Our goal is simple: to follow the instructions of Jesus Christ and go and make disciples. Remember, a quality disciple makes up a quality life. The Discipled Life: We need to study it, practice it, and teach it. "For Ezra had set his heart TO STUDY the Law of the Lord, and TO DO IT and TO TEACH his statutes and rules in Israel." Ezra 7:10
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Cast Sheep? It Can Happen To Anyone Of Us. Psalms of Discipleship Bonus. February 18, 2013
This
is a note written by my friend, Byron Matthews (Makayla’s Dad). Many of
us have been lifting up this precious little girl for a few weeks now.
May the Lord continue to touch and heal her body. If you want to follow
her journey, check out this link:
http://www.caringbridge.org/
"From a shepherd’s view, I learned that real sheep have an odd
condition. They find themselves many times when they cannot get up.
They call it a “cast sheep”. For some reason, a sheep when they lay
down can get their center of gravity too far over and roll over on their
backs, leaving them unable to actually get back on their feet. This
horrifying position can actually kill them if they are not helped back.
Even when they are healthy, they can lie down in lush grasses and find a
hole that rolls them too far over. How terrifying it is when one
moment you are completely satisfied, and the next you are on your back
and have no way to regain control. You are helpless. You can’t help
yourself."
Byron is correct. Sometimes, life just happens. We
can’t help ourselves. We need a Shepherd, a Good One. His name is Jesus.
We need to place our confidence and trust in Him.
Here is a reminder of what He has promised to do and a reminder of what we must do.
This is what the Lord will do: He has promised to care for us:
23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail
of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the
LORD holds them by the hand. 25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I
have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for
bread. Psalm 37:23-25 (NLT)
This is what we must do: We need to place our confidence in God:
12 Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could
fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about
self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence. 1 Corinthians
10:12 (MSG)
Learning to trust with you,
Denny
Labels:
Care,
confidence,
Good Shepherd,
Sheep
Friday, February 15, 2013
Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #6 (Prayer) February 15, 2013
Hello
dear friends! Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a reminder that no
matter how we feel on given day, God's Word is true, and God's character
is unchanging, and God' love and care for us is perfect.
Learning with you, by the grace of God,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #6
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. Psalm 83:1
*Background note: From the Psalmist's view, it appears that God is
either unaware or unconcerned that His enemies are threatening His
people. Out of desperation, He cries out to God, "Please get involved . .
. now."
Core Value: Prayer
Do I really matter? Do I
have value? Does anyone care . . . even God? These types of questions
are familiar to many disciples who follow Jesus. Sure, we know the
“right” answers to our questions but sometimes it “feels” like we don’t
matter, we don’t have value (especially when we compare ourselves to
others), and sometimes we “believe” that no one really cares about us,
including God.
So, what is a disciple of Jesus to do with all
of these matters of the heart? We can believe the lie or we can respond
just like the Psalmist did: He got real with God. He wasn’t going to be
passive any longer and become the victim without a spiritual fight. He
was going to engage his God with a brand new intensity. Do not remain
quiet. Do not be silent, and do not be still. Or in other words, “Please
get involved . . . now.”
Principle #6 & Personal Application: Quality disciples cry out to the Lord in the face of intimidating enemies.
• When we are faced with adversity we look to a God who has the desire to intervene on our behalf
• When we are faced with adversity we look to a God who has the power to help deliver us from our enemies
• When we are faced with adversity we look to a God who has the whole world in His hands
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I feel unsafe what assurances can I find from my Bible that will grant me peace of mind?
How do I know, really know, that God will protect me from the enemies of my soul?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I always trust You, even when I cannot sense Your
presence, even when it seems I feel surrounded and outnumbered by my
foes.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service
Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.
You can learn how to live as a Quality Disciple and a DiscipleMaker4Jesus by visiting my website at www.dennybates.com and my teaching blog at http://www.dennybates.com/
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #5 (Community) February 10, 2013
Hello
my dear friends, today's Psalms of Discipleship is a sobering reminder
of the responsibility the Lord gives to the disciple to be salt and
light in our society. We have not been given the option to ignore the
needs around us and pass them on to the government to take care of the needs.
Instead, the first line of care belongs to the church.
Learning with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #5
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges
in the midst of the rulers. 2 How long will you judge unjustly And show
partiality to the wicked? Selah. 3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:1-4
Core Value: Community
We live in a day and time where the powerful are protected and the
vulnerable people in our community (the homeless, the working poor, the
single mother, the unplanned baby who is aborted, etc.) are overlooked
at best, at worse, they are targeted as a “problem” and treated with
disdain. It is important to note from this passage of Scripture that God
is not talking to non-believers. He is addressing His pointed concern
to His own congregation, to His own people.
Yes, it is
important that we have people in our governments who are advocates for
the vulnerable, but the greatest responsibility for the care of people
does not rest entirely upon the government, but upon the people of God.
Jesus was pretty clear on what He expected His disciples to do:
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I
have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one
another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John
13:34-35 (NLT)
Principle #5 & Personal Application: Quality disciples seek to protect and serve even the most vulnerable in society.
• The believer will not show favor to the affluent and influential at the expense of the downtrodden
• The believer will be an advocate to the weak and fatherless, to the afflicted and destitute
• The believer will be a rescuer to the weak and needy, delivering them out of the hand of the wicked
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Is it more common for me to show favoritism to those whom society deems
as “acceptable” or am I more willing to align myself with the
disadvantaged? Why?
What is God leading me to do in order to speak on behalf of the powerless?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in my weakness, in my great need, You came to me. How then
can I not reach out to others who are weak and needy? Grant me the
grace and the courage to do the right thing, all of the time.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service
Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://
If you are in the Florence area, you are invited to attend a one day
seminar, "How to Study the Bible and Apply it to Your Life" Click on
this link for more information:
http://
Labels:
caring for others,
community,
kindness,
love,
needy
Monday, February 4, 2013
Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #4 (Worship). February 4, 2013
Hello
my dear friends! In today's Psalms of Discipleship we will learn about
the dangers of exchanging our love and devotion for God to other people
and other things. No disciple of Jesus ever makes it a personal goal to
live a life dedicated to idolatry. But it can, and it does happen. May
it not happen to us.
Learning to focus my worship, all of it, upon Jesus,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #4
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 8 "Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel,
if you would listen to Me! 9 "Let there be no strange god among you;
Nor shall you worship any foreign god. 10 "I, the LORD, am your God, Who
brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will
fill it. 11 "But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did
not obey Me. 12 "So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
To walk in their own devices. Psalm 81:8-12
Core Value: Worship
There is nothing that is more heart breaking to Jesus than when His
children share their affections with someone or something else. True, we
do live in a culture where we are exposed to many “good” things that
appeal to our natural passions. And yes, it is true that we still
struggle with the inner man that wants its way. But it is also true that
we are forced to make daily choices of allegiance to Jesus. We have to
choose to make Him Lord of all. When we do not keep our worship focused
upon Jesus, we open up the very real possibility of drifting away into
false worship. We become idolaters. Yes, even disciples of Jesus can
embrace “strange and foreign gods.”
Is there a solution for
this awful outcome? Yes, there is a solution. It is our love for God and
His perfect love for us that will motivate us to obey Him.
Principle #4 & Personal Application: Quality disciples seek not to only obey God but to love Him too.
• A true worship of God will lead to a heart that will listen to the Lord
• A true worship of God will protect us from the snare of a false worship
• A true worship of God will protect us from the stubbornness of our own heart
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What are some of the things (or people) that are potential (or even real) idols that tempt me?
What are some practical ways that I can protect my heart from worshipping other gods?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may my heart always be soft and willing to submit to Your
Lordship. May I not succumb to the idols that pull at my heart. May I
always be not only willing to listen to Your voice, but to obey You
completely.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service
Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://
Labels:
false worship,
idolatry,
Lordship,
obedience,
worship
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