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the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Where would we be without the Bible? God’s Word is sacred. It’s able to enlighten you so that you can receive Jesus for salvation. It is God’s very breath. It is useful for teaching, for confronting sin, for setting us right, and to train us to do what we should do. Without God’s Word, we are incomplete. With it, there’s nothing we’re meant to do that we can’t do. Have you spent time in God’s Word today?

*We’re almost done for the year, you can still catchup Here is our NT reading schedule

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Here is the Great Commission in action. Timothy was Paul’s protege. He is encouraging him to pass on the faith Paul had entrusted to him. In this, Paul is a model for us, how we are to make disciples in all the earth. The gospel is intended to be communicated personally. Not just by the preacher, but by the friend. God’s plan for the world has to do with personal relationships. Yet, it’s also not simply a “one on one” individual endeavor. It always involves community. Paul taught Timothy “in the presence of many witnesses.” This wasn’t an isolated event of one random encounter with a stranger, it is personal, it is the church. Just as Paul taught Timothy, so too, Timothy should entrust this same gospel to faithful men. Not one, but many. As a Christian, our goal isn’t to pick one person and work and work and work on them in hopes that one day they will accept. Also, it is not to throw the net so broad as to not target anyone. We need to find those who are willing to listen, the faithful, and entrust this truth to them within the context of the church, the community of the faithful. We are intentionally meant to focus on those who will be able to teach others also. That’s how God is building His church, with the church. What’s your part? Who are your Timothies? 

13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

We all have examples. Who lead you to faith in Jesus Christ? What worked for you? Are you doing that for others? Look to the lives of those who are living well for Jesus and do as they do. We are not on our own, we don’t have to do it in our own strength, the Holy Spirit lives in every believer! He is the “deposit” the downpayment and guarantee that one day we’ll have no struggles, no pain, no worry. The strength we can tap into today will be the norm. Guard that good deposit!

I’ve seen several people talking about how the “18-24 year old” crowd voted. Here’s a map to represent how they voted in the presidential election of 2016.

It looks like these young adults are pretty liberal…

Continue reading →

4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

The way Christians live matters. Not so that we will gain the favor of God, but because of who we are. The way we live our lives reveals who we are. Are we His, or are we the world’s? Do we act like everyone else, or do we act as though we really do believe the Bible identifies the good? Marriage and faithfulness is a major indicator as to whether or not our faith is genuine. Money is another tell. Is it a tool for what your Lord has for you to do, or is it your Lord? You can’t serve both God and money. God is all you need, and you can never lose Him, that is, if you are His. And if you are, it will come out of you. Take stock of your life. Do you live for Him, or do you live for yourself. There is no need to be afraid of any unknown, your Lord is with you. Fear can paralyze you, don’t let it. Fear is the mind killer.