Written Teaching Notes Archives - Page 2 of 2

September 4, 2016July 31, 2020

David and Jeremiah – What a Contrast!

I've been reading through the Bible every year since 1976. This year I made up my own schedule. Just a simple plan, nothing really well thought-out or directed toward any specific purpose. So I just "happened" to read the end of 1 Chronicles at the same time I was reading near the end of Jeremiah. Saw an interesting contrast by doing that, which I though worth mentioning. David and Jeremiah were both men of God. But how different their lives were because of the situations in which they found themselves! It's why I always say we need to read the whole Bible, not just our favorite parts. That's the only way to get a balanced view of things.

June 28, 2016July 31, 2020

The Holy Spirit’s Role in Raising Up Leaders

June 6, 2016July 31, 2020

A New and Living Temple

A New and Living Temple

Ez. 47:1-12

In the short time my wife and I have been here at Beth El, pastor Eric has been speaking about how Jesus said He would build His Church. But Ez. 47 is about a Temple. What’s the connection? The Church is actually the new temple of God, according to 1 Cor. 3:16-17 and 6:19-20. We are all individual temples, and together, we form the corporate temple. Temples are very important to God, and often spoken of in scripture, as in our text this morning. The Temple of God is meant to communicate some really important facts about God, our relationship with Him, and our mission as His people.

June 6, 2016July 31, 2020

The Holy Spirit’s Role in Raising up Leaders

In my final paper for a graduate course in Foundations of Christian Leadership, there were five questions or issues I was to address. My purpose was to develop each of the assigned sections into a statement of principles that would serve as foundations for my responsibilities and continuing growth as a Christian leader. After completing the course, I was to develop a teaching or study to share with others. What follows is the first section of the paper, tweaked just a bit to make it into a study for others to read and consider.

In the first question or section, I was to affirm the role of the Holy Spirit in the emergence and raising up of Christian leaders. I found this to be very appropriate, because it seems to me that recognizing the Spirit’s role is key to everything else of importance in the realm of Christian life, leadership, and ministry. Let me first explain why I believe that…

May 30, 2016July 31, 2020

The Right Prescription

In a conversation the other night, someone shared how, being raised a Catholic, their impression of God was that He was really angry and was getting madder by the minute. As a young person, their response to this was to just think, “Well, if He’s already that mad, I might as well do whatever I want. I might as well sin more, because it’s already hopeless. I can never please Him.” Continue reading “The Right Prescription”

April 6, 2016July 31, 2020

Even If An Angel From Heaven…

Message from 1 Kings 13

Jeroboam was in sin because he didn’t trust God, but led his people into idolatry, using religion as a means of unifying people under his rule.

God sent an unnamed prophet to rebuke him. This prophet gave an amazing prophecy, saying that the altar of false worship would be used to burn the bones of false prophets who worshipped there, and that this would be done by King Josiah, a king who hadn’t even been born yet, and wouldn’t come on the scene for another 290 some years! He also gave a sign from God as proof of the accuracy of his prophecy, saying the altar would be split apart and the ashes poured out. What happened next is truly amazing!