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Each year the Conference Council on Youth Ministries sponsors a weekend retreat for youth. This year’s theme was Prayer: The Best Wireless Plan. The two main speakers for the event were Stephen Handy and Quay Hanna. Quay shared of the story of how when he went to college he changed to fit the mold of … Read more
Malachi 3.6-12 NLT Ann Landers had an interesting letter in her column. It was from a girl who was writing about her uncle & aunt. She said, "My uncle was the tightest man I’ve ever known. All his life, every time he got paid he took $20 out of his paycheck & put it under … Read more
Colossians 3.18 – 4.18 Household Rules (3.18-4.1) Humorous Household Rules by Ian Frazier in the article Laws concerning food and drink; household principles; lamentations of the father. © The Atlantic Monthly, Feb 1997 v279 n2 p89(2) Have you heard the old saying? “Don’t be too heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good.” We … Read more
Colossians 3.1-17 Key verse: Keep seeking the things above … Keep thinking about things aboveKnow who you are in ChristThe transformation: put to death, put off, put onVv 1-4 are theological foundation for the following practical verses. Focus on things above because:-you died to the old order-you are already raised with Christ so that you … Read more
Colossians 2.6 – 2.23 Intro: Warning LabelsI get in my car and there are three warnings posted on my visor: high rollover risk; airbag; and seatbelt. Other places we see warning labels:prescription drugsSurgeon General’s Warning: Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.On coffee: Caution: Hot! Many warning labels today are to … Read more
Colossians 1.24–29Colossians 2.1-5 EQUIPEQUIP is a ministry of John Maxwell which is designed to equip leaders abroad to do the work of Christ. Bill Bright predicted that 1 billion people would come to know Christ in the first decade of the 21st Century (by 2010). This is creating a need in the church:4,000 pastors needed … Read more
Colossians 1. 1.15-23 What moves you?Do you have a passion for something? A hobby, sport, … Do you have something that moves you emotionally: that gets you excited, pumped up, (or triggers disappointment, anger?) On our way home from a youth event, we stopped at a McDonald’s for dinner. The last 5 minutes of the … Read more
Colossians 1.1-14 Bible BasicsPaul, the authorWrote 13 letters (epistles) etters to the churches. The churches were located in different cities and the letters take their name from the people of that city. This letter is to the city of Colossae, and the people of that city are know as Colossians. The letter is ddressed to … Read more
Psalm 13 A Personal Story of DisorientationI want to share a little of my story this morning. While at seminary, my local church affirmed my call and the leaders of the church in a formal setting affirmed my call. They would ask me different questions regarding ministry. One of their questions regarded marriage and ministry. … Read more
Psalm 19 Getting RealOur young people today long for authenticity. If you are around them much you hear them voice, they want things to be real. When I pastored in Williamsburg, we began a time-release program for high school students and it was named, “Get Real.” It was a time for real life people to … Read more