This was a sermon outline I was going to share at PTP in the Sword Sharpening session.
Christian Living in Expectation of the Return of Jesus: Text: Titus 2:11-15
- The Grace of God has appeared to all men... Grace both a Person and an action. v.11
- Say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions.: Live self-controlled lives v. 12. Do it in the here and now. Christianity is a here and now religion.
- Looking for Jesus: v 13-- Jesus is the "Blessed Hope." We are looking for the 'uppertaker, not the undertaker.'
- Live for Jesus Who redeemed us: Be a zealous people-We can't work our way to Heaven, but once in Christ -we need to be the best workers He has. Under grace-- we get to work for the Lord (privileged)-- instead of having to work for Him in order to gain"brownie points," hoping the scales are in our favor.
Updates from August, 2010 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Larry Miles
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Larry Miles
Sword Sharpening Session
There have been 2 or 3 sessions here at PTP where preachers gathered together and shared Sermon Outlines–The idea was to give a bare bones outline and then you could add the meat. I shared the following outline and had the 2nd one ready to go. I’ll post the second one in another post.
The Importance of Soul Winning.” Text: Mt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47
- Soul Winning is commanded by the Lord: Great Commission. (Verses after title.)
- Soul Winning is in the Plan of God: 2 Peter 3:9
- The Love of Christ compels us to do soul-winning: 2 Cor. 5:14
- People are lost without Christ: I Peter 3:17
- Jesus is coming again: I Thes. 4:13-18–If we believe Jesus is coming again, it should motivate us to greater service.
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Larry Miles
PTP-Tuesday Update
Another great day at Polishing the Pulpit great fellowship and teaching and instruction from faithful brethren–learning a lot of practical things.
Sessions went to today:
- Wayne Jackson “So, You Want To Be A Writer…”
- Wade Webster: “New Testament Postcards: 2nd John.”
- Wesley Simons: “A Ready Answer: Questions and Passages Dealing With Mormonism”
- Gary Hampton:”Expository Preaching From Hebrews (1)
- Eddy Gilpin: “Sword Sharpening Session.”
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Richard Mansel
"Life is not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it's about doing, being and becoming."
Mike Dooley via Twitter
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Don Ruhl
The latest book to disappoint me was, “The Seven Faith Tribes” by George Barna. The Preface and opening chapter were great, but then the rest of the book fell flat. I was told that his books can be that way, that is, he can identify a problem, but then his solution is not all that great. That was true of this book, but I cannot say anything about any of his other books. He has some appealing titles, so, I want to give him a couple more chances.
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Richard Mansel
Disappointing
When I heard that a biography of Guy N. Woods was to be published, I was excited. I purchased it soon after it was published in 2003. It was entitled, “Over the Vast Horizon” by Harrell Davidson. Yet, I was very disappointed that it was filled with so many grammatical errors and misspelled words that I could barely make it through the book.
I also hoped it would be more comprehensive about the life of this legend of a man. I hope a second edition will be published someday, with heavy revision, and more material. Brother Woods was an intellectual giant among men and I would like to know more about him.
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Ron Thomas
I am currently making my way through it, but if the trend continues, my disappointment will also continue. The book is “A Spirit For The Rest of Us” (Tim Woodroof). He attempts to make the topic of the Holy Spirit (HS) more easily understood, but his handling of passages in a few places (thus far) has me wandering if he even understand the topic. Very disappointing.
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J. Randal Matheny
Daily Nudge: disappointing book
Describe a book you’ve read that you found disappointing. It can be fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry. Just not mine. Well, if you insist. Tell why you were disappointed by the book.
Thanks to Plinky.com for today’s Nudge.
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Tina Cutsinger
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Richard Mansel
Love Is…
Love is a renewable resource. Let it fill your heart & its fragrance will touch everyone around you. Spread its beauty liberally for God is its source and He will be glorified (1 John 4:8; Ephesians 3:20-21).
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Stephen R. Bradd
Study in Acts
I just started a study in Acts this week on http://www.AudioEvangelism.com.
We would love for you to study with us! -
Stephen R. Bradd
Back-to-school thoughts? My boys (Adin [8] and Abel [6]) started school again yesterday. We home educate some everyday, but the formal schedule started again yesterday. Things went more smoothly than ever, my wife reported. My mother, a newly retired school teacher who lives a mile from us, is planning to come over for 2 hours each morning to help my wife. This will be a tremendous blessing for everyone, I am sure.
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Richard Mansel
Beatitudes
I am beginning a series of articles on the Beatitudes and I hope you will read and share them. Today, we look at why Jesus used, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” first. It is so profound and practical. I hope you will read the article and give feedback. Share your thoughts because they are different from mine and I can learn from you.
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Ed Boggess
Prince Mongo – JAM
Old caskets, junk cars, piles of rotting wood, parts of old mannequins, rusting bathtubs and more made up the trash and junk scattered through the yard of Robert Hodges. His property was right in the middle of a fashionable Memphis neighborhood. The owner called himself Prince Mongo and said he was from the planet Zambodia. He wore animal skins and a bone necklace. The city finally took all they could take & moved in to “clean house”. They loaded up all the garbage, excluding Prince Mongo, and hauled it to the dump. There is a time for everything, including cleaning house. In view of the continued decline in morals, America is overdue for a house cleaning. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess
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Barbara Ann Oliver
He actually ran for mayor several times, and people even voted for him!!
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Ron Thomas
Bible Reading – Titus 2
1. Exhortation to godly living (2:1-10). Paul speaks to Titus to teach the brethren about living godly in this evil world in order that the way of Christ not be spoken of in an unfavorable way. To the patriarchs and to the young men they are to be sure to be firm in doctrine and faithfulness; to the women they are to be sure to tend to those things pertaining to husbands (respectively) and children.
2. A reason for this godly exhortation (2:11-15). We are to live godly in this evil world because we look for something not of this world, but we look for the Lord to come again. This kind of teaching, Paul said, was to be preached with the authority of the Lord.
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Richard Mansel
One Way to Be Happy
Don’t read the news. I looked and you don’t want to know. Everyone have a blessed night/day.
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Richard Hill
Funny! I do avoid watching the news. I prefer to read it. By doing so I can skip over a lot of the rhetoric. It helps me get to the heart of the matter and it doesn’t bother me as much as watching it.
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Don Ruhl
My wife and I do not get television programming, and we live far enough out of town and are surrounded enough by hills that we cannot even get stations by an antenna. What a blessing. We do subscribe to the local paper and we do get news on the Internet, but not sitting in front of the TV and watching the 24 hour news channels gives us peace and lost of free time.
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Richard Mansel
I don’t watch news at home. I read it online and going to the Drudge report lately is too discouraging.
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Larry Miles
Polishing the Pulpit Monday Night Update
Great Time! There are over 2,000 registered! Praise the Lord! Another outstanding day of fellowship and instruction. This has been one of the best conferences I have attended. I especially like the practical aspect.
I think my favorite session today was Gary Hampton’s lesson on “How Does God Answer Prayer? ” Then I heard Jerry Jenkins speak on “What I’d Like to Say to the Next Generation of Preachers.” I appreciated his long years of service and his desire to help new preachers grow in the “grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.”
We went to hear Jody Apple on “Learning to Think Like God.” Heard B J Clarke preach on “Preaching to Blended Families,” Tonight Jason Ridgeway and I went to the ‘Sword Sharpening Session” led by Eddy Gilpin.
More tomorrow on Polishing the Pulpit– thanks for reading these posts. Glad to have met some brethren who write on The Fellowship Room and some on Preacher’s Files.
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Gary Hampton
Larry,
Thank you for the very kind words. The study of providence and God’s answers to our prayers continues to be a blessing to me. I am glad you enjoyed it as well.
Yours in Christ’s service,
Gary
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J. Randal Matheny
Lord willing, I’ll be a part of this network, doing a podcast on missions:
Dale Jenkins and Caleb Ohara made the big announcement tonight about the launch of the network.
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J. Randal Matheny
Encouragement prayer
Does this prayer sound like it contains conflicting requests?
Heavenly Father, make me like Barnabas the encourager, make me realize all true encouragement comes from you.
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Ron
I see no necessary conflict. To be like Barnabas is admirable, but from where did Barnabas receive his encouragement but ultimately from the Lord. I see it along the lines of 1 Corinthians 11:1 and Ephesians 5:1.
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Ron Thomas
Illinois and Corruption
Letter to editor,
An interesting headline reads, “What’s wrong with Illinois?” (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, Monday, 8.30.10, p. A-3). It is a headline that asks a question about why we seem to be at a moral impasse within government. “Is there something about Illinois that encourages governors to go bad?” we are asked. This is followed with the lament, “Illinois voters put them [George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich] in office despite serious questions about their honesty.” Finally, in order to help the reputation of Illinois government to get out of the morass of corruption, we are told, laws are passed. It has been once said that laws made are only for the lawless.
It is interesting to take note of the word “honesty.” This word is associated with a moral standard, a moral standard that has an opposite – the notion of a lie. When one tells a lie, there is a recognition that such a thing as truth exists. Truth has as its foundation what? Is man the foundation or is God?
Is it much too simplistic to suggest that the ethical problem of man is that he lives by his own standard? It is not only not too simplistic, it is dead-on right! One’s ethical foundation has everything to do with the moral code that guides. This truism is more complex than you realize. People who live by the higher standard of God need not laws passed in order to prevent them from doing wrong, for they will live by the standard of doing what is right. Unfortunately, when one is in an environment where corruption pervades, something has to give. Doubly unfortunate, it is the rare person that can hold strong when they are many “corrupters” out there seeking to destroy, and when one does hold strong, he (she) is the targets of all things evil.
Is this approach naïve? Liberals, progressives, relativists, and atheists tell us it is, but look at the result of what their philosophy has produced for us. Please tell us, how the philosophies of those just mentioned produced a bountiful crop of virtuous people?
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Ed Boggess
Famine in the land! – JAM
In 2004, a group of 25 Senators sponsored a bill to protect the display of the Ten Commandments on public property. They said the 10 Commandments were the cornerstone of a civilized society and they represent all the United States was founded on and should stand for. But when a reporter asked if any of them could name the Ten Commandments, only one of the 25 could! According to a recent PollTronics poll, less than 10% of Americans can name more than four! In fact 23% thought the 2nd Commandment gave us the right to bear arms! 31% said the 9th Command prohibited the removal of Ten Commandment displays! There is a famine in the land, a famine of the Word of God. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess
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Ron Thomas
Bible Reading – Titus 1
1. Paul’s greeting (1:1-4). In Paul’s greeting to Titus, he encourages him to hold on to the notion that God cannot lie. This is important when we think about the chaos of the world and wonder if what the Lord said can possibly happen. Paul tells Titus that not only that it could, but it will because He spoke it.
2. Paul’s instructions about elders (1:5-9). We learn in this little section that elders have a grave responsibility. Not only are they to be holy men, but they are to be ready to convict the “gainsayers,” those who would speak (or live) contrary to the truth of God. This is done in order to reclaim the wanderer and to keep those in the body from being adversely affected.
3. Paul’s plain words (1:10-16). Paul gives an illustration of what he means, and in this illustration his words are clearly plain, there is no misunderstanding them.
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Richard Hill
It Happened While They Were Still Alive!
My working hours have lengthened as the harvest season approaches. The grain dryer setup requires extra work due to age and it all takes longer. . .due to age! Late Friday afternoon, still out on a mission to scavenge parts I decided to have a non-fast food meal alone. Many years have passed since I had done that, but I was tired and needed to rest. It was a beautiful day and I chose to dine on the patio.
Did I mention that morning I had been inside the grain dryer in the upper heat chamber cleaning out the fines that had slipped through the perforated walls? Well, when I walked onto the patio a table of six yuppies fell silent. Oh, if they had only stayed that way. . .but I’m getting ahead of myself.
A couple of them stared my direction. Not sure why they were looking at me. My father-in-law had blown me off with the air gun, I had wiped the grease off my left pant leg and had changed to a clean farmer cap. I looked a lot better than I usually do when working on the farm, but I can’t fault them for their reaction since they had never seen my really grubby look as comparison.
After a couple of brief awkward moments they continued their boisterous conversations. They started with a discussion of the vegetarian diet. One woman began questioning the waiter as to the exact way the black beans were prepared so as to keep them vegetarian. After he left she went on to explain she had acquired great knowledge of all these things and more at a culinary school. She had also witnessed the way cattle were slaughtered. She was visibly shaken as she relived the event.
One of her eating companions ran for a while on the way kosher animals were slaughtered. He considered it barbaric. She retorted that the slaughter house she visited “killed them while they were still alive!”
Yes, you read that right. “They killed them while they were still alive.” I didn’t snort when I chuckled. An unusual level of self-control for me.
This morning we studied the first few verses of Romans 12. You know, the part about a living sacrifice. Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Since real sacrifices involve dead things, how can there be a living sacrifice?
Well, Christian, we were crucified nevertheless we live. Galatians 2:20. The next verse in Romans 12 tells us “not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world” which means to keep the dead part dead. The old man with his worldly ways needs to be put out of his misery never to be resurrected.
That verse goes on to say, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It parallels a similar thought in the same Galatians passage which says, “Christ lives in me.” We live now as we had never lived before, revitalized by Christ himself.
Yes sir. We were killed while we were still alive. For the Christian it’s not a misstatement. It’s not a joke. It’s our reality.
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Barbara Ann Oliver
I, for one, and thankful every day for the dusty, dirty, hot and tired farmer who sacrifices his life’s sweat and blood to put bread and meat on my table, and for the Man who was willing to sacrifice his life’s blood to bring me before the Father as an acceptable sacrifice. Thanks, Richard.
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Richard Hill
I appreciate your support, Barb! Their demeanor, as if they were better than everyone else, and the subject matter, a loud discussion of slaughter houses, seemed a bit incongruent. Not that it bothered me. I just had trouble containing myself. Then when the lady made her crazy quote, well, I just felt the need to share.
I liked your tie-in to the greatest of all sacrifices. Amen!
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Larry Miles
PTP Update: Sunday Afternoon
Hello from Polishing the Pulpit in Sevierville, TN–After a rest time Saturday afternoon, we went back over to PTP–Excellent congregational singing although 2 or 3 songs I did not know and one I doubt that 10% knew. I went to the Preacher’s Breakout session led by Melvin Sapp from SC– His lesson was “How To Reach and Exceed Our Goals.” I appreciated his emphasis on the physical and mental preparation in our lives to prepare ourselves to be ready to give our “all” to the Lord.
Brent Heeke and I went to the 7pm session, “What Can We Learn From the Business World on How to communicate as Church Leaders.” (Elders session) The speaker was Matt Vega, Attorney; it was a good practical workshop.
This morning, (Sunday Aug. 29th), I went up to the South Knoxville Church of Christ (Geoff Mabe, Preacher) Jerry Jenkins from the Roebuck Pkwy church in Birmingham was the Bible School speaker– excellent lesson “You may be the ‘Missing Link’ in Evangelism.” He spoke on the importance of a soul. He stressed the need to be involved in evangelism.
The Worship hour’s speaker was Wendell Fike of the Airport church in S. San Fransisco, CA– He spoke on “My Favorite Sermon.” It was ”I Want to Go Home.” Good sermon on our Heavenly Home and that the Christian should long to be there and prepare ourselves in this life and be involved in the Lord’s work.
We are gong back over to PTP in a couple hours. I’ll probably wait to tomorrow to post about that and the morning and afternoon sessions–
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Richard Mansel
The Diminishing Words
“A writer opens his toolbox and places his tools on the table, to construct a work of art. Words take form and sentences become pages. The writer labors to find the perfect word in his arsenal of vocabulary. His training, knowledge, study and reading come to bear as he struggles for perfection. His freedom of thought pours onto the page and something special takes life. Writing is a singular exercise built on the shoulders of the ages. The penman fills his toolbox with the best at his disposal. Words are his sword.”
The issue is that the vocabularies of readers are growing smaller, so writers have a smaller pool of words to choose from, as they write. What can we do about this challenge as writers of sermons/articles?
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Richard Mansel
What Are You Talking About?
ISTM, that I’m sitting and reading FB and TFR and HSuite before I get back to 1 Pt.Many of us may understand what these acronyms mean, but this is a public forum and we cannot assume that everyone else will. Moreover, we have an international readership, so we must be aware of colloquial phrases that can be confusing to our non-English speaking readers. If we want an insular site, we can speak in code and outsiders will not feel welcome. However, if we wish to be open to all, we need to be warm, friendly and engaging. The latter is enhanced by writing in a way that all can understand. Thanks!
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Larry Miles
Greetings from Polishing The Pulpit
Hi There! We arrived here in Sevierville, TN yesterday for the Polishing The Pulpit Workship. There are 6 of us in a time share owned bt one of my fellow preachers in Louisville, KY
Having a great time so far–lots of good speakers and reources. We heard B J Clarke speak about “Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness. Also heard part of 1 of “How Can we get This Church to Grow,” by Gary Hampton, Director of ETSPM. They are going to have this and other messages by instructors form ETSPM on their web site
I met a few folks that are on FB and TFR and other forums, such as Travis Main from Cody, WY, Weylan Deaver, Jim Faughn. Hope to meet some more. The exhibit area is pretty good with many good resources.
This morning went to session led by Wade Webster, of Southhaven, MS This was first in series “New Testament Postcards.” Bible study of Philemon; later ones will be on 2nd Jn, 3rd John and Jude. Then heard Part 2 of Gary Hampton’s lesson on “How Can we get this Church to Grow.” Lots of practical material in his 2 sessions.
We are back at Bud’s Time Share resting up– will go over for the 530pm Congregational Singing and then 3 more sessions. More about them later 2night or tomorrow. I’m looking forward to getting some practical lessons on how to help the chruch grow and to help me in my personal walk for the Lord.
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Richard Mansel
Commentary Blues
Writing a commentary with good, useful information is wonderful. Yet, there is more to the job. One of the key functions of a commentary is to be quoted. However, if the writing is sloppy, then no one will quote you and probably not read your work. Yet again, laziness is counterproductive. Find an editor!
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Richard Mansel
Study Time
Spending a few hours studying 1 Peter 5, in preparation for a manuscript for the Southeast Georgia lectureship in October. The chapter is full of treasures.
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J. Randal Matheny
One of my favorite books.
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J. Randal Matheny
Anybody tweeting PtP?
Several are mentioning, if not tweeting, PtP:
http://twitter.com/faughn4/ Adam seems to be doing some tweeting, like the Chuck Webster’s steps to financial freedom this morning.
Any others?
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Richard Mansel
@PTP_2010 I haven’t seen any tweets from them, though.
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Richard Mansel
Would be nice to be there but that wasn’t possible.
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J. Randal Matheny
That account must have been for advertising ahead of time, reckon?
Yeah, Barbara and I talked about her going to do an exhibit, but we opted, bec of expense, for Harding Lecs.
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Richard Mansel
PTP is expensive. A hotel room for a week in Sevierville/Gatlinburg is a lot of money! If you stay the entire week, you are looking at close to $1,000 for fees, food and housing.
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Laura
If I had gone, I would have stayed with my parents and driven back and forth. They are about an hour from there, but it would have been worth it to save the money.
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Ron Thomas
Back to school thoughts brought me to last night’s FB game. It was a great game. Our local HS team has won only one game in three years (we lost last night). Last year had the team compete in most of their games – that was good considering from where they came the year before that. The game last night was a victory for the visiting team on the last play of the game. A hook and latter pass to the end zone won the game. Unfortunately, the Back Judge called a poor game (it was really BAD). Two plays previous he was the only one who thought an interception was an incomplete pass. Just the same, a good game with both teams having heart as they fought to the end.
Back to school means that FB is here. Since our girls are out of school, I can think on the more pleasurable things locally. I am sure there is nothing all that important in education compared to football – is there? :-)
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J. Randal Matheny
It took me a minute to realize that by FB you meant football. I thought it stood for Facebook.
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Ron
I am sorry, Randal. I use these abrievations so often that what readily comes to my mind does not easily communicate to others. Richard’s post on what is it that we are talking about is a good reminder to me that I need to be more thoughtful about others who read.
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Richard Hill
Testing. Testing. 1 2 3 Testing. Is this thing on?
Seriously, I like the old format better even with it’s problems.
Still looking forward to Sunday afternoon to write something.
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Tina Cutsinger
funny!
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Ed Boggess
Tech Blessing? – JAM
Here is another something new, another first – a British church is offering the blessing of tech gadgets! You can take your laptop or smart phone to St. Lawrence in London and the Reverend David Parrot will bless it. I have heard a couple of folks speaking God’s name over their tech gadgets before, but they weren’t blessing them. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised with this development. We live in an age of Blackberries and Droids, IPods and M3Ps. While others may call all of this progress, I am beginning to wonder. It seems that the more attached we get to mother-boards, transistors and resistors; the more we drift from prayer, Bible reading and service. This is Just-A-Minute
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Richard Hill
It’s hard to be bored with the connectivity available now. The world is truly at your fingertips. That might explain the difference between many of the old time killers and these new tech gadgets. I’m grateful for the outlet we have on TFR to be connected in a way that promotes godliness.
Thanks Ed!
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Ron Thomas
Bible Reading – 2 Timothy 4
1. Preach the word (4:1-5). Paul’s last letter on earth brings him to the important point that he wants to leave with Timothy. He is to preach when they want to hear and when they do not. The Lord wants men to stand in the gap, preaching the “old paths.”
2. Fought the fight (4:6-8). As Timothy preaches, he is to prepare himself for the response that surely will come. It will be a fight from the forces of Satan. However, since the armor a Christian has on is stronger than anything Satan can throw at him, a Christian protected in this fight.
3. Lonely words (4:10-16). Some, on the other hand, have decided to take off the armor, laying it aside, perhaps hoping for another day to pick it us. Those who have chosen poorly…we read of them today – this is not a legacy to be left behind. While Paul may have felt lonely, in truth, he was not lonely at all (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:3-9).
4. The Lord’s strength (4:17-22). The Lord’s strength delivers all who trust in Him. For our own individual strength – whatever it may be – is not even remotely strong enough to give us peace, much less deliver us!
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J. Randal Matheny
Returning to old theme
By prompting and, it seems, general Fellow preference, we’ve returned to the P2 theme, our original start-up presentation. We hope the comments will not be as problematic as before, and even more, that posts will come back up to the previous level. So, Stephen, we’re expecting more posts out of you. ;-)
Any problems, let us know. We pray it will work smoothly.
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Barbara Ann Oliver
OK, I am testing out the comments :) Have to admit that I like this better, also.
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J. Randal Matheny
Looks like you did fine on the comments.
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Barbara Ann Oliver
OOPS! Appears that there still may be a problem. This is the second attempt to test comments.
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Laura
Hallelujah.
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Laura
But we fellows still cannot comment freely…. I thought that was a problem due to the format change?
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J. Randal Matheny
Forgot about that. It should now permit comments by those who’ve had comments approved already.
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J. Randal Matheny
PtP tomorrow
An expected 2000 people are making their way to east Tennessee for Polishing the Pulpit. Today our family had a delightful lunch with the Weylan Deaver family at The Old Country Store — the original Cracker Barrel — at the Casey Jones Village in Jackson TN, as they stopped off I-40 on their way to the event.
Larry told me last night he’s going. Who else among our number is going?
I think Weylan said that Jody Apple is a speaker. The schedule says Evelyn will address the ladies. Alan Highers, whom we saw Tuesday night, will speak, as will Rudy Cain of WVBS and Mac Deaver. I heard Mike Winkler preach last Sunday, and he’s on the slate at PtP also. Add our friend Phil to that number.
Dale Jenkins is also a speaker and he mentioned he’ll make a special announcement there about a project in which I may play a small part.
Looks like it’ll be a great event, starting tomorrow.
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Laura
Not going, but our preacher and two of our deacons are going.
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Joy
We missed you by 3 hours or so. We stopped at that very exit around 4 p.m. today. We’re also on our way to PTP. On Tuesday I’ll be covering a couple of classes for Kathy Pollard, who is not able to teach her scheduled lessons, and my husband George is covering a class that George Bailey was scheduled to teach. This will be the first time our family has been able to attend and we are looking forward to it very much.
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J. Randal Matheny
Joy, actually, we missed you by about an hour. We didn’t leave there until around 3 p.m.
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joyjensen
We just missed you all by about 3 hours; we were at that very exit around 4 pm this afternoon. We are on our way to PTP, as well. This will be the first time our family has been able to attend, and we look forward to a spiritual feast.
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Tina Cutsinger
Lance and several from here will be there on the 28th. Hope you all have a great time and come back “shiney and bright”!
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Richard Mansel
Encouragment to Keep Reading
Whether you are reading or listening to the New Testament, remain diligent. I’ve been blessed to listen to the New Testament every month this year. I’ve lost count but I have listened to the New Testament more than 30 times through the years. You can do that, as well. Get started today.
Thanks for the work Ron and Randal do in encouraging us to keep reading Scripture.
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Ron Thomas
Bible Reading – 2 Timothy 3
1. In the last day (3:1-9). The ”last days” is a phrase that gets our attention quickly. Does Paul have in mind some period of time just before the Lord’s return that will be much more brutal than things currently are? All that we can say on the topic is that which the New Testament teaches, and the Holy Spirit says we are in them at this moment (Hebrews 1:1-2). However, that is not the most important point. As you take note of the behaviors Paul identifies, the point is the evil associated with these behaviors – always learning about what is right and what is wrong, yet refusing to make a decision for the Lord, but deciding to progress their own way.
2. (3:10-17). Timothy, however, is one who did not learn things of this sort. He learned, rather, from a godly family. That which he learned he has taken into his adult life. As Paul encourages him in these remarks he makes a bold declaration concerning the Lord’s word. It is all that we need to make us spiritually alive and, moreover, to make us emotionally well-balanced.
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John Henson
What is courage?
Doris Miller was born in Waco, Texas in 1919 and would become an incredible example of courage.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939 and was on the USS West Virginia the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. His main job was as a cook, but Miller was also the heavyweight boxing champion of the fleet. Miller was doing laundry when the general quarters alarm was sounded. He reported to his combat station, only to find the anti-aircraft gun to which he was assigned had been destroyed.
After caring for the dying captain of the ship, Miller found a .50-caliber Browning anti-aircraft gun and fired on Japanese planes until the ammunition was depleted. For his heroic action, he was awarded the Navy Cross by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz on May 27, 1942. Miller was killed-in-action later in the war.
Certainly, Miller didn’t know that day what would happen or what role he would play. To his credit, he didn’t run. Instead, he took the closest available weapon and fought back in the face of incredible fire and possible loss of life. This is the courage for which our country awards its medals. Miller had to be frightened, but wouldn’t quit.
Sometimes, commendable qualities are best defined by example, like Doris Miller. Thomas, usually known in the New Testament as the doubter, is a great Bible example of courage. In John 11:11-16, Jesus announced Lazarus had died. The Lord wanted to return to Bethany, but the disciples sensed danger. They said, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” (John 11:8 ESV).
It was Thomas who spoke up and said, “Let us go that we may die with him.” It may have been that Thomas was just as afraid as anyone else, but this one, lone voice speaks up to follow Jesus. Thomas knew what was right and was prepared to do it. He moved past his fear by faith in Christ. That is a great definition of courage.
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J. Randal Matheny
Thomas’ words ring so true for us today. Thanks for the reminder.
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John Henson
Thanks for the encouragement.
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Ed Boggess
Men more evolved? – JAM
Have you heard the latest? Evolutionists now tell us that men are more evolved than women! Dr David Page, head of the prestigious Whitehead Institute at Cambridge, says, “The Y chromosome appears to be the most rapidly evolving of the human chromosomes; it’s an almost ongoing churning of gene reconstruction.” When I read that, I wanted to laugh out loud. What will they come up with next? The fact is all of us, male and female, were created in the image of God and not evolved in the image of an ape. Before some scientist makes a monkey out of you, why not try faith in God? This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess
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Ron Thomas
Bible Reading – 2 Timothy 2
1. Consider what I say (2:1-7). As Paul exhorts Timothy to commit the words of life to faithful Christians in order that they might teach others, he also wants Timothy to be mindful of what is and is not important. Since Timothy is spiritually minded, Paul was confident in Timothy’s ability to understand the distinction. Do you also trust others to make that distinction?
2. The faithful Lord (2:8-13). In times of affliction is can be difficult to make the one right decision that all of us need to make. If in times of affliction we choose poorly, the Lord stays right where He is and has been at all times. He is faithful even when we decide to depart; He cannot deny anything about Himself. This can be a word of encouragement to us. When we arrive at the place where we have come to recognize that the Lord is missing, then we can take our arrival and make it a departure, a departure to where the Lord is.
3. Timothy, as a preacher (2:14-26). What is a preacher to do? How is he to carry himself? How should he interact with people? These questions are all answered in this section. In today’s society a preacher is thought of in a particular way (it has been this way for quite a long time), yet should we not consider what the Holy Spirit’s viewpoint on this actually is? Of course. A preacher is to prepare himself, teaching the word of God accurately. He is to make a distinction between those thing that are important and those thing not. He is always carrying himself before people with a view to assisting them in their spiritual walk.
Tina Cutsinger is discussing. 
Gary Hampton is discussing. 
Joy, and 1 other are discussing. 
I’ve been reading a “small” book now for the past year! It hasn’t been disappointing but it has been extremely difficult for me to read. It is a book on background bible study. A historical account. The technical terminalogy is mind boggling for me. Short of that, I haven’t read a book that has disappointed me in so long that I can’t remember when the last time I did.