Easter Characters - Judas

On Sunday, we introduced our new series on 3 main characters in the Easter story - Judas, Peter and Jesus. We started by looking at Judas (John 12:1-6, Matthew 26:14-15). As a review, what do these verses reveal to us about Judas?

Judas' love of money provided ammunition for Satan to use against him. It gave Satan a foothold against Judas. As Peter talks about in 1 Peter 5:8, the devil roams around the earth looking for someone to devour. As followers of Christ, we are particularly targeted. When we provide him a foothold to use against us in our relationship with Christ, Satan is better equipped to tear us apart.

That is why we need Christ all the more and through him we can overcome.

Read Ephesians 6:10-18.

1. Who are we to be strong in?
2. How are we to be strong in him?
3. What does it mean that our battle is not against flesh and blood? Who is it against?
4. What does each part of the Armor of God help us with? How will they be useful to fight of Satan's attacks?

Application:

Paul calls us to put on the full armor of God "so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (v.10). It goes on to say that our battle is not against flesh and blood but "against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". Whoa! This is some serious stuff.

Because our battle is with Satan and all his goonies, we need this armor! This armor helps us stand firm by providing us the:

• belt of Truth
• breastplate of righteousness
• gospel of peace at our feet
• shield of faith
• helmet of salvation
• sword of the spirit - the word of God

Furthermore, Paul challenges us to be praying continually for those in the fight!

What powerful pieces to combat this battle! Are you equipped to fight with these pieces of armor? When we fail to put on the armor of God, we are leaving ourselves vulnerable to Satan's attacks. This week, let's be intentional about putting on the armor of God. Let's

• speak the truth to others
• live our lives with righteousness
• be ready to share the great news of Christ when needed
• have faith in the promises of God
• spend time with Christ as much as possible
• pray for others, as well as our lives

The battle we fight is daily and long. So, today, let's choose to put on the armor of God so we will be victorious - one day at a time.

Pray that God would give you the strength and desire to pursue him and be victorious for HIM in the battle.

He said what? - Producing Good Fruit

On Sunday, we wrapped up our series on "He Said what?" by looking at Matthew 7:15-20. In this section, Christ calls us to produce good fruit. By that, he was challenging us that in all that we do and say we proclaim him and make followers of him.

In the book of Acts, it talks about the history of the early Christians and the first Churches. Take a minute and read about the Church of Antioch in Acts 11:19-26.

1. In verses 19-21, what were these Christians doing?
2. In verse 26, what were these same people doing?
3. How do verses 19-21 connect with verse 26?

Application:

These first Christians took to heart Christ's challenge to produce good fruit.  Even under great persecution, they spoke to both Jews and Gentiles about Christ and many were saved (v.19-21). In addition, they took time to hear about God for themselves.  They were taught by Paul and Barnabas for a whole year (v.26)

In order to produce good fruit, we need to remain in Christ (John 15:4-6).  We have to be learning about Him and pushing ourselves in our relationship with him.  If we are not connected to Christ, we lose our power source (v.4).  Therefore, in order to produce good fruit, we have to stay connected to him daily.

On Sunday, we talked about ways that we can remain in Christ this week:

• Memorize a Bible Verse and apply it
• Be held accountable to someone else this week

These were just 2 ways we discussed but, there are many other ways.  Brainstorm for a minute other ways you can remain in Christ this week.

This week, the challenge is to 1. Remain in Christ (stay connected to him daily) and 2. Produce good fruit.

Pray this week for the desire and hunger to remain in Christ.  Also pray that God would use you to produce good fruit in all that you do and say.

He said what? - Clean the inside of your cup?!?

On Sunday we continued our He Said What series talking about cleaning out the inside of your cup.

We looked at these primary verses - Matthew 5:21-30, 38-48.

1. Did Christ's challenge shock you at all? How so?
2. Of the ones that Christ identified (hate, lust, revenge and love for enemies), which is more challenging for you to step up to?

As Christ encouraged us, we need to continue to do what is right, but he takes it a step further by saying in Matthew 12:34 that all our actions and good works have to stem from our heart. God cares more about our heart than our actions. The perfect example of this is found in 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

1. What was Samuel's mission here?
2. In verse 6, Samuel thought he had the right son of Jesse to be king. But, God had someone else in mind. What was God's criteria for the new king (v.7)?
3. How was David described? Did he look like he could be king?

Application:

David didn't necessarily look like a King. He was young and smaller than the rest of his brothers. But, most importantly, he had the heart that was right. He had a heart that was passionate about God and to follow him - "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (Psalm 63:1-8). Even though David didn't look like a King, because of his heart and how it impacted his actions, he went down in the history books as one of the great Kings of Israel.

Sure, David made his share of mistakes but time and again, he heart was always for God and his relationship with the Lord impacted him. That is what is important to God. David desired to have a clean heart, one that would worship and praise God (Psalm 51:1-17).

So, how is your heart? How is the inside of your cup?

This week, let's do good and reflect Christ in all that we do. But, let's keep our heart in check and make sure that out of the overflow of our heart, we act and speak.

Pray that God would create in you a clean heart, one that is passionate about him and that your actions this week will reflect that clean heart.

He said what? - Ask, Seek and Knock

On Sunday we introduced a 3 week series on tough saying Christ said during his Sermon on the Mount. For the complete sermon, check out Matthew 5 - 7.

Of Christ's entire message, we have selected 3 sections in which made me (and probably you) say, "He said what?". Basically, these are head turning statements that challenge and push us to in how we live our life.

The 1st one we looked at was Matthew 7:7-14. Take a moment in read it.

In this section Christ made 2 "He said what?" statements:

• Ask, Seek and Knock and the door will be opened to you (v.7-12)
• Few find and go through the gate that is narrow. Many people enter the wide gate but it ultimately leads to destruction (v.13-14)

1. What or whom are these statements referring to?

• When we ask, what do we receive?
• When we seek, what do we find?
• When we knock, who will open the door?

2. Why do you think few enter the gate that is narrow?

Application:

These are head turners for me because too often we believe that we will find Christ without having to put forth any effort of our own. As believers we expect him to be there and make everything right. Well, that is half right. He is always there for us, BUT, we have to make some effort - even just the simple ask, seek and knock. How easy is that? When we do that, Christ promises us that we will find him and that we will be blessed (v.11).

This week, let's ask, seek and knock on CHRIST's door! Let's enter the narrow gate this week and choose to follow CHRIST this week!

There are many things we can ask for and seek that lead us no where. Let's choose to follow Christ this week and see how he blesses us and bless those around us.

It begins with seeking him. If you do not have a quiet time plan for the week, let me suggest you do these:

Day 1: Matthew 14:22-33
Day 2: Matthew 5:13-16
Day 3: Matthew 13:1-23
Day 4: John 5:1-15
Day 5: John 8:1-11
Day 6: John 21:1-25

Some questions you can ask yourself during these times are:

1. What happened in the story?
2. What did Jesus say or do?
3. How can I adjust my life to what he said or did?

I believe that if we truly seek after CHRIST this week, we will find him and be blessed because of it.

Pray that Christ would give you the strength, time and desire to pursue him this week.

Fruit of the Spirit - Self-Control

I'm hooked on "24". This might surprise some people as they know that I liked to make fun of "24" for years. Don't get me wrong, I loved the concept of the show, I was just amazed at all Jack Bauer could do in a 24 hour time period.

In the midst of the craziness of the day, Jack is very controlled and is able to get the things done that needs to be done. However, there are times when things do not go as planned (ie, a terror suspect doesn't answer the questions quick enough or something unexpected happens) that Jack loses his self-control and gets more than a little mad in his efforts to accomplish his task.

Does this sound familiar with you at all? Do you demonstrate self-control up to a point? What sets you over the edge?

No matter what our circumstances are, God has some thoughts about what it means to be self-controlled and how it affects ourselves and others.

Read 1 Corinthians 9:25, 2 Peter 1:5-8

1. What do these verses tell us about self-control?
2. What is the strict training we, as believers, are involved in?
3. How is self-control apart of that training?

Application:

This whole series on the Fruit of the Spirit was meant to be an encouragement to fight for Christ! I've said it before, but we have to choose each day to follow Christ. It's an active choice in an active relationship. 1 Timothy 6:12 says, "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

This week, fight the good fight of your faith each day by instilling the fruit of the spirit in your life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Clothe yourself with one or more of these fruit and encourage others to walk alongside of you as you all, together, fight for your relationship with Christ. Choose to follow him today and see how he blesses you!

Pray