14 Weeks – 12/08/2014 to 3/13/2015
Overview: If you were describe who you are in one to several, words, how would you do it? Yet, that was the task of our 14 week series, “Jesus is…” on CrossHope from the New Testament book of Hebrews. The Hebrew writer was very descriptive of Jesus by the phrases he used about the life and ministry of Jesus.
It’s safe to say, there is no one like Jesus! The words and phrases used to describe Jesus are not only unique, they are exclusive. No one could ever be depicted in the terms he used, other than the Messiah, the Way, the truth and the life.
In chapter one, Jesus is the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being”. Pretty exclusive to say the least, isn’t it? In chapter two, He is the “author of salvation” and the “One who makes men holy”. In Jewish culture, no one is held in higher regard than Moses. Yet, in chapter three Jesus is referred to as “greater than Moses”.
In chapter four, He is the “great high Priest” and “without sin”. And so it goes through the entire book until the last chapter where Jesus is depicted as the “same yesterday, today, and forever!” Jesus is unlike anyone else! That’s the One we call people to, week after week. God bless you as you listen to this series.
JESUS IS…
Week 14 – 03/09/2015
Unchangeable
Hebrews 13:7-8
Overview: One of the most remarkable phrases used to describe Jesus is in the last chapter of the book of Hebrews. It simply says this: “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever!” Can you imagine any man or woman you know saying that? No, not at all! And yet the writer of Hebrews says that exact phrase in describing Jesus. If that statement is true, that must mean there is something “unchangeable” about Him. That’s right; that is what we discuss all this week in the last message of this series.
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – The writer begins the passage by talking about “remembering your leaders who spoke the word of God to you.” The word “leaders” has to do with anyone of influence in your life. It was term used to describe a military officer, a teacher, a community leader or pastor. I’d like to think we could stretch the term to cover fathers and mothers who have had influence in our lives.
Tuesday – Part Two – What if the verse said, “Remember your father or mother who spoke the word of God to you?” If you’re a parent, what would your children say about you in terms of spiritual influence in your life? A parent is to have such an influence on their children, that your personal life is a reflection of the word of God that’s in your life or isn’t!
Wednesday – Part Three – My dad was honest to a fault! Listen to the story today that I share. But having said that, his honesty in little things of life was an indicator of his honesty in the big things! The first thing that is unchangeable about the Lord is that His Lordship and authority hasn’t changed. Jesus claimed that all power and authority had been given to Him. That is completely radical to say that, especially if it isn’t true. Yet Jesus said it with humility. Why? It was true!
Thursday – Part four –The second unchangeable thing about the Lord is this: His love and mercy haven’t changed. How does He love now? Look at the Jesus of the New Testament. How does He show mercy now? Look at the Christ of the New Testament. We look at a story from Luke where Jesus showed mercy and love to a woman with a reputation. It speaks to you and me in 2015!
Friday – Part Five – In 1998-1999, many post offices in the United States had “reverse clocks” in the lobbies. It would state the months, weeks, days, and hours left until January 1, 2000. Do you remember that? I do. What if you had a clock that in your home, stating how many days and hours you had left? Would it make any difference how you lived or how you treat others? I think it would. Jesus is the only one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do you know Him?
JESUS IS…
Week 13 – 03/02/2015
Unshakeable
Text: Hebrews 12:28-29
Overview: Everything in our world is shakable! The earth itself, national economies, world peace, health, job security… You name it. But there is one thing the Bible says that is unshakeable. It is the Kingdom of God! We are a part of what the Hebrew writer calls the “unshakeable Kingdom”. It’s unshakable because Jesus is unshakeable. If that’s true, we need to be a part of that which cannot be shaken.
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin with the story of the October 17, 1989 earthquake in California that happened during the World Series. It was the first earthquake ever to be televised on national television. Called the Loma-Prieta earthquake, 63 people lost their lives, 3,700 people were injured, and many were left homeless. Nothing in this world we live in is unshakeable. Yet, Hebrews 12:28 says that we are part of an unshakeable Kingdom. No matter what happens in a shakable world, the Kingdom of God isn’t!
Tuesday – Part Two – The writer of Hebrews says that “since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably.” Gratitude precedes worship! It takes a grateful man or woman to worship the Lord. Ungrateful people have trouble worshiping the Lord. We talk about what that means in your life and mine. (Gratitude is actually a sign of character!)
Wednesday – Part Three – What does it mean to worship God with reverence and awe? It really means to acknowledge everything God is and everything we’re not. Some look upon God as a benevolent grandfather whose only job is to hand out blessings. He’s more than that, He’s a consuming fire! We’ll talk about what that means in our lives in 2015.
Thursday – Part four – Your vision of whom and what God is will determine how you worship Him. He is to be worshiped with reverence and awe because He is a consuming fire, meaning a God of judgment and righteousness. Most people ironically put their trust in the “shakable” things of life, rather than in the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Friday – Part Five – We conclude with a story we began on Thursday about a fire in southern California where two firemen rescue a woman and jump into her backyard pool to literally save their lives. What the woman says about the experience just may impact your life in a powerful way. She tells of thoughts going through her mind, thinking her life was over. Don’t miss her statement made on national television.
JESUS IS…
Week 12 – 02/23/2015
The Blessing
Text: Hebrews 11:20-27
Overview: Jesus is not only the blessing of our lives; He empowers us and even authorizes us to be a blessing in the lives of those closest to us. Are you married? Did you know you have the capacity to bless your spouse in ways you’re not even aware of? Are you a parent? Did you know that part of God’s blessing in your life is to enable you to speak blessings into the lives of your children? According to Hebrews 11:20-27, we can impact the future lives of the people we bless! It’s an incredible idea, one that may new to you….. Until this week!
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We define the word “blessing” in today’s program. It’s more than just saying “good luck” or “best to you”. It’s actually affirming spiritual truth and reality in the lives of those we bless. We are actually authorized to bless our children and grandchildren! Most people don’t even know that! According to the Hebrew writer, we actually touch the future of our children’s’ lives with the blessings we place upon them.
Tuesday – Part Two – We affirm (bless) our children athletically, educationally, medically, and emotionally. And yet, most parents never think to bless or affirm their children spiritually. It’s just not even on the radar of our lives to do so. I share a story out of my own life that I have never shared at another church about my father’s affirmation or blessing in my life. It has to do with what’s happened in my life in terms of ministry.
Wednesday – Part Three – Today we talk about the importance of grandparents blessing their grandchildren. You have the authority as a grandparent to speak blessing into the lives of a grandson or granddaughter. According to Hebrews 11:21, Jacob blessed his grandsons while he was dying! He spoke spiritual blessings into their futures! The implications of that are astounding!
Thursday – Part Four – Today we talk about verse 27 that speaks of Moses able to endure life, because he saw the invisible. What does that actually mean? It means he could see the spiritual realm and the warfare that goes on all around you and me, your family, and your community! What would happen if you and I could see the “invisible”?
Friday – Part Five – We close the message with a true story from the 1989 earthquake that happened in Armenia. It was four minutes long and it took the lives of 30,000 people! Max Lucado tells the story of a father searching tirelessly for a son buried in the ruble. 38 hours after starting, he found his son alive. What the son said to his dad will powerfully impact your life. It did mine!
Jesus Is…
Week 11 – 02/16/2015
To Be Believed
Hebrews 11:1-7
Overview: Words have power. That’s why words can be misused and abused. Words such as love and faith commonly are abused today. We talk about the abuse of the word faith in particular. Faith isn’t simply believing that God is; faith is believing in what He says, today in 2015. All this week we study the chapter in the book of Hebrews that is often referred to as the “hall of fame of faith”. It’s chapter 11 beginning at verse one.
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin with referencing an article about the seven most expressive words in the English language; then followed that up with the same author referred to as the seven saddest words in the English language. I came up with my own list of the seven most abused words in our language. After the word love, I suggest that the second most abused word is the word faith. To most people, faith is connected to believing in ourselves or in possibilities. Faith is taking God at His word! Why? God is to be believed!
Tuesday – Part Two – Did you know that God is speaking in a very real sense every time His word is read? That’s why the proclaimer of God’s word speaks with power, not a power of his or her own, but from the Lord Himself! Faith is always connected to the invisible; invisible with a capital I. You may struggle with that concept, but have you ever seen electricity or the wind? There are things in life that are “invisible” that we have no trouble accepting. You and I either believe in the God of creation or we believe that “creation” is God.
Wednesday – Part Three – We talk about a concept that many are not familiar with. Verse 7 of Hebrews 11 says that “by faith, Noah condemned the world through his belief in what God said.” Noah is the first person in the Bible to be “tagged” with the term righteous. Was it because of some great deed that he accomplished for the Lord? Not really, it was simply because of this: He actually believed God! What are the implications for you and me in 2015?
Thursday – Part Four – Anytime you demonstrate a belief in the Lord, you just may generate “resentment” from other people. Why? Simply because of your faith in the Lord, sometimes people intuitively are offended by that. They may not even know why, they’re just offended by the One you believe in. We reread this passage in the “Message Version” of the New Testament by Eugene Peterson. It says that Noah became “intimate” with God by simply doing one thing: believing in what God said!
Friday – Part Five – We close with a powerful story told by a missionary I knew who ministered in Pakistan many years ago. It’s the story about the tragic death of another missionary’s daughter in a freak accident and the faith that was manifested by the mother of the daughter. This story will have a profound impact upon you as it did me. Ultimately, it’s about believing God about life and death. Sooner or later, we will be faced with the decision to believe about what God says about hope in death.
JESUS IS…
Week 10 – 02/09/2015
Serious About Sin
Hebrews 10:26-31
Overview: What is it in your life that you take seriously? Your health, perhaps? How about your economic situation? Your marriage? How about the sin that’s in your life and mine? Do we take that seriously? Jesus does. It cost Him His life on a cross. That’s no small thing. That’s what we talk about all this week as we discuss the three things that continual, willful, and deliberate sin does in our lives according to Hebrews 10:26-31.
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin by sharing a story about people who are offended, just by the public reading of certain passages of the Bible. At the couple’s request, I read from the New Testament book of Ephesians at a wedding. Afterward a woman verbally assaulted me for doing so. It’s both funny and sad at the same time to hear what she said.
Tuesday – Part Two – Seven years ago, I heard from a missionary and his wife who had been in Kenya, Africa since the mid 70’s. They spoke of the culture shock of coming back to the United States after almost four decades. Their greatest cultural jolt may surprise you! Then again, maybe it won’t!
Wednesday – Part Three – According to the Hebrew writer, continual, willful, and deliberate sin that we commit after coming to Christ is to “trample the Son of God under our feet”. The modern translation of that phrase is this: We treat the Son of God like dirt! Most people understand that picture! We also treat the holy as if it were unholy!
Thursday – Part Four – The third thing we do when we sin deliberately and continually as a believer is to “insult the Holy Spirit!” Have you ever been significantly insulted by someone you know. Most people have. What happens when we insult the Spirit of the Living God? The answer may surprise you.
Friday – Part Five – We close with a quote by Dr. Steve Hooks, a great Bible scholar who says most Americans prefer to believe in a God who is a “heavenly patsy” and a “sucker for a sob story”. He believes that people prefer to think of God as a “cosmic caterer” who dishes out health and wealth. That’s not the God of the Bible. We’ll read the passage that totally contradicts that concept!
JESUS IS…
Week 9 – 02/02/2015
Approachable
Hebrews 10:22-25
Overview: Have you ever known someone that you felt was unapproachable? We all have. Perhaps someone thinks of you or me in that way. Hebrews 10:22 exhorts us to “draw near to God”. What does that mean? To draw near means to approach. All this week we talk about how we approach the living Lord in our everyday lives. What we share just may surprise you!
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We share (humorously) about the first time I met my wife; she seemed to me to be very unapproachable. I didn’t stand a chance, in my mind. Every attempt at approaching her was rebuffed or dismissed! We introduce the text of the week from Hebrews 10:22-25. God is very approachable! He demonstrates it in who He is and what He has done.
Tuesday – Part Two – How do we approach or “draw near” to God? Every time we pray, every time we worship, every time we open His word, every time we share communion, we approach Him. When’s the last time you “approached” or drew near to the Lord God Almighty. What is it that interferes with you approaching Him?
Wednesday – Part Three – We discuss verse 23 that admonishes us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”. Everything about Christianity is connected to “hope”. People often feel hopeless about their marriages, their families, and their futures. Maybe you do, too! We talk about that.
Thursday – Part Four – We illustrate the text about “spurring one another on to love and good deeds” by sharing a powerful story about a Vietnam era pilot who survived because of a parachute packed by a lowly sailor. Year later, they met face to face. That pilot was humbled meeting the one who was instrumental in his survival. Who has packed your “parachute”? We talk about what that question means.
Friday – Part Five – Mutual encouragement is a command of this scripture in verses 24 and 25. Who are the people that have encouraged you because first of all, they were approachable? Have you encouraged anyone in the last month or year? Are you approachable? If not, why not? Are you an encourager? If not, why not?
JESUS IS…
Week 8 – 01/26/2015
Certain!
Hebrews 9:24-28
Overview: We live in an uncertain world. Nothing is certain in your health, your career, or even in your family life. Is anything certain at all? Yes and those certainties are addressed by the passage we study this week in Hebrews 9. Four things are certain, because Jesus is certain!
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin with discussing the three most common questions I have been asked in the ministry. These are the most common questions I have been asked in Columbus, Dallas, Atlanta, and now in the Dayton/Cincinnati area. In order they are: 1) what about cremation, 2) what happens at death, and 3) what about reincarnation. We read the text from Hebrews that speaks to the third question, in particular.
Tuesday – Part Two – We share the statement regarding the certainty of death. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment….” There is no negotiation about death. It is inevitable for us all. How depressing! It may be, but one doesn’t really live life until they face the certainty of death.
Wednesday – Part Three – That forgiveness is certain is the topic of today’s program. The death of Christ for the sins of the world includes your sins and mine. The death of Christ is not only personal; it can be offensive to some. Why? Intuitively, people know that if Jesus died for the sins of the world that must mean I am a sinner. That offends!
Thursday – Part Four – Today on CrossHope, I tell a story about a story. Stories can have an impact on people’s lives just as they have had on you or me. This is what happened when I shared a story about an astronaut in the Space Shuttle program. Hearing this story brought a man to tears because the astronaut’s story was his story as well.
Friday – Part Five – Everyone has a “window of time” called your life. What are you doing with the window God has given you? Who are the people in your life that need to know the four things that are certain in this passage from Hebrews? We are called not only to believe in the certainty of Christ, but also to share His certainty with those who live with nothing but uncertainty.
JESUS IS…
Week 7 – 01/19/2015
The Guarantor
Text: Hebrews 7:22-25
Overview: If you are a parent, you may have had to cosign a loan for one of your children. You were known as the “guarantor” of the loan. According to the Hebrew writer, Jesus is the “guarantee” of a better covenant. We are in a covenant relationship with God the Father. God the Son is the guarantee or guarantor of that relationship, through His death on the cross!
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers in Jesus Christ. They understood “covenant language”, meaning terms and phrases that referred to the covenant God had with the nation of Israel. We also have a covenant relationship with God the Father, through the Son of God who established a covenant with us through His death on the cross. Is that important? You better believe it!
Tuesday – Part Two – The word for guarantee in the King James Version of the Bible is the word “surety”. Surety is a word that refers to someone who assumes responsibility for a person’s debts or obligations. Jesus assumed responsibility for your sin and mine! How, you say? By taking our sin upon Himself on the cross at a place called Calvary.
Wednesday – Part Three – You have got to believe that God has the power to save you from your sin. Doesn’t everyone believe that? No, many believe God can save everyone else but not them. That can be a form of arrogance or pride to believe that. We share two powerful stories that speak to this issue.
Thursday – Part Four – Have you ever felt that someone was such a big sinner, that he or she could never be forgiven? We talk about that and God’s power and capacity to forgive people like you and me. Hebrews says that Jesus is able to save completely or utterly those who come to God the Father through Him.
Friday – Part Five – We conclude with a story of a man finding out that a person he helped in junior high school was planning to commit suicide until he offered his help. He never knew his act of kindness saved a life! Perhaps we don’t comprehend that our sharing the Gospel with others saves lives, whether we realize it or not! We have been called to introduce people to the “guarantor” of a better covenant.
JESUS IS…
Week 6 – 01/12/2015
The Source
Hebrews 5:7-10
Overview: What do you consider as your source in life? An employer? The government? Your bank account or career? According to the passage we study in Hebrews this week, Jesus is called the “source of eternal salvation” to all those who obey Him. If that’s true, then He’s also the source for the small stuff in life, as well as the big stuff. The One who provides for all eternity is involved in providing for my here and now.
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin by talking about a woman who lived in a one room apartment and was facing terminal illness. She called herself a “prayer warrior”, and hoped for God to keep her alive, just so she could pray for other people! What would motivate you to pray for a longer life? Jesus prayed with intensity to the Father. Do we?
Tuesday – Part Two – Jesus prayed with fervency that most of us can’t even imagine. What brings about emotion or fervency in your life? Hebrews says that Jesus was heard, not because of His fervency, but because of His submission to the will of the Father. Prayer is about submitting our lives to the Father in every area of life. Easy to do? Not at all. Prayer is actually an “unnatural” activity.
Wednesday – Part Three – The passage says that Jesus learned obedience from what He suffered. That’s not very exciting in 2015, is it? You and I will never be closer to the Lord in our lives, then when we are going through suffering. Psalm 34 says that the “Lord is close to the broken hearted, and He saves those who are crushed in spirit.” We explain the difference between being broken hearted and crushed in spirit.
Thursday – Part Four – We share the story of a minister who despaired so much of life during one particular ministry. He prayed for the Lord to just “take my life”. What he felt the Lord say in response to that request may be something you and I need to hear today! You and I need to look to the Lord as the “source” in everything, period!
Friday – Part Five – We conclude with a story of a divorced, 56 year old man who allowed his 76 year old mother to move into his home in Florida. What happens in their relationship is the basis of our concluding remarks that are both humorous and convicting about our prayer life. How? Listen and you’ll find out! It has to do with the Lord being your source for everything!
JESUS IS…
Week 5 – 01/05/2015
The Word
Hebrews 4:12-13 & 2nd Timothy 3:16
Overview: You’ve undoubtedly seen a book with the promo tag on it, “This book will change your life!” Does it? Not necessarily. There is a book that will. We call it the Bible. We study he passage in Hebrews that talks about the power of the Word of God. It does what no other book does! This week we discover what and how that happens.
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin with a story about a man in Texas who ran into my office, told me he had 30-minutes for me to tell him what he “had to believe” in order to become a part of the church I was serving at the time. What I told him may surprise you. I may have been wrong. See what you think.
Tuesday – Part Two – We reread the text each day because it’s so powerful. Verse 12 says the word of God is alive and active. What does that mean? We talk about that today. It then compares the Bible to a “double edged sword”. That’s a phrase we don’t use today, but it has a powerful implication in your life and mine in 2015.
Wednesday – Part Three – The Bible can turn your life inside out! How? By prompting us to look not only at what we do, but what we think about doing. The Lord knows our thoughts, actions, and dreams! Everything in our lives is laid bare before the One we must someday give an account of our lives.
Thursday – Part Four – Wintley Phipps is a talented singer who shares a story out of his wife’s past that is compelling. It’s a great illustration of the power of the word of God in a person’s life. What has the word of God done in your life? What could it do in 2015 if you yielded your life to its power?
Friday – Part Five – We read the text from the Message version of the New Testament, a para phrase of the passage. Part of it says this, “God means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, laying us open to listen and obey! Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s word!” If that’s true, what are the implications for your life and mine?
JESUS IS…
Week 4 – 12/29/2014
The Encourager
Hebrews 3:12-15
Overview: The missing element in many marriages, homes, and churches is the word encouragement. We all know people who are quick to discourage in any way they can, and perhaps don’t even know it. The Hebrew writer says we are to encourage one another daily. There is a spiritual element to encouragement that most Christians don’t recognize.
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin with a humorous story about famous football coach from UCLA, Pepper Rogers. It was a low point in his life emotionally. He talked about his need for encouragement, especially from the closest person in his life, his wife. Are you an encourager to the people close to you? If not, why not?
Tuesday – Part Two – We talk today about the phrase in our text, “today, if you hear His voice…”. Is it possible the Lord can speak to you through His word? The answer is yes! Can He speak through a speaker? Yes! Can He speak to you through another believer? Absolutely!
Wednesday – Part Three – According to author Chuck Swindoll, the lack of encouragement in our culture is epidemic. Swindoll believes we may never be more Christ like than when we encourage the downtrodden, the discouraged, or the disheartened. Our words can make the difference in someone giving up in life or keeping on.
Thursday – Part Four – Happy New Year! Today we talk about the deceitfulness of sin as described in Hebrews. In a nutshell, it’s this: Sin always promises life, but it always delivers death! Always? Yes, always. Just look at your own life and lives of people you know and love.
Friday – Part Five – We close with an emotional true story of a husband who is the source of encouragement to his wife. She’s just had surgery that left her mouth drooping on one side. What her husband said to her in those moments of discovery will touch your heart and make you realize the power of encouragement in a way you never knew possible. Encourage one another daily!
JESUS IS…
Week 3 – 12/22/2014
The Deliverer
Hebrews 2:14-18
Overview: Most people have some awareness that Jesus came to earth to deliver us from the guilt of our sin, through His death on the cross. But they’re not aware of the passage we study this week from Hebrews 4 that says that Jesus came for the express purpose of delivering people from their fear of death, which has held them in bondage all their lives! That’s what we talk about this Christmas week on CrossHope. What a gift!
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin with quoting a doctor who believes people can suffer from over 200 identified fears in life. Yet the Bible identifies only three fears: fear of God, fear of man, and fear of death. The fear of death is perhaps “underneath” many of our other fears in life. We read the text in Hebrews 4:9, 14-15.
Tuesday – Part Two – We review the first two messages of this series for a reason. They set up powerfully the message this week. In verse 9, it says that by the grace of God, Jesus “tasted death” for all of us. That means He experienced death in every way! He had an anticipatory experience of death, He languished in death, but death did not come quickly. He experienced that for everyone!
Wednesday – Part three – We talk about people who live everyday asking the “what if questions”. We quote an author who says that once we adopt this as a way of life, we “take out a second mortgage in the house of fear”! We either live in a house of fear, or in a house of faith! We close with one verse of “Silent Night”, appropriate for Christmas Eve!
Thursday – Part Four – Merry Christmas from all of us at CrossHope Radio! This message was given on World Leprosy Sunday. We talk about a famous priest who ministered to hundreds of lepers in Hawaii years ago. As wonderful a thing as he did, it was nothing to what Christ did for us in terms of delivering us from our greatest fear in life, the fear of death. Because of Christ, death is not cessation, but rather transition to the presence of the Lord.
Friday – Part Five – We close by talking about a family in England with a large garden, the type one could get lost in easily. It’s a parable about not walking alone in death. If we are believers in Jesus Christ, we walk with Christ in life and in death! We are not alone; to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord.
JESUS IS…
Week 2 – 12/15/2014
Unforgettable?
Hebrews 2:1-4
Overview: Drifting is something that not only happens to boats, it can happen in relationships. Husbands drift from wives; wives drift from husbands. Parents and children can drift apart from one another over the years. Hebrews 2:1-4 warns about not paying attention to the message we have heard, with that inattentiveness leading to “drifting”.
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin with the lyric to a Harry Connick song, “Drifting”. It begins with the words: “I see your eyes drifting, drifting. I’m really not that naïve. You wear a smile, but you’re drifting, your words simply don’t ring true.” Many hear that and identify. But worse than that, is to drift from our relationship with the Living God.
Tuesday – Part Two – The word drifting in the Greek is a nautical term, referring to a boat that slips anchor. We need to pay attention so that we don’t drift in our walk with the Lord. What has caused drifting in your life? Most people know that answer to that question.
Wednesday – Part three – The operative question in Hebrews 2:1-4 is, “How shall we escape if we neglect or ignore our salvation?” Neglect is the cause of many of the negative things that happen in our lives. What has neglect brought about in your marriage, home, job, or in any endeavor in your life?
Thursday – Part Four – Author John Piper says that neglecting your salvation is really neglecting being loved by God! That’s no small thing! Have you ever felt neglected in life? Sure you have. Multiply the ramifications a thousand times, and you still haven’t begun to describe your neglecting your salvation
Friday – Part Five – A person can drift for years in a marriage or other personal relationship. A person can easily drift in many areas or endeavors. They may even travel through their entire life drifting. But we can’t do that in our personal relationship with the God who loves us and bought us with the blood of His Son! Decide today that you are not going to be a spiritual drifter.
JESUS IS….
Week 1 -12/08/2014
The Radiance of His Light
Overview: What you believe or don’t believe about Jesus impacts every aspect of your life, whether you realize it or not. It impacts your job, your marriage, your children….everything! We begin a series from the New Testament book of Hebrews that simply focuses on who and what Jesus is. If He really is who and what He claimed to be, there is nothing more important than knowing Him!
Weekly Compilation:
Monday – Part One – We begin with a powerful observation by author Patrick Morley who says, “most people seek after the god they want, rather than the God that is!” Have you ever heard someone say, “well, my god doesn’t believe that, or my god believes this.” Sometimes people do believe in what they want to believe in, rather than the One who is the Lord God Almighty. His name is Jesus!
Tuesday – Part Two – The Hebrew writer describes Jesus as, “the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of His being.” We don’t use language like that in our culture, but it speaks powerfully to who Jesus is. When you meet Jesus, you have met God the Father. Jesus would say, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father!
Wednesday – Part Three – According to a cover story from Christianity Today magazine, Jesus is not a brand. The Bible is not a trademarked tool we use. The cross is not a logo for Christianity like the golden arches of McDonald’s. Knowing Jesus means knowing God in the fullest sense of the word. Why? Jesus is God’s final word about Himself.
Thursday – Part Four – We tell the story of the first time the summit of Mt. Everest was conquered. Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide were only able to be on the summit for a mere 15 minutes! Think of it. You spend months in preparation, weeks in travel and ascending the peak, only to spend a few minutes at the top. What a parallel for life. What mountain are you climbing?
Friday – Part Five – Lee Strobel was a former writer for the Chicago Tribune newspaper. His wife asked him to attend church with her. Reluctantly, he finally went to a service. His comments about that experience: “I didn’t’ believe a word of what I heard, but I realized if it was true, it had tremendous implications for his life.” If this passage in Hebrews is true, it has tremendous implications for your life!