Disciples of Jesus are students. They are students of the Word of God. We read God’s Word for encouragement, inspiration, peace, and strength, but we must also study the Scripture to know God, to know what we are to believe and to know how we are to live.

Main Points:

1. The need for careful and diligent study of the Bible has never been more important than it is today. There is an all-out attack on the authority of God’s Word and as believers, we need to know what the Word says and how to articulate it to others. This requires the study of God’s Word.

2. To counter the false teachers who were misapplying and undermining the truth of God’s Word, the Apostle Paul urged Timothy to work hard and study diligently when handling the scriptures.

3. I’ve discovered many Christians believe they should study the Bible, they just don’t know where to begin.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Timothy 2:15 - “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Hebrews 4:12 - “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

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Which physical posture of prayer is the right one for you? I would say, none of them! Rather than the external posture, the Bible emphasizes the posture of the heart. Whether you are standing, sitting, or lying down, the important thing is that your heart is bowed in submission to the lordship of Christ.

Main Points:

1. True prayer is characterized by the posture of the heart, not the physical posture of the person praying.

2. So, what is the right posture of our hearts as we come to God in prayer. I believe it must include three things: reverence, humility, and gratitude.

3. As you pray today, it may be that you’ll sense God leading you to a particular posture of prayer. Maybe you’ll kneel, stand, or even lift your hands. Whichever posture of prayer you choose, don’t forget about the posture of your heart.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 3:14 - “For this reason, I kneel before the Father.”

Psalm 95:6 - “Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

Hebrews 12:28 - “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.”

John 14:13 - “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

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Some of the basic questions of life are what is right, and what is wrong? What is good? And what is bad? What is morality, and do you, as a person, have morals?” Is there a code of ethics for everyone to ascribe to? Morality in its simplest definition is “the distinction between right and wrong, but should we all define what is moral the same way?

Main Points:

1. Throughout history people, society, and culture have wrestled with these questions. For the Christian, we live with a biblical worldview. We believe the Bible is God’s Word to us. It is the final authority for belief, life, and practice. It is our compass and our roadmap. It shows us how to live and how to please God.

2. Without a belief in the authority of the Bible, we are left to our own thoughts, ideas, and opinions. We make ourselves the god and authority over our own lives. Morality then becomes relative. Right and wrong become inventions of our own minds. After all, who are you to tell me what is moral, and what is not?

3. As Christians, our worldview, which is how we see and interpret the world, comes from the Bible. The Christian worldview is founded upon two principles: God exists, and he has spoken to us in his word. The Bible, which contains God’s revealed moral will in His law and commandments, is His revelation to His people. As such, the Bible becomes our source of definition of right and wrong.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Timothy 3:16 - “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

2 Peter 1:21 - “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

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The children of God are peacemakers. A peacemaker is someone who intentionally works to help people reconcile with God and others. Anyone who does the hard work of peacemaking will be blessed by God.

Main Points:

1. The word “peace” in Matthew 5:9 combines two Greek words. Together they mean to bring about wholeness, to bring all the essential parts together in wholeness.

2. Peace-making requires God’s power. Real and lasting peace is impossible to create without God’s help. You can’t make what you don’t have. The only way to have inner peace is to make peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

3. Peacemaking is such hard work that it’s easier to say…. “I’m staying out it.” We try and fail and get discouraged, so we give up. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can all work to be peacemakers, and in doing so we are a reflection of God’s character.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 5:9 - “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Romans 5:1 - “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians chapter 5:18 - “God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

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We are not God. We are not little gods, but we were created to be like God in character and lifestyle. Our life should reflect the glory of God to others. When we do this, we are healthy and whole. The Bible describes this as holiness.

Main Points:

1. Our sin has distorted the image of God within us, and now we can’t see ourselves as God sees us. We ascribe to labels the world places on us. We struggle with discovering our true identity.

2. It is essential that you hear this message way down deep in your soul. Regardless of the circumstances of your conception, you were created by God. You were created for purpose. Your life has meaning and value.

3. To live the life God created and designed you to live, you must embrace the truth that you were created in the image of God. Your life is not an accident, a mistake, or an after-thought. Your life is important and you are here today because of the will of God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Genesis 1:26-27 - “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Psalm 139:13-14 - “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

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As Christians, we must see that the grace that offers us God’s forgiveness, enables us to forgive others when they sin against us.

Main Points:

1. Our forgiveness of others is a response to the forgiveness we have received. If God can forgive me, he can enable me to forgive others.

2. Christianity is a religion of forgiveness and healing. It is about God’s forgiveness of us, and our forgiveness of others. Both types of forgiveness are miracles and examples of how Jesus changes lives. Jesus is in the business of healing relationships and restoring families. I believe this is one of our greatest stories and most powerful ways we can witness to our community.

3. Forgiveness is a decision you make to refuse to live in the past. It’s a conscious choice to relate others from their sins against you, so that you can be set free.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 18:21 - “He came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Ephesians 4:32 - “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

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The Big Idea:

Fear of the Lord is deep respect, awe, and reverence for God. We give God the glory, honor, reverence, gratitude, and praise, he deserves. God holds this preeminent position in our hearts and lives. We regard his desires over and above our own.

Main Points:

1. We should fear or respect the Lord as one who has authority over us. It is a recognition that we are accountable to Him. He is so great, He is so holy, He is so righteous, how can I not humble myself before him? How could I ever think that I know better than God?

2. The fear of the Lord causes us to repent of our pride and our selfishness. It brings us to a place of humility before the Lord. It is a recognition of his holiness and greatness.

3. Without the fear of the Lord we make decisions based on our human understanding. But when we live with the fear of the Lord we make decisions based upon His approval. We live with the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is intimately involved in our lives. He sees, knows, and evaluates all of our choices, and we will one day stand before him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 2:4 - “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.”

Proverbs 19:10 - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 14:26 - “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge”

Proverbs 14:27 - “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death”

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The Big Idea:

As Christians, our convictions are shaped by biblical principles. Since we believe the Bible is God’s Word and that its truth lasts forever, our beliefs and convictions cannot change regardless of the changes in our society.

Main Points:

1. What are your core convictions? Have you ever made a list? A conviction is a firmly held belief. It is part of who you are as a person. It shapes your choices and decisions. A conviction does change with the winds of time. It is part of your character.

2. The first category is biblical convictions. These convictions are the clear teachings of Scripture for doctrine and lifestyle. They are clearly outlined in scripture for us and they are the will of God for our faith and practice. These biblical convictions never change. They are the same in every generation because the Word of God never changes.

3. The second category is personal convictions. A personal conviction is a specific boundary of behavior that God has set for a person individually; however it is not necessarily a commandment defined in the Bible, nor is it a behavior meant for others to follow.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 4:17 - “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

1 Timothy 4:12 - “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” This means, no matter your age, you should let God’s Word inform how you live your life. As you do so, you are an example to others.

1 Corinthians 16:13 - “Stand firm in the faith.”

Isaiah 40:8 - “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

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