The Gift of Jesus

Photo credit: https://careynieuwhof.com/8-reasons-most-churches-never-break-the-200-attendance-mark/ This post is in response to the original article by Anne Peterson. Her post on crosswalk.com can be found here: http://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/the-10-most-overlooked-people-in-your-church.html?p=2 1. Single People It’s hard to believe that most churches overlook this group of people. In my opinion, this is probably the most regarded group. With churches forming so many “ group” activities, this ranks highest with singles groups, youth groups, teen groups, bible study groups, etc.  The author quotes no scripture here for biblical reference for the single to be administered.   1 Cor. 7:24-40 - these verses deals with both the single unmarried as well as the divorced and single. Paul gives teaching how a man and woman who are born again should desire God first, then marriage, if at all. 2. People With Illnesses If you are not part of an asse...

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Sermon by Pastor Bill Randles  Believers in Grace Fellowship - Marion, Iowa Date: Sunday, September 10th 2017 Scripture Reference: Mark 10:17-27 Main Point: Skip to 13:19 in video Points to ponder: Book by Pastor Bill Randles:

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: Proverbs 1:15 Daniel 3:7-12 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't follow the crowd and bow before the image. Instead they stood and worshipped God. Luke 4 When Jesus was tempted he didn't follow the foolish (Satan). Genesis 39:7-13 Joseph didn't go in the path of Potipher's wife. He didn't follow his brothers, either. All the world was evil around Noah, but he didn't partake in their sins.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20 Ruth 2:11-12 Ruth stretched forth her hand to care for Naomi when she could have gone back to the security of her own family in Moab. Esther 7 She risked her life to ask the king to send Haman to the gallows because he wanted to kill all the Jews. Acts 9:36-41 Dorcas helped the needy and poor, making clothes for them.

Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. Proverbs 27:18 Numbers 27:18-20 Josuah served Moses (and God) and he received honor in return. Joseph when he became a ruler over the Egyptians Matthew 25:14-26 Parable of talents, those servants who were faithful were honored Daniel 2:36-39 Daniel waited on King Nebuchadezzar and was honored. Noah was righteous and was rewarded by not being destroyed.

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. Proverbs 26:8 The pharisees gave honor to Barabas by freeing him from jail instead of Jesus King Ahab gave honor to his wife Jezabel.

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. Proverbs 25:8 Matthew 12:24-26 The pharisees were quick to strive with Jesus but were put to shame. Acts 8 Saul was persecuting the Christians and then he found out he was wrong and they were right Mark 14:46-49 Peter was hasty to contend that he cut off the servants ear but he was put to shame because he didn't fully understand why Jesus had to die. John 8 The woman caught in adultery... The men tried to start a fight regarding how Jesus should handle the woman. However, they were brought to shame because they were just as guilty as her.

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. Proverbs 24:29 Genesis 34:25-31 Simeon and Levi returned evil to Hamor and Shechem because of what Shechem did to Dinah, their sister. John 18:10 Peter rendered evil unto the servant that was trying to take Jesus. Moses returned evil to the Egyptian who killed an Israelite.  Stephen said "lay not this sin to their charge."

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22 John 19:25-27 Jesus respected his mother by making sure she was cared for after His death. Also, He obeyed his Father in heaven that begat Him. Issac harkened diligently unto Abraham

Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? Luke 18:10-14 The Pharisee proclaimed his own goodness but the publican was faithful to God.

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 12:22 Genesis 39:17-23 Potiphar's wife lied about Joseph but Joseph was upright and dealt truly and the Lord took delight in him and prospered him. Mark 14:68 Peter denied and lied about following Jesus. Genesis 27 Laban lied to Jacob about giving Rachel to Jacob after 7 years, so he had to work another 7 years to get the one he asked for. Jacob dealt truly with Laban by keeping his word and working for all 7 year, both times. Genesis 4:9 When God asked Cain asked Abel was, he lied and said "I know not, am I my brother's keeper". Genesis 3:11-13 When God asked Adam and Eve what they did, they didn't lie. They dealt truly. Acts 5:1-10 Ananias and Sapphira lied about giving the money that they sold their property for.

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. Proverbs 10:12 Luke 22:49-51 Peter's hatred for those trying to arrest Jesus stirred up strife by cutting the servant's ear off. However, the Love of Jesus covered the sin and he healed the man's ear. Acts 9:1-6 Saul hated the Christians and stirred up strife among them. But the love of Jesus covered his sins. Genesis 4:8 Cain hated Abel and had strife with him Matthew 27:22-25 Hatred fro Jesus stirred up strife among the people, but Jesus loved them and died for their sins.

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” Proverbs 9:9  Genesis 6:14-16   Noah listened to instruction and built the ark Matthew 4:18-19   The disciples listened to Jesus and followed him, learning how to do miracles and follow Jesus’ instructions. Luke 2:46, 52   Jesus was the wise and just man who by asking questions, receiving instruction and being taught became wiser and increased in learning. It’s hard to imagine Jesus needing to be taught but he was humble and didn’t act like a know it all. Daniel 1:17-21   Daniel was wise and was taught by the people in Babylon, increasing in learning and wisdom so that he could counsel the people. Mark 4:8,20   In the parable of the sower, the one that fell on good ground increased and brought forth fruit. Those who are sown on good ground increase and bear fruit

Proverbs 14:22 "Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good." Definitions err = stray, go astray devise = to scratch, to engrave, to fabricate (plan) evil = bad mercy = kindness, favor, pity truth = stability, trustworthiness, assured Example of This Scripture in the Bible Daniel 6 The princes and presidents devised to do evil against Daniel The princes and presidents went away from good to plan out evil. The king devised good after the fact by fasting all night, tryin to find a way to free Daniel. The king received mercy in that his friend lived. He received truth in knowing that Daniel's God is the Living God and also the truth that he had been deceived by the other men.

Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. Definitions dispiseth = disrespect feareth = morally reverent, afraid rewarded = safe, complete, restitution The word is the commandment - our instruction book for life. The word is Jesus and we are to walk as He walked (1 Peter 2:21). Those who faithfully follow Him will be rewarded. However, those who dispise His word, they have no respect to the things of God, will be destroyed. Not by God but by themselves (John 3:18) Example of This Scripture in the Bible "Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his h...

Proverbs 13:7 "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." Definitions rich = to accumulate, to grow poor = to be destitute, lack, needy We need to become poor to the world in order to become rich to the things of God. Poor doesn't just mean lacking money. It is almost like fasting, you are giving up a pleasure of this word in order to gain in relationship with God. We need to forsake the thing that tie us down to serving this world. If it gets to be more important then seeking the Lord, it needs to go!

Proverbs 12:20-21 "Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief." Definitions deceit = fraud, craft, false, guile, subtly, treachery heart = feelings, will, intellect, mind imagine = to scratch, engrave, to fabricate evil = bad counsellors = o advise, deliberate or resolve, guide peace = happy, friendly, safe joy = blithesomeness, glee, exceeding gladness evil (2nd occurrence) = trouble, to exert oneself in vain just = righteous, lawful wicked = morally wrong, bad person, guilty, ungodly mischief = bad, evil Those who are just and seek peace will have joy because God promises that He will protect them from trouble that is in vain. However, the wicked fabricate subtle things and will only receive wickedness in return. Related Scriptures "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man...

Proverbs 11:27 "He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him." Definitions: diligently seeketh = be up early, earnestness, to search for, enquire early in the morning, quickly procureth = to search out specifically in worship or prayer, to strive after, beseech favour = delight, acceptable, good pleasure seeketh (2nd occurance) = to tread or frequent, follow, pursue, worship mischief = bad, evil Those who earnestly search after righteousness through worship and prayer will have delight and good pleasure before God. Those who only follow and pursue evil will only receive evil unto themselves. How do we know what "good" is? How do we know what "evil" is? "God is Good All the Time and All the Time God is Good!" God tells us what is good and what is evil, but we cannot know the difference unless we are seeking Him. God's Promise In this verse...

Proverbs 31:26 "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." 1.What does the scripture mean? She speaks wise, Godly words and she uses mercy and forgiveness. 2. How does this scripture apply to my life? Do we consider our words that come out of our mouths? Think before we speak, use honor and kindness. 3. How should I be using this scripture in my life? We should use wisdom, by thinking about our words and keeping our focus on God. If we know God we will be drawn to his wisdom and kindness. 4. Where else in the Bible does it say something related to this scripture? Prov 29:11, Prov 18:21, James 1:19 5. How is this scripture true? Queen Esther used wisdom when she talked to the king.