CCF Weekly Services Podcast

Paul continues to make the most of his time in prison by witnessing to the Roman leadership during his trials. It wasn't without opposition. It didn't even produce immediate results. What matters is that Paul will answer to God for what he did with the time given to him. How people responded will be between them and God as well.

1. False Prophets specialize in sounding like good people.

2. The best witness is Godly living.

3. More people are kept out of Heaven by delaying a relationship with Jesus than outright rejecting it.

The Shulamite and Solomon's relationship reaches its peak from two perspectives. Solomon has learned more things he admires and expresses about his wife, and his wife has learned to focus more on him than herself. This growth didn't happen overnight, nor did it take place naturally. Marriage and intimacy both require a conscious and purposeful effort with God as the center to make it an effective demonstration of His character.

1. A growing relationship is one that continues to learn about each other.

2. Men desire respect. Women desire love. Both require the Holy Spirit.

3. Pursue marital intimacy intentionally or it will quickly be drowned out by the other things that distract us from ministry.

The Apostle Paul has gone from being abused by a mob to abused by his peers and national leadership. Fortunately, God isn't through with Paul nor does He forsake those who belong to Him. Paul was given all of the earthly and spiritual resources he needed to be informed of and recognize this just as we will as needed in our service to Him.

1. Courage is only meaningful when there's something to be afraid of.

2. Faith in Jesus is an informed confidence in His promises based on proven character.

3. What God starts, He finishes.

The Shulamite has her second dream following her and Solomon's first major fight. We aren't explicitly told what caused it, but we are told how they resolved it. Because God was the center of Solomon and the Shulamite's relationship, He was there to bring both of them together and motivate the same kind of grace He has shown all of us.

1. Conflict is inevitable. What needs to follow is reconciliation.

2. Remember the reasons you loved each other at the beginning.

3. God should be the foundation and center of every relationship.

Paul the Apostle shares his testimony with an audience he couldn't have more in common with if he planned the meeting in advance. How they responded was between them and God. How Paul acted was with the heart of God.

1. If we want to win some to Christ, be winsome and know how to talk to people personally.

2. 90% of success in ministry is just showing up and being available where God can use you.

3. You don't save anyone. Don't condemn yourself for failing to accomplish what you weren't commanded to do.

Solomon and the Shulamite enjoy their wedding night. With a godly model of a man that focuses entirely on the needs of his spouse, we find that God isn't against the concept of sex. He is simply in favor of purity and exclusivity over the twisted counterfeits this world tries to claim will satisfy the way only God's way can.

1. The best way to have your needs met is to focus on the needs of others.

2. It's never too late to do the right thing.

3. Jesus is the model for anything and everything we do in this life.

Abraham is modeled as a Godly Father. This isn't because he was sinless or raised his children perfectly. He is marked as an example of God's heart because he loved his kids and always depended on God with the ability to do so however he was called to do so.

1. Every relationship with God begins with Trust.

2. Every promise God makes is worth trusting.

3. Every ministry a Father serves is through Love.

Solomon sending for his bride serves as a beautiful foreshadowing of the day when Jesus will send for us to be brought to His presence in glory. While biblical symbolism is something we need to handle carefully, the reality is plain. Heaven leaves us with a lot to look forward to. If for no other reason than Jesus is going to be there waiting for us.

1. The smells that accompanied Solomon's bride are commonly used to illustrate prayer and intimacy with God.

2. The security that accompanied Solomon's bride are pictures of His personal involvement seeing us home.

3. The crown of Solomon that his bride saw wasn't one of power, but of love and restoration through the grace of God.

Paul begins sharing his testimony with a model he learned from Stephen the Martyr. We can also learn from his example by going out of our way to involve God directly in evangelism as well as to exercise wisdom and love in equal measure.

1. No one comes to God apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.

2. Salvation is the Holy Spirit's job. Your job is to know what you believe and why.

3. Talk to people, not at people.