If politics creeps toward the center of the evangelical mission …

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“If politics creeps toward the center of the evangelical mission,” declared Kidd, “then the gospel of salvation through the grace of Christ alone can become corrupted by politicization (usually Republicanization, at least for the SBC).”

“Baptists can seem more concerned with preserving nominal Christian culture and aligning with politicians who affirm that culture, rather than proclaiming with laser focus that each person is lost without Christ, and that, as Jesus taught in the Gospel of John, they must be born again.”

SOURCE: http://www.christianpost.com/news/southern-baptist-pastors-conference-cancels-ben-carson-as-speaker-for-political-theological-reasons-138350/

 

STUDY SHEETS for Romans 12:9-21 …

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The Great Battle Is Joined: Good Versus Evil!

Hello to You,

How do I win? How do I overcome evil? What are God’s specific instructions? And where does a person begin?

  • We have sound doctrine under our feet (Romans 1-8).
  • We see our place in redemptive history (Romans 9-11).
  • We have presented ourselves as living sacrifices and are beginning to experientially know the will of God (Romans 12:1-2).
  • We have evaluated our lives in humility and embraced the “skill set” God has blessed us with (Romans 12:3-8).

Now our LORD prepares us for practical service and the evil we will face, both within and without.

BIG QUESTION: Do I truly believe God and trust his direction?

Now we shall see if we really believe God  as he will push us past our understanding to his as we join the fray against the darkness. Now we come to grips with our submission to being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Message Title: Overcoming Evil with Good!

Message Text: Romans 12:9-21

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A related text in 1 Peter 3:8-17 …

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  • (1 Peter 3:8–17 NIV84) Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

This week’s message text

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(Romans 12:9–21 ESV)

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Cru Statement of Faith (from their website)

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Here is the statement of faith for Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ).

Statement of Faith

The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.

We accept those areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. Because of the specialized calling of our movement, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.

  1. There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.
  2. Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.
  3. He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
  4. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died.
  5. He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own.
  6. Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation.
  7. Man’s nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
  8. The salvation of man is wholly a work of God’s free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justified them in His sight.
  9. It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written word.
  10. The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer’s life by faith.
  11. Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
  12. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.
  13. God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement.
  14. At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing.
  15. At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting judgment and condemnation.
  16. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth – personally, visibly and bodily – to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
  17. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. The fulfillment of that Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.”

 

STUDY SHEETS for Sunday April 26, 2015 …

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skyscraper architecture conceptual abstract plans

 

  • (Hebrews 11:10 NIV84) For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hello to All,

May you be blessed this good day on the path of Jesus Son of God!

God is always amazing me. Praise him for his word of truth. Where would we be without his inspired, holy words to guide our lives?

In our Romans study for this Sunday we take the next step on God’s solid foundation to service and worship.

  • Note the Progression …
    Bow before God ➼ Now Hear God ➼ Renewed Mind ➼ Changed Life ➼ Know the Will of God by Real World Testing ➼ Ready to See Where the “New” Me Fits in God’s Plan.

Seeing the real you …

  • You do not see the “real” you (the “new” you) until you are bowed before the throne of God. When this happens, you will begin receiving a torrent of new “God information” which will absolutely change your life. Now things are clicking. Light bulb flickers, then shines brightly. Welcome to God’s world. Same planet, different view. Still on Earth but your horizon has expanded far beyond. Enjoy the view. You have finally arrived at a place where you will begin to see yourself as God sees you. You will begin to understand the works that he has crafted especially for you. You will begin to drink with great satisfaction the pleasure of your Father in Heaven.

Message Title: Thinking with Sober Judgment!

Message Text: Romans 12:3-8

 

measure is faith

Bluebird Workshop @ White Prairie on May 2 from 10 am until noon.

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Bluebird Workshop @ White Prairie on May 2 from 10 am until noon.

  • Admission is free. Presentation and informational materials on Eastern Bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. Bring your binoculars and camera and join the fun! Contact Gerald White for more info.

2015 Events at White Prairie

This prairie restoration project in western Illinois was seeded in June 2004 in a former 8-acre crop field.  The prairie is located at the private residence of Gerald and Mary Jane White south of Tennessee, Illinois

white prairie flowers pic for web post