Going for Gold
Going for Gold
II Timothy 4:7-8
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” (I Corinthians 9:24)
So how does a Christian prepare for the greatest race in life and run for the
greatest prize?
I. Know the prize we run for is an “incorruptible prize.”
(I Corinthians 9:25)
A. Paul states we run for a prize that will not fade away or become
corrupt. (II Timothy 4:7-8)
II. Know the prize will only be given to those who have qualified for it.
A. What does it take to qualify for the great prize?
1. I must prepare properly. (II Timothy 4:7)
A. Fight the good fight.
B. I have to finish the race.
C. Keep the faith.
D. I don’t compete with uncertainty. (I Corinthians 9:26)
E. I am spiritually disciplined. (I Corinthians 9:27)
(II Timothy 2:5)
III. Know that the Lord is the Righteous Judge, for his judgment is
according to truth.
A. Paul refers to God as the “Righteous Judge.” (II Timothy 4:8)
B. Based on that fact alone - “Let us run with patience the race that is
set before us. Let us look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
C. “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for,
but that we may receive full reward.” (II John 8)
Weekly Bible Study
August 25th to August 30th
“Watchfulness”
Monday: Watch how you live Ephesians 5: 10-15
Tuesday: Be careful to obey Joshua 22: 1-5
Wednesday: Diligently obey God’s commands Deuteronomy 6:1-17
Thursday: Keep alert and pray Matthew 26: 41,
Ephesians 6: 18
Friday: Watch out, so you don’t lose the prize II John 8
Saturday: Listen carefully to truth Hebrews 2: 1
Played: 2 | Download | Duration: 00:27:42
Attitude of Christ - Philippians 2: 1-11
Attitude of Christ
Philippians 2: 1-11
I. Paul stresses the essentiality of pulling together not pulling apart.
vs. 1-2
A. He lists four incentives of being like-minded in our attitude.
1. There is love.
2. There is sweet fellowship.
3. There is a tender heart.
4. There is a compassionate spirit.
B. Paul lists four manifestations of Christ-likeness that will be detected
in the believer.
1. My joy will be complete.
2. We will experience the same love for one another and love
for the same things.
3. We will be united in spirit.
4. We will have a clearly defined purpose.
II. Paul stresses the need of nurturing an attitude that puts greater value
on others than one’s self. vs. 3-4
A. “He who covers an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the
matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9
III. Paul stresses the need to think and act like Christ. vs. 5
A. Jesus was humble. vs. 6-8
B. Jesus was obedient. vs. 8
C. Philippians 4: 8
Weekly Bible Study
August 18th to August 23rd
“Attitude”
Monday: Attitude toward suffering I Peter 4: 12-16
Tuesday: Attitude of gentle spirit Philippians 4: 1-5
Wednesday: Attitude of kindness Ephesians 4: 30-32
Thursday: Attitude of mercy Luke 6: 30-36
Friday: Fix our attitude on what is honorable Philippians 4: 5-8
Saturday: Have an attitude of forgiveness Matthew 6: 1-14
Played: 1 | Download | Duration: 00:32:00
The Biblical Response to Suffering
The Biblical Response to Suffering
Are there times in your life when you still find yourself asking, “Is God in
control?” The answer to that question is determined in direct relationship
to the faith we have in God.
So how can a Christian better understand the concept of suffering in
relation to his or her faith?
I. Suffering is a consequence of the fall of man. (Sin)
A. Matthew 5: 45
B. Romans 5: 12-15, 18-19
C. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the
resurrection of the dead.” I Corinthians 15: 21
II. Suffering is a tool used by God for discipline.
A. God chastens those he loves. Hebrews 12: 5-11
III. Suffering is often a means to accomplish God’s divine purpose in your
life.
A. II Corinthians 11: 23-31
B. Ephesians 1: 11
C. John 11: 40
IV. Suffering can be a means of equipping you for Christian service.
A. Paul went through all of this so he could better train and love
the church. I Corinthians 4: 10-13
Weekly Bible Study
August 11th to August 16th
“Suffering”
Monday: Blessed are those who suffer for doing right I Peter 3: 14-17
Tuesday: Christ is our example in suffering I Peter 2: 1-21
Wednesday: God will restore us I Peter 5: 1-10
Thursday: Rejoice in midst of fiery trials I Peter 4: 12-13
Friday: Suffering for the gospel II Timothy 1: 1-8
Saturday: No trouble can separate us from Christ Romans 8: 30-35
Played: 4 | Download | Duration: 00:33:01
The Greatest Command - Matthew 22: 34-40
The Greatest Command
Matthew 22: 34-40
A. We see where Individualism and Modernism are literally destroying the fabric of our nation.
B. James 4:7-8
C. Acts 28:25-3
II. A committed heart calls for a LOVING SPIRIT.
Played: 4 | Download | Duration: 00:27:03
Generosity: Our Part
Generosity: Our Part
Acts 4: 32-35
We have received so that we can give to others.
I. We are to meet the needs of believers.
A. “All believers were one in heart and mind.” Acts 4:32
II. We are to meet the needs of non-believers.
A. “There must be no poor people among you because God is
III. We are called to be generous with our possessions.
A. “No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own but they shared everything they had.” Acts 4: 32
B. “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the
C. “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down
D. “Joseph, a Levite from Cyrus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4: 36-37
E. Ananias and Saphira Acts 5: 1-11
Weekly Bible StudyJuly 28th to August 1st
“Dependability”
Monday: Be faithful in small matters Luke 16: 1-10
Tuesday: Be faithful to the end Hebrews 3: 1-14
Wednesday: Remain faithful II Timothy 3: 10-14
Thursday: Stand true to what you believe I Corinthians 16: 1-13
Friday: God preserves the faithful Psalm 31: 1-23
Played: 3 | Download | Duration: 00:37:37
Three Steps to Breaking Free
Three Steps to Breaking Free
II Peter 1: 3-10
In order to break free from the grip of sin and began to emulate
these spiritual qualities that Peter provides for us,
these measures must be put into place.
I. Admit you have a problem.
A. “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1: 14
B. It starts by being honest with God. I John 1: 8-10
C. Luke 18: 1-14
D. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3: 23
II. Believe you can change.
A. The early church really felt they had the power to and could
change their ways. I Corinthians 6: 9-11, 17
B.“The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Romans 8: 26
III. Avoid temptation.
A. Jesus prayed this while teaching his disciples the mechanics of prayer.
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6: 13
B. “Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4: 27
C. I Corinthians 10: 13
D. “For it is God which worketh in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure.” Philippians 2: 13
Played: 10 | Download | Duration: 00:37:01
Weekly Bible Study
July 21st to July 26th
“Disagreements”
Monday: Avoid disputes Proverbs 17: 1-14
Tuesday: Settle disputes I Corinthians 6: 1-7
Wednesday: Stay away from arguing Philippians 2: 1-14
Thursday: Stay free from malicious controversy I Timothy 2: 5-8
Friday: Flee from arguing I Corinthians 1: 5-10
Free Indeed
Free Indeed
Romans 8: 1-2
“Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life
set me free from the law of sin and death.”
Let’s look at four freedoms we who are in Christ can claim.
I. The freedom to avoid evil.
A. Hebrews 12: 1
B. Think of how many concerns people face that they otherwise would
not have to if they had not been entangled with “inordinate
affections” to begin with.
C. I Peter 1: 13
D. Galatians 5: 1
II. The freedom of fellowship with all believers.
A. “Let brotherly love continue.” Hebrews 13: 1
B. I John 3: 16-18
C. In Christ, it’s actually ok not to agree on every point. We have the
freedom to disagree. Yet we must continue to cultivate the oneness
that comes from our mutual faith and love for each other.
III. The freedom to be fully one in Christ.
A. I Peter 3: 1-5
IV. The freedom to face the future without fear.
A. Jesus said it best when he said in John 8:36, “If the Son sets you
free, you will be free indeed.”
B. “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we
set our hearts at rest in His presence.” I John 3: 19
Weekly Bible Study
July 14th to July 19th
“Help from God”
Monday: Cast all anxiety on God I Peter 5: 1-7
Tuesday: Cast your burdens on the Lord Psalm 55: 10-22
Wednesday: Go boldly to God’s throne in prayer Hebrews 4: 12-16
Thursday: The Lord upholds you Psalm 37: 20-24
Friday: No weapon formed against you will prosper Isaiah 54: 17
Saturday: God will not forsake you Hebrews 13: 5-6
Played: 6 | Download | Duration: 00:31:26
What it means to be Free
What it means to be Free
John 8:32-36
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight of the blind, to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus gives three lessons for Christian citizens to learn in relation to
freedom.
I. Freedom isn’t free.
A The price for spiritual freedom. Romans 6
B. We have been bought with a great price.
1. I Corinthians 6:20
2. Matthew 20:28
“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
II. Independence means dependence.
A. We have become a nation independent of God.
B. We must be dependent on God to define for us real freedom.
1. Romans 8:1-2
2. II Corinthians 3:17
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
3. Galatians 5:1
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
III. Liberties are limited.
A. “For every ounce of freedom there must accompany that freedom
an ounce of responsibility.”
B. I Corinthians 8:9
“Take heed lest by any means, this liberty of yours become a
stumbling block to them that are weak.”
C. I Peter 2:16
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil- live as servants of God.”
Weekly Bible Study
July 7th to July 11th
“Liberty”
Monday: Be free from concerns of life I Corinthians 7: 32
Tuesday: Christ led captives free Ephesians 4: 8
Wednesday: Christ’s blood freed us from sin Revelation 1: 1-5
Thursday: Son sets you free John 8: 32-36
Friday: In Christ, no such thing as slave or free Galatians 3: 20-28
Saturday: Christ purchased our freedom I Timothy 2: 1-6
Played: 3 | Download | Duration: 00:33:25
Faith is the Victory Part IV - Faith with Roots
Faith is the Victory
that Overcomes the World
Part IV
“Faith with Roots”
Jeremiah 17: 7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree
planted by the waters, which spreads its’ roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes,
but its’ leaf will be green; and will not be anxious in the year of drought,
nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
I. Faith results in God’s blessings.
A. Through faith we are made right with God. (Romans 3: 20-22)
B. Through faith we are made sons of God. (Galatians 3: 26)
C. Through faith we receive eternal life. (John 5: 24)
II. Faith enables us to withstand fiery trials.
A. God promises that Christians will face trials and persecutions.
B. When we approach our trials with faith, the result will be maturity.
(James 1: 2-4)
C. Through faith we realize that God will use our trials to bring about good.
(Romans 8: 28)
Weekly Bible Study
June 29th to July 5th
“Faithful, Choose to Remain”
Monday: Always be faithful Proverb 3: 1-3
Tuesday: Be a faithful servant Matthew 25: 20-23
Wednesday: Be faithful in prayer Romans 12: 1-12
Thursday: Be faithful in small matters Luke 16: 9-10
Friday: God preserves the faithful Psalm 31: 1-23
Saturday: Stay true to the Lord Philippians 1: 20-27
Played: 7 | Download | Duration: 00:23:14
Faith is the Victory Part III Get out of the Boat and Walk
Faith is the Victory
Part III
Matthew 14:22-33
“Get Out Of the Boat and Walk”
Jesus has just concluded one of his most infamous miracles [feeding of the 5000].
He is in the middle of His Galilean Ministry and He decides to walk on water.
Some key lessons for us as Christians can be learned from this passage of scripture.
I. When facing everyday storms, look no further than Christ for help. vs. 26-27
A. We fear a lot in our lives today.
B. Experts tell us that 80% of what we fear, we have no control over.
C. So how do you respond to the most recent crisis you read and see
on the news?
D. I would suggest today that we rely on the same voice the disciples did in the midst of the storm and hear loud and clear the voice of Christ who says,
“ Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” Isaiah 35:3-4, Isaiah 41:10, 13
E. Psalm 23
1. He restores my soul.
2. He let’s me lie down in pastures not eaten up with thorns, briers, crabgrass, but rather a meadow filled with green pasture.
3. He makes my paths straight.
4. He prepares a table of goods right smack in the middle of the enemy’s camp.
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