It may surprise you the marriage advice you receive from couples married over 50 years.  It isn’t deep, but their foundational advice can have great influence.  Like the solid core of a structure, Lowell and Billy talk about 5 foundations the follower of God is to build upon in their life.

5 foundational areas where followers of Jesus Christ

are to mature in their relationship with God.

I. IDENTITY- How we understand who God is and who we are in Christ

a. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[b]The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

b. I John 1:31 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God”

II. WALK- How we are to live in this world

a. I John 2:6 “Whoever says he abides in him(Jesus) ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

b. II John 1:6 “And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.”

III. TALK- How we talk to God and talk to others

a. Luke 11:1 “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’”

b. I John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”

IIII. FEED- How we grow in knowledge of God through the Word

a. I Peter 2:2 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation”

b. Jeremiah 15:16 “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”

V. CLEAN- How we get clean when we mess up

a. I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The real question is… Are you growing on these foundations?

Raising children reveals a process of growth that is interesting to witness.  The guys look at the growth of a baby, and the foundational truths that child grasps.  Just like children growing, believers also work on their foundations in Christ.  Like the solid core of a structure, Lowell and Billy talk about 5 foundations the follower of God is to build upon in their life.

5 foundational areas where followers of Jesus Christ

are to mature in their relationship with God.

I. IDENTITY- How we understand who God is and who we are in Christ

a. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[b]The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

b. I John 1:31 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God”

II. WALK- How we are to live in this world

a. I John 2:6 “Whoever says he abides in him(Jesus) we must walk in the same way in which he walked.”

b. II John 1:6 “And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.”

c. John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus walked on this earth and gave all believers an example of how to live in this world.  We have His example to lead us to righteousness, but we need to take advantage of it by getting to know Him in the Bible, God’s Word.  It is appropriate to ask one of these questions…

• What would Jesus do?

• What DID Jesus do?

In the next Podcast, the guys talk about the following 3 foundations…

III. TALK- How we talk to God and talk to others

IIII. FEED- How we grow in knowledge of God through the Word

V. CLEAN- How we get clean when we mess up

The real question is… Are you growing on this foundation?

Everyone has questions about life…

Some are easiest to answer.  God has given us Biblical mandates that we are called to obey.

Some are easier to answer… God establishes Biblical preferences within mandates.

Some are not so easy… These are questions that a person must decide in their own heart where the Lord wants them to land. Is it a matter of personal mandate? Is it just a personal preference? The guys discuss approaching everyday questions from a Biblical point of view…

Previous info to get you up to speed…

I. Biblical Mandate– a non-negotiable standard God calls us to.

a. I Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality”

b. The 10 commandments in Exodus 20:1-17

c. Matthew 22:37-40– “Love the Lord will all your heart, mind soul, and strength…”

d. Many examples in God’s Word! 

II. Biblical Preference– There is freedom, but still found in God’ Word.

a. Partake of communion (I Corinthians 11) is a mandate, but the freedom is in the frequency.

i. We are to gather and worship together on the first day of the week (Sunday) I Corinthians 16

ii. The freedom is how is that worship structured? When? How long?

iii. Acts 2:42 speaks of what needs to be present in church but not exact specifics

What we learn about PERSONAL Mandates and PERSONAL Preferences.

III. Personal Mandate

a. NOT driven by command of the Lord but through Biblical principles.

b. NOT driven by self, but how it could affect other believers around me.

c. The Holy Spirit may lead people to act or abstain.

i. Individuals may make different decisions on a topic, and that is acceptable.

ii. We are NOT called to BE the Holy Spirit in people’s lives.

d. Romans 14:22- “Keep it to yourself”

IIII. Personal Preference

a. NOT driven by Biblical mandate or Biblical Preference.

b. It is the opinion of the person, not of the Lord.

c. Ex. What color car to buy? What pizza is the best?

We don’t push people to a religion to conform them, but we allow God to lead us into a relationship to transform us.

Do you have a question? Just remember to ask yourself which category it falls into…

Biblical Mandate

Biblical Preference

Personal Mandate

Personal Preference

At times, the term “religious” is used when trying to get someone to obey a regimented rule. Sometimes it is to describe church and what people do in church. In everyday life, Lowell and Billy get asked various questions about religion, life, the Bible, and what people can and cannot do. At CenterPoint, we point people to God’s Word… to Jesus Christ.

As Pastors, the guys are not rule police giving tickets when people do wrong.  So, How does someone know what to do in every circumstance? The guys discuss approaching everyday questions from a Biblical point of view. 

I. Biblical Mandate– a non-negotiable standard God calls us to.

a. I Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality”

b. The 10 commandments in Exodus 20:1-17

i. No other Gods before me…

ii. Thou shalt not kill…

iii. Thou shalt not steal…

iiii. Honor father and mother…

c. Matthew 22:37-40– “Love the Lord will all your heart, mind soul, and strength…”

d. Many examples in God’s Word!

II. Biblical Preference– There is freedom, but still found in God’ Word.

a. Partake of communion is a mandate, but the freedom is in the frequency.

i. I Corinthians 11

ii. It does not give exact commands of when and how and with what amount.

b. We are to gather and worship together on the first day of the week (Sunday)

i. I Corinthians 16

ii. The freedom is how is that worship structured? When? How long?

iii. Acts 2:42 speaks of what needs to be present in church but not exact specifics

We can see these Biblical Mandates and Biblical Preferences easily in Scripture.

What about the tougher questions?

Should I get a tattoo?

Am I OK if I go to a bar?

Can I smoke or drink?

What about rated R movies?

Is this the right job for me?

In the next podcast we will look at the Personal Mandate, and Personal Preference side of obedience to God’s Word!

Looking at the foundational Truths of the Gospel, some people may either deny it is true, or choose to ignore the truth. The guys are continuing their discussion on what the Gospel is, and how to understand this Good News. The Good News is how to have a relationship with God through trust in Jesus Christ. 

The Gospel IS as foundational as A-B-C.  ADMIT- BELIEVE- CALL.

I. ADMIT

a. “I need saved”

i. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

b. Our actions don’t make us a sinner, but proves we are sinners

c. Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned”

II. BELIEVE

a. “Jesus died for my sins”

i. Not just believing Jesus is real.. or lived.. or even that he was God.

ii. I Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures”

b. Believe in the Substitutionary Atonement

i. Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

c. Sadly…people stop at this point…

III. CALL

a. “Jesus Save me!!”

i. It is not about the voice but calling out with our heart.

b. Scripture calls us to repent

i. Repentence means to turn from my sin to God

ii. II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

c. Actively placing faith and trust in Jesus!

i. Romans 4: 5 “And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness”

ii. John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”

 

ADMIT that you are a sinner

BELIEVE that Jesus died for your sins

CALL out to Jesus to save you.

Does a flu shot work?  Do you need one?  Are they effective?  From a discussion of the flu, and the choice of a flu shot, the guys turn their attention to the need for the Gospel.  What is the Gospel? What does it mean to respond to the offer of Life that God gives to us humans? 

The Gospel NOT something to grab onto to make my… life easier… better person… to have financial blessing…etc.  That is a lie, and Scripture does not say this.

In this segment, Lowell and Billy jump into the first portion, which is “ADMIT”.  Listen along as you read the notes!

The Gospel IS as foundational as A-B-C.  ADMIT- BELIEVE- CALL.

I. ADMIT

a. We need to face the fact that we all are sinners.

i. “I need saved”

ii. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

b. “I’m not a sinner because I sinned, I sin because I am a sinner”

c. Our actions don’t make us a sinner, but proves we are sinners

d. Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned”

e. We are COMPLETELY LOST and broken.

The next Podcast will be about BELIEVE and CALL!!

On the CenterPoint Podcast, the guys deal with a favorite topic of theirs: Worship. And, to do so, they invite a guest on to the Podcast: Steve Dopson.

Steve is the Worship Leader at CenterPoint Bible Church. In their effort to better understand Worship, Music, and CenterPoint, they work through a series of questions:

* Who are you Steve Dopson?

* What kinds of songs do you prefer?

* What should people be thinking about when they sing songs at church?

* What is a successful Worship Service?

* How can people do to better prepare to worship at church?

* What excites you about being with Jesus in heaven?

The main passage referenced in today’s podcast was John 4:23-24…

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

The guys continue their look at sickness, and why it occurs in our life.  Check out the previous Podcast show-notes to understanding a wide angle view of sickness.  Here, the guys get up close in examining sickness in people’s lives.

We need to know that all sickness is caused by evil.

I. Sickness is a part of the curse of the world in which we live.

a. The natural truth of this world is that sickness comes our way through the sin of this world.

b. Romans 8:20 “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope”

II. God is working in our lives through these things to DISCIPLINE us.

a. For maturity.

i. Not to necessarily to punish, but to disciple/train us.

ii. James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

III. God is working in our lives through these things to CORRECT us.

a. For correction.

i. Hebrews 12:5-6 “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves…’”

ii. I Corinthians 11:27,30 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord…That is why many of you are weak and ill…”

iii. Psalm 119:71, 75  71“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes… 75I know, O Lord, that your are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.” 

We can display God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives through our sickness

John 9:3 “Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

We can trust Him in every circumstance of our life

Have you ever been sick, or had some physical ailment that you have had to process through? The guys sure have. From a recent sickness, Lowell and Billy have a conversation on biblically understanding why people go through physical ailments such as sickness, disease, suffering, struggles.

What are some feelings/thoughts you have when you go through sickness?

Alone? Will this ever end? Discouragement? Depression? Why did this happen to me?

We need to know that all sickness is caused by evil. 

I. Can Faith eliminate sickness? NO!

a. More faith doesn’t eradicate illness…

b. Being good enough doesn’t overcome sickness…

c. Good works do not eliminate sickness…

II. Why does sickness occur?

a. God’s 30,000 foot perspective…

b. He is working this to accomplish His plan…

i. Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

c. His ways are not our ways…

i. Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God is working out His Plan in the world, and in our lives.  We must trust His Word through tough moments.

We may not see the final goal, but we are called to trust in His Good process.

One day, a stranger asked the guys one simple question: “WHY?” Maybe you have wondered the same thing:

* Why is this happening?

* Why do bad things occur?

* Why is there suffering?

The guys tried to give an answer to those questions. It’s an age old question, with an ancient answer. And its found in Genesis 3.

Join them here!

Today, we referenced the following…

Genesis 3:17-19

17“Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful toil you will eat food from it

all the days of your life.

18It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

19By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

and to dust you will return.”

Romans 8:20

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope.