Bringing Relationships to Life: Recent Episodes
Prentis McGoldrick
Sin has broken relationships between God and Man plus Man and Man. However, these relationships are being restored as people are transformed into the image of Christ. These messages seek to bring each believer closer to Christ and bring life to all our relationships.
The Bible tells us that we should submit to every human institution. Does that mean we should be compliant and allow a holocaust to happen? Does that mean we should sit still under tyranny? No, we say, but why?
Last week we talked about Satan's attack on believers. He can't take away our salvation. He can't take away God's love for us. He can tempt us to lose our joy, lose God's manifest presence in our lives and lose the rewards we have earned in heaven. There is one more thing we can lose. This message reveals what it is.
Does it seem like the devil is after you? What could be his motivation if he knows he can't take away your salvation? Truth is, he has a lot.
There is no mandate in the New Testament for Elders. For that matter, there is no mandate for Deacons or even Pastors. Yet, Elders are mentioned twenty-two times in the New Testament as an office. Why are they absent in many churches?
This is more of a message on how to be a good father than how to recognize one. Did you have a good father? Are you becoming a good father?
There are many metaphors for the Bible. How about this one? The Bible is God's recipe book for making His people. God treats each of us different to make us into the people He desires. Yet, He also uses patterns. Let's take a look at those.
Why do we have so much trouble bringing our friends and family to Christ? Can't they see?
People should retire to do something they would rather do or because they can't do what they would rather do. Is this the reason so many people are retired from serving the Lord?
What should the church look like? That depends on your definition of what the church is.
Do you remember when you were on fire with the Lord? You tasted that the Lord was good. People live different lives when they crave Him.
The three synoptic gospels record the story of two disciples going into Bethany to get a donkey for Jesus to ride. Why is this story so important? What about the donkey?
Is there a line that you won't cross when the Lord asks you? Too many limit what the Lord can do in their lives by refusing to walk with Him in certain places. It may mean leaving the security of the job you have. It may mean moving to an area you have never lived before. It may mean that you give all you have to the poor and follow Him. The problem is that you can only see what you have. There is more that you won't have unless you follow Him.
The outside looks good but you know there is little on the inside that is appealing. This may be you or others you know. Maybe the reason that Christians aren't so full of joy is because joy comes from the inside while happiness is just waiting for something to happen. If you are a Christian, can you be honest about what's on the inside?
Is there anyone whose life is hard and their burdens are heavy? Jesus said that taking His yoke would be easy and His burdens would be light. That isn't something that comes in an instant. It comes as we walk with Him. This message is intended to put you on that journey.
I have been on the side that said a woman cannot have authority in the church for a long time. I went along with the complimentarian view without truly looking at the scriptures carefully. I have struggled with this for a long time. Now, I believe that a woman can teach. The litmus test for saying that women couldn't was found in 1 Timothy 2:11-15. When the story is fully assembled, it tells a different story than what it appears to say on the surface. You may not agree. I may be called a liberal even though I strive to give the most accurate understanding of what the Bible says. Regardless, this is my stance.
We are careful around electricity. We are careful around natural gas. We are careful when choosing a surgeon. However, we aren't so careful with God. He is more dangerous than everything we are careful with added together. Maybe we should be careful with Him.
If God could have stopped your bad day, was His purpose to humble you? If so, is that such a bad thing?
Why isn't the Christian as full of joy as the Bible reveals them to be? Why are so many Christians sick and tired of a lack-luster faith? If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, this message is for you.
Can we truly love like God loves on our own? What would enable us to love this way? This is the message here.
The Bible calls you a saint while your preacher calls you a sinner. Could it be that you are a saint acting like a sinner?
Each prayer is seeking God's grace. Why is it that we pray so much and get so little? Why won't God give us His grace?
Many Christians think that they will never be holy. They don't think it is possible. Yet, this is exactly what the Bible says that we are to be. Where do we start if we want to be holy?
Three questions:
Do you believe in angels?
Are there angels in this room right now?
Why would angels want to look at us?
God is immutable. He does not change. He will always be consistent with what He has done.
Lots of people don't want to talk about faith or even talk to Christians. Why is that? Could it be that we don't act like our faith is appealing? Would you like to change that?
You will have good and bad times this year. The good times are nice, but how will you handle the bad times?
We all know the Christmas Story. Joseph takes Mary as his wife and she has the baby Jesus. Yes, Joseph still married Mary even though the child she was carrying was not his. He did as the Lord told him. But did he love her? We would like to say he did, but what is the proof of that?
Most people want to be happy with the exclusion of being joyful. God wants us to be full of joy even if we aren't happy. Happy has to do with what is happening. Joy remains if we have godly joy. God sometimes interrupts us to give us those moments of extreme joy. The shepherds on a hillside watching their flocks were certainly surprised by joy. Have you been surprised by joy that exceeded your happiness?
What do you know about angels? Does it come from pop culture or from the Bible? Is there an angel watching over you? What about Gabriel?
The fact is God is like what He has done. He is immutable. What He has done in principle is still being done. You may not hear from Gabriel but God is still working on you.
Isaiah is the most quoted book in the New Testament. It was Isaiah who would tell of Jesus' miraculous birth. It was Isaiah who would tell of Jesus' redemption. Jesus would read out of Isaiah in the synagogue and say that the prophecy is fulfilled. Where did Isaiah get these words that he would preach in his day? They started at the source.
The Bible tells us that we should be thankful in all circumstances, but it doesn't tell us to be thankful for all circumstances. What's the difference? A whole lot.
Sure, you go to church and they chide you into singing praise songs. But what if you don't feel like it? What if things are going so wrong that you just can't? Why should you praise God when He hasn't rescued you from your crisis? Good question.
Maybe you have always heard that God has a wonderful plan for your life but none of the people who told you this explained what this wonderful plan was. It all centers around the answers to two questions: Who are you? and What are you here for?
Do you think you know who the Apostle Peter was? Maybe you do. Maybe you don't. Let's take a look.
Who is the source of our faith? It doesn't come from us. It is much more reliable. It comes from the Holy Spirit.