Growing Gracefully: Contentment
Awake Us Now
Even in the most difficult of times, believers such as the apostle Paul have known contentment, an inner peace, a certainty that God is in control. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we know that, through faith in Him, we will live forever. That certainty brings true contentment!
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Growing Gracefully: Humility
Awake Us Now
The humility modeled for us by Jesus is not only refreshing, it is life-changing and God-pleasing! Pride, on the other hand, makes us nauseating not only to others, but to God as well.
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Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 11: The Origin of "Christian"
Awake Us Now
In Acts 11:26 we read that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. “Disciple” is the most used word in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus. It is used 261 times. The word “Christian” is used only 3 times in the New Testament. Brothers and sisters, believers, followers are also used but “disciples” is Jesus’ favorite word to describe His followers. Matthew 29:19-20 - the Great Commission - Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching...
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Growing Gracefully: Freedom
Awake Us Now
True freedom is living the full life that God always intended us to possess. In Jesus, we are freed from bondage to sin and are now free to please God!
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Growing Gracefully: Thankfulness
Awake Us Now
Some Biblical virtues mirror God's character, but this one -- thankfulness -- exalts God's character. Thankfulness promotes humility in us and strengthens our faith. ThankLESSness, by contrast, is an exceptionally dangerous sin.
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GOD ACTS! (Chapter 11) - The Disciples Were Called Christians
Awake Us Now
God’s Gospel Goes Global After Peter told the story of his vision and going to Joppa to the home of Cornelius, we read in Acts 11:18 that “… the believers in Jerusalem had no further objections and praised God saying, ‘So even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’” And now the barriers that had existed between the Jewish world and the non-Jewish world are down in a single moment. The believers in Jerusalem that had grown up as devout Jewish people had their eyes opened to understand the new age that God promised had arrived. AND God’s Gospel Goes...
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Armor of God #11 - Full Armor
Awake Us Now
We are to be strong in the Lord (with His strength), and to put on the full armor of God (His equipment), so that we are both prepared and equipped for spiritual warfare!
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Growing Gracefully: Kindness
Awake Us Now
Kindness is not weakness. Kindness reflects the character and strength of God, and is seen throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus should show that same character in their lives!
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Growing Gracefully: Forgiveness
Awake Us Now
Jesus not only taught the importance of forgiveness, He practiced it, even from the cross (Luke 23:43). The example of Jesus and the magnitude of His love changes people and gives them the power to forgive even the most bitter of enemies!
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Growing Gracefully: The Ultimate Indicator
Awake Us Now
Our devotion to the Living God is demonstrated in the way we love other people - including even our enemies. Genuine love is the truest expression of right doctrine (teaching) - and without love, the doctrine collapses.
info_outlineIn this message we will look at what the Scriptures have to say about marriage, analyze concerns and questions raised in our day, overview the cultural changes that have led to many questioning the value and benefit of marriage, and do so from a Christian worldview. We will also take a look at some secular contemporary research and what it indicates.
Common Reactions:
1. The culture has changed:
- Married Couples comprised:
1950 — 78% of all US households
2020 — 47% of all US households
- Living together before marriage:
1960’s — 5%
2020’s — 70%
- Recent analysis of the General Social Survey data tells us Americans’ happiness declined from the 1970s to the 2020s. Sam Peltzman, Professor emeritus, University of Chicago says one thing explains the most recent decline in overall happiness - the decline of marriage.
The data indicates the benefit of what the Bible has said all along. Genesis 2:18 “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” The literal Hebrew translation for the word helper is: “Helper equal to Him.” This is talking about two people who are complimentary to each other. Our Creator recognized we function better together.
2. Divorce makes me fear marriage:
- the spike in divorce rate have left an impression on the generation raised in one parent households.
3. Why not just live together?
- the Bible tells us to be faithful before and after marriage to our spouse.
- Couples who live together:
4-5 times more likely to break up than married couples
more likely to divorce once they do marry (by about 50%)
higher incidence of alcohol abuse, drug abuse and domestic violence
4. How can I know the right one? “Fall in like before you fall in love.” This means - find an individual who is like minded, who shares your faith, your values, your outlook on life, an individual who truly is a potential soulmate. Make sure that the person you choose as your life partner and spouse is one who holds like values and believes as you do.
5. I’m not sure marriage is for me: One does not need to feel pushed into marriage. In 1 Corinthians 7:7 Paul refers to the gift of celibacy saying, “I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.” God does not say everyone is to be married.
Contemporary Research: 2 books
⁃ “The Two-Parent Privilege” by Melissa S. Kearney Professor of Economics, University of Maryland 2023 - tells us that “Americans stopped getting married and started falling behind.” Her work has been printed in:
Wall Street Journal
New York Times
National Review
Atlantic Magazine
She offers a “provocative, data-driven case for marriage by showing how the institution’s decline has led to a host of economic woes…” She shows how children do better in a family where their parents are married to each other.
⁃ Education outcomes
⁃ Physical and mental health
⁃ Diminishes suicide possibility
⁃ Serves as a barrier to alcohol and drug use and child abuse
⁃ Impacts Teenage pregnancy and delinquency
She comes at this on the basis of solid economic data and what we can see happening in our culture today.
⁃ “Get Married” by Brad Wilcox Professor Sociology, University of Virginia 2024. Also published in the following:
⁃ Wall Street Journal
⁃ New York Times
⁃ National Review
⁃ Atlantic Magazine
Wilcox tells us, “When it comes to predicting overall happiness, a good marriage is far more important than how much education you get, how much money you make, how often you have sex and even how satisfied you are with your work.”
Pastor concludes with these thoughts: God created us, He speaks because He knows us and wants what is best for us. God invented marriage and He gives us guidance on how to have a truly blessed and God-pleasing marriage.
Malachi 2:15 says, “Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.”
Those are powerful, spirit-given words that we need to take to heart
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