http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/crucified-with-christ/
Living Love by Dr. Gary Chapman
Strong Words It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save. —ISAIAH 63:1 The religious leaders thought they had finally trapped Jesus. Perhaps smugly, they brought out a woman who had been caught in adultery. They exposed her sin publicly, knowing their law required the death penalty for such a woman. Yet Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." At that, the leaders began to walk away, and only Jesus was left with the woman.He said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?""No one, sir," she answered."Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus said. "Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:7-11).Jesus had every right to wield his power and boast of his perfection that day. Yet consider the kindness in his words. He helped the accusers gain a bigger perspective: Every one of us is a sinner. It is not our place to judge another person. God is the Judge. Then Jesus spoke words of kindness to the woman. He did not condone her sin, but he offered her a chance to choose a better life. Jesus's words were quietly powerful because of the love behind them.We can learn a lot from Jesus's example. If we wait until the people around us rise to a higher standard before we speak words of kindness, we may never speak. But if we take every opportunity to show the power of kind words, God can work through us to change lives.
Thought When you are tempted to think kindness shows weakness, remember that God shows his power through kind words.
The Daily Reading Bible
The Daily Reading Bible is an all-in-one resource and a good way to get started or keep going in your daily reading of the Bible.
This 3rd volume contains 60 readings looking at Genesis 1-11, 2 Thessalonians, Hebrews 1-7 and the topic of ‘Jesus, the Coming One’. Each reading is designed to take around 15-20 minutes, and contains:
- the full text of the Bible passage for that reading
- some questions to get you thinking
- some ‘points to ponder’ and
- some ideas to get you started in prayer.
It's all in one booklet that you can take with you anywhere—on the train or bus, to uni to read in between classes, to work for your lunch break, to the park or at home.
If you would like a copy of this book talk to your bible study leader or visit Pilgrim Books (3 Church St, Bathurst). If you struggle with reading the bible or getting into a routine maybe you could ask a friend or 2 to meet up with you during the week and read the bible and go through the questions in this book over a cup of coffee. It's amazing how the bible can transform your life and how much closer to God you become when you actually read His word!
Prayer at Bible Study
Bible study starts up again this week. Jeff's group is going to start with a study on prayer this Thursday night.
I've noticed I often pray for the same thing each week at bible study because it's easy and it means I don't have to go into the details of what I really need prayer for. This year I'm going to challenge myself to think of different prayer points and to share them instead of the mundane everyday things that I have been saying each week. And if I can't think of anything I need to ask God for I want to thank Him for the good things in my life – for the sun coming up each day, for a friend, for my job, for the opportunity to talk to Him and the freedom we have in doing so, for His love and for the relationship we can have with Him because of what Jesus did on the cross. And if I can't think of anything to pray for, have I really been listening and taking in what bible study was on that night? There should always be something to pray for after studying the bible for an hour and a half!
I'm looking forward to learning to be a better pray-er. What about you? Do you want to join me in my challenge?
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Bible Study
Bible studies are starting back next week. Have a chat with your leader if you want to change groups or if you have any suggestions etc. If you haven't already you'll probably hear from your leader in the next few days about whats happening.
We're all tempted to do something other than go to bible study. You may be tired or have an assignment or you've had an offer to do something else, but it would be great if people could make a commitment to coming each week, a commitment to preparing for the study and turning up on time and join with each other to worship and study God's word.
So have a think and a pray about where you're at with bible study and see where God leads you.
Our Small Groups underpin the way we try to build community at church. They are a key part of the way we seek to care for and get to know people within our church family. They are a way for us to reach out beyond our usual age/stage/lives. They are also an important forum for feeding on God’s word in a more in depth manner than Sundays
Bible study is a great way to learn more from God's word - to dig deeper into the bible, to develop relationships with other Christians, to be encouraged and to encourage. If we all went to bible study with the attitude of wanting to get something out it then it probably wouldn't work as a ministry. But if you change your attitude and ask yourself what can I put into the group, how can I help others, we will all probably get more out of the study time.
We're all tempted to do something other than go to bible study. You may be tired or have an assignment or you've had an offer to do something else, but it would be great if people could make a commitment to coming each week, a commitment to preparing for the study and turning up on time and join with each other to worship and study God's word.
So have a think and a pray about where you're at with bible study and see where God leads you.
The Power to Love
I receive an email called Living Love by Gary Chapman every couple of weeks. He writes about different ways we can love each other because of the love we have been given by Jesus Christ. Gary Chapman wrote the book The Five Love Languages as well as The Love as a Way of Life and The Love as a Way of Life Devotional. I thought today's email was very appropriate..... Galatians 2:20.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. —GALATIANS 2:20
Most of the world's religions are based on human effort. Some religions encourage editation and the repetition of mantras designed to free the mind of selfish desires. Other religions emphasize giving alms or repeating prayers or making a pilgrimage. But as Christians, we know that we can never do good and love others in our own power. We are morally flawed, and left to our own devices, we will be inwardly focused. We will seek our own happiness and not what is best for those around us.Knowing the reality of our weaknesses, we can find great freedom in realizing that the key to becoming a loving person lies not with us but with God. It is God's love that we seek to share, not a love manufactured on our own. It is God's Spirit who pours love into us and enables us to give to others (see Romans 5:5). And it is Christ's life, death, and resurrection that give us a new perspective on life. That radical perspective focuses not on self but on our Creator. We have more than enough love to offer others because behind everything that exists in the universe is a personal God who loves us and wants to express his love through us.
Prayer Holy Spirit, I want to receive your love and express that love to others.
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