Tag: God

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

The Unexpected God: How He Meets Us in Disappointment – Brian Tabb (DG)
Unmet expectations. They are the constant thieves of our happiness and contentment. One of the greatest evidences of human falleness and finitude is how quickly we expect the wrong things, or the right things at the wrong time.  But the very heart and center of the Christian faith should remind us daily that our expectations do not typically map onto the grandeur and goodness and wisdom of God. The cross reminds us that God sent us the Messiah we really needed, not the one anyone expected.

Slay Sin by Savoring Christ – Erik Raymond
Too often professing Christians can be lulled to sleep with a false sense of security. Unwittingly they starve themselves of Christ and make provision for the flesh. This is a spiritual suicide mission! Instead of caring for and nurturing the flesh and its desires we are to starve and kill it.

Turn My Eyes from Worthless Things: Curbing Our Infinite Appetite for Distraction – Tony Reinke (DG)
Our endless desire for “the totally irrelevant” has finally been matched by the endless offerings of irrelevance in our smartphones. We love to be fed worthless things.  This onslaught of produced media is a major problem for us all because we can focus our minds only on a limited number of stimuli that come at us. So, how do we discern and navigate the digital age with wise discretion?

10 Prayers to Pray Before Church – Colin Smith
Going to church is not like a trip to the grocery store, visiting a friend, or a Christian task to complete. It is a declaration that worshiping the risen Christ is more important to you than sleeping in, eating brunch, playing sports, or working around the house….  As such, we should not enter church like any other place, but should prepare our hearts in prayer. Let these 10 prayers set your mind on God’s purposes for church and prepare your heart to worship the King.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating our Savior with your local church!

Isaiah 40-48: Behold Your God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(44-45) Israel is going to be taken captive by the Babylonians.  Who is God going to raise up, and for what purpose (44:28-45:6)?

God predicted this over 170 years before it happened.  How would this encourage the people of Israel?  How does it encourage you as you think of other predictions from God?

(40-41) To what things is God compared in 40:15-26?  How does God measure up in the comparison?

In what ways can God help us (40:29-31, 41:10)?

How would God’s help comfort Israel in captivity?  Comfort us in our trials?  How should we respond (40:31, 41:10)?

(43-46) What idea is repeated in these verses: 43:10-11; 44:6-7, 24; 45:5-6, 18, 21-22; 46:9?  Why is this important for Israel to grasp in their captivity?  For us to grasp in our daily lives?

(47) What does Babylon claim for itself (v8, 10)?  In what ways are we tempted to act like this?

(41-46) How does God compare to the idols of the nations (41:21-29, 44:9-21, 45:16-20, 46:1-7)?

How does Isaiah’s description of idols in his day also describe the idols of our day?

(43-48) In what ways is God for Israel (43:1-7; 44:21-26; 46:3-4; 48:17-18)?

How would God’s actions for Israel comfort them in their captivity?  Comfort us in our current situations?

(42-45) Who is this servant (42:1-7 Matthew 12:18-21)?  What will he do?  How should we respond (45:22-23, Philippians 2:10-11)?

(40) Who is the one preparing the way of the Lord (v3-9, Matthew 3:1-3)?  Who is this Lord in Isaiah 40?  In Matthew?  Ponder the connection being made!

 

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

What Is It Like to Enjoy God? – John Piper (DG)
The enjoyment of God is the enjoyment of a Person — not just the enjoyment of a thing, or an idea, or a pattern of actions, or a mysterious force. The ultimate joy of God’s creatures is joy in a Person — joy in God.

10 Things You Should Know about the Resurrection – Adrian Warnock (Crossway)
…every Sunday should be Resurrection Sunday. The reason why the early church began to meet on the first day of the week was to celebrate Jesus’s defeat of death. Imagine what church would be like if we consciously gathered every week to celebrate the resurrection?

You Can Forget to Be Irritated – Scotty Smith (DG)
The more I remember God’s lavish, unwavering, inexhaustible love for us in Jesus, the more I forget to be irritated with others.

Worship as a Feast – Dustin Rouse (FTC)
As worshipers who come to church (this is also true, if not more so, for worship leaders), we need to come hungry. You can go to the nicest restaurant with the best reviews, but if you’re not hungry, you will not want to eat. It doesn’t matter what the meal smells or looks like, if you’re full, you won’t want to partake.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Q&A#5: More Verses

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

Q/A#5
Q: What is the moral character of God?
A: The moral character of God consists of his perfect love and holiness together, displayed in his mercy, grace, patience, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and wrath.

Memory Verses
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  – I John 4:7-8

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.  – I Peter 1:15

Further Supporting Verses
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.   – Psalm 86:15

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.  – Psalm 89:14

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  – Romans 1:18

Q&A#5: Loving and Holy

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

Q/A#5
Q: What is the moral character of God?
A: The moral character of God consists of his perfect love and holiness together, displayed in his mercy, grace, patience, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and wrath.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
– I John 4:7-8

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
– I Peter 1:15

Q&A#4: Questions & Project

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

Q/A#4
Q: What are some further attributes of God?
A: God is eternal, self-existent, self-sufficient, and unchanging, full of glory and beauty.

Memory Verses
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
– Psalm 90:2

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
– Psalm 96:6

Further Supporting Verses
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
– John 5:26

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
– Acts 17:24-25

For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
– Malachi 3:6

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
– Isaiah 42:8

Reflection/Discussion Questions
How is God different than us?  What would be some proper responses to these attributes and verses?

How has our self-sufficient God provided for your needs recently?

Think about God’s many attributes.  Why is it a good thing that God doesn’t change?

Project
Look for reflections of God’s glory & beauty around you.

Q&A#4: More Verses

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

Q/A#4
Q: What are some further attributes of God?
A: God is eternal, self-existent, self-sufficient, and unchanging, full of glory and beauty.

Memory Verses
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
– Psalm 90:2

Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
– Psalm 96:6

Further Supporting Verses
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.  – John 5:26

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
– Acts 17:24-25

For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
– Malachi 3:6

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
– Isaiah 42:8

Q&A#4: Our Great God

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

Q/A#4
Q: What are some further attributes of God?
A: God is eternal, self-existent, self-sufficient, and unchanging, full of glory and beauty.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
– Psalm 90:2 (ESV)

Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
– Psalm 96:6 (ESV)