give sparingly because:
a. They want to spend as much as possible on things for
themselves
b. They have failed to properly budget their contribution to
the Lord
c. They are burdened with bills for things that are not
necessities, but actually luxuries
-- Negligent giving of our prosperity is a sign of the "me first"
mentality

C. IN OUR SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER...
1. God has blessed each of us with gifts to serve one another - Ro
12:3-8; 1 Pe 4:10-11
2. Yet many make little effort to do their part in the work of the
local congregation:
a. They do not learn the names of the other members
b. They do not seek to find their "gift" or ability God has
given them
c. Men do not attend the business meetings; women do not teach
classes
d. They may attend church, but only to receive, not to give of
themselves
-- Lack of involvement in the local church is a sign of the "me
first" mentality

D. IN OUR FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS...
1. Christians have duties to members of their physical families
- Co 3:18-21; Ep 5:22,25,33
2. Many families suffer when people seek their own interests above
another
a. When husbands and wives are selfish in their dealings with
each other
b. When parents divorce without regard to the impact on their
children
c. When children fail to honor and obey their parents
-- Dysfunctional families abound where the "me first" mentality
exists

[Our service to the Lord, His church and our families is greatly
hindered by the "me first" mentality, and is detrimental to our souls
those around us. How much better, for us to learn and practice...]

II. THE "OTHERS FIRST" PRINCIPLE

A. AS EXEMPLIFIED BY CHRIST...
1. He came to this earth because He put others first - 2 Co 8:9;
Mt 20:28
2. We are called upon to adorn the same mind or attitude - Ph 2:
3-8
a. To do nothing through selfish ambition or conceit
b. To esteem others better than ourselves
c. To look out for the interests of others
-- Jesus exemplified the principle of "others first" that He
desires in us as well

B. AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE MACEDONIANS...
1. Note their great liberality despite their own poverty - 2 Co 8:
1-4
2. Note why they were able to be so gracious in thinking of others
first - 2 Co 8:5
a. They first gave of themselves to the Lord, then to others!
b. The mentality of "Lord first" instead of "me first" enabled
them to put "others first"
3. Their liberality continued in supporting Paul to preach the
gospel - cf. Ph 4:10-18
4. Putting God and others first ensured that their needs would be
met - Ph 4:19
-- The Macedonians exemplified the true value of putting "others
first"

CONCLUSION

1. Do we have the "me first" mentality...?
a. If we do, we cannot be Jesus' disciples
b. If we do, the church and our own spiritual lives will suffer

2. Do we want to be rid of the "me first" mentality...?
a. The "me first" mentality will be destroyed when we adopt the
"others first" principle
b. The "others first" principle will be developed as we make "the
kingdom of God first" - Mt 6:33

When we truly put the kingdom of God and others before ourselves, then
the Lord will see to it that we have the things that we need...! - cf.
Mt 6:30-33; Ph 4:19

Note: The main idea and several related points for this outline were
taken from an article entitled "The Me First Syndrome" by Wayne Jackson.

"SAME-SEX MARRIAGE"

noreply@blogger.com (<<< L. Agustin >>>) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:46:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION

1. Same-sex marriage will probably be a controversial issue for some
time to come...
a. Precipitated by state justices in Massachusetts and the mayor in
San Francisco
b. Likely to be an issue in many political campaigns

2. Churches and Christians everywhere will be confronted by this
issue...
a. If same-sex marriages become sanctioned by the state, should the
church accept them?
b. Should Christians view such marriages as ordained by God?

[For Christians who accept the Word of God as the ultimate authority in
their lives, the answer lies in the Bible. What does it say regarding
same-sex marriage? Let's first review...]

I. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY

A. SURVEY OF BIBLICAL PASSAGES...
1. Old Testament references
a. The Sodom incident - Gen 19:1-13
b. The Levitical prohibition - Lev 18:22; 20:13
c. The Gibeah incident - Judg 19:15-25
d. The perverted persons (male temple prostitutes) - 1 Kin
14:24
2. New Testament references
a. Women and men committing acts against nature - Ro 1:26-27
b. Practicing homosexuals and sodomites will not inherit the
kingdom - 1 Co 6:9-10
c. Sodomites (those who practice homosexuality) contrary to
sound doctrine - 1 Ti 1:10
d. Reference to Sodom and Gomorrah, going after 'strange flesh'
- Jude 1:7

B. SUMMARY OF DIFFERENT VIEWS...
1. Arguments by those approving homosexuality
a. The incidents at Sodom and Gibeah were gang rapes, which are
wrong whether homosexual or heterosexual
b. The Levitical prohibitions were condemning ritual sodomy and
prostitution like that referenced in 1 Kin 14:24
c. 'Acts against nature' are not against nature if you are born
homosexual
d. The Greek words malakos and arsenokoites (1 Co 6:9, 1 Ti
1:10) refer to either temple prostitution, pedophilia, or
male rape, not committed relationships
e. Some seek approval for gay sex from the relationships of:
1) David and Jonathan - 1 Sam 18:1,3; 20:17,24; 2 Sam 1:
26-27
2) Naomi and Ruth - Ruth 1:16-17
f. Gay sex by two loving, committed companions is never
condemned in the Bible
1) Jesus never mentioned it
2) He condemned divorce and adultery, but not homosexuality
2. Observations by those opposing homosexuality
a. Every reference to homosexuality is condemned in the Bible;
as per Donald Sensing...
1) Jesus' failure to mention homosexuality is not an
argument for its permissibility
2) Prophets prophesied against things that needed fixing
3) The proscription against homosexuality in first century
Judea was strong and certain
4) Jesus' silence shows He was in agreement with its
proscription in Jewish law
b. The Levitical prohibitions...
1) Not just against pagan ordinances, but also 'the doings
of the land' - Lev 18:3
2) Forbid adultery, incest, bestiality; shall the same
arguments be applied to them?
c. The argument seeking to defuse Ro 1:26-27...
1) Assumes one is 'born gay'; no scientific study has yet
proved it
2) Reproductive organs indicate otherwise, to use them in
gay sex is 'against nature'
d. The Greek words...
1) malakos may have limited meaning (effeminate, catamite)
2) But the word arsenokoites (male sex) can include any
homosexual act
e. The Bible does praise same-sex platonic relationships
1) David and Jonathan illustrate the value of friendship
(phileo)
2) Ruth and Naomi exemplify the beauty of familial love
(storge)
f. There is not one indication of gay sex (eros) being approved
in the Bible

[While many try to defuse passages condemning homosexuality, one fact is
indisputable: there is no evidence of gay sex of any sort being
approved by God! Now let's consider...]

II. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT MARRIAGE

A. SURVEY OF BIBLICAL PASSAGES...
1. Jesus' teaching on marriage
a. Marriage was instituted by God at the beginning - Mt 19:3-4
b. Marriage was designed for those created male and female - Mt
19:4
c. Marriage is for man and wife, who become 'one flesh'
(produce offspring) - Mt 19:5
d. Marriage is a union that God joins, not the state - Mt 19:6
e. Man may try to put asunder, but only God puts asunder - Mt
19:7-9
1) One may divorce and remarry, but still commit adultery
- Mt 5:31-32
2) God allows divorce only for fornication, and remarriage
by the innocent - Mt 19:9
f. The kingdom of heaven may require some to 'make themselves
eunuchs' (i.e. remain celibate) - Mt 19:11-12
2. The apostles' teaching on marriage
a. Sex in marriage is honorable, sex outside marriage is not
- He 13:4
b. To avoid fornication, let each man have his own wife - 1 Co
7:1-2
c. All other discussions pertaining to marriage describe
husband-wife (male-female) relationships - 1 Co 7:3-48; Ro
7:1-4; Ep 5:22-33; Co 3:18-19; 1 Ti 3:2,11-12; 5:14; Ti 1:6;
2:4-5; 1 Pe 3:1-7

B. SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL TEACHING...
1. All sex outside of marriage is sinful, whether heterosexual or
homosexual
2. Marriage is a divine institution, not a civil one
3. God determines what constitutes a proper marriage, not man
4. Marriage throughout the Bible is always between a man and woman
5. There is not one mention regarding same-sex marriage (though
the practice was known among the Gentiles)
6. There is no teaching on how same-sex marriages work (who is the
head? who is to submit?)

CONCLUSION

1. Same-sex marriage is totally foreign to the Bible, and to the
doctrine of Christ...
a. The only marriage approved of God is between male and female
b. All mention of same-sex relationships in the Bible are condemned

2. The sanctity of marriage has long been under attack...
a. Divorce and remarriage for any reason have undermined the
institution for generations
b. Same-sex marriage is only the latest attack; it probably won't be
the last

3. While same-sex marriage threatens the moral fiber of society...
a. So does adultery and unscriptural divorce!
b. All deviations from God's design for marriage and family should be
opposed

4. God intended for children to be raised in a loving family...
a. With the emotional security and nurture provided by a loving
father and mother
b. Divorce destroys what God intended, same-sex marriage cannot
provide it

5. Since government is to...
a. Be God's minister for good - cf. Ro 13:4
b. 'Promote the general welfare' - Preamble To the US Constitution
- It should be our prayer and goal that laws governing marriage and
divorce be consistent with Divine revelation (and not secular
humanism)

For those caught up in the sins of fornication, adultery and
homosexuality, please take notice of both the warning and hope offered
in the gospel of Christ...

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will
inherit the kingdom of God. "

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were
sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
and by the Spirit of our God. "
- 1Co 6:9-11

In a world morally adrift, plunging deeper and deeper into sin, let
Jesus be the way to light and truth...

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the
world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the
light of life."
- Jn 8:12

"WHY I BELIEVE" In The Bible

noreply@blogger.com (<<< L. Agustin >>>) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:45:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION

1. The Bible is a wonderful book, highly esteemed by many...
a. "The Bible is endorsed by the ages. Our civilization is built upon
its words. In no other book is there such a collection of inspired
wisdom, reality, and hope." - Dwight Eisenhower
b. "The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever
will be known in the world." - Charles Dickens

2. I am not ashamed to confess my own faith in the Bible...
a. As the Word of God
b. Written by men, who were inspired by the Spirit of God - cf. 2 Ti
3:16-17

[What evidences are there to believe that the Bible is inspired of God?
There are many, but let's just review a few beginning with...]

I. THE UNIFORMITY OF THE BIBLE

A. THE BIBLE IS A COLLECTION OF 66 BOOKS...
1. Written over:
a. A period of 1600 years
b. A span of 40 generations
2. Written by approx. 40 authors from every walk of life; e.g.:
a. Moses, a political leader trained in the universities of
Egypt
b. Peter, a fisherman
c. Amos, a herdsman
d. Joshua, a military general
e. Nehemiah, a cup bearer to a king
f. Daniel, a prime minister
g. Luke, a physician
h. Solomon, a king
i. Matthew, a tax collector
j. Paul, a tentmaker and rabbi
3. Written in different places
a. Moses in the wilderness
b. Jeremiah in a dungeon
c. Daniel on a hillside and in a palace
d. Paul inside prison walls
e. Luke while traveling
f. John in exile an the isle of Patmos
g. Others in the rigors of military campaign
4. Written at different times and during different moods
a. David in times of war, Solomon in times of peace
b. Some writing from the heights of joy, others from the depths
of sorrow and despair
5. Written on three continents, and in three languages
a. Asia, Africa, Europe
b. Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek
6. Which subject matter includes hundreds of controversial topics
a. The origin of man & the universe
b. The nature of God
c. The nature of sin & man's redemption

B. YET THERE IS HARMONY AND CONTINUITY...
1. "The Paradise Lost of Genesis becomes the Paradise Regained of
Revelation. Whereas the gate to the tree of life is closed in
Genesis, it is opened forevermore in Revelation." - Geisler and
Nix
2. Compare the continuity of the Bible with any other such
writings of man
a. Imagine what you would have if you just took ten authors...
1) From one walk of life, one generation, one place, one
time, one mood one continent, one language
2. Speaking on one controversial subject
b. You would have a conglomeration of ideas, not harmony!
3. The reason for the unity of the Bible?
a. The writers were all inspired by the same God - cf. 2 Pe 1:
20-21
b. Providing evidence that the Bible is the Word of God!

[Another evidence for the inspiration of the Bible is...]

II. THE SCIENTIFIC FOREKNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE

A. THE NATURE OF THIS ARGUMENT...
1. In the Bible there are scientific truths that...
a. Were unknown by man with all his wisdom and resources
b. Are stated as facts hundreds of years before their discovery
by men
2. The writers of the Bible could have known these facts only
through inspiration of God

B. A FEW EXAMPLES...
1. The roundness of the earth - Isa 40:22
2. The suspension of the earth in space - Job 26:7
3. The currents in the seas - Psa 8:8
4. The springs in the seas - Job 38:16
5. All nations of one blood - Ac 17:26

[These are just a few of the many examples of scientific facts written
in the Bible, but confirmed only recently with the aid of modern
science. Further evidence of inspiration is...]

III. THE FULFILLED PROPHECIES IN THE BIBLE

A. THE NATURE OF THIS ARGUMENT...
1. Prophecies in the Old Testament foretold events in detail that
were beyond the scope of human speculation
2. How did the writers do it?
a. They attributed it to God!
b. And God declared that such evidence was a proof of His
existence and superiority over men and all heathen gods
- Isa 41:21-24; 42:8-9; 46:8-11

B. A FEW EXAMPLES...
1. The fall of Babylon, written two hundred years before it
occurred - Isa 13:17-22
2. The fall of Egypt, that it would be destroyed more by civil war
than by outside forces - Isa 19:1-4
3. The fall of Nineveh, with its utter desolation - Zep 2:13-15
4. The fall of Tyre, with its becoming a place for the spreading
of nests - Ezek 26:1-5
-- Cf. Introduction To Christian Evidences, Ferrell Jenkins, pp.
87-107

[There are many other examples of fulfilled prophecies, especially those
related to the coming of the Messiah (which we will cover in our next
study). But here is one more reason to believe the Bible...]

IV. THE IMPACT OF THE BIBLE

A. ON CIVILIZATION...
1. The Bible has had a great impact
a. On art, music, and literature
b. On education, judicial systems, and even science
2. Some related quotes
a. "We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a
nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has
occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic."
- Franklin Roosevelt
b. "The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to
Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of
Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint
Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul." - Harry Truman
c. "If you take out of your statutes, your constitution, your
family life all that is taken from the Sacred Book, what
would there be left to bind society together?" - Benjamin
Harrison

B. ON INDIVIDUAL LIVES...
1. It has transformed the lives of millions of people
a. It has motivated them to be missionaries and martyrs
b. It has made them better spouses, parents, friends,
neighbors, workers
c. Countless people would agree with the words of David - cf.
Psa 19:7-11
2. Some related quotes:
a. "So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my
children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope
that they will prove useful citizens of their country and
respectable members of society. I have for many years made
it a practice to read through the Bible once every year."
- John Quincy Adams
b. "In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never
failed to give me light and strength." - Robert E. Lee
c. "If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend,
the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an
early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles
taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and
to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its
instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a
catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in
profound obscurity." - Daniel Webster

CONCLUSION

1. The evidence for the Bible as the Word of God is both objective and
subjective...
a. The objective evidence includes its unity, foreknowledge, and
fulfilled prophecies
b. The subjective evidence is seen in its impact on our lives and the
world in which we live

2. Do we really believe in and appreciate the Bible as the word of
God...?
a. "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.
All the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us
through this book." - Abraham Lincoln
b. "Within the covers of this one single book, the Bible, are all the
answers to all the problems we face today. If only we would read
it and believe." - Ronald Reagan

May our estimation of the Bible prove to be no less, demonstrated by our
obedience to it...!

THE PASTOR

noreply@blogger.com (<<< L. Agustin >>>) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:44:00 +0000

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;*
3 he restores my soul. *He leads me in right paths* for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,*I fear no evil;for you are with me;
your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely* goodness and mercy* shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Some are called to be evangelist, teacher, prophet, apostle and pastor. All of this offices has an important roll. But i will be discussing more about the office of the pastor. Do you know that 80% of the pastor died because of Heart Attack. Yes it is. One of the pastors responsibility is to look everything about what is happening to his flock. Let us make it this way:

P - Parent
A - Adviser
S - Servant
T - Teacher
O - Overseer
R - Restorer

PARENT
A Pastor stand as the parent of the congression. Coz the pastor himself must know what's the need of the member. He prepares everything, he take good care of it.

ADVISER
A Pastor must be a good adviser. He must know the proper advice into specific areas of problems of his member.

SERVANT
Many Pastor in the church today thinks that they are the commander in chief of the church. "do this..", "do that", "i want this". Because they did not understand what really a pastor is... Being in the ministry we must put in that Jesus wash the feet of his disciple to tell them that Leadership is a matter of servant hood.

You must server you congression as a servant if there is a member that cant fix his house and you can go fix it... if some of them cant drive a car and you can, drive for them. if you do such small things in your member, God will really bless your ministry.

David always play his harp and sing while he is pastoring the sheep. Just like your mother singing for you while you are a baby to make you feel that you are in good hands. Does your mother talk to you "Hey sleep now or else im gonna kick your ass!". But it's not.

TEACHER

A Pastor must be a good teacher. Don't preach the gospel if you are not prepared. It is not good for a teacher to teach your student if you do know the topic to be discuss... If you insist to teach the thing you are not w'll prepared knor study about it.. then you will end up to feeding them with a poison.

OVERSEER

A Pastor is an overseer just like David he always look for his flock. He make sure that they eat green grasses and he make sure that it's a green pasture.

As a pastor of the church let's oversee what is happening in our ministry, we must know all the small details about it. And look at it.

RESTORER

A Pastor must be a restorer. Don't hate your member if he is bullhead person, i do believe that God w'll deal with in a perfect place and time.

If you have 50 members and the other one is lost.. GO search for it and restore his soul. The heaven will rejoice if one soul returns for the Lord.

To pastor a church is not that easy but its rewarding. Make sure that you got daily exercise to strengthen your heart like i said almost 80% of the pastor died in heart attack. When Jesus preach the gospel He is physically fit. Our body is the temple of the God. He cannot move if our body are not physically fit.. How can God move if we didnt taking care of it...

God Bless,

-The Cyber Pastor

Basic Foundation of Success in Life

noreply@blogger.com (<<< L. Agustin >>>) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:53:00 +0000

We have so many definition of "success", but let's agree that we can disagree about what "success" is. For one person, "success" may pop up pictures of a yacht, a fancy house and maybe a business of your own. For others, the emphasis maybe on Family not money. So there's no point in trying to force fit any one idea of success onto you.

However we may be able to agree more easily on the opposites of success, on what we do NOT want our lives to become. For Example, consider these checklist items:

* Not having enough money to pay debts
* Living payday to payday
* No money to save, invest, buy a house or land
* Frustration at seeing others get ahead faster that you do
* Stuck in a dead-end job
* Passed over for wage increases or promotions
* Lack of Job security
* Embarrassment when visiting your relatives
or your spouse's relatives or in other social
gatherings... embarrassment about your job
* Worry about the future in general
* Desire to do better but not sure what to do what steps to take
* Lack of education or know-how about computers or
other technology that may be coming into your workplace.

DO ANY of these apply to you? Chances are, at least several do, Just as they do to millions of others, especially men and women in the 19 to 30 age group. In fact most people got through their entire adult lives never solving any of these issues. They got stuck "going with the flow."

WHO CONTROLS YOUR FUTURE?
This is a question that has two sides, some answered "IT IS GOD WHO CONTROLS YOUR FUTURE" and the other says "IT WAS YOU WHO CONTROLS YOUR FUTURE"

God created man with "FREEWILL" a freedom of choice, a freedom to decide for his own and every aspect of life operates on "Cause And Effect" -- for every effect or results or outcome,there is a Cause. And that cause involves "freewill".

It is you who controls your life not God... What do you think God will do if you cut your throat? Do you think God will hold your hands and say "DONT CUT YOUR THROAT COZ YOU WILL DIE" i guess not.

My point is everything that we do is our responsibility. SUCCESS is responsibility, success is attainable and possible. Nobody is exempted everyone can be successful in any field as long as they know what success really is.

FUNDAMENTALS OF SUCCESS

POSITIVE DIRECTION
We need direction a positive direction, it means we need to focus on what we are going to pursue. Without it you cannot finish any race that you make.

EDUCATION
I would like to illustrate about this one. I meet someone that has a Personal Computer and he said: "Can you help me fix my PC?" then i ask him "What is the model of you computer?" He answered "mmmmm.. it is Windows XP" in order for him to be able to understand what am i talking about, we go to his house and i look at the PC and i explain everything till the computer is fix.

Don't think about education that it is a bachelor one. Education is knowing about things that you are interested with or the things that you don't know. Gaining the right education that suited you is a key to your success.

ASSOCIATION
If your interest are computers make friend or get involve to the people that has the same interest as you, coz it will add additional knowledge and information. Education together with association with other people is a good practice to a successful career.

LIFE LONG LEARNING
Don't stop learning coz every now and then technology changes. You need to cope up so that you know everything behind the scenery of technology.

Last word:
There is only one constant in life... and that is "CHANGE"

God bless,
-The Cyber Pastor