(Brian) I should have the lesson online shortly.
Key verses: Ephesians 2:8-10.
"Freedom From Fear" David M. Kennedy- references to Kristallnacht, the Fortune Magazine poll, SS St. Louis failed attempt at bringing Jews to the US, etc.
"The Hole In Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision (Shelli Norvell has this book for May, let me know if you want to read it in June or beyond.) http://www.theholeinourgospel.com/
Various comparative information regarding Malawi and the US: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html
Kurt Warner's new contract
Williamson County 'wealthiest' county in the US when factoring in cost of living: http://www.coli.org/COLIAdjustedMHI.asp
Showing posts with label brian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brian. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Redemption 'Finale'
(Brian) Since we didn't do a planned lesson, here are some notes and comments from people following class:
After our incredible discussion and time together yesterday, I received this devotion. I thought it was very relevant to the faith issues we discussed yesterday. I hope it impacts you.
Aaron
If you accept that there was a Resurrection that will not necessarily lead to any active or transformative faith. (Of course God could raise up Jesus if he wanted to. Mere belief in miracles does not transform us.) But if you can trust that God would do the same for you, then you also will be changed, and you can begin to change the world. The Resurrection was not a miracle to prove that Jesus was in union with God, although it does have that effect. It is the revelation of how God does things in all of time!
Just saying “Wow!” about Jesus being raised from the dead, does nothing for God, for the world, or for you. It is the same excitement as a magic show. But if you can say “Wow!” about what can and is happening now, then the Mystery of Resurrection has moved into our space and our time—and all time. Resurrection is God’s job description, not a one time magic show.
- From Richard Rohr
After our incredible discussion and time together yesterday, I received this devotion. I thought it was very relevant to the faith issues we discussed yesterday. I hope it impacts you.
Aaron
If you accept that there was a Resurrection that will not necessarily lead to any active or transformative faith. (Of course God could raise up Jesus if he wanted to. Mere belief in miracles does not transform us.) But if you can trust that God would do the same for you, then you also will be changed, and you can begin to change the world. The Resurrection was not a miracle to prove that Jesus was in union with God, although it does have that effect. It is the revelation of how God does things in all of time!
Just saying “Wow!” about Jesus being raised from the dead, does nothing for God, for the world, or for you. It is the same excitement as a magic show. But if you can say “Wow!” about what can and is happening now, then the Mystery of Resurrection has moved into our space and our time—and all time. Resurrection is God’s job description, not a one time magic show.
- From Richard Rohr
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Financial Basics
GIVING: Its important to give to God first before anything else.
Think of the Widow who gave her last penny, Mark 12:38.
Proverbs 3:9 "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."
Financial Pyramid
Step 1: Foundation: Term Life Insurance, Emergency Fund
Money Market- best rates at: http://www.bankrate.com/kip/ (much better rates than savings accounts)
Example: www.GMACBank.com, 2.71% interest, no minimum investment
Basic: Get $1,000 for emergencies only. Recommended- 3 to 6 month of expenses.
Also: Life Happens Fund- for helping family, car repairs, etc.
Joseph- 7 years of plenty, 7 years of famine
Step 2: Stronger footing:
Proverbs 22:7- "The poor are always ruled over by the rich, so don't borrow and put yourself under their power"
(not anti-credit- but I’d much better to be making interest than paying it)
Lowering or getting out of debt- Krista
Know what you owe; Make a list of outstanding debts
Step 3: Planting seeds for the future:
Proverbs 13:22- "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children."
JACOB & TRISTAN STORY- A Tale of Two College Kids
Kids college funds: www.collegesavingsiowa.com $25 minimum investment
www.upromise.com A percentage of purchases goes into your kids college fund- Publix, Krogers, online shopping, etc
Retirement: Basics- Index Funds track the market- Vanguard, Fidelity, etc. IRA/401k
Big Purchases- Pay for your car before you buy it:
Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?"
$15,000 car, paying 10% interest rate, over 48 months. With interest, the car will cost you $18,261.06
$15,000 car, saving at 2.5% interest rate, over 48 months. Subtract interest, the car will cost you $14,221.90
Exact same car, $4,039.16 less.
Once you pay for your car, keep making payments into a money market fund.
Recommended books: Ron Blue: Mastering Your Money
Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace
Classes: Crown Financial, Financial Peace
Proverbs 3:9 "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."
Financial Pyramid
Step 1: Foundation: Term Life Insurance, Emergency Fund
Money Market- best rates at: http://www.bankrate.com/kip/ (much better rates than savings accounts)
Example: www.GMACBank.com, 2.71% interest, no minimum investment
Basic: Get $1,000 for emergencies only. Recommended- 3 to 6 month of expenses.
Also: Life Happens Fund- for helping family, car repairs, etc.
Joseph- 7 years of plenty, 7 years of famine
Step 2: Stronger footing:
Proverbs 22:7- "The poor are always ruled over by the rich, so don't borrow and put yourself under their power"
(not anti-credit- but I’d much better to be making interest than paying it)
Lowering or getting out of debt- Krista
Know what you owe; Make a list of outstanding debts
Step 3: Planting seeds for the future:
Proverbs 13:22- "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children."
JACOB & TRISTAN STORY- A Tale of Two College Kids
Kids college funds: www.collegesavingsiowa.com $25 minimum investment
www.upromise.com A percentage of purchases goes into your kids college fund- Publix, Krogers, online shopping, etc
Retirement: Basics- Index Funds track the market- Vanguard, Fidelity, etc. IRA/401k
Big Purchases- Pay for your car before you buy it:
Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?"
$15,000 car, paying 10% interest rate, over 48 months. With interest, the car will cost you $18,261.06
$15,000 car, saving at 2.5% interest rate, over 48 months. Subtract interest, the car will cost you $14,221.90
Exact same car, $4,039.16 less.
Once you pay for your car, keep making payments into a money market fund.
Recommended books: Ron Blue: Mastering Your Money
Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace
Classes: Crown Financial, Financial Peace
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Who Are You?
WHO ARE YOU?
To see who you are, see how Paul identified himself:
Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God
1 Corinthians 1:1- Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
2 Corinthians 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
Galatians 1;1- Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father
Ephesians 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
Philippians 1:1- Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus
Colossians 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
1& 2Thessalonians- Paul (and that’s all)
1 Timothy 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior
2 Timothy 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus
Titus 1:1- Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness
Philemon 1:1- Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus
WHO WAS PAUL?
Why did he change his personal description from book to book?
He was a Roman to Romans
By whose authority did he say he was what he was?
WHO ARE YOU?
What is God’s will for us to be?
What is God’s calling for us to be?
What is God’s command for us to be?
WILL-
1 Thes 4:3- It is God's will that you should be sanctified
1 Peter 3:17- It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil
CALLED-
Romans 1:6- you…are called to belong to Christ
1 Cor 1:2- you are …called to be holy.
1 Cor 1:9- called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 3:1- See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
How do you identify yourself scripturally, rather than/addition to work, life family?
COMMAND
Matt 28:20- For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. "
1 Cor 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let those who boast boast in the Lord."
Are you worthy to be who God says you are?
CONCLUSION
Who was Paul before he was Paul? As a killer of Christians, he could never say he was worthy to call himself what he called himself in those letters. However, he said those things because it was God's will for him to be. Even though we may not feel like we are all those things, or are worthy to be all those things, it doesn't matter- we are because He says we are.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT
CHALLENGE: Take one or more of these verses this week and see yourself as God has called you to see yourself.
To see who you are, see how Paul identified himself:
Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God
1 Corinthians 1:1- Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
2 Corinthians 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
Galatians 1;1- Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father
Ephesians 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
Philippians 1:1- Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus
Colossians 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
1& 2Thessalonians- Paul (and that’s all)
1 Timothy 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior
2 Timothy 1:1- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus
Titus 1:1- Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness
Philemon 1:1- Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus
WHO WAS PAUL?
Why did he change his personal description from book to book?
He was a Roman to Romans
By whose authority did he say he was what he was?
WHO ARE YOU?
What is God’s will for us to be?
What is God’s calling for us to be?
What is God’s command for us to be?
WILL-
1 Thes 4:3- It is God's will that you should be sanctified
1 Peter 3:17- It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil
CALLED-
Romans 1:6- you…are called to belong to Christ
1 Cor 1:2- you are …called to be holy.
1 Cor 1:9- called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 3:1- See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
How do you identify yourself scripturally, rather than/addition to work, life family?
COMMAND
Matt 28:20- For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. "
1 Cor 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let those who boast boast in the Lord."
Are you worthy to be who God says you are?
CONCLUSION
Who was Paul before he was Paul? As a killer of Christians, he could never say he was worthy to call himself what he called himself in those letters. However, he said those things because it was God's will for him to be. Even though we may not feel like we are all those things, or are worthy to be all those things, it doesn't matter- we are because He says we are.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT
CHALLENGE: Take one or more of these verses this week and see yourself as God has called you to see yourself.
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