Bible Study March 13, 2025

“Two Become One (But It Takes Work)”

Genesis 2:21 – 2 ” 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.” (ESV).

When we look at marriage we wonder what it really is. Genesis 2 gives us a good beginning picture: two shall become one. God instituted marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Biblical marriage is between one man and one woman, period.

Marriage is a covenant between a man and woman with God at the center of a Christian marriage. The writer of Hebrews said marriage is an honorable thing among all. In Matthew 19:5 we see  “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” They create an intimate bond with each other.

A marriage should be centered with both love and obedience. Paul telling the Ephesians this:   “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”

Marriage should be permanent at least that is the picture painted by scripture. The divorce rate has lowered from ten percent to seven percent as recently as 2022. But why do some marriages fail and others thrive? There are multiple reasons but four primary ones I see are: finances, infidelity, communication and commitment.

People struggle financially living beyond their means and that creates financial problems in a marriage, all financial decisions must be discussed that involve major cash expenditures. Avoid credit cards. If you use one pay it off monthly. If you struggle with financial issues follow Dave Ramsey and his podcast you will benefit greatly.

Infidelity – a second issue I see. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and off the drawings of the things around you, there are some places and things that you just do not do to avoid temptation. We know what they are we must follow what we know is right and acceptable in God’s eyes.

Communication – talk things out. There is no better way to live than communicating with one another, it will avoid long term conflict. Be willing to be a listener and listen without thinking about the next way you are going to respond with. I once had a zone director who never listened he always was thinking about how to respond I had no respect for his actions.

And lastly stay committed. In today’s world commitment seems to be outdated. There is nothing wrong with compromise. Marriage is not a 50 / 50 relationship it is giving more than you take and you find that you get more than you thought.

Paul gives us the true picture of marriage – Christ’s union with the church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Bible Study March 12, 2025

“Do We Count the Cost”

13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:1-2 (ESB)

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:10 (ESV).

We celebrated my fathers-in-law’s life at a graveside service last Saturday. The morning at 11:30 was a beautiful day and many friends and family joined in the celebration. I was given the task to say “a few words” at his request. He had asked me to do this when my mother-in-law passed away last year. As I prepared those “few words” I thought about the care he gave to Cindy’s mom.

I have a tough time doing these services and even harder for Cindy’s parents. It’s like “can this cup pass from me” although not as difficult as the one placed before Jesus.

As we begin the Advent season in the church world I thought about what it means to count the cost in all we do. Do we place a value on the things we do such as caring for one another, what am I willing to give that others may have a need fulfilled, or what’s in it for me if anything?

Jesus gave His all His life. I often think about what we give. I shared this last Sunday in my morning message to Asbury Chapel. This is from Tony Evans. “Paul contrasts this to being filled with wine. we are to be intoxicated with alcohol but intoxicated with the spirit, coming under the influence and governance of God in our daily lives. This will not happen if Christians merely sip from the spirit on Sundays. such limited engagement will not lead to changed lives.”

We can only learn to live by practicing our Christian faith throughout the week. One day a week will not do it. What are we willing to give to change the world, or bringing it closer to home what am I willing to do for that person in need. Jesus calls us to go. I once said He may ask you to go to an uncomfortable place such as across the tracks, I must answer the question “What am I willing to do?
God Bless.

Bible Study March 11, 2025

“Lenten Sacrifices”

23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (English Standard Version)

I shared the following at our last Church Board Meeting. I thought it was an interesting read for the Lenten season of worship and sacrifice.

A Lenten sacrifice is when a Christian voluntarily gives up a pleasure during Lent.

“Jesus would probably laugh.

One of the best sermons I ever heard about Lent came form a priest who took a whole new approach to the idea of giving things up for Lent.

“Jesus would probably laugh at us for giving up the things like chocolate, beer, coffee … all things that actually bring us joy and make us happy.

What He might suggest is giving up the things that make us miserable in God’s Paradise.

The things like self-doubt, insecurities, jealousy, greed, and anger.

The things that move us away from the Light.

Honor His sacrifice by giving up the darkness in your life.”

Think about it.

What if everyone was willing to give up self-doubt, insecurities, jealousy, greed, and gossip? How would our nation look different than today. How would our families look different? What if we added to this list conceit, the desire to have our way all the time, divorce, being a workaholic to name a few additional thoughts.

What if our national leaders (who we elect) were to work together rather than fight amongst themselves failing to do what they were selected to do?

What if, a good question to ponder during this season. What actions would follow?
God Bless.

Bible Study March 10, 2025

“Deceit”

Jeremiah 17:9 “”The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”.

This verse is often used to describe the depravity of the human heart. In our Monday evening Bible study we have been looking at the book of Genesis. We have seen Abraham lie on two occasions about Sarah being his sister rather than his wife because of her beauty. God had made amazing promises to Abraham but he still lied.  Those same promises followed Isaac his son. Then his son Isaac does the same thing. Then Jacob, Isaac’s son is deceived by his uncle.

The scriptures are filled with people who are not perfect. In fact only one perfect man ever walked this earth was Jesus Himself. I believe scripture teaches what it does to let us know as far as sin is concerned no one is to far gone for God to intervene in their lives and offer hope if they ask.

As we look at the scriptures we see the heart is representative of the mind, the will, and the inner self. This is the place where a person’s desires are first formulated and if acted upon can bring destruction if acted upon wrongly.

I also think this verse tells us something about putting too much emphasis on feelings. To many people follow – their feelings that result in their actions. If we were to be led by the power of the Holy Spirit then we take our feelings out of the picture.

We must search our heart then follow what our heart guides us to do. By doing this we find ourselves living in far greater peace than we do by following our own actions. However, it is not something that comes without seeking the Spirit. We are too accustomed to following our own desires.

The verse also describes the Lord searching the heart and mind to reward people according to their actions. This is the only true way we live in complete we will ever be happy is to allow God to become our master.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 7, 2025

”Hallelujah, It’s All New”

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The first things passed away.”

There is nothing second best with God. He made Adam a perfect man in all ways and he sinned and fell from grace. All through the Old Testament we see people like Noah, Abrahm, Isaac, the Israelite children yet God is there to make a new way for them.

Noah got drunk but he appears in Hebrews in the chapter on faith (Hebrews 11) Abraham lied (more than once), Isaac lied they both about their wives being their sisters because they were beautiful women, yet God blessed them. There are countless times when the people of His nation failed and He brought them back. The same is true for us today. No matter how bad you think you have done things He can make all things new.

We have all heard a person say the walls of the church would fall down if I entered the building. Here is a secret – no church walls have ever fallen down when someone walks into a church that I am aware of.  

John writing above gives us glimpse of the “new things” to come our way. God is not in the business of remaking the old into something new. He is in the business of making the old pass away and that which He has created to be made new.

Don’t settle for second best when you can have new.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 6, 2025

“Unlimited Power of the Holy Spirit”

Acts 1:6 – 8 (ESV)

6 “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The scriptures teach us of the Trinity the Farther, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person and Jesus even referred to Him as our advocate. Taken from the Greek it can mean “intercessor” or “counselor.” Some refer to the Holy Spirit as one’s conscience.

The scripture above gives us Jesus’ last words prior to His returning to the Heavenly Father. Power in the Greek is “dunamis” where we get our word dynamite. That alone should indicate power.

In the New Testament, the Spirit came upon the virgin Mary, and she conceived the Son of God (Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:18). The Spirit also descended on Jesus “like a dove” when he was baptized by John (Matthew 3:16) and later led him into the desert to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). Before his crucifixion, Jesus promised his believers, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

The scriptures reveal when we repent and believe in Christ as our savior, we receive the Holy Spirit within us. As the apostle Paul explained in Ephesians 1:13-14,  

What does the Holy Spirit do in one’s life?

• The Holy Spirit is active in our world. He is our helper.
• He helps us in our prayers and intercedes with God (8:26 -27)
• He brings comfort along with hope (Romans 15:13)
• He gives us the words to say when persecuted (Luke 12:11-12 )
• He also gives us spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
• He also shows unbelievers Truth along with the nature of sin (John 16:8).

In short, he teaches, convicts, guides, leads, and equips us, enabling us to accomplish God’s will in ways we cannot do on our own.

Christ Followers are blessed with a mighty gift — the power of the Holy Spirit.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 5, 2025

“Friends – Not the TV Show”

“A friend loves at all times…” (Proverbs 17:17a)

Let me encourage you to read the seventeenth chapter of Proverbs. What insightful wisdom is found there.

I thought about friends as we gathered last evening for the visitation for Cindy’s dad. Society gives us a very unclear picture of who our friends really are. I never watched a complete show of  “Friends” the TV show. What I did see was something that is way beyond any expectations of six people living together.

Art was a member of a flying club in St. Charles that flew model airplanes. He began flying, building his own models, competing in competitions, even going to Europe to compete. He told me one day he built a glider with a one-hundred – eight inch wingspan. Many of his flying friends visited last evening along with neighbors, friends, family, and those of our friends who stopped by.

As I reflect on the friends we have made living in different areas I cherish those memories but most of all I cherish the friendships that have been made from Richmond, Virginia to southern California. We have been blessed beyond measure.

I almost wrote “blessed beyond expectations” but I changed it. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us”.

We live below our expectations of what God do for us and what He is waiting to do. You might ask why doesn’t He do it without our asking? You would be amazed at what He does for us that we never realize and often forget to thank Him for. How many times have you avoided an accident because of delay or changing your route? How many times do we hear of someone missing a flight only to hear of a catastrophic event take place. Those are ones we do not know about.

So what is wrong with asking God to bless your day, to bring people into your path that need encouragement, what about those who need a little financial help and you have the means to help them out? “You have not because you ask not” is a Bible verse from James 4:2. It means that if you don’t have something, it might be because you haven’t asked God for it.

What is the application here. Look at these four things:

• This verse is often quoted when people are praying and believing God for something.
• It’s a reminder that God expects people to ask for things.
• It’s a reminder that people should communicate their needs and desires to others.
• It’s a reminder that people should ask with godly intentions, not worldly intentions.

God bless your asking, seeking, and believing.