What can you do to get a little deeper?
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly ..." Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Friday, January 11, 2013
Ed Stetzer - How Many Read the Bible Daily?
As you check out this article from Lifeway ( Ed Stetzer - New Research: Less Than 20% of Churchgoers Read the Bible Daily ), think about getting into God's Word ... Hear, Read, Study, Memorize, and Meditate. How deep are you getting into the Word?
What can you do to get a little deeper?
What can you do to get a little deeper?
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Listening to God's Voice
What Does it Take to Get Your Attention
Acts 7:30b-31
"…an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord's voice…."
Thoughts for Today:
Moses had spent 40 years in the desert during his period of self-imposed exile. Now the Lord decided it was time to get Moses attention -- to place him back in service. Notice the sequence of Moses' experience: he saw the burning bush, he was amazed at the sight, and he went over to look more closely.
Many times when we are in our own desert, we don't hear the Lord's voice because we are too consumed with our own thoughts -- so the Lord needs to get out attention. In Moses' case it was a burning bush -- something ordinary (a bush), that became extraordinary. It was amazing to him (after all it's not every day you see a burning bush in the middle of the desert), so he went over to check it out (the Lord got his attention).
Watch what came next: "he heard the Lord's voice." Once the Lord had Moses' attention -- Moses then heard the Lord's voice. This is a really important point to me. Many people think the key to this story is the burning bush (the miracle); I think the more important point is that God is always speaking to us -- it's just sometimes He needs to use rather dramatic means to get our attention so we hear him.
When I am watching a sporting event on television, my wife believes the house could be on fire, and it wouldn't be until the heat melted the remote control that it would get my attention. We men certainly have the ability to concentrate (my positive spin on her critique), and block out all distractions. Unfortunately, this same ability to insulate ourselves can also hurt us when God is trying to talk to us.
Many times when we are in our own desert, we don't hear the Lord's voice because we are too consumed with our own thoughts -- so the Lord needs to get out attention. In Moses' case it was a burning bush -- something ordinary (a bush), that became extraordinary. It was amazing to him (after all it's not every day you see a burning bush in the middle of the desert), so he went over to check it out (the Lord got his attention).
Watch what came next: "he heard the Lord's voice." Once the Lord had Moses' attention -- Moses then heard the Lord's voice. This is a really important point to me. Many people think the key to this story is the burning bush (the miracle); I think the more important point is that God is always speaking to us -- it's just sometimes He needs to use rather dramatic means to get our attention so we hear him.
When I am watching a sporting event on television, my wife believes the house could be on fire, and it wouldn't be until the heat melted the remote control that it would get my attention. We men certainly have the ability to concentrate (my positive spin on her critique), and block out all distractions. Unfortunately, this same ability to insulate ourselves can also hurt us when God is trying to talk to us.
Questions to Ponder:
How does God get your attention? Does the house have to burn down? Sometimes the life changing events we experience (loss of a job, health issue, financial setback, family problem, etc.) are only necessary because we haven't been listening to God -- we've blocked Him out. Are you at all blocking God out of your life? Does He currently have your attention? What is He trying to tell you?
(Check out this great resource)
Taken from a The Pocket Testament League Devotional
Monday, January 7, 2013
Welcome to LIFE 2013 at Rocky Face
Welcome to a grand and new adventure as we explore the Word of God in the coming months! Our theme and focus for the coming year at Rocky Face is LIFE ... Living In Fellowship Everyday. The implication of LIFE is that it has a beginning. As we understand the Bible, we know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE and that no one comes to the Father but by Him. As we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus by grace through faith, we are "born again" - we receive life and life abundant.
To learn more about Jesus and LIFE through Him, check out this website -- LIFE.
In the coming nine weeks, we will be exploring how to read and study the Bible. At Rocky Face, we are offering a Teaching Time and Group Interaction on Sunday Nights at 6pm. During the week, you can choose to use the Read the Bible for Life Workbook, which will provide you with five days of devotional and instructional material, and you can also choose to follow this blog for additional resources and questions.
These are the tracks you may choose for the next nine weeks:
Gold: Teaching and Group/ Workbook/ Blog
Silver: Teaching and Group/Workbook
Bronze: Teaching and Group
On Sunday, March 17, Dr. George Guthrie from Union University (the author of the material) will be with us at Rocky Face. He will teach during the Bible Study hour at 9:45am (All the student and adult classes will meet in the sanctuary), preach during the 11am worship, and will participate in a lunch Question and Answer after the worship in the Fellowship Hall. As you read and study, write down your questions -- this will be a great time and opportunity to ask.
The BIG Day is Easter when we kick-off reading the Bible together as a congregation. Again, we will offer three tracks from which to choose. We just ask that you take a step-up in your devotional life.
To learn more about Jesus and LIFE through Him, check out this website -- LIFE.
In the coming nine weeks, we will be exploring how to read and study the Bible. At Rocky Face, we are offering a Teaching Time and Group Interaction on Sunday Nights at 6pm. During the week, you can choose to use the Read the Bible for Life Workbook, which will provide you with five days of devotional and instructional material, and you can also choose to follow this blog for additional resources and questions.
These are the tracks you may choose for the next nine weeks:
Gold: Teaching and Group/ Workbook/ Blog
Silver: Teaching and Group/Workbook
Bronze: Teaching and Group
On Sunday, March 17, Dr. George Guthrie from Union University (the author of the material) will be with us at Rocky Face. He will teach during the Bible Study hour at 9:45am (All the student and adult classes will meet in the sanctuary), preach during the 11am worship, and will participate in a lunch Question and Answer after the worship in the Fellowship Hall. As you read and study, write down your questions -- this will be a great time and opportunity to ask.
The BIG Day is Easter when we kick-off reading the Bible together as a congregation. Again, we will offer three tracks from which to choose. We just ask that you take a step-up in your devotional life.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
CARE: Improving Your People Skills
1) Don't Complain People react negatively to toxic talk. Instead, offer potential solutions when you identify problems. Or, say nothing at all.
Do everything without grumbling and arguing. Phil 2:14 (HCSB)
2) Smile Does your expression tell the world to leave you alone or that you're friendly and approachable? Practice smiling and watch how others respond.
Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men. Eph 6:7 (HCSB)
3) Listen closely and actively Make an effort to listen to everything that's being said to you. Concentrate on the person's words rather than your response. If there is the potential for disagreement or misunderstanding, paraphrase what you think was said. Be patient and briefly summarize his or her concerns, points, or ramblings before you share your opinion.
A wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain
guidance. Prov. 1:5 (HCSB)
4) Praise others Acknowledge when people are working hard, doing a great job, and contributing. Express that who they are and what they do has genuine value. Practice this with your spouse, employees, friends, pastor, and the adults you lead. Be an encourager and affirmer.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up... 1 Thess. 5:11a (HCSB)
5) Show Gratitude When you benefit from someone's effort or work let them know that you appreciate it. Make a habit of expressing gratitude to the people around you.
Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:18 (HCSB)
6) Talk about others' interests Rather than hoping for opportunities to tell people how great you are, set yourself aside and become interested in those around you. People love to talk about their interests, so give them the opportunity.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth -- a stranger, and not your own lips.
Prov 27:2 (HCSB)
7) Remember Names We find creative ways to hide the fact that we've forgotten names. Dale Carnegie said, "Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language." Do whatever it takes to make that sweet sound. You will make them feel special and memorable.
Your name is perfume poured out... Song of Songs 1:3 (HCSB)
8) Make a sacrifice Words are powerful, but more treasured than words are a sincere sacrifice of time or money on your part. So get in the habit of identifying and meeting people's needs and putting them ahead of your own.
No one has greater ove than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 (HCSB)
Michael Zigarelli. "Twenty Time-Tested Tactics for Iproving Your People Skills" in Management by Proverbs, Pagefree, 2004.
A Lifeway Article.
Do everything without grumbling and arguing. Phil 2:14 (HCSB)
2) Smile Does your expression tell the world to leave you alone or that you're friendly and approachable? Practice smiling and watch how others respond.
Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men. Eph 6:7 (HCSB)
3) Listen closely and actively Make an effort to listen to everything that's being said to you. Concentrate on the person's words rather than your response. If there is the potential for disagreement or misunderstanding, paraphrase what you think was said. Be patient and briefly summarize his or her concerns, points, or ramblings before you share your opinion.
A wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain
guidance. Prov. 1:5 (HCSB)
4) Praise others Acknowledge when people are working hard, doing a great job, and contributing. Express that who they are and what they do has genuine value. Practice this with your spouse, employees, friends, pastor, and the adults you lead. Be an encourager and affirmer.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up... 1 Thess. 5:11a (HCSB)
5) Show Gratitude When you benefit from someone's effort or work let them know that you appreciate it. Make a habit of expressing gratitude to the people around you.
Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:18 (HCSB)
6) Talk about others' interests Rather than hoping for opportunities to tell people how great you are, set yourself aside and become interested in those around you. People love to talk about their interests, so give them the opportunity.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth -- a stranger, and not your own lips.
Prov 27:2 (HCSB)
7) Remember Names We find creative ways to hide the fact that we've forgotten names. Dale Carnegie said, "Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language." Do whatever it takes to make that sweet sound. You will make them feel special and memorable.
Your name is perfume poured out... Song of Songs 1:3 (HCSB)
8) Make a sacrifice Words are powerful, but more treasured than words are a sincere sacrifice of time or money on your part. So get in the habit of identifying and meeting people's needs and putting them ahead of your own.
No one has greater ove than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 (HCSB)
Michael Zigarelli. "Twenty Time-Tested Tactics for Iproving Your People Skills" in Management by Proverbs, Pagefree, 2004.
A Lifeway Article.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
REACH: Penn Jillete Understands the Need for Evangelism
An atheist, Penn Gillette, understands the need to evangelize better than some Christians.
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