Bible Study January 1, 2024

1 Corinthians 9:27 (LSB)

“I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

Happy New Year, hope you join in this year in these short studies of the scriptures.

Many people will make a list of resolutions for the new year. I am not one of those people who do but I congratulate those who do and stick to their list. One thing I remember hearing from a friend who said the gyms are crowded in January and begin to have less visitors in February. Discipline is difficult to maintain.

CNN in a poll said losing weight was the number one goal of many people surveyed. As a Christ Follower we should take aim at caring for our bodies and our minds. We should not neglect it either. We honor God in this way.

In 2024 I would encourage to learn more about God and our relationship to Him through His Son Jesus. As we care for our bodies which will decay do we care for our souls which endure? If we are going to be successful in our endeavor we must understand first of all we cannot do it alone – we need the help of the Holy Spirit. Our results will grow as we move closer to Him.

Where do you feel you need improvement? That is a good place to start. Take small steps, celebrate the victories and them take another step. Those extra pounds just didn’t show up one morning when you stepped on the scales. Here’s the bad news they will not melt off overnight but be disciplined in your effort. The same is true for building our relationship with Christ. We build on what we learn, our faith grows as we see improvement, better understanding. Be patient, stay the course, results will come.

You have the desire now discipline yourself and you will succeed.

God Bless.

Bible Study December 28, 2023

Matthew 5:14 – 16 (LSB)

““You are the light of the world. A city set on a [a]hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a [b]basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus talked about light on several occasions. In John 8:12 He says He is the light of the world here in Matthew during the Sermon on the Mount He says those listening are the light the light of the world.

If we are light in the world how do we how do we light up things and people around us? For example how can we light up our homes, our friends, our business associates, or even ourselves?

We light up the world by reflecting who Christ is in our lives. By being present with people when we talk to the, encourage them, speak a positive word to them.

Phillip Yancy has written several excellent books. A couple come to mind “What’s So Amazing About Grace” and “Rumors of Another World” I recommend both of them. I read the following as an example on how to turn the light off in another’s world.

An alcoholic friend of Philip Yancey once said to him:

“When I’m late to church, people turn around and stare at me with frowns of disapproval. I get the clear message that I’m not as responsible as they are. When I’m late to AA, the meeting comes to a halt and everyone jumps up to hug and welcome me. They realize that my lateness may be a sign that I almost didn’t make it. When I show up, it proves that my desperate need for them won out over my desperate need for alcohol.”

Reflect the light on someone who needs it.

God Bless.

Bible Study December 27, 2023

Philippians 1:21-24 (LSB)

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know what I will choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better, 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”

I read this somewhere I cannot remember where “You can achieve anything your mind can conceive.” I have always found this statement very intriguing for several reasons but most of all we must believe in something before we can see it to fruition.

At my age I still have goals not so much for myself I have been blessed with so much in my career, current opportunities at Asbury Chapel, opportunities to see America one of these days I am going to sit down and look back at all the states we have visited, driven through, or flown into. My goals now are to see things happen to other people and see them succeed.

I believe the difference between being able to succeed at anything is determined in our minds we need to see it first. For the next two weeks at Asbury Chapel we are going to look at the state of the church as I see it today. Then next week we are going to see what the scriptures say about the church. We need to know where we are before set out on a path to the future. Goals are only good if they precede vision.

What is present in our minds that are obstacles to moving forward. Maybe we have health issues that limit us but we think, plan, and share our ideas. We all have ideas but if unshared no one knows. Not every idea will work but yours just might or it might be the steppingstone to a greater one.

Use you mind’s eye to see the future, to see what can be accomplished and the route to get there.

God Bless.

Bible Study December 26, 2023

James 2:5 (LSB)

“Listen, my beloved brothers: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

We have all heard ministers, preachers, and televangelists give messages about a prosperity gospel. If you have enough faith God will give you greater blessings than the one who has less faith. I believe God supplies all our needs. He may even supply some of our wants. I will go on to say I believe God treats all people equally He has no favorites. He never promised us prosperity of stuff, but prosperity of our souls.

I look at professional athletes and recently Los Angeles signed two foreign players for contracts in excess of three hundred million dollars each. Personally I think that is ridiculous. Did they have faith, skill, luck, or did the team sell out to “win it all?” Do these two have more faith than others?

There are people of faith that have money, there are people of faith that have considerably less. It does not appear it is an indication of their faith. We cannot question God what does or what He wills.

However, faith is about a relationship with God, what we do with it, and how we grow it. He is an unlimited resource to provide for our needs and He has assured us He will do so. Faith is about relying on the source of our joy – God our creator. Our faith should overcome the things we have in our lives.

A relationship with Jesus is more valuable than all the stuff in the world.

God Bless.

Bible Study December 23, 2023

Luke 2:1-20

The True Meaning of Christmas

In today’s day and time,

It’s easy to lose sight,

Of the true meaning of Christmas

And one special night.

When we go shopping,

We say, “How much will it cost?”

Then the true meaning of Christmas,

Somehow becomes lost.

Amidst the tinsel, glitter

And ribbons of gold,

We forget about the child,

Born on a night so cold.

The children look for Santa

In his big, red sleigh

Never thinking of the child

Whose bed was made of hay.

In reality,

When we look into the night sky,

We don’t see a sleigh

But a star, burning bright and high.

A faithful reminder,

Of that night so long ago,

And of the child we call Jesus,

Whose love the world would know.

–By Brian K. Walters

Bible Study December 22, 2023

Proverbs 11:24 (LSB)

“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who holds back what is rightly due, and yet results only in want.”

This is an interesting verse when we initially look at it. The belief of a Christ Follower is that you cannot out give God. In our last church we had a member who consistently said that he was correct.

The more you give of yourself, your means, or your talents the greater the blessing will come back to you. It sounds strange to give and receive greater than you gave but that is the principle of sowing and reaping.

It is Christmastime 2023 and many are in the gift buying and gift giving mode. That is wonderful it is a wonderful time of the year. But do we need more? Every year we exchanged gifts with my nieces and nephews. Cindy and I were asked what do you want and our answer invariably was “Nothing, we have all we need and we have no wants.”

This year we are doing something different with our Christmas Eve offering at Asbury Chapel. In the past we have made it available to help someone in the community. This year we are giving one hundred percent of it to a family who have a son with a serious heart condition. They will be traveling to Boston on January 10^th for another surgery. The costs are exorbitant as you might expect.

If you have some money this year that you have not spent and you would like to contribute it to their expense you may send a check to Asbury Chapel 2704 South Highway W in Foley, MO. 63347. Mark it Christmas Eve if you would. I realize it is Christmas and money may be tight this year but Solomon said “One who scatters, increases all the more.

The blessing will last forever.

God Bless.

Bible Study December 21, 2023

Proverbs 19:8 (LSB)

“He who acquires a heart of wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps discernment will find good.”

You cannot walk out of a grocery store without being inundated with a menagerie of magazines espousing popularity, wealth, style, pictures of beautiful people, or those making headlines for their next divorce, movie, etc. You know what I am talking about.

This is hardly the picture of true success as a Christian views it. Christ Followers see it much differently. In fact we should consider excellence over success any day. People spend their lives trying to make the magazine covers and in the end it is a futile attempt at success.

The scriptures outline the significance of what we should attain in our lives. We find it in knowing God and who He is then going about doing His work. It is a more excellent way. Our identity should be found in Him who created us in His image for His good works.

There is nothing in the world more valuable than being a child of God. When we see others like God see them then as His creation in His image then we recognize true worth.

Let our values shape who we are.

God Bless.

Bible Study December 20, 2023

Romans 12:3 (LSB)

“For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Michael Jackson released the song “Man in the Mirror” in 1998. Following is an excerpt from that song:

I’m starting with the man in the mirror

I’m asking him to change his ways

And no message could’ve been any clearer

If they wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change

The meaning behind the song is about personal change as a result of looking at ourselves in the mirror of life. Jackson’s intent was for it to make a positive impact on the world by our changing what we saw. The lyrics were intended for man to make a positive change in his life to start.

That is all well and good if man could change himself but he simply cannot without God in the picture. Sure there are things many people can do but life changing situations need God to give the strength, the desire, and the help needed to change. Man on his own cannot make do it alone.

We may look at ourselves as special but without God we are not special He is the one that makes us special from conception to the end of our lives it is about who He forms us into if we are willing to be formed. It starts by looking in the mirror at who we really are then seeking the One who can remake us in His image.

A mirror only reflects what it sees the heart is the true picture of who we are.

God Bless.